Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 2.pdf/282

254

And held them fast within my snare.

By God and St. Thibaud I swear

That all I had amassed I gave

Unto a false and traitorous knave,

Who pleased me above all, though he

Put me to shame most cruelly:

My love, I many another called,

But he ’fore all my heart enthralled;

Alas! though tender, true, and keen

My love, he prized me not a bean.

Ah! then to what disgrace I fell!

The villain made my life a hell,

Entreated me with foul disgrace,

And called me strumpet ’fore my face.

A woman am I and no more,

And woman’s judgment-wit is poor.

The man who loved me, loved I not,

But him who did my features blot

With blows, and beat me with his fist,

Adored I, and that foul hand kissed.

The more he beat me, all the more

My heart felt to its very core

Fond love of him. So well his peace

He made, that soon another lease

Of love I gave him, though my back

And bosom beat he blue and black

With ugly bruises, and no trace

Of beauty left he on my face,

Till I to him for mercy cried,

And then when he repentant sighed

(Of loving favours once more fain),

The wretch, who held my life amain