Upon the road of my life

Upon the road of my life,

Passed me many fair creatures,

Clothed all in white, and radiant.

To one, finally, I made speech:

"Who art thou?"

But she, like the others,

Kept cowled her face,

And answered in haste, anxiously,

"I am good deed, forsooth;

You have often seen me."

"Not uncowled," I made reply.

And with rash and strong hand,

Though she resisted,

I drew away the veil

And gazed at the features of vanity.

She, shamefaced, went on;

And after I had mused a time,

I said of myself,

"Fool!"