Romance of the Rose (Ellis)/Chapter 27
XXVII
This tells how Pity and Franchise went
Together, fraught with good intent,3390
To seek out Danger, and relate
The Lover’s woebegone estate.
Franchise and Pity
When life seemed lost, and effort vain,
God sent to aid me sisters twain,
Franchise and Pity, who their way
Betook towards Danger; grieved were they
To see the sad and doleful plight
Wherein I stood. First Franchise dight
Her speech with kindly sympathy.
Franchise.
“Danger,” she said, “as God hears me!3400
You do with menaces unmeet,
And harsh and bitter words, entreat
The Lover, who to you hath ne’er
Done one unkindly act, I swear.
If Cupid’s power his heart constrain
To love, wherefore should you complain
Thereof?
The God of Love hath made
This gentle youth his spoil, and laid
On him sore burdens, though he should
Be burned alive he never could3410
Shake off his yoke; and will you then
On this most wretched among men
Let loose your rage, whom Love hath ta’en
So fast within his toils, that fain
Although he be to cast aside
His yoke, therein must still abide?
What then, fair sir, doth prick you on
To do him hurt? Have you not won
Promise from him to be your slave?
And wherefore should your heart still crave3420
His wrack and ruin? If Love of late
Hath bowed his soul to you, should hate
Against him burn in you therefor?
You surely would be honoured more
In sparing him than some rude hound;
A kindly, generous man is bound
To succour those beneath him. Hard
Is he who fast his heart hath barred
Against a suppliant in distress.”
Pity.
Pity’s appeal
Quoth Pity then: “Oft gentleness3430
May overcome austerity:
But whenso sternness comes to be
Pushed past all reason, then it is
But savage cruelty ywis.
Therefore, O Danger, I require
That you no longer let the fire
Of your resentment burn too hot
’Gainst this poor simple soul, whose lot
Pity pleads with Danger
Great Love hath cast. I pray you cease
Your wrath, and grant the youth release.3440
Sufficeth not that you with grim
And cruel hand have torn from him
Fair-Welcome, closest confidant,
For whom his longing soul doth pant
Day in, day out? For every pain
He suffered you have given him twain.
Alas! his soul I count but dead
Unless his friend. Fair-Welcome, tread
The path beside him. Would you do
Him further wrong, who suffereth through3450
Love’s cruelty such woes? Alas!
You could not, or it would surpass
The wrath of hell. Pray then restore
Fair-Welcome to his arms once more
In pity, and the earnest prayer
Accord, that I with Franchise share;
For he fell tyrant were indeed
Who heard our cry, yet scorned to heed.”
The Lover.
No more could Danger then forbear
Franchise’s plea, and Pity’s prayer.3460
Danger.
Quoth he: “Fair ladies, not so bold
Am I as venture to withhold
Consent to that you ask, lest ye
Condemn my soul of villainy.
The Lover may Fair-Welcome take
The Author.
Then forthwith soft-voiced Franchise sped
Towards where Fair-Welcome stood, and said
With gentlest words, and sweetest tone:
Franchise.
“O wherefore leave you all alone3470
The Lover, for so long a while,
Without so much as one poor smile?
Sombre is he, and pale of hue,
Cast out from sight or speech of you.
If you esteem in some degree
My love, I charge you earnestly
Return to him, make no delay,
But speak and do whatso you may
To cheer his heart. With Danger, I
And Pity wrought so earnestly,3480
That now desireth he no more
To part ye twain as heretofore.”
Fair-Welcome.
Fair-Welcome’s readiness
Exclaimed Fair-Welcome: “I agree.
Franchise, to that you ask of me.
Seeing that Danger grants your boon.”
The Lover.
Then Franchise hastened towards me soon.
Leading Fair-Welcome, who with bright
And friendly glances met my sight.
To tears of joy mine eyes did melt,
Assured in heart that nought he felt3490
Of wrath against me. Then he took
My hand, with reassuring look.
Leading once more within the bound
That cinctured Rose and Rose-bud round.
Therein to wander as I would.
Nought fearing Danger’s evil mood.