 | The Royal Shepherdess |  |
82
Epilogue.
As a young Merchant who had scap'd of lateThe wrack of all his Wealth, and his own Fate,
When that comes home which he had giv'n for lost,
Would fain preserve what had so dearly cost:
With other Men he ventures little shares
In other Bottoms, but not all his Wares;
Preserving still wherewith to put to Sea
Again, if what he has ventur'd Shipwrackt be.
So our Adventurer, who not long since past
Through these most dang'rous Seas with storms o'recast,
And brought his little Vessel home at last:
Unwilling now to meet another shock,
Has in this Bottom ventur'd some small stock:
Which if you suffer to come safely home,
It may encourage him for time to come;
But if you sink this Vessel, yet he will
Keep on a little Trade a going still.
He sayes you cannot break him, if you do,
But (whatsoe're he sayes) I beg that you
To us will be good natur'd but this day,
And pardon all the errors in our Play.
| The Royal Shepherdess | |