Romance of the Rose (Ellis)/Chapter 31
XXXI
Herein 'tis told how Fear and Shame,
In deep concern, to Danger came.
Demanding wherefore spared he blows
’Gainst those who dared approach the Rose.
They approach Danger
This matter ’twixt them well agreed,
With nimble foot the twain proceed
Towards Danger.
Soon they found the boor,
Stretched out upon the greensward floor
Beneath a thorn; a heap of hay
Served him for pillow, as he lay3840
In dozing sleep.
Then Shame awoke
The slumbering clown, and chiding spoke:
Shame.
“How then! Is this a time for sleep?
A fool was he who bid you keep
The Rose, who little more avail
Than any shearling wether’s tail.
Slothful are you, and dull and base,
’Tis yours, vile, lazy hound, to chase
Intruders hence. With folly, you
Fair-Welcome gave permission to3850
Bring here his new-found friend, hence blame
Unjustly falls on us. For shame!
That you should sleep, while we incur
Rebuke, vile weak-kneed palterer.
Danger reproached
What! are you then not yet awake?
Arouse you! up! for Heaven’s dear sake,
And run to stop and fence each gap
That way affords, by which might hap
Some thief to enter. Show you not
The smallest ruth, or well I wot3860
Your name, once dreaded, soon will be
Scorned for a sham and nullity.
Fair-Welcome’s part it is to rank
As open, generous, free and frank,
And yours to show yourself a churl,
Fierce blows to rain and curses hurl
Against all gallants. Gentle ways
Shall win for you more blame than praise.
Do you the proverb then forget
Which saith, that no man ever yet3870
Of timid buzzard made a kite?
And men who find your mien polite
And gentle, do but laugh to scorn
Your folly, which hath overborne
Your wit. Do you then deem your task
Fulfilled, when you to all who ask
Grant grace and favour? Fie, O fie!
’Tis cowardice, and you will buy
Thus, but the name of witling fool,
Of loseling knaves the ready tool.”3880
Then Fear took up the word and said:
Fear.
“Greatly am I astonished,
O Danger, that but half awake
Are you to your devoir; ’twill make
Jealousy is implacable
But badly for you, as I deem,
Should Jealousy display extreme
Despite and wrath, for hard and rude
Is she in her acerbitude.
Not only hath she Shame attacked,
But also hath Fair-Welcome packed3890
Hence, with a cloud of menaces,
Declaring, that until she sees
Him lodged in prison hard and fast,
She’ll know no joy in life. Aghast
Am I, that your neglect should let
The gallant in this precinct set
His foot. I doubt me much that you
Had but a chicken heart. In view
Of Jealousy’s malignant spite,
Thy soul will be to evil plight3900
Reduced, or greatly I’m deceived.”
The Author.
Then the rude churl his head upheaved,
Rubbed his blear eyes, and rolled them round,
Shook his unwieldy limbs, and frowned
O’er all his face, then loud did roar:
Danger.
“Great God! what then d’ye take me for?”
’Tis clear I either must be mad,
Or else too long a lease have had
Of life, if I’m not fit to keep
The Roses, even while asleep.3910
God grant I may be burnt alive
If any wretch again contrive
To enter here—nay, if he do,
I hope two swords may riddle through
My heart and belly. By my head,
My doting folly ’twas that sped
The Lover, but I’ll yet redress
By your good help my slothfulness.
Danger is roused
Never again will I relax
My watchful care, but daily wax3920
More strict, and should a gallant come
Herein, he’ll wish himself at Rome.
By heaven, and earth, and hell, I swear
That never more while time doth wear
Shall ye find cause to say that I
Have played the watch-dog drowsily.”
The Lover.
A bound brought Danger to his feet.
As though prepared forthwith to meet
The world in arms. He seized his club,
And marched around with great hubbub,3930
Seeking if he perchance could spy
Some secret hole or gap, whereby
Strange steps might enter.
Thus alas!
By evil hap it came to pass
That Danger, who of late was good
On my behalf, now ready stood
To wreck my life, and I no more
Might have my will as heretofore.
Fair-Welcome have I lost! and oh!
What shivering horror seems to go3940
Through all my frame, awaked to fear
Lest ne’er again my lips come near
The Lover’s anguish
The Rose, my every member shakes
With rage, and all my being quakes
With longing once again to see
That treasure which is more to me
Than life—sweet end of all desire.
The memory of that one kiss doth fire
My blood, and sweeter far than balm
Its odours are, which sent a calm3950
Sweet swoon o’er all my heart, that knows
Peace only when ’tis near the Rose.
If e’er should fall on me the fate
To be cast out, all desolate,
Therefrom, much rather would I die
Than live in such drear misery.
O God of Love, what boots it then
That I, most love-lorn among men,
Should have enjoyed that dear delight,
With loving lips, with ardent sight,
When thus from me ’tis reft amain
With ruthless hand, no more to fain
My longing heart?
I then were doomed
To be with wretchedness consumed
E’en as aforetime—torn with woes,
Tortured with sighs and bitter throes,
And sleepless nights, and such a hell
Of pain as passeth words to tell.
Accursed be Evil-Tongue, through whom
I fall once more beneath the doom3970
Of hopeless love, the wretch for me
Hath purchased endless misery.