![Ecclesiastical Sonnets - Part I. - XXVIII - Influence Abused, By: William Wordsworth](https://i0.wp.com/poetrycatalog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Ecclesiastical-Sonnets-Part-I-XXVIII-Influence-Abused-By-William-Wordsworth.png?resize=750%2C420&ssl=1)
Urged by Ambition, who with subtlest skill
Changes her means, the Enthusiast as a dupe
Shall soar, and as a hypocrite can stoop,
And turn the instruments of good to ill,
Moulding the credulous people to his will.
Such Dunstan: from its Benedictine coop
Issues the master Mind, at whose fell swoop
The chaste affections tremble to fulfil
Their purposes. Behold, pre-signified,
The Might of spiritual sway! his thoughts, his dreams,
Do in the supernatural world abide:
So vaunt a throng of Followers, filled with pride
In what they see of virtues pushed to extremes,
And sorceries of talent misapplied.