Arts & Sciences

The Epistle to All Readers

by Sir John Harington 1560–1612

From The Most Elegant and Witty Epigrams (1618)

Arts & Sciences

WHen in your hand you had this Pamphlet caught,
Your purpose was to post it ouer speedie,
But change your minde, and feede not ouer-greedy:
Till in what sort, to feede you first be taught.
Suppose both first and second course be done,
No Goose, Porke, Capon, Snites, nor such as these,
But looke for fruit, as Nuts, and Parma-cheese,
And Comfets, Conserues, Raisons of the Sunne.
Then taste but few at once, feede not too fickle,
So shall you finde some coole, some warme, some biting,
Some sweet in taste, some sharpe, all so delighting,
As may your inward taste, and fancie tickle.
But though I wish Readers, with stomacks full,
Yet fast nor come not, if your wits be dull.
For I had liefe you did sit downe and whistle,
As reading, not to reede. So ends th' Epistle.

MLA

Harington, John. “The Epistle to All Readers.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/harington/0/.

Chicago

Harington, John. “The Epistle to All Readers.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/harington/0/.

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