Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 1.pdf/273

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Or captive stand, and none he sees

Around him save his enemies,

And thus doth he in check remain,

Escape debarred, resistance vain.

And thus saith Attains the wise,

Who did the game of chess devise

With worthy wit; its subtle trick

He found when deep arithmetic

He taught, and Polycraticus,

Of John of Sarum, showeth us

How he the intricate movements set,

Wherewith the game is played e’en yet.

From off the field these leaguers cleared,

Since to be captive ta’en they feared

Most bitterly. What say I then?

They feared captivity, these men?

Nay, but far worse; fierce death they fled,

Which ne’ertheless they sufferèd,

For in this wretched game had they

With impious daring played their play.

Despising faith, estranged from God,

They madly his chastising rod

Had bared their backs to; Holy Church

They braved, and found them left a-lurch.

And if their fortunes lay in wreck,

And on them cried their foes ‘a check!’

What wonder? Who would cover them,

Or who their tide of misery stem?

For when the onset came their queen

They lost, as well might be foreseen,

And then this worthless, foolish king

Lost rooks, knights, pawns, and everything.