An amusing portrait in verse about the vice and folly of mankind
‘Lettuce spray,’ the bishop spat, ‘for all who lose their way
And choose the wide and easy road that leads, alas, astray,
Who, falling on to stony ground with weeds on every side,
Succumb to lust and gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy, pride,
Those deadly sins we all despise that everywhere abound
And, sadly, sully all whose seeds are sown on stony ground.
The first and worst of these is lust which all around we see,
A sin The Sun supports (I’m told) in colour on page 3.
Next gluttony and greed, twin sins that righteous souls abhor,
One scoffing everything it can, the other craving more.
Then sloth, which wrath and envy stirs in all who have to work
And break their backs to pay the tax supporting those who shirk.
So lettuce spray,’ he spat again, ‘for all who go astray
And, tempted by the road to hell, reject the narrow way,’
Then, gathering up his sumptuous cope with ostentatious flair,
He, proudly, donned his mitre and descended to his chair.
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