Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 1.pdf/266

King Crœsus’ dream Neither could Crœsus, Lydia’s king,
And mighty conqueror, ’scape the sting
Of Fortune. On the burning pyre
He stood and round him leapt the fire,6860
When suddenly the lowering sky
Disburdened it so copiously
That died the flames; his foes dismayed
Thereat took flight, nor long time stayed
King Crœsus, but escaped his bane.

Then ruled he o’er his land again;
But yet, once more by Fortune flung
Tn durance, was he lastly hung;
But ere that happed this vision dreamed:
High on a beech tree’s top he seemed,6870
Where mighty Jupiter had set
Himself to wash him; when all wet
By Jove’s hands made, his glorious son,
Phœbus, with towel, had begun
To dry his skin. Alas! too true
That dreaming proved; he thereby grew
To hateful pride and foolishness,
And then succumbed to sore distress.
Though when to Phanie fair, his child,
He told this dream so strange and wild,6880
She strove to tear from off his eyes
The veil, for she was passing wise
To pierce the visions of the night,
And show their truth in morning light.”