This parchment from 1425-30 created by Maîtres de Guillebert de Mets is described thus by the Walters Art Museum: "The trials and games of love can be disheartening, but nothing is more rewarding than finally winning someone's affection. Here, two lovers have dispensed with the games and tenderly embrace. As they hold each other tightly, flowers and golden leaves seem to spring from their very bodies, celebrating the blossoming of love within them. Although it may seem inappropriate to pair lovers with an image of Christ's death, they may be intended to remind us of the eternal joy resulting from that event." (Source: Walters Art Museum/Wikimedia Commons)
This parchment, titled Tender Embrace, from 1425-30 created by Maîtres de Guillebert de Mets is described thus by the Walters Art Museum: “The trials and games of love can be disheartening, but nothing is more rewarding than finally winning someone’s affection. Here, two lovers have dispensed with the games and tenderly embrace. As they hold each other tightly, flowers and golden leaves seem to spring from their very bodies, celebrating the blossoming of love within them. …” (Source: Walters Art Museum/Wikimedia Commons)

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I have been ready at your hand
To grant whatever thou would’st crave;
I have waged both life and land
Your love and goodwill for to have.
— verse from Greensleeves (link to Loreena McKennitt version on YouTube)

Sigh . . . Tis a day for romance, for brave knights to woo damsels . . . and for some knights to woo knights and damsels to woo damsels, yes? (winks)

Indeed, Love is a many-splendored thing.

Kristan of Hamle's medieval Lovers, Pulled in a Basket, from 1305-15. (Source: Wikimedia Commons)
Kristan of Hamle’s medieval Lovers, Pulled in a Basket, from 1305-15. (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

A year or so ago, the Montreal Gazette’s Lifestyles section had an article about married couples who live apart, either by necessity (i.e. jobs) or by choice. In either case, the couples reported that the time they spent together was always very special . . . and romantic. They spoke of candlelit dinners, wine, soft music, tender kisses, lovemaking . . .

While I am not married, I can relate to all of that. My lover and I live apart (by necessity), but we do spend most weekends together. And those weekends are always romantic for us. We just haven’t had time to take each other for granted, and I hope it stays that way, even when we eventually do co-habitate 24/7.

Whatever your situation, I hope this Valentine’s Day — commercial as it may be — will be special for you and yours. And if you are without a significant other, perhaps you can give a rose of appreciation to someone . . . an elderly neighbour, a worker at the local pub . . . you get the idea.

All you need is love . . .

Feel free to share your thoughts of love and romance here.

Pray tell . . .

Happy Valentine’s Day!

— Jillian