| 1060 |
First in the temple of Venus maystow se |
| Wroght on the wal, ful pitous to biholde, |
| The broken slepes and the sikes colde, |
| The sacred teeris and the waymentynge, |
| The firy strokes, and the desirynge |
| 1065 | That loves servantz in this lyf enduren; |
| The othes that her covenantz assuren; |
| Plesaunce and Hope, Desir, Foolhardynesse, |
| Beautee and Youthe, Bauderie, Richesse, |
| Charmes and Force, Lesynges, Flaterye, |
| 1070 | Despense, Bisynesse, and Jalousye, |
| That wered of yelewe gooldes a gerland, |
| And a cokkow sittynge on hir hand; |
| Festes, instrumentz, caroles, daunces, |
| Lust and array, and alle the circumstaunces |
| 1075 | Of love, whiche that I rekned, and rekne shal, |
| By ordre weren peynted on the wal, |
| And mo than I kan make of mencioun; |
| For soothly, al the mount of Citheroun, |
| Ther Venus hath hir principal dwellynge, |
| 1080 | Was shewed on the wal in portreyynge, |
| With al the gardyn and the lustynesse. |
| Nat was foryeten the Porter Ydelnesse, |
| Ne Narcisus the faire, of yore agon, |
| Ne yet the folye of kyng Salamon, |
| 1085 | And eek the grete strengthe of Ercules - |
| Th'enchauntementz of Medea and Circes - |
| Ne of Turnus, with the hardy fiers corage, |
| The riche Cresus, kaytyf in servage. |
| Thus may ye seen, that wysdom ne richesse, |
| 1090 | Beautee ne sleighte, strengthe ne hardynesse, |
| Ne may with Venus holde champartie, |
| For as hir list, the world than may she gye. |
| Lo, alle thise folk so caught were in hir las, |
| Til they for wo ful ofte seyde "allas!" |
| 1095 | Suffiseth heere ensamples oon or two- |
| And, though, I koude rekene a thousand mo. |
|
| 1060 | First, in the fane of Venus, one might see, |
| Wrought on the wall, and piteous to behold, |
| The broken slumbers and the sighing cold, |
| The sacred tears and the lamenting dire, |
| The fiery throbbing of the strong desire, |
| 1065 | That all love's servants in this life endure; |
| The vows that all their promises assure; |
| Pleasure and hope, desire, foolhardiness, |
| Beauty, youth, bawdiness, and riches, yes, |
| Charms, and all force, and lies, and flattery, |
| 1070 | Expense, and Labour and Jealousy |
| That wore of marigolds a great garland |
| And had a cuckoo sitting on her hand; |
| Carols and instruments and feasts and dances, |
| Lust and array, and all the circumstances |
| 1075 | Of love that I may reckon or ever shall, |
| In order they were painted on the wall, |
| Aye, and more, too, than I have ever known. |
| For truly, all the Mount of Citheron, |
| Where Venus has her chief and favoured dwelling, |
| 1080 | Was painted on that wall, beyond my telling, |
| With all the gardens in their loveliness. |
| Nor was forgot the gate-guard Idleness, |
| Nor fair Narcissus of the years long gone, |
| Nor yet the folly of King Solomon, |
| 1085 | No, nor the giant strength of Hercules, |
| Nor Circe's and Medea's sorceries, |
| Nor Turnus with his hardy, fierce courage, |
| Nor the rich Croesus, captive in his age. |
| Thus may be seen that wisdom, nor largess, |
| 1090 | Beauty, nor skill, nor strength, nor hardiness, |
| May with Queen Venus share authority; |
| For as she wills, so must the whole world be. |
| Lo, all these folk were so caught in her snare |
| They cried aloud in sorrow and in care. |
| 1095 | Here let suffice examples one or two, |
| Though I might give a thousand more to you. |
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