# Romance of the Rose (Ellis)/Chapter 95

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The husband lets the cord around His neck be by his folly bound,17350 Telling his secret to his wife— Her soul she loses—he his life.
The husband blabs Then doth the fool to her relate His secret, and thereby his fate Is sealed—in peril is his head, His words repents he, scarcely said, But once a word has taken wing, ’Tis lost past chance of cancelling. Forthwith he prays his wife that she Will keep her tongue most rigidly,17360 For thrice more anxious is he now Than when thereof she nought did trow, Although most solemnly she swears That safely she his secret shares. The idiot! What could he expect? By silence failed he to protect Himself, and now would he restrain His wife! Oh foolish hope, and vain! Now hath the dame the upper hand. Assured no more will he withstand17370 Her thousand whims, or dare to scold. For hers ’tis now the whip to hold. And meekly may he still his tongue, For o’er his reign the knell is rung. ’Tis possible that she may keep Silence awhile, nor seek to reap Advantage till some feud arise Betwixt them, which her temper tries ​Too sorely, but, so doing, she Will struggle most unwillingly17380 Against the promptings of her heart, Which burns with longing to impart The tale. Beware of women Now whoso wisheth good To men will tell this all abroad, For well ’twould be if far and wide ’Twere known, to serve as signal-guide Against great peril. ’Twill displease Women who love to spite and tease Their husbands, but sound truth should not Be pared or pruned one single jot.17390
Fair sirs, of womankind beware; If you for soul or body care, Speak not, nor act you in such wise As layeth bare to woman’s eyes The things your hearts hold secretly. Fly! fly! I bid you, fly! fly! fly! Fly womankind, if you would live In safety. I this counsel give, Free of all afterthought and guile; But note you Virgil’s words the while,17400 Which to your hearts ’twere well to take And plant them there for safety’s sake. Children, who fragrant flowrets cull, And rosy-ripe sweet strawberries pull, Keep ever in your memories That ’neath their leaves the serpent lies. Flee then, O children, lest he fling On you the poison of his sting, When come ye nigh his lair. ​And so, Young folk, as through the world ye go17410 Agathering fruits and flowrets sweet. Beware the serpent ’neath your feet. Which lurketh venomous and cold, An adder which doth venom hold Until lit moment she perceives To spit it forth from ’twixt the leaves, Haiming and wounding mortally; Fly from her, children, haste to fly. For such vile venom bears the beast, That if with head or tail the least17420 Of touches she your body gives, ’Tis death, for poison in her lives, And those who once that virus feel, No leech can save, no art can heal; In vain for remedy he yearns Within whose veins the venom burns, One medicine alone hath might To heal the wound—’tis instant flight.
Woman’s value But think you not from what I say Hereof, I’d have you cast away17430 All women’s love, nor be you led To think no man I’d have to wed, Or woman’s company enjoy. Nay, I exhort you be not coy, Fair dames and damosels to prize, But trick them forth in braveries From head to foot, and give them fair Knd courteous greeting wheresoe’er They cross your life-path, if you would The ravages of death make good;17440 ​For ’tis through them that lineage carried on from age to age. But nowise let it so betide They secrets learn ’twere well to hide. Housewifery Permit it that they go and come, And busy them with house and home, And that with care they buy and sell, Suffer them all the tale to tell Of stock and store, as it may be, Of household stuff and husbandry.17450 Or, if some useful trade they know. Fail not to set them thereunto. But let them nothing wot or see Of things demanding secrecy. For, if in some unguarded hour You put you ’neath a woman’s power. Most bitterly will you repent Your folly ere the day be spent. In Holy Scripture is it said, That when the wife becomes the head,17460 Against her husband will she run Whate’er by him be said or done. But, watch you well from day to day, Your house falls not in evil way, ’Neath trustiest guard oft faileth pelf, The wise man guards his goods himself.
And you who hold your lemans dear, Show you towards them gracious cheer, And suffer them to have some hand In common cares they understand.17470 But if you prudent are and wise, When ’twixt your arms your minion lies, ​And clips you close with fondling kiss, Silence your one great safeguard is, (Then is the time to keep your tongue, For nought of good, and much of wrong Betides of secrets then made known,) Or soon you’ll find your sweetling grown Proud and imperious, prone to grasp At power, and venomous as an asp.17480 But when a fool is in such case, And feels sweet kisses on his face And lips, and whiles the time away With gestings soft and amorous play, He nought doth know to keep and hide His secrets, but throws open wide His heart. Fond, foolish husbands oft Let slip their tongues for clippings soft, And thereof follows many an ill Which well life’s cup with dole may fill.17490
Samson and Dalilia Dalila with deceitful smile And venomed kisses did beguile The mighty Samson, warrior great, In her false lap to rest his pate In slumber, gentle, soft, and deep, And then with treacherous hand did reap His locks and strength at one fell blow, For when the traitress came to know His secret, which were best kept shut Within his lips, at once she cut17500 His hair, and this befel because. Though strong, a babbling fool he was Further examples in a trice Could I adduce—let this suffice ​Solomon’s counsel The wise King Solomon hath too A proverb I commend to you, Because, God wot, I love you well: Beware lest you your counsel tell, Quoth he, to her who on your breast Doth sleep, but keep your teeth close pressed17510 If peril you would fain avoid, Nor find your peaceful days destroyed. This should be preached abroad by all Who fain would see fair luck befal To men—that they should keep close shut Their lips, nor faith in women put. But this word holdeth not for you, Dame Nature, for that ever true And loyal is your heart, indeed That may we in the Scripture read,17520 How God hath set you far above All folly, in his boundless love.
The Author.
And thus doth Genius comfort bring To Nature by his counselling, Exhorting her to dry her tears, And cast aside her grief and fears, For nought of good can e’er be gained By sorrow, nor a heart be fained By tears, joy wakes when tears are sped.
When all his mind he thus had said,17530 He stayed his mouth from speech or prayer, And sat him in the shriving chair ​Beside the altar—Nature knelt Adown and full confession spelt. But much it irked the worthy priest When found he that nowise decreased Her grief for aught that he could say, But on the winds were cast away His words. Then gave he silent ear, While she confessed with many a tear17540 Her miseries, and the shrift he heard, I here report you, word for word.