Classic Poem

Then of my friend I thought, and it seemed best
That I bestir myself and seek him out,
Whatever care and pain it might involve.
But God led him to me, and when he saw
That dolor pricked my heart he quickly said:
" What's this, fair friend, that's torturing you so?
Some mischief has befallen. What's the news? "
" So help me God, 'tis neither fair nor foul. "
" Recount it all. "
And so I told to him
The tale that I've already told to you.
When I had finished; he exclaimed, " By God,
You've Danger pacified and kissed the Rose.
If you Fair Welcome had but made your own,
You would have had no cause for drearihood;
But, since he was so loyal to your cause
That he procured the kiss that you received,
No prison will long keep him from your side.
However, it behooves you to behave
More prudently if you'd achieve your end.
But you may comfort take from this idea:
Fair Welcome will be rescued from the keep
In which he is confined for love of you. "
" Alas! " said I, " too strong an enemy
He'd have if he had none but Evil Tongue,
Who against me incited all the rest.
I'd not been caught unless the fool had blabbed.
Gladly had Fear and Shame concealed the act;
Not even Danger would have told on me.
All three were keeping still when that great boor
Summoned the devils as Fair Welcome paled
At Jealousy's lament (an evil voice
That old girl has!); the more's the pity, too,
That I incontinent at once did flee.
Then were walls mortared that now hold the sweet.
O Friend, without your aid I were but dead! "
Then spoke my Friend like one well schooled in love:
" Companion, do not be disconsolate;
Comfort yourself with your idolatry.
Give loyal service to the God of Love
Unceasingly; both night and day be true.
'Twere shame if he should find you recreant
And have to own himself so much deceived
When he, who ne'er has loyal friend forsworn,
Received your homage. Do what he commands;
Keep all his precepts. Never willingly,
However he delays, will he desert
One who his ordinances well observes.
However Fortune may make her awards,
Think of your service to the God of Love.
On him be all your thought; such thought is sweet.
Therefore too great a folly it would be
To leave him who has ne'er abandoned you.
Besides, he has you tethered with his leash;
And, since you can't escape, you must submit.
" Now I will tell you what you ought to do:
Forbear a while to go to see the tower;
Let not by night or day a sight or sound
Betray your presence there until this storm
Has overpassed. At least be seen no more,
As has your custom been, about the gates
Or near the walls, no matter what you wish.
And if chance bring you there, pretend, at least,
That for Fair Welcome you have no concern.
And if from far away you him behold
At crenelet or window, look on him
But covertly, though with a pitying eye.
If he perceive you, he will happy be,
Though spying eyes may make him leave his place
With neither look nor sign, unless perhaps
Some secret gesture he contrive to make.
Perchance he'll close his window when he sees
You speak to others, though athwart the chinks
He'll feast his eyes on you while you remain,
Unless his guard shall drag him from the place.
" Take special care that Evil Tongue beholds
You not; but, if he does, salute him fair;
And be not moved to look with hate or wrath.
If elsewhere you should meet him, show no spite;
A wise man ever covers up his ire.
Good work it is deceivers to deceive;
Know well that thus wise lovers all should do.
Pretend to serve and honor Evil Tongue
And all his race, though they would you destroy.
Offer them heart and body, goods and aid.
They say, and it is true, as I believe:
" Cunning 'gainst cunning," for it is no sin
To cheat a rascal who is cheating you.
Such a deceiving wretch is Evil Tongue.
From scalawag remove a syllable
And scaly still remains; a scaly thief
He is, as you can very well perceive;
And he deserves to have no other name,
For folks he robs of their good name, which he
Can never render back. Much better hanged
Were he than all the other larceners
Who steal I care not how great store of pence.
One of these penny thieves, red-handed caught
Robbing a hen roost or a farmer's barn,
At least four times his theft's compelled to pay
According to the laws; but Evil Tongue
By his vile, spiteful tales does so much harm
That once the word has left his cursed throat
No power has he to give repute again,
If by his libel it has been destroyed.
