And we were right glad when thou didst refuse us;
For when we wold reape profitt here thou woldst accuse us.'
"Then had I noe way, but for to goe on
To Gentlemens houses of an ancyent name;
Declaring my greeffes, and there I made moan;
Telling how their forefathers held me in fame:
And at letting their farmes how always I came.
They sayd, Fye upon thee! we may thee curse:
Theire leases continue, and we fare the worse.
"And then I was forced a begging to goe
To husbandmens houses, who greeved right sore,
And sware that their landlords had plagued them so,
That they were not able to keepe open doore,
Nor nothing had left to give to the poore:
Therefore to this wood I doe me repayre,
Where hepps and hawes, that is my best fare.
"Yet within this same desert some comfort I have
Of Mercy, of Pittye, and of Almes-deeds;
Who have vowed to company me to my grave,
Wee are all put to silence, and live upon weeds,
And hence such cold house-keeping proceeds;
Our banishment is its utter decay,
The which the riche glutton will answer one day."
"Why then," I said to him, "me-thinks it were best
To goe to the Clergie; for dailye they preach
Eche man to love you above all the rest;
Of Mercye, and Pittie, and Almes- deeds, they teach."
"O," said he, "noe matter of a pin what they preach,
For their wives and their children soe hange them upon,
That whosoever gives almes they will[1] give none."
"Then laid he him down, and turned him away,
And prayed me to goe, and leave him to rest.
I told him, I haplie might yet see the day
For him and his fellowes to live with the best.
First, said he, banish Pride, then all England were blest;
For then those wold love us, that now sell their land,
And then good house-keeping wold revive out of hand.
NOTES
- We ought in justice and truth to read 'can.'