Romance of the Rose (Ellis)/Chapter 43
THE
ROMANCE OF THE ROSE
XLIII
Herein is told how Reason left
The ’wildered Lover all bereft
Of comfort, but straightway a Friend,
He finds, whose words his woes amend.7610
Reason departs
When Reason heard my words she went
Her ways and left me worn and spent
With grief, till of my friend I thought,
And, pain and trouble scorning, sought
To find him, but, by God’s hand led.
He came, beheld my woe, and said:
The Friend.
Fair friend, I pray you say amain
What misery doth your soul enchain;
For all too plainly writ, your pale
And careworn visage tells a tale7620
Of new-born grief. Say then, what news?
The Lover.
God help me! gloom my soul bedews.
The Friend.
Speak on.
The Lover.
And straightway every word
I told him, as you erst have heard;
It needs not to retread that sod.
The Friend.
A friend’s advice
Exclaimed he: By the Body of God!
Rude Danger you have clean dismissed,
And the sweet Rosebud safely kissed,
And now Fair-Welcome’s prisonment
A dagger through your heart hath sent!7630
If he account him yours so far
As win for you in love’s sweet war
A kiss, no gaol will hold his feet.
Unless you have desire to cheat
Yourself of good success, let cheer
Wake in your face, and cast forth fear;
Fair-Welcome will, for your dear sake,
Whate’er it cost, the dungeon break,
Wherein for love of you he lies.
The Lover.
Alas! his cruel enemies7640
Are strong; but saving Evil-Tongue,
Who vile suspicion raised among
His minions, none had noticed me
Approach the longed-for Rosebud tree.
Had not that villain raised alarm,
Believe I well that little harm
From Shame and Fear had I received,
And e’en o’er Danger had achieved
A triumph and been safe. All three
Past doubt had left me tranquilly,7650
Had not those reptiles raised their heads
From slumbering on their drowsy beds,
Whom this base wretch to help him called,
When he beheld Fair-Welcome palled
With fear, as Jealousy cried out
(The old crone makes a fearful rout)
That she was overcome with dread:
I stayed me not, but thenceward fled
In haste.
Forthwith was raised a tower,
Where lies Fair-Welcome ’neath their power
A prisoner. Friend, to thee I fly7661
For aid: O help me ere I die.
Then spake the friend, and sagely gave
Advice, with kindly voice and suave:
The Friend.
How to free Fair-Welcome
Dear friend, give not yourself to grief,
But let sweet love be still your chief
Delight, and let the God of Love
Your loyal service have, above
All else both night and day; be free
And frank with him whate’er may be;7670
For perjured word or thought unkind
From you would well-nigh wreck his mind,
Since he your homage hath received;
Truth’s self is he, and ne’er deceived
Follow Love’s behests
A loyal heart. I counsel you
Truly and faithfully to do
All his commandments; for the wight
Who in his service finds delight
Shall ne’er repent him, though distress
Be his through Fortune’s fickleness.7680
And would you serve him as you ought,
Then must unendingly your thought
Be given to him, and folly great
Were yours if you should prove ingrate.
Moreover, Love your heart doth hold
In leash, and you were overbold
Should you forsake him.
Lend quick ear
To friendly counselling; forbear,
At least some little while, to go
Anigh the tower, and let none know7690
Your presence, or by sight or sound,
If you should dare to tread that ground,
Before the storm has died away
Which round your head of late made play.
Have special care you are not seen,
More often than you erst have been,
Beneath the walls or near the gate;
And if you are by chance or fate
Led thither, let no creature wot
You heed one bit Fair-Welcome’s lot.7700
But should you spy him from afar,
At crenelet or window bar,
Regard his form with eye discreet,
Though your heart die his glance to meet.
And if he see you, great delight
He’ll feel, yet all precautions dight.
Nor, save in secret, dare to make
A finger signal, or to shake
His head ; and should he see you speak
To those about, at once he’ll seek7710
To close the shutter and espy
Your form both long and lovingly
Athwart the chinks, unless from thence
He’s torn by brutal violence.
