University of Virginia Library

A Beggar, 33.

A laysie Lout, that doth himselfe professe.
The Fellow, Pheire, and Mate of Idlenesse.
His Lyfe a Resolution is of Ease:
High-wayes, his VValke, hee travels most in these.
Bot th'Ale-house is the Place of his Retreat,
Where with his VVhore hee will not misse to meete.
And there ore-turnes, and freely tosse the Pot,
That with a feign'd Infirmitie they got.
For busily his Studies are all bent,
To counterfit th'Infirme, and Impotent.
And all his Practise, is espyde to bee,
To cogg, and coozen simple Charitie.
Of all the Rabble of all ranging Rogues,
None are more noysome, than these swarming Frogs.
For into everie Hamlet, Towne, and Farme,
Lyke Caterpillars they doe flocke and swarme.
At Bed, at Board, from Home, and in the House,
Their Fellow and Companion is a Lowse.
VVith Blessings they begin, and pray for all;
Bot into cursing ofttimes ends their Call.
None lives on th'Earth Religious lesse than they,
They prey on Men, yet nev'r to GOD they pray.
Thanks none, or few, to Him they giue; and lesse
Regard they giue their Givers in Distresse.
No, none more lewdlie liues, and more impure,
And none are worse, and vicious more bee sure.
They carnall are, and lustfull, out of Measure,
And brutish in the acting of their Pleasure.
They Marrie seldome, baptize nev'r their Brood,
And others know, but Caring, Kynd, or Blood.
Th'are Atheists almost all, and in effect,
God nor the Devill, Hell, Lord, nor Law respect.
They trade by Beggrie, many tymes by Stealth,
And alwayes VVasters of the common-wealth.
His Birth, his Lyfe, and Death, oft falleth thus,
Hee's gotten and borne into a Barne and Bush.
Then ydlie dryues his Dayes, and leads his Lyfe,
VVithout all Law, and her that for his VVyfe
Hee holds, a VVhore, a Thiefe is, or a VVitch;
And last, hee ends aud dyeth in a Ditch.