To all his faithful ones. Her hand
Held with firm grasp a flaming brand,
Which scorched hath many a damsel’s heart,
Fatal oft-times as Cupid’s dart.
Dull were the eye that could not trace
The Goddess in her radiant face3580
And fay-like form.
’Twere light to guess,
So free her mien, so bright her dress,
Religion’s bondage held her not.
’Tis nowise needful, as I wot,
To tell the wondrous robes she ware
Betrimmed with golden orfreys rare,
Nor of the jewelled morse that bound
The precious girdle, worn around
Her dainty waist, nor hair of gold,
That round her knees in wavelets rolled:3590
The tale of this I well may spare.
But doubt her not for passing fair,
Right gracious, and devoid of pride.
Forth stepped she freely, and beside
Fair-Welcome stood, then straight began:
Venus.
Venus appears
“Wherefore against this love-lorn man
Do you display such high disdain?
This kiss forbidding, which he fain
Would snatch? Do you not clearly see
How honour, faith and loyalty,3600
Shine forth in him? His manly grace,
His well-formed limbs, his noble face,
