I'd just as soon a beggar as king,
And the reason I'll tell you for why;
A read more

I'd just as soon a beggar as king,
And the reason I'll tell you for why;
A king cannot swagger, not drink like a beggar,
Nor be half so happy as I.
. . . .
Let the back and side go bare.

I see, sir, you are liberal in offers.
You taught me first to beg, and now methinks
read more

I see, sir, you are liberal in offers.
You taught me first to beg, and now methinks
You teach me how a beggar should be answered.

A pampered menial drove me from the door.

A pampered menial drove me from the door.

Not that I have the power to clutch my hand
When his fair angels would salute by palm,
read more

Not that I have the power to clutch my hand
When his fair angels would salute by palm,
But for my hand, as unattempted yet,
Like a poor beggar, raileth on the rich.
Well, whiles I am a beggar, I will rail
And say there is no sin but to be rich;
And being rich, my virtue then shall be
To say there is no vice but beggary.

Set a beggar on horseback, and he will ride a gallop.
[Set a beggar on horseback, and he'll outride read more

Set a beggar on horseback, and he will ride a gallop.
[Set a beggar on horseback, and he'll outride the Devil.]

A beggar through the world am I,
From place to place I wander by.
Fill up my read more

A beggar through the world am I,
From place to place I wander by.
Fill up my pilgrim's scrip for me,
For Christ's sweet sake and charity.

Beggar that I am, I am even poor in thanks, but I thank you; and
sure, dear friends, my read more

Beggar that I am, I am even poor in thanks, but I thank you; and
sure, dear friends, my thanks are too dear a halfpenny.

Borrowing is not much better than begging.
[Ger., Borgen ist nicht viel besser als betteln.]

Borrowing is not much better than begging.
[Ger., Borgen ist nicht viel besser als betteln.]

Better a living beggar than a buried emperor.
[Fr., Mieux vaut goujat debout qu'empereur enterre.]

Better a living beggar than a buried emperor.
[Fr., Mieux vaut goujat debout qu'empereur enterre.]