Classic Poem

Go bet, peny, go bet, go!
For thou maght maken both frend and fo.

Peny is an hardy knight;
Peny is mikel of might;
Peny of wrong he maketh right
In every cuntré wher he go.

Though I have a man y-slawe
And forfeted the Kinges lawe,
I shal finden a man of lawe
Wil taken myn peny and let me go.

And if I have to don fer or ner,
And peny be myn messangèr,
Then am I none thing in dwer
My cause shal be wel y-do.

And if I have pens both good and fine,
Men wil bidden me to the wine;
‘That I have shal be thine’—
Sikerly, they wil sayn so.

And when I have none in my purs,
Peny bet ne peny wors,
Of me they holden but litel fors:
‘He was a man, let him go’.