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ОглавлениеTHE AMOROUS CONTENTION OF PHILLIS AND FLORA
THE PLEADING OF THE ROSE AND OF THE VIOLET
THE AMOROUS CONTENTION OF PHILLIS AND FLORA[4]
In flowry season of the yeere,
And when the firmament was cleere,
When Tellus hierbales paynted were
With issue of disparent[5] chere.
When th'usher to the morne did rise,
And drive the darknes from the skyes,
Sleepe gave their visuale liberties
To Phillis and to Floras eyes.
To walke these Ladyes liked best,
For sleepe rejects the wounded brest,
Who joyntly to a meade addrest,
Their sportance with the place to feast.
Thus made they amorous accesse,
Both virgins and both princesces;
Fayre Phillis wore a liberal tresse,
But Flora hirs in curls did dresse.
Nor in their ornamentall grace,
Nor in behaviour were they bace;
Their yeeres and mindes in egall[6] place
Did youth and his effects embrace.
A little yet unlike they proove,
And somewhat hostilely they strove:
A scholler Floras minde did moove,
But Phillis likt a souldiers love.
For stature and fresh bewties flowrs,
There grew no difference in their dowrs,
All thinges were free to both their powrs
Without and in their courtly bowrs.
One vow they made religiously,
And were of one societie;
And onely was their impacie[7]
The forme of eithers phantasie.[8]
Now did a timely gentle gale
A little whisper through the dale,
Where was a place of festivale,
With verdant grasse adorned all.
And in that meade-prowd-making grasse,
A river, like to liquid glasse,
Did in such sound-full murmure passe,
That with the same it wanton was.
Hard by this brooke a pyne had seate,
With goodly furniture compleate,
To make the place in state more greate
And lessen the inflaming heate.
Which was with leaves so bewtifide
And spread his brest so thicke and wide,
That all the sunnes estranged pride
Sustainde repulse on every side.
Fayre Phillis by the foorde did sit,
But Flora far remov'd from it,
The place in all thinges sweete was fit,
Where herbage did their seates admit.
Thus milde they opposite were set,
And coulde not their affects forget,
Loves arrows and their bosoms met,
And both their harts did passion fret.
Love close and inward shrowds his fires,
And in faint words firme sighs enspires,
Pale tinctures change their cheeks attires,
But modest shame entoombs their ires.
Phillis did Flora sighing take,
And Flora did requitale make:
So both together part the stake,
Till foorth the wound and sicknes brak.
In this chang'd speech they long time staide,
The processe all on Love they laide,
Love in their harts their lookes bewraide,
At last in laughter Phillis saide:
"Brave souldier," sayd she, "O my Paris,
In fight, or where so ere he tarries,
The souldiers lyfe lyfes glory carries,
Onely worth Venus household quarries."[9]
While she hir warr-friende did prefer,
Flora lookt coye and laught at her;
And did this adverse speech aver:
"Thou shouldst have said, I love a begger.
"But what doth he my hart embraces?
A thing create, that all things passes,
Whom nature blest with all hir graces;
O clerkes, in you blisse all blisse places."
This hard speech Phillis hardly takes,
And thus she Floras pacience crakes;
"Thou lov'st a man pure love forsakes,
That God his godles bellie makes.
"Rise, wretch, from this grosse extasie,
A clerke sole epicure thinke I.
No elegance can bewtifie
A shapeles lump of gluttonie.
"His hart sweete Cupids tents rejects,
That onely meate and drinke affects:
O Flora, all mens intelects
Know souldiers vows, shun those respects.
"Meere helpes for neede his minde suffiseth,
Dull sleepe and surfetts he despiseth,
Loves trump his temples exerciseth,
Cooradge and love, his life compriseth.
"Who with like band our loves combineth?
Even Natures law thereat repineth;
My love in conquests palme-wreths shineth,
Thine feasts deforms, mine fight refineth."
Flora hir modest face enrosed,
Whose second smile more fayre disclosed,
At length with mooving voyce she losed
What art in her storde brest reposed.
