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Rh

Base folk for friends? No man can be

More free from all iniquity

Than is Fair-Welcome; only this

His foes may charge him with, he is

Mirthful and merry, and to each

And all he meeteth, free of speech.

Too easy have I been, past doubt,

In passing o’er his faults without

Due chastisement. I humbly plead

Guilty hereof, if evil deed

Account ye this. If I forgot

My duty, I repent with hot

And scalding tears, and nevermore

Shall you have reason to deplore

My negligence herein; he ne’er

Shall step one pace beyond my care.”

“Ah! Shame!” cried Jealousy, “afraid

Am I to be again betrayed,

For vice is now so widely spread,

That soon I fear all past and dead

Will virtue be. Nor is my fear

Needless, when now we see appear

On every side such wantonness,

Such luxury, such pride of dress,

Which day by day yet seem to grow,

Nor e’er was abbey built, I trow,

With walls so close, well-barred and high,

As safely to keep Chastity.

But for these Rose-trees and the Rose,

I will with stronger walls inclose