Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 1.pdf/165

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But badly for you, as I deem,

Should Jealousy display extreme

Despite and wrath, for hard and rude

Is she in her acerbitude.

Not only hath she Shame attacked,

But also hath Fair-Welcome packed

Hence, with a cloud of menaces,

Declaring, that until she sees

Him lodged in prison hard and fast,

She’ll know no joy in life. Aghast

Am I, that your neglect should let

The gallant in this precinct set

His foot. I doubt me much that you

Had but a chicken heart. In view

Of Jealousy’s malignant spite,

Thy soul will be to evil plight

Reduced, or greatly I’m deceived.”

Then the rude churl his head upheaved,

Rubbed his blear eyes, and rolled them round,

Shook his unwieldy limbs, and frowned

O’er all his face, then loud did roar:

“Great God! what then d’ye take me for?”

’Tis clear I either must be mad,

Or else too long a lease have had

Of life, if I’m not fit to keep

The Roses, even while asleep.

God grant I may be burnt alive

If any wretch again contrive

VOL. I.