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THE ROMANCE OF THE ROSE.

Plain gear suffices I’ll give you nothing else to wear,
By Body of God, but simple gear,
A woollen kirtle, and a gown
Of hempen woof to fall adown9750
About your heels, nought delicate,
But coarse and rude, and in a state
Of rags and slits, howe’er you fret;
And round about your waist I’ll set
A girdle, of what sort, think ye?
No tricked and tinselled trumpery,
But plain white skin, undecked with gold,
While for your shoes shall serve my old
Worn gaiter leggings; soon I’ll thrash
From mind and body all this trash9760
Of dress and mincing ways, which draw
You on to break the marriage law.
No longer shall this ribald crew
Unhindered have their will of you.

I charge you that you tell me now,
Without a lie, from whom and how
Did you obtain that rich silk dress
Which at the ball you wore? Confess!
For well I know it was not I
Who gave it you.
Unblushingly9770
You swore by God the Father and
St. Denis, who protects this land,
And holy Philibert, that you
Received it from your mother, who,
According to your tale, so well
Loves me, that readily she’d sell