Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 2.pdf/56

Poverty weds a man to hate,
Maddens and makes him desperate,8390
Until well-nigh he’s reft of sense.
Alas! fair friend, experience
Hath taught me this; too well have I
Tried it and found its misery
In proper person: I have known
What ’tis ’neath Poverty to groan,
And therefore can set forth to you,
As scarce another man could do,
The vengeances it hath in store;
Therefrom, God guard you evermore!8400
Fair friend, that you may suffer ne’er
The woes it hath been mine to bear,
List well the fair advice I give,
And, warned by my example, live
A joyous life.
A spend-thrift pictured In days long past,
Among a merry crew was cast
My lot, and I the foremost shone
(As he who ne’er would be out-done)
Among a hundred, whilst that I
Scattered my substance recklessly.8410
As, all unheeded, sped along
Sweet amorous days, ’mid wine and song.
Esteemed of lordly wealth by all:
Alack! from wealth to need, my fall
Was lightly wrought by Mad-Largess,
Whose hand hath plunged me in distress
To that degree that meat and drink
I oft-times lack, and tread the brink
Of dire starvation. Weed and shoes!
Alas! my needs their state excuse;8420