Deceivers must be deceived
Have special care that near the spot
Vile Evil-Tongue perceive you not;
Salute him, if you chance to meet,
Politely, but in nowise greet
His glance with anger or despite—
With such an one ’twere ill to fight.7720
A wise man ne’er displays his wrath,
But hides it ’neath his vest’s broad-cloth,
For fair and good it is a cheat
With tools he fashions to entreat,
And every liege of Love should do
Thuswise, who hath the wit thereto.
To Evil-Tongue and all his race
’Tis well to show a pleasant face,
Although they’d turn you inside out.
Offer (so sweetly that no doubt7730
His mind can have) your body and soul
To serve him.
If you first the goal
Would reach, in racing with a sharp,
Sing him a tune that suits his harp.
To trap a rascal is no sin,
And well one does to snare him in
His proper net.
Evil-Tongue deserves hanging
A caitiff-wretch
Is Evil-Tongue; although you stretch
Him till in half he falls, there still
A wretch remains, that style ne’er will7740
Be lost to him. No other name
Ought he to bear, for nought of shame
Hath he men’s good repute to steal,
Causing deep wounds no balm can heal.
Better were he on gibbet strung
Than half the wretched creatures hung
For filching dirty pence. The thieves
Who steal a farmer’s golden sheaves,
Or rob a clothes-line, being ta’en
Red hand, the law makes pay again7750
Four times the worth. But Evil-Tongue
So spreads his injuries among
All people, that, the harm once done,
A good name cannot back be won
From him to salve the wound, or stay
The poisonous flood for many a day.
One needs this miscreant to appease,
As men must sometimes, on their knees,
Touch with their lips a hand that well
Deserves the cleansing fires of hell.7760
Wherefore should not the wretch be sent
To Tarsus, where he might invent
Lies that no lovers need to fear?
’Twere well from off the earth to clear
So vile a scoundrel.
Evil-Tongue
And all his cursed crew are sprung
From Satan, and of Heaven despised,
Therefore are men right well advised
By every guile to cheat the cheat,
His cozenage and lies to beat7770
With greater lies, and e’en caress
And trick the knave with treacherousness,
Fooling the fellow to his bent
With fulsome praise and compliment,
Silencing thus the yelping hound
Till fair and clear the road be found.
Before all else your care should be
To lull to false security
This slanderer, by persuading him
That you are reft of power to nimme7780
Or steal the Rose he lives to guard;
That done, the pathway lies unbarred.
Jealousy to be flattered
Treat in likewise the hag on watch
(God grant hell’s fiend her soul may catch),
And flatter also Jealousy
(May she of God accursèd be),
To still her rancorous, spiteful heart,
That joy of others makes to smart
With sour disdain, such venomed spleen
And greed within her rage, I ween;7790
For sure it is, though many taste
Of happiness, it nought need waste.
It is as though a lantern’s light
One grudged to other men anight;
Though thousands light thereat, no less
The holder sees its radiantness.
The simile is plain enough
For all but minds ill-bred and rough.
But should these villain folk demand
Some service, lend a ready hand7800
Thereto, for gentle courtesy
Is soothing, yet let men not see
That you but make-believe the while,
With after purpose to beguile
Their watchfulness; pursue this rule,
And many a foe may you befool.
Whoso would see his foeman drowned
Or hanged should lovingly around
His neck embrace him, if he nought
Can otherwise be lightly brought7810
Beneath his will; but wherefore thus
Explain a thing so obvious?
These foes so subtle are and keen,
That open war would simply mean
Your good cause lost.
Gaolers must be bribed
Then next, with care,
For other gaolers gifts prepare,
If you can reach them; seek to learn
What bribes will best their kindness earn:
A hat, or wicker bandelet,
With gay fresh-gathered flowers beset,7820
A broidered purse, a simple veil,
Some pretty trinkets, which, if frail
And little worth, are ne’ertheless
Of dainty taste and comeliness,
Prudence in gifts
For e’en though presents be despised,
No lover who is well advised
Will bring down ruin on his head
By gifts inordinate, but, led
By prudence, know how so to give.
