Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 1.pdf/144

Humility before Danger I found him standing bolt upright
In seeming rage, and ready dight,
His gnarled and knotted club. Then I,
With humble mien and downcast eye,3300
Approached him, and exclaimed: “O Sire,
I pray you humbly, let the ire
You well may feel against me die,
Seeing that now, most abjectly,
I crave your pardon, and would do
Whate’er your will should set me to,
As act of penance. Love it is
Who rules my heart, and he, ywis,
My trespass caused.
My mastering thought
Is this, that through all time I nought3310
May anger you, and direst pain
Would suffer ere that I again
Incurred your wrath, wherefore to me
Extend, I pray, your clemency,
Who have your fear before mine eyes
Unceasingly, and in such wise
To you will render service due
As ne’er shall give you cause to rue
Free grant of pardon, noble sir,
To your devoted worshipper.3320
Suffer that he but once again,
Who of thy fostering hand is fain,
May offer you his love. Your will,
Or small or great, will I fulfil
At risk of life, and faithful be
Past all men call sincerity.
What more to any sovereign lord
Than life and love can man afford?