Faint-Heart with Hunger doth agree,
Who of the rope thinks tremblingly,
And on her body every hair
Stends stiff and straight with mortal fear10690
And dread, lest Theft, her child, amain
Red-handed in the deed be ta’en.
By this path seek then not to go.
But find some other road, for lo!
If you should persevere to choose
This way, you all your wealth must lose,
And have not served me so that I
Should love you unreservedly.
The Lover speaks to Richesse.
Lady, I swear by God above
That gladly would I win your love,10700
And by your grace would fain essay
Along your path to make my way.
And rescue from his durance dire
Fair-Welcome—grant my one desire.
Richesse.
Richesse warns the Lover
I understand, quoth she, that all
Your store of wood both great and small
You’ve sold not, but one stick kept back;
’Tis well, and ne’er the world will lack
Of folly till men rise above
The thraldom known to fools as love,10710
But each who in this madness lies,
Deems himself natheless wondrous wise.
