Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 2.pdf/97

Threats of violence To all the rascal friends you meet,
Who will with scorn and laughter greet
The tale you tell, and thus through you
May I win blows, nor light nor few,
My head to bruise, my legs to break,
And jelly of my back to make,9660
Should I permit you hence to go.
But if perchance I come to know
That you have blabbed one word, I’ll let
You hear of it. Unless they get
Hold of my arm and from me take
This club, such play with it I’ll make
That neither neighbour, friend, nor sire,
Nor gallant, shall abate my ire.
Alas! that e’er we should have met!
’Neath what unhappy star was set9670
My birth, that you on me should bring
Such shame, disgrace, and suffering?
But to these scoundrel villain curs,
Because they’re smooth-tongued flatterers,
Do you accord full seigniory,
While I it is who ought to be
Your well-loved lord, by whom you’ve been
Fed, clothed, and shod long years, I ween.
All shamelessly am I by you
Associate made with this base crew9680
Of scurvy scoundrels, villain scum,
From whom nought else to you can come
But shame, dishonour, and disgrace;
For while they praise you to your face,
But cheaply they esteem your charms,
E’en while they revel in your arms.