Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 2.pdf/49

Rh

EEM you, fair friend, I’ve changed my wit?

No man, save some base hypocrite,

Would do such loathsome work; shall I

Put hand to such-like devilry?

Think you I’d strain and bend each nerve

These villain folk to please and serve?

Except Fair-Welcome, slaves forsooth

Are they, to honour lost and truth.

Do you this fatal counsel give,

Which following, I should basely live

A scoundrel? Whensoe’er across

Such folk I come I boldly toss

My gauntlet at them.

Suffer first

That I this Evil-Tongue accurst

Defy, ere cozenage or deceit

I use, his schemes to overwit,

Demanding boldly he abate

The storm that he hath raised of hate

And slander, or by heaven shall he

Suffer assault and battery.

Or if he love not that I take

Vengeance, he then amends must make;

Or lastly, if he will, a judge

Shall hear my plaint, and salve my grudge.