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The great loue that Itafernes wyfe bare to her brother.
WHen I tafernes with all his famely,
Were taken captiue By Darius army,
And cast into prison with great extremity,
His wife euery day,
Came to the kings gate making pittifull mone,
That these her plaints to take pittie vpon,
At last he was moued with 〈…〉〈…〉rcye alone,
As wrighters doe say,
In so much a•• one vnto her he sent,
Who willed hee then with right good intent,
In the Kings name to ••cast to lament,
And freelye to chose
The deliuery of one, and she should him haue,
Then she 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the rest, her Brother did craue,
Whose life and libertie she most sought to saue,
To lessen her woes.
The King then wondring that she would prefer
Her Brother before the rest that were there,
〈…〉〈…〉 and children most deare,
This aunswere she gaue,
An other husband I may get quoth shee,
And other Children if Gods will it be,
But my Parentes being dead, more bretheren then he,
I neuer can haue.