As to that bow of rarest price
And shafts of subtle artifice,
You know their use and management
Better than Love himself who spent
His life thereon, no greater craft
Hath he the bow to bend, and shaft
To speed, than you; though oft you know
Nothing of where those shafts may go.
For when a shaft at random speeds.
Some one of whom the archer heeds
No jot, may by mere chance be hit.
But you are known to be so fit
And skilful when the bow you draw.
That scarce you need to list my saw.
Roman de la Rose, v. 13767-13780
(Trans. by F. S. Ellis)
As to that bow of rarest price
And shafts of subtle artifice,
You know their use and management
Better than Love himself who spent
His life thereon, no greater craft
Hath he the bow to bend, and shaft
To speed, than you; though oft you know
Nothing of where those shafts may go.
For when a shaft at random speeds.
Some one of whom the archer heeds
No jot, may by mere chance be hit.
But you are known to be so fit
And skilful when the bow you draw.
That scarce you need to list my saw.
Roman de la Rose, v. 13767-13780
(Trans. by F. S. Ellis)
