Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 1.pdf/105

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“Great Sire,” I cried, “for love of God,

Before your foot forsakes this sod,

I pray you all your high behest

Set forth, for here I stand confessed

Your humble servitor, whose great

Desire it is, both rathe and late,

To do your will, and fain would learn

Each point, nor thence hereafter turn.”

Then answered Love: “Thou speakest well:

But little boots good wit to tell

To those who heed not, masters lose

Their pains unless their scholars choose

Within their memories fast to hold

The counsel wisdom’s lips unfold.”

Then Cupid set himself to teach

Me, word for word, such things as reach

The very pith of his commands.

In this Romance each precept stands

Plain writ, and those who inly yearn

For love may ill its mystery learn

From out its page. ’Tis ever well

To list that man who knows to tell

His story throughly. Many a new

And wondrous thing, though strange yet true,

This dream sets forth, and he who hears

The end thereof, the hopes and fears