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Poems On several Choice and Various Subjects

Occasionally Composed By An Eminent Author. Collected and Published by Sergeant-Major P. F. [i.e. James Howell]

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Of the Original of the English Toung, And her Association With the Italian, Spanish, and French, &c.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Of the Original of the English Toung, And her Association With the Italian, Spanish, and French, &c.

France , Italy and Spain, ye Sisters Three,
Whose Toungs are branches of the Latian Tree
To perfect your odd number be not shy
To take a Fourth to your Society
The high Teutonik Dialect, which bold
Hengistus with his Saxons brought of old
Among the Britains, when by Knife and Sword,
Of England he did first create the VVord.
Nor is 't a small advantage to admit
So Male a Speech to mix with You, and knit:
Who by her Consonants and tougher strains,
VVill bring more Arteries 'twixt your soft Vains:

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For of all Toungs, Dutch hath most Nerves and Bones,
Except the Pole, who hurls his VVords like Stones.
Some fain, that when our Protoplastick Sire
Lost Paradis by a just kindled ire,
He in Italian tempted was, in French
He fell a begging Pardon, but from thence
He was thrust out in the high Teuton Toung
VVhence English, though much polish'd since, is sprung.
This Book is then an inlay'd Piece of Art;
English the Knots which strengthen ev'ry part.
Four Languages are here together fix'd:
Our Lemsters Ore with Naples Silk is mix'd.
The Loire, the Po, the Thames, and Tagus glide
All in one Bed, and kiss each others side.
The Alps and Pyrenean Mountains meet:
The Rose and Fowrdeluce hang in one street.
Nay, Spain &c Redcapt France a League here strike.
If 'twixt their Kings and Crowns there were the like,
Poor Europe should not bleed so fast, and call
Turbans at last unto her Funeral.
 

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