Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 2.pdf/145

For no man woman-born may win
His way to heaven unscathed by sin)
Towards me his heart shall be so true
That, in the end, whate’er he do,
With tearful eyes and head low bent,
Sorely will he his crime repent,
And vow henceforth to keep him clear.

Origin of the Romance This fair Romance he’ll hold so dear,11070
That to its ending will he trace
The tale, God give him time and place.
When death shall snatch Dan William, then
Dan John in hand shall take the pen
When forty years are passed, and say:
(O’ercome with grief to think he may
Fair-Welcome’s help and comfort lose,
Prisoned by Jealousy’s vile ruse)
“If he no more may bless my sight.
O’er me will fall despair’s black night!”11080
And every other word that he
Hath wisely said or foolishly,
Repeat, until he shall have gained
The Rose from its fair stem and fained
His heart thereby, and once more day
May dawn, and dreaming pass away;
And every point will make so sure
And clear, that nought remains obscure.

Doubt not, if in their power it lay,
These both would lend their aid this day.11090
But while of one the life is worn,
The other hath not yet been born,
And therefore cannot help our cause,
Or set before the world my laws;