The Haunted Hour - An Anthology by Various
page 98 of 244 (40%)
page 98 of 244 (40%)
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A horrible thing has come to pass!
What! cut off the head of the Reverend Prior, And say he was '_only_ (!!!) a bare-footed Friar!'-- 'What Baron or Squire, Or Knight of the shire Is half so good as a holy Friar?' _O, turpissime! Vir nequissime!_ _Sceleratissime!--quissime!--issime!_ Never, I trow, have the _Servi servorum_ Had before 'em Such a breach of decorum, Such a gross violation of _morum bonorum_, And won't have again _sæcula sæculorum_!-- Come hither to me, My Cardinals three, My Bishops in _partibus_, Masters in _Artibus_, Hither to me, A.B. and D.D., Doctors and Proctors of every degree! Go fetch me a book, go fetch me a bell As big as a dustman's!--and a candle as well-- I'll send him where--good manners won't let me tell!" --"Pardon and grace!--now pardon and grace!" --Sir Ingoldsby Bray fell flat on his face-- "_Mea culpa!_--in sooth I'm in pitiful case. Peccavi! peccavi!--I've done every wrong! But my heart it is stout and my arm it is strong, And I'll fight for Holy Church all the day long; And the Ingoldsby lands are broad and fair, And they're here and they're there and I can't tell you where, And the Holy Church shall come in for her share!" Pope Gregory paused and he sat himself down, And he somewhat relaxed his terrible frown, |
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