Pax et concordia, pubes Ver manent aeternum. Nec flos, nec lilia desunt, Nec rosa, nec violae: flores et poma sub una Fronde gerit pomus. Habitant sine labe cruoris Semper ibi juvenes cum virgine: nulla senectus, Nulla vis morbi, nullus dolor; omnia plena Laetitiae; nihil hic proprium, communia quaeque. Regit virgo locis et rebus praesidet istis, Virginibus stipata suis, pulcherrima pulchris; Nympha decens vultu, generosis patribus orta, Consilio pollens, medicinas nobilis arte. At simul Arthurus regni diadema reliquit, Substitutique sibi regem, se transtulit illic; Anno quingeno quadragenoque secundo Post incarnatum sine patris semine natum. Immodice laesus, Arthurus tendit ad aulam Regis Avallonis; ubi virgo regia vulnus Illius tractans, sanati membra reservat Ipsa sibi: vivuntque simul; si credere fas est."A translation of this passage into rhyming English follows; both of thesebeing taken from Way's "Fabliaux" (London, 1815), II. pp. 233-235. "By the main ocean's wave encompass'd, stands A memorable isle, fill'd with all good: No thief, no spoiler there, no wily foe With stratagem of wasteful war; no rage Of heat intemperate, or of winter's cold; But spring, full blown, with peace and concord reigns: Prime bliss of heart and season, fitliest join'd! Flowers fail not there: the lily and the rose, With many a knot of fragrant violets bound; And, loftier, clustering down the bended boughs, Blossom with fruit combin'd, rich apples hang.
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