Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 3.pdf/30

8

For had she known your treacherous mind,

She ne’er had suffered you behind

The hedge to win. Grossly deceived

Fair-Welcome was when he received

Your visit here, he thought to be

Your friend, and found but treachery.

You’re like a dog that swims a-land,

And on the bank doth barking stand.

Be off! go seek your prey elsewhere,

And let your footsteps quickly bear

You hence; away! our stairs descend

Forthwith, or ware you evil end;

For chance it is one cometh here

Eftsoons whose face you well may fear,

For simple reckoning will he measure

With one who hither comes on pleasure.

Sir madman! vile, presumptuous sot!

Who neither faith nor truth doth wot,

What hath Fair-Welcome ’gainst you done?

By some foul crime hath he then won

Your anger and undying hate

That you his life would desolate?

And when all things that you possessed

You proffered him, ’twere lightly guessed

That ’twas with hope he would receive

You hither, and our watch deceive

For your behoof, and e’en his birds

And dogs give you for your fair words.

Right foolishly hath he behaved,

But, by the God who all men saved,

And by St. Faith, so great a wrong

Hath he committed, that in strong