’St, there’s Vespers! Plena gratia,

Ave, Virgo! Gr-r-r—you swine!

Robert Browning.

CYNICAL ODE TO AN ULTRA-CYNICAL PUBLIC

YOU prefer a buffoon to a scholar,

A harlequin to a teacher,

A jester to a statesman,

An anonyma flaring on horseback

To a modest and spotless woman—

Brute of a public!