SERIO-COMIC VERSE. 611 



But I forbade all tossing, 



Made men enquire of beasts, 

 Pulled down all private idols 



And set up public priests. 

 Birds, too,' said I, ' are holy, 



They show us things to come, 

 They have more subtle spirits 



Than wooden idols dumb. 

 No longer burn your incense 



Before your private shrine, 

 My Vestals are most careful 



To feed the flame divine ; 

 Dismiss all fear of idols, 



Of demons, and of gods, 

 My Augurs will protect you 



With their long crooked rods. 

 (With such the careful shepherd 



Drags lambs from ditches deep; 

 With such he points to heaven 



When they are fast asleep.) 

 0, trust me, those same Augurs 



Know more about the stars 

 Than you whose only business 



Is everlasting wars. 

 How can you be religious, 



How can they work for bread ? 

 You sinners must be shriven, 



My Augurs must be fed. 

 You know dividing labour 



To nations riches brings, 

 So let my Augurs shrive you 



While you mind earthly things. 

 Your case I've set before you, 



You see the thing to do, 

 If you fork out the needful, 



They do your job for you.' 

 With this and other speeches 



I brought the people round, 



