# Romance of the Rose (Ellis)/Chapter 34

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XXXIV
Herein we meet again sweet Reason, Who ever, in or out of season, Findeth, before all else, delight For erring men the path to dight.4500
Reason reappears While thus lamented I, aloud, The many heavy griefs that bowed My spirit, and all vainly sought Comfort, I turned my head, and caught Sight of Dame Reason, who had heard My sighs, and unto pity stirred Thereby, from out her tower descended. And graciously towards me wended With will to ease the grief she read Within my visage. Thus she said:4510
Reason.
“My friend, how stands thy business now? Of thy late folly dost not thou Grow weary? What dost thou now think Of lovers’ burdens? Dost thou sink Beneath their weight? Or dost thou find Therein delight and peace of mind? ​Love’s burdens Or bitter-sweet commingled? Say Which of Love’s pleasures doth apay Thine heart the best? Hast thou not then For master one who slaveth men4520 All unawares, and evermore Torments them? Fickle Fortune bore Her kindly toward thee when she set Thy feet within Love’s trammelling net, And made of thee his bond! ’Tis clear That little fathomed’st thou the cheer Of him thou took’st for master, or Thou ne’er hadst laid that fardel sore Across thy shoulders, or, if thou Becam’st his man, wouldst scarce, I trow,4530 Have borne his yoke a summer through, Nor day, nor hour, had bowed thereto, But, doubt I not, without delay His homage hadst thou cast away. Still dost thou know him?”
The Lover.
“Yea, heartwhole.”
Reason.
“You jest!”
The Lover.
“Not I.”
Reason.
“Upon thy soul?”
The Lover.
“He spake and said: ‘Thou oughtst to feel Much honoured that thy name I seal For servant to so great a lord.’”
Reason.
“Hast thou than that no surer word?”4540
The Lover.
“Nay, for when once his laws were said, With eagle flight his wings he spread And vanished, leaving me aghast.”
Reason.
Reason scoffs at Cupid “Certes! ’twas no great thing that passed Betwixt ye; well it were to know More of that master who hath so Entreated thee that, scarce e’en now I recognised thy face, I vow. Surely no creature doth exist, Whate’er his trouble, who more trist4550 And doleful looks. ’Twere right ye should Know well the lord ye serve, then could Ye find perchance some way from out
The Lover.
“That, by our Lady, may not be, Love’s liegeman sworn am I, and he Ruleth my heart. Yet do I writhe Thereunder, and were fain and blithe To cast his yoke, if shown the way.”
Reason.
Reason’s exposition “Then, by my head! will I essay4560 To teach thee. If thy heart doth yearn For knowledge, thou mayst clearly learn From me a thing by no means clear, And thou, though ignorant, shalt hear And know such matters as no man Hath heard or dreamed of since began The sun his rounds. This thing alone I know for certain: if some one His heart hath given to Love, there is, To end his miseries, nought but this—4570 To fly. Now will I loose the knot Which thou hast found drawn tight, I wot. Give then thy most attentive ear, And learn Love’s good and evil cheer:
Love oftentimes is amorous hate, And hating, most affectionate, Disloyal loyalty past reason, And loyalty that nurseth treason, ’Tis craven fear, as lion bold, ’Tis ardent hope, all deadly cold,4580 ​Contrarities of Love ’Tis reason all unreasonable, A raving madman, calm and stable; A peril sweet, delightful fear, A heavy burden light to bear, Charybdis perilous and dread, Horror to sweetest softness wed, ’Tis sickness wrapped in rudest health, One sound, who haileth pain as wealth; ’Tis hunger overdone with meat, ’Tis covetousness with gold replete;4590 ’Tis one, who sated, cries for drink, ’Tis thirst that doth from water shrink; ’Tis sadness gay, ’tis joyance sad, ’Tis calm contentment raving mad; ’Tis evil good, ’tis good malign, ’Tis odour sweet that savoureth swine; ’Tis holiness made up of sin, ’Tis crime that paradise may win; A torment full of sweet delight, A felon outrage pure and bright;4600 A game of hazard, constant never, Ever the same, yet changing ever; Weakness it is as Samson strong, Doing the right for sake of wrong; ’Tis mighty strength devoid of force, Yet strong enough to stay the course Of Phœbus; folly wondrous wise It is, and joy that mirth defies; ’Tis laughter fraught with sighs and tears, Repose that knows no rest for years;4610 ’Tis hell endowed with sweetest bliss, ’Tis heaven, a heap of miseries, ​A dungeon foul of paradise, A May-tide midst of snow and ice; A moth which deigns alike to fret Coarse woollen cloth and fine brunette; For love will thrive as well between Rough blankets as fair silken sheen, And no man yet was born so wise, Nor bore such quarterings and device,4620 Nor proved himself of such great might In counsel, court, or field of fight, Nor showed himself so stern and grim But what strong Love hath conquered him. Except I those of vile estate, Cast out and excommunicate By Genius, insomuch that they Have given their lives and souls away To such-like crime as none may name, Of sense bereft and lost to shame.4630 No safety but in flight Now if it be thy wish, above The joys and pains alike of love To set thee—flee—take not one sup From out that sweet but venomed cup. For thy disease there is but one Complete and perfect guerison: Flee Love, and Love from thee will flee, Embrace him, and he’ll master thee.”
