So fares it with the usurer,
He cannot sleep in rest,
For feare the thiefe will him pursue
To plucke him from his nest.20
His heart doth thinke on many a wile,
How to deceive the poore;
His mouth is almost ful of mucke,
Yet still he gapes for more.
His wife must lend a shilling,25
For every weeke a penny,
Yet bring a pledge, that is double worth,
If that you will have any.
And see, likewise, you keepe your day,
Or else you loose it all:30
This was the living of the wife,
Her cow she did it call.[871]
Within that citie dwelt that time
A marchant of great fame,
Which being distressed in his need,35
Unto Gernutus came:
Desiring him to stand his friend
For twelve month and a day,
To lend to him an hundred crownes:
And he for it would pay40
Whatsoever he would demand of him,
And pledges he should have.
No, (quoth the Jew with flearing[872] lookes)
Sir, aske what you will have.
No penny for the loane of it45
For one year you shall pay;
You may doe me as good a turne,
Before my dying day.
But we will have a merry jeast,
For to be talked long:50
You shall make me a bond, quoth he,
That shall be large and strong:
And this shall be the forfeyture;
Of your owne fleshe a pound.
If you agree, make you the bond,55
And here is a hundred crownes.