Teh (sic) prisoner's welcome/Teh prisoner's welcome

The Prisoner's Welcome.

Welcome, welcome, brother debtor,
To this poor but merry place,
Where no bailiff, Dun, nor Setter,
Dare to show their frightful face:
But, kind Sir, as you’re a stranger,
Down your garnish you must lay,
Else your coat will be in danger;
You must either strip or pay.

Ne’er repine at your confinement,
From your children, or your wife;
wisdom lies in true resignment,
Thro’ the various scenes of life.
Scorn to shew the least resentment,
Tho’ beneath the frowns of fate;
Knaves and beggars find contentment,
Fears and cares attend the great.

Tho’ our creditors are spiteful,
And retain us captives here,
Use will make a goal delightful,
Since we’ve nothing else to fear:
Every island’s but a prison,
Strongly guarded by the sea;

Kings and princes, for that reason,
Prisoners are as well as we.

Pray, what made great Alexander,
Weep at his unfriendly fate?
’Twas because he could not wander,
beyond the world’s prison-gate:
For the world is also bounded,
By the heavens and stars above:
Why should we then be confounded.
Since there’s nothing free but love.