65 — ¶ A Sonet Against a Slanderous TongueE406
¶ Chap. 54
Doth darnell good, among the flowrie wheat?
Doo thistles good, so thick in fallow spide?
Doo taint wormes good, that lurke where ox should eat
Or sucking drones, in hiue where bees abide?
Doo hornets good, or these same biting gnats?
Foule swelling toades, what good by them is seene?
In house well deckt, what good doth gnawing rats?
Or casting mowles, among the meadowes greene?
Doth heauie newes make glad the hart of man?
Or noisome smels, what good doth that to health?
Now once for all, what good (shew who so can?)
Doo stinging1 snakes, to this our Commonwealth?
No more doth good a peeuish slanderous toung,
But hurts it selfe, and noies both old and young.E407
Notes
1 stinking. 1577.