t verdures, me thought I saw bright flourishing
Roses of bright damaske colour; and said within my bestaill minde,
Verily that place is the place of Venus and the Graces, where secretly
glistereth the royall hew, of so lively and delectable a floure. Then I
desiring the help of the guide of my good fortune, ranne lustily towards
the wood, insomuch that I felt myself that I was no more an Asse, but a
swift coursing horse: but my agility and quicknes could not prevent the
cruelty of my fortune, for when I came to the place I perceived that
they were no roses, neither tender nor pleasant, neither moystened with
the heavenly drops of dew, nor celestial liquor, which grew out of the
thicket and thornes there. Neither did I perceive that there was any
valley at all, but onely the bank of the river, environed with great
thick trees, which had long branches like unto lawrell, and bearing a
flour without any manner of sent, and the common people call them by the
name of Lawrel roses, which be very poyson to all manner of beasts. Then
was I so intangled with unhappy fortune that I little esteemed mine own
danger, and went willingly to eat of these roses, though I knew them to
be present poyson: and as I drew neere I saw a yong man that seemed
to be the gardener, come upon mee, and when he perceived that I had
devoured all his hearbes in the garden, he came swearing with a great
staffe in his hand, and laid upon me in such sort, that I was well nigh
dead, but I speedily devised some remedy my self, for I lift up my legs
and kicked him with my hinder heels, that I left him lying at the hill
foot wel nigh slain, and so I ran away. Incontinently came out his wife,
who seeing her husband halfe dead, cried and howled in pittifull sort,
and went toward her husband, to the intent that by her lowd cries shee
might purchase to me present destruction. Then all the persons of the
town, moved by her noise came forth, and cried for dogs to teare me
down. Out came a great company of Bandogs and mastifes, more fit to
pul down bears and lions than me, whom when I beheld I thought verily
I should presently die: but I turned myself about, and ranne as fast as
ever I might to the stable from whence I came. Then the men of the towne
called in their dogs, and took me and bound mee to the staple of a post,
and scourged me with a great knotted whip till I was well nigh dead, and
they would undoubtedly have slaine me, had it not come to passe, that
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