Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 2.pdf/169

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No matter what you say thereof,

And you may spare to scold and scoff;

For though a thousand oaths you swore,

Prelate or curate now no more

I fear; my will would you constrain,

There’s one to whom I can complain

Forthwith, you cannot make me twin

Confession, for new shrift of sin,

The first doth well enough for me,

A second would but wasted be.

For one whose powers are full and wide

Hath all my bonds of sin untied:

And so I warn you once again,

That if you would my will constrain,

I know of one will right my cause,

Holding me free of kings and laws

And provosts, for among them all,

Though royal or imperial,

Not one dare ’gainst me judgment give,

Exempted from their rule I live.

To my new father should I go,

(No cubling he who hight Louveteau,)

But friar Wolf, who doth devour

Whate’er he will, nor can his power

By aught be stayed or hindered, but

If I complain, your mouth he’ll shut.

If he should catch you in his net,

Thereout not lightly will you get

Without disgrace and shame, unless

He shows unwonted gentleness.

He’s not so foolish, weak or dull,

But he can get from Rome a bull