Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 1.pdf/217

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They fear to lose; and lastly, grieve

Most bitterly that they must leave

Their hoards behind them. Cursed they die

Who living, lived but wretchedly;

For no man, if he lack of love,

Hath peace below or joy above.

If those who heap up wealth would show

Fair love to others, they would go

Through life beloved, and thus would reign

Sweet happy days. If they were fain.

Who hold much good, to shower around

Their bounty unto those they found

In need thereof, and nobly lent

Their money, free from measurement

Of usury (yet gave it not

To idle gangrel men), I wot

That then throughout the land were seen

No pauper carl or starveling quean.

But lust of wealth doth so abase

Man’s heart, that even love’s sweet grace

Bows down before it; men but love

Their neighbours that their love may prove

A profit, and both bought and sold

Are friendships at the price of gold.

Nay, shameless women set to hire

Their bodies, heedless of hell-fire!

Thus fraud and baratry have spoiled

The pleasant earth, which all who toiled

Once owned with all her foison, now

Her fruits are held in fee, I trow,

By few, who are themselves not free,

But bound by their cupidity