THE CHRONICLE OF CLEMENDY
the use of ecclesiastics. "I guard your ways, sweet mistress," answered he, "for that I am a knight of the Rose and bound by my vows and solemn promises to wait on the chiefest of all roses, in whom alone is conjoined the perfect red and white." "By St. Dorothy, sir knight, I have never heard tell of such an order, pray teach me who is the sovereign of it." "He is called by some the Lord of Love, for he is a mighty and puissant prince." "Are there many knights then enrolled in this order?" "Many for one cannot be a perfect knight without a lot in this brotherhood, in which high courage and the worship of loveliness are taught us, and all the service of incomparable beauty." ("He uses mighty fine words" said the serving maid, "he talks like a grammarian, and hath a noble nose.") "And how fares your brotherhood in poverty," went on Alianor, "for perhaps some of you have not very large estates and are not able to make a brave show, nor to sit beside the ladies you adore, nor to lead them out to dance." "'Tis then our sovereign lord doth succour us and opens to us the wicket into his close, and there we either live most blissfully or gladly die seised of Love's demesne." Thus Alianor and her knight played at question and answer, like two girls on a lawn tossing the ball either to other and coming nearer at every throw. Meanwhile the maid and the page were playing amidst the trees and laughing, for the boy wished to kiss the girl, she said he was too young for kissing, told him to wait a year or two and then he might do what he liked with her lips. But
[ 166 ]
