LOVE IS ENOUGH
THE ARGUMENT
THIS STORY, WHICH IS TOLD BY WAY OF A
MORALITY SET BEFORE AN EMPEROR AND
EMPRESS NEWLY WEDDED, SHOWETH OF A
KING WHOM NOTHING BUT LOVE MIGHT SATISFY,
WHO LEFT ALL TO SEEK LOVE, & HAVING
FOUND IT, FOUND THIS ALSO, THAT HE
HAD ENOUGH, THOUGH HE LACKED ALL
ELSE.
In the streets of a great town where the people are gathered together
thronging to see the Emperor and Empress pass.
GILES
Look long, Joan, while I hold you so,
For the silver trumpets come arow.
JOAN
O the sweet sound! the glorious sight!
O Giles, Giles, see this glittering Knight!
GILES
Nay 'tis the Marshalls'-sergeant, sweet—
—Hold, neighbour, let me keep my feet!—
There, now your head is up again;
Thus held up have you aught of pain?
JOAN
Nay, clear I see, and well at ease!
God's body! what fair Kings be these?
GILES
The Emperor's chamberlains, behold
Their silver shoes and staves of gold.
Look, look! how like some heaven come down
The maidens go with girded gown!
JOAN
Yea, yea, and this last row of them
Draw up their kirtles by the hem,
And scatter roses e'en like those
About my father's garden-close.
GILES
Ah! have I hurt you? See the girls
Whose slim hands scatter very pearls.
JOAN
Hold me fast, Giles! here comes one
Whose raiment flashes down the sun.
GILES
O sweet mouth! O fair lids cast down!
O white brow! O the crown, the crown!
JOAN
How near! if nigher I might stand
By one ell, I could touch his hand.
GILES
Look, Joan! if on this side she were
Almost my hand might touch her hair.
JOAN
Ah me! what is she thinking on?
GILES
Is he content now all is won?
JOAN
And does she think as I thought, when
Betwixt the dancing maids and men,
'Twixt the porch rose-boughs blossomed red
I saw the roses on my bed?
GILES
Hath he such fear within his heart
As I had, when the wind did part
The jasmine-leaves, and there within
The new-lit taper glimmered thin?
