Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 2.pdf/78

50

Were straightway driven forth from Rome,

Dying in exile, and no home

Found kingship there again. Alas!

Through all the world one now might pass,

But no Penelope in Greece

Discover, nor in Rome Lucrece,

Nor such-like women otherwhere:

Seek not—your pains ye well may spare.

In pagan days too well ’tis known

That women many a time have thrown

Themselves at men who sought them not,

As many a one doth now, God wot!

Those who in wedlock would engage,

A custom have which neither sage

Nor good I reckon, but bizarre

And strange in each particular,

And oft I marvel what should press

Men on to such fond foolishness.

What man soe’er would buy a horse

Examines him, in common course,

With greatest pains, and carefully

Notes each defect that meets his eye.

But women skilfully conceal

All faults from those with whom they deal,

And nought men know of good or ill

Concerning those they wed until

The knot is tied, but that once done,

Good Lord! such pranks ’neath heaven’s high sun

They play, as show all plain and clear

Their inborn vice; nought then they fear,