Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 3.pdf/71

Rh

And all the wilding beasts that roam

In forest haunts, their native home;

And flowers and herbs in sunny glades,

Which merry youths and gladsome maids

Go forth in pleasant days of spring

To gather in their wandering;

Tame birds, and beasts all unafraid,

And games and dances ’neath the shade,

And noble dames in vesture fair,

In metal, wax, or wood with care

Portrayed, as they in life might stand,

And lovers clasping hand with hand:

But ne’er on panel, cloth, or wall,

Can subtlest art, whate’er befal,

Make Nature’s figures live and move,

Or speak, or feel joy, grief, or love.

Or if of alchemy Art learn

So much that he can metals turn

To varying colours, ne’er can he

Work them that they transmuted be,

Unless he by his skill may lead

Them back to that whence they proceed,

Nor working deftly till he die

Can pierce the subtle mystery

Of Nature. Nay, that he attain

The knowledge to transmute again

Metals to primary estate

’Twere needful first to calculate

Their qualities of tempering

If he would his elixir bring

To issue good, and thence produce

Pure metal for his later use.