He can extinguish not one single word.
" 'Twere well that Evil Tongue should be appeased,
As oft men kiss the hand they fain would burn.
Would that to Tarsus were the villain sent,
Where he might tell what lies he could contrive,
Provided that no lovers suffered wrong!
At least 'twere a good deed to stop his mouth
So that no more detraction he may spread.
This Evil Tongue you should, and all his folks
(God guard them not!), deceive by treachery,
By flattery and coaxing blandishment,
By adulation and servility,
By false dissimulation and by ruse,
By bowing and by greeting; for a man
Does well to pet a dog till he gets past.
Most surely you will bring his care to naught
If Evil Tongue you can at least persuade
That you've lost all desire to steal the bud
Which he believes he has secured from you.
" Treat likewise that old hag, Fair Welcome's guard
(Whom may hell-fire destroy!), the pessimist
Who feels such savage rage at others' joy,
Who is so cruel and so gluttonous
That she wants everything; though she would find
Her share no less if she let all partake.
Foolish is he who grudges happiness;
One candle in a lantern can give light
To many men and yet have plenty left.
This simile is clear to all but fools.
So, if these villains should have need of you,
Serve them as best you can. Show courtesy;
It is a thing most prized. But let them not
Suspect that you but practice to deceive.
Thus you should act. With arm about his neck,
By flattery and by cajolery,
One leads his enemy to hang or drown,
If otherwise he can't achieve his end.
In this case I can guarantee and swear
There is no other means; they are so strong
That open war would mean only defeat.
" Then it behooves you to approach the rest,
If you are able, offering them gifts:
Bonnets adorned with bandelets of flowers,
Purses and veils and other little things,
Fashionable, well made, and in good taste.
If you've the means without impoverishment
To make such gifts, they should be thus appeased.
Then emphasize the travail, pain, and woe
You've suffered from the love that's led you there.
Or, if you cannot give, make promises.
However small the chance they'll be fulfilled,
No hesitation show in making them.
Rather than be o'ercome in argument,
Make strongest oaths — hypothecate your faith.
'Twere advantageous in their sight to weep;
The higher wisdom counsels show of tears.
Before them, with clasped hands, on bended knees,
Show them some hot drops from your humid eyes
Trickling down your cheeks — a piteous sight!
Scorn not the power of grief to influence men.
" However, if your tears refuse to flow,
Be not afraid to secretly employ
Saliva or a juice of any kind
Which may your eyelids well humidify;
Or by the aid of onions or of leeks
You may shed tears as often as you wish.
Thus many a crafty lover has contrived
To loose the leash by which he has been led,
Playing upon the sympathy of dames
Till from his neck they quite removed the rope.
Many by such device have seemed to weep
Who never felt love's force; and many a maid
Has been deceived by such pretended tears.
Weeping may soften even jailors' hearts
Unless they see 'tis false. In such a case
No mercy for you would they ever have.
In vain you then would look for sympathy;
The gates would never ope for you again.
If you should fail by such means to approach,
Select a trusty messenger to send
With word or letter; in the latter case
Sign not your proper name, for secrecy.
Better call her Fair Sir and him Sweet Dame,
As if he were a lady, she a man;
For many a thief has read a lover's script,
Unknown to the inditer, and exposed
The lovers' secrets, ruining their joy.
If you confide in children, you'll be duped;
They make ill messengers, for they delight
To brag and of their own importance boast,
Revealing all to those who flatter them;
Or through their ignorance they play the fool,
Publishing what they know, unless they're sly.
" These jailers, you will find, have pitying hearts,
Provided they will deign to take your gifts,
They'll not deceive you; and you may be sure
That they'll accept the presents that you bring.
When once they've taken them, the business's done;
For even as a lure at night or morn
Will make the sparrow hawk come back to hand,
So will the lover's gifts gain grace for him
From chatelaines whom thus he fully vanquishes. "