Classic Poem

Thus I did all he wished, and when past doubt
My loyalty was placed I said to him:
" My lord, to do your will is my desire;
I pray you take my service graciously.
To me you owe it to maintain good faith.
'Tis not because of dastardy I speak,
For by no means do I your service fear;
But vain is servant's toil to do his best
If, when he offers him his services,
His master looks on him disdainfully. "
Love answered, " Now be not at all dismayed;
Since you have placed yourself among my train,
With favor I'll your services receive
And raise you to a high degree, unless
Misconduct forfeits you that place; but hope
For no great good within a little space.
Pain and delay you must a while endure.
Support and suffer the distress which now
Racks you with pain, for well I know the drug
That shall effect your cure; but hold yourself
In loyalty and I'll provide such balm
As shall your wounds make well. Yes, by my head!
Your cure I'll soon complete if you'll but serve
With willing heart, and follow night and day
All the commandments I true lovers give. "
" Sire, " answered I, " before you leave this place,
For God's sake, your commandments give to me.
'Tis my intention to preserve them all;
But, if I'm ignorant of them, I fear
I soon should wander from the proper path.
The more desirous am I now to learn,
Because I would misunderstand no point. "

Said Love, " You've spoken very well. Now hear
And learn my rules. Schoolmasters lose their toil
When pupils, listening, give not their hearts
To treasuring up the counsels they receive. "
The God of Love then gave to me the charge
Which you are now to learn, and word by word
The ordinances he set forth of love.
Well are these points explained in my romance.
Whoso desires to love, let him attend;
For, from now on, my story will improve.
Most profitable 'twere to listen close,
For he who tells this tale his business knows.
The end of all this dream is very fine;
The substance of it is a novelty.
He who shall hear the story through and through
Quite well will understand the game of love,
Provided that he will the patience have
The dream's signification to await,
Which I expound in language of romance.
When you have heard my exposition through,
The meaning of the dream, which now is hid,
Shall be quite plain to you. I do not lie.
" Beware of Villainy, above all things;
I'll have no backsliding in this respect
Unless you wish to be a renegade, "
Said Love. " All those who Villainy admire
Shall excommunicate and cursed be.
Why should I love her? Villainy breeds churls.
Villains are cruel and unpitying,
Unserviceable, and without friendliness.
" Then guard yourself from telling what your hear
That better were untold; 'tis not the part
Of worthy men to gossip scandalously.
Notorious and hated was Sir Kay,
The Seneschal, just for his mockery;
While Sir Gawain for courtesy was praised.
As much of blame Sir Kay, the insolent,
Received because he cruel was and fell
And scandalous above all other knights.
" Be reasonable to men both high and low —
Companionable, courteous, moderate —
And when you walk along the street take care
To be the first with customary bow;
Or, if another greets you first, be quick
To render back his greeting, nor be mute.
" Then guard yourself against all ribaldry
And dirty speech; let not your lips unclose
To name a vulgar thing; no courteous man
I hold him who indulges in foul talk
" In ladies' service labor and take pains;
Honor and champion them; and if you hear
Calumnious or spiteful talk of them
Reprove the speaker; bid him hold his tongue.
Do what you can damsels and dames to please.
Let them hear you narrate most noble tales.
You'll gain a worthy reputation thus.
" Then guard yourself from pride. If you judge well,
You'll find that it is but a foolish sin.
One stained with vanity can not apply
His heart to service or humility.
Pride nullifies the aim of lover's art.
" The one who in Love's service would succeed
Genteelly should conduct himself and act.
Attainment of the ultimate in love
Is quite impossible in any case
For one who has no amiability.
But elegance in manners is not pride;
He who is mannerly will realize,
Unless he is a mere presumptuous fool,
That one's most valued who most lacks conceit.
" Maintain yourself well as your purse can bear
In clothing and in haberdashery;
Good dress and well-selected ornaments
Improve a man immensely. Trust your clothes
Only to one who knows his business well,
Who can with skillfulness the sleeves adjust —
Make every seam produce a perfect fit.
Laced boots and shoes buy often, fresh and new,
Fitting so well that churls will marvel oft
How into them and out of them you get.
Your gloves, your belt, your purse should be of silk.
If you have not the means, restrain your taste;
But give yourself the best you can afford.
A coronet of blooms costs but a bit,
And roses at the time of Pentecost
Require no great outlay; such each may have.
Let no filth soil your body; wash your hands;
Scour well your teeth; and if there should appear
The slightest line of black beneath your nails
Never permit the blemish to remain.
Lace your sleeves and comb your hair, but try
No paint or other artificial aid —
Unsuitable e'en for a female's use,
Unless she be of ill repute, or such
As through misfortune must seek spurious love.
" Then after this you must remember well
Forever to maintain your cheerfulness.
Dispose yourself to gladness and delight,
For Love cares nothing for a mournful man.
Love brings a very jolly malady
In midst of which one laughs and jokes and plays.
Lovers by turns feel torments first, then joys.
Lovesickness is a changeable disease:
One hour it bitter is, the next as sweet;
One hour the lover weeps, the next he sings;
Now he is glad, distracted next he groans.
If you know how to play a cheerful game,
With which you may amuse the company,
'Tis my command that you make use of it;
For everyone should do in every place
That which he knows will advantageous be,
Because by this he gets thanks, grace, and praise.
" If you know that you're quick and lithe of limb,
Avoid no contests of agility;
If you look well on horseback, up and down
You ought to spur your steed; and if you know
How well to break a lance, you'll gain great praise;
You'll be much loved if you're expert in arms.
If you've a voice that's sweet and pure and clear,
Seek no excusal when you're asked to sing;
For well-sung song will furnish much delight.
'Tis advantageous that a bachelor
Should be expert in playing flute or viol;
By this and dancing he'll advance his cause.
" Let no one think that you are miserly,
For such a reputation causes grief;
It is most fitting that a lover wise
Should give more freely from his treasury
Than any common simpleton or sot.
Naught of the lore of love the miser knows,
Whom giving does not please. From avarice
The one who wishes to progress in love
Must guard himself full well; for any swain
Who for a pleasant glance or winsome smile
Has given his heart entirely away
Ought well, after so rich a gift, his goods
Willingly to offer and bestow.
" Now shortly I'll review what I have said,
For best remembered are things briefly told:
Whoever wishes to make Love his lord
Must courteous be and wholly void of pride,
Gracious and merry, and in giving free.
" Next I enjoin as penance, night and day,
Without repentance, that you think on Love,
Forever keeping ceaselessly in mind
The happy hour which has such joy in store.
That you may be a lover tried and true,
My wish and will are that your heart be fixed
In one sole place whence it can not depart
But whole and undivided there remain;
For no halfhearted service pleases me.
He who in many a place bestows his heart
Has but a little part to leave in each;
But of that man I never have a doubt
Who his whole heart deposits in one place.
When you have given your heart, then lend it not;
To lend what one has given is scandalous.
Unconditionally one should make
His gift, and thus a greater merit gain.
The bounty of a thing that's merely lent
Is paid for with a mere return of thanks;
But great should be the guerdon of free gift.
Give, then, not only freely but with grace;
For debonairly given gift is best.
Things given grudgingly are nothing worth at all. "