Page:History of the life and death of fair Rosamond.pdf/20

( 16 ) words from Roſamond; of whom he thought he ſhould have made an eaſy conqueſt; and was as much in love with her good parts and virtue, as he was with her beauty. And having taken his leave of Roſamond, away he goes to her governeſs, and told her what repulſes he had met withal from Roſamond, inſtead of that enjoyment he expected; Alethes, as one that was caſe hardened in wickedneſs, told the king that if his majeſty pleaſed to follow herfadvice, he ſhould not enter into any further parlies with her, but he ſhould find a nearer way to the happineſs he deſired.

Pray inform me ſaid the King, the method you would adviſe me to purſue, in order to gain her to my embraces.

May it pleaſe your Majeſty, the way that I would have you take is this, that you ſhould come into my chamber, to morrow night a little before bed time, and I will leave you there while till I have got my lady Roſamond to bed, and whereas I lie with her every night, I will delay the time of my going to bed, as I ſometimes do, 'till ſhe's aſleep and then I will bring your Majeſty into the chamber, and you ſhall go to bed to be in my ſtead; and I doubt not before the morning light your majeſty will ſo well ſatisfy her that all her anger will be over; and for the future your admittance will be eaſy.

The King was very well pleaſed with this contrivance, and as a token thereof, preſented her with a rich diamond ring, and told her he would follow her advice, and be with her incog the next night

The next evening the King came to Alethes according to his time; and preſently after ſhe