Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

Thomas Humphry Ward, ed. The English Poets. 1880–1918.rnVol. I. Early Poetry: Chaucer to Donne

John Marston (1575?–1634)

To Detraction

FOUL canker of fair virtuous action,

Vile blaster of the freshest blooms on earth,

Envy’s abhorred child, Detraction,

I here expose to thy all-tainting breath

The issue of my brain; snarl, rail, bark, bite,

Know that my spirit scorns Detraction’s spite.

Know that the Genius, which attendeth on

And guides my powers intellectual,

Holds in all vile repute Detraction.

My soul—an essence metaphysical,

That in the basest sort scorns critics’ rage

Because he knows his sacred parentage—

My spirit is not puff’d up with fat fume

Of slimy ale, nor Bacchus’ heating grape;

My mind disdains the dungy muddy scum

Of abject thoughts and Envy’s raging hate.

‘True judgment slight regards Opinion,

A sprightly wit disdains Detraction.’

A partial praise shall never elevate

My settled censure of my own esteem;

A canker’d verdict of malignant hate

Shall ne’er provoke me, worse myself to deem.

Spite of despite, and rancour’s villany,

I am myself, so is my poesy.