Romance of the Rose (Ellis)/Chapter 69
LXIX
False-Seeming, who to lovers shows
Sweet comfort, with his leman goes
Across the threshold, with him he
Doth Largess lead and Courtesy.13070
The door opened
Largess and Courtesy their way
Make through the gate, without delay,
And silently together stand,
Awhile, this strong quadruple band.
The harridan, who watches o’er
Fair-Welcome, is by all the four
Seen to descend and more about
The court-yard, void of fear or doubt;
Bearing upon her head a simple
All-covering hood above her wimple.13080
Upon her set they all in haste,
And she, perceiving ’twere but waste
Of pains to strive against the four,
Exclaimed aloud.
The Duenna.
Upon what score
Do ye, of look so debonair,
Within this castle’s precincts fare?
I’m not your prisoner, say then why
Ye hither come thus suddenly.
The Four answer.
Our prisoner! nay then, dearest dame,
’Twas not to seize you that we came,13090
The Duenna flattered
But solely for the pure delight
Of seeing you, if so we might,
And offering on our bended knees
Our bounden service; an’t you please
Take all we own and you shall be
Secure, through us, from treachery;
And, if it fain you, lady sweet,
To whom both deeds and words unmeet
Are strangers, we desire to ask
A boon that can but lightly task13100
Your kindness, ’tis that you allow
Fair-Welcome, who doth languish now
In durance, hither to descend
A pleasant hour with us to spend.
Or at the least, we pray you, deign
That he the Lover’s heart may fain
With some few words, for each one’s voice
The other’s spirit would rejoice
Past measure, and ’twould cost you nought.
Nay, by this grace, you will have bought13110
Fair-Welcome’s homage, and may do
With him whate’er seems good to you,
Torture, ill-treat him, hang or sell,
Or gain a friend who loves you well.
Behold his jewels at command,
A morse, and rings to deck your hand,
And if you’re kind to him, be sure,
Ere long he’ll give you a parure
Of diamonds; frank, free, and true
Of heart he’ll show himself to you,13120
Nor need you fear he e’er will chide,
For in his inmost heart doth hide
The deepest love, yet most discreet
And secret is he. Lady sweet,
Give entry to this best of men,
And he through you shall live again.
And now we pray that you this fair
Fresh chaplet wrought of flowerets rare
Will to Fair-Welcome give, dear dame,
As offering in the Lover’s name,13130
’Twill comfort him a thousand fold
More than a hundred marks of gold.
The Duenna.
The Duenna’s fears
God help me! I would gladly aid
Your purpose, cried she, but afraid
Am I lest Jealousy should know
Thereof, and thence would ruin grow
To me and mine, and much I fear
Lest Evil-Tongue should waken her.
He ever is engaged to spy
Whate’er we do, by Jealousy;13140
Unlet or hindered doth he shout
And chaunt each thing he knows about.
And when his knowledge he hath spent,
No scruple feels he to invent
Lies by the hundred, ’twere among
My chiefest joys to see him hung.
But if to Jealousy he told
This thing, she’d do worse things than scold.
The Four make answer.
No more of Evil-Tongue have dread,
Cried out the four, he lies stark dead,13150
And never more will see or hear.
Within the ditch, a fitting bier,
With gaping throat he’s thrown.
Unless
Some sorcerer or sorceress
Revive him he’ll missay no more,
For nothing short of devil’s lore,
Or miracles, through venoms dire,
Again can light in him the fire
Of life: his spite and rage are spent.
The Duenna replies.
The Duenna gives way
In that case gladly I’ll consent13160
To do the thing for which you pray.
But let the swain make no delay,
And if I grant to him access
He must behave with gentleness.
Let him obey my summons then,
The moment I inform him when
The time is come. But nothing he
Must do that would unseemly be
If life and goods he values, nor
Be seen in passing through the door.13170
Let him command. I’ll do his will.
The Four reply.
All that you say will he fulfil,
They cried.
The Author.
Thanks had she from each one,
And thus their work was so far done.
But howsoever this might be,
False-Seeming, restless as the sea,
Spake to himself in muttering voice:
False-Seeming.
False-Seeming sums up the case
Since he repenteth not his choice,
If he for whom we undertook
This business, unto me would look13180
For guidance, ’twould have taxed your art,
Good dame, to keep the friends apart
If I know aught of suchlike things,
And understand manœuvrings.
With fitting place, and time to match,
No matter how the fold they watch,
The wolf knows well his aim to cloak,
And in the night-watch gives his stroke.
Some day you’ll to the minster pay
A visit, e’en as yesterday;13190
And Jealousy his chance will crown,
Taking her ways beyond the town;
Then will the time be ripe that he
Should issue forth all furtively.
Proceeding, silent and alone,
By secret ways, to few men known,
Unless, perchance, some kindly friend
As sentinel his aid should lend,
To guide him through the shades of night,
Foregoing torch or lantern light,13200
And such times as the moon rules high,
For many a lover wofully
Therethrough hath failed. And as the spot
To him familiar is, I wot,
He through a window space may make
His entry, failing not to take
A rope whereby he may descend
Into the garden and attend
Fair-Welcome’s coming, who should flee
From forth his prison hastily13210
To meet the Lover, who hath been
Estranged from him through hate and spleen.
And then, when once you’re locked in sleep,
Fair-Welcome towards the door should creep,
Half open it, and so his friend
Will in a moment gain his end;
Plucking the Rose, if only he
The other guards cheats equally.
The Lover.
The Lover’s hopes rise
But as for me, who stood hard by,
I deemed the matter certainly13220
Accomplished if the dame gave aid,
And felt thereof nowise afraid.
Or if I could not compass this,
I then might use some artifice
Such as False-Seeming should devise;
For him I hold as wondrous wise.
The Author.
The harridan makes little stay,
But to Fair-Welcome takes her way,
Who in the prison, ’gainst his gree,
Abideth most impatiently.13230
Straight goes she till she stands before
The tower, and quickly hastens o’er
The threshold, and with joy ascends
The stairs, and then her way she wends,
With trembling limbs, from room to room,
But vainly seeketh in their gloom
Fair-Welcome, who, all worn and spent,
Was leaning ’gainst the battlement.
She noted how his hope grew dim,
And trimmed her speech to comfort him.13240
The Duenna.
How now, fair son, quoth she, much pain
Is mine to see your spirit wane;
Say then what grief doth trouble you,
And I an end will put thereto
If so I may. Confide in me.
The Author.
Fair-Welcome mystified
Fair-Welcome wondered what might be
The gist of this, but did not dare
Believe her, though she spoke him fair;
And as he strove to think about
This thing, fulfilled was he of doubt;13250
He did not dare to show offence,
Yet felt in her no confidence,
And though his spirit was atremble,
He deemed it wiser to dissemble
His mind, however much might he
Doubt the old cat’s sincerity;
Yet feels at heart suspicion dire,
Lest treason doth her speech inspired.
Misease within him lurks e’en while
His visage bears a merry smile,13260
Fair-Welcome.
Dear dame, quoth he, for your return
I’ve watched with fond and loving heart,
For whensoever you depart,
Howe’er you deem of it, my soul
Within me sinks oppressed with dole.
O tenderly, beloved one, say
Why have you stayed so long away?
The Duenna.
Wherefore? pardee, I’ll quickly dight,
The reason to your great delight,13270