Page:Pennyworth of wit, or, The deluded merchant, and his harlot.pdf/7

( 7 ) But if in want and miſery, you'll nought but frowns from her behold, And ready to betray thy life, when wretched, naked, poor and low, But thy true-hearted faithful wife, will ſtand by thee in well or woe.

If thou wilt prove the truth of this, ſtrip off thy gaudy rich array, And ſo return to thy lewd miſs, declare that thou was caſt away, Thy riches buried in the main: beſides, as you paſs'd thro' a wood, One of your ſervants you had ſlain, for which your life in danger ſtood:

Beſeech her for to ſhelter thee, declare on her you do depend: And then, alas! full ſoon you'll ſee, how far ſhe'll prove a faithful friend. Then, if ſhe frowns, go to thy wife, tell her this melancholy thing; Who labours moſt to ſave thy life; let her be moſt in thy eſteem.

Father, the merchant then reply'd, you muſt this ſingle penny take, And when I have croſs'd the ocean wide, a proof of this I mean to make.