Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 1.pdf/209

She then makes plain, with rugged truth,
That no man, or in age or youth.
Who habiteth this changeful earth.5200
Should count prosperity of worth
Beyond the slippery hour.
Whene’er
A man, once wealthy, finds him bare
Of worldly garnishment, he then
Shall learn how many or few of men
Remain his friends. For those who came
In flocks around when wealth and fame
Smiled sweetly in his face, are shocked,
And sharply startled, when bemocked
By Fortune’s hand they see him; none
Remain to cheer, not half a one5210
Alas! is left; nor do they fly
In silence, but loud-voiced deny
Knowledge of him ’fore whom of late
They fell, with fawning voice, prostrate.
Nor stay they there, but loud proclaim
His thousand faults, and sharply blame
His folly, though scarce yet is cold
The breath with which his manifold
But true friends abide Good deeds they chaunted. Still remain
Some few whose love no hope of gain5220
Or place inspired; they still defend
The man they once called ‘well-loved friend,’
For on his honoured self they set
Their hearts, devoid of hope to get
Advantage.
Goes not by the board
His love whose wilful hand the sword
Would draw against his friend?