The Lover.
When heard I Reason beat the air With many a word she well might spare,4640 I cried: “Good Lord! I know no more, For all your talk, than heretofore, ​How from my misery I may be Deliverèd: all by contrary You argue, but so far I nought Have learned from all thy tongue hath taught.
By heart I know each saw that you Have uttered, and will gladly do All your commands; would God I might Gain wisdom thence my soul to light.4650 But, by our Lady, I would know What like may be this Love whom so You blame and scorn; can you define His ways and works, while I incline A diligent ear to all you say?”
Reason.
Love’s aim Quoth she: “Right readily, I pray Thee give good heed: Love is, I trow, A malady much prone to grow Severe ’twixt folk of different sex, And liable to sorely vex4660 Their minds. Once caught, betwixt the two Befalls a strong desire to do The self-same thing; to fondle, kiss. And spend long hours in mutual bliss. Love doth not crave by any measure To fill the world—his aim is pleasure— Thereto alone he gives his mind, Not the engendering of mankind. Yet on the other hand have I Known some who loved but feignedly,4670 ​Of false lovers Mocking fair ladies with pretence Of true devotion and intense And earnest love; full ripe to swear Black-hearted lies for truths, where’er They find fond dames, and thus they gain Their pleasure oft through kind heart’s pain. These are the jolly folk who thrive At cost of others, and contrive To show that better ’tis to be Duper, than suffer dupery.4680 Now hearken what doth most befit Love, as laid down in Holy Writ: Although well ’ware am I that few Follow the course God sets them to, Namely, to carry on the race He made, true image of his face. Behold the end for which should mate Man with a woman; to create One who may follow him when he Through God’s goodwill hath ceased to be.4690 For when the parents pass away, Nature hath ordered it that they Shall children leave, who, following still Their forbears, shall the world refill. Thereto her hand hath placed the fire, Within man’s breast, of fierce desire, That Love’s great work they should not hate, But eagerly perpetuate Their kind, which work were left undone Unless soft joyance drew them on.4701 Nature herein with subtle hand Doth work, and you may understand ​How thus her nobleness doth speak All trumpet-tongued ’gainst those who seek Nought fairer in her work to see Than carnal love and lechery. For wot you well what those folk, who But joyance seek herein, may do? They give themselves as bondsmen o’er To Satan, lord high chancellor4710 Of all foul vices, seen that this The very fount and wellspring is Of man’s worst woes, as Tully says. Who, in his book ‘Of old age,’ lays It clearly down that age should more Be valued and esteemed therefore Than youth, for man and maid doth youth To follies numberless, forsooth, Push on, and ’tis no simple thing Both mind and body safe to bring4720 Through youth, devoid of shame, and free From ills that curse posterity.
Youth and Age In youth run lawless passions wild, Till folly is on folly piled. By loose companions led aside Man changeth oft, and roaming wide, Becomes at last, perchance, a monk; Within some dreary convent shrunk, He casts off Nature’s glorious gift Of freedom, in the hope to lift4730 A fool to heaven when in the pew Of vows he lives, like hawk in mew. And then perchance he finds too great The load, and out the convent gate ​Fleeth; or craven fear or shame, Maybe, will keep him there, and frame Excuse to stay until he die, Sighing and groaning woefully For that fair freedom he hath lost; Unless God, pitying the drear frost4740 That nips his every manly sense, Grant patience and meek abstinence.
