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I yielded, and my wounds he healed; And then with Counsel healing sealed, And taught me all the way of Love, And what sin should it be above; And in what manner might its joy Be conquered without one alloy.

" 'Fore all, of Villainy beware,

To whom I hatred ever bare,"

Said he; " and keep guard of thy tongue

Lest it do trip foul speech among.

And courteous unto women all

Be thou in street, be thou in hall.

Also salute all men that thee

Salute with sweet civility.

Have fear of Pride; for Pride is that

Which never yet good love begat.

" Yet let thy habit richly be

What fits with thine economy.

In goodly cloth and brave attire

Is fuel oft for lover's fire.

In shoes and gloves be spruce and true,

With satin sash; a chaplet new

Of roses blown at Pentecost

Is not on Love's discerning lost.

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" And well remember that, above All else, bright spirit serveth love, Love that will be so oft forlorn, By hope and fear, and sorrow torn. What cheerful pastime comes thy way. Such kindly solace ne'er gainsay. And with fair dames will well advance Thy suit betimes to break a lance. For who with arms is strong and brave For love shall he not have to crave.

"If thou canst sing a ditty kind So do, with ever ready mind. And if with viol or with flute Thou triflest, that will serve thy suit

" Take heed to be not miser named. Of that be rightful lover shamed Before all others, for to the man Who cannot give, Love never can. But as thou givest of thy gold So give thy heart, and open-souled To that one centre of thy mind, Unlooking forward or behind.

" And when hast thou thus vowed thy soul To thy devotion, one and whole, Then should the suffering that shall spring Therefrom, for thee be secret thing, Screened from the vulgar gaze of those Who would perceive thy worthy woes. Such throes and fevers shouldst thou feel As would from thee remembrance steal Of thine own self: hand, foot, and eye Shall thy poor will-power then defy.

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" But thou, when parted from thy love, Wilt cry thy grief to heaven above, Yearning, as lover alway will, For that he would be seeing still— For her who doth his spirit fill! Though when thou meetest her, perchance, Thy troubled speech shall not advance Thy suit, so foolish wilt thou show To one whose beauty moves thee so.

" Such blundering 'haviour then shall fret Thy soul that no sleep shalt thou get, But toss thee night-long on thy bed, A cloud of anguish o'er thy head. Thou'lt cry for dawn to chase the night, To find thee in no better plight, To don thy garb and seek her door, Though winds do whistle, torrents pour, Perchance to gain her ear, or not, As luck will have it. Thus thy lot Shall be. Be not my words forgot! "

When thus had spoke the god of Love,

I raised my eyes to heaven above

And cried against his grievous tale.

But, " Sooth," said he, " he may not fail

To pay the price who would attain

To Love's delight with might and main.

Yet gladly will I give thee three

Fair helpers, who shall faithful be,

Sweet-Looks is one; Sweet-Speech and Thought

The other twain. By them be taught."

He spoke, and vanished. To despair

Was I not then deserted there!

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II.—Of the Winning of the Rose in the Garden of Delight

Now, then, as there I, brooding, stood, Came near me one with gesture good, Of gracious face. " In me you see," Said he, " the son of Courtesy. Fair-Welcome am I called. I come To render you assistance, some Whereby may you the odour sweet Of that fair Rose-tree get and greet." " Kind sir, with welcome will I take," Cried I, " your help." So did I make My way with him that hedged above, And would have plucked the Bud I love.

But lo! there lurked a Felon foul, With other three to threat and scowl. Danger, his name; another, Fear, With Shame and Evil-Tongue anear. Fair-Welcome led me to the Rose, Unheeding those three grudging foes. He plucked a leaf, and of the best; And with it decked I well my breast; And, sure, my soul, then did it glow With love, above all things below.

" O friend," said I, " that Rose I need Also, or else my heart must bleed! Give that as well! " Alarmed was he At prayer for what could never be. " O brother, ask no thing so bold! " He gently said; but he could scold No more; for then did Danger roar, And raised his club, and all was o'er! 124

"Begone," cried he, "intruders twain! Nor render words, for they be vain. Begone! thou fool, Fair-Welcome, go! Nor hither bring that stranger so! Begone, or bear this savage blow! "

Fair-Welcome fled. I scrambled back Athwart that hedge. There was no lack Of oaths to make me hasten till I got beyond that villain's will.

But woe was mine. No soul can know The full weight of a lover's woe, Who has not suffered as did I. Alack! 'twere worthier I should die!

Yet happed it, then, in that sad hour, Dame Reason spied me from her tower; And down she stepped. Not young, nor old; Not big, nor slight was she. Of gold A crown she wore. Her eyes were bright As the stars of morn and night. All angel-souled, she saw my grief, And spake these words for my relief.