Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 2.pdf/120

Never if it be false or true,
No matter what he say or do.10360
To hold it fast is task as vain
As though an eel from out the Seine
One should ’twixt thumb and finger grip,
Which will not fail to slide and slip
From out the grasp howe’er one try
To hold it, for so slippery
It is of skin, and eke so quick
Of movement, that its every trick
No man can fathom.
A good woman should be prized Nought I would
Speak thus of all, for some both good10370
And virtuous are, but deep regret
Is mine to own I ne’er have met
With any such, although from queen
To jade full many a one I’ve seen.
And wise King Solomon declared
That, as through life’s dark maze he found,
No woman e’er by him was found
Faithful and true.
If through the round
Of life you find one, tarry not,
But, joyful for your happy lot,10380
Give Fortune thanks that you possess
One faithful love your life to bless.
If nought a woman gads about
The street, nor lovers seek her out,
She chaste remains.
Just one word more
To perfect what I’ve said before
Of love’s fair art. Whene’er a maid,
Fair or ill-favoured, you’d invade,