World's Best Poetry, Volume 9: Tragedy and Humor (Part 1) — Of a Certaine Man by Sir John Harrington

OF A CERTAINE MAN.

There was (not certaine when) a certaine preacher, That never learned, and yet became a teacher, Who having read in Latine thus a text Of _erat quidam homo_, much perplext, He seemed the same with studie great to scan, In English thus, _There was a certaine man_.

But now (quoth he), good people, note you this, He saith there was, he doth not say there is;

For in these daies of ours it is most plaine Of promise, oath, word, deed, no man's certaine;

Yet by my text you see it comes to passe That surely once a certaine man there was: But yet, I think, in all your Bible no man Can finde this text, _There was a certaine woman_.

SIR JOHN HARRINGTON.