Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 1.pdf/146

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And evil spirit, yet his aid

He oft affords to those who’ve paid

Him adulation; many a wight

Gains his goodwill who knows aright

To trim his tongue. Experience proves,

That patience oft his hard heart moves.”

Rejoiced I greatly, seeing thus

My friend’s kind heart solicitous

E’en as mine own, for my content.

I bade adieu to him, and went,

With hurried steps, yet once again

Anigh the hedge, for all heart-fain

Was I once more the Rose to see,

Nought else afforded joy to me.

On all my movements Danger kept

A watch, that never flagged nor slept;

But truth to tell small lust had I

To risk his dread ferocity,

And all my thought was how to bate

His dudgeon, and conciliate

His fierceness, but at last despair

Woke in my breast. I did not dare,

Though groaning ’neath the long delay,

Ere yet his wrath might melt away,

To pass the hedge where grew the Rose,

But as I stood beside the close,

The wretch could hear my piteous sighs,

Yet heeded nought, though in such wise

He saw me as must plainly tell

That Love’s thrall bowed my soul to hell.