Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 2.pdf/179

Rh Knights of the Temple or St. John,

(Further examples need I none)

Serving their Lord in praise and prayer,

No mendicancy finds he there.

Some monks do daily labour, but

Are nowise from God’s service shut

Therefor.

The mendicants’ estate

Gave rise to long and sharp debate

In days that I remember well.

If so it please you, will I tell

How that a man may beg at need

When he no otherwise can feed

Or pasture him, this, bit by bit,

I’ll show, and none can gainsay it.

Unless some sophist strove to tangle

The truth with false and tiresome jangle.

By none the case were better cleared

Than me, who all the field have eared.

’LL next set forth each special case

Of all the mendicantine race:

And first of those poor cattle who

Too dull of wit are born to do

Aught for a living, they may go

And beg where’er they will, I trow,

Until some useful craft they learn

Whereby they meat and drink may earn