No More Learning

Whilst their churches unbuilt.
And their houses undwelt,

And their orphans want bread to feed 'em ;
Themselves they've bereft
Of the little wealth they 'd left,

To make an offering of their freedom.



O ye addle-brained cits !
Who henceforth, in their wits,



Digitized by VjOOQIC



OP MARVKLL. 287

Would intrust their youth to your heeding ?
When in diamonds and gold
You have him thus enrolled ?

Ye know both his friends and his breeding !

IV.

Beyond sea he began,

Where such a riot he ran,
That every-one there did leave him ;

And now he 's come o'er

Ten times worse than before,
When none but such fools would receive
him.

V.

He ne'er knew, not he,

How to serve or be free.
Though he has passed through so many adven-
tures;

But e'er since he was bound,

(That is, he was crowned)
He has every day broke his indentui*es.

VI.

He spends all his days

In running to plays,
When he ought in his shop to be poring ;

And he wastes all his nights

In his constant delights,
Of revelling, drinking, and whoring.



Digitized by VjOOQIC



2S8 THE POEMS

VII.
Throughout Lombard-street,

Each roan he did meet,
He would i*un on the score with and borrow ;

When they asked for their own,

He was broke and was gone,
And his creditors all left to sorrow.

VIII.

Though oft bound to the peace.

Yet he never would cease
To vex his poor neighbours with quarrels ;

And when he was beat,

He still made his retreat
To his Clevelands, his Nells, and his Carwells.

Naj, his company lewd

Were twice grown so rude.
That had not fear taught him sobriety,

And the house being wcU barred.

With guard upon guard,
They 'd robbed us of all our propriety.

X.

Such a plot was laid,
Had not Ashley betrayed.
As had cancelled all former disasters ;

And your wives had been strumpets
To his highness's trumpets,



Digitized by VjOOQIC



OF MARVELL. 289

And footboys bad all been your masters.

XI.

So many are tbe debts,

And tbe bastards be gets,
Wbicb must all be defrayed by London ;

Tbat notwitbstanding the care

Of Sir Thomas Player,
The chamber must needs be undone.

XII.

His words or his oath

Cannot bind him to troth,
And he values not credit or history ;

And though he has served through

Two 'prenticeships now,
He knows not his trade nor his mystery.

xin.