 | The knave of Clubbs |  |
A Sharke.
Two hungery Sharkes did trauaile Paules,Vntil their guts cride out,
And knew not how with both their wits
To bring one meale about.
Sayes one to tother, what quoine hast?
My famisht entralls groanes:
I finde but hungry dyet here,
Amongst these rotten bones.
To blesse me in this case,
I must goe seeke to mend my selfe,
In some more wholsome place.
And I but one poore peny haue,
In all the worlde is mine:
(Quoth tother) but Ile trye my wits
How that can make me dine.
So towards Smithfield he departs,
Vnto a Cooeks thereby,
And calleth for his Can of Beere,
The boy comes presently,
And brings it him: Sir said the youth,
Will't please you eat a bit?
Ile fetch a dainty slice of beefe
Is hot vpon the spit.
Sirra (qd. he) why doe and t'woot,
Which nimble Iacke did bring:
And he as nimbly eat it vp,
Yet still his guts did wring.
Iacke sees all gone, saies, Gentleman
Will't please you taste good Cheese?
I boy and t'woot (quoth he againe)
Thought Sharke this well agrees
with my most wofull stomackes state,
So Iacke with Cheese comes in,
Euen as the Beefe had bin.
Being thus dispatcht, he layes down Iack
A peny for the shot;
Sir what shall this doe said the boy?
Why rogue discharge my pot:
So much I cald for, but the rest
By me shall nere be paid,
For victualls thou didst offer me,
Doe and thou woot I said.
Iack seeing he no more would pay
Vnto his maister went,
And tould him there was one within,
That had much victualls spent,
And would not see the house dischargd,
The Cooke vnto him goes,
Requesting him of curtesie,
To pay the debt he owes.
Sir said the swaggerer, I protest,
I cald but for a Can,
According to the coine I had,
As I am Gentle-man,
My hunger was exceeding great,
Your boy did offer beefe,
And bread, and cheese, which when I heard
Vnto my stomakes griefe,
Leauing it to his will;
Which he did bring, as if he meant
My hungry Corps to fill.
I could not chuse but feede thereon,
(This is the truth mine Hoast)
Yet score it vp, when God sends coyne
I will discharge your poast.
The Cooke sees nothing to be had,
Lets him depart away:
Who meetes his fellowe Sharke,
In Paules againe next day.
And tolde him how exceeding well,
He for his penny sped,
On roasted beefe, good bread & cheese,
Onely for that he fed.
Prethy (quoth he) but tell me where?
That Hoast shall sure be mine,
Marry (saies he) in such a place,
A Cooke at such a signe.
Goe there, and call but for a Can,
And ther's a dapper knaue,
Comes, gentleman, what dainty bit
For diet will you haue?
A stately peece of roasted Beefe,
Fine Chese, what will you eat?
You need not pay for's meat.
Oh excellent (quoth he) Il'e goe,
Such simple fooles to gull:
And spend a pot withall my heart,
To fill my belly full.
Away he walkes vnto the house,
To feed him on the iest,
Sirrah (saies he) a Can of beere,
And looke you bring the best.
The boy according to his vse,
Returnes with nimble speede,
Saying, gentleman i'st your desire
On fine roast beefe to feede?
Fine beefe (quoth he?) I boy an t'woot,,
The boy runs downe amaine:
Cries Mr. come, bring Tom and George,
Heere's I an t'woot againe.
His maister brings vp both his men,
In all the hast might bee:
And I an t'woot bebasted so,
He had no eyes to see.
They larded and begreas'd his bones,
Vntill his shoulders sweat:
And gaue him sower sawce good store,
Vnto his fellowes meat.
| The knave of Clubbs | |