Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 2.pdf/85

And then as cold as clay you turn,
And all my efforts fail to earn
Your kind accord; you do but shake
Awkward excuses, till I see
Most clearly that my gallantry
You find distasteful.
A husband’s grievance When abed
I seek with you to lay my head,9290
As worthy spouse should do at night,
My dues to claim, my debt to quite,
Your dizenments you cast aside,
And both for head and neck provide
White shrouds of linen, and from view
Hide ribbons, red and green and blue,
While all your robes of tissues fair
And costly on a rail in air
Are hung all night.
I pray you, tell
What use such things are but to sell9300
Or pawn? and if so be you do
Nor one nor t’other with them, you
May then expect such storms to break
Around your head as cause you shake
With terror: if your trash annoy
Me day-long through, and nought of joy
Gives me at night, what benefit
Or pleasure do I gain from it
More than a truss of river sedge,
Unless it be to sell or pledge?9310

And for yourself—to make an end—
If you have witting to attend