Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 2.pdf/62

34

Men in their woes, which, howso great

They be, his hand will dissipate.

And therefore, dear companion, now

Remember Solomon, whose brow

Of old bore Israel’s diadem,

And left us many an apophthegm,

Whereof one saith: Beware, my son,

Of poverty whilst living on

The earth: and in another breath

He furthereth this good word, and saith:

Better it is, by far, to die

Than live on earth in poverty,

Since, against those who own them poor,

Their very brethren shut the door;

And of poor caitiffs speaking still,

Whose lot it is to bear the ill

Of indigence, he shows how they

In woeful wise wear through their day.

Scarce can a man’s estate be worse

Than when stark bare he finds his purse;

For those who on the laws have writ

Declare the indigent unfit

To testify as witnesses;

And in the statute book it says,

That poor, impoverished men must lie

In the same bed with infamy.

Of beauty, poverty is bare;

But I with full assurance dare

Affirm, that if good store of gold,

And jewels rich, your coffers hold,

Then may you have fair hope to gain

Such wealth of roses as may fain