Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 2.pdf/112

And crenelated castles barred
strong portcullises to guard
The heaped up treasures they amassed;
For many a fearsome hour they passed,
Lest others reft away their gains,
The fruit of labour’s toilsome pains,
Or war, fought out with hardy hands
O’er perilous seas in far-off lands.
And thus did they around them heap
Troubles and cares, which murder sleep.

Wealth breeds strife Nought knew they more of soft-eyed peace,
For growth of wealth but brought increase10120
Of woes, and things that late were free
As sun and wind and unchained sea.
Through avarice of wealth were set
Apart, each strove good share to get.
Oft one man more than twenty had,
Which doth but shadow forth a bad
And selfish heart.
Such cruel gluttons
I count not worth a deuce of buttons.
What care I if their souls possess
Of faith and love, or more or less?10130
If they betwixt them buy and sell
Their love or hate, nor ill or well
I count it, but ’tis damage great
When damsels fair and delicate,
Fitted for gentle love and true,
Abase their souls and bodies through
The love of gold; a sight it is
To tear one’s heart to shreds, ywis.