# Romance of the Rose (Ellis)/Chapter 43

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THE
ROMANCE OF THE ROSE
XLIII
Herein is told how Reason left The ’wildered Lover all bereft Of comfort, but straightway a Friend, He finds, whose words his woes amend.7610
Reason departs When Reason heard my words she went Her ways and left me worn and spent With grief, till of my friend I thought, And, pain and trouble scorning, sought To find him, but, by God’s hand led. He came, beheld my woe, and said:
The Friend.
Fair friend, I pray you say amain What misery doth your soul enchain; For all too plainly writ, your pale And careworn visage tells a tale7620 Of new-born grief. Say then, what news?
The Lover.
God help me! gloom my soul bedews.
The Friend.
Speak on.
The Lover.
And straightway every word I told him, as you erst have heard; It needs not to retread that sod.
The Friend.
A friend’s advice Exclaimed he: By the Body of God! Rude Danger you have clean dismissed, And the sweet Rosebud safely kissed, And now Fair-Welcome’s prisonment A dagger through your heart hath sent!7630 If he account him yours so far As win for you in love’s sweet war A kiss, no gaol will hold his feet. Unless you have desire to cheat Yourself of good success, let cheer Wake in your face, and cast forth fear; Fair-Welcome will, for your dear sake, Whate’er it cost, the dungeon break, Wherein for love of you he lies.
The Lover.
Alas! his cruel enemies7640 Are strong; but saving Evil-Tongue, Who vile suspicion raised among His minions, none had noticed me Approach the longed-for Rosebud tree. Had not that villain raised alarm, Believe I well that little harm ​From Shame and Fear had I received, And e’en o’er Danger had achieved A triumph and been safe. All three Past doubt had left me tranquilly,7650 Had not those reptiles raised their heads From slumbering on their drowsy beds, Whom this base wretch to help him called, When he beheld Fair-Welcome palled With fear, as Jealousy cried out (The old crone makes a fearful rout) That she was overcome with dread: I stayed me not, but thenceward fled In haste. Forthwith was raised a tower, Where lies Fair-Welcome ’neath their power A prisoner. Friend, to thee I fly7661 For aid: O help me ere I die.
Then spake the friend, and sagely gave Advice, with kindly voice and suave:
The Friend.
How to free Fair-Welcome Dear friend, give not yourself to grief, But let sweet love be still your chief Delight, and let the God of Love Your loyal service have, above All else both night and day; be free And frank with him whate’er may be;7670 For perjured word or thought unkind From you would well-nigh wreck his mind, Since he your homage hath received; Truth’s self is he, and ne’er deceived ​Follow Love’s behests A loyal heart. I counsel you Truly and faithfully to do All his commandments; for the wight Who in his service finds delight Shall ne’er repent him, though distress Be his through Fortune’s fickleness.7680
And would you serve him as you ought, Then must unendingly your thought Be given to him, and folly great Were yours if you should prove ingrate.
Moreover, Love your heart doth hold In leash, and you were overbold Should you forsake him. Lend quick ear To friendly counselling; forbear, At least some little while, to go Anigh the tower, and let none know7690 Your presence, or by sight or sound, If you should dare to tread that ground, Before the storm has died away Which round your head of late made play. Have special care you are not seen, More often than you erst have been, Beneath the walls or near the gate; And if you are by chance or fate Led thither, let no creature wot You heed one bit Fair-Welcome’s lot.7700 But should you spy him from afar, At crenelet or window bar, Regard his form with eye discreet, Though your heart die his glance to meet. ​And if he see you, great delight He’ll feel, yet all precautions dight. Nor, save in secret, dare to make A finger signal, or to shake His head ; and should he see you speak To those about, at once he’ll seek7710 To close the shutter and espy Your form both long and lovingly Athwart the chinks, unless from thence He’s torn by brutal violence.
Deceivers must be deceived Have special care that near the spot Vile Evil-Tongue perceive you not; Salute him, if you chance to meet, Politely, but in nowise greet His glance with anger or despite— With such an one ’twere ill to fight.7720 A wise man ne’er displays his wrath, But hides it ’neath his vest’s broad-cloth, For fair and good it is a cheat With tools he fashions to entreat, And every liege of Love should do Thuswise, who hath the wit thereto.
