Privately she then enquired
About him, so much admired;
Both his name, and where he dwelt,—
Such was the hot flame she felt.
Then, at night, this youthful lady
Called her coach, which being ready,
Homewards straight she did return;
But her heart with flames did burn.
PART II.
SHOWING THE LADY’S LETTER OF A CHALLENGE TO FIGHT HIM UPON HIS REFUSING TO WED HER IN A MASK, WITHOUT KNOWING WHO SHE WAS.
Night and morning, for a season,
In her closet would she reason
With herself, and often said,
‘Why has love my heart betrayed?
‘I, that have so many slighted,
Am at length so well requited;
For my griefs are not a few!
Now I find what love can do.
‘He that has my heart in keeping,
Though I for his sake be weeping,
Little knows what grief I feel;
But I’ll try it out with steel.
‘For I will a challenge send him,
And appoint where I’ll attend him,
In a grove, without delay,
By the dawning of the day.
‘He shall not the least discover
That I am a virgin lover,
By the challenge which I send;
But for justice I contend.
‘He has causèd sad distraction,
And I come for satisfaction,
Which if he denies to give,
One of us shall cease to live.’