hen at Toboso, overheard a peasant singing, as he was going to his work
at daybreak.--"Iba cantando," says Cervantes, "aquel romance que dice,
Mala la vistes Franceses la caca de Roncesvalles."

I.
The day of Roncesvalles was a dismal day for you,
Ye men of France, for there the lance of King Charles was broke in two.
Ye well may curse that rueful field, for many a noble peer,
In fray or fight, the dust did bite, beneath Bernardo's spear.

II.
There captured was Guarinos, King Charles's admiral;
Seven Moorish kings surrounded him, and seized him for their thrall;
Seven times, when all the chase was o'er, for Guarinos lots they cast;
Seven times Marlotes won the throw, and the knight was his at last.

III.
Much joy had then Marlotes, and his captive much did prize,
Above all the wealth of Araby, he was precious in his eyes.
Within his tent at evening he made the best of cheer,
And thus, the banquet done, he spake unto his prisoner.

IV.
"Now, for the sake of Alla, Lord Admiral Guarinos
Be thou a Moslem, and much love shall ever rest between us.
Two daughters have I--all the day thy handmaid one shall be,
The other (and the fairer far) by night shall cherish thee.

V.
"The one shall be thy waiting-maid, thy weary feet to lave,
To scatter perfumes on thy head, and fetch thee garments brave;
The other--she the pretty--shall deck her bridal bower,
And my field and my city they both shall be her dower.

VI.
"If more thou wishest, more I'll give--speak boldly what thy thought is."--
Thus earnestly and kindly to Guarinos said Marlotes;--
But not a moment did he take to ponder or to pause,
Thus clear and quick the answer of the Christian Captain was:

VII.
"Now, God forbid! Marlotes, and Mary, his dear mother,
That I should leave the faith of Christ, and bind me to another.
For women--I've one wife in France, and I'll wed no more in Spain;
I change not faith, I break not vow, for courtesy or gain."--

VIII.
Wroth waxed King Marlotes, when thus he heard him say,
And all for ire commanded, he should be led away;
Away unto the dungeon keep, beneath its vault to lie,
With fetters bound in darkness deep, far off from sun and sky.

IX.
With iron bands they bound his hands. That sore unworthy plight
Might well express his helplessness, doomed never more to fight.
Again, from cincture down to knee, long bolts of iron he bore,
Which signified the knight should ride on charger never more.

X.
Thre