Page "Lycidas" Paragraph 9

Upon entering the poem at line 109, the voice of the " Pilot of the Galilean lake ,” generally believed to represent St. Peter, serves as a judge, condemning the multitude of unworthy members found among the clergy of the Church of England.

Similarly, St. Peter fills the position of Old Testament prophet when he speaks of the clergy ’ s “ moral decay ” and the grave consequences of their leadership.

He then compares these immoral church leaders to wolves among sheep and warns of the “ two-handed engine .” According to E. S.

de Beer, this " two-handed engine " is thought to be a powerful weapon and an allusion to a portion of the Book of Zechariah .< ref > E.

S. de Beer.

" St. Peter in ' Lycidas '".

The Review of English Studies, Vol.

23, No. 89 ( Jan., 1947 ), pp. 60-63.

Published by: Oxford University Press.

Stable URL: < http :// www. jstor. org / stable / 509769 >, 61 </ ref >