Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 2.pdf/119

Be true in sickness And comfort her. A pilgrimage
He vows to God will He assuage
Her malady, and lets her know
Thereof—though nought he means to go.
The food she loves doth he aver
Is good, and nought besiegeth her
With nauseous draughts, nor aught, ywis.
But what right sweet and grateful is.
Then pleasant fictions he’ll invent,
Of how the night foregone he spent,
Vowing that drearily it sped,
No sweet companion in his bed10340
To solace him, and how awake
He restless lay, for her sweet sake,
Then sleeping, dreamed that in his arms,
Disrobed, beheld he all her charms,
To glowing health once more restored,
Able and willing to afford
The joys he longs for; doubt not such
Fair fictions will console her much.

Thus have I striven in verse to tell
How should a lover, sick or well,10350
His mistress treat if he desire
To keep alive the sacred fire
Of ardent love, whose flame may be
Snuffed out and quenched right easily
By any wight, who selfish ease
Prefers, nor troubleth him to please
Her fancy.
Framed and meddled so
Is woman’s heart that man can know