Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 1.pdf/287

Rh

The word as something quite divine,

And in the church wouldst thou incline

Thine head before them set in gold

And silver, and wouldst doubtless hold

Thy breath whilst with adoring kiss

Thou knelt’st before them. God, who is

All wise, will note the word I say,

Yet nought will turn his face away

In wrath.

By body of Saint Omer!

Dream’st thou that I do ill whene’er

I mention God’s good work? Shall I

To suit thee blame the Deity?

Each thing it pleased him to create

Must be by some name designate,

Therefore is thy contention dross,

That names for things we needs must gloss.

If noble dames of France use not

These words, the reason is, I wot,

Simply because the usance they

Have lost in this our squeamish day.

But if the fashion ’twas, no sin

Or harm fair dames would find therein.

In all the world there’s nought more strong

Than custom, whether right or wrong.

Men hate new ways until they through

Time’s course are old, which once were new.

Each woman who essays to speak

Hereof some periphrase will seek

As purse and staff, or things, or horns

(E’en as she gloved her hand ’gainst thorns).

But time and place according, nought

Objects if by such thorns she’s caught,