¶And for my
sake when I might charme thee
so,
¶For
shee that was thy
LVCRECE, now attend me,
¶Be
sodainelie reuenged on my Foe.
¶Thine, mine, his own,
suppo
se thou do
st defend me
1685From what is pa
st, the helpe that thou
shalt lend me
¶_Comes all too late, yet let the Traytor die,
¶_"For
sparing Iu
stice feeds iniquitie.
¶But ere I name him, you faire Lords, quoth
shee,
¶(Speaking to tho
se that came with
COLATINE)
1690Shall plight your Honourable faiths to me,
¶VVith
swift pur
suit to venge this wrong of mine,
¶For 'tis a meritorious faire de
signe,
¶_To cha
se iniu
stice with reuengefull armes,
¶_Knights by their oaths
should right poore Ladies
harmes.
1695At this reque
st, with noble di
spo
sition,
¶Each pre
sent Lord began to promi
se aide,
¶As bound in Knighthood to her impo
sition,
¶Longing to heare the hatefull Foe bewraide.
But shee that yet her sad taske hath not said,
1700_The prote
station
stops, ô
speake quoth
shee,
¶_How may this forced
staine be wip'd from me?
¶VVhat is the qualitie of my offence
¶Being con
strayn'd with dreadfull circum
stance?
¶May my pure mind with the fowle act di
spence
1705My low declined Honor to aduance?
¶May anie termes acquit me from this chance?
¶_The poy
soned fountaine cleares it
selfe againe,
¶_And why not I from this compelled
staine?
¶VVith this they all at once began to
saie,
1710Her bodies
staine, her mind vntainted cleares,
¶VVhile with a ioyle
sse
smile,
shee turnes awaie
¶The face, that map which deepe impre
ssion beares
¶Of hard misfortune, caru'd it in with tears.
¶_No no, quoth
shee, no Dame hereafter liuing,
1715_By my excu
se
shall claime excu
ses giuing.