CHAP. XXV.
He is driven to extreme necessity; he describes what it is to be indigent, by what he suffered in that condition.
This ten pound I received from my old leacherous Dotard, made its Exit almost assoon as its entrance into my Pocket: by that sum I thought to have purchased Mountains in Ireland (and indeed there is too great plenty of them there,) by gaming; but experience told me afterwards that my design was hazardous, and so it proved, for I met with a person that bubbled me at Hazard, not leaving me a penny, and ingaged besides for my proportion of the Reckoning. My Gamester dealt too hardly with me; yet it was but just, for I intended to show him as little favour, if compell’d to lye at my mercy, which I verily thought would be, having various Utensils about me to that purpose, but I was overmacht.
I thought my self secure, for I could top,
By which I’ve forc’d some Cits to leave their shop.
I palm’d, and put the change upon them too;
I only studyed how I might undo.
But now I’m met with, ’tis but just I see,
That he which others cheats, should cheated be.
I returned to my Lodging, (which was none of the best) with what anxiety and perturbation of mind, I shall give any looser leave to imagine, whilst the remembrance thereof enforceth me to speak; and I hope the Reader will give me that liberty, since the Proverb intaileth on the looser that priviledge. I acquainted my Landlord with my misfortune, who seem’d very much to condole me for the present, but it was afterwards the occasion of his not crediting me. From hence, I will advise all to speak as little as they can of ills that betide them; but we cannot discourse too much of the good that happens to us. Perceiving my Landlord grew cold, my spirit was too high to be any longer beholding to him but for my Lodging; wherefore I seldom came home till night. Neither would I make known my condition to any that knew me. Sometimes I should meet with some in the street, who would ask me to drink with them; my usual answer was, I came from it but even now: insisting farther, that such a Gentleman, with two or three more besides my self, had drank so much, and that I admired at my self for being so sober; whereas to deal ingenuously, I had not drank one drop that day. Another seeing me, would ask me whether I would dine with him at the Ordinary? then would I pretend that my Lord —— Gentleman over-persuaded me to dine with him, and that we had such variety, that I doubted my stomack had received some detriment thereby; and therefore beg’d an excuse; whereas a dry crust taken out of my Leather Cupboard, was all the varieties the Gentleman-Vsher of my stomack, my throat I mean, had taken cognizance of that day. So hard it was too, that I would look this way, and that way, not daring to commit it to the engine of my Chops, unless there was none near me within a furlong; for had there been any near me, they would have sworn I was eating Walnuts shells and all. Now did I learn to drink Water, which necessity made me to commend as the most soveraign liquor, and most suitable to the body of man; otherwise Adam in Paradise would not have been without a cup of Ale.