THE
COBLER's Golden Prize:
OR, THE
Translator turn'd Gentleman,
By the help of a Hundred and Fifty Guineas, which he got from a Confectio-
ner, who imploy'd him to secure it under a Step near the Cellar-window.
To the Tune of, The Coventry .
Licensed according to Order.
|
THere was a Cobler lived of late,
|
here in the City, as I am told,
|
Tho' he had but a slender Estate,
|
yet at the length he revel'd in Gold;
|
Then pray attend to what I send,
|
for here I the Story relate in brief,
|
The Cobler[']s Treasure, and joy out of measure,
|
did fill a Confectioner's Heart with grief.
|
Who had it seems more Guineas than Wit,
|
as by the sequel here you shall find;
|
Therefore the Cobler Treasure did get,
|
Fortune she prov'd miraculous kind
|
To this poor Craft, he smil'd, he laugh'd,
|
so soon as her Favours he did behold;
|
For his leather Breeches, he lined with Riches,
|
a delicate parcel of shining Gold.
|
Tho' he had us'd the Cobling Trade,
|
many long Years, yet still he was Poor;
|
But at the length a Frollick was plaid,
|
the which did soon replenish his Store;
|
A lucky Cast there came at last
|
to this jolly Cobler poor and old;
|
Which made him far greater than any Translater,
|
his Pockets was furnish'd with shining Gold.
|
Guineas was the Confectioner's pride,
|
and least the Thieves his Coffers shou'd rob,
|
Under a Step the same he wou'd hide;
|
this help'd the Gentle-craft to a job:
|
Then pray draw near and you shall hear,
|
the politick Cobler's story told;
|
He thought it not reason to shut up in Prison,
|
a hundred and fifty Guineas of Gold.
|
Now as one day he sat in his Stall,
|
against the rich Confectioner's Door,
|
Who to poor Crispin straightways did call,
|
saying, I here have hoarded great store
|
Of Guineas bright, my Heart's delight,
|
then nail it up fast, and take special hold.
|
Luke thought it a pity, that here in the City,
|
while Mony was scarce, they should hide their Gold.
|
Master (quoth he) these Nails will not do,
|
they are two short, your Gold will be lost.
|
Say'st thou me so, then as I am true,
|
I will have more whatever they cost.
|
Away ran he; old Crispin see
|
the Coast it was clear, and then he made bold
|
To take out his Riches, and stop in his Breeches,
|
then nail'd up the Step without any Gold.
|
Then with the Gold he run to his Wife,
|
into her Lap the same he did throw,
|
Saying, My Love, the joy of my Life,
|
now in our Silks and Sattins we'll g[o]
|
I'll leave my Stall and Pegging-awl,
|
why should I sit Cobling in the cold,
|
Since we are possessing this glittering Bl[essing]
|
we never before had such store of Gold.
|
His loving Wife amaz'd at the sight,
|
cou'd not tell what at first to reply;
|
The Guineas they appeared so bright,
|
but at the length she said, Let us buy
|
Some Food with speed, that we may feed,
|
thou shalt not set Cobling in the Cold
|
We'll keep a good Table so long as we're [able]
|
for this is a delicate Sum of Gold.
|
Now when the Crispins heard of his Fam[e]
|
every one strait shut up his Stall;
|
Thus from their Bulks and Garrets they [came]
|
he made a Feast, and treated them all;
|
Brave jovial Souls, with flowing Bowls
|
were merry; yet, nevertheless, behold
|
A woeful Disaster, at length came his Ma[ster]
|
who seiz'd upon him for the sum of Gold[.]
|
But he deny'd the Matter of Fact,
|
crying aloud, No Guineas he saw,
|
Yet to a Justice strait he was pack'd,
|
thus they proceeded according to Law:
|
The Master rail'd, yet Luke was bail'd,
|
and thus I the Story in brief have told
|
Now when it is ended, by me 'tis intende[d]
|
to shew how the Cobler shams the Gold[.]
|
|
|
|
|
|