Romance of the Rose (Ellis)/Chapter 17
XVII
Herein the God of Love doth teach
The Lover, and against the breach2160
Of laws contained in this Romance
He warns him, lest he err perchance.
Love’s Precepts
“’Fore all beware of Villainy,”
Quoth Love, “and utterly deny
All knowledge of her, under pain
That all thy vows I count but vain.
Those who love Villainy I hate,
And count them excommunicate.
’Tis Villainy doth villains breed,
I hate her every thought and deed,2170
For fell is Villainy, and none
From her hath love or pity won.
Keep guard upon thy mouth lest leak
Therefrom such things as none should speak,
But labour to forget. Both base
And mean are slanderous tongues. The case
Of Arthur’s seneschal, Sir Kay,
Remember; loved he to missay,
Fulfilled of hatred, spite and spleen.
Right well was Gawain loved, I ween.2180
For courtesy, while Kay was blamed
For ribald speech, and evil famed
Among all knights for boorishness.
But be thou careful to possess
Thy soul in gentleness and grace,
Kindly of heart and bright of face
Towards all men, be they great or small.
And when thou passest from the hall
Along the street, have care that thou
Salute men first with courteous bow,2190
Or if some one take precedence
Of thee therein, have thou the sense
To make reply without delay.
Returning his salute straightway.
Watch well thy lips, that they may be
Ne’er stained with ill-timed ribaldry.
Nor let from out thy mouth be heard
Foul talk, or unbecoming word,
For courteous knight I hold him not
Who suffereth hideous words to blot2200
And mar his speech.
Courtesy to women
Have special care
To honour dames as thou dost fare
Thy worldly ways, and shouldst thou hear
Calumnious speech of them, no fear
Have thou to bid men hold their peace.
Most richly shalt thou gain increase
Of glory, if to maid and dame
Thou givest ready aid; thy fame
Their tongues shall spread both far and wide.
Above all else, beware of pride,2210
For all men taking note may see
That ’tis but vaporous vanity.
Cast off pride
And into folly linked with sin
Man falls when once immersed therein;
For every man whose soul is stained
With pride is past all hope enchained
To actions, thoughts, and words that prove
Him alien to the House of Love,
Nor shall he know his heart to bend
In suchwise as to gain love’s end.2220
Let him who would in love succeed,
To courteous word wed noble deed;
For he who is in mode and mien
Gentle and affable, I ween,
Around him gathereth meed and praise,
While foolish vanity betrays
A man blunt-witted.
Thou shouldst wear
Rich habit as thy purse can bear,
Well formed aud fashioned; fair attire
Is oft good fuel for love’s fire.2230
Employ no tailor who doth cut
The cloth askew to wasting, but
One who hath skill to join each sleeve
And seam with neatness. Do not leave
Thy shoes half laced, but have them new
And sprucely made, fitting to true
And perfect measure, then wilt thou
See envious whisperers wondering how
Ye put them on and take them off,
But nought need fear their gibe or scoff;2240
Wear gloves well made; thy purse should be
Of satin, and, tied daintily
About thy waist, wear sash. If thou
For such gear hast not wealth enow,
Then of its bravery abate
Somewhat to suit thy lesser state:
But let thy ’tiring be no worse
Than fits the coin that lines thy purse.
A wildflower chaplet mayst thou boast,
Or roses blown at Pentecost,2250
Give heed to purity
At modest charge. Sweet cleanliness
Use thou as part of gentleness.
Wash oft thine hands, and ne’er forget
Thy teeth to whiten, nor e’er let
Thy finger nails untended be,
But pare and keep them carefully.
Lace well thy sleeves, and comb thine hair,
But painted face and leering stare
Disdain, it suits but women or
Vile men, who get due scorn therefor.2260
And next remember that, above
All else, gay heart inspireth love.
A laughing mouth and merry smile
May oft a lady’s heart beguile;
A sweet disease that casteth care
Is love, and many a joy doth bear;
Yet oft-times lovers undergo
Immingled hours of joy and woe;
One day consumed in sweet delight,
The next involved in sorrow’s night;2270
For love goes ever in extremes;
Sometimes enwrapt in pleasant dreams
The lover is, then lost in tears,
A medley strange of hopes and fears.
