Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 2.pdf/84

56

And had her lover Abelard

deckings Listened to her, he had not marred

His life through marriage ties, but well

Had passed his days in learned cell.

Marriage is but an evil bond:

Help me, St. Julian, who so fond

Hast been of aiding travellers,

And Leonard, saint whom prisoners

Invoke to give them timely aid

When they repentant are; I made

Worse bargain when I took a wife

Than If I had, to end my life,

A halter bought, for chose I one

So fine and fair to look upon

That through her coquetry I’m dead.

But, Son of Mary! by my head,

What comes of all this bravery?

What benefit accrues to me

From costly gowns and quaint-cut gear,

Your flirting tricks and mincing cheer?

The more with wasteful train you sweep

The ground, the more my flesh doth creep

With rage, and when I see you clad

Thus foolishly it drives me mad.

What profits it, I ask again,

That you should take such toiling pain

To pleasure others, while to me

It brings but grief and misery?

If I attempt some sportive play

With you, ’tis always in the way,

For this vile muffling up prevents

And baffles all my fond intents.