Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 1.pdf/72

For not a man on earth can guess
Their untold worth and pricelessness,
Shy-shaming sapphires, rubies red
As pigeon’s blood but newly shed,
Garnets and emeralds weighed not less
Than ounces ten; but profitless
It were that I should strive to paint
The great carbuncle’s glory, faint1140
And poor were any words of mine
To warrant how ’tis wont to shine
So clearly that on murkiest night.
Devoid of lamp, the wearer might
(So strongly shoots its brilliant ray)
For many a league pursue his way.

The minion of Dame Richesse Such brightness sprang from forth this stone
That every part of Richesse shone
With glory, body, feet and face.
As though bright stars belit the place.1150

Fast by the hand, Dame Richesse led
A youth of fairest goodlihead;
Her gallant past all doubt was he.
And gladly sought her company.
He loved fine mansions, castles fair,
And jewels rich, and vestments rare,
Grand stables, horses past all price,
And sooner were he charged with vice
Of theft or murder, than ’twere said
His stables harboured crock or jade.1160
The friendship constantly he sought
Of Dame Richesse, for all his thought
Was how to scatter wealth, and she
Supplied his hands ungrudgingly.