 | The Workes of Benjamin Jonson
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XII. On Lieutenant Shift.
Shift, here, in towne, not meanest among Squires,
That haunt Pickt-hatch, Mersh-Lambeth, and White-fryers,
Keeps himselfe, with halfe a man, and defrayes
The charge of that state, with this charme, god payes.
By that one spell he lives, eats, drinks, arrayes
Himselfe: his whole revenue is, god payes.
The quarter day is come; the hostesse sayes,
She must have money: he returnes, god payes.
The taylor brings a suite home; he it 'ssayes,
Looks o're the bill, likes it: and say's, god payes.
He steales to Ordinaries; there he playes
At dice hisborrow'd money: which, god payes.
Then takes up fresh commodities, for dayes;
Signes to new bonds, forfeits: and cries, god payes.
That lost, he keeps his chamber, reades Essayes,
Takes physick, teares the papers: still god payes.
Or else by water goes, and so to playes;
Calls for his stoole, adornes the stage: god payes.
To every cause he meets, this voice he brayes:
His only answer is to all, god payes.
Not his poore cocatrice but he betrayes
Thus: and for his letchery, scores, god payes.
But see! th'old baud hath servd him in his trim,
Lent him a pocky whore. She hath paid him.
| The Workes of Benjamin Jonson
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