Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 1.pdf/169

The tower described And every tower was fenced with tall
And strongly-masoned outer wall,
Which need not fear the heaviest stone
By catapult or engine thrown.
A barred portcullis o’er each gate
Hung, ready poised, to fix the fate
Of those who rashly dared to put
Their feet therein ere yet ’twas shut.
And lastly, midmost of the close,
Another strong-built tower arose,4010
Than which none grander, as I ween,
The long piled ages e’er have seen.
The walls were made so thick and well,
That doubt ye not they might repel
The heavy ram, balister, sling,
And every sort of deadly thing
Employed in siege. The stones were fixed
With mortar, made of quick-lime mixed
With vinegar. The native rock
Had furnished stone to bear a shock4020
’Neath which firm adamant might shake.
This inner tower was round of make,
And both within and out so dight,
That ween I well, no fairer sight
The world could show. On every side
’Twas circled round by bailey wide,
And wondrous strong; and then betwixt
This barrier and the wall was fixed
A closure broad of rose-trees rare,
Whose blossoms sweet perfumed the air4030
Both far and wide. A mighty hoard
Of warlike implements was stored