Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 1.pdf/184

My will to his, and thus deserve
His praise. If one of us should swerve4460
From rectitude, alas! ’twere I,
Not Love, who ever faithfully
Keepeth his word; ’tis I alone
My sin and folly must atone
By suffering. But whence cometh this
Malfeasance? I know not, ywis,
To Love he will be faithful And ne’er shall know; but Love shall have
Me wholly, or to lose or save.
Yea, he may take my well-loved life,
Or give it over unto strife4470
Through hopeless years, I bond thereto
As helpless otherwise to do;
Ere long perchance kind death will come
To end my woes, and call me home.
But if the God of Love, who wears
My heart so hardly, while it cares
Alone to pleasure him, demands
My life, I yield it to his hands.
Or cheerfully will bear what he
Lays on me of calamity.4480
’Tis his to do whate’er he will.
And mine to bend, and suffer still
His yoke. This thing alone I ask,
That whatsoe’er of toil or task
May fall upon me, or if death
Be mine, he let my latest breath
Protect Fair-Welcome, who will make
My sepulchre for friendship’s sake.
Receive, O God of Love, my prayer,
Ere yet I die, for him who ne’er4490