Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon. And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein.

So there they sat a long long time, / Nor could I tell you in my rhyme / How oft their cheeks did change their blee.

depurate the salt

But then the Church came to the front, with an axe to grind; and she was wise, subtle, and knew more than one way to skin a cat—or a nation; […]