THE HIPPOPOTAMUS

THE HIPPOPOTAMUS

Similiter et omnes revereantur Diaconos, ut mandatum Jesu Christi; et Episcopum, ut Jesum Christum, existentem filium Patris; Presbyteros autem, ut concilium Dei et Conjunctionem Apostolorum. Sine his Ecclesia non vocatur; de quibus suadeo vos sic habeo.S. Ignatii Ad Trallianos.And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans.

Similiter et omnes revereantur Diaconos, ut mandatum Jesu Christi; et Episcopum, ut Jesum Christum, existentem filium Patris; Presbyteros autem, ut concilium Dei et Conjunctionem Apostolorum. Sine his Ecclesia non vocatur; de quibus suadeo vos sic habeo.

S. Ignatii Ad Trallianos.

And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans.

Thebroad backed hippopotamusRests on his belly on the mud;Although he seems so firm to usHe is merely flesh and blood.Flesh-and-blood is weak and frail,Susceptible to nervous shock;While the True Church can never failFor it is based upon a rock.The hippo’s feeble steps may errIn compassing material ends,While the True Church need never stirTo gather in its dividends.The potamus can never reachThe mango on the mango tree;But fruits of pomegranate and peachRefresh the Church from over sea.At mating time the hippo’s voiceBetrays inflexions hoarse and odd,But every week we hear rejoiceThe Church, at being one with God.The hippopotamus’s dayIs past in sleep; at night he hunts;God works in a mysterious wayThe Church can sleep and eat at once.I saw the potamus take wingAscending from the damp savannas,And quiring angels round him singThe praise of God in loud hosannas.Blood of the Lamb shall wash him cleanAnd him shall heavenly arms enfold,Among the saints he shall be seenPerforming on a harp of gold.He shall be washed as white as snow,By all the martyr’d virgins kist,While the True Church remains belowWrapt in the old miasmal mist.

Thebroad backed hippopotamusRests on his belly on the mud;Although he seems so firm to usHe is merely flesh and blood.Flesh-and-blood is weak and frail,Susceptible to nervous shock;While the True Church can never failFor it is based upon a rock.The hippo’s feeble steps may errIn compassing material ends,While the True Church need never stirTo gather in its dividends.The potamus can never reachThe mango on the mango tree;But fruits of pomegranate and peachRefresh the Church from over sea.At mating time the hippo’s voiceBetrays inflexions hoarse and odd,But every week we hear rejoiceThe Church, at being one with God.The hippopotamus’s dayIs past in sleep; at night he hunts;God works in a mysterious wayThe Church can sleep and eat at once.I saw the potamus take wingAscending from the damp savannas,And quiring angels round him singThe praise of God in loud hosannas.Blood of the Lamb shall wash him cleanAnd him shall heavenly arms enfold,Among the saints he shall be seenPerforming on a harp of gold.He shall be washed as white as snow,By all the martyr’d virgins kist,While the True Church remains belowWrapt in the old miasmal mist.

Thebroad backed hippopotamusRests on his belly on the mud;Although he seems so firm to usHe is merely flesh and blood.

Thebroad backed hippopotamus

Rests on his belly on the mud;

Although he seems so firm to us

He is merely flesh and blood.

Flesh-and-blood is weak and frail,Susceptible to nervous shock;While the True Church can never failFor it is based upon a rock.

Flesh-and-blood is weak and frail,

Susceptible to nervous shock;

While the True Church can never fail

For it is based upon a rock.

The hippo’s feeble steps may errIn compassing material ends,While the True Church need never stirTo gather in its dividends.

The hippo’s feeble steps may err

In compassing material ends,

While the True Church need never stir

To gather in its dividends.

The potamus can never reachThe mango on the mango tree;But fruits of pomegranate and peachRefresh the Church from over sea.

The potamus can never reach

The mango on the mango tree;

But fruits of pomegranate and peach

Refresh the Church from over sea.

At mating time the hippo’s voiceBetrays inflexions hoarse and odd,But every week we hear rejoiceThe Church, at being one with God.

At mating time the hippo’s voice

Betrays inflexions hoarse and odd,

But every week we hear rejoice

The Church, at being one with God.

The hippopotamus’s dayIs past in sleep; at night he hunts;God works in a mysterious wayThe Church can sleep and eat at once.

The hippopotamus’s day

Is past in sleep; at night he hunts;

God works in a mysterious way

The Church can sleep and eat at once.

I saw the potamus take wingAscending from the damp savannas,And quiring angels round him singThe praise of God in loud hosannas.

I saw the potamus take wing

Ascending from the damp savannas,

And quiring angels round him sing

The praise of God in loud hosannas.

Blood of the Lamb shall wash him cleanAnd him shall heavenly arms enfold,Among the saints he shall be seenPerforming on a harp of gold.

Blood of the Lamb shall wash him clean

And him shall heavenly arms enfold,

Among the saints he shall be seen

Performing on a harp of gold.

He shall be washed as white as snow,By all the martyr’d virgins kist,While the True Church remains belowWrapt in the old miasmal mist.

He shall be washed as white as snow,

By all the martyr’d virgins kist,

While the True Church remains below

Wrapt in the old miasmal mist.


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