"Phillis, thy fill of speech thou hast,
Thy witt with pointed wings is grast,
Yet urdgest not a trueth so vast,
That hemlocks lillies have surpast.
"Ease loving clerkes thou holdst for cleere,
Servants to sloth and bellie cheere;
So envie honor would enpheere,[10]
But give me eare, Ile give thee answere.
"So much enjoyes this love of myne,
He nere envies, or hirs, or thyne;
Household stuffe, honny, oyle, corne, wine,
Coyne, jewels, plate, serve his designe.
"Such pleasing store have clerks bylying,
As none can fayne their dignifying:
There, Love clasps his glad wings in flying,
Love ever firme, Love never dying.
"Loves stings in him are still sustained,
Yet is my clerke nor pinde nor pained:
Joy hath no part in him restrained,
To whom his love beares thoughts unfained.
"Palled, and leane, is thy elected,
Poore, scarce with cloths or skin contected,
His sinews weake, his brest dyjected,
For nothing causde maks nought effected.
"Approching neede is Loves meere hell,
Souldiers want gyfts to woo loves well:
But clerks give much, and still heaps swell,
Their rents and riches so excell."
"Right well thou knowst" (Phillis replide)
"What in both arts and lyves abide,
Likely, and clenly thou hast lide:
But thus our difference is not tride.
"When holy-day the whole world cheeres,
A clerke lifes modest figure beares:
His crowne is heaven, black weeds he weares,
And showes a mind halfe dround in teares.
"None is so poore of sence or eyne,
To whom a souldier doth not shyne:
At ease, like sprightles beasts lives thyne,
Helms, and barb'd horse, do weare out myne.
"Mine low with armes makes foe-towrs ly,
And when on foote he fight doth try,
While his fayre squire his horse holds by,
Mine thinks on me, and then they dy.
"He turns, fight past, and foes inchased,
And lookes on me with helme unlaced,
Lifts his strong lyms, and brest strait graced,
And saies, kyss-blesse me, O hart-placed."
Flora her wrath in pants did spye,
And many a dart at hir lets flye:
"Thou canst not make with heaven-reacht crye
A camel pierce a needels eye.
"False goes for true, for honny, gall,
To make a clerke a souldiers thrall;
Doth love to souldiers coradge call?
No, but the neede they toyle withall.
"Fayre Phillis, would thy love were wise,
No more the trueth to contrarise!
Hunger and thirst bow souldiers thies,
In which Deaths path and Plutos lies.
"Sharpe is the wasting bane of warre
The lot is hard, and strayneth farre:
The lyfe is stooping, doubts doth jarre,
To get such things as needefull are.
"Knewst thou the case, thou wouldst not say,
Shaven haire sham'd clerks, or black aray:
Worne higher honors to display,
And that all states they oversway.
"All things should to my clerke encline,
Whose crowne sustains th' impereal signe;
He rules and payes such friendes as thine,
And lay must stoope to men divine.
"Thou sayst that sloth a clerke disguiseth,
Who I confesse base workes despiseth:
But when from cares his free minde riseth,
Heavens course and Naturs he compriseth.
"Mine purple decks, thine maile bedighteth,
Thine lives in war, mine peace delighteth,
Olde acts of princes he resighteth,
All of his friend thinks, seeks, and wrighteth.
"What Venus can, or Loves wingd lord,
First knowes my clerke, and brings me word:
Musicke in cares doth mine afford,
Thine joyes in rapine and the sword."
Here speech and strife had both their ending,
Phillis askt judgment, all suspending:
Much stir they made, yet ceast contending;
And sought a judge in homewards wending.
With countnances that egale[11] beene,
With egale majestie beseene:
With egale voyce, and egale spleene,
These virgins ward uppon the greene.
Phillis a white robe bewtifide,
Flora wore one of two hews dide:
Phillis upon a mule did ride,
Flora did back a horse of pride.
