A _Wolf_ turns Religious.
A Wolf that was past Labour, had the Wit in his Old Age, yet to make the
best of a bad Game: He borrows a Habit, and so about he goes Begging a
Charity from Door to Door under the Disguise of a Pilgrim: And for ought
we know, this may be one of the Pilgrims that were to have Landed at
_Milford Haven_, in the Year 1677/8. One of his Relations that had the
Fortune to Meet him in this Holy Garb and Pretence, took him up Roundly,
for stooping so much below the Dignity of his Family and Profession. _Why
what would you have me do?_ says the _Pilgrim Wolf_; _My Teeth and my
Heels are gone, so that I can neither Run, nor Worry, and I must either
Cant, and turn Religious, or Starve_.
The MORAL.
_When People can live no longer by downright Rapine and Villany, for
want of Strength, Means, or Ability to go on at the Old Rate, ’tis a
common thing for ’em to Drive on the Old Trade still, under a Semblance
of Religion and Virtue. So that Impotency goes a great way toward the
Conversion of an Old Sinner._