The Twins

Grand rough old Martin Luther

Bloomed fables-flowers on furze,

The better the uncouther:

Do roses stick like burrs?

A beggar asked an alms

One day at an abbey-door,

Said Luther; but, seized with qualms,

The abbot replied, "We're poor!"

"Poor, who had plenty once,

When gifts fell thick as rain:

But they give us nought, for the nonce,

And now should we give again?"

Then the beggar, "See your sins!

Of old, unless I err,

Ye had brothers for inmates, twins,

Date and Dabitur.

"While Date was in good case

Dabitur flourished too:

For Dabitur's lenten face

No wonder if Date rue.

"Would ye retrieve the one?

Try and make plump the other!

When Date's penance is done,

Dabitur helps his brother.

"Only, beware relapse!"

The Abbot hung his head.

This beggar might be perhaps

An angel, Luther said.