Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 2.pdf/283

Within his power, so deftly spake,
That I permitted him to make
His peace within my arms, for he
The game of love knew perfectly.
Ah! villain, traitor, perjured thief,
How fond my love! how keen my grief!
I cared to live for him alone,
And at his beck had freely gone15120
Across the seas; yea had he sped
To London, I had followèd.
A wastrel So loved I him, so loved he me,
That each shamed each right recklessly,
And he in riotous display
All that I gave him cast away,
In taverns lording it at dice,
Deep sunk in every wildest vice,
And scorning any craft to learn
Whereby he might fair living earn,15220
Nor saw why he thereof should heed
While I supplied his wasteful need,
And well I knew the means whereby
To feed his lawless luxury.
For all the world my tenants were,
And what I gained with many a care
And deep disgrace, I showered on him,
While he indulged each caitiff whim.
No thought had he to pass the time
In aught but riot, vice, and crime,15230
And was of mouth so tender, it
Loved not to feel the needful bit.
But a drear season dawned at last,
The day of light-won gifts was past,