If thou shouldst know some cheerful play
Or game to wile dull hours away,
My counsel is, neglect it not,
For praise and thanks may thence be
got,
And every man in time and place
Should practise that which brings him grace.2280
If lithe and strong of limb thou art,
Fear not, but boldly act thy part,
And canst thou well a-horseback sit,
Prick high and low in pride of it;
And much with ladies ’twill advance
Thy suit, if well thou break’st a lance,
For who in arms his own doth hold,
Winneth acceptance manifold.
And if a voice strong, sweet and clear
Thou hast, and dames desire to hear2290
Thee sing, seek not to make excuse,
But straightway from thy memory loose
Some ditty soft; and shouldst thou know
To wake the viol’s voice with bow,
Or tune the flute, or deftly dance,
Such things thy suit will much advance.
Avoid the name of miser
With diligence avoid the name
Of miser; obloquy and shame
Belong thereto, and lovers should,
Of all men, show a liberal mood2300
Of open-handed generousness,
For he who doth deny largess,
Knows not the alphabet of love.
Therefore I counsel thee above
All else no miser be, a mean
And niggard soul hath never been
My faithful servitor; the swain
Who, for his mistress’ glance is fain
To risk dear life, and willingly
Would die the death if only she2310
Would give him one sweet smile, should ne’er,
That gained, desire his purse to spare.
Be gracious and merry withal
Now hearken, while I strive to bring
Shortly before thee everything
Thou erst hast heard; things briefest said
Are oft-times best rememberèd.
Whoso desireth Love to take
For lord and master, must forsake
Pride, and be wed to Courtesy.
Gracious and merry must he be,2320
Well known and loved for open hand.
Next, for a penance dost thou stand
Commanded that by night and day
Thy soul be given to love alway,
And ever let thy memory cling
About the source of love’s sweet spring.
Desiring thou mayst perfect be
In loving, I ordain to thee,
Without appeal, that in one spot
Thy very heart is centred, not2330
Lukewarmly, but all doubt aside,
Void of deceit thou dost abide;
Half-hearted service count I nought,
And he who foolishly hath sought,
With heart divided, grace to gain,
Shall find his labour lost and vain:
He only hath my sovereign grace,
Whose heart is fixed in one sure place.
Moreover say I, let thy heart,
Its home once fixed, ne’er more depart2340
Therefrom, for shouldst thou let it stray,
That crime shall store an evil day.
But he who wholly doth accord
His heart in one great gift, reward
Doth merit, and each gift shall bring
The donor bounteous guerdoning.
But give it freely, singly, clear,
With joyous face and pleasant cheer,
For greatly doth the manner make
An offering welcome, none will take2350
A gift bestowed with grudging mien,
Above the worth of one poor bean.
Give thy heart wholly
When thou thy heart hast freely given,
As my fair sermoning hath striven
To teach thee, then thou next shall know
The toils and griefs those undergo,
Whose shoulders bear the lover’s yoke.
Thy love adventures must thou cloke
From eyes of other men, lest they
Perceive the miseries that play2360
Around thy heart; thou all alone,
Content must be to make thy moan.
Then sighs, and woeful plaints, and tears,
And trembling hopes, and shivering fears,
Within thy breast wilt thou enfold;
Now parched with heat, now pinched with cold,
And now vermilion red, and now
Wan as a spectre shalt thou grow:
No fevers ever troubled man,
Nor tertian, nor quotidian,2370
Worse than the throes that lovers feel.
And many a time will love so deal
With thee, that thou shalt clean forego
Remembrance of thyself, nor know
What thing thou dost, but all alone
Shalt stand, as dumb as stock or stone
That hath no voice or power to move
Hand, foot, or eye—spell-bound by love.
At last, when thou long time hast been
Like man of wood or wax, I ween,2380
Then shalt thou sigh, and take thy breath
Long-drawn, as one might wake from death.
And wot ye well that ’tis thy fate,
As denizen of love’s estate,
To suffer bravely all such woe
As Love’s true soldiers needs must know.
The misery of absence
And then remembering that ye are,
From her thou lov’st, aparted far,
Thy soul shall cry: “Oh! God, my lot
Is hard, that I myself may not2390
Go where she is: must then my heart
Alone come near her? why apart
Should we be thus condemned to dwell?
When I desire my feet as well
Should thither bear my heart, ah me!
Therein there would small profit be;
For if my heart hath not mine eyes
For guide, their vision nought I prize.
