Romance of the Rose (Ellis)/Chapter 57
LVII
With will to ease the Lover’s grief
Appeared to him his mighty chief,10770
The God of Love, who pardoned him
That he awhile had deigned to trim
His ear to Reason, and, quoth he,
Unreason shalt thou henceforth be.
The Lover questioned
When Love thus clearly saw that I
Preserved towards him my loyalty,
(A loyalty not lightly worn,
For by a solemn oath ’twas sworn),
He came, smiled at my grief, and said,
His soft hand laid upon my head:10780
Hast thou then followed my command?
And in what case dost thou now stand
Towards that fair Rose that caused thy heart
To writhe beneath love’s bitter smart?
Put of a truth all this he knew,
For Gods divine whate’er men do.
Love speaks.
Quoth he: These hests I lay alone
On faithful lovers, and on none
Besides, hast thou all utterly
Pursued them? Frankly answer me.10790
The Lover.
I know not, sire—but this I say,
Ne’er wittingly I’ve gone astray.
Love.
The folly of fickleness
Too fond art thou, forsooth, of change.
And let’st thy heart too often range
And waver, cursed with fickle doubt,
I know thee throughly—in and out.
The other day thou had’st the mind
To quit my service, and unkind
Complaints thou mad’st ’gainst Idleness,
And blamed my yoke, and did’st confess10800
Thee doubtful if fair Hope might be
Of good effect and aid to thee.
Thou said’st ’twas but a foolish whim,
That thou to my commands should’st trim
Thy life, and homage paid to Reason:
Was not then this foul act of treason?
The Lover.
Pardon! great master, I the crime
Confess, yet was I through the time
Your bounden liege, and often good
Assurance gave of trustihood,10810
As those should do who love thy rule.
Reason but held me for a fool;
Nor failed she sorely to reprove
My full surrender unto Love
When held she converse with me, but
With all her reasoning failed to cut
The bond between us, though ’tis true
She doubt inspired. But unto you
I promise that no more mine ear
I’ll lend to her, should I be near10820
When she her voice doth ’gainst you raise,
Or lesser folk bestints of praise,
Reason renounced
For so entirely doth mine heart
To you belong that nought shall part
Our love, unless is torn away
That heart from out my body—nay,
I’m yours till death. ’Twas folly great,
Arid grievous wrong ’gainst you, to prate
With her, or list her futile speech,
But your forgiveness I beseech;10830
And whatsoe’er of penalty
Account you well to lay on me
I’ll welcome, and will nevermore
Listen to Reason, but your lore
Shall be my guide for life and death;
In you I’ll live so long as breath
Remains to me, and nowise loss
It were to me if Atropos
Should cut life’s thread while I engage
In that sweet war that mortals wage10840
For Venus’ sake, nought else doth bless
Man’s life with so great happiness.
And those who for my death should weep.
When thus they see me fallen to sleep
So sweetly, might with reason cry:
Oh well art thou thuswise to die!
Thy death doth with that life agree,
Thou liv’dst ere soul from flesh was free.
The God of Love speaks.
Now, by my head, thou speakest well,
For, hearing thee, ’tis light to tell10850
That thou due homage dost to me;
No faithless wretch I find in thee
Or caitiff, that would dare deny
My service, having gained thereby
All that he longed for. Sound and pure
I find thy heart, therefore secure
And safe thy vessel shalt thou bring
To port. Thou hast full pardoning,
Dear friend, straightway, by simple prayer,
Of ransom free, for I will spare10860
Thy silver or thy gold to take,
Nor even ask that thou should’st make
Confession, but propose instead
That we again take up the thread
Of those sweet lessons that to thee
I gave, and thou repeat to me
The prohibitions and commands,
In number ten, that at my hands
Thou didst receive. If faithfully
Thou keep’st them in thy memory,10870
One day thou’lt be in better case
Than he who, dicing, casts deuce ace:
Repeat them.