Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 1.pdf/225

To Carthage, then from East to West
Should journey round, until oppressed
With age he’d lost his every tooth,
Yet still with all the zest of youth
Pressed^{[errata 1]} Pressed onward vigorously, his skirt
For speed around his waistband girt,
And brimmed with ardour still stride forth
From sultry south to freezing north,
Till all the earth he’d scoured around,
Much doubt I if he yet had found5700
This wondrous love that you recite.
The gods fled the earth The world, meseems, thereof was quite
Delivered when the old Gods fled
By giants overmastered,
And Chastity, Good-Faith, and Law
Alarmed, did also hence withdraw,
For then, I trow, this love was tost
Aside, and earth the treasure lost.
E’en ponderous Justice, who was cast
In stronger mould, retired at last.5710
All left this world, outworn with war,
And sought beyond the skies afar
A fairer home, and since have shown
Themselves by miracles alone
To those on earth. ’Twas Fraud that sent
Them hence, who since that time hath bent
Earth ’neath her yoke.
E’en Tully’s wit,
Which searched through all that e’er was writ,
Could never find throughout the store
Of ages more than three or four5720

1. Correction: Pressed should be amended to Press: detail