Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 2.pdf/244

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These ribalds all play double parts,

And to a thousand give their hearts,

And wherefore should not women do

The same, and love as freely too?

She’s but a fool, who fixes on

One man, and clings to him alone,

A woman should have hosts of friends,

And play them all, to serve her ends,

’Gainst one another. If no grace

She hath, ’tis well she set her face

To gain it, and should be most high

And haughty unto those who try

To please her best, and towards those be

Most kind, who treat her distantly.

Fair sports and songs ’tis hers to know.

And strife and reprimands forego.

If she be plain, by dainty dress.

Should she repair ill-favouredness;

And should it hap, to her dismay.

Her thick blond tresses fall away,

Or even though they have not dropped

By nature, they have needs been cropped

By reason of some malady,

And thus her beauty wasted be;

Or if some ribald, anger led,

Hath torn the hair from off her head,

With rage so cruel as to leave

No locks she can in braidings weave;

Then, with a view to clothe her pate,

Hair must she get of one who late

Hath died, or yellow silk must tie

Beneath neat fillets skilfully.