To Evil-Tongue and all his race ’Tis well to show a pleasant face, Although they’d turn you inside out. Offer (so sweetly that no doubt7730 His mind can have) your body and soul To serve him. If you first the goal Would reach, in racing with a sharp, Sing him a tune that suits his harp. ​To trap a rascal is no sin, And well one does to snare him in His proper net. Evil-Tongue deserves hanging A caitiff-wretch Is Evil-Tongue; although you stretch Him till in half he falls, there still A wretch remains, that style ne’er will7740 Be lost to him. No other name Ought he to bear, for nought of shame Hath he men’s good repute to steal, Causing deep wounds no balm can heal. Better were he on gibbet strung Than half the wretched creatures hung For filching dirty pence. The thieves Who steal a farmer’s golden sheaves, Or rob a clothes-line, being ta’en Red hand, the law makes pay again7750 Four times the worth. But Evil-Tongue So spreads his injuries among All people, that, the harm once done, A good name cannot back be won From him to salve the wound, or stay The poisonous flood for many a day.
One needs this miscreant to appease, As men must sometimes, on their knees, Touch with their lips a hand that well Deserves the cleansing fires of hell.7760 Wherefore should not the wretch be sent To Tarsus, where he might invent Lies that no lovers need to fear? ’Twere well from off the earth to clear So vile a scoundrel. ​Evil-Tongue And all his cursed crew are sprung From Satan, and of Heaven despised, Therefore are men right well advised By every guile to cheat the cheat, His cozenage and lies to beat7770 With greater lies, and e’en caress And trick the knave with treacherousness, Fooling the fellow to his bent With fulsome praise and compliment, Silencing thus the yelping hound Till fair and clear the road be found.
Before all else your care should be To lull to false security This slanderer, by persuading him That you are reft of power to nimme7780 Or steal the Rose he lives to guard; That done, the pathway lies unbarred.
Jealousy to be flattered Treat in likewise the hag on watch (God grant hell’s fiend her soul may catch), And flatter also Jealousy (May she of God accursèd be), To still her rancorous, spiteful heart, That joy of others makes to smart With sour disdain, such venomed spleen And greed within her rage, I ween;7790 For sure it is, though many taste Of happiness, it nought need waste. It is as though a lantern’s light One grudged to other men anight; ​Though thousands light thereat, no less The holder sees its radiantness. The simile is plain enough For all but minds ill-bred and rough.
But should these villain folk demand Some service, lend a ready hand7800 Thereto, for gentle courtesy Is soothing, yet let men not see That you but make-believe the while, With after purpose to beguile Their watchfulness; pursue this rule, And many a foe may you befool.
Whoso would see his foeman drowned Or hanged should lovingly around His neck embrace him, if he nought Can otherwise be lightly brought7810 Beneath his will; but wherefore thus Explain a thing so obvious? These foes so subtle are and keen, That open war would simply mean Your good cause lost. Gaolers must be bribed Then next, with care, For other gaolers gifts prepare, If you can reach them; seek to learn What bribes will best their kindness earn: A hat, or wicker bandelet, With gay fresh-gathered flowers beset,7820 A broidered purse, a simple veil, Some pretty trinkets, which, if frail And little worth, are ne’ertheless Of dainty taste and comeliness, ​Prudence in gifts For e’en though presents be despised, No lover who is well advised Will bring down ruin on his head By gifts inordinate, but, led By prudence, know how so to give. That hate may die and goodwill live.7830 And then lament you that love’s pain You fear is labour spent in vain. And if your slender purse affords Sparse gifts, let plenteous honied words And promises their place supply, And dream of payment—by-and-by; But swear with such effrontery. That none can doubt you’ll faithful be. Humbly demand their kindly aid; And even while your suit is made,7840 Adown your cheeks let streamlets flow, Therefrom great benefit will grow To your design. Weep—would you please These gaolers—on your bended knees, Hands clasped together, eyelids wet With tears enough to wear and fret Your face with seams, which, seeing fall So freely, must their hearts recall To pity. But if nought to weep Your eyes incline, ’tis well to steep7850 The lids with moisture from the tongue; Or surer still, they may be stung With garlic or fresh onion juice; Effectively will that unloose Of scalding tears a plenteous rain, As grief might do, or poignant pain. ​Thuswise have lovers often done, And thereby many a conflict won Beneath Love’s banner, knowing well O’er women’s hearts to cast a spell7860 In suchwise, that they tenderly Loosen the bonds they hold them by.
Tears sometimes useful But many a caitiff wretch hath shown Moist eyes whose heart hath never known True love, and damsels oft have fared But ill, by treacherous weeping snared.
E’en gaolers’ hearts may sometimes be Softened by tears, unless they see They are but false, for they’ll resent It rudely if a trick they scent;7870 Then may you vainly beg and pray, Fast closed you’ll find each entry way. But if you fail to come to speech Through those who watch, you yet may reach Your object through a trusty friend, Or otherwise effect your end By means of an impassioned letter, But doing so ’tis vastly better To set thereon a feignèd name, Call her, Fair sir, or him, Sweet dame,7880 With hope more fully to conceal The secrets hid beneath the seal. For many a rascal thief hath read A lover’s letters, and ill sped The plot thereby, all labour lost And hopes and aspirations crossed. ​Children bad messengers Employ not children, great the chance Will be they fail through ignorance, And sorry messengers they make Through trifling, idling, or mistake.7890 They oft miscarry, or will show Your missive wheresoe’er they go, And bungle, not through lack of sense Alone, but inexperience. You must with great discretion choose Your messengers, unless you’d lose The fruit of all your pains, and see Your intrigue common property.
