1 'And if I did, what then? <br />2 Are you aggriev'd therefore? <br />3 The sea hath fish for every man, <br />4 And what would you have more?' <br /> <br />5 Thus did my mistress once, <br />6 Amaze my mind with doubt; <br />7 And popp'd a question for the nonce <br />8 To beat my brains about. <br /> <br />9 Whereto I thus replied: <br />10 'Each fisherman can wish <br />11 That all the seas at every tide <br />12 Were his alone to fish. <br /> <br />13 'And so did I (in vain) <br />14 But since it may not be, <br />15 Let such fish there as find the gain, <br />16 And leave the loss for me. <br /> <br />17 'And with such luck and loss <br />18 I will content myself, <br />19 Till tides of turning time may toss <br />20 Such fishers on the shelf. <br /> <br />21 'And when they stick on sands, <br />22 That every man may see, <br />23 Then will I laugh and clap my hands, <br />24 As they do now at me.'<br /><br />George Gascoigne<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/and-if-i-did-what-then/
