Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 2.pdf/117

Then he unblushingly should say
To all her questions, Nay, nay, nay,
And oath on oath pile up of truth
And constancy, and if forsooth10270
He can with blandishment and kiss
Entice her on to amorous bliss,
Forswear infidelity The storm is laid. But if in vain
He plead with her, and she amain
So presses him that he can see
No loophole, then all hardily
Let him avow his crime, but tell
A subtle tale of how he fell
A victim to the rival, who
Assailed him, so that he could do10280
Nought else but yield to her—and this
Was but his one sad lapse, ywis.
And then a solemn oath he swears,
That ’tis for her alone he cares,
And if he e’er again forsake,
Betray, or dupe her, may she take
Such vengeance on him as she will;
Nor shall her rival see him till
His dying day, and rather drowned
He’d see her than again be found10290
Her paramour, a creature vile
He nameth her, whose treacherous wile
Drew him aside, and then should he
Enfold his mistress tenderly,
With many a kiss and fond embrace,
And solemn vow, that, once her grace
She deigns to grant, he nevermore
Will vex her heart as heretofore,