The mule was that which being create,
Neptune did feede, and subjugate:
Which after fayre Adonis fate,
He Venus sent to cheere hir state.
This, she the queene of Iberine,
Phillis fayre mother did resigne,
Since she was given to workes divine,
Whence Phillis had the mule in fine.
Who of the trappings asks, and bit,
The mule (though silver) champing it:
Know all things were so richly fit,
As Neptunes honor might admit.
Then Phillis no decorid wanted,
But rich and bewtious, all eyes daunted:
Nor Floras vertue lesse enchaunted,
Who on a welthy palfrey vaunted.
Tamde with his raines, won heaven for lightnes,
Exceeding fayre, and full of wightnes,[12]
His brest art dectt with divers brightnes,
For jeate blacke mixt with swans pure whightnes.
Young and in dainty shape dygested,
His lookes with pride, not rage, invested:
His mayne thin haird, his neck high crested,
Small eare, short head, and burly brested.
His brode backe stoopt to this clerks-loved,
Which with hir pressure nought was moved:
Strait legd, large thighd, and hollow hoved,
All Natures skill in him was proved.
An ivorie seate on him had place,
A hoope of golde did it imbrace,
Graven: and the poitrell[13] did enchace
A stone that star-like gave it grace.
Inscription there allurde the eye,
With many a wondrous misterie:
Of ancient thinges made noveltie,
That never man did yet descrie.
The God of Rhetoriques nuptiall bowre,
Adornd with every heavenly powre,
The contract, and the mariage howre,
And all the most unmeasurd dowre.
No place was there that figurd nought,
That could through all the world be sought:
But more excesse of mervails wrought,
Then might inceede[14] a humane thought.
The skyll of Mulciber alone
Engrav'd that admirable throne:
Who looking stedfastly thereon,
Scarse thought his hand such art had shone.
The trappings wrought he not with ease,
But all his payne employde to please:
And left, to go in hand with these,
The tardge of great Aeacides.[15]
A styrrop for hir feete to presse,
And bridle-bosses he did dresse,
And added rains in worths excesse,
Of his sweete spowses goulden tresse.
Thus on their famouse cavalrye,
These prince-borne damzels seemd to flye:
Their soft young cheekebales to the eye
Are of the fresh vermilion dye.
So lillies out of scarlet peere,
So roses of the vernall yeere,
So shoote two wanton starrs y-feere[16]
From the eternall burning spheere.
The child-gods gracefull paradise,
They joyntly purpose to invise:[17]
And lovely emulations rise,
In note of one anothers guise.
Phillis to Flora, laughter led,
And Flora Phillis answered:
A merlin Phillis managed,
A sparhawlke Flora caried.
In little tyme these ladyes founde
A grove with every pleasure crounde:
At whose sweete entrie did resounde
A foorde that flowrd that holy grounde.
From thence the sweete-breathd winds convay
Odors from every mirtle spray:
And other flowrs, to whose aray
A hundred harpes and timbrels play.
All pleasurs studie can invent,
The dames eares instantly present:
Voyces in all sorts different,
The foure parts, and the diapent.[18]
Two tunes that from those voyces flie,
With admirable harmonie:
The tymbrell, harpe, and psalterie,
Rejoyce in rapting symphonie.
There did the vials voyce abounde,
In musicke angel-like profounde:
There did the phife dispredden rounde
His songe in many a variant sounde.
All birdes with tunefull bosoms sing,
The blackbird makes the woods to ring:
The thrush, the jay, and she[19] in spring
Rues the past rape of Thraces king.
Their shrill notes to the musicke plying,
Then all the different flowrs descrying,
The odors in abundance flying,
Prov'd it the bowre of Loves soft-lying.
The virgins something entered here,
And sprinckled with a little feare,
Their harts before that helde Love deare,
In Cupids flames encreased were.
And while each winged forester
Their proper rumors[20] did prefer,
Each virgins minde made waight on her
Applauses apt and singuler.
