Social Commentaries

To Master Maior of Bathe, that Bathe is like Paradice

by Sir John Harington 1560–1612

From The Most Elegant and Witty Epigrams (1618), Book 1

Social Commentaries

SIr, if you either angry were or sory,
That I haue lik'ned Bathe to Purgatory:
Loe, to re-gaine your fauour in a trice,
I'le proue it much more like to Paradice.
Man was at first in Paradice created,
Many men still in Bathe are procreated.
Man liu'd there in state of Innocence,
Here many liue in wit, like Innocents.
There sprang the heads of foure most noble streames
From hence flow springs, not matcht in any Realme
Those springs & fruits, brought helpe for each disease
These vnto many maladies bring ease.
Man, there was monylesse, naked and poore.
Many goe begging here from dore to dore.
Man there did taste the Tree he was forbidden.
Here many men taste fruits, makes them be chidden
Angels dwell there in pure and shining habit.
Angels like faces, some this place inhabit.
Angels let in all are admitted thither,
Angels keepe in all are admitted hither.
Many are said to goe to heauen from thence,
Many are sent to heauen, or hell, from hence.
But in this one thing likenesse most is fram'd,
That Men in Bathe goe naked, not asham'd.

✦ ✦ ✦

Book 1, Epigram 63

MLA

Harington, John. “To Master Maior of Bathe, that Bathe is like Paradice.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/harington/42/.

Chicago

Harington, John. “To Master Maior of Bathe, that Bathe is like Paradice.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/harington/42/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

More by Sir John Harington