The Man of Law's Prologue
O hateful harm, condicion of poverte! Line 99
With thurst, with coold, with hunger so confoundid! Line 100
To asken help thee shameth in thyn herte; Line 101
If thou noon aske, with nede artow so woundid Line 102
That verray nede unwrappeth al thy wounde hid! Line 103
Maugree thyn heed, thou most for indigence Line 104
Or stele, or begge, or borwe thy despence! Line 105
Thow blamest crist, and seist ful bitterly, Line 106
He mysdeparteth richesse temporal; Line 107
Thy neighebor thou wytest synfully, Line 108
And seist thou hast to lite, and he hath al. Line 109
0parfay, seistow, somtyme he rekene shal, Line 110
Whan that his tayl shal brennen in the gleede, Line 111
For he noght helpeth needfulle in hir neede. Line 112
Herkne what is the sentence of the wise: Line 113
Bet is to dyen than have indigence; Line 114
Thy selve neighebor wol thee despise. Line 115
If thou be povre, farwel thy reverence! Line 116
Yet of the wise man take this sentence: Line 117
Alle the dayes of povre men been wikke. Line 118
Be war, therfore, er thou come to that prikke! Line 119
If thou be povre, thy brother hateth thee, Line 120
And alle thy freendes fleen from thee, allas! Line 121
O riche marchauntz, ful of wele been yee, Line 122
O noble, o prudent folk, as in this cas! Line 123
Youre bagges been nat fild with ambes as, Line 124
But with sys cynk, that renneth for youre chaunce; Line 125
At cristemasse myrie may ye daunce! Line 126
Ye seken lond and see for yowre wynnynges; Line 127
As wise folk ye knowen al th' estaat Line 128
Of regnes; ye been fadres of tidynges Line 129
And tales, bothe of pees and of debaat. Line 130
I were right now of tales desolaat, Line 131
Nere that a marchant, goon is many a yeere, Line 132
Me taughte a tale, which that ye shal heere. Line 133