Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 2.pdf/126

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Ah! lady, God preserve, I pray,

Your life, but prithee suffer me

To wend towards that high fort I see

Yonder, which Jealousy hath reared

For purpose that my heart hath seared.

Not yet, O vassal, to that spot

May you approach, I know you not;

Those only by this path can go

Who know me, and I please to know.

As stranger you must ten years wait

Ere, as my friend, you pass this gate;

Although from Paris straight one came

Or Amiens, ’twere to me the same.

My friends may freely enter here

To dance and sing throughout the year,

And live a joyous life and free,

Whereof no sage need envious be,

Nought passeth here but frolic play

Wherewith to wile the time away,

Light dances set to gleesome tunes,

On viols, tambours, and bassoons,

Sweet songs that savour amorousness,

And games of tables, dice and chess,

And many another for delight

Of merry hearts. And there are dight

Delicious meats that never cloy,

And soft amours fulfilled of joy,

There loving swains with ladies sweet,

By schemes of skilled duennas meet,