Classic Poem

When Genius ended, all the lords rejoiced.
Never a better sermon, so they said,
Had been pronounced to them; nor since their birth
Had they a fuller pardon e'er received;
Nor ever such a just anathema
Against all men who might that pardon scorn
Had they e'er heard. They all at once adhered
Unto that creed and cried, " Fiat! Amen! "
Things being so appointed, they would brook
No more delay. Each one who had paid heed
To that sweet sermon loved its text so well
That word for word he locked it in his heart.
Gladly they'd heard it, for its pardon seemed
Most salutary and compassionate.
Then Genius vanished, so that no one knew
What had become of him. A shout arose
From twenty of the host, " To arms! To arms!
No more delay! Greatly our enemy
Will fear us if we heed our lord's decree! "
Then, jumping to their feet, they ready stood
To carry on the war until each tower
Should captured be or leveled to the ground.
Venus, all ready for the fray, demands
First of the guards that they give up the fort.
What do they answer? Shame and Fear respond:

" Certainly, Venus, you we need not fear;
You'll never set one foot within our walls " ;
And Shame adds, " Though I stood alone on guard,
Truly I would not feel the least dismay. "

Then, answering Shame, the goddess cries, " Vile trull,
Out of my way! Who are you to resist?
Unless the castle is surrendered straight
To me, you never will survive the storm
That I shall raise; for never can you hope
To make defense. Resistance is in vain
Against my army. By the flesh of God!
You'll give it up or I'll burn you alive
Like miserable caitiff that you are!
The whole enclosure I will set on fire;
Turrets and towers I will raze to earth.
I'll burn your fences, walls, and columns down.
I'll scorch your fosses, fill your ditches full.
No matter how you rear up straight and tall
Your barbicans, that stand so proudly there,
I'll bend them double, and you'll not prevent
Me when I stretch them low upon the ground.
Fair Welcome I'll permit to pluck at will
Blossoms and buds, as purchases or gifts,
When I have opened wide the garden gate.
However furious you may be, you'll see
That all men in procession shall go there,
Without exception, midst the trees and flowers,
And everybody roses pluck and buds.
To outwit Jealousy, I will enlarge
The passages, that all the world may go
To plunder mead and prairie of their blooms.
Cleric and layman then shall gather there,
Without delay or hindrance, buds and flowers.
None will be able to restrain themselves,
Be they religious men or secular,
From paying there appropriate penance.
But not alike will they perform their vows —
Some openly, some secretly will come —
Though those who hide love's mysteries will be
Held nobler; others will be oft defamed —
Called ribalds and puerile profligates —
While they may never be so much at fault
As those avoiding all reproach and blame.
" It's true that some abandoned men desert
The roses for the weeds. May God confound
(The holy Pope at Rome assisting him)
Both them and their affairs! Satan it is
Who to such crimes incites, and he will give
Them nettle hats in Hell. For, by command
Of Nature, Genius sentences them all,
Both for their sins and for their nastiness,
To punishment with all our enemies.
" Shame, if I don't outwit you, hold my bow
And arrow of but little worth, for ne'er
I'll boast again if now I don't succeed.
You and your mother Reason both I hate,
So harsh you are to lovers. Whosoe'er
Believes the one or other scarce can hope
To love. " No more said Venus, thinking 'twould suffice.