"THE DEVIL LOOKING OVER LINCOLN"
A grotesque sculpture on a pinnacle over
the south porch of Lincoln Cathedral.
Then he entered the porch in an imp-ious way,
Declaring the nave should be spelt with a K;
He roamed through each transept, he strolled in each aisle,
Then he thought in the choir he would romp for a while.
As he passed 'neath the rood no obeisance he made;
No rev'rence at all to the altar he paid;
He thumbed all the canons' and choristers' books,
And cast on the saints his most insolent looks;
The chalice and patens were safe in a box,
He was stopped in the act of unpicking the locks.
He hacked at the lectern and chopped at the stalls;
The tapestry tore from the sanctified walls;
Incensed against incense, the thuribles he
Demolished; the candlesticks broke on his knee.
The candlesticks broke on his knee.
Then seeing some angels he cried, "Pretty things,
"A sackful of feathers I'll pluck from your wings
"To make me a couch when I'm tired of this joke,"
Ah! soon he was sorry that rudely he spoke;
For the tiniest angel, with amethyst eyes
And hair like spun gold, 'fore the altar did rise,
Pronouncing these words in a dignified tone
"O impious Imp, be ye turned into stone!"
So he was, as you'll see when to Lincoln you stray:
And the wind has been waiting outside till this day.
You can't see the wind, but no matter for that
Believe, or he'll rob you of cloak or of hat.
He'll rob you of cloak or of hat.
MORAL