These gaolers you will surely find Of heart so piteous, sweet and kind,7900 That, once your money they have ta’en, Your faithful friends will they remain. E’en as the sparrow-hawk is sure To flutter to the well-known lure At morn, or eve, or any hour, So surely gifts possess the power The surliest gaolers to appease So far, that freely as they please May lovers use them; once made tame With vails, their service they may claim.7910
But should they hold their heads so high That they regard disdainfully Your sighs and tears, your gifts and prayers, Seeing through all your best-laid snares. And treat your courtesy with lewd Unseemly acts and voicing rude, ​Answer their scoffs with courtesy, leave them in their fat to fry. Believe me, never autumn cheese Was made more speedily than these7920 Good folk will bite their nails. Right soon They’ll come to seek some gift or boon, And merrily your plot will go; You’ll gather, though you cease to sow.
Rude churlish hearts are often filled With arrogance, and though one spilled Buckets of tears thereon, the more Their gentle kindness you implore. The harder will they grow; but leave Them all alone, nor seem to grieve7930 One jot, and suddenly their pride And insolence is cast aside, For nought doth more such hearts impress, Than proud and studied scornfulness.
Devices should be varied The mariner who steers his bark Through unknown seas, when night falls dark Regardeth not one only star To guide his course, nor would he far Entrust his ship with one poor sail, But try what others might avail7940 ’Mid storm and tempest. Even so He that with Love would hunting go Must follow, not a single track, But now pursue, and now fall back, If Love’s full joyance he would taste. I warrant me I need not waste ​My time in glossing this, past doubt Or question doth the sense stand out.
Words cost little ’Twere well these gaolers then to ply With prayers; he little risks thereby7950 Who spends his words, e’en though they be Cast back with scorn and contumely; And if they’re crowned with good success. They pave the path to happiness. One of two things ’tis plain must hap, Either success one’s prayers will cap, Or of their object must they fail; And if ’tis so, small cause to wail A lover hath, for all the cost Is but that he his time hath lost.7960 Nor need one fear lest he hath made The gaolers wroth because he prayed Their kindness; that will rather please Their dignity when they at ease Shall muse thereon. Rude boors aye feel Strange satisfaction when appeal Is made to them; within themselves They think what most important elves They needs must be—how grand! how great! That thus are folk importunate7970 For their goodwill. They must refuse, Or grant your prayer, or make excuse. If all goes well, you then succeed; If ill, why then you do but need Comfort to take, and try again. If, failing, you conceal your pain, ​By far the better chance have you Later to press your suit anew. Affect indifference But look you, be not so unwise By any means to ope the eyes7980 Of those you bribe to your intent Of gaining, through their means, your bent. To win the Rosebud make it seem That love platonic is your dream, For rest assured, beyond all doubt, That were your purpose once found out, Your chance were lost; but if with skill Your snare be laid, at last it will Debauch their hearts, and you will see They’re traitors all. If cleverly7990 You treat them, then you need not fear But what they’ll lend a willing ear To your entreaties. But I yet Give counsel that you never let Your prayers be made too freely if They seem immovable and stiff; For if they yield not, then they cry Aloud to vaunt their probity. But if as traitors they behave, They’re mum, and silent as the grave.8000
These gaoler folk are all alike: Although unbending as a pike They show themselves, if no advance You make towards them, likely chance It is you’ll find they may be bought (Offering themselves) for next to nought. But sometimes dolts with gifts and praise Ill timed, the pride of gaolers raise ​In suchwise that, their avarice Excited, they exalt the price8010 Of Roses. Use gold sparingly These rich dullards dream To gain advantage, but extreme Of damage do themselves. Much gold They pay for that which else were sold At vilest price. ’Twere much the best If each awhile forbore request To such-like scum, right cheaply then Were bought and sold these gaoler men. If only suitors would arrange Among themselves that no exchange8020 Of gifts go on or prayers be made To watch-dogs, then ere long were stayed Traffic in roses, which must die If none were found to bribe or buy. Assuredly I love not well Men who abase themselves to sell Their faith for filthy lucre, and Not willingly would set my hand To such-like business. Yet delay Must you avoid, and smooth the way8030 Through them for that you’re bent to do, Setting the nets to win for you The game you follow. Should you stay, Rivals may gather day by day, Not one or two, but many a score, Aye, and perchance some hundreds more In two-and-fifty weeks, till last You’ll find your chances spent and past. ​Heed not scorn An honourable man doth ne’er A woman leave to crave a share8040 In his affections; doth he wait For that, his self-esteem’s too great. But whosoe’er would fain attack A damsel’s heart, although no lack He finds at first of haughty scorn (Which needs must patiently be borne), If only he will wisely steer His bark, the rocks and sands he’ll clear At last. From this advice a page You well may take if you engage8050 With watch-dogs; but attempt them not If they ill-humoured be or hot With anger. When they’re light of heart Approach them, but if they should smart ’Neath grievance, keep away, unless You choose to brave the bitterness They feel if Jealousy perchance Mistreat them to despite your chance.
