Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 2.pdf/245

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Above her ears she’ll bear such horns

As neither stags or unicorns

Could boast if they should dare to plight

Themselves with her in deadly fight.

Or if she have the need to dye

Her hair, she should most carefully

Choose the right plants; leaves, bark, and root,

Will each the varied purpose suit.

And lest her bloom of cheek grow pale,

Whereat her spirit well might fail,

She should within her chamber keep

Sweet unguents, that she thence may reap

A secret freshness; yet have care

They are not known by sight or flair

To lovers, or ’twould breed despite.

If she hath neck and bosom white,

Then let her cut her bodice low,

Her fair and dazzling skin to show,

Two palms behind and eke before,

There’s no device attracts men more.

If she hath shoulders set too high

Judges of form to satisfy

At balls and routs, fine lawn I guess

Would lessen their unseemliness.

If hands she hath nor fine nor fair,

But corned and blistered here and there,

’Twere well, that with a bodkin she

Should dress and tend them carefully,

Or better still, with gloves should hide

Defects—no man need pry inside.

And if her breasts too ample grow,

A swathe-cloth should she bind below