Page:Penny-worth of wit (5).pdf/6

 And loving friends, for ought I know,

I mean this ſingle penny prize,

It may be 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 fail to ſea they went,

Neptune the golden cargo bore,

Through roaring waves to their content,

at length 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 cry'd, What is the matter now?

Said he, I'm poor and penny-leſs,

with that he made a courteous bow.

Crying, no man was e’er ſo croft,

as I have been ſweet heart’s delight,

My ſhip and all I had is loft,

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 years,

Into thy hands I’ll put my life,

take pity on my melting tears.

Ye bloody villain the reply’d,

don’t in the leaſt on me depend,

Begone, or as I live, ſhe cry’d,

I for an officer will ſend.