 | All the workes of Iohn Taylor the Water-Poet
|  |
|
An Apologie to the Anagram of my Name, made by no Scholler, but a Sculler.
It were a simple Tree thy breath could shake;
But see (meere Malice) how thou dost mistake:
For what thy Title would bestow on me,
Thy selfe art Author of, New Villanie,
But since thou vrgest me, marke how I'l blase
That name, which thou with villany wouldst glase:
For I will ope the Casement, and cleare Light
Shall chase thy blacke verse to eternall Night.
When the first William, Duke of Normandy,
Sayl'd from the Coasts of France to Britany,
Amongst his best Rankes came a Chiualiere,
Whose name in French was called le Fogniere;
Which then our English Tong so well did tender,
Gaue him the Name and Title of Defender,
On the Sea-coasts he did defend so well;
That for his Chrest he beares the Scallop shell.
Since, briefer Language giues vs Fennors dame,
Nor can thy impudence impaire the same:
And for a Token of wrong'd Innocence,
I doe resume my first name for Defence.
My Anagram if thou but rightly scan,
Then thou wilt find 'tis, I will feare no man.
How can I then feare thee that art a Taylor;
A shred of Fustian, and a ragged raylor;
A dish that is not worth the feeding on,
When thou art best in Lent, th'art but Poore Iohn.
| All the workes of Iohn Taylor the Water-Poet
| |
|
