Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 2.pdf/243

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Her lover; then the dragon dread

Her song soothed till he slumbered,

Nor from that sleep awaked he more

Till Jason gained the golden store.

And when earth’s warriors, wild and fierce,

Would fain his heart with swordpoint pierce,

Her sorcery and magic skill

Did so that host with madness fill

That, when amid them Jason threw

A stone, no man his fellow knew

But all in desperate combat fought

Till each from each his death-blow bought,

And so the Golden Fleece she wan

For that well-loved, but false-heart man.

That comfort he might have, forsooth,

His father Æson unto youth

Restored she, and the sole reward

She asked him was, that he would toward

Her love return his love again.

Alas! fond hope! misplaced and vain.

His false heart soon forgot the good

She wrought, in loving hardihood.

And in the ending set above

Her head a new and younger love.

Hearing hereof she could not brook

Her wretchedness, but madly took

Her children, (in her sore distress

Blind to a mother’s tenderness,)

And strangled them, more ruthless she

Than stepdames oft have proved to be.

A thousand more such tales could I

Relate, but time too swift doth fly.