That hate may die and goodwill live.7830
And then lament you that love’s pain
You fear is labour spent in vain.
And if your slender purse affords
Sparse gifts, let plenteous honied words
And promises their place supply,
And dream of payment—by-and-by;
But swear with such effrontery.
That none can doubt you’ll faithful be.
Humbly demand their kindly aid;
And even while your suit is made,7840
Adown your cheeks let streamlets flow,
Therefrom great benefit will grow
To your design. Weep—would you please
These gaolers—on your bended knees,
Hands clasped together, eyelids wet
With tears enough to wear and fret
Your face with seams, which, seeing fall
So freely, must their hearts recall
To pity.
But if nought to weep
Your eyes incline, ’tis well to steep7850
The lids with moisture from the tongue;
Or surer still, they may be stung
With garlic or fresh onion juice;
Effectively will that unloose
Of scalding tears a plenteous rain,
As grief might do, or poignant pain.
Thuswise have lovers often done,
And thereby many a conflict won
Beneath Love’s banner, knowing well
O’er women’s hearts to cast a spell7860
In suchwise, that they tenderly
Loosen the bonds they hold them by.
Tears sometimes useful
But many a caitiff wretch hath shown
Moist eyes whose heart hath never known
True love, and damsels oft have fared
But ill, by treacherous weeping snared.
E’en gaolers’ hearts may sometimes be
Softened by tears, unless they see
They are but false, for they’ll resent
It rudely if a trick they scent;7870
Then may you vainly beg and pray,
Fast closed you’ll find each entry way.
But if you fail to come to speech
Through those who watch, you yet may reach
Your object through a trusty friend,
Or otherwise effect your end
By means of an impassioned letter,
But doing so ’tis vastly better
To set thereon a feignèd name,
Call her, Fair sir, or him, Sweet dame,7880
With hope more fully to conceal
The secrets hid beneath the seal.
For many a rascal thief hath read
A lover’s letters, and ill sped
The plot thereby, all labour lost
And hopes and aspirations crossed.
Children bad messengers
Employ not children, great the chance
Will be they fail through ignorance,
And sorry messengers they make
Through trifling, idling, or mistake.7890
They oft miscarry, or will show
Your missive wheresoe’er they go,
And bungle, not through lack of sense
Alone, but inexperience.
You must with great discretion choose
Your messengers, unless you’d lose
The fruit of all your pains, and see
Your intrigue common property.
These gaolers you will surely find
Of heart so piteous, sweet and kind,7900
That, once your money they have ta’en,
Your faithful friends will they remain.
E’en as the sparrow-hawk is sure
To flutter to the well-known lure
At morn, or eve, or any hour,
So surely gifts possess the power
The surliest gaolers to appease
So far, that freely as they please
May lovers use them; once made tame
With vails, their service they may claim.7910
But should they hold their heads so high
That they regard disdainfully
Your sighs and tears, your gifts and prayers,
Seeing through all your best-laid snares.
And treat your courtesy with lewd
Unseemly acts and voicing rude,
Answer their scoffs with courtesy,
leave them in their fat to fry.
Believe me, never autumn cheese
Was made more speedily than these7920
Good folk will bite their nails. Right soon
They’ll come to seek some gift or boon,
And merrily your plot will go;
You’ll gather, though you cease to sow.
Rude churlish hearts are often filled
With arrogance, and though one spilled
Buckets of tears thereon, the more
Their gentle kindness you implore.
The harder will they grow; but leave
Them all alone, nor seem to grieve7930
One jot, and suddenly their pride
And insolence is cast aside,
For nought doth more such hearts impress,
Than proud and studied scornfulness.
Devices should be varied
The mariner who steers his bark
Through unknown seas, when night falls dark
Regardeth not one only star
To guide his course, nor would he far
Entrust his ship with one poor sail,
But try what others might avail7940
’Mid storm and tempest. Even so
He that with Love would hunting go
Must follow, not a single track,
But now pursue, and now fall back,
If Love’s full joyance he would taste.
I warrant me I need not waste
My time in glossing this, past doubt
Or question doth the sense stand out.
