|
Somme clerkes holden that felicitee |
| 810 | Stant in delit, and therfore certeyn he, |
| This noble Januarie, with al his myght, |
| In honest wyse, as longeth to a knyght, |
| Shoop hym to lyve ful deliciously. |
| His housynge, his array, as honestly |
| 815 | To his degree was maked as a kynges. |
| Amonges othere of his honeste thynges, |
| He made a gardyn, walled al with stoon; |
| So fair a gardyn woot I nowher noon. |
| For, out of doute, I verraily suppose |
| 820 | That he that wroot the romance of the rose |
| Ne koude of it the beautee wel devyse; |
| Ne Priapus ne myghte nat suffise, |
| Though he be God of gardyns, for to telle |
| The beautee of the gardyn and the welle, |
| 825 | That stood under a laurer alwey grene. |
| Ful ofte tyme he Pluto and his queene, |
| Proserpina, and al hire fayerye, |
| Disporten hem and maken melodye |
| Aboute that welle, and daunced, as men tolde. |
|
| Some writers hold that all felicity |
| 810 | Stands in delight, and therefor, certainly, |
| This noble January, with all his might, |
| Honourably, as does befit a knight, |
| Arranged affairs to live deliciously. |
| His housing, his array, as splendidly |
| 815 | Befitted his condition as a king's. |
| Among the rest of his luxurious things |
| He built a garden walled about with stone; |
| So fair a garden do I know of none. |
| For, without doubt, I verily suppose |
| 820 | That he who wrote The Romance of the Rose |
| Could not its beauty say in singing wise; |
| Nor could Priapus' power quite suffice, |
| Though he is god of gardens all, to tell |
| The beauty of that garden, and the well |
| 825 | Which was beneath the laurel always green. |
| For oftentimes God Pluto and his queen, |
| Fair Proserpine and all her faery |
| Disported there and made sweet melody |
| About that well, and danced there, as men told. |
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