Social Commentaries

Epigram 25 (Stand, want, and waite, doe what you can.)

by Thomas Bastard 1565/6–1618

From Chrestoleros (1598), Book 7

Social Commentaries

Stand, want, and waite, doe what you can.
Stand poore, want foole, waire seruingman.
Their doors are made to shut thee out,
Or let thee in to goe without.
Their goolde their idoll they doe make.
Should they for thee their God forsake.
Fye filthy muckers tis nor so,
Ye erre, God is not goold I know.
But if he did consist of pelse,
What would you haue him all your selfe?

MLA

Bastard, Thomas. “Epigram 25 (Stand, want, and waite, doe what you can.).” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/bastard/265/.

Chicago

Bastard, Thomas. “Epigram 25 (Stand, want, and waite, doe what you can.).” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/bastard/265/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

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