To Rosamonde
Madame, you are the shrine of all beauty, as far as the map of the world extends, for you shine as glorious as crystal, and your round cheeks are like ruby. Furthermore, you are so carefree and joyful that when I see you dance at a merry-making, it is an ointment to my wound, even if you do not dally with me.
For though I weep a tub full of tears, yet that woe cannot put a stop to my heart; your lovely voice, which flows out so softly, fills my thought with joy and bliss. So courteously I move, so bound by love, that I say to myself in my pains, “it suffices for me to love you, Rosamonde, even if you do not dally with me.”
Never was a pike so wallowed in spicy sauce as I am wallowed and immersed in love; and for this reason so often I imagine myself to be the true second Tristram.* My love can never grow cold or numb. I will always burn in amorous pleasure. Do as you wish, I will always be your lowly servant, even if you do not dally with me.
The Very Genteel Chaucer.
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1 Tristram. Famous lover of Isolt, in the Arthurian tradition. Isolt, though married to King Mark of Cornwall, loves Tristram, who is Mark’s most able and dedicated knight.
Translated and Edited by Gerard NeCastro
© Copyright, 2007, All Rights Reserved
Citation. Chaucer, Geoffrey. To Rosamonde. NeCastro, Gerard, ed. and trans. eChaucer: https://www.echaucer.com. [Site Visit Date.]
