How we cite our quotes: (Line)
Quote #7
And have I not Saint Praxed's ear to pray
Horses for ye, and brown Greek manuscripts,
And mistresses with great smooth marbly limbs? (73-75)
Apparently our bishop sees his religious authority as a request line to the saints. Prayers tend to be (at least in theory) for gifts of a more spiritual nature than, you know, horses, books, and hot chicks. That's not the case here, though.
Quote #8
And this life too, popes, cardinals and priests,
Saint Praxed at his sermon on the mount, (94-95)
Thank you for playing, bishop, but it was Jesus who gave us the sermon on the mount. Also, Saint Praxed was a she. So we'll have to give you a giant red X for that comment and hand you this set of steak knives as a parting gift. Is the bishop's frail medical state responsible for this slip up? Or is he just that out of touch, religion-wise?
Quote #9
Evil and brief hath been my pilgrimage. (101)
This one line sums things up nicely for us. It's the only time that the bishop seems to reflect on his life and work, and, well, he finds it lacking. His choice of metaphor here is particularly striking, as a pilgrimage is a personal journey undertaken for religious reasons. The bishop seems to realize that he's failed big-time in that regard.