St. Philip Neri, as old readings say,
Met a young stranger in Rome's streets one day,
And being ever courteously inclined
To give young folks a sober turn of mind,
He fell into discourse with him, and thus
The dialogue they held comes down to us.
_Saint_.--Tell me what brings you, gentle youth, to Rome?
_Youth_.--To make myself a scholar, sir, I come.
_St_.--And when you are one, what do you intend?
_Y_.--To be a priest, I hope, sir, in the end.
_St_.--Suppose it so; what have you next in view?
_Y_.--That I may get to be a canon too.
_St_.--Well; and what then?
_Y_.-- Why then, for aught I know,
I may be made a bishop.
_St_.-- Be it so,--
What next?
_Y_.-- Why, cardinal's a high degree;
And yet my lot it possibly may be.
_St_.--Suppose it was; what then?
_Y_.-- Why, who can say
But I've a chance of being pope one day?
_St_.--Well, having worn the miter and red hat,
And triple crown, what follows after that?
_Y_.--Nay, there is nothing further, to be sure,
Upon this earth, that wishing can procure:
When I've enjoyed a dignity so high
As long as God shall please, then I must die.
_St_.--What! must you die? fond youth, and at the best,
But wish, and hope, and may be, all the rest!
Take my advice--whatever may betide,
For that which _must be_, first of all provide;
Then think of that which _may be_; and indeed,
When well prepared, who knows what may succeed,
But you may be, as you are pleased to hope,
Priest, canon, bishop, cardinal, and pope.
* * * * *
ST. PHILIP NERI, born in Florence, Italy, in 1515. Went to Rome in
1533, where he founded the "Priests of the Oratory," and where he died
in 1595.
TRIPLE CROWN, the tiara; the crown worn by our Holy Father, the
Pope.