# Romance of the Rose (Ellis)/Chapter 93

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XCIII
This tells how Nature, Goddess sweet, Knelt low at her confessor’s feet; Who gently bid her calm her fears, Comfort her heart, and dry her tears.
Nature’s confession Genius quoth she, my gentle priest, Master o’er greatest as o’er least Of all created things, and who Directs and charges them to do17080 Such works as are to them assigned, Each one according to his kind, Now do I feel remorse oppress My spirit, and would fain confess A folly that my heart hath riven, And yet remaineth unforgiven.
Genius.
Grief avails not Queen of the world, quick answered he, Before whose face all bow the knee, If aught doth rob your heart of peace, Whereof you fain would find release,17090 I pray you put full trust in me. What thing soe’er the matter be, Of brightest joy, or darkest grief, You may from me gain full relief; Confess to me whate’er you will And your desire will I fulfil, And all within my province do To help, to guide, to succour you, The while I keep your counsel hid, Fast locked, if secrecy you bid.17100 And should you absolution ask, To grant it were my grateful task, But first, from tears your eyelids keep.
Nature.
Alas! quoth she, if now I weep. Good Genius, that small marvel is.
Genius.
Before all else I counsel this, Dear mistress, that you dry your tears, Then if your heart confession cheers, Tell me at full whatever thing It is that doth thy spirit wring.17110 ​Great must your grief be, as I trow, For noble hearts will ne’er allow Slight woes to wear them, vile must be The wretch who works you misery. But oft a woman’s heart will fire For smallest cause with bitterest ire.
Virgil and Solomon To Virgil I the case refer, Who well knew woman’s character. A woman’s heart is nowise stable, Saith he, but ever variable.17120 Capricious, and by anger led. And Solomon declares her head Is than an angry serpent’s worse, Which merited God’s primal curse. Nought else, saith he, is so with spite Possessed, and ne’er hath man aright Described in rathe, or later time Her evil ways in prose or rhyme. And Titus Livius, (who well knew The modes and manners through and through17130 Of women, and their minds perverse,) In language vigorous and terse Declares, he best succeeds who tries To warp their minds with japes and lies; So foolish are they and unstable, That truth they hate, but cling to fable. And in the Holy Scripture we This judgment plainly writ may see: That at the bottom of all vice In women is foul avarice.17140 ​Value of silence The man who trusteth to his wife His secrets, risks both fame and life, For never man of woman born, But sot, or one of wit forlorn, Would to a woman e’er reveal A thing ’twere prudent to conceal, Lest he should hear it back again. Much better had one flee to Spain Than trust unto a woman’s care A secret, e’en though debonair17150 And loyal she be. Nor any act That best were hid, if he have tact, Will any man perform and do In woman’s presence, or he’ll rue. For though it peril his estate Or life, she will or soon or late, However long she may delay, His secret counselling betray And tell, though no one should demand Or seek the matter at her hand.17160 Nought can a woman’s silence buy, For surely she’d expect to die If she her tongue should curb, yea though She knew great peril thence must grow. And whoso tells some deadly thing To any woman, soon will bring Vengeance upon him if he dare His hand lift in chastising her Once only, soon as e’er the blow She feels, she’ll let the whole world know17170 His secret, and loud-voiced proclaim Her knowledge, though it blast his name. ​The man who trusts a woman ’a lost, Peace of his life will be the cost. Know you what such an one doth do? He binds his arms, and shutteth to His mouth, for if he dare to scold Her foolish ways, or maketh bold To raise his arm in chastisement ’Gainst her but once, forthwith were spent17180 Her fury on him, and if he Deserveth death, straightway will she Unto the handling of the grim Relentless judge deliver him. Or through assassin’s hand will bring His death to pass, by blade or string.