Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 2.pdf/53

Rh

The plan that hath this magic touch

Mad-Largess thought of, and Give-Much

It hight, but many a man, I ween,

In following it hath ruined been.

I know the route right well, for I

But two days since returned thereby:

In summer’s heat and winter’s rage,

Thither I’ve made my pilgrimage.

Leave Largess on the right, and turn

Off to the left, beside a burn;

So far as carrieth a cross-bow,

Follow the beaten path and go

Straight on, the road you scarce can lose,

And ere you much have worn your shoes,

You’ll see the towers and turrets shiver,

As aspens in a wind-flaw quiver,

And every portal open fly,

While guards fall dead all suddenly:

Nor are these walls more hard to break

Than ’tis a well-baked Christmas cake

To cut in equal parts of four,

While fewer soldiers for the stour

You’ll need than erst great Charlemagne

Led forth to conquer wide Almaine.

Along this path, which well I know,

No needy man hath power to go.

Alone, he can in nowise fare,

Nor other poor man lead him there.

But if perchance he find a guide

Who hath himself aforetime tried