And should they then abide here? Nay,
But haste to see without delay2400
That precious sanctuary, which
The thought of doth mine heart make rich.
While my desire so fast doth go,
Myself I blame for dull and slow,
And when my heart is off my thought
So far, it seems by madness caught.
But I shall go to her, indeed,
Still following where mine heart doth lead,
Reckless of aught beside the way.”
Then wilt thou forth without delay;2410
But travelling at too great a pace
Wilt oft-times fail to win the race,
And so perforce must turn aback,
Pensive and sad, thine outlook black,
Bemoaning that all waste hath been
Thy journey since thou hast not seen
The longed-for object. Then to great
And grievous misery of estate
Thou com’st again, with sighs and groans,
And twitchings, shiverings, and moans,2420
And pains acute, and minor ills,
More quick and sharp than hedgehog’s quills.
Sight only satisfies
Let him who doubts the truth hereof,
Ask some true lover ere he scoff.
But still thy heart will feel unrest,
With infinite desire oppressed
To see once more the face of her
Whose vision doth thy bosom stir
To madness, and if that sweet sight
Thou winnest, to thy great delight,2430
Past measure thou the chance wilt prize
Thereon to feast thy hungry eyes,
And through her beauty wilt thou be
Fulfilled of all felicity:
For gazing on the one sweet dame
Who sets thy being all aflame,
Will but awaken new desire,
And scorch thine heart like ardent fire.
Far, far above all else ’tis sight
That makes the flame of love burn bright.2440
Neglected opportunities
Of every lover ’tis the way,
The flame to follow which doth play
Fiercely upon him, and though he
Be scorched, draws closer willingly.
The fire is e’en that dearest one,
Whom all his soul is set upon
With such intense desire and yearning,
That nought he counts the pain of burning,
But ever nearer longs to draw
Towards her he counts his life and law.2450
Sages and fools agree in this;—
Nearer the fire the warmer ’tis.
And thus, the more thou see’st thy love,
The bitterer will each parting prove,
And when thou canst no longer stay,
But willy-nilly must away,
Through the long hours, remembrance tender,
Wilt thou unto the loved one render,
And utterly thy folly blame,
That thou so ill hast played the game2460
Of love, that thou hast let slip by
Some rare found opportunity
Of pouring forth thy soul, and stood
Beside her dumb as stone or wood.
And then great fear of her disdain
Shall cloud thy heart, because when fain,
Thou might’st have made her, with some word
Of tender love, no passion stirred
Thy tongue ere thou wert left alone,
Without a smile; then wilt thou own,2470
Not willingly hadst thou that chance
Lost, for a hundred marks of France.
Next shall thou issue forth amain,
Occasion seeking once again.
To traverse restlessly the street,
Spurred on thereto by hope to meet
Thy heart’s delight, whom thou hast seen,
Erewhile, all fruitlessly I ween.
Most diligently then wouldst thou
Seek out her woning, as I trow,2480
Though daring not to go direct,
Lest people, Argus-eyed, suspect
Thy purpose; therefore round about
Thy feet will wander, in and out,
Finding excuse and reason fair,
Though false, why thou meanderest there,
Scheming and plotting how to hide
Thine object from the world outside.
A lover’s confusion
And if by hap thou dost behold
Thy love, and straightway makest bold2490
To bow, and hold her in converse,
A moment later wilt thou curse
Thy folly, when thou feelest rise
Thy blood ail hot, and next, from eyes
To chin wilt thou turn deadly pale,
And find thy voice to quiver and fail,
And thoughts confused within thine head,
Will tell thee thou hast blunderèd.
And when thou wouldst make fresh essay
With choicer words, thou’lt feel dismay,2500
And doubt if thou in speech art able
To show thee skilled and affable.
Of three things that thou hadst to say
Two suddenly have passed away
From thy remembrance, t’other one
Thou’lt babble forth in shamefast tone;
For never man existed yet,
Who did not thuswise words forget,
Unless a lover false of heart
Were he, who did but act a part.2510
Lovers untrue are void of fear,
Ready of speech, and bright of cheer;
One thing they think, yet speak another,
With view their base designs to smother:
Vile and malignant traitors they,
Using fair words to lead astray.
Vexations and anxieties
Whene’er this parleying is sped,
Although thou hast no word missaid,
Thou natheless wilt suspect that thou
Art lightly held, and puzzle how2520
Thou more can’st say, whereof shall come
Vexation sharp as martyrdom.
