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THE EMPTY PURSE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: A mountebank at market boasted loud
Last Line: Your purse to open and find nothing there?'


A MOUNTEBANK at Market boasted loud
'The Devil' he to all the world would show;
And there was none (so anxious was the crowd
The foul fiend to behold) but off must go.
He took a large deep purse, and held it so
As showed it empty. 'Now, good folk,' he cried,
'Open your eyes. See, is there aught inside?'
'No,' some one said, who looked with earnest stare;
'And is it not "The Devil,"' he replied,
'Your purse to open and find nothing there?'





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