The Rocke of Regard diuided into foure parts. The first, the Castle of delight: Wherein is reported, the wretched end of wanton and dissolute liuing. The second, the Garden of Vnthriftinesse: Wherein are many sweete flowers, (or rather fancies) of honest loue. The thirde, the Arbour of Vertue: Wherein slaunder is highly punished, and vertuous Ladies and Gentlewomen, worthily commended. The fourth, the Ortchard of Repentance: Wherein are discoursed, the miseries that followe dicing, the mischiefes of quareling, the fall of prodigalitie: and the souden ouerthrowe of foure notable cousners, with diuers other morall, natural, & tragical discourses: documents and admonitions being all the inuention, collection and translation of George Whetstons |
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The euill fortune of a couetous person,
and what profite ariseth by the death of a churle.
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 | The Rocke of Regard |  |
The euill fortune of a couetous person, and what profite ariseth by the death of a churle.
A desperate wight, his fortunes foule to free,(By wilfull death) to rid his cares did choose,
But as he trudgd, to totter on a tree.
Untimely there, his loathed life to loose,
(A rare good hap) a pot of golde he found,
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Anon a carle, came sheaking through the ground,
In steede of gold, a rope who there did finde,
Which haplesse sight, so nipt him at the hart,
That loe for woe, hee pissed where hee stoode,
At length (quoth hee) this cord shall cure my smart,
And so hee hung himselfe in sullen moode.
The sight were fayre, if euery bough did beare,
Such kinde of fruites, till caren churles were choakt,
Whose deathes inforce, a thousand well to fare,
Their liues the poore, as many wayes hath yoakt.
The wormes reioyce, vppon a churle to gnawe,
The poore man then, whom hee did pinch of yore,
Hath pennie dole, and meate to fil his mawe,
Where scarcitie was, forthwith appeareth store.
Pray for his soule, the common people crie,
As for his life, the world full well may spare,
His hordes of gold, about the house then flie,
Catch who catch may, his goods a hundred share.
His heapes of corne, to euery market sailes,
Which close hee kept, in hope of some deare yeare,
And where hee sparde, the parings of his nailes,
His sonne may spend and make his friends good cheare,
If such increase, comes by a carrens death,
Who would not wish, a cord to stop his breath?
| The Rocke of Regard | |