Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 2.pdf/153

Rh

But hear me by Saint Venus swear,

And Saturn who engendered her,

Not through his wife, but in her sweet

And perfect beauteousness complete.

But yet a stronger oath I swear,

To clench more firmly the affair.

I swear by all the faith I owe

My brothers, though no man doth know

Who were their sires (for many have dared

Avow my mother’s couch they shared),

I swear by Styx, hell’s river black;

And if my words plain truth should lack,

May I, until a year flits o’er,

Of luscious piment drink no more;

(For by the Gods it is ordained

That no one who his lips hath stained

With falsehood, through a year drinks wine,)

I’ve sworn enough, as I opine;

If false, may I accursèd be.

But I’ll commit no perjury.

Dame Richesse doth desert us! hey!

But thereof shall she smartly pay,

Yea, dear enough, unless she arm

Herself with sword, or piked guisarme.

And since for me she doth not burn

With love, whene’er I overturn

The castle and the tower accurst,

An evil dawn shall on her burst.

And if some wealthy carle I net,

I’ll squeeze and twist him till I get

Each golden mark from out his purse,

And drain it to its very source,