Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 1.pdf/210

The test of adversity There are
Two points where friendship forms no bar
To quarrel: bitter wrath or pride
May end its term ; and woe betide5230
Old friendship if a man reveal
A secret given beneath the seal
Of confidence; or poisonous spite
Of base detraction puts to flight
Kind thought of olden days.
If one
True friend be found, ere life be done,
Among a thousand, happy he
Who proves him; for a man may be
Wealthy, and held in high repute,
But yet, forsooth, be destitute5240
Of one friend’s love.
It well was said,
A traveller on his road is sped
Better by friend than purse well lined.
When changeful Fortune proves unkind
To wealthy wights, by dole it is
She opes their eyes to see, ywis,
How they true faithful friends may know
From those who did but boast them so
In Fortune’s hour, and proves how vain
To win true friends is wealth mundane,5250
Showing adversity to be
More profit than prosperity;
Through one in ignorance we stay,
The other clears the mist away.

And whensoe’er it haps that poor
A man becomes, he may with sure