Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 3.pdf/79

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Then to her priest doth she confess,

Who in her chapel hastes to say

The mass, although in no new way,

For alway had he service due

Performed, since he was priest thereto.

Boldly, in place of other mass.

The priest, whose knowledge doth surpass

All others, called before the queen

Each creature that hath ever been

Born in this mortal world, then writ

Within his book whate’er of it

Great Nature unto him revealed,

Which else had been a mystery sealed.

ENIUS quoth she, my gentle priest,

Master o’er greatest as o’er least

Of all created things, and who

Directs and charges them to do

Such works as are to them assigned,

Each one according to his kind,

Now do I feel remorse oppress

My spirit, and would fain confess

A folly that my heart hath riven,

And yet remaineth unforgiven.

VOL. III.