Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 2.pdf/209

Rh

AIR sir, not always gospel clear

And pure folks whisper in one’s ear

About the streets—pray list you while

I prove these tales but lies most vile.

It scarcely needs that I remind

One so astute, that nought inclined

Are folk to love their neighbours who

Find fault with all they say or do,

If they should chance to hear of it,

However dull or small of wit.

I’ve read it as a well-known thing

That men are fond of visiting

The spots where those they love abide.

Now this man loveth you beside

All others, as his dearest friend,

For whom both goods and life he’d spend,

Nor fails he to, whene’er ye meet.

Salute you in the public street,

And show you most profound respect,

Yet trow I that no ill effect

His friendship brings you, nor doth he

Enweary you as oft may be

The way with others. If the Rose

His heart so pants for, I suppose

He constantly would here be seen

And by him it had stolen been;

Though risk he ran alive to burn

Towards the loved object still he’d turn.