Hubbub of protestation! "What, we monks,

We friars, of such an order, such a rule,

Have not we fought, bled, left our martyr-mark

At every point along the boundary-line

'Twixt true and false, religion and the world,

Where this or the other dogma of our Church

Called for defence?" And I, despite myself,

How can I but speak loud what truth speaks low,

"Or better than the best, or nothing serves!

What boots deed, I can cap and cover straight