Specimens of English literature from the 'Ploughmans crede' to the ...

XXVI. THE STEEL GLAS. 317Not deckt in robes, nor garnished with gold, 805But some vnshod, yea, some ful thinly clothde,And yet they seme so heauenly for to see,As if their eyes were al of Diamonds,Their face, of Rubies, Saphires, and lacincts,Their comly beards and heare, of siluer wiers. 810And, to be short, they seeme Angelycall.What should they be, (my Lord) what should they be ?Priest.O gratious God, I see now what they be.These be my priests, which pray for evry state.These be my priests, deuorced from the world, 815And wedded yet to heauen and holynesse.Which are not proude, nor couet to be riche.Which go not gay, nor fede on daintie foode,Which enuie not, nor knowe what malice meanes,Which loth all lust, disdayning drunkenesse, 820Which cannot faine, which hate hypocrisie :Which neuer sawe Sir Simojties deceits :Which preach of peace, which carpe contentions,Which loyter not, but labour al the yeare,Which thunder threts of gods most greuous wrath, 825And yet do teach that mercie is in store.Lo these (my Lord) be my good praying priests.Descended from Melchysedec by line,Cosens to Paule, to Peter, lames, and lohnThese be my priests, the seasning of the earth, 830Which wil not leese their Savrinesse, I trowe.Not one of these (for twentie hundreth groats)Wil teach the text that byddes him take a wife.And yet be combred with a concubine.