University of Virginia Library

To the no lesse knowing then ingenious, Mr. Hall on his ignorant Detractors.

Thou need'st no nose-lesse monuments display
Or Ear-cropp'd Images: leave that by-way
To those who are contented to be known
By their fore-fathers Virtues, not their own:
Those who scarce other worth acknowledge will
Then what each Taylor puts into his bill,
Such plumed Estrages, 'tis hard to say
Whether the feathers or the Head out-weigh:
Thou scorn'st these cheats, thy works purchase thee more
Then they can swappe there Heritages for,
A name (I mean) 'mongst those who do advance
Learning as much as they hugge Ignorance.
Thou was a Nestor in thine Infancy,
Should they live Nestor's years they'd Infants die.
When e're they learn, what thou could'st teach at Tenne,
The world in Charity shall call them Men.
Thy Dwarf and Gyant may fit emblems be
Of what proportion is 'twixt them and thee.
Could'st thou hedwarfe thy soul, thou might'st descend
Perhaps to please these Gallants, and so blend
Words with them now and then, and make a noise
'Bout some Gay-nothing, or themselves: such Toyes
Could'st thou like, they would Thee; till then expect
Poems from them as soon as not-neglect.
If they commend one verse which thou hast writ,
That Verse shall be'mongst thy Errata's set.