With vain traditions stopt the gaping fence,
Which every common hand pulled up with ease,—
What safety from such brushwood-helps as these?
If written words from time are not secure,
How can we think have oral sounds endured?
Which thus transmitted, if one mouth has failed,
Immortal lies on ages are entailed;
And that some such have been, is proved too plain,
If we consider interest, church, and gain.
O but, says one, tradition set side,