Romance of the Rose (Ellis)/Chapter 58
LVIII
Repeats, the Lover, word for word
The lesson he from Cupid heard.
The Lover.
Love’s behests
Gladly: Evil deed
Must I forego; no scandal speed;
A lover’s maxims
To aid and honour ladies ought
To be through life my foremost thought;
Foul speech my lips should never soil;
For others’ weal my strength should toil;10880
Though scorning pride, tend well my dress,
Behave with grace and gentleness;
With fair large heartedness to live.
And to one love my heart to give.
Love.
I’faith, thou hast thy lesson got
Right well, unstained by fault or blot.
What sufferest thou?
The Lover.
A grief so dread,
That thereof is my heart nigh dead.
Love.
Hast thou not my three comforts?
The Lover.
No;
Soft-Looks, alas! doth never show10890
His longed-for face, by which might be
Assuaged my grief and misery.
All three took flight, but two amain
Returned, with will to ease my pain.
Love.
The Lover.
Ah, yes!
She will not leave me comfortless,
For when within our hearts she makes
Her home, that home she ne’er forsakes.
Love.
Where is the Rose?
The Lover.
Alas! she’s lost,
To Jealousy hath she been tost10900
For gold by Evil-Tongue, and nought
I see how rescue may be wrought.
Love.
What of Fair-Welcome hath become?
The Lover.
Alas! beneath his prison dome
He weeps—my friend, whom loved I so.
Love.
Fair-Welcome must be freed
Take heart, and let thy bosom glow
With hope, for by mine eyes I swear
That thou more joyously shalt fare
Than heretofore hath been thy lot.
Since thou so well my laws dost wot10910
And keep, I will my lieges call
To burst and break the prison wall
That holds Fair-Welcome; soon shall he
Before thee stand, at liberty.