Deathles were he coulde there repose,
Each path his spycie odor stroes:
Of mirh and synamon there groes,
And of our blessed Ladyes rose.
Each tree hath there his severall blisse,
In fruites that never season misse:
Men may conceave how sweete Love is,
By that celestiall court of his.
The dauncing companies they see
Of young men and of maydens free;
Whose bodyes are as bright in blee,[21]
As starrs illustrate bodyes bee.
In which so mervaylous a guyse
Of unexpected novelties,
These virgins bosoms through their eyes
Were daunted with a quicke surprise.
Who stay their royall steads outright,
And almost from their seates alight:
Forgetting their endevors quight,
With that proud rumors sweete affright.
But when sad Philomene did straine
Her rape-full-raving brest againe,
These ladyes hearing hir complaine,
Were reinflamd in every vaine.
About the center of the spring,
A secret place is where they sing,
And use their supreme worshypping,
Of Loves neare-darting fiery king.
There many a two-shapt companie,
Of faunes, nimphes, satyres, meete and plie
The tymbrell and the psalterie,
Before Loves sacred majestie.
There beare they goblets bigg with wine,
And coronets of flowrs combine:
There nimphs and fauns demy-divine,
Doth Bacchus teach to foote it fine.
Who keepe true measure with their feete,
That to the instruments do fleete:
But olde Silenus playes not sweete
In consort, but indents the streete.[22]
The spring-sleepe did his temples lode,
As on a long-eard asse he rode:
Laughters excesse, to see him nod,
Dissolv'd the bosome of the God.
Fresh cups he ever cals uppon,
In sounds of imperfection,
With age and Bacchus overgon,
They stop his voyces organon.
Amongst this gamesome crew is seene,
The issue of the Cyprian Queene,
Whose head and shoulders fethered beene,
And as the starrs his countnance sheene.
In his left hand his bow he bare,
And by his side his quiver ware:
In powre he sits past all compare,
And with his flames the worlde doth dare.
A scepter in his hand he hild,
With Chloris native flowrs untild,
And nectars deathles odors stild,
From his bright lookes the sunne did guild.
The triple Graces there assist,
Supporting with their brests commist,
And knees that Tellus bosome kist,
The challice of this amorist.
These ladyes now approched neare,
And worshipped exempt from feare
Loves god: who was environd there
With youth, that honord stiles did beare.
Their joy is superexcellent,
To see a court so confluent:
Whom Cupid, seeing their intent,
Doth with his greeting intervent.
He askes the cause for which they came:
They confidently tell the same:
And he gives prayse to eyther dame,
That durst so great a warre proclame.
To both he spake to make some pause,
Untyll their honorable cause,
Profoundly wayde in every clause,
Might be explande with all applause.
He was a God which well they know,
Rehearsall needes it not bestow:
They light and rest, and playnely show,
Where Love strives, Love wil maister grow.
Love lawes and judges hath in fee,[23]
Nature and use his judges bee:
To whom his whole courts censures flee,
Since past, and things to come, they see.
These do the hart of justice trie,
And show the courts severitie:
In judgment, and strong customs eye,
The clerke is fitst for venerie.[24]
Gainst which the queenes but little strove,
Since Loves high voyce did it approve:
So both to their abodes remove:
But as at first, rest firm in Love.
Translated by George Chapman(?)
THE PLEADING OF THE ROSE AND OF THE VIOLET[25]
In the presence of Imagination, before whom in due course of law actions are brought, an argument was one day commenced between the Rose and the Violet. The matter, of which I treat, was most wisely conducted. To set forth fully points, process, articles, and case, the advocate of the Rose appeared first and began as follows:
"Violet! I am here to propound a question in behalf of my lady, lovely Rose; I hereby announce to you, and intend likewise to proclaim and sustain in all courts of the land, that Rose is of greater worth, more desired, and more dearly esteemed than you are. That is just, for indeed she adorns the season with her color, more delicate than purple and crimson, and with her sweet fragrance. She lasts much longer in her beauty than do you, Violet; and, red or white, she springs in the pleasant month of May to draw all lovers out of their sadness. Then do ladies and youths, lords, bachelors and maidens gather her flowers, some making chaplets of them and others weaving garlands to adorn themselves."
