Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 2.pdf/276

Rh

But, ere permitting all he will,

Into his mind doth she instil

A sense of what great risks she’s run,

And fearsome dangers undergone,

While she of madness doth accuse

Herself, who thus by artful ruse

Deceives her husband, e’en while she

Doth wrong herself exceedingly.

And, by her father’s soul she swears

That this adventure which she dares

To pleasure him doth cost too dear,

Although, God wot, they’ve less to fear

Within her room than those who go

To sport in fields ’neath vines arow,

But pleasure all the more ’tis spiced

With danger is more highly prized.

And whensoe’er they come to lie

Together in their secresy,

’Tis well that she exclude the light

From every casement, lest he might

Upon her body spy some spot

Or blemish, when right well I wot

Forth from her chamber would he go

As bolt or arrow shot from bow.

[Pass eighteen lines, they nought avail

To make, but rather mar the tale.]

And should they twixt themselves agree

That, opportune ’twould sometimes be

For her in turn to make repair

To where he dwells, she’ll take good care

So to arrange that somewhat late

She comes, for if she makes him wait