Page:History of the life and death of fair Rosamond.pdf/19

( 15 ) verſe to it, what her fisher before had ſaid to her running in her mind

nd now the king having viſited her ſeveral times, began to be impatient to ſ delay; and therefore coming one evening to ſee her, for he general viſited her in the evening for the great r privacy be importuned her very much to yield to his embraces and protected his wounds could not be cured without enjoyment.

Roſamond ſeemed extremely diſordered at what the king ſaid, and was going to kneel down, but the king would not ſuffer her but took her up again and ſaid, kneel not my deareſt Roſamond; It is I ſhould kneel to thee. I only aſk-

Here Roſamond interrupting him, ſaid ask for my life, great Sir, and you ſhall have it, or any thing that is in my power to give; but aſk not for my honour, not to give up my virgin jewel; for that is ſo precious and valuable, I can never part with it, but to a huſband. My outward form is but the caſket only; 'tis virtue is the jewel; and when that is good, what worth is in the other: Not a poor peaſant would eſteem that; much leſs is it a preſent for a King. Nor would your Majeſty regard me afterwards but as ſtrumpet. She that has loſt her honour, is but a faded flower, how gay foe he appeared before; and like a clouded diamond of no value. 'Tis virtue only is the precious jewel that over-ſhines with an unclouded inftre-And then kneeling down, ſaid, Let me beg of you, Sir, to aſk o more lor that which I can never grant but to a huſband.

This king was greatly ſurprised to bear ſuch