Romance of the Rose (Ellis)/Chapter 77
LXXVII
How in the fastness of the tower
The Lover gains Fair-Welcome’s bower,
Who offers his desire to speed.
False-Seeming ’twas who helped his need.
I did him reverence as he came,
Who graciously returned the same,
With thanks abundant for the wreath.
Sir, cried I, with respondent breath,
Mutual courtesies
It scarce becomes me to receive
Your courteous words, for I believe15490
Ten thousand thanks to you I owe,
Who my poor offering honoured so
By your acceptance; be you sure
Deep sense of your kind love will dure
Long in my breast; command me what
You will, and I will fail you not;
Nor doubt you I should think to swerve
From aught that your desire may serve.
Do you but utter a command,
And I straightway will set my hand15500
Thereto, my life and goods will I
Devote to you ungrudgingly.
Yea! though you claimed my very soul
’Twere yours forthwith, entire and whole.
Essay me then, that I may prove
Myself well worthy utmost love.
Or if I fail, God grant that thence
I lack all joy in each sweet sense.
Fair- Welcome.
Cried he: I thank you, gentle sir,
To do not so would cast a slur15510
On my good name—if I possess
Aught that can give you happiness.
Accept it—freely share with me
Goods, honour, all are yours, pardee!
The Lover.
Fair sir, I cried, for love so tender
A hundred thousand thanks I render,
And for your proffer, more than kind,
But nowise could I bring my mind
To ask for further gift than you
Have given already, which in my view15520
Exceeds all Alexander’s gold.
I raised my hand in hope to hold
At last that lovely Rose that I
Had craved so long and ardently,
Deeming the converse sweet and soft
That had betwixt us passed so oft,
And that fond friendship, kind and dear,
Whereby our hearts were drawn so near,
Were tokens that my end was gained,
Alas! false hope, my heart that fained.15530