Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 1.pdf/282

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For carrying on the human race

(Formed in the image of his face),

And which, except for these, had been

Void of succession, as I ween.

But in his wisdom God supplied

The purse and staff, which might provide,

By natural force, the race of men

In undisturbed succession; then

From age to age would mother earth

Rejoice, from whom they erst had birth.

For when one dies another lives;

That sire God takes, this child he gives.

And so likewise with beast and bird,

Some flit, but nature’s force hath stirred

Others to fill their place; through time

Ring life and death in equal chime.”

Cried I, “You do but make things worse,

For now I reckon most perverse

And lewd your speech, not only bad

You seem to me, but downright mad.

For if so be that everything

From God’s unerring hand doth spring,

As you have said, at least not he

’Twas taught your tongue this ribaldry.”

“Fair friend,” wise Reason said, “thou mak’st

A grievous error if thou tak’st

Folly for valiance; that it ne’er

Hath been, nor shall be; speak, nor spare,