Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 2.pdf/53

The path of riches The plan that hath this magic touch
Mad-Largess thought of, and Give-Much
It hight, but many a man, I ween,
In following it hath ruined been.8300
I know the route right well, for I
But two days since returned thereby:
In summer’s heat and winter’s rage,
Thither I’ve made my pilgrimage.

Leave Largess on the right, and turn
Off to the left, beside a burn;
So far as carrieth a cross-bow,
Follow the beaten path and go
Straight on, the road you scarce can lose,
And ere you much have worn your shoes,8310
You’ll see the towers and turrets shiver,
As aspens in a wind-flaw quiver,
And every portal open fly,
While guards fall dead all suddenly:
Nor are these walls more hard to break
Than ’tis a well-baked Christmas cake
To cut in equal parts of four,
While fewer soldiers for the stour
You’ll need than erst great Charlemagne
Led forth to conquer wide Almaine.8320

Along this path, which well I know,
No needy man hath power to go.
Alone, he can in nowise fare,
Nor other poor man lead him there.
But if perchance he find a guide
Who hath himself aforetime tried