For every lover’s life is dight
With dire vexation in despite
Of noblest aim, and he must spend
His days in strife from end to end.
In vain he hopes for sweet increase
Of joy, his lot is dire unpeace.
E’en when upon thee night doth close,
Thou shalt but find exchange of woes2530
And vexings; supine on thy bed,
A cloud of torment round thine head
Shall gather; little shalt thou get
Of slumber; anxious care shall fret
Thy brain, and thou shalt toss and start
Uneasily, and then athwart
Thy pillow turn, like coin upthrown,
Now cross, now pile, till thou hast grown
Weary as one whose tooth doth ache.
All this thou sufferest for the sake2540
Of her whose beauty to thine eyes
Is present in such glorious wise
That nought can equal it. Anon
Thou dreamest thy beloved one
Lies naked in thine arms, become
Thy wife, and decks thy joyous home.
And then shalt thou rejoice amain
In dreams of palaces in Spain,
And find delight in joys unstable.
Built up of lies and foolish fable.2550
Was this a dream?
But soon thy vision shall be past
And once again thy tears fall fast,
And thou shalt cry: ‘Was this a dream?
Where am I? Doth all this but seem?
Alas! Whence came this vision bright?
Would God! ten times a day ’twere dight.
Ay twenty, for it steeps my soul
In joy supernal, and black dole
Drives far away. Alas! that pure
Delight should such short space endure.2560
Ah God! If I perchance could be
In such blest case as seemed to me
Erewhile my lot, how gladly I,
Clasped in my mistress’ arms, would die.
Love’s torments
Full oft Love’s pains my soul torment,
And bitter plaint, and loud lament,
I make thereof; would Love but grant
To me that sweet for whom I pant,
Ah! then all woes would count as nought,
Seeing that heaven thereby were bought.2570
But out alas! I ask too much,
How dare I e’en in vision clutch
At prize so high, a stern rebuff
The fool receives, when rash enough
To dream such dreams: if one soft kiss
My love would give me, Gods! what bliss
My soul were wrapt in; richly I
Were paid for all my misery.
To me the future darkly looms,
Whose rash inconsequence presumes2580
To lift my longing towards a place
So high I scarce dare hope for grace.
More than another’s body were
One single look or glance from her.
Regard my prayer, bestow on me,
O God, the boon once more to see
My soul’s desire; and then my pain
Were cured, and life revived again.
Ah! wherefore lingereth then the light
Of dawn to chase the weary night,2590
Wherein I nought have known of rest?
How is my ardent heart oppressed
With vain desire of her I love!
Alas! how wearisome doth prove
That couch whence sleep and dreams are fled!
I turn and writhe with drearihead,
Fearing the night will never die,
Nor dawn relieve my misery.
Longing for light my spirit cries:
O sun, for God’s sake, haste to rise2600
Above the hills, delay thou not,
But cast thy beams on this drear spot,
And chase, by thy resistless power,
Night, and the clouds that round me lower.’
A lover’s restlessness
Thus shalt thou wear the night away
Reft of repose, for well the play
Of lovers’ thoughts to me is known.
And then at last, impatient grown
Of vainly courting scornful sleep,
From off thy restless couch thou’lt leap,2610
And set thyself in haste to don
Thy raiment, and thy shoes put on,
Although the dawning still delays
Its coming, and by secret ways
Wilt haste through storm of rain, or sleet,
To seek the house where dwells thy sweet,
Who, whilst thou wakest, in profound
And blissful dreams perchance is drowned,
Of thee unmindful: then shalt thou
Seek if the postern door allow2620
Some entry, but an hour or more
Must bide, content, on stony floor,
Beaten by wind and rain, to sit:
Then to the portal shalt thou flit,
And seek with diligent eye some place
Unbolted, or some window space
Left open, so that thou mayst find,
With anxious ear, if slumber bind
The inmates. But, if thou awake
Shouldst find thy love, then mayst thou take2680
Advantage of that moment blest
To tell her all the hard unrest
And bitter suffering undergone
By thee for her sweet love alone.
O surely thou her heart shalt touch
With pity, when she hears how much
Thou hast endured, unless more stern
Her bosom grows, as thine doth burn.
Now hearken thou what next shall be
Thy work for her who robbeth thee2640
By her sweet beauty of thy rest.