Youth’s joyousness Through Youth’s quick goad ’tis people fall To merry dance in bower and hall, And ribald mirth and jollity, While loose unbridled luxury Doth cause within young hearts to rise Desire, that bit and curb defies. Such are the perils that attack Bright youth astride fair Pleasure’s back.4750
And thus doth Pleasure deftly bind Within his toils both body and mind Of men, through Youth his chamberlain, Who is of every folly fain, And draws them on to crime, while they List not his yoke to cast away.
But eld is she who casteth off Folly; and if thereat you scoff. Go ask the elders, who have been Youth’s victims, but at last have seen4760 Escapement thence (and now repent The madness which their backs hath bent), Whether they’re not right glad to be From thrall of Youth exempt and free. ​Old age it is that brings men straight With safety towards the postern-gate Of life, but natheless, though she be Heartwise and worthiest company, Few people love her voice to hear, Nor hail her steps, approaching near,4770 With welcome; nay, forsooth they hate Her name as she were reprobate And villain. For no man desires To wed with Age and quench the fires Of Youth that still burn clear and bright In memory. Still old men delight To stir the thought of bygone days, And as the sun with setting rays Gildeth awhile the world, so flings Remembrance o’er far distant things,4780 With specious hand, a film of gold, And putteth in dark shade the old Forgotten troubles that, above The throes of pleasure, ruled in love. Right happy they if aught remains Of health or goods as life tide wanes.
Youth’s dwelling­ place But art thou fain to know where lives Youth, unto whom the whole world gives Such plenteous praise? In Pleasure’s house Her woning is, who keeps her thus4790 In bondage, nor desireth she Aught else than bonded slave to be To Pleasure; nay, therein she hath Such joy that followeth she the path Whereso she leads, and rendereth her, Both body and soul, her worshipper. ​The woning of Age And where, deem’st thou, old age doth dwell? To let thee know thereof were well I trow, since thou must thither go Unless in youth death lay thee low4800 Within his den, a dreary spot, Dark, cold, and gloomy, well I wot.
Within Eld’s woning, Grief and Pain Are lodged, and many a cruel chain They bind around her, while they scourge Her limbs, and point dread death to urge Her soul to penitence, and she Remembereth, all too tardily (Hoar-headed, reft of every tooth), How she hath been deceived by Youth,4810 Who all her years of vigour spent In folly; now doth she repent Her wasted preterite, and would fain By painful penance seek to gain Future forgiveness of the sin Committed long ago, and win Sweet heaven thereby, and thus redeem Those days, that now so worthless seem, When youth and all its joyance drew Her feet from virtue’s paths, and slew4820 Remembrance of how quickly pass The glorious hours of youth; alas! Too late she sees how brief a time Endure those days of golden prime.
Now whenso lovers will to do The work Dame Nature sets them to, ​True end of wedlock Their thought therein should be of sweet And pure enjoyment; when two meet In marriage, nowise should they fear Lest round about their hearth appear4830 Young faces, nor should think to shirk Duties that wait on Nature’s work. But many a woman, as I know, Doth desolate of spirit grow Whene’er she finds herself with child, Yet dares not show it e’en by mild Complaint, for fear she suffer blame As lost to modesty and shame. But soothly when in love’s delight Twain join, they do but seek to ’quite4840 Their debt, except those slaves of vice, Who set their bodies at a price. Dame Nature’s laws account they nought, By shameless compact sold and bought. That woman all men worthless hold Who sets herself to sale for gold, And he a fool were who should take A quean who loves for lucre’s sake; Deems he a woman holds him dear When he forsooth hath purchased her?4850 Is he so foolish as to dream A woman hath for him extreme And tender love, because in her He finds a smooth-tongued flatterer? O fool, bewitched with amorous smile! O fool, that lets a strumpet’s guile Master his heart; wife good and pure, As jewel bright, through life will dure, ​But folly ’tis to mate oneself With one whose only thought is pelf 4860 Of gifts between lovers And pillage. But I nowise say It shames ii woman to display On neck or arm a jewel fair, If some true knight hath set it there In gift; but ne’er should dame demand An offering at her lover’s hand; That savoureth much of sale, but she May, saving still her modesty, Exchange a token with her knight; By such sweet take and give, more bright4870 The flame of love doth burn. ’Tis well That lovers meet full oft, and tell The thoughts that brim their hearts, and lace Their arms in gentle, fond embrace.
