Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 1.pdf/39

Rh

My face, and saw the river-bed

With smooth bright gravel stones bespread,

And all around, the meadows wide

Were freshened by the lapping tide.

Calm and serene, and bright and sweet,

Was that spring morning, as my feet

Along the river bank I bent.

Light-hearted, heedless where I went.

And hearkening, as it rolled along.

The stream’s unending murmur-song.

HORT space my feet had traversed ere

A garden spied I, great and fair,

The which a castled wall hemmed round.

And pictured thereupon I found

Full many a figure rich and bright

Of colour, and how each one hight

Clear writ beneath it; now will I

To you declare from memory

The semblance and the name of each,

And somewhat of their natures teach.