Lovers lean and pale
When thou against her door hast pressed
Thy lips at parting, have a care
That no man of thy step is ware
About her threshold-gate, or way
That leads thereto, ere dawns the day.
These midnight wanderings, to and fro,
And ceaseless promenades, high and low,
Cause lovers, who of late were hale
And strong, to turn as lean and pale2650
As hungry churls, and thou shalt see
This proved in thine identity.
No faithful lover e’er is found
Rosy and jovial, sleek and round
Of limb and visage, such like traits
Belong to lovers false, who praise
Ladies with mean and base desire
To cheat their trusting hearts; the fire
Of love they know not; though they sing,
Loud-voiced, their woeful suffering,2660
And loss of appetite and sleep:
Natheless I see these losels keep
Fat and well liking, feeding higher
Than abbot, canon, monk, or prior.
Vails to followers
Moreover, ’tis my strict command
Thou show’st a free and generous hand
Towards thy mistress’ serving-maid;
Bestow on her a robe well made
Of fine wove stuff, and she shall spread
Thy name abroad for goodlihead.2670
In honour, marked by reverence, hold
All those thy lady hath enrolled
As special friends, great service they
May render thee in many a way,
And praise, perchance, bestow on thee
For gentle speech and courtesy.
Depart not from the countryside,
Or if perchance thou needs must ride
Afar, leave thou thy heart with her
Whom thou wouldst choose its cofferer.2680
Then haste thy steps, that thou amain
Mayst win to her sweet side again,
And let her see how wearily
Time’s foot doth lag, unless thine eye
Feast on her.
Therewithal is sped
My counsel, which shall well bestead
My faithful servitor, and bring
Him and his love to harbouring.”
The Lover speaks.
Love not won lightly
When Love had said his say, I cried:
“Alas! must lovers then abide2690
Such cruel woe, such bitter pain.
As you recount ere yet they gain
The wished-for haven? Grievous fear
O’erwhelms my mind: what man can steer
His life through such a sea of woe
As your sworn liege must undergo?
In sighs and tears and wailings wrapped,
His health destroyed, his vigour sapped;
His nights consumed with anxious care:
Ah! God, I ask what man could wear2700
His life one month in such a hell,
Unless forsooth he bare a shell
Of adamant or steel?”
Quick sped
The God reply thereto, and said:
Love speaks.
“Now swear I, by my father’s soul,
Who wins the prize must pay the toll,
For game hath ever sweeter taste
Which weary foot hath hotly chased;
And likewise good seems higher good
When bought by pain and wearihood.2710
Certes most true it is that, ne’er
Can aught with lovers’ woes compare;
The man lives not whose might the sea
Can empty, nor can ever be
Love’s pains set forth in tale or book;
Yet natheless, still do lovers look
To live, however hard their lot,
And carefully shirk death, God wot!
The wretched thrall, in dungeon dark,
Munches poor oaten bread life’s spark2720
To keep within him, and despair
Repels, though filth and vermin wear
His wretched body: still doth hope
Of freedom give him strength to cope
With direst miseries, trusting still
By happy chance or guileful skill
To win deliverance. He likewise,
Whose soul in love’s sweet bondage lies,
Hath hope at last to heal his woe,
And thence such light and comfort grow,2730
As give him grace to bear the smart
That love inflicts, with constant heart.
Hope always present
Through Hope it is that lovers learn
To count their misery nought, and spurn
Dark-eyed Despair, assured each blow
And stripe they suffer but foreshow
A hundred joys, when they shall be
Made happy in love’s victory.
O blessed Hope that through the strife
Of years gives savour to the life2740
Of lovers.
Gentle Hope is kind.
And never laggeth far behind
A brave man’s footsteps till the end
Of life approacheth, but doth lend
Comfort and light, although he be
Bowed to the earth with misery.
Nay, e’en the wretch who feels the rope
Around his neck, still clings to Hope.
She ’tis whose brightness will sustain
Thy spirit though it flag and wane2760
With weariness, and presently
Shalt thou be dowered and blessed with three
Good gifts, whence those may ever get
Ease, who are caught in my sweet net.
Cupid’s three gifts
The first of these which solace brings
To those whose hearts endure the stings
Of loving, hight Sweet-Thought, which gives
Blessings untold where Hope still lives.
Whene’er the lover groans and sighs.
