CXIV FAIR ROSAMUND When as King Henry ruled this land Her crisped locks like threads of gold The blood within her crystal cheeks As though the lily and the rose Yea Rosamund, fair Rosamund, The king therefore, for her defence Most curiously that bower was built, Of stone and timber strong, An hundred and fifty doors Did to this bower belong. And they so cunningly contrived, That none, but with a clue of thread, And for his love and lady's sake, But fortune, that doth often frown For why? the king's ungracious son, Whom he did high advance, Against his father raised wars, Within the realm of France. But yet before our comely king 'My Rosamund, my only rose, That pleaseth best mine eye : The fairest flower in all the world 'The flower of mine affected heart, All roses else a thousand times, When Rosamund, that lady bright, The sorrow of her grieved heart And from her clear and crystal eyes Ran down her comely face. 'Why grieves my Rose, my sweetest Rose? The king did often say. 'Because,' quoth she, 'to bloody wars My lord must part away. 'But since your Grace on foreign coasts, Among your foes unkind, Must go to hazard life and limb, Why should I stay behind? ‘Nay, rather let me, like a page, 'So I your presence may enjoy But wanting you, my life is death ; 'Content thyself, my dearest love, In England's sweet and pleasant isle ; 'My Rose shall safely here abide, 'And you, Sir Thomas, whom I trust And therewithal he fetch'd a sigh Not one plain word could speak. And at their parting well they might For when his Grace had past the seas, And forth she calls this trusty knight In an unhappy hour; Who with his clue of twined thread And when that they had wounded him But when the queen with steadfast eye Beheld her beauteous face, She was amazed in her mind At her exceeding grace. 'Cast off from thee those robes,' she said, 'That rich and costly be; And drink thou up this deadly draught, Then presently upon her knees 'Take pity on my youthful years,' Fair Rosamund did cry; 'And let me not with poison strong Enforced be to die.' And with these words, her lily hands But nothing could this furious queen She gave this comely dame to drink, Who took it in her hand, And from her bended knee arose, And on her feet did stand; |