Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 1.pdf/232

198

“With pleasure, but

Prithee, thy lips meanwhile keep shut.

Justic held undivided sway

O’er all the earth in Saturn’s day.

Saturn, whose son, as Ovid sings,

Cut off, as they were chitterlings,

His father’s cullions, and the sea

Consigned them to most cruelly,

And thence was fair Queen Venus born

(Unless old histories be forsworn).

If Justice came again on earth,

And mankind recognised her worth

Once more as in the age of gold,

Sweet brotherhood should then infold

All sons of men, ’neath Justice’ eye,

Dwelling together peaceably;

For Love once dead or fled away,

Ruthless would be stern Justice’ sway.

But if mankind were joined in one

Great brotherhood of love, then none

Would wrong his fellow, and vice sped

Were not all call for Justice dead?”

“Past doubt it then were needed nought.”

“Well say’st thou, for in Love’s school taught

All men would live in peaceful rest,

Neither by kings nor lords oppressed.