Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 1.pdf/56

When thus this winsome dame had sped
Her tale, which I had hearkenèd
With right good will: “Dame Idleness,”
I cried, “words fail me to express
What great delight were mine to see
Sir Mirth and all his company
Of joyous folk assembled here,
So pleasant, blithe, and frank of cheer,640
Mor would I tear myself away
Therefrom throughout the livelong day,
For doubt I nought they all will be
Fulfilled of gentle courtesy.”

The Dreamer enters the garden No more I spake, but thanked kind fate,
When Idleness the garden gate
Threw open wide, and unafraid
To that sweet spot quick entry made.
Then burst on my astonished eyes
A dream—an Earthly Faradise;650
And suddenly my soul seemed riven
From earth, to dwell in highest heaven;
Yet doubt I much if heaven can give
A place where I so soon would live
As this sweet garden, sacred haunt
Of birds whose soft melodious chaunt
Ravished mine ears; the nightingales
Here sang, and there the green wood-wales;
The bullfinch piped beneath, above,
I heard the crooning turtle-dove,660
Near by, the sweet-voiced tiny wren,
While high in air, beyond my ken.
The skylark soared; the titmouse shrilled
The fauvette’s gentle treble trilled.