I don't think that the "hanging on the words of a madman" line specifically refers to the pope, or god or anything religious.
Socrates died because he challenged the status quo. His trial was mainly political seeing as he challenged the way Athens was run.
If you look at the next few lines "No use for the poet, when the hopeless seek no bliss", this is written from his perspective. It's mainly just about trying to help people that don't want to be helped.
That's why I think the line "Islands in the abyss" is how they need help but don't know that they do.
I don't think that the "hanging on the words of a madman" line specifically refers to the pope, or god or anything religious. Socrates died because he challenged the status quo. His trial was mainly political seeing as he challenged the way Athens was run. If you look at the next few lines "No use for the poet, when the hopeless seek no bliss", this is written from his perspective. It's mainly just about trying to help people that don't want to be helped. That's why I think the line "Islands in the abyss" is how they need help but don't know that they do.