Page:Factor's garland (3).pdf/2



EHOLD here's a ditty the truth and no jest,

Concerning a young gentleman that liv'd in the east,

Who by his great gaming came to poverty,

And afterwards went many a voyages to sea.

Being well educated and one of great wit,

Three merchants in London they all thought it fit

To make him their Captain and Factor also,

And for them a voyage to Turkey did go.

And walking along the streets, there he found,

A poor man's dead corpse lying on the ground;

He asked the reason, why it there did lye?

Then one of the natives did make this reply.

That man was a Christian, sir, while he drew breath

The duty's unpaid, he lies above the earth,

Why, what is the duty the Factor he cry'd,

It is fifty pounds, sir, the Turk he replied.

That is a great sum, quoth the Factor, indeed,

But to see him lie there, it makes my heart bleed;

So then by the Factor the money was paid,

And under the earth the dead carcase was laid.

When having gone further, by chance he did spy,

A beautiful creature just going to die,

A young waiting maid who strangled must be,

For nothing but striking a Turkish lady.

To think of her dying with grief he was fill'd,

Then rivers of tears, like waters distill'd,

and from that to the ground.

he to end the strife,

for this poor creature's life?