The God of Love Makes the Lover His Man
THE GOD OF LOVE, who, ever with bent bow
Had taken care to watch and follow me,
Beneath a fig tree lastly took his stand;
And when he saw that I had fixed my choice
Upon the bud that pleased me most of all
He quickly chose an arrow; nocking it,
He pulled the cord back to his ear. The bow
Was marvelously strong, and good his aim,
And when he shot at me the arrow pierced
My very heart, though entering by my eye.
Then such a chill seized me that since that day
I oft, remembering it, have quaked again
Beneath a doublet warm. Down to the ground
I fell supine; thus struck, my heart stopped dead;
It failed me, and I fainted quite away.
Long time I lay recovering from my swoon,
And when I gained my senses and my wits
I still was feeble, and supposed I'd lost
Great store of blood, but was surprised to find
The dart that pierced me drew no drop of gore;
The wound was dry. With both my hands I tried
To draw the arrow, though it made me groan,
And finally the feathered shaft came out.
But still the golden barb named Beauty stayed
Fixed in my heart, never to be removed.
I feel it yet, although I do not bleed.
Anxious and greatly troubled then was I
Because of double peril; I knew not
What I could say or do to ease my wound
Or find a doctor who with herb or root
Could offer unexpected remedy.
My heart still bade me strive to reach the bud —
Would have naught else. It seemed as if my life
Depended on possession of the Rose,
For certainly my pain was much relieved
But by its sight and smell and nothing more.
As I commenced to drag myself again
Toward the bud that did such sweet exhale,
The God of Love another arrow seized,
Headed with gold, and named Simplicity.
This is the second dart that many a man
And many a woman, too, has brought to Love.
When he perceived my close approach, he shot,
Without a warning, through my eye and heart,
This arrow, which was neither steel nor iron,
But one no man or woman born could draw;
For though with little effort I removed
The shaft, the arrowhead remains within.
Now know it for a truth that if I had
Great wish before to gain the crimson bud
Then was my longing doubled; for the more
My wound gave pain, the more desire increased
More closely to approach the little flower
That sweeter smelled than any violet.
Better for me had been a swift retreat,
But I could not deny my heart's command;
Where'er it led me I, perforce, must go.
But still the archer took the utmost pains
And strove to stop me. I could not escape
Without more woe. To overcome me quite
He sent another arrow to my heart.
This was named Courtesy; the wound it made
Was wide and deep; it stretched me in a faint
Beneath a branching olive tree near by
Long time without a motion there I lay,
And when I stirred at last, my first attempt
Was to remove the arrow from my side.
Again the shaft came out and left the head,
Which wouldn't budge for all that I could do.
Anxious and sad in mind I took a seat.
Greatly the wounds tormented me, and urged
That to the bud, toward which so forcefully
I was attracted, I should drag myself;
Though ever anew the archer menaced me,
And scalded child should e'er hot water dread.
However, sheer necessity is strong.
Though thick as hail I'd seen a shower fall
Of square-cut rocks and stones pell-mell, yet Love,
Who all things else surpasses, gave to me
Such hardihood and such courageous heart
That willingly his bidding I'd obeyed.
Feeble as dying man, I raised myself
Upon my feet and forced my legs to walk.
Not for the archer would I quit the task
Of reaching the fair flower that drew my heart.
But there so many briars and thistles were,
And bramble bushes, that I failed to pass
The barrier and to the rose attain.
The best that I could do was close to stand
Beside the hedge of piercing thorns that hemmed
The rosary about. But of one thing
I got much joy: I was so near the bud
That I could smell the marvelous perfume
That it suffused — its beauty freely see.
And such reward I had of that delight
That in my joy my ills were half forgot.
My wounds seemed largely remedied and eased;
For never could I other pleasure find
Like to sojourning there, and night and day
Remaining near the place. When I had stayed
But little time, the God of Love, whose care
Was now to rack my heart, began anew
His dire assault. My mischief to increase,
He aimed another arrow at my side,
Which, entering below my breast, produced
Another wound. 'Twas called Companionship,
Than which there's nothing that more quickly quells
The scruples of a lady or a maid.
Now all the dolor of my wounds returned;
Three times successively I swooned away.
Upon reviving, I complained and sighed
Because my pain increased and grew the worse
So that I had no hope of cure or help
And rather would have died than lived; for sure
It seemed that Love would lastly martyr me.
Yet, notwithstanding, I could not depart.
Meanwhile the god another arrow seized,
Fair Seeming named, most prized, and, as I think,
Most powerful of all to circumvent
Intended drawing back from Love's employ
By any lover who's afraid of pain.
