Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 1.pdf/115

Rh

Will but awaken new desire,

And scorch thine heart like ardent fire.

Far, far above all else ’tis sight

That makes the flame of love burn bright.

Of every lover ’tis the way,

The flame to follow which doth play

Fiercely upon him, and though he

Be scorched, draws closer willingly.

The fire is e’en that dearest one,

Whom all his soul is set upon

With such intense desire and yearning,

That nought he counts the pain of burning,

But ever nearer longs to draw

Towards her he counts his life and law.

Sages and fools agree in this;—

Nearer the fire the warmer ’tis.

And thus, the more thou see’st thy love,

The bitterer will each parting prove,

And when thou canst no longer stay,

But willy-nilly must away,

Through the long hours, remembrance tender,

Wilt thou unto the loved one render,

And utterly thy folly blame,

That thou so ill hast played the game

Of love, that thou hast let slip by

Some rare found opportunity

Of pouring forth thy soul, and stood

Beside her dumb as stone or wood.

And then great fear of her disdain

Shall cloud thy heart, because when fain,

Thou might’st have made her, with some word

Of tender love, no passion stirred