Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 1.pdf/35



ULL many a man hath cried amain

That dreams and visions are but vain

Imaginings and lies, but I

Believe that they may truthfully

Forecast the future; and full clear

And plain this matter doth appear

By that famed dream of Scipio,

Whereof Macrobius long ago

The story wrote, and stoutly he

Affirmeth dreams for verity.

Moreover, if one think or say

That fond and foolish ’tis to pay

Respect to visions, seeing that ne’er

They prove them true, that man may dare

To call me fool, for I avow

That I dim night-tide’s warnings trow

Sincerely, and believe that they,

Of good and ill, to men betray

The shadow, showing darkly all

That shall in day’s clear light befall.