Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 2.pdf/141

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Abstinence only and False-Seeming

Looked evil, should I speak my deeming.

Whatever air assumed those two,

Fraud peeped from out their hearts untrue.

False-Seeming was of Fraud the son,

Hypocrisy begotten on,

That shameful traitress, foul and base,

Who ever, ’neath Religion’s face,

Deceiveth men; when she in view

Appeared, his breath in gasps Love drew,

And cried: How now! do I then dream?

Speak out, False-Seeming, dost thou deem

That thou by me wert summoned here?

Forced-Abstinence, who stood anear,

Sprang forth, and seized her friend’s right hand:

Quoth she, I pray you understand

That I, an’t please you, hither led

False-Seeming; oft hath he bestead

My need, and done me kindly act,

Saving my life by hunger wracked.

Let him among your lieges wait,

Though each and all have earned his hate,

For greatly I desire that he

Win praise for worth and sanctity.

He is my friend, and I his dear,

As faithful comrades wend we here.