Verses on Various Occasions · Chapter
CXIII: Apostacy explained
The speaker reflects on France's past faithfulness and piety, contrasting it with its present state of apostasy.
What happens
The speaker reflects on France's past faithfulness and piety, contrasting it with its present state of apostasy. He dares not dwell on the current corruption for fear of spiritual harm, choosing instead to silently denounce it.
Themes in this chapter
Faith and Doubt
The speaker contrasts France's former faith with its current apostasy, expressing doubt about its present state.
Sin and Redemption
The speaker fears being tainted by the sin of apostasy and chooses silence to avoid fascination with evil.
Characters to notice
Key passages
“France! I will think of thee as what thou wast, When Poictiers show’d her zeal for the true creed; Or in that age, when Holy Truth, though cast On a rank soil, yet was a thriving seed, Thy schools within, from neighbouring countries chased; E’en of thy pagan day I bear to read, Thy Martyrs sanctified the guilty host, The sons of blessèd John, rear’d on a western coast.”
I choose to remember France as it once was—faithful at Poitiers, a refuge for truth and learning, and even in pagan times blessed with martyrs.
The speaker deliberately recalls France's virtuous past rather than its present corruption.
“I dare not think of thee as what thou art, Lest thoughts too deep for man should trouble me. It is not safe to place the mind and heart On brink of evil, or its flames to see, Lest they should dizzy, or some taint impart, Or to our sin a fascination be.”
I am afraid to contemplate France's current state, for such thoughts could disturb my soul and lead me into sin.
The speaker fears the spiritual danger of dwelling on evil.