Sharp is its point for piercing, and its edge
As cutting as a blade of razor steel;
But Love had with a precious unguent smeared
The point, lest too severely it should wound;
For he willed not that I should die, but wished
That I might some alleviation have
By means of grateful salve that brought relief.
With his own hands he had the ointment made
To comfort loyal lovers and dispel
Their woes the better. Wounded was my heart
With this last arrow that he shot at me,
But through the wound the remedy soon spread
And so restored my all-but-ebbing pulse.
I would have been in evil case and died
But for that balm. Then I withdrew the shaft,
Though, as before, the head remained within,
Anointed with the antidote for pain.
Thus were there buried well within my breast
Five arrowheads that could not be removed.
Although the ointment gave me much relief,
Nevertheless my wounds so sorely ached
That I was pale. This arrow had strange power
To mingle weal with woe; for well I knew
That it both hurt and healed. If agony
Was in the point, assuaging was the balm;
If one part stung me, yet the other soothed.
Thus while it helped, it at the same time harmed.
Straightway with rapid step the God of Love
Approached me, and the while he came he cried:
" Vassal, you now are seized; there's nothing here
To aid you in defense or toward escape.
In giving yourself up make no delay;
For the more willingly you abdicate
That much more quickly will you mercy gain.
He is a fool who with refusal thwarts
The one whom he should coax and supplicate.
Against my power no striving will avail.
Be well advised by me that foolish pride
Will gain you nothing; cede yourself as thrall
Calmly and with good grace, as I desire. "
I answered simply, " Sire, to you I give
Myself most willingly; nor will I strive
To make resistance to your will. Please God
That I rebellious thoughts may never have
Against your rule. 'Twere neither just nor right.
Do what you please with me: or hang or slay.
My life is in your hands. I cannot swerve.
I cannot live a day against your will.
By you to weal and welfare I might mount
That by no other could I gain. Your hand,
Which thus has wounded me, must give me cure;
Make me your prisoner. I'll feel no ire
So long as I am saved from your disdain.
Of you so much that's good I've heard men say
That 'tis my wish to yield myself to you,
Completely in your service then to be,
Body and soul. If I perform your will,
Nothing can give me grief. But, furthermore,
I hope that at some time I may have grace
To gain that which I now so much desire.
I yield myself upon this covenant. "
At this I wished to kiss his foot, but he,
Taking me by the hand, thus made reply:
" Much do I love you, and I praise the speech
That you have made; never could such response
Come from a villainous, untutored man.
So largely have you gained by it that now,
For your advantage, it is my desire
That you should pay me homage, press my lips
Which no infamous man has ever touched.
No churl or villain did I ever kiss;
Rather he must be courteous and frank
That I thus make my man; though, without fail,
He must sore burdens bear in serving me.
But I the greatest honor do to you,
And you should most appreciative be
That you so good a master have, and lord
Of high renown; for Love the banner bears
And gonfanon of courtesy. So kind,
So frank, so gentle, and so mannerly
Is he that those who serve and honor him
Shall find that in their hearts cannot remain
Injustice, villainy, or base desire. "
At that, with clasped hands I became his man.
Most proud was I when his lips touched my mouth;
That was the act which gave me greatest joy.
Then he demanded hostages of me.
" From one and from another, friend, " said he,
" I have received full many homages
In which I found myself deceived; with guile
False felons often have their oaths betrayed.
But they shall know how much it weighs with me;
If ever again I get them in my power,
Most dearly will I make them pay for it.
Now, since I love you, it is my desire
To be so very certain of your love
And so to league you to me that you ne'er
Will do that which you should not, or deny
Your covenant and promises to me.
'Twould be too bad if you should trick me — you
Who seem so honest. "
Then I made reply,
" Sire, I know not why you ask of me
Security and pledge; for you, in truth,
Must know that you have stolen my heart away
And seized it so that even if it wished
It could not act for me against your will.
This heart is yours; it is no longer mine;
For good or ill it does as you command.
No one can dispossess you of my heart;
You've set within it such a garrison
That by them it is guarded well and ruled.
Moreover, if you still have doubts, then lock
My heart and carry off the key in pawn. "
" Now, by my head, that's not unreasonable. "
Responded Love. " I will agree to that.
Who has the heart within his power is lord
Of all the body. More to ask were harsh. "
Then from his purse he took a little key
Made of refined gold. " With this, " he said,
" I'll lock your heart, and ask no other pledge.
Under this key's protection are my gems.
I call it mistress of my treasury.
Though smaller than your little finger tip,
It has a mighty power. " He touched my side
And locked my heart so gently that I scarce
Could feel the turning of the key that made it fast.
