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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 | All the workes of Iohn Taylor the Water-Poet |  |
The Cobler (like a Iustice takes) delight
To set men that doe walke aside, vpright.
And though he looke blacke as he carried coles,
He daily mendeth desperate wicked soles:
Though Crownes and Angels may perhaps be scant,
Yet store of peeces he doth neuer want:
And let his worke be ended well or ill,
Here's his true honour, he is mending still.
And this his life and occupation is,
And thus he may thanke Hempseed for all this.
For Hempseed if men rightly vnderstand,
Is knowne the greatest Iustice in a Land:
How could men trauaile safely, here and there,
If Hempseed did not keepe a Theefe in feare;
No man within his house could liue or rest
For villaines, that would pilfer and molest,
And breake downe walls, and rifle chests and truncks
To maintaine drinking, dicing. Knaues and Punks:
That many a one that's wealthy ouer night,
Would e're the breake of day be begger'd quite:
Worth thousands lately, now not worth a groat,
And hardly scapes the cutting of his throat.
No doubt but many a man doth liue and thriue,
Which but (for Hemp-seed) would not be aliue;
And many a wife and Virgin doth escape
A rude deflouring, and a barbarous rape:
Because the halter in their minds doe run,
By whom these damned deeds would else be done.
It is a balwarke to defend a Prince.
It is a Subiects armour and defence:
No Poniard, Pistoll, Halbert, Pike, or Sword
Can such defensiue or sure guard afford.
There's many a Rascall that would rob, purloine,
Pick pockets, and cut purses, clip and coine,
Doe any thing, or all things that are ill,
If Hempseed did not curbe his wicked will.
'Tis not the breath or letter of the Law
That could keepe Theeues rebellious wils in awe;
For they (to saue their liues) can vse perswasions.
Tricks, sleights, repriues, and many strange euasions.
But tricke, repriue, or sleight nor any thing
Could euer goe beyond a Hempen string.
This is Lawes period, this at first was made
To be sharpe Iustice executing blade.
This string the Hangman monthly keepes in tune,
More then the Cuckoes song in May or June,
It doth his wardrobe, coine and stocke vpreare,
In euery moneth and quarter of the years.
To set men that doe walke aside, vpright.
68
He daily mendeth desperate wicked soles:
Though Crownes and Angels may perhaps be scant,
Yet store of peeces he doth neuer want:
And let his worke be ended well or ill,
Here's his true honour, he is mending still.
And this his life and occupation is,
And thus he may thanke Hempseed for all this.
For Hempseed if men rightly vnderstand,
Is knowne the greatest Iustice in a Land:
How could men trauaile safely, here and there,
If Hempseed did not keepe a Theefe in feare;
No man within his house could liue or rest
For villaines, that would pilfer and molest,
And breake downe walls, and rifle chests and truncks
To maintaine drinking, dicing. Knaues and Punks:
That many a one that's wealthy ouer night,
Would e're the breake of day be begger'd quite:
Worth thousands lately, now not worth a groat,
And hardly scapes the cutting of his throat.
No doubt but many a man doth liue and thriue,
Which but (for Hemp-seed) would not be aliue;
And many a wife and Virgin doth escape
A rude deflouring, and a barbarous rape:
Because the halter in their minds doe run,
By whom these damned deeds would else be done.
It is a balwarke to defend a Prince.
It is a Subiects armour and defence:
No Poniard, Pistoll, Halbert, Pike, or Sword
Can such defensiue or sure guard afford.
There's many a Rascall that would rob, purloine,
Pick pockets, and cut purses, clip and coine,
Doe any thing, or all things that are ill,
If Hempseed did not curbe his wicked will.
'Tis not the breath or letter of the Law
That could keepe Theeues rebellious wils in awe;
For they (to saue their liues) can vse perswasions.
Tricks, sleights, repriues, and many strange euasions.
But tricke, repriue, or sleight nor any thing
Could euer goe beyond a Hempen string.
This is Lawes period, this at first was made
To be sharpe Iustice executing blade.
This string the Hangman monthly keepes in tune,
More then the Cuckoes song in May or June,
It doth his wardrobe, coine and stocke vpreare,
In euery moneth and quarter of the years.
| All the workes of Iohn Taylor the Water-Poet | |