WOODWARD DEL

ROWLANDSON SCUL

THE MISER'S PRAYER!!

PLUTUS thou God of wealth and riches, deign to listen to thy humble votary.—O magnificent and grand!—Thou knowest I have nine houfes in the city of London, and likewife that I have lately purchasing an estate, in fee-simple, in the county of Efflex, therefore, I befeest thee to preferve the two counties of Efflex and Middlefex, for the fake of the property I have therein, and as I have a mortgage in Hertfordshire, have an eye of compassion on that countalfo, as to all other counties, deal with them as thou thinkest fit.—O! most mighty PLUTUS, grant succeds to the undertakings of his Grace the D.... of BE...., in Ruffel-square, and places adjacent, having myſelf ſome little dabbling therein, and do not forget that I have purchasing an eſtate in reverſion of THOMAS THOUGHTLESS, Eſq. a proſligate young man, and as the days of the wicked ought to be cut ſhort, ſend that it may foon come into my poffession.

O enable my Banker to anſwer all my bills, and make all my debtors pay me—give a prosperous voyage to the *Mermaid* floop, which I have infured, and grant her a ſafe return.

I alſo pray thee to keep the funds from finking, and preferve from prying eyes the iron cheſt, buried in my back cellar, and all that is therein—guard me from thieves, and every poffible accident, teach me the moſt prudent method to procure cloathing, preferve me from prodigality, and ſend me more money, and thy humble and diſinterefled votary ſhall ever

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

ROWLANDSON SEUL

THE MISER'S PRAYER!!

PLUTUS thou God of wealth and riches, deign to listen to thy humble votary.—O magnificent and grand!—Thou knowest I have nine houses in the city of London, and likewife that I have lately purchased an estate, in fee-simple, in the county of Essex, therefore, I befeech thee to preferve the two counties of Essex and Middlesex, for the fake of the property I have therein, and as I have a mortgage in Hertfordshire, have an eye of compassion on that county also, as to all other counties, deal with them as thou thinkest fit.—O! most mighty PLUTUS grant succers to the undertakings of his Grace the D……………………… of BE………………D, in Ruffel-square, and places adjacent, having my self fome little dabbling therein, and do not forget that I have purchased an estate in reverfion of THOMAS THOUGHTLESS, Esq. a profligate young man, and as the days of the wicked ought to be cut short, fend that it may foon come into my possession.

O enable my Banker to anfwer all my bills, and make all my debtors pay me—give a prosperous voyage to the *Mermaid* floop, which I have infured, and grant her a fafe return.

I alio pray thee to keep the funds from finking, and preferve from prying eyes the iron cheſt, buried in my back cellar, and all that is therein—guard me from thieves, and every poffible accident, teach me the moſt prudent method to procure cloathing, preferve me from prodigality, and fend me more money, and thy humble and difinterefted votary ſhall ever praife thee.

97L

50L

20L

(These charts are for monitor calibration only)

Yale Center for British Art, 2013