But keep good heed against the wiles Of love unholy, which defiles Its votary; ne’er cease to be On guard against venality, Which heart untrue doth oft invade, O’er true love casting deadly shade.4880 But perfect love is born of heart Where gold hath neither lot nor part; Nor should man let that love inmesh His soul, whose trammels wake the flesh. The burning love which overcame Thy heart was carnal, purer flame Burnt not within thee; thou the Rose Thereof didst wish to pluck, God knows! ​But far art thou from thy desire. And that ’tis robs thine eye of fire4890 And pales thy cheek. O thou didst get A fatal guest when moved to set The door ajar that Love might come, And make thy too fond heart his home. Now rede I thee to drive him hence Who clogs each high and noble sense, To thy great loss and detriment.
The ills love entails Full many a glorious soul hath spent Vainly its force, intoxicate With Love’s dread philtre: sad thy fate4900 Would prove, if all thy youth should be Consumed in Love’s wild revelry, And thou shouldst all too late behold Thy life laid waste. If thou so bold And strong art found that thou canst cast And break Love’s bonds, thou then time past Mayst mourn, but canst recover never. But if, ere death comes, thou canst sever Thyself from love, thereat mayst thou Rejoice, for he hath known to bow4910 Men ’neath his yoke who thus have lost All life holds dear—his power hath cost Them body and soul, and strength and health, And stripped them bare of worldly wealth.”
The Lover.
Thus Reason spent her words in air, For Love had ta’en effectual care That I should nought of profit draw From all her wise and sober saw, ​The Lover deaf to Reason Though strict attention had I given To every word, as though from Heaven4920 Her message came. But Love so held My heart in bond, that he compelled Me, as his thrall and liege confessed, To shape my thought as pleased him best, Keeping my heart beneath his wing, While, as with shovel, did he fling From out my head each sapient word That I from Reason’s mouth had heard Fall, and e’en fast as in one ear
Words entered, so did they appear4930 From out the other, insomuch That nowise did her sermon touch My spirit but to raise my ire. Then cried I: “Is it your desire, Madam, that I should feel despite ’Gainst all my neighbours! Shall I ’quite The world with hate because the God Of Love hath laid on me the rod Of pain and dole? I then should live In mortal sin that ne’er forgive4940 Would God; and I should be forsooth (If I should count your words for truth) Worse than a heathen. Either hate Or love must be to me the gate Of life. I have small lust to try The former, until finally I find that Love has thrust me forth, And proved his promises not worth One penny. Counsel strict you gave That I, all hastily, should save4950 ​Myself from Love’s employ, or be Accounted mad; but eloquently Discoursed you of a love beside The love I’m bound to, which you chide So sharply. That’s a love, meseems, So pure as men but meet in dreams, Where all is fair, and nought is wrong. I humbly beg thee to prolong Thy wise discourse, and you may deem Me fool if I give not extreme4960 Attent thereto, and hear you out, For you will teach me thus past doubt The various forms of love, and show The loves my spirit fain would know.”
Reason.
Various forms of love “Good friend, no wiser than a daw Art thou, who scarce above a straw Esteem’st my sage discourse; yet fain Thou seem’st to be that I amain Should further speak of love. Good will Have I to teach thee, hoping still,4970 Though doubtful if ’tis worth the while.
Love doth the soul of man beguile In many ways, besides that blind, Tormenting madness of the mind ’Neath which thou sufferest: God permit That thou mayst free thy heart from it.
One precious kind of love men know As friendship, where two spirits grow ​Love of friends Together, and no difference make (For love of God and virtue’s sake)4980 Of thought, or speech, or worldly good, But live in sweetest brotherhood, With earnest purpose to fulfil Thereby God’s high behest and will.
Each unto each should freely give With open hand, and thus will live Fair loyalty betwixt them both, But lacking that, my tongue were loth To call them friends. In confidence A friend should tell his friend each sense4990 That stirs his brain, nor doubt that he Betray his trust. This certainty Of faith becomes a bond to hold With grip more firm than steel or gold, True friends. Such perfect love unites Those sworn in friendship, that the spites Of Fortune move them not; though poor One man become, his rich friend’s door Is closed not on him, but one roof Will cover both, in earnest proof5000 Their hearts are one. If one friend see His fellow tend towards poverty, With ready hand will he afford Quick, generous succour, unimplored, Nor leave unto his friend the task Ungrateful, help or aid to ask, For of a truth is bounty bought Right dearly when with tears ’tis sought.
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