Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 1.pdf/204

Love worketh aye in earnest wise,
Though found in many a differing guise.
If love run strong betwixt the two,
Each hath his part in turn to do,
For this one suffereth that one’s pain,
And that one’s joy is this one’s gain.

Cicero on friendship By friendship’s law, great Tully saith,
That when two men repose full faith
In one another, and request
Is made betwixt them, ’tis a test
Of mutual love; and asking made
With right and reason, to evade5050
Fulfilment were a thing unjust,
Save in two cases, which men must
Keep aye in mind. The first is this:
If it attaint man’s life, ywis,
Refuse to have concern therein;
Or secondly, if one would pin
Disgrace on some well-honoured name,
Scorn thou to aid an act of shame
And baseness. In each case, I trow,
Stern duty cries: Thou shalt not bow5060
Thy will to his, whose heart perverse
Injustice ’gainst his foe doth nurse.
Such love it is that thou shouldst give
Thine heart to, if thou fain wouldst live
In honour, but flee thou that blind,
False love that but obscures thy mind;
The one is virtue’s very breath,
The other draws men on to death.

Another Love will I describe,
An adverse love, whereat may gibe5070