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" Ah, Rosamond! (replied the king to her) me
thinks there is much mournful sweetness in parting, that I could hang for ever on thy arms, and look away my life into thy eyes ; but I must hasten. "And so must I, (said Řosamond) if death be far; for this is the stage to which I am going; from whence I never, never shall return!"
The disconsolate Rosamond gave herself up to
sorrow and melancholy, refusing to be comforted for some weeks; and when she slumbered, she started, crying out, “O save me! save me! here is the queen, she has got at me at last!" and with the fright awaked, terrified with her dreams. · Nor was it without reason that Rosamond was thus af- flicted in her mind, for all this while, Queen Elea- nor was plotting her destruetion; which to effect, she first proposed it to some favourites, whom she had raised from a low condition to high promotion; and by persuasions and large offers prevailed so far with them, that they vowed to stand by her in any dangerous attempt.
It being summer time. she undertook an exeur-
sion, as she gave out, for her health ; appointing at a set time her conspirators to hide themselves in a cave near the bower, she lid herself in a grove, and sent one of her pages, dressed as a post-boy to deliver a letter to Sir Thomas, the keeper of the bower, and into no other hand, for such was the king's express command, and when he had deliver- ed it, immediately to blow his lorn.
The eunning device took, and Sir Thomas was
immediately slain by those in ambush. Tho gates being seized by the party, tho queen came to the palace, and getting the silver clue, she entered the bower, causing all the servants she found to be slain ; and in the furthermost retirement, in a chamber gilded, sho found Rosannond, the object of her hate, all dazzling in robes of silver, adorned
