Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 2.pdf/93

Rh

In bed a-night-time, nought discreet

You show you when I fain would greet

Your lips or cheek with loving kiss,

And win the while sweet nuptial bliss

With kindly word and fond caress,

And every show of tenderness,

But all the more I press my love

Upon you, all the more you prove

Recalcitrant, and quite snuff out

My purpose with ill-tempered pout,

Nor even show the common grace

Of turning towards me, face to face,

But feign you sick, and sob and sigh,

And lie all limp and languorously.

So that at last I’m forced to beat,

For fear of failure, glum retreat.

And oft I watch the day-dawn break,

And wonder as I lie awake

Whether you wrangle in such sort

When you with other men disport

And fondle, and in what way a-paid

These rufflers are when all arrayed

And muffled up with gallant dress

You’re dizened out for wantonness;

Or if you practise such despite

Towards them by day as me by night.

But ne’er with gay sparks you consume

The time, I doubt, in fret and fume,

But dance and sing where’er you go,

Your face all wreathed in smiles to show

Your dazzling pearly teeth, and thus

Through meads and gardens amorous