Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 2.pdf/130

Hunger and Poverty If you through slothfulness once get
Your feet within her close-meshed net,
And unto Poverty’s dim den
A man as surely cometh when
That path he takes, as though he trod
This road, of which I guard the sod;10660
For men of idle life and base
Soon meet the beldame face to face.
And if you deem that well ’twill suit
Your turn to follow out the route
Towards treacherous Poverty accurst
In hope thereby the gates to burst
Of this strong fort, you easily
May fail. But Hunger, credit me,
Will be your fellow and bedmate
Soon as you fall to poor estate,10670
For better Poverty by heart
The road knows than by parchment chart.
And wretched Hunger doth expend
Such pains and carefulness to tend
Her dam (for though she loves her not,
Yet through her only hath she got
Wherewith to live, though she herself
Is naked, and devoid of pelf).
That ever comes she day by day,
And sits beside her in the way,10680
And kisseth her with much misease.
Theft’s ear she suddenly doth seize,
And wakes him if she sees him sleep,
Inclines her towards him in her deep
Distress, consulting how they may
By some means Hunger’s pangs allay.