CAMELOT FANTASIES

—  Sweet Rose of Virtue


 by William Dunbar
 loose translation by Michael R. Burch



 Sweet rose of virtue and of gentleness,
 delightful lily of youthful wantonness,
 richest in bounty and in beauty clear
 and in every virtue that is held most dear―
except only that you are merciless.

 Into your garden, today, I followed you;
 there I saw flowers of freshest hue,
 both white and red, delightful to see,
 and wholesome herbs, waving resplendently―
yet everywhere, no odor but bitter rue.

 I fear that March with his last arctic blast
 has slain my fair rose of pallid and gentle cast,
 whose piteous death does my heart such pain
 that, if I could, I would compose her roots again―
so comforting her bowering leaves have been.