The Gift of the Rose

The fair rose, the flower of Venus,

is a pleasure to see and to smell.

And I will tell you, lady,

the reason why roses are red.

Venus one day was following Adonis

with bare feet and uncovered arms

through gardens full of thorns and branches,

when the thorn of a rose-bush scratched her.

At that time all roses were white,

but her blood made some of them crimson.

Now I've made good use of this rose

as a gift to you, because your face,

which is utterly gentle and sweet, resembles

more than anything a fresh red rose.