# Romance of the Rose (Ellis)/Chapter 3

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Here is described how Idleness Unto the Dreamer gave ingress.530
Full many a time with sounding blow I struck the door, and, head bent low. Stood hearkening who might make reply. The horn-beam wicket presently Was opened by a dame of air Most gracious, and of beauty rare: ​The fair dame Idleness Her flesh as tender chicken’s was; Her blond locks bright as bowl of brass; Radiant her brow; of arching due Her eyebrows; and well spaced the two;540 Neither too small, nor yet too great Her nose, but straight and delicate. No falcon, I would boldly swear, Hath eyes that could with hers compare. Her breath was sweet as breeze, thyme fed; Her cheeks, commingled white and red; Her mouth a rosebud, and her chin Well rounded, with sweet cleft therein. Her tower-like neck, of measure meet. The purest lily well might beat550 For fairness, free of spot or wem. ’Twixt this and far Jerusalem I trow were found none other such, So fair to sight, so soft to touch. Her bosom would outshine the snow New-fallen, ere it soil doth show; And all her body formed and knit So well, as nought might equal it. Much doubt I, if since Time had birth, A fairer dame hath trod dull earth.560
A chaplet on her brow was set Of orfreys; never maiden yet More lovesome looked, and though my days I spent to sing her beauty’s praise, ’Twere done but insufficiently. A graceful silken robe wore she. And on her head a garland bare Of roses, which the orfreys fair ​The sole care of Idleness Sourmounted; in her gentle hand She grasped a mirror, and a grand570 Quaint carven comb her tresses held, While gloves of spotless white repelled The sun, which fain would kiss her skin. And lastly, she had ’tired her in A costly coat of cloth of Ghent, On which much labour had been spent In broidering, while her sleeves around With silken cords were laced and bound. And when that she her raiment fair Had donned, and ’tired her golden hair,580 The day for her was worn and done, Nought else had she to think upon. A joyful time, a pleasant May Was hers, for care she drove away And dreamed of nothing, night and morn, But how her body to adorn. When thus I saw the garden gate Unlocked by this most delicate And winsome dame, her goodlihead Abashed me, and I gently said590 My thanks, and dared to ask her name. And who she was, and whence she came.
With pleasant mien, in nowise high Or haughty, made she quick reply: “My dear companions well express My name, who call me Idleness, A rich and puissant woman I, Passing the time right gleefully; Nought else have I to think upon Save what fair raiment I shall don,600 ​What rich and costly jewels wear, How deck my head, and ’tire my hair. When this is finished then my day Is ended, and to mirth and play Her dearest friend is Mirth I give myself. My dearest friend Is Mirth, and by his side I spend Long pleasant hours. The Lord is he Of this fair garden; every tree From out the land of Saracens He brought, for well the art he kens610 To make his garden a delight, And as the trees grew strong he dight The wall around, and caused thereon Those dreadsome paintings to be done. Of Sorrow, Hatred, Eld, and Spleen, Which wending hither thou hast seen. He cometh here full oft to seek The pleasant leafy shade, and eke His followers join him in these bowers, ’Mid mirth and joy to spend long hours620 Untouched by care. E’en now I wot Mirth lounging in cool shade or grot Listeth the sweet-voiced nightingale. Merle, laverock, mavis, and wood-wale: Here with his friends, the long day through. Sweet solace finds he, for ne’er knew The world a place that would suffice Like this for loss of Paradise. No merrier folk were ever seen Through earth’s broad borders, as I ween,630 Than those whom Mirth doth hither bring To spend bright days in revelling.” ​When thus this winsome dame had sped Her tale, which I had hearkenèd With right good will: “Dame Idleness,” I cried, “words fail me to express What great delight were mine to see Sir Mirth and all his company Of joyous folk assembled here, So pleasant, blithe, and frank of cheer,640 Mor would I tear myself away Therefrom throughout the livelong day, For doubt I nought they all will be Fulfilled of gentle courtesy.”
The Dreamer enters the garden No more I spake, but thanked kind fate, When Idleness the garden gate Threw open wide, and unafraid To that sweet spot quick entry made. Then burst on my astonished eyes A dream—an Earthly Faradise;650 And suddenly my soul seemed riven From earth, to dwell in highest heaven; Yet doubt I much if heaven can give A place where I so soon would live As this sweet garden, sacred haunt Of birds whose soft melodious chaunt Ravished mine ears; the nightingales Here sang, and there the green wood-wales; The bullfinch piped beneath, above, I heard the crooning turtle-dove,660 Near by, the sweet-voiced tiny wren, While high in air, beyond my ken. The skylark soared; the titmouse shrilled The fauvette’s gentle treble trilled. ​The song of the birds The merle and mavis seemed to shake The leaves in cadence, while each brake With small fowl rang, as they would try Their throats in choral rivalry. ’Twould seem as all and each of these Sweet birds sang joyance to the breeze.670 And then, their hearts disburdened, flew To keep some loving rendezvous. The sweet melodious harmony That winged its way from tree to tree. With such soft symphony did fall As concert ’twere celestial. For never yet hath mortal ear Been tuned such heavenlike songs to hear. And past all thought it seemed that earth Could give such glorious music birth.680 Then all at once it broke on me I heard the syrens of the sea. For they alone I trow can bring To ears of men such carolling. I vow that when beneath the shade The birds such glorious music made. My spirit and soul were like to melt And fail with that delight I felt. For ne’er ere this, my whole life through. Did joy so unalloyed bedew690 My every sense, and ecstasy Ran through the very soul of me. Bethought I then what untold debt I owed Dame Idleness, who set My feet in this surpassing place, For ’twas alone through her good grace And kindliness I entrance gained To this fair haunt wherein Mirth reigned ​Supreme; my best and truest friend I’ll count her till my life-days end.700 Sir Mirth and his company Now will I set myself to tell The further tale of what befell In that fair spot. What things Mirth did, And who the friends were that he bid To keep him company will I Declare all faithfully, and try To show and picture forth to you, What happed to me, in order due. Set out the whole in little space Could no man, but if kindly grace710 You grant me, then shall be unrolled The tale complete, till all be told.
Within this garden, past compare. The birds sweet voicing filled the air With honeyed songs and roundelays. Discoursing in a thousand ways Their tales of tender woodland love. I listed how some sang above My head, perched high among the leaves. And others ’mid the fragrant sheaves720 Of blossom near the ground, and all, With melody most musical. Rejoiced my heart exceedingly: Then woke a new desire in me To look on Mirth’s fair countenance And grasp his hand; the radiance That flooded all my soul, I felt Would be redoubled if he dealt Me welcoming. I now forsook The open grassy space, and took730 ​A shaded pathway, where my feet Bruised mint and fennel savouring sweet; And following close my gracious guide, Found me ere long within a wide Secluded lawn, a sweet resort Where Mirth held joyously high court In care-spurned ease for full enjoyment Of life’s glad gifts, undashed by cloyment Or surfeit or revolt. Amazed I stood awhile, mine eyesight dazed.740 For erst or since, ne’er men I ween So like winged angels, eyes have seen.