Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 1.pdf/62

Sir Mirth portrayed Without delay
I followed where she led the way820
With right good will, for strong desire
To join the throng my heart ’gan fire;
Yet scarce therewith to mingle dared
Till thus her welcome speech had bared
My mind of doubt. I then began
The glorious folk around to scan,
Their fashions, manners, style and seeming:
Now list, while forth I tell my deeming.

Erect Sir Mirth stood, straight and tall.
In all points such as one might call830
A man well built; a tinge of red
His white cheek lit, no vermeil thread
His mouth, but full and round, his eyes
Steel blue and gracious, whence did rise
Sweet smiles unceasingly, his nose
Was such as Grecian Phidias chose
For great Apollo, blond his hair.
Which fell adown his shoulders bare
In silken curls, his girdlestead
Was slight, yet lithesome lustihead840
Its lines betrayed, while arms and knees
Were knit like mighty Hercules.
The glorious masterpiece did he
Of some great painter look to be,
And scarce need fear comparison
For beauty with Jove’s godlike son:
Where beard would be, began to spring
Down, soft as that ’neath cushat’s wing.

His noble limbs were richly clad
In samite, which about it had850