As one who ’neath the torture dies,2760
Sweet-Thought steps in to drive away
His grief, and set in bright array
The longed-for joys of her who[errata 1] he,
Dreameth, through Hope, may one day be
His high reward.
Before his eyes
He sees her thousand graces rise:
The rose-red lips whence fragrant breath
Exhales, like waft from thyme-grown heath;
The laughing eyes, the mignon nose
Of perfect form; his being glows2770
With rapture, while before him pass
Her beauties pictured in the glass
Of memory: o’er and o’er again
Of such sweet solace is he fain,
As dear remembrance of a smile
Or gracious look affords him, while
Recall of some kind welcome given
Transports his soul to highest heaven,
And thuswise doth Sweet-Thought assuage
The storms of poignant grief that rage2780
In lovers’ breasts.
I give to thee
This precious boon, and verily,
If thou my next gift valuest less,
Reproach be thine for thanklessness.
Of Soft-Speech
Soft-Speech my next gift hath for name,
Which many a man, and many a dame,
Have found of great avail; for all
To whom the pains of love befall,
Beyond aught else desire to hear
Their passion talked of. Proof most clear2790
Hereof assuredly we see
Through her who sang thus merrily:
‘I am,’ saith she, ‘in joyous mind.
Whene’er I hear sweet words and kind,
Exalt my love, for whosoe’er
Singeth his praises, kills my care.’
Of Soft-Speech knew she all the ways
And secrets, and had made essays
Therein, full many a time.
Choose thou,
From out your fellows, one ye trow2800
For wise and faithful, and to him
Pour forth thine heart when all abrim
’Tis filled with love, for comfort great
It giveth to communicate
To some dear friend one’s hopes and fears,
From whom, when all around appears
Hopeless, some ease we yet may find:
Together may ye give your mind
To speak of her whose beauties fill
Thy ravished heart.
A sympathetic friend
With ready will,2810
Thy tongue will every thought confess
That racks thy breast with anxiousness,
And thou wilt counsel with thy friend
How thou most fruitfully mayst spend
Thy life and goods to give delight
To her thou lovest
If the might
Of love hath struck thy friend, ’tis well,
His heart will know the tale ye tell,
And to thy sympathetic ear
Confide his hope, his joy, his fear,2820
Revealing if his love be maid,
Or light o’ love, or widow staid,
And who she be, and what her name.
Then thou from him wouldst fear no shame,
Or treacherous word, but all he saith
Believe, while he in thee puts faith.
Then shalt thou feel that passing good
It is to have in friendlihood
A man to whom thou dar’st to show
Thine inmost heart, and thou shalt know,2830
Whenso hereof thou makest proof
How greatly works it thy behoof.
My third gift, hight Sweet-Looks, hath birth
Of amorous eyes; of passing worth
It is to those whose cruel fate
Enforces them long years to wait
Their hope’s fulfilment; have a care
To keep thee near thy flame or ne’er
The value of Sweet-Looks
Can Sweet-Looks help thee, though above
All else he serves the cause of love.2840
Ah, happy those whom[errata 2] day by day
God keeps from wandering far away
From that sweet object of desire
That burns their hearts like holy fire:
Each day their longing eyes have caught
That sight, all misery count they nought,
Nor raging winds, or rains they fear,
Or wrong, or danger, if anear
Their loved one they may come; when once
With love the eyes begin to dance,2850
They will not selfishly enjoy
Their happy moments, but employ
The heart likewise, and give it peace,
For through soft eyes a rich increase
Of joyance woe-worn hearts may gain,
And darkest clouds disperse amain.
As new-born morning chaseth night
Across the hills, and haileth light,
E’en so Sweet-Looks, like dawning clears
Dark clouds from lovers’ hearts and cheers2860
Their drooping spirits, which through day
And night have worn long hours away
In sighs and tears, for sad hearts rise
From grief to joy through love’s bright eyes.
Thus as a faithful master, I
Thy faults and errors, truthfully
Have told thee in plain speech, and named
Fair means whereby, all unashamed,
Lovers may gain their chief desire.
Suffer thou not thine heart to tire2870
Of those my four most precious gifts,
The use whereof the heart uplifts
To peace and happiness. Sweet-Speech,
Soft-Looks, Sweet-Thought, and Hope shall teach
Thy heart content, and they again
Will further blessings bring to fain
And cheer thy heart; meanwhile the four
I’ve given to thee, be thankful for.”