Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 1.pdf/72

38

For not a man on earth can guess

Their untold worth and pricelessness,

Shy-shaming sapphires, rubies red

As pigeon’s blood but newly shed,

Garnets and emeralds weighed not less

Than ounces ten; but profitless

It were that I should strive to paint

The great carbuncle’s glory, faint

And poor were any words of mine

To warrant how ’tis wont to shine

So clearly that on murkiest night.

Devoid of lamp, the wearer might

(So strongly shoots its brilliant ray)

For many a league pursue his way.

Such brightness sprang from forth this stone

That every part of Richesse shone

With glory, body, feet and face.

As though bright stars belit the place.

Fast by the hand, Dame Richesse led

A youth of fairest goodlihead;

Her gallant past all doubt was he.

And gladly sought her company.

He loved fine mansions, castles fair,

And jewels rich, and vestments rare,

Grand stables, horses past all price,

And sooner were he charged with vice

Of theft or murder, than ’twere said

His stables harboured crock or jade.

The friendship constantly he sought

Of Dame Richesse, for all his thought

Was how to scatter wealth, and she

Supplied his hands ungrudgingly.