What praise can one offer for the honorable preacher; if it were not for just this one flaw, he would surely have been a saint.

Here, the poet uses brilliant irony to gently tease the self-righteous preacher who cannot resist giving unsolicited moral lectures. On the surface, he offers lavish respect, declaring that this guide has all the makings of a true saint or spiritual master. The delightful punchline lies in that single missing virtue—the flaw of constantly meddling, judging, and preaching without any real empathy or warmth.