Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 2.pdf/140

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HE God of Love, without or place

Or time affixed where face to face

He’d meet his barons, letters sent

Bidding them all to parliament;

These he commanded, those besought,

And all appeared, misdoubting nought,

Ready to do whate’er they could

To serve the end their liege lord would.

I name them all pell-mell as I

May rhyme them most commodiously.

Dame Idlesse first of all I name.

Who with the largest banner came,

Then Noble-Heart, and Dame Richesse,

Franchise, and Pity, and Largess,

Bright Honour, Boldness, Courtesy,

Sir Mirth and young Simplicity,

And Glee, and Sport, and Youthfulness,

And Joyousness, and Good-Success,

And Gaiety, and quick Desire,

And Beauty with her heart afire,

Sweet Patience, and bold Confidence,

Hide-Close, and Constrained-Abstinence,

Who near False-Seeming ever goes,

And all his ways and wishes knows;

And all of these their lieges brought,

Joyous of face, of bearing haught.