Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 2.pdf/79

Rh

But let the wretched dupe perceive

That nought his folly can retrieve;

Repentance comes alas! too late.

Nay, even though a kindly fate

Procure for him a wife both good

And gentle, in all likelihood,

Unless a fool, will he repent

His folly ere a year be spent.

A virtuous woman! Nay, I swear

By good St. Denis, that’s more rare

Than is a phoenix.

Thus hath said

Valerius: Whosoe’er will wed

Or love a woman finds much pain

And many troubles, while his gain

Is nought. More rare than phoenix? Nay

’Twere apter simile to say

Rarer by far than snow-white crow,

How fine soe’er their bodies show.

But natheless am I free to say

(Lest that the women of to-day

Should count me neither just nor fair),

I’ve no intention to declare

All womankind alike, but eyes

Of lynx the man need have who tries

So fair a bird on earth to find

As any one of womankind

Who’s faultless—secular or nun—

Black swans are commoner ’neath the sun.

Such birds on earth are sparsely sown,

As lightly may, pardee, be known.

VOL. II.