Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 2.pdf/91

They’d ne’er affect, except with wish
Immodest, vile, and devilish.
To dazzle foolish men, and draw
Them on to break God’s holy law.

God’s creation perfect But those who look with equal eye
Will see that women woefully9470
Put God to shame, when in their fits
Of folly, so beside their wits
Are they as not to be content
With fairness such as God hath sent,
But each one on her head must set
Fine gear with many a gay floweret
Of silk or gold adorned, whene’er
She marches forth to take the air.
Alas! the silly fool succeeds
Only in proving that she needs9480
Good sense and modesty, when thus
She strives to make her beauteous
With foolish gewgaws (which e’en less
Of worth than her poor self possess),
Beyond the point that God saw good,
As though He had not understood
His handicraft, but such a whelp
As she must needs consult for help
To perfect that His hand begun.
So, from all creatures ’neath the sun9490
That God created, she doth ask
Assistance in her foolish task,
Metals and minerals, and flowers,
O’er which she idly wasteth hours.

But for that matter, truth to speak,
Men oft are foolish, vain, and weak