most Or needs most, whatsoe'er the love or need—      For he can't wed twice. Then, he must avouch, Or follow, at the least, sufficiently, The form of faith his conscience holds the best, Whate'er the process of conviction was:      For nothing can compensate his mistake On such a point, the man himself being judge:      He cannot wed twice, nor twice lose his soul. 300 Well now, there's one great form of Christian faith I happened to be born in—which to teach Was given me as I grew up, on all hands, As best and readiest means of living by; The same on examination being proved The most pronounced moreover, fixed, precise      And absolute form of faith in the whole world—      Accordingly, most potent of all forms For working on the world. Observe, my friend! Such as you know me, I am free to say, 310 In these hard latter days which hamper one, Myself—by no immoderate exercise Of intellect and learning, but the tact To let external forces work for me,      —Bid the street's stones be bread and they are bread; Bid Peter's creed, or rather, Hildebrand's, Exalt me o'er my fellows in the world And make my life an ease and joy and pride; It does so—which for me 's a great point gained, Who have a soul and body that exact                       320 A comfortable care in many ways. There's power in me and will to dominate Which I must exercise, they hurt me else:      In many ways I need mankind's respect, Obedience, and the love that's born of fear:      While at the same time, there's a taste I have, A toy of soul, a titillating thing, Refuses to digest these dainties crude. The naked life is gross till clothed upon:      I must take what men offer, with a grace 330 As though I would not, could I help it, take An uniform I wear though over-rich—      Something imposed on me, no choice of mine; No fancy-dress worn for pure fancy's sake And despicable therefore! now folk kneel And kiss my hand—of course the Church's hand. Thus I am made, thus life is best for me, And thus that it should be I have procured; And thus it could not be another way, I venture to imagine. You'll reply, 340 So far my choice, no doubt, is a success; But were I made of better elements, With nobler instincts, purer tastes, like you, I hardly would account the thing success Though it did all for me I say. But, friend, We speak of what is; not of what might be, And how 'twere better if 'twere otherwise. I am the man 

 Prev. P 54/85 next