THE ROSICRUCIANS,

CANTO SECOND.

I love the brilliance of this faithful court
Which the banquet near Elfride A name likely derived from the Old English "Aelfthryth," common in Romantic-era literature set in historical England. calls to mind,
The noble, playful tone of these Frenchmen,
And their flattery, accepted by the ladies. original: "encens" — literally "incense," here used as a metaphor for the sweet words of courtship.
Paris has given London these fineries:
This long hair braided in separate strands,
And entwined with flowers upon the head,
The purple and gold of the light borders,
The grace and curvature of these bare arms,
This breast veiled only by modesty
Where a symbolic cross This "symbolic cross" refers to the emblem of the Rosicrucians, the mysterious secret society that gives the poem its name. floats and shines,
The soft linen of the long tunic,
The shorter linen falling to the knees,
This white cothurne cothurne: an ancient Greek buskin or high-soled boot, often used in literature to signify a tragic or noble classical style, and finally this ancient veil,
Born in Greece and passed down to us.
The beautiful queen, Isaure, and the princesses,
Charm the eyes and leave the choice hanging in the balance. The poet suggests that their beauty is so equal that one cannot easily choose who is most fair.