Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 1.pdf/211

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Unfailing test discover who

Among his friends are false or true.

O then he finds how base and mean

Are those whom he but late hath seen

Bowing before him, offering all

That they of worldly good could call

Their own, to serve him. Prithee say

What sum think you ’twere worth to pay

Hereof to be forewarned? Much less,

Perchance, had been the readiness

Wherewith he was deceived if he

Had known the wit you learn from me.

The stroke of poverty had been

To this man better far, I ween.

Than riches, for he then had turned

His back on vanity, and learned

Wisdom. That man is never rich

Who sets his heart on treasure which

Leaves void within his soul; enough

Of simple goods and household stuff

Doth far more happiness confer

Than wealth unbounded; joy doth stir

More freely hearts of peasants fed

On hard-earned crusts of barley bread,

Than of rich men whose barns contain

A hundred moddes of golden grain.

Hearken, while I essay to paint

The tribulations that attaint

Rich merchants, who but live to gain

More wealth: what miseries are they fain

To undergo with will to pile

Riches on riches; avarice vile