Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 2.pdf/113

Rh

Before whatever else may be,

A gallant should full mastery

Gain of love’s science, so that ne’er

It be his evil lot to bear

His love’s abandonment, or let

It happen that she e’er forget

His faithfulness. This art may gain

A man much good unmixed with bane.

Well shall it be with him who minds

The counsel that herein he finds:

Whether his flame be old or young,

If he suspect new love hath sprung

Within her heart in preference,

Let him beware that no offence

He give to her by chiding, but

To anger keep his heart’s door shut,

And nowise modulate or change

His amorous words, lest he estrange

Her heart still more. If in the act

He catch her, he must blink the fact,

As he were dull as horse or ox,

And blind and senseless as the rocks.

And if perchance a billet-doux

He light on, the wise thing to do

Is not to read it, or e’en ope

Its folds, her liaison to grope.

Nor should he suffer aught to fire

His heart to traverse her desire;

When she returns from out the street.

Let him salute with smile as sweet

As April morn, and even so

Permit her where she will to go;