Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 1.pdf/287

The word as something quite divine,
And in the church wouldst thou incline
Thine head before them set in gold
And silver, and wouldst doubtless hold
Thy breath whilst with adoring kiss
Thou knelt’st before them. God, who is7500
All wise, will note the word I say,
Yet nought will turn his face away
In wrath.
Modern squeamishness By body of Saint Omer!
Dream’st thou that I do ill whene’er
I mention God’s good work? Shall I
To suit thee blame the Deity?
Each thing it pleased him to create
Must be by some name designate,
Therefore is thy contention dross,
That names for things we needs must gloss.7510
If noble dames of France use not
These words, the reason is, I wot,
Simply because the usance they
Have lost in this our squeamish day.
But if the fashion ’twas, no sin
Or harm fair dames would find therein.

In all the world there’s nought more strong
Than custom, whether right or wrong.
Men hate new ways until they through
Time’s course are old, which once were new.7520
Each woman who essays to speak
Hereof some periphrase will seek
As purse and staff, or things, or horns
(E’en as she gloved her hand ’gainst thorns).
But time and place according, nought
Objects if by such thorns she’s caught,