Classic Poem

While the Duenna preached, Fair Welcome spoke
No word, but gladly heard all that she said.
Much less he feared her than he had before;
For now he'd come to see that easily
The castle might be seized, had it not been
For Jealousy and her gatekeepers three,
In whom she had such faith, and who remained,
Running forever all about the fort,
Madly attempting to defend the place.
Their energetic cares successful were;
'Twas not yet taken, as he thought 'twould be.
Not one of them lamented Evil Tongue,
Who now was dead. He'd not been loved by them;
For always he had slandered and betrayed
Them all to Jealousy. They hated him
So much that none who with him ever lived
Would toward his ransom give a garlic stem;
Unless 'twere Jealousy herself, who loved
To hear his jangling. She would lend her ear,
Whene'er the liar started up his band,
Though marvelously sad she'd been before.
Naught that he could recall would he conceal
From her if trouble were to come of it;
And, worst of all, he often told as truth
More than he really knew. He'd ever add
Embellishments to all the things he heard.
He'd make a bigger story of each tale
That was not good or fair; from those that were
He would omit at least the better parts.
Thus, like a man who'd wasted all his life
In envy and detraction, he would please
The vicious appetite of Jealousy.
None hired masses chanted for his soul,
For all were glad when of his death they knew.
It seemed to them that they had nothing lost;
For, when they counsel took, they were agreed
That they could guard the place, as ne'er before,
From being taken by five thousand men.

Said they, " We certainly would be most weak
If we, without that wretch, could not defend
All that we have. That false and treacherous knave,
May he be burned and utterly destroyed
In stinking fire of Hell! He was no good! "
Three guardians of the gate thus had their way;
But they were weakened, whatsoe'er they thought.
When the Duenna ceased to tell her tale,
Fair Welcome spoke, and though he late commenced
He said but little, and as one well taught:
" My lady, when you teach to me your art
So debonairly, I must thank you well;
But whate'er you have said to me of love —
That sweet, but often bitter, malady —
Is on a subject that's unknown to me.
Except by hearsay I have nothing learned
Of it, nor anything desired to know.
And as to what you've said to me of wealth
And how I might amass it plenteously,
I answer that I have sufficient now.
On courtesy alone my mind's intent.
I put no trust in magic, devilish art,
Whether its power is fabulous or real.
" As to the youth whose praises you have sung,
In whom all merit, grace, and good unite —
May he retain them. I am nothing bent
To get them from him; rather I resign
Them all to him. But, on the other hand,
Though certainly I feel for him no hate,
I love him not too well. Although I took
His chaplet, and I therefore call him friend,
'Tis but as everybody commonly
Says to another, " Friend, you're welcome here,"
Or, " Friend, may God you bless!" I neither love
Nor but most honorably honor him.
But since a present he has given me,
And I've accepted it, I should be pleased,
And it would fitting be, that he should come
To visit me, if 'twould be opportune,
And if he wants to see me. He'll not find
Me slow most willingly to welcome him.
But he must choose a time when Jealousy,
Who hates and vilifies him without bounds,
Is out of town; and, even then, I fear
Lest unexpectedly she might return.
For often when her things have all been packed
As for a trip, and when she's taken leave
Of those remaining, and they think she's gone,
She turns about when halfway to her goal,
And her return upsets and shocks us all.
If she should chance to come when he was here,
So cruel and so hard is she with me,
That though I might be guiltless of all blame
She might, in wrath, dismember me alive. "
Then the Duenna this assurance gave:
" Leave all of that to me. To find him here
Would be impossible, though she returned.
By God and by Saint Remy, I've in view
So many hiding places that she'd find
An ant's egg in a mow more easily,
Than him when he is safely stowed away,
So well how to conceal him I shall know. "
" Then I am willing that he come, " said he,
" If properly he will conduct himself,
Refraining from all outrage. "
" By God's flesh,
You wisely speak, like prudent, thoughtful youth
Who's worthy, and who knows how much he's worth. "
Their conversation ceased; they left the room;
Fair Welcome sought his chamber, while the crone
Busied herself about her household tasks.
But when time, place, and season all were right
And she perceived Fair Welcome was alone
And unemployed, so one might talk to him,
She hastened down the stairs and left the tower
And, without stopping, trotted to my home,
Where she arrived quite tired and out of breath
To let me know how the affair progressed.

" Come I in time, " she wheezed, " to get the gloves,
If I can give you tidings fresh and new? "
" The gloves! " I answered, " Lady, I will give
A fur-trimmed hat, a mantle, and a robe,
And any kind of shoes you wish to name,
If you have anything of worth to tell. "
Then the Duenna said that I should go
Straight to the tower, where one awaited me;
Nor did she leave until she had explained
How I might enter there. Said she, " You'll walk
Straight to the postern gate, and I'll be there
To open it for you and so best keep
The matter secret It's a covered way
Which was first opened but ten weeks ago. "
" By Saint Remy I swear, lady, " said I,
" That though the stuff cost ten or twenty pounds
A yard (for I remembered well my Friend
Had warned me to make promises enough
Though they were such as I could not fulfill)
You'll have a lovely dress of blue or green,
Provided that I find that gate unlocked for me. "