# Romance of the Rose (Ellis)/Chapter 6

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VI
The Dreamer hear ye now declare What guise the God of Love doth bear.
The God of Love Hard by this winsome pair did stand The God of Love, whose mighty hand Dealeth to lovers weal or woe901 As seemeth good to him; alow He casteth pride, and oft-time makes High-minded men for ladies’ sakes Right humble, and proud dames to bow With meekness ’neath his yoke, I trow. The God of Love is dowered with grace So richly, both in form and face, That scarce, I deem, of his allure My pen dare draw the portraiture.910 Love’s friends had woven from his bowers, In scorn of silk, a robe of flowers, ​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 came920 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,930 Fluttering around his head, and he One of God’s angels looked to be.
The weapons of Sweet-Looks 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 be940 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 ​The five shafts of Sweet-Looks Of dames and knights of gentle mien. Moreover in his hands were seen Ten arrows, five of which were fair And beauteous; these his right hand bare, Brilliant the plumes, the notches made Of gold, the while like-precious blade950 Each shaft-end wore; though nought of steel Or iron knew they, hearts would feel Their wound-stroke sorely. Save the shaft And plumes, ’twas well-skilled goldsmiths’ craft Had wrought these weapons; they were capped With cruel barbs, and whoso happed Within their murderous range to fall Would feel Love’s wound and own his thrall. Of these five shafts, I trow the best And speediest, when it knew Love’s best,960 (And fairest eke for plumage reckoned) Had Beauty for its name; the second Was called Simplicity; the third Was Franchise, and another word Bedecked it, sweetest Courtesy: Companionship I saw to be The fourth, which if ’twere shot from far Would do small harm, but greatly mar If drawn anear: the fifth and last Fair-Seeming was, which, deftly cast,970 Doth sorely maim, but yet the wound Incurable is rarely found, But given due time may healèd be By means of Love’s sweet surgery. Sweet-Looks five arrows held likewise Within his left hand, but of guise ​Love’s counter-shafts Far different, formed of iron fell And black as he who rules dark hell. The first was called unlovely Pride, And Villainy lay hard beside,980 With Felony is he attaint, Portray the one—and both you paint. The third was Shame, of downcast air, The fourth, her fellow, dire Despair, The while the last one proved to be New-thought or Infidelity. These shafts, whose qualities I name, A close relationship may claim, And all moreover plainly show Near kin with that most hideous bow,990 All knotted, gnarled, deformed and rough, Though soothly seemed it good enough To launch such villain shafts, which strive In all things ’gainst the fair-made five Whereof I’ve told: O scarce will you Their power and force give credence to; But yet the simple truth shall be Hereafter plainly told by me; And have a care lest you forget The drift and sense of what is set1000 Before your eyes by this plain tale, For you shall find no small avail Therein ere yet the end is sped— Fair wit with wisdom closely wed.
Beauty.
Now turn I to my tale amain: And will of all Love’s frolic train ​A portrayal of Beauty Declare at full the countenances, Their joyous sports and graceful dances. Perceived I that the God of Love One noble lady sought above1010 All others gathered there; she hight Dame Beauty, as that arrow bright Which bore her name was she, and dowed With gentle grace, which freely showed In all her movements. As the moon Makes candles of the stars, her noon Paled all her fellows: as the dew Her flesh was tender, and ne’er new And blushing bride more simple seemed; Where’er her skin peeped forth it gleamed1020 As white as fleur-de-lis; her brow Was clear and fair as virgin snow, The while her form was tall and slight. No need had she her face to dight With paint or other vain disguise. As women somewhiles use; despise And scorn might she such false allure, In natures decking bright and pure. So plenteous grew her golden hair, That near her heels it reached I swear.1030 Her nose, her mouth, her beaming eyes. Were such that when their beauties rise (God help me) in my thought they seem To wake once more that glorious dream. Forsooth, so sweet she was and fair, With perfect rounded limbs, that ne’er Throughout the world’s broad space, I ween, Aught could surpass her matchless sheen.