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All the workes of Iohn Taylor the Water-Poet

Being Sixty and three in Number. Collected into one Volume by the Author [i.e. John Taylor]: With sundry new Additions, corrected, reuised, and newly Imprinted

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To my despightfull Foes.
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To my despightfull Foes.

To you that screwd your Iawes awry, & mewd,
And so your worthlesse, witlesse wisdom shewd,
And now and then bestow'd a hisse or twaine,
(To giue more vent to your fantasticke braine)
You might haue kept away, I sent not for you.
If you hate me, I doe as much abhor you:
Like Guests vnbid, you might haue brought your stools,
For as you came, you went away like Fools.
The purpose which my study did intend,
Was by no meanes any one to offend;
And therefore whatsoeuer that they be,
That enuiously do raile and snarle at me,
I can no lesse doe, but with word and pen,
Informe them that they are malicious men.
'Gainst no man in particular I write,
But generally to all that beare me spight:
I pray for them (to make their fury madder)
God turn their hearts, or Hangman turn the ladder,
Which turning sure will either mend or end them,
To one of which my daily Prayers commend them.