A Looking-Glass for a Bad Husband: Or, A Caveat for a Spendthrift.  

You that are guilty of that sinful Crime  
Of Drunkenness, strive for to leave it off in time:  
Lay up your Money, do not it vainly spend;  
For in your greatest need, it will be your, best Friend.  
Endeavour in your Youth, lest in old Age you want;  
For when that Poverty doth come, Friends will be scant.   
By T. L.  
To the Tune of, The, Poor Man's Comfort: Or, Digby.  
 
 

YOu that are bad Husbands  
I pray you draw near,  
Good Counsel here's for you,  
If you will give ear:  
Then observe it rightly,  
and bear it in mind,  
A great deal of Benefit  
in it you'll find.  
Here you may learn how  
to live gallant and brave,  
If you will endeavour  
for to get and save.  
Then take care how in idle  
your money you spend,  
For in time of need  
it will be your best Friend.   

You see that the times  
are very hard grown,  
Trading it is dead both  
in Country and Town:  
If a Man he han't where withal  
him to maintain,  
To make his complaint  
it is all but in vain.  
For money is scarce,  
and Charity's cold:  
Then save something in youth  
against you are old,  
Then take care, etc.   

Now you that intent  
good Husbands to be,  
Observe well this Rule  
in every degree:  
If you do get money  
don't spend it in waist,  
For when it is gone,  
you will want it last.  
To be careful and loving,  
you must always strive,  
O that is the right ready  
way for to thrive,  
Then take care how in waist  
thou dost thy money spend,  
For in time of need  
it will be thy best Friend.   
 
 

FIrst at thy employment  
and work be not slack.  
To get Food for the Belly,  
and clothes for the Back.  
When then thou half got money,  
don't spend it in vain:  
But keep it and save it,  
thy Charge to maintain.  
Take care and refrain  
from all bad company:  
For that is the high way  
unto Poverty.  
Then take care how in waist  
thou dost thy money spend,  
For in time of need  
it will be thy best Friend.   

Refrain from the Alehouse,  
and doubt it frequent:  
To be thrifty and careful  
let thy mind be bend.  
But if thou dost chance  
with a Friend for to meet,  
With a Flagon or two  
thou then mayst him greet:  
And when thou hast done,  
then to work again fall:  
Some thing hath some favour,  
though it be but small.  
Then take, etc.   

If that thou art blest  
with a good careful Wife,  
Be loving unto her  
all days of thy Life.  
If she gives thee good counsel,  
do not it refrain,  
Thou'lt find at the last  
it will be for thy gain.  
eat the company of Harlots,  
for they'll thee betray,  
And bring both thy Body  
and Soul to decay.  
Then take etc.   

Also unto Gaming  
do not thyself use,  
To hazard thy money,  
in danger to lose.  
For many by gaming  
confounds their Estate,  
And then they repent it,  
when it is too late.  
Such idle course besure  
always defy,  
Endeavour for to follow  
good Husbandry.  
Then take etc.   

But some there be that  
will at an Alehouse sit,  
And waste away credit,  
doth money and wit:  
Until they have spent all,  
they will ne'er quiet rest,  
But makes themselves  
worse then is any Beast.  
So they can have their  
fill of strong drink, they don't care  
Tho she belly and back  
do go empty and bare.  
Then take etc.   

I heard of a Prodigal  
swaggering young Heir,  
Who spent six hundred pound  
in less than two year:  
He capor d and vapoured,  
and took his delight;  
He ranted in Taverns  
both day and night:  
But when all his Gold  
it was wasted and gone,  
O then he was slighted  
by every one.  
Then take etc.   

And thus you may see  
that bad Husbandry  
Will bring a Man at last  
unto beggary.  
For those that are Spendthrifts,  
always threadbare be,  
With their clothes all torn,  
a sad fight for to see:  
But those that are careful  
their money to save,  
They doth maintain their  
Family gallant and brave.  
Then take etc.   

To conclude, I advise  
all good Fellows that are  
In time, of the main chance  
for to have a care.  
Take heed, and be saving  
of that which thou haft,  
It is not good in plenty  
for to make waste.  
Remember this Proverb,  
and bear it in mind,  
When Poverty comes,  
Friendship is hard to find.  
Then take care how in waist  
thou dost thy money spend,  
For in time of need  
it will be thy best Friend.   
FINIS.   

London, Printed for W. Thackeray, T. Passenger, and W. Whitwood.,,