Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 1.pdf/169

Rh

And every tower was fenced with tall

And strongly-masoned outer wall,

Which need not fear the heaviest stone

By catapult or engine thrown.

A barred portcullis o’er each gate

Hung, ready poised, to fix the fate

Of those who rashly dared to put

Their feet therein ere yet ’twas shut.

And lastly, midmost of the close,

Another strong-built tower arose,

Than which none grander, as I ween,

The long piled ages e’er have seen.

The walls were made so thick and well,

That doubt ye not they might repel

The heavy ram, balister, sling,

And every sort of deadly thing

Employed in siege. The stones were fixed

With mortar, made of quick-lime mixed

With vinegar. The native rock

Had furnished stone to bear a shock

’Neath which firm adamant might shake.

This inner tower was round of make,

And both within and out so dight,

That ween I well, no fairer sight

The world could show. On every side

’Twas circled round by bailey wide,

And wondrous strong; and then betwixt

This barrier and the wall was fixed

A closure broad of rose-trees rare,

Whose blossoms sweet perfumed the air

Both far and wide. A mighty hoard

Of warlike implements was stored