Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 1.pdf/217

They fear to lose; and lastly, grieve
Most bitterly that they must leave
Their hoards behind them. Cursed they die
Who living, lived but wretchedly;
For no man, if he lack of love,
Hath peace below or joy above.5460
True use of wealth If those who heap up wealth would show
Fair love to others, they would go
Through life beloved, and thus would reign
Sweet happy days. If they were fain.
Who hold much good, to shower around
Their bounty unto those they found
In need thereof, and nobly lent
Their money, free from measurement
Of usury (yet gave it not
To idle gangrel men), I wot5460
That then throughout the land were seen
No pauper carl or starveling quean.
But lust of wealth doth so abase
Man’s heart, that even love’s sweet grace
Bows down before it; men but love
Their neighbours that their love may prove
A profit, and both bought and sold
Are friendships at the price of gold.
Nay, shameless women set to hire
Their bodies, heedless of hell-fire!5470

Thus fraud and baratry have spoiled
The pleasant earth, which all who toiled
Once owned with all her foison, now
Her fruits are held in fee, I trow,
By few, who are themselves not free,
But bound by their cupidity