Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 2.pdf/263

Rh

Before her peers in open day.

Yet ’twas no marvel, one would say,

That Venus unto Mars should give

Herself—for could she care to live

With Vulcan, black from head to foot.

Hands, face, and throat begrimed with soot?

Such things in Venus’ breast must rouse

Disgust, though Vulcan were her spouse.

Nay, even though she had been paired

With Absalom the golden-haired,

Or lovely Paris, Priam’s son,

She scarce had been content with one,

For ever would that beauteous queen

Do what all women love I ween.

Women as free as men are born;

It is the law alone hath torn

Their charter, and that freedom riven

From out their hands by Nature given.

For Nature is not such a tool

As order, by unbending rule,

Margot to keep to Robichon,

Nor yet for him the only one

To be Marie or fair Perrette,

Jane, Agnes, or sweet Mariette,

But as, dear son, I scarce need teach,

Made each for all and all for each,

And every one for all alike,

E’en as the taste and fancy strike.

So that (although by marriage law

They are assigned like things of straw),

To satisfy Dame Nature’s call,

To which they hearken one and all,