Thee like a Cobweb to a finger cut.
I love thee still, for better and for worse;
He that divorc’d us, let him have my curse.
Sure ’twas a red-Nos’d fellow, for I know,
He coming near, it was but touch and go.
But let him keep thee, for thou’lt useless be
To him; thick cloaths suit best with knavery.
Day appearing, I got me a stick out of a hedge, and so walked in Querpo into the City. I walked up and down, but met with none of my acquaintance on whom I might fasten on as a bur. Noon approaching, my belly began to Chime, I thought all the meat in East-cheap would not lay that spirit hunger had raised within me. Coming by a bakers shop, I pretended to be ignorant of the City, & as I was asking him the way to such a place, not caring what, I happily secured a penny loaf, which I carried off undiscovered; I thought it not good to cumber my pocket with it, wherefore at two bits I gave it my belly to carry. Surely at that time I had an Ostriches stomack; every thing I put into my mouth, passed through me like Quick-silver. Going a little farther, I came to an Ordinary, where I saw two sitting in a lower Room expecting their meat: I sate me down in the next little box to them. Immediately there was brought to them powdred Beef and Turnips; the young Man that served them, came to me, demanding what I would have, I bid him let me alone, and not speak too loud, for those two which were next me, were my very good friends, and I would startle them by and by with my unexpected appearance; at which he left me. Finding my opportunity, I slipt my hands through a hole, in the form of an heart, which was in the partition that divided us, and laying hold on the Turnips, I spake aloud, You hoggs, are ye at the Roots? I will make one among you instantly, and so brought out my handful; having devoured them in a trice, I presented my self to their view, and sate down with them: Gentlemen, said I, excuse my frollick, I am in a merry humour to day. They concluded what I said to be a truth, and bad me welcome. Nay, said I, meat will come instantly as a supply; and so it had need, for we made a clear board immediately. Seeing this, they called the boy, taxing him for sloth, that he did not bring my meat. Sir, said he, the Gentleman did not order me to bring any; at which they frown’d, and began to charge me with incivility. What are ye angry? said I. To which they replied Affirmatively: If so, I answered, (laying my hand upon a full pot of Ale) I value your anger no more than the drinking this Pot, which I swallowed at two gulps, and so bid them farewel; leaving them to call for another Ordinary.
