Classic Poem

" ELOQUENT Genius, now I bid you seek
The host of barons of the God of Love,
Who, I am certain, is so fond of me,
So frank and debonair is he of heart,
That much he strives to serve me, and is drawn,
More than a steel to magnet, to my work.
My greetings give to him and my good friend
Dame Venus, and to all the barony
Except False Seeming, who associates
With hypocrites most dangerous and vain
And felons whom the Scriptures designate
As pseudo-prophets. Of Forced Abstinence
I've much suspicion that she's also proud
And like False Seeming, howsoever much
Humility and charity she wear.
So if False Seeming and Forced Abstinence,
His lady love, are still associates
Of proven traitors, greet them not from me.
Such folk are to be feared. Love would do well
To drive them from his army, if he would,
Unless their aid is indispensable
And lacking it he can accomplish naught.
But if they give their aid to true love's cause
And lessen lovers' pains, I pardon them.
" Go, friend, to Cupid; carry my complaints
And griefs; though not that he can justice gain
For me, but that some comfort he may find
In hearing news that should most welcome be
To him, and grievous to our enemies,
Leaving him free from care if not from pain
Which I see burdens him. Tell him that I.
Send you to excommunicate all those
Who us withstand, and freely to absolve
The valiant hearts who labor to observe
Rightly the rules found written in my book,
And strongly strive to multiply the race,
And give themselves to love. I call them friends
And will delight their souls, if they will guard
Themselves from vices that I've named before,
Which would destroy all good. Indulgence give,
Not for ten years, which were not worth a cent,
But plenary, for all they may have done
At any time, as soon as they confess.
When you have reached the host, who'll welcome you,
And as you best know how, my greeting given,
Within their hearing publish this decree
And absolution, which I'll dictate now. "
He wrote as she directed, and 'twas sealed.
She bade him haste, and asked to be absolved
If she had failed to think of anything.
Soon as Dame Nature thus had made her shrift,
As law and custom bade, the valiant priest
Gave absolution, and some penance slight,
As her slight fault deserved, assigned to her.
Back to her forge he said that she should go
And work as she had worked before she felt
Conviction of her fault, and serve until
The King who all can do and all undo
And all redress should other counsel give.
" Fair sir, " said she, " I'll do it willingly. "
" And I, " said he, " shall go without delay,
Faster than running, to give succor due
To all true lovers, soon as I put off
This silken rochet, chasuble, and alb. "
He hung them on a hook, and dressed himself
In clothing secular that left his limbs
More free, as if he would attend a dance;
And taking to his wings he swiftly flew away.