Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 2.pdf/191

Doles and bribery And on the battlement contrive
An engine formed to cast and drive
As well behind, as eke before,
Such precious stones from out his store
As thou heard at full related,
And pleasantly enumerated,
Good wines in barrels, casks and tuns,
And heavy bags, not scanty ones,12430
Stuffed well with bezants, crowns, and marks,
Then nought he need to heed our barks
Or fear our bites. But doth he not
Possess such stores ’twere well I wot
Their worth he gave us, nor with lies,
Excuses vain, or fallacies.
Attempt our cozening, or we’ll bring
Against him such a grievous string
Of crimes that if not burned alive,
He will but wretchedly survive,12440
Beneath a penance of a kind
That heavier tax than doles he’ll find.

It is not by external show
Of weed you may these traitors know,
But whoso from their toils would be
Preserved, must mark their jugglery;
For Christ’s most holy faith were marred
But for the careful watch and ward
Of Paris University,
E’en as I now relate to ye.12450
Twelve hundred years and fifty-five
Had fled since Christ stood forth alive
On earth for men, when first was seen
(None will naysay my words, I ween)