University of Virginia Library

Like Maister, Like man.

A Taylor and his man did late dispute
How many yardes would make a Gyants sute,
Like to Golias, of his sixe Cubits hie,
And fit him to the fashion gallantly,
His Dowblet French, with Horsmans coate to ride,
His Breech the monsters swagger, Woll-sacke wide:
When each had gest, according to his size,
How Silke and Veluet, by the yard would rise,
And all new fangled stuffes, deuisd of late,
They delt with English cloth, at other rate:
What Kersie, and good Broad-cloth would afford,
But by no meanes they could there-on accord:
At length his man, (as sharpe is needle, witted,
Said maister, this same sute, will neare be fitted:
For how can you or I, bring it to passe,
And do not know how thicke the Gyant was?
Troth (quoth his Maister) thou sayst true indeed,
No further in this poynt we will proceede.
Let's frame our worke for ordinary men,
And take of them Gyants alowance, then:
We shall by sure, be little, bigge or tall,
Take still enough, and ther's no losse at all:
For on good grounds of large demaund to stand,
Is Talour-like to haue a sauing hand.
Thankes (quoth his man) for thus instructing mee,
I haue my trade, pray mayster make me free:
Stay, stay, (sayd he) Sirra, you are too hott,
Ile teach you more, A Fooles Bolt soone is shott.