Romance of the Rose (Ellis)/Chapter 47
XLVII
This telleth how in days gone by
Earth’s children had no treasury
Or store of goods, but everything
Was common, free of prince or king.
Simplicity of life
And when a-nights they sought their rest,
No beds of down their bodies pressed.
But scattered they fresh fragrant leaves,
Or moss in heaps, or fresh cut sheaves
Of grass or reeds, and heaven’s sweet air
Was ever soft and gentle there,8820
In one unvarying tide of spring,
While tuneful birds made morning ring
With the sweet latin of their lay
That welcome cried to dawning day.
Soft Zephirus, and eke his wife,
Dame Flora, queen of flowers, new life
Gave to the meads where’er they went,
And every verdant laund besprent
With opening buds, which gladly her
Worshipped as dame and verderer.8830
For these, to speed young lovers, go
Across the teeming earth and sow
Sweet flowers a-tint with varied hues,
Which amorous swains and maidens use
To twine amid their flowing hair
In chaplets fragrant, fresh and fair,
And ’tis for such they love to spread
Gay counterpanes right well bestead
With countless flowrets in such wise
As seems, forsooth, to mock the skies,8840
With stars all gloriously beseen.
Old-time freedom
On couches thus bedecked I ween,
From jealousy and envy free
They mingled in felicity
Secure, with soft embrace and kiss,
’Neath sheltering boughs in heaven-like bliss.
The branches joined above them made
A fretted roof of cooling shade.
And there right joyously they spent
The jolly time in merriment8850
And carolling and amorous play,
As simple men for whom the day
Was ne’er too long, nor sad nor dull,
For all the world was beautiful.
’Neath tyranny did no man wince,
For not as yet had king or prince
Claimed others having, but all shared
Earth’s gifts in common lot, and fared
One as another; none possessed,
Therefore were none by lack distressed.8860
Though Ovid’s saying nought they knew,
Which none but fools would doubt for true:
Never can love and seigniory
Travel together, nor can they be
In any case fit spouse and bride,
High rule sets equal love aside.