Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 2.pdf/153

But hear me by Saint Venus swear,
And Saturn who engendered her,11310
Not through his wife, but in her sweet
And perfect beauteousness complete.
Love’s oath But yet a stronger oath I swear,
To clench more firmly the affair.
I swear by all the faith I owe
My brothers, though no man doth know
Who were their sires (for many have dared
Avow my mother’s couch they shared),
I swear by Styx, hell’s river black;
And if my words plain truth should lack,11320
May I, until a year flits o’er,
Of luscious piment drink no more;
(For by the Gods it is ordained
That no one who his lips hath stained
With falsehood, through a year drinks wine,)
I’ve sworn enough, as I opine;
If false, may I accursèd be.
But I’ll commit no perjury.

Dame Richesse doth desert us! hey!
But thereof shall she smartly pay,11330
Yea, dear enough, unless she arm
Herself with sword, or piked guisarme.
And since for me she doth not burn
With love, whene’er I overturn
The castle and the tower accurst,
An evil dawn shall on her burst.
And if some wealthy carle I net,
I’ll squeeze and twist him till I get
Each golden mark from out his purse,
And drain it to its very source,11340