# Romance of the Rose (Ellis)/Chapter 72

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LXXII
Herein the harridan prepares Fair-Welcome’s mind for love affairs, And shows how evil women may, In love, both go and lead astray.
Fair son, whoso of love is fain,13719 That bittersweet, that pleasant pain, Must Cupid’s ten commandments know, Yet keep him at arm’s length I trow. All these to you would I declare, Perceived I not how great a share Of each has nature deigned to bless You with, in her sweet kindliness, Yea to the hilt that you can need. Ten are there, but fools only, heed The latter two, wise men dispense Therewith, not valuing them two pence.13730 ​The former eight attend you well, But he were under folly’s spell Who wasted on the other two His time—’tis what a dolt would do. Too great a burden ’tis to lay Upon a lover when you say, Though his large heart would all em­brace, With one alone must it enlace. Cupid’s commandments The son of Venus counsels this. But sorely will he do amiss13740 Who follows his advice, and dear Shall pay, as will at last appear. In love, fair son, remain you free, Fix not on one especially: Suffer your heart at will to roam, Nor lend nor give it to one home, But let it be your constant boast That, his it is who pays the most, Yet see the buyer doth not get A bargain though his gold you sweat.13750 Above all, give it not away, Better, burn, hang, or drown one may. Remember, when you give, to twist Your fingers fast with folded fist, But taking, open wide your hand, Fools only give, pray understand, Except it be by way of lure, Some fourfold profit to ensure, Or in return fair gift to get Whereby good guerdon one may net;13760 Such gifts as these will I allow, For good it is to give, I trow, ​When one can make the gifts bear fruit; Then largess doth with profit suit. Such giving no man need repent, Thereto I freely give consent.
Cupid’s bow As to that bow of rarest price And shafts of subtle artifice, You know their use and management Better than Love himself who spent13770 His life thereon, no greater craft Hath he the bow to bend, and shaft To speed, than you; though oft you know Nothing of where those shafts may go. For when a shaft at random speeds, Some one of whom the archer heeds No jot, may by mere chance be hit, But you are known to be so fit And skilful when the bow you draw, That scarce you need to list my saw.13780 You may, God helping, chance to wound Some one whose conquest may be found Much to your profit. Need is none That I should lecture you upon The different deckings and attire Which often help a heart to fire, Nor what therein your choice should be. I should discourse but uselessly If you recall that song of old That from my lips hath often rolled,13790 As we together sat alone, Of passionate Pygmalion. You thence of dress much more may learn
Than plough-beasts know of sods they turn. ​Instruction in the art of dress, exploited Is not, with you, my business.
Rich men exploited And if all this doth not suffice You presently shall hear advice, If so you will, where you may find Example of the clearest kind.13800 But would you in the meantime make, Choice of a friend for friendship’s sake, Bestow your love, my dearest son, On him who for yourself alone Doth love you, but not recklessly; Towards others let affection be With purpose savoured, I will find You many a one with purse well lined. ’Tis well to make some rich man friend, Who feareth not his wealth to spend,13810 For him who knows to spoil and pill. Fair-Welcome well might work his will With such an one; he need but make Believe that he for friend would take None other for a heap of gold, And swear that would he but have sold The chance to some one else to kiss The Rose, that treasury of bliss, In gold and jewels might he swim, But so his heart is true to him,13820 That none but he shall come anear To share the prize he holds so dear. Thousands may hear the same tale spun: ‘Fair sir, you are the favoured one, ​May God’s curse fall on me if I Permit another to come nigh The Rose.’ Lover’s oaths All reckless may he be Of broken oaths and perjury; Lovers false oaths the Gods amuse, Who all such crimes with smiles excuse.13830 Great Jove and all the Gods loud laughed At lovers’ lies the while they quaffed Their nectar, nor did they disdain False oaths their wished-for ends to gain. When Jupiter would reassure Queen Juno, and her doublings cure, By the dark stream of Styx he sware, Yet proved him perjured then and there. Lovers the same course may pursue, Nor feel one touch of shame thereto,13840 But swear by altar, saints, and fane— The Gods example gave amain. The Lord forgive me, but none e’er Should credit oaths that lovers swear; For young folks’ hearts are vain and light, Changing as oft as day and night, And old men’s too, for that, pardee! Will swear false oaths right royally.
A proverb ’tis, known far and wide, That, who doth o’er the fair preside13850 Should first his own advantage mind; And if one miller will not grind Your coin, forthwith you go elsewhere. The mouse who must perforce repair ​To one hole only, needs must be In peril when ’tis his to flee. One lover not enough And so a damsel fair, ywis, When mistress of the field she is, And may at will her suitors fain, Good right hath she their gold to gain,13860 Nay, she would be a fool indeed Who failed her interest to speed Through giving all her love to one. I swear by Saint Lifard of Meun The fool doth all her ’vantage lose Who one from out the crowd doth choose. A captive she consents to be And falleth most deservedly To grief and misery a prey, For that on one she cast away13870 Her heart. If he abandon her, Where shall she find a comforter? For if a woman holdeth fast To one, his love will soon be past, And in the end, poor wretch, she’s left Of friends, of goods, of hope, bereft.