Careless their merits or their faults to scan,
His pity gave ere charity began.

Careless their merits or their faults to scan,
His pity gave ere charity began.

I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.

I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.

He scorn'd his own, who felt another's woe.

He scorn'd his own, who felt another's woe.

By Jove the stranger and the poor are sent,
And what to those we give, to Jove is lent.

By Jove the stranger and the poor are sent,
And what to those we give, to Jove is lent.

Help thi kynne, Crist bit (biddeth), for ther bygynneth charitie.

Help thi kynne, Crist bit (biddeth), for ther bygynneth charitie.

Our sympathy is cold to the relation of distant misery.

Our sympathy is cold to the relation of distant misery.

In every sorrowing soul I pour'd delight,
And poverty stood smiling in my sight.

In every sorrowing soul I pour'd delight,
And poverty stood smiling in my sight.

Pity the sorrow of a poor old man,
Whose trembling limbs have brought him to your door.

Pity the sorrow of a poor old man,
Whose trembling limbs have brought him to your door.

To pity distress it but human; to relieve it is Godlike.

To pity distress it but human; to relieve it is Godlike.