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.

It needs not nor it boots thee not, proud queen,
Unless the adage must be verified,
That read more

It needs not nor it boots thee not, proud queen,
Unless the adage must be verified,
That beggars mounted run their horse to death.

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.

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."

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.]

Beggars must be no choosers.

Beggars must be no choosers.

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.]

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.