Wit bought at a Dear Rate,
Being a Relation of the Misery on suffers by being too kind hearted: Wishing
all people to beware of that undoing quality; and to be frugal and saving, that
in aged years, their life may be as comfortable, as in youth it was pleasant and
folly.
To the Tune of, Turn Love, I prethee love turn to me.
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IF all the World my mind did know,
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I would not care a pin,
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If I were young I would take heed,
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my life how to begin:
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I would not be kind hearted,
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but money keep in store,
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Which if that I in youth had done,
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I should not now be poor.
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When in Prosperity I was,
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I then of friends had plenty,
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But now adversity is come,
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I find not one in twenty;
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Then was I treated well of all,
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and had of gifts good store,
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If wise I had been in my youth,
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I should not now be poor.
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This World I liken to the tide,
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which oft doth ebbe and flow,
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Some are to great riches brought,
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and some do fall full low:
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The joys and pleasures of this life,
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like flowers fade, therefore
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We in our youth must frugal be,
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or in age must poor.
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Some for an honest livelihood,
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do use endeavours great,
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And though they work both day & night,
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they scarce get bread to eat:
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There's some again with little pains,
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have riches in great store,
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To me blind fortune is unkind,
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therefore I must be poor.
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Yet I a little comfort find,
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that I am not alone,
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Thousands there be as good as I,
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do daily make their moan:
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If yet I could some Money get,
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I would it keep in store,
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Too kind I have been in my youth,
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and now I must be poor.
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SOme with extravagant expence,
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make their estates to fly,
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And some who little had before,
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are made when friends do dye:
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So various are our fortunes here,
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some need, and some have store,
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But if in youth we be not wise,
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we must in age be poor.
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This age is grown to such a pass,
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that they who go but mean,
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And to their friends for kindness go,
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they give them no esteem:
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So cruel and hard-hearted,
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are people now, therefore
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Youth must be wise, and careful be,
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or else in age be poor.
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When plenty in my purse I had,
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I then relieved many,
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But now I come to need my self,
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not pittied am by any:
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I toil and weary out my days,
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yet still am troubled sore,
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For charity is waxed cold,
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and quite turn'd out of door.
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Love from me long time since is gone,
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but patience tarries still,
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Poverty comes oft to my door,
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and vows to have his will:
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If Providence doth not step in,
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as he hath done before,
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I always shall in sorrow sit,
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and in my age be poor.
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Good people all be warn'd by me,
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do not too freely live,
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Slight not my Council nor Advice,
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which here to you I give:
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Make use of it at present time,
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lest you for evermore,
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Hereafter dearly do repent,
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and in your age be poor.
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Youth for most part is Prodigal,
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age bears a frugal mind,
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More families are not undone,
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then those who are too kind:
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If that in time my words you mark,
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you may still more and more,
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Live in esteem, continue rich,
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(if not) live to be poor.
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While that you live in good estate,
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you shall have company,
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But when that you have need of some,
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you then alone shall be:
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While you do feast and give good gifts,
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keep for your self some store,
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For if that you do part with all,
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you then must needs be poor.
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Despite not now what I hear say,
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but take it in good part,
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What here you read you well may think
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is spoken from the heart:
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It comes from one who troubled is,
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each day in mind full sore,
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Who in their youth have been too kind,
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therefore must now be poor.
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Farewel my friends, I wish you all,
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may warning by me take,
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And in your youth while you are strong,
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your future fortunes make:
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Be courteous, kind, to every one,
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yet as I said before,
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Be careful in your youthful time,
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or else in age be poor.
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FINIS.
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