But if you with consummate art Can get these tiresome folk apart,8060 Safe from intrusion of all men, Fair-Welcome might break prison then, Where he, in suffering drear, for you, Lies now, close kept as hawk in mew, And aid you with Fair-Seeming’s power, As well he knows to do; your hour Will then be ripe to pluck the Rose.
And if rude Danger should oppose ​Reluct­ance often feigned Your deed, and Shame and Fear should wake And feign defence—though all aquake8070 With will, while struggling, to give way, Then will you understand their play. If tremulous Fear turn deadly pale, Shame flush bright red, while ’neath him fail Rude Danger’s knees, and all the three Shriek and lament them woefully, Care not for them an empty shuck, But grasp the Rose and thank your luck, Showing yourself a man of nerve When place and good occasion serve,8080 For nothing gives them more delight Than to be vanquished in a fight By major force. At different times Their moods will vary e’en as climes And seasons change; if you appealed Their will, they ne’er would dare to yield That which they love to give by force, But feign their joy to be the source Of bitterest grief, although they sighed And longed for that which lips denied.8090 It is, forsooth, their full intent To gain the end they most resent; And disappointment were intense, To say the truth, if their defence Succeeded, and all unappeased Would be their wrath, while wondrous pleased They vaunted them of their escape. But if resistance take the shape ​Of unfeigned hate, and they defend The castle vigorously, then lend8100 An ear to Prudence and give in, With hope that later you may win The fort; crave pardon and await Till those three spies that militate Against you disappear, and leave Fair-Welcome with you, free to weave New plans and schemes. A cheery face Should you assume, endued with grace And grave demeanour. Neglect not sympathy Heed the while Fair-Welcome; if he seem to smile,8110 Smile too; or if you note his mien For solemn, then be solemn seen Likewise; if he a guileless air Affect, your countenance should wear The same sweet innocence—each way Or mood he shows throughout the day ’Tis yours to counterfeit; if bright His visage be, show then a light And merry heart; if he be sad, Then look as though some grievance had8120 Fast hold on you; let that thing fire Your heart whereto he hath desire; And if some other thing he blame, Declare abhorrence of the same With vigour; or if he should praise Or this or that, cease not to raise Your voice in laud thereof. Thus do, And throughly will he trust in you. ​Praise of reticence Think you a gracious dame forsooth Cares for a hare-brained, half-fledged youth 8130 Who, like an idiot, half the night Singeth the pleasure and delight He hath, through her kind grace, enjoyed, And how her love for him destroyed Her peace? With reason might she dread ’Twould bring down scandal on her head: Love passages are quickly known When all around the streets they’re thrown In balladings unheedingly, Who such man loves, a fool is she.8140
Whene’er a wise man takes a fool For mistress, ’tis a golden rule Folly alone to talk with her: As well might he on empty air Expend wise words and rarest wit, They nought will profit him one bit. Whoso would win a woman’s love Should ne’er converse with her above Her small intelligence, for she Will straightway deem her man to be8150 A fox, a cozener, or a cheat; And deeming kindest words deceit, Will leave his loving care and go To seek some other, and right low Perchance may fall—from out the heap She’s bound to pick some scabious sheep. ​She’ll brood fierce passion in her breast, E’en as a wild she-wolf possessed by madness, who with rage accurst From all he-wolves picks out the worst.8160
Courtesy indispensable And if Fair-Welcome comes your way, And you with him at chess should play, Or dice, or tables, or what not, Let him aye find that he hath got Advantage of you; when you lose, Laugh heartily, and ne’er refuse To play again, thereat will he Rejoice him most contentedly. Praise his behaviour, manners, dress, His manly port and nobleness;8170 And let his comfort be your care, Offering a settle, stool, or chair. Saith Ovid: If a speck of dust You see fall on your love you must Remove it, though ’twere next to naught. So, if his costly cloak hath caught The ground, uplift it. Do forsooth Whate’er may please the gentle youth. And if but carefully you move By my instructions, you shall prove8180 Them fire-tried gold, and ne’er be left In evil case, of love bereft, But be fulfilled of that desire Towards which your heart and soul aspire.