Classic and Contemporary Poetry
TO HE LONDON READER, ON ODCOMBIAN WRITER, POLYTOPIAN THOMAS, by BEN JONSON Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Whoever he be, would write a story at Last Line: The height, let him learn of mr tom coriat. Subject(s): Coriat, Thomas (1577-1617); Coriate, Thomas | ||||||||
Whoever he be, would write a story at The height, let him learn of Mr Tom Coriat; Who, because his matter in all should be meet, To his strength, hath measured it out with his feet. And that, say philosophers, is the best model. Yet who could have hit on it but the wise noddle Of our Odcombian, that literate elf? To line out no stride, but paced by himself? And allow you for each particular mile, By the scale of his book, a yard of his style? Which, unto all ages, for his will be known, Since he treads in no other man's steps but his own. And that you may see he most luckily meant To write it with the self-same spirit he went, He says to the world, let any man mend it, In five months he went it, in five months he penned it. But who will believe this, that chanceth to look The map of his journey, and sees in his book, France, Savoy, Italy, and Helvetia, The Low Countries, Germany, and Rhetia, There named to be travelled? For this our Tom saith: Pies on it, you have his historical faith. Each leaf of his journal, and line doth unlock The truth of his heart there, and tells what o'clock He went out at each place, and at what he came in, How long he did stay, at what sign he did inn. Besides, he tried ship, cart, wagon, and chair, Horse, foot, and all but flying in the air: And therefore however the travelling nation, Or builders of story have oft imputation Of lying, he fears so much the reproof Of his foot, or his pen, his brain, or his hoof, That he dares to inform you, but somewhat meticulous, How scabbed, how ragged, and how pediculous He was in his travel, how like to be beaten, For grapes he had gathered, before they were eaten. How fain for his venery he was to cry Tergum O, And lay in straw with the horses at Bergamo, How well, and how often his shoes too were mended, That sacred to Odcombe are now there suspended, I mean that one pair, wherewith he so hobbled From Venice to Flushing, were not they well cobbled? Yes. And thanks God in his 'pistle or his book How many learned men he have drawn with his hook Of Latin and Greek, to his friendship. And seven He there doth protest he saw of the eleven. Nay more in his wardrobe, if you will laugh at a Jest, he says. Item one suit of black taffeta Except a doublet, and bought of the Jews: So that not them, his scabs, lice, or the stews, Or anything else that another should hide, Doth he once dissemble, but tells he did ride In a cart 'twixt Montrell and Abbeville. And being at Flushing enforced to feel Some want, they say in a sort he did crave: I writ he only his tail there did wave; Which he not denies. Now being so free, Poor Tom, have we cause to suspect just thee? No: as I first said, who would write a story at The height, let him learn of Mr Tom Coriat. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...EPISTLE TO JOHN BRADSHAW, ESQ.: 3 by CHARLES COTTON TO THE RIGHT NOBLE TOM, TELL-TROTH OF HIS TRAVELS, CORIAT by BEN JONSON A CELEBRATION OF CHARIS: 1. HIS EXCUSE FOR LOVING by BEN JONSON A CELEBRATION OF CHARIS: 4. HER TRIUMPH by BEN JONSON A CELEBRATION OF CHARIS: 5. HIS DISCOURSE WITH CUPID by BEN JONSON A FIT OF RHYME AGAINST RHYME [OR, RIME] by BEN JONSON A NYMPH'S PASSION by BEN JONSON A SONNET, TO THE NOBLE LADY, THE LADY MARY WROTH by BEN JONSON AN ODE TO HIMSELF by BEN JONSON ANSWER TO MASTER WITHER'S SONG, 'SHALL I, WASTING IN DESPAIR?' by BEN JONSON EPICOENE; OR, THE SILENT WOMAN: FREEDOM IN DRESS by BEN JONSON |
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