Pity pleads with Danger
Great Love hath cast. I pray you cease
Your wrath, and grant the youth release.3440
Sufficeth not that you with grim
And cruel hand have torn from him
Fair-Welcome, closest confidant,
For whom his longing soul doth pant
Day in, day out? For every pain
He suffered you have given him twain.
Alas! his soul I count but dead
Unless his friend. Fair-Welcome, tread
The path beside him. Would you do
Him further wrong, who suffereth through3450
Love’s cruelty such woes? Alas!
You could not, or it would surpass
The wrath of hell. Pray then restore
Fair-Welcome to his arms once more
In pity, and the earnest prayer
Accord, that I with Franchise share;
For he fell tyrant were indeed
Who heard our cry, yet scorned to heed.”
The Lover.
No more could Danger then forbear
Franchise’s plea, and Pity’s prayer.3460
Danger.
Quoth he: “Fair ladies, not so bold
Am I as venture to withhold
Consent to that you ask, lest ye
Condemn my soul of villainy.
The Lover may Fair-Welcome take
For comrade. I’ll no hindrance make.”
