Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 1.pdf/154

Rh

To all his faithful ones. Her hand

Held with firm grasp a flaming brand,

Which scorched hath many a damsel’s heart,

Fatal oft-times as Cupid’s dart.

Dull were the eye that could not trace

The Goddess in her radiant face

And fay-like form.

’Twere light to guess,

So free her mien, so bright her dress,

Religion’s bondage held her not.

’Tis nowise needful, as I wot,

To tell the wondrous robes she ware

Betrimmed with golden orfreys rare,

Nor of the jewelled morse that bound

The precious girdle, worn around

Her dainty waist, nor hair of gold,

That round her knees in wavelets rolled:

The tale of this I well may spare.

But doubt her not for passing fair,

Right gracious, and devoid of pride.

Forth stepped she freely, and beside

Fair-Welcome stood, then straight began:

“Wherefore against this love-lorn man

Do you display such high disdain?

This kiss forbidding, which he fain

Would snatch? Do you not clearly see

How honour, faith and loyalty,

Shine forth in him? His manly grace,

His well-formed limbs, his noble face,