Summary

The queen leaves Rosamund behind to die. As she does, her conscience strikes her with full force. She lies on her bed, full of regret for her lack of chastity.

She weeps for her lack of company at the end of her life and for the recognition of her own sin. Only she can mourn for herself. She says that beauty is her enemy, and wishes she had never come to court so that she could have remained chaste. She recognizes that the king's will does not override her obligation to follow god's laws of chastity. She wishes she had locked her feelings up "under the surest keys of fear and shame", not allowing any feelings to enter into her heart (702).

Yet, even as she criticizes her own actions, she recognizes the difficulty of other romantic paths. Even in marriage, whether arranged by the...