The fair one cried for mercy in God's name,
Beseeching him that he would not destroy
Her life as she lay helpless at his feet.
The villain shook his owl-like head in rage
And swore by all the saints that she must die
Without a respite. Pity saw it all
With great dismay, then to the villain ran
In haste to rescue her companion.
Pity, who gives her aid to each good cause,
Carried, in place of sword, a misericorde
Dripping continually with sob-wept tears.
Unless my author lies, this sword could strike
Through adamant, so sharp was it of point,
If well the blow were aimed. Her shield was made
Of Solace, but its whole embroidery
Consisted of complaints and sighs and groans
Pity, though weeping ceaselessly, attacked
The villain, thrusting at him everywhere.
Like leopard at the first he made defense,
But, when she had well soaked him with her tears,
The dirty, filthy wretch began to melt.
It seemed to him that he was stupefied
And swimming in a flood, for ne'er before
Had he been so o'ercome with words or deeds.
His hardness failed him; weak and limp he swayed
And tottered; and he gladly would have fled.
" O Danger, Danger, villain proved, " cried Shame,
" We'll all be captured if you're recreant now.
Fair Welcome will be freed and will at once
Betray the Rose which we have kept shut up.
I tell you truly, and you know, yourself,
That, if Fair Welcome should expose the Rose
To that voluptuary, she would be
Soon wan and pallid, withered and inert.
Besides, I can predict, if once the gate
Were opened, such a wind therein might blow
As would endamage all and cause us loss.
It might too much the rose seed agitate
Or shower alien sperm upon the bloom.
God grant that no such seed on her may fall
As would with cumbrous burden trammel her!
Too great calamity 'twould be for us;
For, ere she could get rid of it, the Rose
Might, without recourse, perish utterly.
Or, if such fate she should escape, the wind
Might deal such blows as would inmix some seed
That might o'erwhelm the flower with its load,
In its descent the leaves dissevering
Until the fissure in the foliage
Disclosed the undeveloped bud beneath.
May God ne'er let such accident occur!
For then 'twould commonly be said that rakes
Had had her at their will. Then we should know
The hate of Jealousy, who would learn all,
And of that knowledge such affliction feel
That she'd deliver all of us to death.
The devils must have made you act so drunk! "
" Help! Help! " cried Danger. Thereupon Shame rushed
At Pity rapidly and threatened her
So that she greatly feared the menacing.
Said Shame, " You've lived too long; I'll break your shield.
You'll bite the dust today for making war. "
She bore a mighty sword, well made and fair,
Whose blade, well tempered, she had fearfully
Forged of stuff called Dread of Discovery.
Her shield, named Fear of Evil Name, was strong
As wood could make it, and its border showed
A fringe of tongues. Shame struck so hard a blow
That Pity back recoiled, about to yield.
But at that moment to her came Delight,
An eligible, comely bachelor,
Mighty in arms, and combated with Shame
He had a sword called Joyous Life, a shield
Such as I've never owned — its name was Ease,
And it was decked with Happiness and Bliss.
He struck at Shame, but she so skillfully
Warded the blow that she received no wound.
Then Shame invoked her might against Delight
And struck him such an agonizing blow
That splintered was the shield held o'er his head
And he himself was stretched upon the earth.
She would have cleft his head down to his teeth;
But God a champion sent, and Hide-Well was his name.
Beseeching him that he would not destroy
Her life as she lay helpless at his feet.
The villain shook his owl-like head in rage
And swore by all the saints that she must die
Without a respite. Pity saw it all
With great dismay, then to the villain ran
In haste to rescue her companion.
Pity, who gives her aid to each good cause,
Carried, in place of sword, a misericorde
Dripping continually with sob-wept tears.
Unless my author lies, this sword could strike
Through adamant, so sharp was it of point,
If well the blow were aimed. Her shield was made
Of Solace, but its whole embroidery
Consisted of complaints and sighs and groans
Pity, though weeping ceaselessly, attacked
The villain, thrusting at him everywhere.
Like leopard at the first he made defense,
But, when she had well soaked him with her tears,
The dirty, filthy wretch began to melt.
It seemed to him that he was stupefied
And swimming in a flood, for ne'er before
Had he been so o'ercome with words or deeds.
His hardness failed him; weak and limp he swayed
And tottered; and he gladly would have fled.
" O Danger, Danger, villain proved, " cried Shame,
" We'll all be captured if you're recreant now.
Fair Welcome will be freed and will at once
Betray the Rose which we have kept shut up.
I tell you truly, and you know, yourself,
That, if Fair Welcome should expose the Rose
To that voluptuary, she would be
Soon wan and pallid, withered and inert.
Besides, I can predict, if once the gate
Were opened, such a wind therein might blow
As would endamage all and cause us loss.
It might too much the rose seed agitate
Or shower alien sperm upon the bloom.
God grant that no such seed on her may fall
As would with cumbrous burden trammel her!
Too great calamity 'twould be for us;
For, ere she could get rid of it, the Rose
Might, without recourse, perish utterly.
Or, if such fate she should escape, the wind
Might deal such blows as would inmix some seed
That might o'erwhelm the flower with its load,
In its descent the leaves dissevering
Until the fissure in the foliage
Disclosed the undeveloped bud beneath.
May God ne'er let such accident occur!
For then 'twould commonly be said that rakes
Had had her at their will. Then we should know
The hate of Jealousy, who would learn all,
And of that knowledge such affliction feel
That she'd deliver all of us to death.
The devils must have made you act so drunk! "
" Help! Help! " cried Danger. Thereupon Shame rushed
At Pity rapidly and threatened her
So that she greatly feared the menacing.
Said Shame, " You've lived too long; I'll break your shield.
You'll bite the dust today for making war. "
She bore a mighty sword, well made and fair,
Whose blade, well tempered, she had fearfully
Forged of stuff called Dread of Discovery.
Her shield, named Fear of Evil Name, was strong
As wood could make it, and its border showed
A fringe of tongues. Shame struck so hard a blow
That Pity back recoiled, about to yield.
But at that moment to her came Delight,
An eligible, comely bachelor,
Mighty in arms, and combated with Shame
He had a sword called Joyous Life, a shield
Such as I've never owned — its name was Ease,
And it was decked with Happiness and Bliss.
He struck at Shame, but she so skillfully
Warded the blow that she received no wound.
Then Shame invoked her might against Delight
And struck him such an agonizing blow
That splintered was the shield held o'er his head
And he himself was stretched upon the earth.
She would have cleft his head down to his teeth;
But God a champion sent, and Hide-Well was his name.