# Romance of the Rose (Ellis)/Chapter 12

Layout 2
XII
This telleth how Narcissus sighed His soul away in tearful tide Through fond self-love; yet died he not, But lives within this fount, I wot.1540
Echo is avenged When stooped he low to slake his drouth And saw his forehead, nose, and mouth, He started back in wonderment, For through his heart the vision sent A thrill, to see himself so fair, Matchless in form, of beauty rare. Then Love knew well his way to take Narcissus in his toils, and make Him suffer such-like cruel woe As he had dealt to fair Echo.1550
​Beside the crystal fount he lay, Gazing enrapt, the live-long day, Enamoured of the shadow he Saw in the fount so perfectly, Until he sighed away his breath; And lastly found thereby sweet death. A warning to fair women Now hearken while the tale I tell. How on his heart Love’s vengeance fell. When plain it was that he nowise Could gain that thing which in his eyes1560 Alone seemed good, and when he knew How hopeless all his longing grew Of sweet fulfilment, and that ne’er Could he in that he longed for share And have his joyance, then he lost In wrath his reason, and the frost Of death came o’er him. Thus was heard The prayer of that sweet nymph whose word Of love he rudely scorned. O fair And gentle ladies, be ye ware1570 By this example that your ears Ye shut not hardily, nor tears Despise of those who seek your love, Lest ye with vain remorse should prove, How God doth punish those who leave Kind swains to die, or vainly grieve.
Assured the fair inscription writ Above the fountain pointed it Most plainly for the self-same one Whereby Narcisse had been foredone,1580 My impulse was towards speedy flight, Without one glance within the bright ​But treacherous wave; the very thought Of sad Narcissus’ dooming brought The beauty of the fountain Fear to my heart. But soon I said: “Whereof, O man, art thou afraid? ’Twere madness didst thou not essay This fount wherein sweet sunbeams play.” Forthwith then on my knees I sank, Pressing the verdant mossy bank1590 With wish more closely to behold The flood, and pebbles note (than gold More bright), that freely paved the floor Of that fair fount. Without the door Of paradise the blest, I ween No sight more beauteous may be seen Than this bright well. The gushing source Springs ever fresh and sweet. Its course It takes through runnels twain, full deep, And broadly trenched; it knows no sleep1600 By day or night, for ne’er ’tis dried By wasting drought of summer tide, Nor hath stern winter’s iron hand The power to make its waters stand Immovable, but out the ground Its babble calls, the whole year round, Close, tender herbage, which doth push Unceasingly, strong, thick and lush. Fast in the fountain’s pavement shone Two sparkling spheres of crystal stone,1610 Whereon my gaze with wonder fell: And, when the tale thereof I tell, Your ears will tingle as I trow, And pleasure unto marvel grow. ​When that the sun, which searcheth all the things that live on earth, lets fall His rays within this fount we see An hundred colours gorgeously Shine forth within the water bright, Vermilion, azure, silvery white,1620 And richest gold. Such virtuous power These crystals have that every flower And tree within this pleasaunce seen, Reflection finds in their sweet sheen; How this doth hap most clearly I Will by example testify. E’en as a mirror casteth back Each thing that fronts it, nor doth lack In working thus to give amain The form and colour once again,1630 So every crystal facet here Reflects each detail sharp and clear Of all that in this garden lies: For whosoever casts his eyes Thereon, one-half the garden sees, And if to turn, his fancy please, The other half is then revealed. Nor are the smallest objects sealed Or darkly hid, but all appear Portrayed within those crystals clear.1640
Beware of the fate of Narcissus Mirrored within this perilous place, Narcissus loved too well his face And lustrous eyes, with foolish pride, Thence came his fall, and thence he died. Alas! for him who doth admire Himself herein—for love’s desire ​Will seize his heart and nought can heal His hopeless woe, nor aught anneal. This mirror valiant men hath cost Dear life; though fairly might they boast1650 Themselves for prudent, wise, and great, They here alas! have found their fate. Cupid toils Hence passion springs in man anew And to his life gives fresh purview, No measure, sense, or mode knows he, Love, love, alone, hath mastery Good counsel to the winds is cast, For Cupid, Venus’ son, hath passed Around the fount to sow the grain Whereof all men are madly fain,1660 The seed of Love to wit, and set His springes there, and many a net For damsels fair, and gallants eke:— Such birds alone doth Cupid seek.
By reason of the seed there sown. This Fountain is to all men known As that of Love: thereof is told The tale full oft in many an old Romance and song, but ne’er before Hath any man so fully or1670 So truly set all forth as now ’Tis writ within this book I trow.
Beside the fount awhile I stayed, Admiring how the crystals made Mirrors for all the lovesome things That filled the garden. Memory brings ​Before me that too long I let engross my mind. Ah! yet I feel these mirrors ’twas deceived My soul, and could I have believed1680 What sorrow to their sight was wed, Then had I turned my steps and fled, As flees a man the plague. Ah me! I fell—like others—woefully. The Rose-bush O’er all things mirrored there I chose A rose bush, charged with many a rose, Encinctured by a thick grown hedge, And doubt ye not that though in pledge Paris and Pavia held I both, Mine heart in no degree were loth1690 To render up the twain so I Might gaze thereon unceasingly. Soon as I felt this passion seize My heart, which oft hath caused misease To wisest men, my longing drew Me towards the rose-bush and then flew Through all ray soul its savour sweet, Which set my heart and pulse abeat Like fire. And were it not for fear That I the scot might pay too dear,1700 I surely should have dared to seize A rosebud, seen nought else could please My senses equally, but dread Restrained ray hand lest, angerèd Thereat, the guardian of the spot Might thrust me thence straightway, God wot!
Aheap were roses! none I ween Elsewhere ’neath Heaven’s blue dome hath seen ​Such rich profusion; some as yet Mere buds, which therefore ne’er had met1710
Rude Boreas’ kiss, while others were Half opened, and such beauty rare Displayed as no man would despise Who once thereon had cast his eyes, For roses which are broadly blown Ere long begin to cast adown Their petals, while the tender new Fresh buds, as yet untouched by dew, Will keep their beauty while the sun His race through three full days doth run.1720 What ardent longing in my breast These buds inspired! Whoso possessed The power to pluck but one, right fain Must be such glorious prize to gain, And might I but secure a crown Thereof, I would forego renown One surpassing Rose-bud And fortune fair. Amongst them all, My rapturous eyes on one did fall, Whose perfect loveliness outvied All those beside it. I espied1730 With joy its lovely petals, which Kind Nature’s hand had dyed with rich Deep crimson hue. Its perfect leaves Were formed of two quadruple sheaves, Which side by side stood firm and fair, W^ith stalk strong grown enough to bear The full-grown bloom which did not bend Or languish, but most sweetly spend Its fragrance on the air around
And wrapt my senses in profound1740 ​Yet soft delight. Whene’er I smelt Its odour, strong desire I felt Possess me wholly that I might Snatch for mine own that dear delight. But thorns and thistles grew so thick Around the rose-bush, prone to prick And wound the profanous hand that dared Approach and grasp it, that I spared To risk the rash attempt, afraid My love might be with wounds apaid.1750
Cite error: <ref> tags exist for a group named "errata", but no corresponding <references group="errata"/> tag was found
Cite error: <ref> tags exist for a group named "errata", but no corresponding <references group="errata"/> tag was found