“Because,” I said,
“You speak so of the Church.”
“But I,” said he,
“Was arguing not of that, but of the priest.”
“And he has been ordain’d,” I said: “And you,
You reverence not the ministers of God?”
“Of God,” he mutter’d,—“yes, when that they are.
I reverence the princeship; not the prince
Who doffs his regal robes, and leaves his throne,
And lowers his aims and slaves it with mere serfs.”