Part III
Now, by the third part you will hear,This young man, as it doth appear,With care he then secured his chink,And to the vintner’s went to drink.
When the proud vintner did him see,He frowned on him immediately,And said, ‘Begone! or else with speed,I’ll kick thee out of doors, indeed.’
Smiling, the young man he did say,‘Thou cruel knave! tell me, I pray,As I have here consumed my store,How durst thee kick me out of door?
‘To me thou hast been too severe;The deeds of eightscore pounds a-year,I pawned them for three hundred pounds,That I spent here;—what makes such frowns?’
The vintner said unto him, ‘Sirrah!Bring me one hundred pounds to-morrowBy nine o’clock,—take them again;So get you out of doors till then.’
He answered, ‘If this chink I bring,I fear thou wilt do no such thing.He said, ‘I’ll give under my hand,A note, that I to this will stand.’
Having the note, away he goes,And straightway went to one of thoseThat made him drink when moneyless,And did the truth to him confess.
They both went to this heap of gold,And in a bag he fairly toldA thousand pounds, ill yellow-boys,And to the tavern went their ways.
This bag they on the table set,Making the vintner for to fret;He said, ‘Young man! this will not do,For I was but in jest with you.’
So then bespoke the young man’s friend:‘Vintner! thou mayest sure depend,In law this note it will you cast,And he must have his land at last.’
This made the vintner to comply,—He fetched the deeds immediately;He had one hundred pounds, and thenThe young man got his deeds again.
At length the vintner ’gan to thinkHow he was fooled out of his chink;Said, ‘When ’tis found how I came off,My neighbours will me game and scoff.’
So to prevent their noise and clatterThe vintner he, to mend the matter,In two days after, it doth appear,Did cut his throat from ear to ear.
Thus he untimely left the world,That to this young man proved a churl.Now he who followed drunkenness,Lives sober, and doth lands possess.
Instead of wasting of his store,As formerly, resolves no moreTo act the same, but does indeedRelieve all those that are in need.
Let all young men now, for my sake,Take care how they such havoc make;For drunkenness, you plain may see,Had like his ruin for to be.