Book II, 6: On Elyes double ensure

When barren Hanna, prostrate on the Floore,
In heat of zeale and passion, did implore
Redresse from Heav'n, censorions Ely thought
She had beene drunk, and checkt her for her fault;
Rough was his Censure, and his Check, ausere;
Where mildnesse should be us'd, w'are oft severe.
But when his lustfull Sonnes, that could abuse
The House of God, making her Porch their Stues,
Appear'd before him, his indulgent tongue
Compounded rather then rebuk'd the wrong;
He dare not shoot, for feare he wound his Childe;
Where we should be severe, w'are oft too milde:
Vnequall Ely! was thy Sentence iust,
To censure Zeale, and not to punish Lust?
Could thy parentall mildnesse but have past
The former by as eas'ly, as the last,
Or had the last, by just proportion, bin
Rated but like the first supposed sin,
Perchance thy aged head had found encrease
Of some few dayes, and gone to sleepe, in peace:
Passions misplac'd are dangerous: Let all
Remember Elies Faults, with Elies Fall.