The Complaint of Bounty

With open hands, and mourning locks dependant,

Bounty stepped forth to wail the dead man's loss:

On her were Love and Plenty both attendant:

Tears in her eyes, arms folded quite across,

Sitting by him upon a turf of moss,

She sighed, and said, Here lies the knight deceased,

Whose bounty Bounty's glory much increased.

His looks were liberal, and in his face

Sat frank magnificence with arms displayed;

His open hands discoursed his inward grace;

The poor were never at their need denied:

His careless scorn of gold his deeds bewrayed:

And this he craved, - no longer for to live

Than he had power and mind and will to give.

No man went empty from his frank dispose;

He was a purse-bearer unto the poor:

He well observed the meaning of this glose, -

" None lose reward that giveth of their store":

To all his bounty passed. Ay me, therefore,

That he should die! With that she sighed so sore,

And so she wept that she could speak no more.