ENVOY
When an evil deed 's to do
Friar Lubin is stout and true;
Glimmers a ray of goodness through it,
Friar Lubin cannot do it.
The Annotated Edition
ENVOY by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
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This short poem delivers a clever jab at a hypocritical friar named Lubin.
- Themes
- art, betrayal, faith
§01Quick summary
What this poem is about
This short poem delivers a clever jab at a hypocritical friar named Lubin. He’s all enthusiasm and skill when it comes to doing wrong, but as soon as something good comes up, he becomes completely inept. Longfellow uses just four lines to poke fun at religious hypocrisy, opting for a light-hearted approach instead of preaching. It has the feel of a folk epigram—snappy, unforgettable, and a bit biting in the most enjoyable way.
§02Themes
Recurring themes
§03Line by line
Stanza by stanza, with notes
When an evil deed 's to do / Friar Lubin is stout and true;
Editor's note
The poem begins by highlighting Friar Lubin's most dependable trait: he arrives, bold and reliable, whenever there's something wicked to tackle. The word *stout* has a clever double meaning — it hints at both solid physicality and moral strength, which is darkly amusing since that strength is aimed at evil. The rhyme of *do* and *true* secures the concept with a satisfying snap.
Glimmers a ray of goodness through it, / Friar Lubin cannot do it.
Editor's note
The second couplet turns the first upside down. As soon as any goodness appears — even just a *glimmer*, a tiny sliver — Friar Lubin suddenly loses his strength. The humor lies in this contrast: the same man who is *stout and true* when it comes to evil becomes powerless against virtue. The rhyme of *through it* and *do it* reflects the structure of the first couplet, creating a tight, symmetrical shape that feels like a trap snapping shut.
§04Tone & mood
How this poem feels
The tone is dry and satirical, delivered with a straight face. There's no anger or frantic gestures — just a cool, amused contempt for those who don religious robes while contradicting their own teachings. It feels like a toast at a dinner party where everyone is fully aware of who the speaker is referring to.
§05Symbols & metaphors
Symbols & metaphors
- Friar Lubin
- Lubin isn't just an example of a bad monk — he's a symbol. His name has roots in a rich tradition of satirical literature, like Clément Marot's French epigrams, where Lubin symbolizes any clergyman who takes advantage of his role. He embodies institutional hypocrisy: the difference between what someone is expected to be and their actual behavior.
- A ray of goodness
- The *glimmer* or *ray* of goodness is intentionally minor — Longfellow doesn't mention a flood of virtue or a significant moral challenge. Even the smallest hint of good is enough to immobilize Lubin. This sharpens the satire: his corruption isn't merely a flaw; it's complete.
- Stout and true
- These words usually denote admiration — a *stout* heart, a *true* friend. The poem's main ironic twist lies in using them to speak of someone's dedication to evil. Longfellow takes virtuous language to portray its complete opposite, which is what gives the line its sharp impact.
§06Historical context
Historical context
Longfellow published this poem as an "Envoy" — a brief closing piece — likely inspired by the French tradition of epigrams, especially the satirical verses of Clément Marot (1496–1544), who turned "Frère Lubin" into a common figure representing corrupt clergy in Renaissance France. By the mid-19th century, when Longfellow was writing, the Catholic Church was often ridiculed by Protestant American satirists, and the image of the hypocritical friar had a long literary history, appearing in works like Chaucer's Canterbury Tales and Boccaccio's Decameron. While Longfellow is mainly recognized for his earnest and sentimental poetry, he was also an adept translator with a sharp wit, which he often showcased in his shorter works. This poem aligns with the tradition of the epigram: a compact, precisely crafted piece meant to deliver a clever jab with a smile.
§07FAQ
Questions readers ask
Friar Lubin (or *Frère Lubin*) is a character from French satirical poetry, notably linked to the Renaissance poet Clément Marot. Marot used Lubin to represent corrupt and hypocritical clergy. Longfellow, familiar with European literature, likely drew from this tradition when crafting the poem.
An *envoy* (also spelled *envoi*) is a concise closing stanza or poem, typically intended to conclude a larger work or provide a final, impactful statement. Here, Longfellow uses the title to indicate that this is a short, independent farewell — a quick jab at the end.
The poem consists of two rhyming couplets: AABB. The first couplet features the rhymes *do* and *true*, while the second pairs *through it* with *do it*. This neat, symmetrical structure reflects the poem's theme of two perfectly balanced opposites (evil/good, capable/incapable).
The target here is hypocrisy, not religion as a whole. Longfellow isn't claiming that all friars are bad; rather, he's highlighting *this type* of person who hides behind a facade of moral authority to justify wrongdoing. The satire is precise, not sweeping.
The brevity is key. An epigram communicates its message with maximum efficiency — adding extra words would lessen its impact. Longfellow only needs four lines to set up and deliver the joke. This short format also gives it the quality of a proverb, making it memorable and easy to repeat.
*Stout* refers to someone who is bold, resolute, and dependable. *True* indicates loyalty and reliability. In everyday language, both words are compliments, which is precisely why Longfellow uses them to describe Lubin's commitment to evil — the irony lies in the fact that he exemplifies dedication, but it's directed entirely the wrong way.
Not quite. Longfellow is primarily recognized for his lengthy narrative poems such as *The Song of Hiawatha* and *Paul Revere's Ride*, along with his sentimental lyrics. This poem reveals another aspect of his talent — that of a skilled translator and epigrammatist who could be genuinely witty and sharp when he chose to be.
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