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.

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.]

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

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

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.

Beggars must be no choosers.

Beggars must be no choosers.

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.]

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.

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.