# Rosanna (1)/Part II

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PART II.
Into the lonely valley she Would often wander all alone; Sighing sadly to assuage her grief, Tons in the bower would often mourn.
Oh that I was some pretty bird, That I might fly and hide my shame, Oh silly maid, for to believe All the fair delusions of a man.
The harmless lamb can sport and pray, The turtle constant to his mate, Nothing so wretched is as I, To love a man that does me hate.
​I will to him a letter send, Remembering of the oath he made, Within the tender bower where My tender heart lie first betrayed.
Her trembling land a letter wrote, My dearest dear, what must I do? Alas! what have I done, that I Am forsaken and forgot by you?
I could have many a lord of fame, Who little knows my misery; I did forsake a worthy knight, 'Tis for the love I bear to thee.
And now my little infant dear Will quickly spread abroad my shame, One line of comfort to me send, Ere by your cruelty I am slain.
This answer he to her did send, Your insolence amazeth me, To think that I should marry one With whom before I have been free.
Indeed I will no father be Unto any bastard you may bear, So take no further thought of me, No more from you pray let me hear.
When she this letter did receive, She wrung her hands and wept full sore, And every day she still would range, To lament within that pleasant bower
​The faithless wretch began to think How noble were her parents dear. He said, I sure will punished be, Soon as the story they shall hear.
So then the devil he did begin To enter in his wretched mind, Her precious life he then must have, An opportunity thus he did find.
He many times had watch'd her out Into the pleasant valley, where One day he privately did go, When he knew the lady was not there.
And privately he dug a grave, Underneath an oaken tree; Then in the branches he did hide, For to act this piece of cruelty.
Poor harmless soul, she nothing knew, As usual she went there alone, And on a bank of violets she In mournful silence sat her down.
Of his unkindness did complain, At length she did the grave espy, She rose indeed to view the same, Little thinking he was so nigh.
You gentle gods so kind, said she, Did you this grave for me prepare: He then descended from the tree, Saying, strumpet, thy death is near.
​Oh, welcome, welcome, she replied, As long as by your hands I die, This is a pleasant marriage bed, I'm ready-use your cruelty.
But may the heavens bring to light Thy crime, and thus let it appear: Winter and summer on this grave, May the damask rose in ⟨bloom⟩ spring here.
Never wither though 'tis cropp'd, But when thy hand doth touch the same, Then may the bloom that minute blast, To bring to light thy bitter shame.
More she'd have said, but with his sword He pierced her tender body through, Then threw her in the silent grave, And filled the grave close up again.
With weeds the same did overspread, Then unconcerned straight went home, Immediately went he to his bed, And thought no more of what he'd done.
The loss of their young daughter dear, Her parents much did grieve, She was sought after far and near, For to all the riches she was heir.
'Tis twelve months since that this was done, There's thousands for a truth doth know't And many wonder'd at the same, For all the winter it did spring.
​If any one did crop that rose, In a moment it would grow again; This thing was blaz'd the country round, And thousands went the same to see.
He amongst the rest must curious be, To go and see if it was true, And when unto the place he came, The beauteous rose he saw in bloom.
The leaves did fall from off the bush, The rose within his hand did die; He cried, 'tis fair Rosanna's blood, That did spring from her fair body.
Many people that were there, Took notice of what he did say, They told he had some murder done, He the truth confess'd without delay.
They dug and found the body there, The first of April it was known, He was seiz'd and carried off to jail, And shortly after suffer'd his doom.
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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