Boy, thy queen hath shown thee grace; be thou Thankful. I leave thee here to yield her thanks. [_Exit_. ALMACHILDES. Queen, I would die to serve and thank thee. ROSAMUND. Die? So young and glad and glorious? Thou shalt not Die. Was thy bride’s face bright to look upon When last night’s moon and stars illumined it? ALMACHILDES. Thou knowest I might not look upon it. ROSAMUND. No. Thou hast never loved before? ALMACHILDES. I have loathed, not loved, The loveless harlots clasped of all the camp: I have followed wars and visions all my days Even till my love’s eyes lit and stung to life The soul within my body. Till I loved, I knew not woman. ROSAMUND. Now thou knowest. This love Is no good lord—no gentle god—no soft Saviour. Thou knowest perchance thy bride’s name—hers Whose body and soul were one but now with thine? ALMACHILDES. How should not I? What darkling light is this That burns and broods and lightens in thine eyes, Queen? ROSAMUND. Hildegard it was not. ALMACHILDES. Art not thou— Or am not I—sun-smitten through the brain By this mad might of midsummer? Who was it That slept or slept not with me while the night Was more than noon and more than heaven? What name Was hers who made me godlike? ROSAMUND. Rosamund. ALMACHILDES. Thine? was it thou? It was not. ROSAMUND. It was I. ALMACHILDES. Does the sun stand in heaven? Or stands it fast As when God bade it halt on high? My life Is broken in me. ROSAMUND. Nay, fair sir, not yet. Thy life is now mine—as the ring I wear That seals my hand a wife’s. Die thou shalt not, But slay, and live. ALMACHILDES. Slay whom? ROSAMUND. Thy lord and mine. ALMACHILDES. I had rather go down quick to hell. ROSAMUND.