# A Welcome explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Ambrose Bierce.

## What happens

The speaker criticizes the Knights Templars for their hypocrisy, pretentiousness, and deceitful practices, accusing them of degrading noble traditions and exploiting the gullible. Despite this, the speaker offers them a sardonic welcome to the city, granting them freedom to come and go as they please.

## Themes in this chapter

### Hypocrisy and Corruption

The poem directly attacks the Knights Templars for their vain pretense, degradation of traditions, and deceitful manipulation of the ignorant.

### Political Satire

The speaker uses biting satire to mock the order's hypocrisy and their contradictory disdain for aristocracy while seeking to adorn themselves with false grandeur.

## Key lines

> Because you call yourself Knights Templars, and There’s neither Knight nor Temple in the land⁠— Because you thus by vain pretense degrade To paltry purposes traditions grand⁠—

You claim to be Knights Templars, but there is no true knighthood or temple here; you cheapen noble traditions with your empty show.

_The speaker accuses the group of misusing a historic title for self-aggrandizement._

> Because to cheat the ignorant you say The thing that’s not, elated still to sway The crass credulity of gaping fools And women by fantastical display⁠—

You lie to deceive the uneducated, taking pleasure in manipulating the gullible and women with your extravagant displays.

_The speaker condemns the group's exploitation of credulity for influence._

> Because that all these things are thus and so, I bid you welcome to our city. Lo! You’re free to come, and free to stay, and free, As soon as it shall please you, sirs⁠—to go.

Because all this is true, I welcome you to our city. You are free to arrive, remain, or leave whenever you wish.

_The welcome is sarcastic, emphasizing the speaker's contempt while ironically granting freedom._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_se/chapters/a-welcome
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_se/chapters