Had taken care to watch and follow me,
Beneath a fig tree lastly took his stand;
And when he saw that I had fixed my choice
Upon the bud that pleased me most of all
He quickly chose an arrow; nocking it,
He pulled the cord back to his ear. The bow
Was marvelously strong, and good his aim,
And when he shot at me the arrow pierced
My very heart, though entering by my eye.
Then such a chill seized me that since that day
I oft, remembering it, have quaked again
Beneath a doublet warm. Down to the ground
I fell supine; thus struck, my heart stopped dead;
It failed me, and I fainted quite away.
Long time I lay recovering from my swoon,
And when I gained my senses and my wits
I still was feeble, and supposed I'd lost
Great store of blood, but was surprised to find
The dart that pierced me drew no drop of gore;
The wound was dry. With both my hands I tried
To draw the arrow, though it made me groan,
And finally the feathered shaft came out.
But still the golden barb named Beauty stayed
Fixed in my heart, never to be removed.
I feel it yet, although I do not bleed.
Anxious and greatly troubled then was I
Because of double peril; I knew not
What I could say or do to ease my wound
Or find a doctor who with herb or root
Could offer unexpected remedy.
My heart still bade me strive to reach the bud —
Would have naught else. It seemed as if my life
Depended on possession of the Rose,
For certainly my pain was much relieved
But by its sight and smell and nothing more.
As I commenced to drag myself again
Toward the bud that did such sweet exhale,
The God of Love another arrow seized,
Headed with gold, and named Simplicity.
This is the second dart that many a man
And many a woman, too, has brought to Love.
When he perceived my close approach, he shot,
Without a warning, through my eye and heart,
This arrow, which was neither steel nor iron,
But one no man or woman born could draw;
For though with little effort I removed
The shaft, the arrowhead remains within.
Now know it for a truth that if I had
Great wish before to gain the crimson bud
Then was my longing doubled; for the more
My wound gave pain, the more desire increased
More closely to approach the little flower
That sweeter smelled than any violet.
Better for me had been a swift retreat,
But I could not deny my heart's command;
Where'er it led me I, perforce, must go.
But still the archer took the utmost pains
And strove to stop me. I could not escape
Without more woe. To overcome me quite
He sent another arrow to my heart.
This was named Courtesy; the wound it made
Was wide and deep; it stretched me in a faint
Beneath a branching olive tree near by
Long time without a motion there I lay,
And when I stirred at last, my first attempt
Was to remove the arrow from my side.
Again the shaft came out and left the head,
Which wouldn't budge for all that I could do.
Anxious and sad in mind I took a seat.
Greatly the wounds tormented me, and urged
That to the bud, toward which so forcefully
I was attracted, I should drag myself;
Though ever anew the archer menaced me,
And scalded child should e'er hot water dread.
However, sheer necessity is strong.
Though thick as hail I'd seen a shower fall
Of square-cut rocks and stones pell-mell, yet Love,
Who all things else surpasses, gave to me
Such hardihood and such courageous heart
That willingly his bidding I'd obeyed.
Feeble as dying man, I raised myself
Upon my feet and forced my legs to walk.
Not for the archer would I quit the task
Of reaching the fair flower that drew my heart.
But there so many briars and thistles were,
And bramble bushes, that I failed to pass
The barrier and to the rose attain.
The best that I could do was close to stand
Beside the hedge of piercing thorns that hemmed
The rosary about. But of one thing
I got much joy: I was so near the bud
That I could smell the marvelous perfume
That it suffused — its beauty freely see.
And such reward I had of that delight
That in my joy my ills were half forgot.
My wounds seemed largely remedied and eased;
For never could I other pleasure find
Like to sojourning there, and night and day
Remaining near the place. When I had stayed
But little time, the God of Love, whose care
Was now to rack my heart, began anew
His dire assault. My mischief to increase,
He aimed another arrow at my side,
Which, entering below my breast, produced
Another wound. 'Twas called Companionship,
Than which there's nothing that more quickly quells
The scruples of a lady or a maid.
Now all the dolor of my wounds returned;
Three times successively I swooned away.
Upon reviving, I complained and sighed
Because my pain increased and grew the worse
So that I had no hope of cure or help
And rather would have died than lived; for sure
It seemed that Love would lastly martyr me.
Yet, notwithstanding, I could not depart.
Meanwhile the god another arrow seized,
Fair Seeming named, most prized, and, as I think,
Most powerful of all to circumvent
Intended drawing back from Love's employ
By any lover who's afraid of pain.
