Merciless Beauty*
A Triple Rondel*
I
Your two bright eyes will slay me suddenly; the beauty of them I cannot sustain, so keenly it strikes through my heart.
Unless your word will heal very speedily my heart’s wound while it is still fresh, your two eyes will slay me suddenly: the beauty of them I cannot sustain.
Upon my word I tell you faithfully, you are the queen over my life and death, for by my death the truth shall be seen: your two bright eyes will slay me suddenly; the beauty of them I cannot sustain, so keenly strikes it through my heart.
II
Your Beauty has chased Pity from your heart in such a way that it does not help to complain, for Pride fetters your Mercy in his chains.
Thus you have purchased my death for guiltless me; I say the truth, I have no need to lie; your Beauty has chased Pity from your heart in such a way that it does not help to complain.
Alas, that Nature has placed in you so much Beauty that no man shall gain Mercy, though he may perish for the pain! Your Beauty has chased Pity from your heart in such a way that it does not help to complain, for Pride fetters your Mercy in his chains.
III
Since I who have escaped from Love am so fat, I intend no more to be lean in prison; since I am free, I regard Love less than a bean.
He may answer and say either this or that; I do not think about it, I speak just as I mean to speak. Since I who have escaped from Love am so fat, I intend no more to be lean in prison.
Love has struck my name from his slate, and he is stricken clean out of my books forevermore; there is no other course of action. Since I who have escaped from Love am so fat, I intend no more to be lean in prison; since I am free, I regard Love less than a bean.
Explicit.
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1 This poem, like the two above and the one below, is not fully accepted as authentically Chaucer’s own work.
2. Rondel. A French lyric poem, usually 12 to 18 lines and limited to two rhymes. (Chaucer uses four rhymes.)
Translated and Edited by Gerard NeCastro
© Copyright, 2007, All Rights Reserved
Citation. Chaucer, Geoffrey. Merciless Beauty. NeCastro, Gerard, ed. and trans. eChaucer: https://www.echaucer.com. [Site Visit Date.]