Words cost little
’Twere well these gaolers then to ply
With prayers; he little risks thereby7950
Who spends his words, e’en though they be
Cast back with scorn and contumely;
And if they’re crowned with good success.
They pave the path to happiness.
One of two things ’tis plain must hap,
Either success one’s prayers will cap,
Or of their object must they fail;
And if ’tis so, small cause to wail
A lover hath, for all the cost
Is but that he his time hath lost.7960
Nor need one fear lest he hath made
The gaolers wroth because he prayed
Their kindness; that will rather please
Their dignity when they at ease
Shall muse thereon. Rude boors aye feel
Strange satisfaction when appeal
Is made to them; within themselves
They think what most important elves
They needs must be—how grand! how great!
That thus are folk importunate7970
For their goodwill.
They must refuse,
Or grant your prayer, or make excuse.
If all goes well, you then succeed;
If ill, why then you do but need
Comfort to take, and try again.
If, failing, you conceal your pain,
By far the better chance have you
Later to press your suit anew.
Affect indifference
But look you, be not so unwise
By any means to ope the eyes7980
Of those you bribe to your intent
Of gaining, through their means, your bent.
To win the Rosebud make it seem
That love platonic is your dream,
For rest assured, beyond all doubt,
That were your purpose once found out,
Your chance were lost; but if with skill
Your snare be laid, at last it will
Debauch their hearts, and you will see
They’re traitors all. If cleverly7990
You treat them, then you need not fear
But what they’ll lend a willing ear
To your entreaties. But I yet
Give counsel that you never let
Your prayers be made too freely if
They seem immovable and stiff;
For if they yield not, then they cry
Aloud to vaunt their probity.
But if as traitors they behave,
They’re mum, and silent as the grave.8000
These gaoler folk are all alike:
Although unbending as a pike
They show themselves, if no advance
You make towards them, likely chance
It is you’ll find they may be bought
(Offering themselves) for next to nought.
But sometimes dolts with gifts and praise
Ill timed, the pride of gaolers raise
In suchwise that, their avarice
Excited, they exalt the price8010
Of Roses.
Use gold sparingly
These rich dullards dream
To gain advantage, but extreme
Of damage do themselves. Much gold
They pay for that which else were sold
At vilest price. ’Twere much the best
If each awhile forbore request
To such-like scum, right cheaply then
Were bought and sold these gaoler men.
If only suitors would arrange
Among themselves that no exchange8020
Of gifts go on or prayers be made
To watch-dogs, then ere long were stayed
Traffic in roses, which must die
If none were found to bribe or buy.
Assuredly I love not well
Men who abase themselves to sell
Their faith for filthy lucre, and
Not willingly would set my hand
To such-like business. Yet delay
Must you avoid, and smooth the way8030
Through them for that you’re bent to do,
Setting the nets to win for you
The game you follow.
Should you stay,
Rivals may gather day by day,
Not one or two, but many a score,
Aye, and perchance some hundreds more
In two-and-fifty weeks, till last
You’ll find your chances spent and past.
Heed not scorn
An honourable man doth ne’er
A woman leave to crave a share8040
In his affections; doth he wait
For that, his self-esteem’s too great.
But whosoe’er would fain attack
A damsel’s heart, although no lack
He finds at first of haughty scorn
(Which needs must patiently be borne),
If only he will wisely steer
His bark, the rocks and sands he’ll clear
At last.
From this advice a page
You well may take if you engage8050
With watch-dogs; but attempt them not
If they ill-humoured be or hot
With anger.
When they’re light of heart
Approach them, but if they should smart
’Neath grievance, keep away, unless
You choose to brave the bitterness
They feel if Jealousy perchance
Mistreat them to despite your chance.
But if you with consummate art
Can get these tiresome folk apart,8060
Safe from intrusion of all men,
Fair-Welcome might break prison then,
Where he, in suffering drear, for you,
Lies now, close kept as hawk in mew,
And aid you with Fair-Seeming’s power,
As well he knows to do; your hour
Will then be ripe to pluck the Rose.
