Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 1.pdf/288

And following custom gives a name
To suchlike things, untouched by shame.
Plain speech is good No fault I find therewith, but I
My privilege claim equally7530
A thistle not to call a rose,
Or otherwise good words to gloze.

Within the schools one oft may hear
Lessons in parables made clear,
But grievous error those would make
Who should each word for gospel take.
And when of cullions I discoursed.
You put upon that word a forced
And needless sense. When I to you
Of those things spake, ’twas with the view7540
Of showing briefly what I meant
In parable, thereto was bent
My reasoning. Whosoe’er should see
The words of scripture literally,
Ere long would pierce the sense obscure
That lies beneath their coverture.
Uplift the veil that hideth truth,
And bright it flashes forth forsooth.
This shalt thou find if thou rehearse
The noble stories writ in verse7550
By ancient poets. Great delight
Will flood thy soul if thou aright
Dost read, for thou shalt see unrolled
Secret philosophy of old,
Profiting thou amused shalt be,
And thine amusement profit thee,
For oft their quip and crank and fable
Is wondrous good and profitable,