Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 2.pdf/39

Rh

Employ not children, great the chance

Will be they fail through ignorance,

And sorry messengers they make

Through trifling, idling, or mistake.

They oft miscarry, or will show

Your missive wheresoe’er they go,

And bungle, not through lack of sense

Alone, but inexperience.

You must with great discretion choose

Your messengers, unless you’d lose

The fruit of all your pains, and see

Your intrigue common property.

These gaolers you will surely find

Of heart so piteous, sweet and kind,

That, once your money they have ta’en,

Your faithful friends will they remain.

E’en as the sparrow-hawk is sure

To flutter to the well-known lure

At morn, or eve, or any hour,

So surely gifts possess the power

The surliest gaolers to appease

So far, that freely as they please

May lovers use them; once made tame

With vails, their service they may claim.

But should they hold their heads so high

That they regard disdainfully

Your sighs and tears, your gifts and prayers,

Seeing through all your best-laid snares.

And treat your courtesy with lewd

Unseemly acts and voicing rude,