At this point, the advocate of the Violet, who was very old, could no longer keep silent, and broke in:
"O God! If I did not know how to speak, I might have to withdraw from this argument, but, if it please God, I shall speak, and I shall support the cause of Violet against Rose. Sir Advocate, I say and affirm, in spite of your speech, that Violet is more joyfully welcomed, more beloved, and more desired than Rose. Here is the cause; now listen to the truth. When a winter full of frost and chill shall have put to rout, by its prolonged stay, trees and fruits, leaves and flowers, then men and women and children long for bright days, and wish the springtime to come swiftly, when they will hear the singing of larks and will find violets in orchards, gardens, and every pretty close. There youths and maidens gather them and make gay chaplets, and many put them under their pillows in token of delight and pleasure. And when this sweet and fresh season of spring comes anew, you may see many people fastening violets in fresh green sprays of gooseberry, and arranging them so as to set off their beauty and fragrance. To speak truly, Sir Advocate, one cannot do them too much honor. Now, I pray you, sit down; for I would rest a little. But I will take up the argument again, if, indeed, there be any further need of my services."
Each of the advocates seated himself, and Imagination set a day for their return, for she wished to hear them further.
Here follows how the Advocate of the Rose sets forth her Cause
Now they have come to the appointed day; may it dawn happily, for I would hear most gladly the order of their discourse. The advocate of the Rose spoke first, for he was well versed in speaking, and he addressed them as follows:
"Before Imagination, who is my sovereign lady, I here make protest and vigorous complaint against the grievous charges with which Violet oppresses us. When she wishes to detract from the power of the Rose, white and red, she shows little discrimination, and her advocate likewise, for as black differs from white so it is clear the Violet differs from the Rose. I do not know who is counselling this advocate, but certainly he is not endowed with good judgment; or if he is, it does not appear in this case. Now, to silence him completely I will give some details, that he may take counsel of them. First of all, I will compare the red rose, by figure, to the sun, for the round sun, when we see it rising at morning and setting at night, is in color not at all variegated, but sanguine indeed, and deep red as the red rose. There are yet further considerations why one should greatly honor the Rose. You know that there are two kinds of grapes, from which are made white wine and red, and with these wines the holy sacrament is solemnly celebrated. I choose the white rose to stand for the white wine, and for red wine the red rose. Indeed, they still cry in the streets, 'Come buy the good wine Rosette.' Roses, white and red, have mysterious and agreeable virtue, for from them is made a liquid, called rose water, that is good for healthy folk, and necessary for those that are ill, because it assuages strong fevers. It is refreshing to the face, and to the mouth and the hands. Many, indeed, wish their pillows, be it for sleeping or waking, may be scented with the fragrance of the Rose. Consider where the Rose dwells. I call the rose-bush her house. God set her there, in all reason, not shut up in a tower, but enclosed about with sharp thorns so that the young goats that love to pasture on violets and nibble the leaves and tender shoots shall not touch roses nor buds."
With this, the advocate for the Rose was silent, having reviewed wisely and well, it seemed, the case of the Rose, red and white. The court adjourned for a little, until there was great impatience to know if the advocate of the Violet, having heard the case for lovely Rose, would return to the debate. Truly, you shall hear how he responded with much wisdom. But I must write down his replies before I can recite them.
Here follows how the Advocate of the Violet sustains her Cause
"O Advocate for Violet, come forward, for they bring points of opposition against you," said Imagination, "and you will have to make reply to them, unless I am to dismiss the case."
