Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 1.pdf/257

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HE sentence given, no stop or stay

Made Nero, mocked he all delay;

And Seneca was straightway set

Within a bath, and leeches let

The blood from out his veins, till dead

He lay—his glorious spirit fled.

No pretext Nero had for this

Most treacherous crime, save that amiss

He took it that, since childhood’s days,

He had been taught his cap to raise

In humbleness and reverence when

He met his tutor. Cried he then:

‘Fit is it I should bow my face

Either in house or public place

To any man?

As emperor

No longer will I bend before

Another, whosoe’er he be,

Tutor or sire, ’tis one to me.’

Sithence he felt it as a brand

Of tutelage that he should stand

Uncovered, as the custom bade

That he from tender years had had,