Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 2.pdf/84

And had her lover Abelard
deckings Listened to her, he had not marred
His life through marriage ties, but well
Had passed his days in learned cell.

A wife’s deckings Marriage is but an evil bond:
Help me, St. Julian, who so fond
Hast been of aiding travellers,
And Leonard, saint whom prisoners
Invoke to give them timely aid
When they repentant are; I made9260
Worse bargain when I took a wife
Than If I had, to end my life,
A halter bought, for chose I one
So fine and fair to look upon
That through her coquetry I’m dead.
But, Son of Mary! by my head,
What comes of all this bravery?
What benefit accrues to me
From costly gowns and quaint-cut gear,
Your flirting tricks and mincing cheer?9270
The more with wasteful train you sweep
The ground, the more my flesh doth creep
With rage, and when I see you clad
Thus foolishly it drives me mad.
What profits it, I ask again,
That you should take such toiling pain
To pleasure others, while to me
It brings but grief and misery?
If I attempt some sportive play
With you, ’tis always in the way,9280
For this vile muffling up prevents
And baffles all my fond intents.