Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 2.pdf/35

Evil-Tongue
And all his cursed crew are sprung
From Satan, and of Heaven despised,
Therefore are men right well advised
By every guile to cheat the cheat,
His cozenage and lies to beat7770
With greater lies, and e’en caress
And trick the knave with treacherousness,
Fooling the fellow to his bent
With fulsome praise and compliment,
Silencing thus the yelping hound
Till fair and clear the road be found.

Before all else your care should be
To lull to false security
This slanderer, by persuading him
That you are reft of power to nimme7780
Or steal the Rose he lives to guard;
That done, the pathway lies unbarred.

Jealousy to be flattered Treat in likewise the hag on watch
(God grant hell’s fiend her soul may catch),
And flatter also Jealousy
(May she of God accursèd be),
To still her rancorous, spiteful heart,
That joy of others makes to smart
With sour disdain, such venomed spleen
And greed within her rage, I ween;7790
For sure it is, though many taste
Of happiness, it nought need waste.
It is as though a lantern’s light
One grudged to other men anight;