Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 2.pdf/249

Rh

Might she be deemed.

Nor should she set

Lips to her cup while food is yet

Within her mouth.

And first should she

Her upper lip wipe delicately,

Lest, having drunk, a grease-formed groat

Were seen upon the wine to float.

She should not take one long-breathed draught,

Whether from cup or hanap quaffed,

But gently taste with sipping soft

Now and again, but not too oft,

Though thirst impels, at large should drink,

Lest those around perchance should think

Or say, if she the cup should clutch

With eager haste: She drinks too much;

Therefore should she the tempting tide

Resist, nor grip the goblet’s side

Like some of that fat matron crew,

So gluttonous and boorish, who

Pour wine adown their cavernous throats

Enough to fill a horseman’s boots,

Till lastly are their gullets full,

And all their senses drowned and dull.

She should avoid all such excess

As leadeth on to drunkenness,

For drunken folk no secrets keep,

And if a woman drinketh deep

She leaves herself without defence,

And jangles much with little sense.

To any man she falls a prey

When thus her wits she casts away.