"She dies, she dies," the King replies; "from thine own sin it springs, If guiltless blood must wash the blot which stains the blood of kings: Ere morning dawn her life must end, and thine must be the deed, Else thou on shameful block must bend: thereof is no remeed."

XVI.

"Good King, my hand thou mayst command, else treason blots my name!

I'll take the life of my dear wife--(G.o.d! mine be not the blame!) Alas! that young and sinless heart for others' sin should bleed!

Good King, in sorrow I depart."----"May G.o.d your errand speed!"--

XVII.

In sorrow he departed, dejectedly he rode The weary journey from that place, unto his own abode; He grieved for his fair Countess, dear as his life was she; Sore grieved he for that lady, and for his children three.

XVIII.

The one was yet an infant upon its mother's breast, For though it had three nurses, it liked her milk the best; The others were young children, that had but little wit, Hanging about their mother's knee while nursing she did sit.

XIX.

"Alas!" he said, when he had come within a little s.p.a.ce, "How shall I brook the cheerful look of my kind lady's face?

To see her coming forth in glee to meet me in my hall, When she so soon a corpse must be, and I the cause of all!"

XX.

Just then he saw her at the door with all her babes appear-- (The little page had run before to tell his lord was near) "Now welcome home, my lord, my life!--Alas! you droop your head Tell, Count Alarcos, tell your wife, what makes your eyes so red?"--

XXI.

"I'll tell you all--I'll tell you all: It is not yet the hour; We'll sup together in the hall--I'll tell you in your bower."

The lady brought forth what she had, and down beside him sate; He sat beside her pale and sad, but neither drank nor ate.

XXII.

The children to his side were led (he loved to have them so), Then on the board he laid his head, and out his tears did flow:-- "I fain would sleep--I fain would sleep,"--the Count Alarcos said:-- Alas! be sure, that sleep was none that night within their bed.

XXIII.

They came together to the bower where they were used to rest, None with them but the little babe that was upon the breast: The Count had barred the chamber doors, they ne'er were barred till then; "Unhappy lady," he began, "and I most lost of men!"

XXIV.

"Now, speak not so, my n.o.ble lord, my husband and my life, Unhappy never can she be, that is Alarcos' wife."-- "Alas! unhappy lady, 'tis but little that you know, For in that very word you've said is gathered all your woe.

XXV.

"Long since I loved a lady,--long since I oaths did plight, To be that lady's husband, to love her day and night; Her father is our lord the King, to him the thing is known, And now, that I the news should bring! she claims me for her own.

XXVI.

"Alas! my love, alas! my life, the right is on their side; Ere I had seen your face, sweet wife, she was betrothed my bride; But, oh! that I should speak the word--since in her place you lie, It is the bidding of our Lord, that you this night must die."--

XXVII.

"Are these the wages of my love, so lowly and so leal?-- O, kill me not, thou n.o.ble Count, when at thy foot I kneel!-- But send me to my father's house, where once I dwelt in glee, There will I live a lone chaste life, and rear my children three."--

XXVIII.

"It may not be--mine oath is strong--ere dawn of day you die!"-- "O! well 'tis seen how all alone upon the earth am I-- My father is an old frail man,--my mother's in her grave,-- And dead is stout Don Garcia--Alas! my brother brave!

XXIX.

"'Twas at this coward King's command they slew my brother dear, And now I'm helpless in the land:--It is not death I fear, But loth, loth am I to depart, and leave my children so-- Now let me lay them to my heart, and kiss them ere I go."--

x.x.x.

"Kiss him that lies upon thy breast--the rest thou mayst not see."-- "I fain would say an Ave."--"Then say it speedily."-- She knelt her down upon her knee: "O Lord! behold my case-- Judge not my deeds, but look on me in pity and great grace."--

x.x.xI.

When she had made her orison, up from her knees she rose-- "Be kind, Alarcos, to our babes, and pray for my repose-- And now give me my boy once more upon my breast to hold, That he may drink one farewell drink, before my breast be cold."--

x.x.xII.

"Why would you waken the poor child? you see he is asleep-- Prepare, dear wife, there is no time, the dawn begins to peep."-- "Now hear me, Count Alarcos! I give thee pardon free-- I pardon thee for the love's sake wherewith I've loved thee.

x.x.xIII.

"But they have not my pardon, the King and his proud daughter-- The curse of G.o.d be on them, for this unchristian slaughter!-- I charge them with my dying breath, ere thirty days be gone, To meet me in the realm of death, and at G.o.d's awful throne!"--

x.x.xIV.

He drew a kerchief round her neck, he drew it tight and strong, Until she lay quite stiff and cold her chamber floor along; He laid her then within the sheets, and, kneeling by her side, To G.o.d and Mary Mother in misery he cried.

x.x.xV.

Then called he for his esquires:--oh! deep was their dismay, When they into the chamber came, and saw her how she lay;-- Thus died she in her innocence, a lady void of wrong, But G.o.d took heed of their offence--his vengeance stayed not long.

x.x.xVI.

Within twelve days, in pain and dole, the Infanta pa.s.sed away, The cruel King gave up his soul upon the twentieth day; Alarcos followed ere the Moon had made her round complete.-- Three guilty spirits stood right soon before G.o.d's judgment-seat.

TALES FROM THE GESTA ROMANORUM.

CONTENTS.

I.--THE EIGHT PENNIES 103 II.--THE THREE TRUTHS 105 III.--THE HUSBAND OF AGLAES 106 IV.--THE THREE CASKETS 111 V.--THE THREE CAKES 116 VI.--THE HERMIT 118 VII.--THE LOST FOOT 121 VIII.--PLACIDUS 122 IX.--DEAD ALEXANDER 131 X.--THE TREE OF PALETINUS 132 XI.--HUNGRY FLIES 132 XII.--THE HUMBLING OF JOVINIAN 133 XIII.--THE TWO PHYSICIANS 139 XIV.--THE FALCON 141 XV.--LET THE LAZIEST BE KING 142 XVI.--THE THREE MAXIMS 143 XVII.--A LOAF FOR A DREAM 146 XVIII.--LOWER THAN THE BEASTS 148 XIX.--OF REAL FRIENDSHIP 151 XX.--ROYAL BOUNTY 152 XXI.--WILY BEGUILED 153 XXII.--THE BASILISK 155 XXIII.--THE TRUMP OF DEATH 155 XXIV.--ALEXANDER AND THE PIRATE 157 XXV.--A TALE OF A PENNY 158 XXVI.--OF AVOIDING IMPRECATIONS 159 XXVII.--A VERSE EXERCISE 161 XXVIII.--BRED IN THE BONE 164 XXIX.--FULGENTIUS 167 x.x.x.--VENGEANCE DEFERRED 173