Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 2.pdf/63

Rh

Your heart: they ne’er shall be fast closed

Against you, if you’re well disposed

To lavish gifts, as you have been

Profuse of promises, I ween.

It needs not to be over-rich,

But have a care you do not stitch

Your purse too closely; give with care

Such presents as, though choice and fair,

Are small of cost and leave you still

Some coin to line your purse, for ill

You’d surely fare if you were left

Penniless; of all wealth bereft

But little sympathy you’d find,

While many a one would mock behind

His back at him who, like a fool,

Let fond desire o’er reason rule,

Paying the favours that he got

With ruin of his life, God wot.

In my esteem there’s nought more sweet

Than some belovèd face to greet

With pretty presents choicely set

In dainty cloth or wicker net:

Sweet figs, or gooseberries or cherries,

Black bramble fruit, or huckleberries,

A luscious peach with velvet skin,

Or rosy, smooth-faced nectarine,

Berries of service tree or lote,

Or medlars soft with russet coat,

Dark plums or grapes with silvery bloom,

Or strawberries, which through all the room

Cast fragrance, almonds, hard of shell,

But whose sweet kernel payeth well

VOL. II.