Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 2.pdf/152

When Venus doth a bargain make,
For, whatsoever care he take,
A man may never get what’s sold.
Yet lose past all return his gold,
For tightly may the vendor keep
The wares, and then no price were cheap,
Nay, e’en though all he had one set
Thereon, he might no guerdon get;
Whate’er he did, whate’er he said,
It nowise could be hindered,
But what the very first who can
(Roman, Breton, or Englishman)
Open the purse more widely may,
The thing you paid for bear away,11290
Or e’en obtain it as a gift,
If he but knows his voice to lift
In flattering words. Account ye wise
Merchants who deal in suchlike guise?
Nay, but mere fools and caitiffs they.
Who bargains make in such a way
That for their outlay nought remain
Of pleasure, benefit, or gain,
Whate’er the cost.
Venus not mercenary ’Tis true that she
Who gave me birth not usually11300
Dispenseth gold, for hath she more
Of wit than thus to waste her store,
But know ye well, that man shall yet
Pay her, who doth his gold regret,
When Poverty in dire distress
Doth hold him, though of Dame Richesse
Fast friend were he, who, when I will,
Loseth her power to work me ill.