Upon the road of my life

1Upon the road of my life,

2Passed me many fair creatures,

3Clothed all in white, and radiant.

4To one, finally, I made speech:

5"Who art thou?"

6But she, like the others,

7Kept cowled her face,

8And answered in haste, anxiously,

9"I am good deed, forsooth;

10You have often seen me."

11"Not uncowled," I made reply.

12And with rash and strong hand,

13Though she resisted,

14I drew away the veil

15And gazed at the features of vanity.

16She, shamefaced, went on;

17And after I had mused a time,

18I said of myself,

19"Fool!"