# Romance of the Rose (Ellis)/Chapter 57

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LVII
With will to ease the Lover’s grief Appeared to him his mighty chief,10770 The God of Love, who pardoned him That he awhile had deigned to trim His ear to Reason, and, quoth he, Unreason shalt thou henceforth be.
The Lover questioned When Love thus clearly saw that I Preserved towards him my loyalty, (A loyalty not lightly worn, For by a solemn oath ’twas sworn), He came, smiled at my grief, and said, His soft hand laid upon my head:10780 Hast thou then followed my command? And in what case dost thou now stand Towards that fair Rose that caused thy heart To writhe beneath love’s bitter smart? Put of a truth all this he knew, For Gods divine whate’er men do.
Love speaks.
Quoth he: These hests I lay alone On faithful lovers, and on none Besides, hast thou all utterly Pursued them? Frankly answer me.10790
The Lover.
I know not, sire—but this I say, Ne’er wittingly I’ve gone astray.
Love.
The folly of fickleness Too fond art thou, forsooth, of change. And let’st thy heart too often range And waver, cursed with fickle doubt, I know thee throughly—in and out. The other day thou had’st the mind To quit my service, and unkind Complaints thou mad’st ’gainst Idleness, And blamed my yoke, and did’st confess10800 Thee doubtful if fair Hope might be Of good effect and aid to thee. Thou said’st ’twas but a foolish whim, That thou to my commands should’st trim Thy life, and homage paid to Reason: Was not then this foul act of treason?
The Lover.
Pardon! great master, I the crime Confess, yet was I through the time Your bounden liege, and often good Assurance gave of trustihood,10810 As those should do who love thy rule. Reason but held me for a fool; Nor failed she sorely to reprove My full surrender unto Love When held she converse with me, but With all her reasoning failed to cut The bond between us, though ’tis true She doubt inspired. But unto you I promise that no more mine ear I’ll lend to her, should I be near10820 ​When she her voice doth ’gainst you raise, Or lesser folk bestints of praise, Reason renounced For so entirely doth mine heart To you belong that nought shall part Our love, unless is torn away That heart from out my body—nay, I’m yours till death. ’Twas folly great, Arid grievous wrong ’gainst you, to prate With her, or list her futile speech, But your forgiveness I beseech;10830 And whatsoe’er of penalty Account you well to lay on me I’ll welcome, and will nevermore Listen to Reason, but your lore Shall be my guide for life and death; In you I’ll live so long as breath Remains to me, and nowise loss It were to me if Atropos Should cut life’s thread while I engage In that sweet war that mortals wage10840 For Venus’ sake, nought else doth bless Man’s life with so great happiness. And those who for my death should weep. When thus they see me fallen to sleep So sweetly, might with reason cry: Oh well art thou thuswise to die! Thy death doth with that life agree, Thou liv’dst ere soul from flesh was free.
The God of Love speaks.
Now, by my head, thou speakest well, For, hearing thee, ’tis light to tell10850 ​That thou due homage dost to me; No faithless wretch I find in thee Or caitiff, that would dare deny My service, having gained thereby All that he longed for. Sound and pure I find thy heart, therefore secure And safe thy vessel shalt thou bring To port. Thou hast full pardoning, Dear friend, straightway, by simple prayer, Of ransom free, for I will spare10860 Thy silver or thy gold to take, Nor even ask that thou should’st make Confession, but propose instead That we again take up the thread Of those sweet lessons that to thee I gave, and thou repeat to me The prohibitions and commands, In number ten, that at my hands Thou didst receive. If faithfully Thou keep’st them in thy memory,10870 One day thou’lt be in better case Than he who, dicing, casts deuce ace: Repeat them.