Part II
Now, pray observe the second part,And you shall hear his sottish heart;He did the tavern so frequent,Till he three hundred pounds had spent.
This being done, we understandHe pawned the deeds of all his landUnto a tavern-keeper, who,When poor, did him no favour show.
For, to fulfil his father’s will,He did command this cottage still:At length great sorrow was his share,Quite moneyless, with garments bare.
Being not able for to work,He in the tavern there did lurk;From box to box, among rich men,Who oftentimes reviled him then.
To see him sneak so up and down,The vintner on him he did frown;And one night kicked him out of door,Charging him to come there no more.
He in a stall did lie all night,In this most sad and wretched plight;Then thought it was high time to seeHis father’s promised legacy.
Next morning, then, oppressed with woe,This young man got an iron crow;And, as in tears he did lament,Unto this little cottage went.
When he the door had open got,This poor, distressèd, drunken sot,Who did for store of money hope,He saw a gibbet and a rope.
Under this rope was placed a stool,Which made him look just like a fool;Crying, ‘Alas! what shall I do?Destruction now appears in view!
‘As my father foresaw this thing,What sottishness to me would bring;As moneyless, and free of grace,His legacy I will embrace.’
So then, oppressed with discontent,Upon the stool he sighing went;And then, his precious life to check,Did place the rope about his neck.
Crying, ‘Thou, God, who sitt’st on high,And on my sorrow casts an eye;Thou knowest that I’ve not done well,—Preserve my precious soul from hell.
‘’Tis true the slighting of thy grace,Has brought me to this wretched case;And as through folly I’m undone,I’ll now eclipse my morning sun.’
When he with sighs these words had spoke,Jumped off, and down the gibbet broke;In falling, as it plain appears,Dropped down about this young man’s ears,
In shining gold, a thousand pound!Which made the blood his ears surround:Though in amaze, he cried, ‘I’m sureThis golden salve the sore will cure!
‘Blessed be my father, then,’ he cried,‘Who did this part for me so hide;And while I do alive remain,I never will get drunk again.’