• The tear-drop trembled in his eye,
• The signed agreement in his hand:
• But when at length the legal soul
• Resumed its customary force,
• 'The Law,' he said, 'we ca'n't control:
• Pay, or the Law must take its course!'

• Said Paul 'How bitterly I rue
• That fatal morning when I called!
• Consider, Peter, what you do!
• You won't be richer when you're bald!
• Think you, by rending curls away,
• To make your difficulties less?
• Forbear this violence, I pray:
• You do but add to my distress!'

• 'Not willingly would I inflict,'
• Said Peter, 'on that noble heart
• One needless pang. Yet why so strict?
• Is this to act a friendly part?
• However legal it may be
• To pay what never has been lent,
• This style of business seems to me
• Extremely inconvenient!

• 'No Nobleness of soul have I,
• Like some that in this Age are found!'
• (Paul blushed in sheer humility,
• And cast his eyes upon the ground)
• 'This debt will simply swallow all,
• And make my life a life of woe!'
• 'Nay, nay, nay Peter!' answered Paul.
• 'You must not rail on Fortune so!

• 'You have enough to eat and drink:
• You are respected in the world:
• And at the barber's, as I think,
• You often get your whiskers curled.
• Though Nobleness you ca'n't attain
• To any very great extent--
• The path of Honesty is plain,
• However inconvenient!'

• "Tis true, 'said Peter,' I'm alive:
• I keep my station in the world:
• Once in the week I just contrive
• To get my whiskers oiled and curled.
• But my assets are very low:
• My little income's overspent:
• To trench on capital, you know,
• Is always inconvenient!'

• 'But pay your debts!' cried honest Paul.
• 'My gentle Peter, pay your debts!
• What matter if it swallows all
• That you describe as your "assets"?
• Already you're an hour behind:
• Yet Generosity is best.