He wants, he asks, he pleads his poverty, <br />They within doors do him an alms deny. <br />He doth repeat and aggravate his grief, <br />But they repulse him, give him no relief. <br />He begs, they say, Begone; he will not hear, <br />But coughs, sighs, and makes signs he still is there; <br />They disregard him, he repeats his groans; <br />They still say nay, and he himself bemoans. <br />They grow more rugged, they call him vagrant; <br />He cries the shriller, trumpets out his want. <br />At last, when they perceive he'll take no nay, <br />An alms they give him without more delay. <br /> <br />Comparison. <br /> <br />This beggar doth resemble them that pray <br />To God for mercy, and will take no nay, <br />But wait, and count that all his hard gainsays <br />Are nothing else but fatherly delays; <br />Then imitate him, praying souls, and cry: <br />There's nothing like to importunity.<br /><br />John Bunyan<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/upon-thebegger/
