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