Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 1.pdf/65

Rh

All worked about with amorettes,

And tied with dainty bandelets,

Bedecked with lozenges and scutcheons,

Leopards, strange outland beasts, and lions;

While blossoms of all colours were

Besprinkled o’er it, here and there.

’Twere no light task some flower to name

That was not found thereon, each came

To lend its beauty, blue perwinkle

’Twixt rose and yellow broom did twinkle,

With violets, pansies, birdseye blue.

And flowers untold of varied hue.

Sweet scented roses, red and pale,

(Round which flew many a nightingale)

Festooned Love’s head, and every sort

Of bird seemed there to hold high court,

The skylark, blue-tit, merle and dove,

Sang in his ear sweet songs of love,

Fluttering around his head, and he

One of God’s angels looked to be.

Anigh him stood Sweet-Looks, who glanced

With soft regard on those who danced:

A friend right well beloved was he

Of Cupid, and (bent readily

For use) a crook’d Turk’s bow he bore

In either hand the first one wore

Most evil aspect, made of tree

Whose fruit I trow would nowise be

Of grateful savour; gnarled and hoar

It was, and black as sun-scorched moor.

The second pliant, lithe, and white.

With quaint designs and figures dight