So her companions showed beside
Her dazzling beauty’s winsome pride.
Than this fair damsel who shall find
A nobler face or gentler mind, 1290
Or one who would more worship gain
Should she as Queen or Empress reign?
Beside her stood a valiant knight,
Who knew to choose his words aright
Whene’er he spake; well loved seemed he
Of her who bare him company.
Well skilled in feats of arms [errata 1], his grace
Showed forth alike in form and face.
Idleness claims the Dreamer
Then, Idleness came near to me,
Whose hand I took most willingly 1300
To join the dance. Erewhile I’ve said
How fraught with grace and goodlihead
She was, and she ’twas raised the pin
That kept the wicket, and within
The close through her I entrance gained,
My trembling heart set free and fained.
IX
And lastly here is told of Youth,
Reckless, naive, and wild forsooth.
The last that lingers in my mind
Is Youth, to all but pleasure blind. 1310
No more than twelve short years, I ween,
This innocent maiden yet had seen
Of good or ill, and looked to be
Still in her first simplicity.
