Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 1.pdf/40

6

Amidmost stood Hell’s daughter, Hate,

Malignant, base, and desolate

Of countenance; prime mover she

Of quarrel, strife, and jealousy.

Her very being, as meseemed.

With black and treacherous poison teemed

Of evil passion, while her dark

And frowning visage bore the mark

Of frenzied madness. Heavenward rose.

As if in scorn, her camus nose,

And round her head, as if with will

To make her foulness fouler still,

A filthy clout had she enwrapped.

Left of her stood a figure, capped

And branded with a legend writ

Full large, which well her face did fit.

It said: “Behold foul Felony.”

And on her right hand Villainy

Stood pictured, and I soothly wot

That ’twixt this evil pair is not

Disparity of one poor hair.

A creature looked she born to bear

Within her bosom rancorous pride;

Her mouth thin lipped, as formed to chide.