Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 2.pdf/175

Went begging bread from door to door;
Nor they alone this thing forbore,11950
But straight forbade it, (thus ’twas taught
By those of Paris, doctors fraught
With learning in divinity)
Though well might they excusèd be
Of begging, even though they should
Ask alms for daily livelihood,
Seeing that they true shepherds were
To many a soul beneath their care.
And when their Lord was crucified,
Again industriously they tried11960
To win their needs by labour true
Of each man’s hands; and after due
And needful sustenance they’d ta’en,
Unto the poor they gave amain
Of their abundance. Mansions they
Reared not, but dwelt in cots of clay.

All men should work It well behoves each able man
That he with work quotidian
By might of arm should gain his bread
(Unless he be by wealth bestead,)11970
Though of religion he be fain,
For God accounts no good work vain.
This rule it is which binds men all,
Save in some cases I recall,
The which will I relate whene’er
Time serves, and you have will to hear.
Yet more, a man should sell his good,
And labour for a livelihood
If he, forsooth, would perfect be;
This hath the Scripture taught to me.11980