Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 2.pdf/130

102

If you through slothfulness once get

Your feet within her close-meshed net,

And unto Poverty’s dim den

A man as surely cometh when

That path he takes, as though he trod

This road, of which I guard the sod;

For men of idle life and base

Soon meet the beldame face to face.

And if you deem that well ’twill suit

Your turn to follow out the route

Towards treacherous Poverty accurst

In hope thereby the gates to burst

Of this strong fort, you easily

May fail. But Hunger, credit me,

Will be your fellow and bedmate

Soon as you fall to poor estate,

For better Poverty by heart

The road knows than by parchment chart.

And wretched Hunger doth expend

Such pains and carefulness to tend

Her dam (for though she loves her not,

Yet through her only hath she got

Wherewith to live, though she herself

Is naked, and devoid of pelf).

That ever comes she day by day,

And sits beside her in the way,

And kisseth her with much misease.

Theft’s ear she suddenly doth seize,

And wakes him if she sees him sleep,

Inclines her towards him in her deep

Distress, consulting how they may

By some means Hunger’s pangs allay.