Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 1.pdf/277

Aside. To make my meaning clear
I’ll tell a tale, thereto give ear:7190

Jupiter’s two wells Great Jupiter hath dight two wells
Or water-tuns, as Homer tells,
Before the threshold of his door,
From which nor youth nor grandsire hoar,
Nor buxom dame, nor damsel slim,
(Nor young nor old, nor fair nor grim),
Who at his hands their being take,
But drink a draught their thirst to slake,
And o’er this inn, to all men free,
Fortune presides as deity,7200
And open-handed doth assign
To all who come, of well-spiced wine
Or wormwood, great or little cups,
But every man some liquor sups;
Her hand deals out or more or less,
As pleaseth best her fickleness.
And day by day the drinkers come
For barrels, hogsheads, gallons some,
And some for quarts and pints, or e’en
A palmful or a suplet mean,7210
As Fortune chooseth to bestow,
And cross or kind she haps to grow;
For while to some she’s soft and good,
To others hard as ebon wood.
And no man such great happiness
Can boast him, but that some distress
Shall come to dash his cup of joy;
Yet shall not misery destroy
Wise men’s content and peace of mind,
But each in darkest hour shall find7220