Page:History of the life and death of fair Rosamond.pdf/4

( 4 ) might come after to dazzle the eyes of men, and Wound their hearts'

This diſcription raiſed ſuch a flame in his Majeſty's breaſt, that he demanded to know in what corner of the kingdom ſo great a beast could be hid? To this the courtier who perceived he had gone too far, and that the king began to be enamoured at the bare report, would fain have drawn in his words again, anſwered, that indeed he had made this relation only to ſet out a perfect beauty to the life, begging his pardon and excuſe; But the king perceiving by the coldneſs of this reply there was more than ordinary in it, grew angry and told him he trifled with him and charged him on his allegiance to tell him the truth: ſo fearing the King's diſpleaſure, the courtier plainly ſaid, There is ſuch a lady, daughter to Walter Lord Clifford and of my Gifter his lady, living at Godſtow, in Oxfordſhire, of whom many worththy perſons have been enamoured, and ſought her in marringe, but have been refuſed, becauſe her tender heart is vet incapable of love and this affirm is the truth on the forfeiture of my head: As for the name of this fair creature it is Roſamund and indeed ſhe is rightly named, for the is, if I have any ſkill in beauty, the peerleſs role in the world. While they were thus diſcourſing, Queen Eleanor come to viſit the King, which broke off any further talk about her, nor needed the King any more, for his heart was poſſeſsed with a great deſire to ſee her, that he could hardly ſleep at night for thinking of her.