Sharp is its point for piercing, and its edge
As cutting as a blade of razor steel;
But Love had with a precious unguent smeared
The point, lest too severely it should wound;
For he willed not that I should die, but wished
That I might some alleviation have
By means of grateful salve that brought relief.
With his own hands he had the ointment made
To comfort loyal lovers and dispel
Their woes the better. Wounded was my heart
With this last arrow that he shot at me,
But through the wound the remedy soon spread
And so restored my all-but-ebbing pulse.
I would have been in evil case and died
But for that balm. Then I withdrew the shaft,
Though, as before, the head remained within,
Anointed with the antidote for pain.
Thus were there buried well within my breast
Five arrowheads that could not be removed.
Although the ointment gave me much relief,
Nevertheless my wounds so sorely ached
That I was pale. This arrow had strange power
To mingle weal with woe; for well I knew
That it both hurt and healed. If agony
Was in the point, assuaging was the balm;
If one part stung me, yet the other soothed.
Thus while it helped, it at the same time harmed.
Straightway with rapid step the God of Love
Approached me, and the while he came he cried:
" Vassal, you now are seized; there's nothing here
To aid you in defense or toward escape.
In giving yourself up make no delay;
For the more willingly you abdicate
That much more quickly will you mercy gain.
He is a fool who with refusal thwarts
The one whom he should coax and supplicate.
Against my power no striving will avail.
Be well advised by me that foolish pride
Will gain you nothing; cede yourself as thrall
Calmly and with good grace, as I desire. "
I answered simply, " Sire, to you I give
Myself most willingly; nor will I strive
To make resistance to your will. Please God
That I rebellious thoughts may never have
Against your rule. 'Twere neither just nor right.
Do what you please with me: or hang or slay.
My life is in your hands. I cannot swerve.
I cannot live a day against your will.
By you to weal and welfare I might mount
That by no other could I gain. Your hand,
Which thus has wounded me, must give me cure;
Make me your prisoner. I'll feel no ire
So long as I am saved from your disdain.
Of you so much that's good I've heard men say
That 'tis my wish to yield myself to you,
Completely in your service then to be,
Body and soul. If I perform your will,
Nothing can give me grief. But, furthermore,
I hope that at some time I may have grace
To gain that which I now so much desire.
I yield myself upon this covenant. "
At this I wished to kiss his foot, but he,
Taking me by the hand, thus made reply:
" Much do I love you, and I praise the speech
That you have made; never could such response
Come from a villainous, untutored man.
So largely have you gained by it that now,
For your advantage, it is my desire
That you should pay me homage, press my lips
Which no infamous man has ever touched.
No churl or villain did I ever kiss;
Rather he must be courteous and frank
That I thus make my man; though, without fail,
He must sore burdens bear in serving me.
But I the greatest honor do to you,
And you should most appreciative be
That you so good a master have, and lord
Of high renown; for Love the banner bears
And gonfanon of courtesy. So kind,
So frank, so gentle, and so mannerly
Is he that those who serve and honor him
Shall find that in their hearts cannot remain
Injustice, villainy, or base desire. "
At that, with clasped hands I became his man.
Most proud was I when his lips touched my mouth;
That was the act which gave me greatest joy.
Then he demanded hostages of me.
" From one and from another, friend, " said he,
" I have received full many homages
In which I found myself deceived; with guile
False felons often have their oaths betrayed.
But they shall know how much it weighs with me;
If ever again I get them in my power,
Most dearly will I make them pay for it.
Now, since I love you, it is my desire
To be so very certain of your love
And so to league you to me that you ne'er
Will do that which you should not, or deny
Your covenant and promises to me.
'Twould be too bad if you should trick me — you
Who seem so honest. "
Then I made reply,
" Sire, I know not why you ask of me
Security and pledge; for you, in truth,
Must know that you have stolen my heart away
And seized it so that even if it wished
It could not act for me against your will.
This heart is yours; it is no longer mine;
For good or ill it does as you command.
No one can dispossess you of my heart;
You've set within it such a garrison
That by them it is guarded well and ruled.
Moreover, if you still have doubts, then lock
My heart and carry off the key in pawn. "
" Now, by my head, that's not unreasonable. "
Responded Love. " I will agree to that.
Who has the heart within his power is lord
Of all the body. More to ask were harsh. "
Then from his purse he took a little key
Made of refined gold. " With this, " he said,
" I'll lock your heart, and ask no other pledge.
Under this key's protection are my gems.
I call it mistress of my treasury.
Though smaller than your little finger tip,
It has a mighty power. " He touched my side
And locked my heart so gently that I scarce
Could feel the turning of the key that made it fast.
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