Don Surly, to aspire the glorious name Of a great man, and to be thought the same, Makes serious use of all great trade he knows. He speaks to men with a Rhinocerotes' nose, Which he thinks great; and so reads verses too, And that is done as he saw great men do. He has timpanies of business in his face, And can forget men's names with a great grace. He will both argue and discourse in oaths, Both which are great; and laugh at ill-made clothes -- That's greater yet -- to cry his own up neat. He doth, at meals, alone his pheasant eat, Which is main greatness; and at this still board He drinks to no man; that's, too, like a lord. He keeps another's wife, which is a spice Of solemn greatness. And he dares, at dice, Blaspheme God greatly, or some poor hind beat That breathes in his dog's way; and this is great. Nay more, for greatness' sake, he will be one May hear my epigrams, but like of none. Surly, use other arts; these only can Style thee a most great fool, but no great man. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TO THE RIVER CHARLES by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW THE FIRST SNOWFALL by JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL FLOWERS WITHOUT FRUIT by JOHN HENRY NEWMAN SING-SONG; A NURSERY RHYME BOOK: 105 by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI ASTROPHEL AND STELLA: 109 by PHILIP SIDNEY ENGLAND AND HER COLONIES [OR, DOMINIONS] by WILLIAM WATSON THE SHIPMAN'S TALE by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH |