A choice pennyworth of wit. Or, A clear distinction between a virtuous wife and a wanton harlot. [electronic resource] : Part I. How a merchant was deluded from his lady by an harlot, to whom he carried gold, jewels, and other valuable things, for many years, which the received with unspeakable flattery, until his wife gave him a penny to bestow on a pennyworth of wit. Part II. How he sailed to a far country, and there exchanging his goods for other rich merchandize, went to a tavern, where he scornfully derided his wife and extolled his harlot; but being sharply reproved by an ancient man, who put him in a way to try his harlot's love, the merchant gave him his wife's penny. Part III. How he returned richly laden, and put himself in poor array, and went to his harlot, declaring, that he had not only lost all that he had in a storm, but had likewise slain one of his servants, for which his life was in danger and desired her shelter; but instead of so doing she abused him with vile language, threatning to have him apprehended: upon which he left her, and went to his wife with the same pretence, who received him with great joy offering to sacrifice all she had to save his life. Thus did he find her a faithful wife, and the other a flattering harlot.