| |
| GO, bastard Orphan! Pack thee hence! | |
| And seek some Stranger for defence! | |
| Now ’gins thy baseness to be known! | |
| Nor dare I take thee for mine own; | |
| Thy levity shall be descried! | 5 |
| But if that any have espied, | |
| And questioned with thee, of thy Sire; | |
| Or Mistress of his vain Desire; | |
| Or ask the Place from whence thou came: | |
| Deny thy Sire! Love! Place! and Name! | 10 |
| And if I chance, un’wares to meet thee, | |
| Neither acknowledge me, nor greet me! | |
| Admit I blush (perchance, I shall), | |
| Pass by! regard me not at all! | |
| Be secret, wise, and circumspect! | 15 |
| And modesty sometimes affect! | |
| Some good man, that shall think thee witty, | |
| Will be thy Patron! and take pity; | |
| And when some men shall call thee base | |
| He, for thy sake, shall them disgrace! | 20 |
| Then, with his countenance backed, thou shalt | |
| Excuse the nature of thy fault. | |
| Then, if some lads, when they go by, | |
| Thee, “Bastard!” call; give them the lie! | |
| So, get thee packing! and take heed! | 25 |
| And, though thou go in beggar’s weed, | |
| Hereafter (when I better may) | |
| I’ll send relief, some other day! | |
| |
