And lost his Reason for Matilda’s sake.
Puzzled and vext, he heard, he pray’d, he read,
Love in his Heart and Frenzy in his Head;
Led, as I doubt not Mystics always lead,
Their Flocks; no Wonder Frenzy should succeed!
But, when so sound a Mind is wrecked, we feel
Pity and Wrath and Curse the mad’ning Zeal.
Strange that a Man, from all Delusion free
And all Conceit, should not the Folly see!”—
“No, my dear Richard; Facts I now must state 240