Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 1.pdf/65

All worked about with amorettes,
And tied with dainty bandelets,
Bedecked with lozenges and scutcheons,
Leopards, strange outland beasts, and lions;
While blossoms of all colours were
Besprinkled o’er it, here and there.
’Twere no light task some flower to name
That was not found thereon, each came920
To lend its beauty, blue perwinkle
’Twixt rose and yellow broom did twinkle,
With violets, pansies, birdseye blue.
And flowers untold of varied hue.
Sweet scented roses, red and pale,
(Round which flew many a nightingale)
Festooned Love’s head, and every sort
Of bird seemed there to hold high court,
The skylark, blue-tit, merle and dove,
Sang in his ear sweet songs of love,930
Fluttering around his head, and he
One of God’s angels looked to be.

The weapons of Sweet-Looks Anigh him stood Sweet-Looks, who glanced
With soft regard on those who danced:
A friend right well beloved was he
Of Cupid, and (bent readily
For use) a crook’d Turk’s bow he bore
In either hand the first one wore
Most evil aspect, made of tree
Whose fruit I trow would nowise be940
Of grateful savour; gnarled and hoar
It was, and black as sun-scorched moor.
The second pliant, lithe, and white.
With quaint designs and figures dight