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Great Love hath cast. I pray you cease

Your wrath, and grant the youth release.

Sufficeth not that you with grim

And cruel hand have torn from him

Fair-Welcome, closest confidant,

For whom his longing soul doth pant

Day in, day out? For every pain

He suffered you have given him twain.

Alas! his soul I count but dead

Unless his friend. Fair-Welcome, tread

The path beside him. Would you do

Him further wrong, who suffereth through

Love’s cruelty such woes? Alas!

You could not, or it would surpass

The wrath of hell. Pray then restore

Fair-Welcome to his arms once more

In pity, and the earnest prayer

Accord, that I with Franchise share;

For he fell tyrant were indeed

Who heard our cry, yet scorned to heed.”

No more could Danger then forbear

Franchise’s plea, and Pity’s prayer.

Quoth he: “Fair ladies, not so bold

Am I as venture to withhold

Consent to that you ask, lest ye

Condemn my soul of villainy.

The Lover may Fair-Welcome take

For comrade. I’ll no hindrance make.”

VOL. I.