Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 1.pdf/163

Rh

HIS matter ’twixt them well agreed,

With nimble foot the twain proceed

Towards Danger.

Soon they found the boor,

Stretched out upon the greensward floor

Beneath a thorn; a heap of hay

Served him for pillow, as he lay

In dozing sleep.

Then Shame awoke

The slumbering clown, and chiding spoke:

“How then! Is this a time for sleep?

A fool was he who bid you keep

The Rose, who little more avail

Than any shearling wether’s tail.

Slothful are you, and dull and base,

’Tis yours, vile, lazy hound, to chase

Intruders hence. With folly, you

Fair-Welcome gave permission to

Bring here his new-found friend, hence blame

Unjustly falls on us. For shame!

That you should sleep, while we incur

Rebuke, vile weak-kneed palterer.