And if rude Danger should oppose
Reluctance often feigned
Your deed, and Shame and Fear should wake
And feign defence—though all aquake8070
With will, while struggling, to give way,
Then will you understand their play.
If tremulous Fear turn deadly pale,
Shame flush bright red, while ’neath him fail
Rude Danger’s knees, and all the three
Shriek and lament them woefully,
Care not for them an empty shuck,
But grasp the Rose and thank your luck,
Showing yourself a man of nerve
When place and good occasion serve,8080
For nothing gives them more delight
Than to be vanquished in a fight
By major force.
At different times
Their moods will vary e’en as climes
And seasons change; if you appealed
Their will, they ne’er would dare to yield
That which they love to give by force,
But feign their joy to be the source
Of bitterest grief, although they sighed
And longed for that which lips denied.8090
It is, forsooth, their full intent
To gain the end they most resent;
And disappointment were intense,
To say the truth, if their defence
Succeeded, and all unappeased
Would be their wrath, while wondrous pleased
They vaunted them of their escape.
But if resistance take the shape
Of unfeigned hate, and they defend
The castle vigorously, then lend8100
An ear to Prudence and give in,
With hope that later you may win
The fort; crave pardon and await
Till those three spies that militate
Against you disappear, and leave
Fair-Welcome with you, free to weave
New plans and schemes.
A cheery face
Should you assume, endued with grace
And grave demeanour.
Neglect not sympathy
Heed the while
Fair-Welcome; if he seem to smile,8110
Smile too; or if you note his mien
For solemn, then be solemn seen
Likewise; if he a guileless air
Affect, your countenance should wear
The same sweet innocence—each way
Or mood he shows throughout the day
’Tis yours to counterfeit; if bright
His visage be, show then a light
And merry heart; if he be sad,
Then look as though some grievance had8120
Fast hold on you; let that thing fire
Your heart whereto he hath desire;
And if some other thing he blame,
Declare abhorrence of the same
With vigour; or if he should praise
Or this or that, cease not to raise
Your voice in laud thereof. Thus do,
And throughly will he trust in you.
Praise of reticence
Think you a gracious dame forsooth
Cares for a hare-brained, half-fledged youth 8130
Who, like an idiot, half the night
Singeth the pleasure and delight
He hath, through her kind grace, enjoyed,
And how her love for him destroyed
Her peace? With reason might she dread
’Twould bring down scandal on her head:
Love passages are quickly known
When all around the streets they’re thrown
In balladings unheedingly,
Who such man loves, a fool is she.8140
Whene’er a wise man takes a fool
For mistress, ’tis a golden rule
Folly alone to talk with her:
As well might he on empty air
Expend wise words and rarest wit,
They nought will profit him one bit.
Whoso would win a woman’s love
Should ne’er converse with her above
Her small intelligence, for she
Will straightway deem her man to be8150
A fox, a cozener, or a cheat;
And deeming kindest words deceit,
Will leave his loving care and go
To seek some other, and right low
Perchance may fall—from out the heap
She’s bound to pick some scabious sheep.
She’ll brood fierce passion in her breast,
E’en as a wild she-wolf possessed
by madness, who with rage accurst
From all he-wolves picks out the worst.8160
Courtesy indispensable
And if Fair-Welcome comes your way,
And you with him at chess should play,
Or dice, or tables, or what not,
Let him aye find that he hath got
Advantage of you; when you lose,
Laugh heartily, and ne’er refuse
To play again, thereat will he
Rejoice him most contentedly.
Praise his behaviour, manners, dress,
His manly port and nobleness;8170
And let his comfort be your care,
Offering a settle, stool, or chair.
Saith Ovid: If a speck of dust
You see fall on your love you must
Remove it, though ’twere next to naught.
So, if his costly cloak hath caught
The ground, uplift it.
Do forsooth
Whate’er may please the gentle youth.
And if but carefully you move
By my instructions, you shall prove8180
Them fire-tried gold, and ne’er be left
In evil case, of love bereft,
But be fulfilled of that desire
Towards which your heart and soul aspire.