Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 2.pdf/161

Of gold, and, preaching that they wish
For poverty alone, still fish11540
With trammel-net and wide-spread seine,
In hope great worldly wealth to gain.
Religious pretenders Religious are they not, nor good,
Yet have the shameless hardihood,
Whene’er they preach, to boldly say,
That wearing holy habits they
Must needs be holy. By my life
Their claim’s not worth a wooden knife;
That “not by robe the monk is made,”
None but a fool hath e’er gainsaid.11550
And none to this can make reply
Although his head were shaven high
By hand of Fraud, who cuts thirteen
Thereto had given with razor keen.
But hereof dare no man discuss,
To speak one word is perilous,
For truth they turn the nether way.
And therefore in their nests I lay
My eggs, as often may be seen
By those who closely look therein.11560
Know ye that wheresoe’er I go.
And whatso sort of face I show,
I purpose some ill deed, and that,
Even as Master Tybert cat
Of nought else dreams but rats and mice,
So do I find my paradise
In lying, robbery, and wrong.
And though but few among the throng
Of men detect me through my dress,
Nor pierce beneath my gentleness11570