Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 1.pdf/159

Rh

His flight, but nought could he deny:

We twain stood there in company.

Soon as I saw this angry hag,

Knew her vile face, and heard her wag

Her cursed tongue, I strove to hide,

In hope to shirk her spite’s full tide.

Then coming towards us Shame appeared,

With downcast look, as though she feared

Correction. On her head a simple

Nun’s convent veil she wore for wimple,

And thus with faltering words outspake:

“ Madame, I pray you, for God’s sake.

The words of Evil-Tongue despise,

A man is he who lightly lies.

And worthy folk calumniates:

If now he wrathfully delates

Fair-Welcome, he is not the first

To suffer ’neath his tongue accurst.

For, ever Evil-Tongue delights

To mar the fame of noble knights

And gentle damosels. In truth

Fair-Welcome, though a gentle youth,

Doth make his leash sometimes too long,

Nor may he be acquit of wrong

In gathering friends too readily;

Yet do I not believe that he

Should be accused of ill intent,

For is he not of good descent

Through Courtesy, his mother, who,

Life-long hath never stooped unto