Romance of the Rose (Ellis)/Chapter 74
LXXIV
How Vulcan once espied his wife
Engaged with Mars in amorous strife,
When cunningly he threw a snare
Around the fond but guilty pair.
Venus and Vulcan
Whene’er Dan Vulcan, dunderhead,
Had spied the amorous twain in bed,14560
Around the couch a net he threw
(Which was an foolish thing to do;
For little wotteth he of life
Who thinks he only hath his wife),
And then the gods did he convoke,
Who crowded round with gibe and joke,
Beholding how the pair were ta’en.
But many ’mong the host, with pain,
Beheld dame Venus’ sore distress,
While marvelling at her loveliness;14570
Nor heard unmoved her bitter cries
At suffering such indignities
Before her peers in open day.
Yet ’twas no marvel, one would say,
That Venus unto Mars should give
Herself—for could she care to live
With Vulcan, black from head to foot.
Hands, face, and throat begrimed with soot?
Such things in Venus’ breast must rouse
Disgust, though Vulcan were her spouse.14580
Nay, even though she had been paired
With Absalom the golden-haired,
Or lovely Paris, Priam’s son,
She scarce had been content with one,
For ever would that beauteous queen
Do what all women love I ween.
Women free as men
Women as free as men are born;
It is the law alone hath torn
Their charter, and that freedom riven
From out their hands by Nature given.14590
For Nature is not such a tool
As order, by unbending rule,
Margot to keep to Robichon,
Nor yet for him the only one
To be Marie or fair Perrette,
Jane, Agnes, or sweet Mariette,
But as, dear son, I scarce need teach,
Made each for all and all for each,
And every one for all alike,
E’en as the taste and fancy strike.14600
So that (although by marriage law
They are assigned like things of straw),
To satisfy Dame Nature’s call,
To which they hearken one and all,
And strifes and murders to avoid,
Whereto they well might be decoyed,
Ever have women, foul or fair,
Whether the name of maid they bear,
Or wife, done all within their power
To win back freedom as their dower;14610
Though at great hazards they maintain
Their rights, and evils thick as rain
Have happed both now and formerly.
Ten, nay, a hundred easily,
Could I of instances set forth;
But let them pass as nowise worth
My pains to tell or yours to hear,
You’d weary ere the end came near.
If any man beheld a dame,
In primal days, who lit a flame14620
Within his heart, he thought no wrong
To seize her, until one more strong
Should rob him of her, or he changed
His mind and somewhat further ranged.
But hence arose contention great,
And homes were oft left desolate;
And so by wise men were laid down
The laws as those of marriage known.
If you possess both will and wit
To heark what Roman Horace writ,14630
Give me your ear while I set forth
The wisdom of that man of worth;
A woman, free of shame, may quote
Whate’er so great an author wrote:
Foretime, in Helen’s days, broke out
Full many a hard-fought battle rout
For woman’s love, and many died
Who in that strife their valiance tried;
And who shall say how many more
Than those set down in ancient lore?14640
Not first was Helen, nor will she
Be last of those, unhappily,
Through whom have risen and will rise
Wars among men, whose hearts and eyes
Women have blinded, till away
They throw their lives; the latest day
Of earth shall see this selfsame thing,
That hath been since first broke the spring.
Regard dame Nature, and then hear
Her strength and wondrous power made clear14650
Through many examples which shall be
Clearly expounded presently.