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THE HONEST, PLAIN-DEALING PORTER
Now all is gone, and nought is left, and I am faine to make hard shift,
Yet am contented with my lot,
Thus need will make the old wife trot.
3 Now all my meanes is gone and spent,
to fare hard I must be content, To get my bread my browes must sweat,
till I haue earnd I must not eate. My charge I must take care to keepe,
which makes me wake when others sleepe, I trudge abroad be it cold or hot,
Thus need will make the old wife trot.
4 At first to worke I was asham'd,
but pouerty hath me so tam'd, That now I thinke it no disgrace,
to get my liuing in any place, Tis more commendable to worke,
then idlely at home to lurke, Wishing for bread, and haue it not,
Thus need will make the old wife trot.
5 Some idle knaues about this towne
doe basely loyter vp and downe, And ere they'le set their hands to worke,
from place to place they'le Hue by th shirke, They'le sit i'th Alehouse all the day,
and drinke and eate, yet nothing pay. I scorne to drinke of anothers pot,
though need doe make the old wife trot.
6 Such men as these I hold in scorne,
He rather rise at foure i'th morne, And labour hard til nine at night,
ere I in shirking take delight: What honestly I get I spend,
and well accept what God doth send: No man shall say he paid my shot,
though need doth make the old wife trot.
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