Pestilent The First Poem by Douglas Scotney

By the bigness of his beard
a libertine's pull once was judged;
or, if he couldn't grow one big,
by the clothing that he weared.

By which by me is meant:
the stretches and laughs
rhyme can still add to a tongue
that now calls 'a libertine'
whom it once called 'a pestilent'.

A prince till 24,
the son of James The First
couldn't grow one big;
so advertised by the clothing he weared:
so suggested poet-courtier Sir John Suckling,
though not in words so blunt -
Charles by then was king;
and Charles' wrath John feared.