Although Goliath rage and swear
Down David doth him bring.
ON JOHN COMBE, A COVETOUS RICH MAN, MR. WILLIAM SHAKE-SPEARE WRIGHT THIS ATT HIS REQUEST WHILE HEE WAS YETT LIVEING FOR HIS EPITAPHE. ****
Ten in the hundred lies here engraved;
' Tis a hundred to ten his soul is not saved;
If any one asks, "Who lies in this tomb?"
"Hoi hoi" quoth the Devil, "'tis my John a Combe."——
* On the authority of Peck, "Memoirs of Milton," 4to, 1740
** On the authority of John Jordan. There is a strong
poetic license here—according to the well-known legend,
William had really only drunk with Bidford; the quantrain is
probably the work of Jordan and not Shakespeare.
*** On the authority of Stratford local tradition.
**** Aslimolean MS., cited by Halliwell. The pun is on the
Warwickshire pronunciation, "Ho! ho!" quoth the Devil, "'tis
my John has come!" See Aubrey's version:
"Ten in the hundred the Devil allows,
But Coombs will have twelve he swears and vows," etc.
——BUT BEING DEAD, AND MAKING THE POOR HIS HEIRES, HEE AFTER WRIGHTES THIS FOR HIS EPITAPHE. *
Howere he lived judge not,