The true Effigies of the Germane Giant, now To be seen at the Swan near Charing-Cross, whose Stature is Nine foot and a half in height, and the Span of his Hand a Cubit complete. He goes from place to place with his Wife, who is but of an ordinary Stature, and takes Money for the Show of her Husband.  
 depiction of a German Giant  
IT from Tradition hath of old been said,  
This Isle by Giants was inhabited,  
Who with an Oak in hand would walk as free,  
As once 
* Et teneram ab radice ferens silvane cupressum. Virg. Geor 1.  Silvanus with a Cypress Tree;  
And hence 'tis like, that first of all 'twas spoke,  
This hardy Nation had their hearts of Oak:  
Arms lent by Nature, and throughout the Land,  
The Oak complying with the Giant's hand;  
Fit for their hand, and not without desert,  
The Oak complying with the Giant's heart;  
Yet though this Island better fenced stood  
With walls of Oak, than Gyantean blood,  
With walls, whose tops and bottoms do disdain  
All opposition from the Roaring Main,  
Yet it must not in honour be denied  

Virg. Eneid. 1.  That Giants first did in this Isle reside;  
Aetnean Brothers whose bold Heads aloft,  
The tops of Hills, and Clouds beneath them scoffed;  
Such by the Labels both of Fame and Fate,  
Was by the dread Hand of mighty Askepate;  
Who near Southampton, a full mile, had strength  
To throw a Millstone on his foot at length:  
So vast a Stone, upon his foot below,  
Seemed but a Corn upon the Giant's toe.  
The place to this day to be seen, doth tell  
Where this was done, and where the Millstone fell;  
And such stout Coronaeus was, from whom  
Cornwall's first Honour, and her Name doth come:  
For though he showeth not so great, nor tall.  
In his Dimensions set forth at Guild-Hall,  
Know 'tis a Poet only can define  
A Giant's posture in a Giant's line,  
The Art falls short of Nature, and must err,  
When Rules are given her by the Carpenter,  
Who ought not Bulks uncircumscribed to draw  
By the small Compass of his own scant Law;  
And thus attended with his direful Dog,  
The Giant was (God bless us) Gogmagog.  
And He who (feared by his prodigious Frame)  
Not long since kept the gates of Nottingham;  
And many others who have left to all  
Succeeding times their proud Memorial.  
And though that Nature now more spent and old,  
Doth in such off springs grow more weak and cold,  
Yet some Remainders to this day are seen,  
Of what we find she heretofore hath been:  
Witness this Giant who not long ago  
Was seen in Ipswich at a public Show,  
And though no Native, yet his Birth must be  
Famed, as his Country is of Germany:  
Poor Germany who now the Turks do rant,  
Many more Giants like himself doth want.  
To see him hundreds day by day do throng  
As he from place to place doth pass along,  
His Bode's uncertain, for to think 'tis vain  
One place so tall a Wonder to contain;  
His whole proportion is upright, and straight,  
'Tis nine foot fully, and a half in height:  
Not much in debt to Age, his Body clean,  
Up to his Stature, and not fat, nor lean;  
His Hand exceeds in bigness, and his Span  
'Bove twice th'extensions of another man.  
He no excess of any Wine doth pour  
Into his Gorge, nor doth he much devour:  
And though his Stature be admired, yet he  
Doth seem much pleased with Mediocrity:  
But that which makes the wonder seem more rife,  
This so great Giant hath a little Wife;  
By whose Advice he's carried up and down  
From Court to Country, and from Town to Town,  
He is her Gain, where ever he doth go,  
'tis she receives the Money for the Show,  
A Woman lovely, and in all complete;  
And though but little, yet her wit is great:  
Thus heretofore true Love with Love did die  
The faithful Phillis, and the good Sir Guy:  
But that a Giant, one so tall in show,  
Should choose a Wife, and live with one so low,  
Is more than ever any Age yet knew;  
And haply more than Age again shall view.  
FINIS.   

London, Printed for Matthew Collins at the Three Black Birds in Cannon-street. 1668.