Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 1.pdf/156

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So towards the Rose I went amain,

attained And won the kiss, sweet cure of pain!

O moment blest! O heavenly joy!

O happiness without alloy!

My senses suddenly were drowned

In fragrant perfume, for I found

Love’s bitterness was overpast,

Which o’er my life of late had cast

A cloud of woe. What floods of bliss

Embalmed me, through a single kiss

Of that fair flower, so sweet of scent!

No longer will my life be spent

In sighs, its memory will suffice

To hold ray soul in paradise.

And yet what suffering have I tasted,

What days and nights in sorrow wasted,

Since first I kissed ray precious Rose!

But never yet did sea repose

From ruffling, free of storm and wind.

So is it with the lover’s mind,

Controlled by Love’s almighty power,

Wounded and healed from hour to hour.

But now, ’tis mine to tell how Shame,

To wear and waste my spirit, came,

And how that mighty tower was built,

Whereon was so much labour spilt,

Ere yielded it to Love’s attack.

Of all the history nought shall lack,

But fair be writ within this book,

In hope that she therein may look

Who hath my heart, God save and bless

Her everywise, whose tenderness