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VIII.—John Taylor, the Water-Poet.
In laudem Authoris.
To the Helliconian Water-Poet, my honest friend, Iohn Taylor.
In euery Art, saue Poetry, the meaneIs praisd: but therein meanely-well to do
Is base, too base: then Iudgment cannot leane
On whats too base, but base it must be too.
Then each man that his Reputation huggs
For Iudgment, praise no lines of but meane Reach:
And laude but what drawes dry Mineruaes duggs,
Lest they their Iudgments might thereby impeach.
Then is my Iudgment Iack, perplext in thee;
For thou dost write so well with meanes so ill
That thine Admirer I confesse to be,
Much rather then the Iudger of thy skill:
Art makes not Poetry, thou dost plainly proue,
But supernaturall bountie from aboue.
Iohn Dauis.
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