Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 2.pdf/131

Rh

Faint-Heart with Hunger doth agree,

Who of the rope thinks tremblingly,

And on her body every hair

Stends stiff and straight with mortal fear

And dread, lest Theft, her child, amain

Red-handed in the deed be ta’en.

By this path seek then not to go.

But find some other road, for lo!

If you should persevere to choose

This way, you all your wealth must lose,

And have not served me so that I

Should love you unreservedly.

Lady, I swear by God above

That gladly would I win your love,

And by your grace would fain essay

Along your path to make my way.

And rescue from his durance dire

Fair-Welcome—grant my one desire.

I understand, quoth she, that all

Your store of wood both great and small

You’ve sold not, but one stick kept back;

’Tis well, and ne’er the world will lack

Of folly till men rise above

The thraldom known to fools as love,

But each who in this madness lies,

Deems himself natheless wondrous wise.