Page:Scoundrel Will's advice to his sons.pdf/4

4 4. A score of years are more than run

Since I, with only one pound one,

In business for myself begun

My lot to try,

And found this world required a man

Stern, deep, and sly.

5. A man as subtle as auld Nick,

Prepar'd to meet or play a trick;

Who would at nothing stand or stick,

But boldly strive,

By every means, through thin and thiek,

His point to drive.

6. So ticklish now is every trade,

No business-man well can evade

Telling at times what may be said

To be a lie;

And none to cheat are now afraid,

'Tis do or die.

7. Men might be honest long ago,

And justieejustice [sic] like a stream might flow;

But times are altered so much so,

That I may say,

An honest man is not below

The sun this day.

8. Truth, honour, justieejustice [sic], and so forth,

Have long been banish'd from the earth;

Had I been honest since my birth,

I had not been

The man I am, nor ever worth

A penny preen.

9. Ye know yourselves as well as I,

I work twa farms, and sell and buy

All kinds of victual, horse, and kye,

And dn the skin,

However selfish, shrewd, or sly,

Could tak' me in.