The Jester and the Little Fishes

Far, from Societies where I haue place
Be all half Witts, and Acters of grimace ;
Buffoons, and Mimmicks, quoters of old saws,
The easy purchasers of dull Applause;
Still, plagues to men of true, but modest sence,
Who, must not take, though Jesters give offence;
Nor, yett, oppose the Laughers, and the cry,
And but by Silence, their assent deny.
A Jester, was the man, of whom we treate
Though now, more Innocent was his conceit
And, not for mischeif utter'd but for meat.
Receiv'd a Guest, at such a plenteous Board
As did of Fish, all rarities affoard,
It griev'd him sore, that next to him were plac'd
By chance, or malice, but the worst and least,
Whilst, at the upper end, his greedy Eye
Survey'd such Fish, as Killigrew might buy ;
A Smelt at length, from out his slender cheer
He draws, and seems to whisper in itts ear;
Does then another, and another, take,
And with them all, in private, feigns to speak,
The luckyer feeders, for a moment ceas'd,
To penetrate the meaning of the jest ;
No jest, he cries, but forreign news I try
To learn, by conuersation with the Fry,
A Scott, my Friend, some Akers had of Land,
Which, since no Corn, nor Tree wou'd on them stand,
He turn'd to pounds, and thought his fortune made
By joyning in the Caledonian Trade;
So, cross'd the waves, but now, sad rumours come
Th' unhappy youth, abroad has found his Doom;
To know the truth, and sett my thoughts att ease,
I question'd with these Pigmies of the Seas,
Who modestly reply, with loosen'd tongue,
For Dariens Istmus they were far too yong,
Nor from the Shoar, a League cou'd hard'ly keep;
But, send me, to those Monsters of the Deep,
Which round the World a yearly course maintain
Till now, here dress'd, they swim in sawce again,
Cou'd I, but speak, with one of those full-grown,
My Friend's disaster might be thoroughly known ;
Whether, detain'd by Death, by want, or wind,
The Project broke, he stayes so long behind?
None, need demand, if his invention took,
Who for his teeth, thus made his tongue the hook.
A Jest, well tim'd, though from a worthless Man
Often obtains, more then true merit can.