Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 1.pdf/254

And when she finds her fallen a-down,
Straightway both cheer and broidered gown
Are changed, and all at once of dress
She finds herself an orphaness;
And all her pride of state subdued,
There stands she, as a blind-worm nude;
All she possessed hath vanishèd,
And now doth nought her need bestead.
Then seeing her estate so low,
All shameless seeketh she to go6500
Beneath the bordel’s roof to hide
Her head, for sorrow humbleth pride.
Then mourneth she, with floods of tears,
The splendours now no longers hers—
The worldly pleasures past and gone.
The gorgeous robes she woned to don.

Fortune’s last estate Alas, for Fortune! jade perverse!
Full many a noble man shall curse
Her hand which cast him in the mire,
A prey to woe and misery dire,6510
While vilest men she sets on high,
Bestowing on them lavishly
Honour, and dignity, and power,
Only that when their little hour
Is past, she suddenly away
May snatch the gifts of yesterday.
O were not then the ancients wise,
Who Fortune drew with blindfold eyes.”