Romance of the Rose (Ellis)/Chapter 21
XXI
Danger, fell guardian of the Rose,
The Lover drives from out the close.
Upon his neck a club he bare,
As he a thief or madman were.
Escape from Danger
Small lust had I to stay therein,
’Neath Danger’s scowling, hideous grin,3070
But quick as squirrel o’er the ledge
Of thorns and briers that formed the hedge
I scrambled, and heard Danger shout,
Shaking his monstrous head about,
That if thereto I dared return,
My body vengeance dire should earn.
Fair-Welcome had made good his flight,
And I, a-dread at Danger’s spite
And malice, stood ashamed, as one
Amazed, recalling all I’d done3080
And said, and then my folly saw,
And how I well might fear to draw
Sorrow and misery great therefrom.
But that whereby was overcome
My spirit mostly, was the thought
Of that thorn hedge. But surely nought
Can one who hath not dared to love
Know of the pains that lovers prove.
Love had not failed to keep his word,
Which warned me, that both stern and hard3090
Should be his service. Ne’er can know
The heart of man, or tongue e’er show,
One-fourth of all the pain I bare;
And thinking on the Rose I swear,
Woe worse than death my heart did rack,
Yet thence alas ! must turn aback.