Classic Poem

Ac that most needen aren oure neighebores, and we nime good heede,
As prisones in pittes, and pore folk in cotes
Charged with children and chief lordes rente;
That they with spinning may spare, spenen it on hous-hire,
Bothe in milke and in mele to make with papelotes
To aglotye with here girles that greden after foode.
And hemselve also suffre muche hunger,
And wo in winter-times, and waking on nightes
To rise to the reule to rokke the cradel,
Bothe to carde and to kembe, to cloute and to washe,
And to ribbe and to rele, rushes to pilye,
That reuthe is to rede or in rime shewe
The wo of these women that wonieth in cotes;
And of manye other men that muche wo suffren,
Bothe afingred and afurste, to turne the faire outward,
And been abashed for to begge and willen not be aknowe
What them needede at here neighebores at noon and at eve.
This I wot witterly, as the world techeth,
What other behoveth that hath many children,
And hath no catel but his craft to clothe hem and to feede,
And fele to fonge ther-to, and fewe pens taketh.
There is pain and peny-ale as for a pitaunce y-take,
And colde flesh and fish as venison were bake;
Fridays and fasting-days a ferthing-worth of musceles
Were a feste with suche folk, or so fele cockes.