Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 3.pdf/40

18

Explaining how the matter needs

That ’mid fair flowers must sprout some weeds;

And for my subject must I use

Plain words, sans liberty to choose.

And ever find I fair and right

The phrase Dan Sallust doth indite,

Wherein he saith: If equal praise

Deserveth not the man who lays

A noble deed within a book,

Whereon the world at large may look

With him who did the deed, yet he

Who sings the achievement faithfully,

With words well suited to the tale,

Is to the world of great avail:

For if the author be no fool,

But writeth after wisdom’s rule,

Then should the words and phrase, wherein

He sets his facts, be close akin

With them; I therefore choose my way

Plain things in plainest phrase to say.

ND, ladies fair, I trust, as well,

That (whether dame or damosel.

Love’s bond, or whole as yet of heart)

If found you in the former part

Some words which you unseemly think,

You’ll kindly let your eyelids wink