• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Poetry Catalog

We honor great poets. We honor great poetry.

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Submit Your Work
  • Writers
  • Advertising / Subscription

Ecclesiastical Sonnets – Part II. – XVIII – Corruptions Of The Higher Clergy, By: William Wordsworth

December 5, 2023 by Editors

Ecclesiastical Sonnets - Part II. - XVIII - Corruptions Of The Higher Clergy, By: William Wordsworth

“Woe to you, Prelates! rioting in ease
“And cumbrous wealth the shame of your estate;
“You, on whose progress dazzling trains await
“Of pompous horses; whom vain titles please;
“Who will be served by others on their knees,
“Yet will yourselves to God no service pay;
“Pastors who neither take nor point the way
“To Heaven; for, either lost in vanities
“Ye have no skill to teach, or if ye know
“And speak the word” Alas! of fearful things
‘Tis the most fearful when the people’s eye
Abuse hath cleared from vain imaginings;
And taught the general voice to prophesy
Of Justice armed, and Pride to be laid low.

Share this:

  • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
  • Share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest

Related

Filed Under: Poems

Get Every Post In Your Inbox 😳

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.
(This is not the newsletter.)

Primary Sidebar

Never Miss A Poem (Newsletter)

Be Social

  • X
  • Facebook

Top Posts & Pages

  • The Fish, By: G.K. Chesterton
    The Fish, By: G.K. Chesterton
  • Repentance, By: William Wordsworth
    Repentance, By: William Wordsworth
  • Ode, Composed On A May Morning, By: William Wordsworth
    Ode, Composed On A May Morning, By: William Wordsworth
  • The Borderers. A Tragedy, By: William Wordsworth
    The Borderers. A Tragedy, By: William Wordsworth
  • Patchwork Fields, By: Mary Bone
    Patchwork Fields, By: Mary Bone
  • Say Cheese!, By: Thomas Hemminger
    Say Cheese!, By: Thomas Hemminger
  • Spring 2024 Poetry Contest: Winners
    Spring 2024 Poetry Contest: Winners
  • My Unicorn, By: Phillip Jordan
    My Unicorn, By: Phillip Jordan
  • At Furness Abbey, By: William Wordsworth
    At Furness Abbey, By: William Wordsworth
  • Capturing Summer, By: Mary Bone
    Capturing Summer, By: Mary Bone

Advertising/Subscribing = Loving

Buy Me A Coffee

Sign up for the newsletter. Get a gift.

Footer

Made with ❤ in Lubbock, TX.

Poetry Catalog Sponsors

Haiku Examples

Search

Copyright © 2026 · Magazine Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in