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.

He who begs timidly courts a refusal.
[Lat., Qui timide rogat,
Docet negare.]

He who begs timidly courts a refusal.
[Lat., Qui timide rogat,
Docet negare.]

A pampered menial drove me from the door.

A pampered menial drove me from the door.

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.]

To get thine ends, lay bashfulnesse aside;
Who fears to aske, doth teach to be deny'd.

To get thine ends, lay bashfulnesse aside;
Who fears to aske, doth teach to be deny'd.

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.

Set a beggar on horse backe, they saie, and hee will neuer
alight.

Set a beggar on horse backe, they saie, and hee will neuer
alight.

The real beggar is indeed the true and only king.
[Ger., Der wahre Bettler ist
Doch einzig read more

The real beggar is indeed the true and only king.
[Ger., Der wahre Bettler ist
Doch einzig und allein der wahre Konig.]

Homer himself must beg if he want means, and as by report
sometimes he did "go from door to read more

Homer himself must beg if he want means, and as by report
sometimes he did "go from door to door and sing ballads, with a
company of boys about him."