Le roman de la rose - Tome III

In this third installment of the celebrated medieval allegory, a nameless lover wanders along a forest path toward a sparkling fountain, his mind fixed on a new rose of love. He meets a noble lady called Richesse, who guards the entrance to a grand castle that promises riches and revelry but only to those of her own circle. The poet’s vivid verses weave together courtly yearning, riddles of access, and the promise of dances, music, and games hidden behind the gate.

As the lover petitions Richesse for passage, she replies with a mix of courteous rebuff and tantalising description of the pleasures within—tables of delicacies, lively dances, chess and dice, and fragrant gardens where ladies and knights mingle. The exchange sets up a tension between desire and denial, inviting listeners to linger on the lyrical back‑and‑forth and imagine what might lie beyond the threshold. The atmospheric language and rhythmic cadence make this portion a rich listening experience for fans of medieval romance and poetic storytelling.