Above his flowing golden hair,
And hears his keeper laughing swear
By body and soul, and skin and bones,
That no man fairer chaplet owns.
And often doth Fair-Welcome place
Himself before the mirror’s face.
In heart rejoiced and gratified.
The dame then, seeing none beside13430
Themselves are there, en tête à tête
Anear him seats her, all elate,
And thus begins to sermon him:
The Duenna.
The Duenna’s tale
Fair-Welcome, dear, no cherubim
Is fair, and sweet, and good as you.
My joyous days are all worn through,
While yours are barely yet begun,
Your woof of life as yet unspun.
Alas! my strength is on the wane,
And needs must I my limbs sustain13440
Ere long on helpful crutch or staff,
While you with joy-brimmed heart may laugh
Careless of what your fate may be.
Yet must you pass, assuredly,
Sooner or later, through the fire,
Which all men feel of love’s desire,
And in that wave must plunge you, which
Queen Venus dights for poor and rich.
Prepare you, then, belovèd one,
Ere over you love’s waters run,13450
By these wise counsellings I give;
For he doth perilously live
