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336 the merchant's daughter. |
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" Grant me my brother's life," shee said,
" And to you my love and liking I will give."
" That may not be," quoth hee, " faire maid ;
Except he turne, he cannot live." 200
" An English Frier there is," shee said, " Of learning great and passing pure of life, Let him to my brother be sent, And he will finish soone the strife."
Her master hearing this request, as
The marriner in frier's weed she did array, And to her love, that lay distrest, Shee did a letter straight convey.
When hee had read these gentle lines,
His heart was ravished with sudden joy; at
Where now shee was full well hee knew:
The frier likewise was not coy;
But did declare to him at large The enterprise for him his love had taken in hand. The young man did the frier charge, as
His love should straight depart the land.
" Here is no place for her," hee said,
" But woefull death and danger of her harmlesse life:
Professing truth I was betraid,
And fearfull flames must end my strife. 220
" For, ere I will my faith deny,
And sweare my selfe to follow damned Antichrist,
He yeeld my body for to die,
To live in heaven with the highest." |
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