Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 1.pdf/219

Till they have pierced their hearts with three
Sharp swords of dire malignity:
The first, hard labour is, to gain;
The second, fear to lose amain5510
The pelf amassed with carking care.
Long dolorous days, and scanty fare;
The third sword is the drivelling fear
Of death as old age draws anear,
When, as aforesaid, graspers see
Their self-inflicted misery.

Pecunia punishes her gaolers Pecunia, queen-like, hath the wit
To scourge the fools who benefit
Nought of her favours, but would keep
Her prisoned fast. She lies asleep
In peace the while these dotards wake,
Swink hard and ’neath her ruling quake
Whate’er may hap; in honour she
Doth live, while they but shamefully
Bow them before her vengeful rod,
And writhe beneath her foot steel shod.
But small and scant her thanks will be
To him who curbs her liberty,
Seeing he must, or soon or late,
Forego her when he meets his fate,
Though while he lived he did not dare
To harness her or let her fare.
But bold courageous men attack
This dame, and mounting on her back,
With spur and rein entreat her so
As quickly gives her cause to know
Her lords for men of valiant heart;
For e’en as Daedalus by art