"For whilest I was thus without dread or dout, 155 A cruel Satyre with his murdrous dart, Greedie of mischiefe, ranging all about, Gave her the fatall wound of deadly smart, And reft from me my sweete companion, And reft from me my love, my life, my hart: 160 My Lyonesse, ah woe is me!

The children that have reft their flesh from your flesh ruthlessly, and that have derived their living from your glad anguish, each day will, be appearing a little less intimately yours, until these children find their mates.

No sisters have we to lament, No wives to wail our fall; The traitor's and the spoiler's hand Have reft our hearths of all.

"No age hath bred (since faire Astræa left The sinfull world) more vertue in a wight; And, when she parted hence, with her she reft 220 Great hope, and robd her race of bounty* quight.

What disaster, fates, Hath reft this jewel from our commonwealth?

where lay Extended in succession gay, Deep waving fields and pastures green, With gentle slopes and groves between: These fertile plains, that softened vale, Were once the birthright of the Gael; The stranger came with iron hand, And from our fathers reft the land.

"For whilest I was thus without dread or dout, 155 A cruel Satyre with his murdrous dart, Greedie of mischiefe, ranging all about, Gave her the fatall wound of deadly smart, And reft from me my sweete companion, And reft from me my love, my life, my hart: 160 My Lyonesse, ah woe is me!

But when I once beheld his manly face, And saw his cheer, no more appall'd with fear Of present death, than he whom never dread Did once amate: my heart abhorred then To give consent unto so foul a deed: That wretched death should reave so worthy a man.

And then about his shoulders broad he threw 65 An hairie hide of some wilde beast, whom hee In salvage forrest by adventure slew, And reft the spoyle his ornament to bee; Which, spredding all his backe with dreadfull vew, Made all that him so horrible did see 70 Thinke him Alcides with the lyons skin, When the Naeméan conquest he did win.

Mary would not reave these people until they could be taken care of by Christian workers.

Gazing on thy proud works, we mourn the curse Which 'reft our race of Eden, for from thee, As from a seraph's wing, we catch the hues That sunn'd our primal heritage ere sin Weav'd her dark oracles.

Egill reft my son of life; Too soon my Agnar's youth was spent, The scabbard thorn his bosom rent.'

If thou spare them, rain then upon my head The fulness of thy plagues with deadly ire, To reave this ruthful soul, who all too sore Burns in the wrathful torments of revenge.

And then about his shoulders broad he threw 65 An hairie hide of some wilde beast, whom hee In salvage forrest by adventure slew, And reft the spoyle his ornament to bee; Which, spredding all his backe with dreadfull vew, Made all that him so horrible did see 70 Thinke him Alcides with the lyons skin, When the Naeméan conquest he did win.

What of that other child Ye reft from me but now? TALTHYBIUS (speaking with some constraint).

Scarce had I learnt the names of all that press Of knights and dames, than I beheld a sight Nigh reft my wits for very tenderness.