Classic Poem

" NO comfort can now aid me. Ah! My dear,
He who might see you but one time each week
Would feel less pain; but by no road or path
Do I know how to gain one glimpse of you. "
While I felt such distress, I saw approach
Dame Pity, walking stately toward the tower,
Who many a sorrowing heart has made content.
She with these words began to comfort me:
" Friend, to console you and assuage your grief,
I've come into this orchard, and I bring
Fair Welcome, Beauty, Loyalty, Sweet Looks,
Simplicity. With difficulty great
We issued from that tower that rises high.
(But one of loyal heart should ne'er default
Though by his efforts he should lose his life.)
While Jealousy was sleeping, we contrived
To steal away. Great obstacles we found;
For Fear, who is so timid every day,
Had locked the gate, and wandered to and fro
Listening and spying everywhere;
And Evil Tongue knew scarcely what to do,
So much he was in doubt. The God of Love,
Who ever takes good care of all his own,
Opened the gate for us with greatest pains
In spite of Fear. If Evil Tongue had known,
We had no exit gained for all the world.
But Love, so fair and pretty, stole the keys
And let us out. " As soon as they took seats
Beside me, all my dolor passed away.
Secretly Dame Beauty gave to me
The charming bud I prize with all my heart
With which to do whatever I might please,
And no one's contravention to be feared.
There at our ease we then took great delight;
The tender grass provided us a bed;
The rosebush petals fair made coverlets;
And all that night we nothing did but kiss
And satisfaction find in other joys.
But short enough the night appeared to me;
In early morning, when the dawn appeared,
We rose, much grieved the night had passed so soon.
Then Beauty had to take her rosebud back;
Unwillingly I had to give her up.
But, none the less, the blossom never closed
Against me, even when 'twas snatched away.
However, ere they left or said good-by,
Beauty approached shamefaced, and, laughing, said:
" Now Jealousy may spy and build his hedge
Of eglantine as lofty as he likes,
For much he now has gained by that device!
Now fair, sweet lover, tell me what you think;
Has he not tired himself to death in vain?
His services have had their just reward.
See to it that you serve without deceit,
If you indeed would hold my service dear,
And always you'll be master of the bud
Even though it may not imprisoned be. "
We separated then; I said good-by;
And gracefully they made their secret way
Back to the tower as straight as they could go.
Such was the very ending of my dream.