False-Seeming.
Wealth before poverty
Yes, but my bags with coin o’erflow;
And though I poverty pretend,
I make of no poor man a friend.
A hundred thousand times should I
Prefer our good king’s company.11890
Yea, by our Lady! though it happed
The poor man was with virtue capped
In fairest wise, for when I see
These beggars shiver wretchedly
On dunghills, hungry, cold, and bare,
What then?—’tis none of my affair.
Or if unto the Hotel-Dieu
They’re carried, what! should I pursue
Them thither? ne’er with one poor groat
They’ve fed my parched and hungry throat.11900
What can be got from one who licks
His knife, and sounds eats, dry as sticks?
That man an idiot may be said
Who fat seeks in a black dog’s bed.
To visit I should much prefer
Some sick but wealthy usurer:
With patience would I comfort him,
In hope some deniers to benimme,
And when pale death steals o’er his face,
Transport him to the burial-place.11910
Should some reproach me that I take
Heed to rich men and poor forsake,
How think you that I make reply?
I let a tear bedim mine eye,
And say: Alas! I greatly fear
From sin the rich are far less clear
