Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 1.pdf/277

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Aside. To make my meaning clear

I’ll tell a tale, thereto give ear:

Great Jupiter hath dight two wells

Or water-tuns, as Homer tells,

Before the threshold of his door,

From which nor youth nor grandsire hoar,

Nor buxom dame, nor damsel slim,

(Nor young nor old, nor fair nor grim),

Who at his hands their being take,

But drink a draught their thirst to slake,

And o’er this inn, to all men free,

Fortune presides as deity,

And open-handed doth assign

To all who come, of well-spiced wine

Or wormwood, great or little cups,

But every man some liquor sups;

Her hand deals out or more or less,

As pleaseth best her fickleness.

And day by day the drinkers come

For barrels, hogsheads, gallons some,

And some for quarts and pints, or e’en

A palmful or a suplet mean,

As Fortune chooseth to bestow,

And cross or kind she haps to grow;

For while to some she’s soft and good,

To others hard as ebon wood.

And no man such great happiness

Can boast him, but that some distress

Shall come to dash his cup of joy;

Yet shall not misery destroy

Wise men’s content and peace of mind,

But each in darkest hour shall find

VOL. I.