Romance of the Rose (Ellis)/Chapter 87
LXXXVII
This tells how messengers, by Love,
Are sent Queen Venus’ heart to move
In such wise that she condescend
Her help to Cupid’s host to lend.
Straight from the host the couriers twain
Journey afar, till they amain
To Cythera fair isle are come,
And welcome find in Venus’ home.
Sweet Cythera is a mountain high,
Set in a plain surrounded by
A thick-grown wood, so high indeed,
That mightiest archer ne’er could speed
A shaft its battlements to reach.
Venus, who doth all women teach,16410
Lights up this spot with sweetest grace,
Making its courts her dwelling-place.
Its joys would I describe, but fear
I might therewith but tire your ear,
And doubt I might grow weary too,
Therefore ’tis passed with brief review.
Venus and Adonis
Queen Venus to the woods was gone
A hunting, but not all alone,
For with her bright Adonis went,
On whom her fondest love was spent.16420
Almost a boy was he in years,
But huntsman good, untamed by fears,
A comely well-beseeming youth.
Just ripening into man, forsooth.
The hour of noon was overpast
And Venus, wearied, down had cast
Herself beside him on the grass,
Where shadowed by an aspen ’twas,
Near to a bubbling, laughing pool,
Whence panting hounds lapped waters cool.16430
Their quivers, and their bows unstrung,
Amid the leaves above them hung,
And filled with joy in peace they heard
The carol sweet of many a bird,
Perched in the branches overhead,
And then, by amorous longing led,
Venus her dear companion pressed
With glowing kisses to her breast,
And taught him how to hunt the wood
In suchwise as to her seemed good.16440