Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 2.pdf/146

118

But of such moment are these things,

That well behoves it that my wings

I spread so soon as he the light

Beholds, and let him hear aright

Our judgment, else I warrant you

That ne’er the work he’ll carry through,

And lest it happed, as well might be,

By unforeseen calamity,

That this good Clopinel, whose birth

We look for, ne’er should tread the earth,

It were irreparable loss

To lovers that thus fate should cross

A man whose keen and worthy wit

Should do their cause such benefit.

I therefore dame Lucina prayed,

Goddess of birth, to give her aid,

That to the world he safe might come,

And long therein find hearth and home;

And whensoe’er he weaned shall be,

Then Jupiter, most tenderly,

Shall take him up and give to him

A draught from out his tuns, which brim

With virtue twofold, this one bright,

That, turbid, thick, and black as night;

This one right pleasant, soft and sweet,

That, bitter as soot or waves that beat

The ocean shore; and when in cot

He lies, it then shall be his lot

That I enshroud him ’neath my wings,

And teach him such sweet carollings,

That even in his early youth,

With my soft science filled, forsooth,