Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 2.pdf/87

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E’en as before it was bedeckt.

And if some dotard should affect

To say that, though all foul within,

Fair is the dungheap for its skin

Of silk and flowers, in same-like way

As ladies who themselves array

To help their beauty, and conceal

Their ugliness, I could but feel

Amazed, nor dare to make reply,

Except I said that probably

Such strange delusion must arise

From some wild vision of the eyes,

Which see alone the outward show,

And ne’er the heart’s vagaries know,

By seeming-sweet imaginings

Led to forget the depth of things

In suchwise that they nought can see

How to distinguish verity

From falsehood, nor with ease unknit

A fallacy, through lack of wit.

But if they had the eyes of lynx,

Men would not find a jade or minx

Better because she chanced to wear

Rich mantles trimmed around with rare

And line Siberian marten fur,

Nor think one atom more of her

For heaps of diamonds and laces,

Set off with mincing airs and graces,

Nor frillings, furbelows, and stays,

Arranged a dozen different ways,

Nor hats with gayest flowers bedeckt.

None could be fairer in respect