Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 1.pdf/285

Rh

To those who strictly keep the tongue

’Neath bridle; ‘Be not found among

Such folk as let their tongues run wild

In foolish, brutal speech, but filed

And polished be thy words:’ much good

Christians may learn from paganhood.

On one thing will I make remark,

Although it be without a spark

Of hatred, blame or bitterness.

Saving thy grace, thou dost express

Thyself in terms which but reveal

That thou within thy heart dost feel

Displeasure great ’gainst me, and why?

My Father, who beyond the sky

Rules o’er the angels and no less

Is than the type of nobleness

To those on earth, most graciously

Hath in all good instructed me,

I by his precepts guide my speech,

Nor hesitate to give to each

Created thing its proper name,

Free from all gloss; but if you claim

That when God made all things ’twas not

From him they names distinctive got,

I answer that herein forsooth

Your words are not divorced from truth,

Though had it pleased him, well he might

Have done so when the world he dight.

But his good pleasure ’twas that I

Should name all things distinctively,

And indicate their use and sense

To further man’s intelligence,