If I so fair a gift refuse,
And my ungracious act excuse.
Yet fain would he the garland take,
Whate’er might follow for its sake.
Fair- Welcome.
The chaplet refused
Right fair the chaplet is, quoth he,
But rather I, by far would see,13380
The clothes in which I stand afire
Than take that which misfortune dire
Most surely must bring down on me;
What shall we say to Jealousy?
I doubt me nowise that she’ll tear
The flowers in fragments off my hair,
And then, foul traitress, will outright
Destroy me, or in cruel spite,
Knowing from whom the prize I got,
Thrust me in closer gaol to rot,13390
With suffering more severe than e’er
Before hath been my lot to bear.
And if I flee her cruel face,
Where can I find safe hiding-place?
Alas! my foe would soon contrive
To take, and bury me alive,
For many a one with hue and cry
Would follow me persistently—
I’ll not receive it!
The Duenna.
Yes, you will,
Yet suffer thence nor blame nor ill.13400
