Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ON LIEUTENANT SHIFT, by BEN JONSON


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ON LIEUTENANT SHIFT, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Shift, here in town not meanest among squires
Last Line: Lent him a pocky whore. She hath paid him.


Shift here, in town, not meanest among squires,
That haunt Pikthatch, Marshlambeth, and Whitefriars,
Keeps himself, with half a man, and defrays
The charge of that state, with this charm, god pays.
By that one spell he lives, eats, drinks, arrays
Himself: his whole revenue is, god pays.
The quarter-day is come; the hostess says,
She must have money: he returns, god pays.
The tailor brings a suit home; he it 'ssays,
Looks o'er the bill, likes it: and says, god pays.
He steals to ordinaries; there he plays
At dice his borrowed money: which, god pays.
Then takes up fresh commodity, for days;
Signs to new bond, forfeits: and cries, god pays.
That lost, he keeps his chamber, reads essays,
Takes physic, tears the papers: still god pays.
Or else by water goes, and so to plays;
Calls for his stool, adorns the stage: god pays.
To every cause he meets, this voice he brays:
His only answer is to all, god pays.
Not his poor cockatrice but he betrays
Thus: and for his lechery, scores, god pays.
But see! The old bawd hath served him in his trim,
Lent him a pocky whore. She hath paid him.





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