Thomas Humphry Ward, ed. The English Poets. 1880–1918.rnVol. II. The Seventeenth Century: Ben Jonson to Dryden

George Wither (1588–1667)

Weakness (from Abuses Stript and Whipt)

THIS in defence of poesie to say

I am compelled because that of this day

Weakness and ignorance have wronged it sore;

But what need any man therein speak more

Than divine Sidney hath already done?

For whom, though he deceased ere I begun,

I have oft sighed, and bewailed my fate,

That brought me forth so many years too late

To view that worthy; and now think not you

O Daniel, Drayton, Johnson, Chapman, how

I long to see you with your fellow peers,

Sylvester matchless, glory of these years;

I hitherto have only heard your fames,

And know you yet but by your works and names:

The little time I on the earth have spent

Would not allow me any more content:

I long to know you better, that ’s the truth,

I am in hope you ’ll not disdain my youth:

For know you, Muses’ darlings, I’ll not crave

A fellowship amongst you for to have.

Oh, no; for though my ever willing heart

Have vowed to love and praise you and your art,

And though that I your style do now assume,

I do not, nor I will not so presume;

I claim not that too worthy name of Poet;

It is not yet deserved by me, I know it;

Grant me I may but on your Muses tend,

And be enrolled their servant or their friend;

And if desert hereafter worthy make me,

Then for a fellow, if it please you, take me.