And now, dear maid, be you as free to us.

Your brother’s death, I know, sits at your heart;

And you may marvel why I obscured myself,

Labouring to save his life, and would not rather

390 Make rash [remonstrance] of my hidden power

Than let him [so be] lost. O most kind maid,

It was the swift celerity of his death,

Which I did think with slower foot came on,

That [brain’d] my purpose. [But], peace be with him!

395 That life is better life, past fearing death,