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Poem
September 6, 1828
New Hampshire Statesman And Concord Register
Concord, Merrimack County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
A poem exposing the hypocrisy of a man who feigns religious piety to commit villainies, such as devouring the widow's house and exploiting the poor, ultimately revealed in naked ugliness at judgment.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
POETRY.
THE HYPOCRITE.
Great day of revelation! In the grave
The hypocrite has left his mask; and stood
In naked ugliness. He was a man
Who stole the livery of the court of heaven
To serve the devil in; in virtue's guise
Devoured the widow's house and orphan's bread:
In holy phrase transacted villainies
That common sinners durst not meddle with,
At sacred feast he sat among the saints,
And with his guilty hands touched holiest things.
And none of sin lamented more, or sighed
More deeply, or with graver countenance,
Or longer prayer, wept o'er the dying man,
Whose infant children, at the moment, he
Plann'd how to rob: in sermon style he bought,
And sold, and lied; and salutations made,
In scripture terms: he prayed by quantity.
And with his repetitions long and loud,
All knees were weary; with one hand he put
A penny in the urn of poverty,
And with the other took a shilling out.
On charitable lists—those trumps which told
The public ear, who had in secret done
The poor a benefit, and half the alms
They told of, took themselves to keep them
sounding—
He blazed his name, more pleas'd to have it there
Than in the book of life. Seest thou the man!
A serpent with an angel's voice! a grave
With flowers bestrew'd! and yet few were deceived.
His virtues being over-done, his face
Too grave, his prayers too long, his charities
Too pompously attended, and his speech
Larded too frequently, and out of time,
With serious phraseology—were rents,
That in his garments opened in spite of him,
Thro' which the well accustomed eye could see
The rottenness of his heart. None deeper blush'd,
As in the all-piercing light he stood exposed,
No longer herding with the holy ones:
Yet still he tried to bring his countenance
To sanctimonious seeming; but meanwhile,
The shame within, now visible to all,
His purpose baulked:—the righteous smiled,
and even
Despair itself some signs of laughter gave,
As ineffectually he strove to wipe
His brow, that inward guiltiness defiled.
Detected wretch! of all the reprobate,
None seemed maturer for the flames of hell;
Where still his face, from ancient custom, wears
A holy air, which says to all that pass
Him by: I was a hypocrite on earth:
THE HYPOCRITE.
Great day of revelation! In the grave
The hypocrite has left his mask; and stood
In naked ugliness. He was a man
Who stole the livery of the court of heaven
To serve the devil in; in virtue's guise
Devoured the widow's house and orphan's bread:
In holy phrase transacted villainies
That common sinners durst not meddle with,
At sacred feast he sat among the saints,
And with his guilty hands touched holiest things.
And none of sin lamented more, or sighed
More deeply, or with graver countenance,
Or longer prayer, wept o'er the dying man,
Whose infant children, at the moment, he
Plann'd how to rob: in sermon style he bought,
And sold, and lied; and salutations made,
In scripture terms: he prayed by quantity.
And with his repetitions long and loud,
All knees were weary; with one hand he put
A penny in the urn of poverty,
And with the other took a shilling out.
On charitable lists—those trumps which told
The public ear, who had in secret done
The poor a benefit, and half the alms
They told of, took themselves to keep them
sounding—
He blazed his name, more pleas'd to have it there
Than in the book of life. Seest thou the man!
A serpent with an angel's voice! a grave
With flowers bestrew'd! and yet few were deceived.
His virtues being over-done, his face
Too grave, his prayers too long, his charities
Too pompously attended, and his speech
Larded too frequently, and out of time,
With serious phraseology—were rents,
That in his garments opened in spite of him,
Thro' which the well accustomed eye could see
The rottenness of his heart. None deeper blush'd,
As in the all-piercing light he stood exposed,
No longer herding with the holy ones:
Yet still he tried to bring his countenance
To sanctimonious seeming; but meanwhile,
The shame within, now visible to all,
His purpose baulked:—the righteous smiled,
and even
Despair itself some signs of laughter gave,
As ineffectually he strove to wipe
His brow, that inward guiltiness defiled.
Detected wretch! of all the reprobate,
None seemed maturer for the flames of hell;
Where still his face, from ancient custom, wears
A holy air, which says to all that pass
Him by: I was a hypocrite on earth:
What sub-type of article is it?
Satire
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Satire Society
Religious Faith
What keywords are associated?
Hypocrite
Piety
Deception
Vice
Judgment
Hell
Charity
Poem Details
Title
The Hypocrite.
Form / Style
Blank Verse
Key Lines
Who Stole The Livery Of The Court Of Heaven
To Serve The Devil In; In Virtue's Guise
Devoured The Widow's House And Orphan's Bread:
A Serpent With An Angel's Voice! A Grave
With Flowers Bestrew'd! And Yet Few Were Deceived.
Detected Wretch! Of All The Reprobate,
None Seemed Maturer For The Flames Of Hell;
Where Still His Face, From Ancient Custom, Wears
A Holy Air, Which Says To All That Pass
Him By: I Was A Hypocrite On Earth: