Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 1.pdf/276

All these o’er realms in freedom reigned,
Yet slaves became when Fortune waned.
Study Homer’s page ’Fore God I count it shame to thee
That, having studied history,7160
Thou ne’ertheless hast clean forgot
Examples which thou well shouldst wot
From out great Homer’s page; why spend
Thy time in reading if the end
Is but forgetfulness, and nought
Thou hast by all thy study bought?
Who is there if thou still lackst wit
Except thyself to thank for it?
Each man great benefit will find
If Homer’s lessons in his mind7170
Are duly stored; each word he said
Should be with care rememberèd
While life endures, and he whose heart
Pastures thereon shall ne’er depart
From wisdom’s ways, but surely know
To tread her holy path, nor go
Therefrom: he no mischance need fear,
But safely through the world may steer,
Whatever haps of good or bad,
Hard, soft, sweet, bitter, bright or sad.7180
For he so perfectly doth paint
Dame Fortune’s tricks and manners quaint,
That every man may mark the sense
Who’s blest with slight intelligence.
’Tis strange thy brain should lie a-waste
If e’er thou Homer’s wit didst taste,
But this insensate game of love
Would seem all better sense to shove