Page:Penny-worth of wit (4).pdf/6


 * let her be moſt in thy eſteem.

Father, the merchant then replied,
 * you moſt this ſingle penny take;

When I have paſt the ocean wide,
 * a proof of this I mean to make.

And loving friend, for ought I know,
 * I may this ſingle penny prize,

As being the beſt I did beſtow,
 * in all my wealthy merchandize.

Taking his leave, away they came,
 * both he and his brave hearts of gold.

To whom he ſaid, I'll prove the ſame,
 * when I my native land behold.

ITH full ſpread ſail to ſea they went,
 * Neptune the golden cargo bore,

Through foaming waves to their content,
 * at laſt they reach'd the Britiſh ſhore.

The merchant put on poor array;
 * the very worſt of ragged clothes,

And then without the leaſt delay,
 * he to his wanton harlot goes.

When ſhe beheld him in diſtreſs,
 * ſhe cried, what is the matter now?

He ſaid I'm poor and penny-leſs,
 * with that he made a courteous bow.

Crying no man was e'er ſo croſs'd
 * as I have been my ſweet heart's delight,

My ſhip and all I had is loſt,
 * without thy help I'm ruin'd quite.

My loſs is great, yet that's not all,
 * one of my ſervants I have ſlain,

As we did both at variance fall;
 * ſome ſhelter let me here obtain.

I dare not now go to my wife,
 * whom I have wrong'd for many a year,

Into thy hands I'll put my life,
 * take pity on my melting tear.