Ever since I beheld you I have been able to do nothing else than--ough! ough!--dwell upon your surpassing attractions.

Day and night your lovely image has been constantly before me.

You have driven sleep from my eyelids, and rest from my--( ough! ough!)--frame.

Your lustrous eyes have lighted up such a fire in my breast as can never be extinguished, unless--( ough! ough! ough!)--plague take this cough! I owe it to you, fair mistress of my heart, as well as my other torments.

But as I was about to say, the raging flame you have kindled in my breast will utterly consume me, unless--( ough! ough! ough!)" Here he was well-nigh choked, and Sir Giles had to come to his assistance.
"What my worthy friend and partner would declare, if his cough permitted him, fair Mistress Aveline," urged the extortioner, "is that he places his life and fortune at your disposal.