Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 1.pdf/56

22

When thus this winsome dame had sped

Her tale, which I had hearkenèd

With right good will: “Dame Idleness,”

I cried, “words fail me to express

What great delight were mine to see

Sir Mirth and all his company

Of joyous folk assembled here,

So pleasant, blithe, and frank of cheer,

Mor would I tear myself away

Therefrom throughout the livelong day,

For doubt I nought they all will be

Fulfilled of gentle courtesy.”

No more I spake, but thanked kind fate,

When Idleness the garden gate

Threw open wide, and unafraid

To that sweet spot quick entry made.

Then burst on my astonished eyes

A dream—an Earthly Faradise;

And suddenly my soul seemed riven

From earth, to dwell in highest heaven;

Yet doubt I much if heaven can give

A place where I so soon would live

As this sweet garden, sacred haunt

Of birds whose soft melodious chaunt

Ravished mine ears; the nightingales

Here sang, and there the green wood-wales;

The bullfinch piped beneath, above,

I heard the crooning turtle-dove,

Near by, the sweet-voiced tiny wren,

While high in air, beyond my ken.

The skylark soared; the titmouse shrilled

The fauvette’s gentle treble trilled.