Also
whereas thou sayest that there shall be for ever constables and
sergeants going to and fro to drive men to work, and that they will
not work save under the lash, thou art wrong and it shall not be so;
for there shall ever be more workers than the masters may set to work,
so that men shall strive eagerly for leave to work; and when one says,
I will sell my hours at such and such a price, then another will say,
and I for so much less; so that never shall the lords lack slaves
willing to work, but often the slaves shall lack lords to buy them."
"Thou tellest marvels indeed," said he; "but how then? if all the
churls work not, shall there not be famine and lack of wares?"
"Famine enough," said I, "yet not from lack of wares; it shall be
clean contrary. What wilt thou say when I tell thee that in the
latter days there shall be such traffic and such speedy travel across
the seas that most wares shall be good cheap, and bread of all things
the cheapest?"
Quoth he: "I should say that then there would be better livelihood
for men, for in times of plenty it is well; for then men eat that
which their own hands have harvested, and need not to spend of their
substance in buying of others.
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