And that blind boy was all in blood And like a Conqueror he stood, 'I have,' quoth he, 'more hearts at call Than CÆSAR could command; And, like the deer, I make them fall! One drops down here! another, there! I bend a scornful, careless, ear, To hear them make their moan.' 'Ah, Sir!' quoth HONEST MEANING then, For she had rather break thy bow, 'What saucy merchant speaketh now?' Said VENUS, in her rage, 'Art thou so blind, thou know'st not how I govern every age! 'My son doth shoot no shaft in waste! To me the boy is bound: He never found a heart so chaste, And cause I am of mine own ill; And when I yield myself a slave 'Why, fool!' stepped forth DELIGHT, and said, 'When thou art conquered thus, Then, lo, Dame LUST, that wanton Maid, And Lust is CUPID's darling Dear! She creeps, the milk-warm flesh so near, 'Be still, GOOD MEANING!' quoth GOOD SPORT, 'Let CUPID triumph make! For, sure, his kingdom shall be short; Fair Beauty and her play-feres gay, Shall sit, and with their fingers play, If HONEST MEANING fall to frown, Indeed,' quoth WIT, 'this your device, Let Fancy be no more at beck! When VENUS heard how they conspired The thunderbolts through windows burst; And, in their steps, a wight Which seemed some soul, or sprite, accurst, So ugly was the sight: 'I charge you, Ladies all,' said he, 'Look to yourselves in haste! For if that men so wilful be, And have their thoughts so chaste, And they can tread on CUPID's breast, And march on VENUS' face: Then they shall sleep in quiet rest; When you shall wail your case! With that, had VENUS, all in spite, The day did lower, the sun waxed dark, But whither went this angry flock, Our LORD himself doth know! Wherewith full loudly crew the cock; And I awakèd so. 'A dream,' quoth I, 'a dog it is! I As you came from the holy land Met you not with my True Love, How shall I know your True Love, That have come, that have gone? She is neither white, nor brown; Such a one did I meet, good Sir! Who like a Queen, like a Nymph, did appear She hath left me here all alone, All alone, as unknown; Who sometimes did me lead with herself, And me loved as her own. |