# Romance of the Rose (Ellis)/Chapter 44

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XLIV
Herein the Lover tells how he Misdoubts his triple enemy, But hopeth still beneath the brand To bring them of stern Justice’ hand.
The Lover’s Indignation Deem you, fair friend, I’ve changed my wit?
No man, save some base hypocrite,8190 Would do such loathsome work; shall I Put hand to such-like devilry? Think you I’d strain and bend each nerve These villain folk to please and serve? Except Fair-Welcome, slaves forsooth Are they, to honour lost and truth. Do you this fatal counsel give, Which following, I should basely live A scoundrel? Whensoe’er across Such folk I come I boldly toss8200 My gauntlet at them. Suffer first That I this Evil-Tongue accurst Defy, ere cozenage or deceit I use, his schemes to overwit, Demanding boldly he abate The storm that he hath raised of hate And slander, or by heaven shall he Suffer assault and battery. Or if he love not that I take Vengeance, he then amends must make;8210 Or lastly, if he will, a judge Shall hear my plaint, and salve my grudge.
The Friend.
Tricksters must be tricked Fair friend! fair friend! right good were this Against an open foe, ywis, But Evil-Tongue is too occult And sly for war, and poor result You’d have with him; whene’er some carl Or dame he’d injure, with a snarl Behind their backs he speaks. His base And traitorous head may God disgrace!8220 Most poisonous is he when most fair He shows, and in his heart doth bear Cruel deception hid beneath The smile that’s born of lips and teeth, Not of the heart. Ne’er for a friend A traitor takes me, nor expend I love on him; and if perchance His treachery fall to Treason’s lance, For lack of time and means whereby To venge oneself more honourably,8230 ’Tis his desert, and small regret Were mine whatever fate he met. If you ’gainst Evil-Tongue should plead, Dream you by such means you’d succeed To stay his prattling lies? You’d find, Alas! you could in no wise bind The slanderous wretch. Although you brought A hundred witnesses, they nought Could stay his cackle; more thy proof, The more he’d talk, and less behoof8240 You’d gain therefor. More widely known Would be the slander, though ’twere shown ​Vain to contradict lies All false. For whosoe’er doth try To wipe out shame, or kill a lie By Justice’ help, will find no jot Hath he decreased foul Slander’s blot. The man who hath an ill deed done, I swear, ’fore God, is not the one To purge it. To anticipate Amends from one who’s reprobate8250 Were fond and foolish. E’en should he Offer amends, ’twould wiser be To grant free pardon. If so rash You were as join with him in clash Of arms, by all the saints, I vow, You’d shortly see Fair-Welcome bow ’Neath heavy manacles, and swung Over a furnace, or else flung Within a swirling tide and drowned, Or in a dungeon’s depths profound8260 Buried from sight for evermore; Then were your heart more sick and sore Than Charlemagne’s when Roland died At Roncesvalles through the pride And treachery of Genelon, Whom Satan had set seal upon.
The Lover.
Nay, nay, thereto I’ve no desire, I wish the knave may feed hell-fire! Good Lord! my wrath grows hot as pepper, How gladly would I hang the leper!8270
The Friend.
Another path Fair friend, ’twere well to curb your haste, Instead of hanging, you may taste A deeper vengeance; not for you Is it the hangman’s work to do. A traitor foul ’tis fair to cheat With treason—hear me, I entreat.
The Lover.
Kind friend, in you will I confide Alone, nor turn my heart aside. And if you will but point the way Of most effect by which to lay8280 Siege to the castle, gladly hear Will I, whilst you the plan make clear.
The Friend.
I know a pleasant path and sure. Though somewhat dangerous to poor And needy men. To take the fort There is a plan both safe and short (Though in it hath no lot or part My doctrine, that revolts your heart) By which you may the walls displace, Shaking each stone from tower to base,8290 While gates and doors will open fly, Swung on their hinges suddenly. All those who guard it would allow Themselves beneath your yoke to bow As prisoners, while no single word Were spoken, nor a finger stirred.
​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 ​Riches and poverty The route, he soon shall know it well As I do, who in youth-tide fell Therein. And you shall likewise learn Its ways, if you have lust to turn8330 Your footsteps thither, seen that you Command such wealth as may pursue Unbounded Largess, but to me That path is barred by Poverty. My patrimony I dispersed; And now, in heavy debt immersed, Without one penny to restore To creditors I filched of yore, I best had hang or drown myself. Quoth she: If you are bare of pelf,8340 Hither return no more. Richesse Alone can gain for you ingress, But from her guidance, as I trow, Much ill and little good doth grow; In going will she use much care To please you, but her pains will spare To help you back, and if your way You make therein, through night and day You there must bide, until you be Thrust thence by stern-hand Poverty,8350 Who oft on lovers brings distress. Within remaineth Mad-Largess, Who hath no thought except of play And riot through the livelong day, And scattereth coin around as she Possessed thereof a granary. No count she keepeth, doubting never But what her wealth will dure for ever.