Thou, friend, wilt hear all censures; unto thee All mouths are open, and all stomachs free: Be thou my book's intelligencer, note What each man says of it, and of what coat His judgement is; if he be wise, and praise, Thank him: if other, he can give no bays. If his wit reach no higher, but to spring Thy wife a fit of laughter; a cramp ring Will be reward enough: to wear like those, That hang their richest jewels in their nose; Like a rung bear, or swine: grunting out wit As if that part lay for a ( ) most fit! If they go on, and that thou lov'st a-life Their perfumed judgements, let them kiss thy wife. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...PISGAH SIGHTS by ROBERT BROWNING EPITAPHS OF THE WAR, 1914-18: COMMON FORM by RUDYARD KIPLING THALIA by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH THE VOICE FROM GALILEE by HORATIO (HORATIUS) BONAR TO EMILY DICKINSON by MARY BOWEN BRAINERD |