Page:History of the life and death of fair Rosamond.pdf/18

( 14 ) ſaid, welcome to me, my ſweeteſt roſe, welcome to Henry's court, my deareſt Roſamond. All here, my Roſamond, are at thy command; then ſay, my ſweet roſe, what is it thou wilt aſk of Henry.

To which ſhe anſwered, under the frowns of my offended parents; I beg protection at your royal hand, and that within your court I may be free.

Free ſaid the King: Alex! my Roſamond, 'tis have reaſon to make that petition, for you have long ſince made your King a captive.

Pardon me gracious ſovereign, replied Roſamond; for if I have been guilty of such a crime I am ſure it was through ignorance.

To which the king replied, ah? Roſamond, you have made me a captive, but without a crime: for 'tis your beauty that has ethralled my heart, that wonderous beauty that's without a parallel. And as far that protection which you beg King Henry tells you, that you may command it; and it is the higheſt reaſon that you ſhould.

Her anſwer was, I thank your majeſty and will henceforth eſteem myſelf ſecure, under the promiſed protection.

This diſcourſe having paſſed, the King told her that in regard of being fatigued with her journey, he would give her no further diſturbance that night; and ſo charged her uncle to ſee that ſhe wanted nothing the deſired to have; he took his leave for that time.

Alothea, her governeſs, was with her ſtill, and did all it could to perſuade her to yield to the king's embraces. But Roſamond ſeemed;