The advocate answered, "Lady, I am all ready, by my soul, to reply, and to do my duty, and to show that I have spoken truth. First of all, I state, in plain prose, that I do not doubt the Rose may be beautiful and good and wise and may have many ways and uses that are much to be commended; but I should like to ask her advocate if his figure of the sun is acceptable or quite truthful. The Rose is cool and moist, the sun hot; now, in this point, his argument is false. However, let that count for what it may. My sword is as sharpened for all thrusts as his. He is foolish who evades his opponent when he can attack him. I have both occasion and motive for challenging him, and so I do it. He has just now compared the Rose to the sun; I assure him that I will not, by a still worse figure, compare violets to the stars or the planets. I will not strain his comparison farther, for that would be foolish. But I will name them daughters of the round firmament, for they have her own color, without white, black, red, or green. When clouds came down from the heavens, the earth drank in their moisture and conceived violets, so she holds them in deep affection. Blue signifies steadfastness; he or she who wears it, remember, must have a heart always firm and steadfast and strengthened. Violets are flowers of good worth, fair to see and to wear. When ladies and maidens have fine gowns or rich hangings for their beds, if they scent them with violets people will say, 'This robe is sweet,' and will enjoy the odor. Violets, dear masters, have further power and virtue, which strengthens my argument and overthrows all your specious comments.
"Take violets and roses, and, to test their power, throw them into brandy, to see what will happen and what will become of their odor. The brandy, which is powerful, will take away substance and vigor from the lovely Rose, while the Violet will persist in its fragrance; this is certain. So I hold her, and with reason, to be of far greater importance and of much nobler quality than the Rose. Furthermore, there is made from violets a good lotion which gives comfort to sick people, and from the plants and roots are made several medicines, but you cannot make anything out of a rose-bush, except a fire in winter. And if goats or sheep do browse on violets, I am sure that the milk they give does much good to the children who drink it."
Then Master Papin, the advocate of the Rose, stood up and wished to say something, but Imagination spoke before him, and said, "Where are you going, Sir Advocate? You weary us with so much talking. Who wants to listen to your speeches? They would fill four rolls. We must stop your pleading, for we are compelled to hear other cases."
"Lady," said the advocate, "you ought to hear all suits out; for that is your court open. Do not be so hasty; you complain of the debate too soon. Pronounce your just decision on our case."
Imagination, at these words, declared that she would hear no more, nor would she give a decision.
"Who will then? Tell us that, Lady!"
"Willingly," she replied; "you have elsewhere a court of appeal for judging right and wrong, which is higher than mine."
"And where is it? Lead us to it, or direct us, and we will go there."
Imagination replied, "Good sir Advocate, the noble and high Fleur-de-lys, whom men should hold in dear esteem, has sovereignty, has she not, over the Rose and all other flowers? Indeed she has and always has had and shall have, as is just; for as the lion is king of beasts and the eagle king of birds, so, I assure you, is the Fleur-de-lys sovereign lady over all flowers, and most exalted. Therefore go to her court,—happy is he who has recourse to it,—I cannot send you to a better place to plead your cause. The way is not very long; say that I sent you there for counsel, that they may help you."
"Ah, dear lady, and where does the Fleur-de-lys live? Since this is so, we will go there, if it please you."
She responds, without hesitation, "In the noble realm of France. There you will find with all delight the noble and high Fleur-de-lys surrounded in state by a fair and goodly company: Hardihood, Youth, Wisdom, Honor, and Largesse, by whom you will be welcomed gladly and advised with counsel gracious and wise. For the King, Orleans and Bourbon, Berry, Bourgoyne, Eu, and La Marche will not break their promise to study wisely, to consider loyally, and to examine your dispute, which will be pleasing to them. And when they have heard it, I believe that they will answer so wisely and so to the point that there will never be more argument between Rose and Violet such as this plea deals with. And if, through any difficulty in the affair, it should be necessary to have counsel, you know there are still the Marguerites, small and beautiful flowers, whom it is a pleasure to meet again at all seasons, summer and winter, and there are several other noble flowers, with which her court is much adorned, who may give her faithful counsel. Go there, I advise you."
"Lady," said he, "that is our purpose." With that the hearing was closed.
Translated by Marion E. Markley
