University of Virginia Library

The prayse of the Poete.

O Poete so impudent
Whyche neuer yet was studente
To thee, the Goddes prudente
Minerua is illudente
Thou wrytest thynges dyffuse
Incongrue, and confuse
Obfuscate and obtuse
No man the lyke doth vse
Among the Turckes or Iewes
Alwayes inuentyng newes
That are incomparable
They be so fyrme and stable
Lyke as a Shyppe is able
Wythout Ancre and Cable
Roother Maste or Sayle
Pully Rope or Nayle
In Wynde Weather or Hayle
To guyde both top and tayle
And not the course to fayle
So thys our Poet maye
Wythout a stopp or staye
In cunnynge wend the way
Aswel by darke as day
And neuer go astray
Yf yt be as they say.
O Poet rare and Recent
Dedecorate/and indecent
Insolent and insensate
Contendyng and condensate
Obtused and obturate
Obumbylate, obdurate
Sparyng no Prest or Curate
Cyuylyan or Rurate
That be alredy marryed
And from theyr vow bene varyed
Wherto the scrypture them caried
They myght as wel haue taryed
I sweare by the north doore Rood
That stowte was whyle he stood
That they had bene as good
To haue solde theyr best blew hood
For I am in suche a moode
That for my power and parte
Wyth al my wyt and arte
Wyth whole intent and harte
I wyl so at them Darte
That some of them shal farte
Before they feele it smarte.
Coulde not these bloods be pleased
Wyth mens wyues to be eased
And in their daughtars seased
As wel as the other greased
Though thus they had not preased?
In fayth they shalbe feased
For I set to my hand
In fyght wyth them to stand
By water and by lande
By grauell and by Sande
And by the salte sea strond
Beholde here is a wand
To beate them back and bone
I trow a thyng alone
To make these gallantes grone
And withe our poetes ayde
They shalbe so dismayde
So fearfull and afrayde
That downe they shalbe layde,
As thycke as hoppes and hayle.
Nowe wyll I them assayle
And threashe them withe my Flayle
To marre these married Preistes
I fyghte wyth bothe my Fystes
Looke on the fraye who Lystes.