PoorRod’rick now no other hope had got,
          Than what the chance of traffick might allot;
          Illusion vain, or doubtful at the best:—­
          Though some grow rich, yet all are not so blessed. 
          ’Twas said our husband never would succeed;
          And truly, such it seemed to be decreed. 
          His agents (similar to those we see
          In modern days) were with his treasure free;
          His ships were wrecked; his commerce came to naught;
          Deceived by knaves, of whom he well had thought;
          Obliged to borrow money, which to pay,
          He was unable at th’ appointed day,
          He fled, and with a farmer shelter took,
          Where he might hope the bailiffs would not look.

          Hetold to Matthew, (such the farmer’s name,)
          His situation, character, and fame: 
          By duns assailed, and harassed by a wife,
          Who proved the very torment of his life,
          He knew no place of safety to obtain,
          Like ent’ring other bodies, where ’twas plain,
          He might escape the catchpole’s prowling eye,
          Honesta’s wrath, and all her rage defy. 
          From these he promised he would thrice retire;
          Whenever Matthew should the same desire: 
          Thrice, but no more, t’oblige this worthy man,
          Who shelter gave when from the fiends he ran.

          Theambassador commenced his form to change:—­
          From human frame to frame he ’gan to range;
          But what became his own fantastick state,
          Our books are silent, nor the facts relate.

          Anonly daughter was the first he seized,
          Whose charms corporeal much our demon pleased;
          But Matthew, for a handsome sum of gold,
          Obliged him, at a word, to quit his hold. 
          This passed at Naples—­next to Rome he came,
          Where, with another fair, he did the same;
          But still the farmer banished him again,
          So well he could the devil’s will restrain;
          Another weighty purse to him was paid
          Thrice Matthew drove him out from belle and maid.

          Theking of Naples had a daughter fair,
          Admired, adored:—­her parents’ darling care;
          In wedlock oft by many princes sought;
          Within her form, the wily demon thought
          He might be sheltered from Honesta’s rage;
          And none to drive him thence would dare engage.

          Naughtelse was talked of, in or out of town,
          But devils driven by the cunning clown;
          Large sums were offered, if, by any art,
          He’d make the demon from the fair depart.