And therewithall he fetcht a sigh,125
As though his heart would breake:
And Rosamond, for inward griefe,
Not one plaine word could speake.
And at their parting well they might
In heart be grieved sore:130
After that day, faire Rosamond
The King did see no more.
For when his Grace had past the seas,
And into France was gone,
Queene Elinor, with envious heart,135
To Woodstocke came anone.
And foorth she cald this trusty knight
Which kept the curious bower,
Who, with his clew of twined threed,
Came from that famous flower.140
And when that they had wounded him,
The queene his threed did get,
And went where lady Rosamond
Was like an angell set.
And when the queene with stedfast eye145
Beheld her heavenly face,
She was amazed in her minde
At her exceeding grace.
"Cast off from thee thy robes," she sayd,
"That rich and costly be;150
And drinke thou up this deadly draught,
Which I have brought for thee."
But presently upon her knees
Sweet Rosamond did fall;
And pardon of the queene she crav'd155
For her offences all.
"Take pittie on my youthfull yeares,"
Faire Rosamond did cry;
"And let me not with poyson strong
Inforcèd be to die.160
"I will renounce this sinfull life,
And in a cloyster bide;
Or else be banisht, if you please,
To range the world so wide.
"And for the fault which I have done,165
Though I was forst thereto,
Preserve my life, and punish me
As you thinke good to do."
And with these words, her lilly hands
She wrang full often there;170
And downe along her lovely cheekes
Proceeded many a teare.
But nothing could this furious queene
Therewith appeased bee;
The cup of deadly poyson filld,175
As she sat on her knee,
She gave the comely dame to drinke;
Who tooke it in her hand,
And from her bended knee arose,
And on her feet did stand.180
And casting up her eyes to heaven,
She did for mercy call;
And drinking up the poyson then,
Her life she lost withall.