Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 2.pdf/282

And held them fast within my snare.
Infatuation By God and St. Thibaud I swear
That all I had amassed I gave
Unto a false and traitorous knave,
Who pleased me above all, though he
Put me to shame most cruelly:
My love, I many another called,
But he ’fore all my heart enthralled;
Alas! though tender, true, and keen
My love, he prized me not a bean.15180
Ah! then to what disgrace I fell!
The villain made my life a hell,
Entreated me with foul disgrace,
And called me strumpet ’fore my face.
A woman am I and no more,
And woman’s judgment-wit is poor.
The man who loved me, loved I not,
But him who did my features blot
With blows, and beat me with his fist,
Adored I, and that foul hand kissed.15190
The more he beat me, all the more
My heart felt to its very core
Fond love of him. So well his peace
He made, that soon another lease
Of love I gave him, though my back
And bosom beat he blue and black
With ugly bruises, and no trace
Of beauty left he on my face,
Till I to him for mercy cried,
And then when he repentant sighed15200
(Of loving favours once more fain),
The wretch, who held my life amain