Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 1.pdf/209

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She then makes plain, with rugged truth,

That no man, or in age or youth.

Who habiteth this changeful earth.

Should count prosperity of worth

Beyond the slippery hour.

Whene’er

A man, once wealthy, finds him bare

Of worldly garnishment, he then

Shall learn how many or few of men

Remain his friends. For those who came

In flocks around when wealth and fame

Smiled sweetly in his face, are shocked,

And sharply startled, when bemocked

By Fortune’s hand they see him; none

Remain to cheer, not half a one

Alas! is left; nor do they fly

In silence, but loud-voiced deny

Knowledge of him ’fore whom of late

They fell, with fawning voice, prostrate.

Nor stay they there, but loud proclaim

His thousand faults, and sharply blame

His folly, though scarce yet is cold

The breath with which his manifold

Good deeds they chaunted. Still remain

Some few whose love no hope of gain

Or place inspired; they still defend

The man they once called ‘well-loved friend,’

For on his honoured self they set

Their hearts, devoid of hope to get

Advantage.

Goes not by the board

His love whose wilful hand the sword

Would draw against his friend?