TO THE DETRACTOR.
by Robert Herrick


WHERE others love and praise my verses, still
Thy long black thumb-nail marks them out for ill :
A fellon take it, or some whitflaw come
For to unslate or to untile that that thumb !
But cry thee mercy : exercise thy nails
To scratch or claw, so that thy tongue not rails :
Some numbers prurient are, and some of these
Are wanton with their itch ; scratch, and 'twill please.


Fellon, a sore, especially in the finger.
Whitflaw, or whitlow.
Source:
Herrick, Robert. Works of Robert Herrick. vol I.
Alfred Pollard, ed.
London, Lawrence & Bullen, 1891. 80.
Backto Works of Robert Herrick

Site copyright ©1996-2000 Anniina Jokinen. All Rights Reserved.
Created by Anniina Jokinen on March 16, 2000.