Base folk for friends? No man can be
More free from all iniquity
Than is Fair-Welcome; only this
His foes may charge him with, he is
Mirthful and merry, and to each
And all he meeteth, free of speech.3750
Too easy have I been, past doubt,
In passing o’er his faults without
Due chastisement. I humbly plead
Guilty hereof, if evil deed
Account ye this. If I forgot
My duty, I repent with hot
And scalding tears, and nevermore
Shall you have reason to deplore
My negligence herein; he ne’er
Shall step one pace beyond my care.”3760
Jealousy addresseth Shame.
Jealousy scolds Shame.
“Ah! Shame!” cried Jealousy, “afraid
Am I to be again betrayed,
For vice is now so widely spread,
That soon I fear all past and dead
Will virtue be. Nor is my fear
Needless, when now we see appear
On every side such wantonness,
Such luxury, such pride of dress,
Which day by day yet seem to grow,
Nor e’er was abbey built, I trow,3770
With walls so close, well-barred and high,
As safely to keep Chastity.
But for these Rose-trees and the Rose,
I will with stronger walls inclose
