Florentine Ingratitude



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 Florentine Ingratitude 

SIR JOSHUA sent his own portrait to The birthplace of Michael Angelo, And in the hand of the simpering fool He put a dirty paper scroll, And on the paper, to be polite, Did ‘Sketches by Michael Angelo’ write. The Florentines said ‘’Tis a Dutch-English bore, Michael Angelo’s name writ on Rembrandt’s door.’ The Florentines call it an English fetch, For Michael Angelo never did sketch; Every line of his has meaning, And needs neither suckling nor weaning. ’Tis the trading English-Venetian cant To speak Michael Angelo, and act Rembrandt: It will set his Dutch friends all in a roar To write ‘Mich. Ang.’ on Rembrandt’s door; But you must not bring in your hand a lie If you mean that the Florentines should buy. Giotto’s circle or Apelles’ line Were not the work of sketchers drunk with wine; Nor of the city clock’s running … fashion; Nor of Sir Isaac Newton’s calculation. ________________________________________

The original text:
 Florentine Ingratitude  Sir Joshua sent his own Portrait to The birth Place of Michael Angelo And in the hand of the simpering fool He put a Dirty paper scroll And on the paper to be polite Did Sketches by Michel Angelo write The Florentines said Tis a Dutch English bore Michael Angelos Name writ on Rembrandts door The Florentines call it an English Fetch For Michael Angelo did never Sketch Every line of his has Meaning And needs neither Suckling nor Weaning Tis the trading English Venetian Cant To speak Michael Angelo & Act Rembrandt It will set his Dutch friends all in a roar To write Mch Ang on Rembrandts Door But You must not bring in your hand a Lie If you mean that the Florentines should buy Ghiottos Circle or Apelles Line Were not the Work of Sketchers drunk with Wine Nor of the City Clarks merry hearted Fashion Nor of Sir Isaac Newtons Calculation Nor of the City Clarks Idle Facilities Which sprang from Sir Isaac Newtons great Abilities These Verses were written by a very Envious Man Who whatever likeness he may have to Michael Angelo Never can have any to Sir Jehoshuan ________________________________________