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 noble 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."--

XXX.
"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."--

XXXI.
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."--

XXXII.
"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.

XXXIII.
"But they have not my pardon, the King and his proud daughter--
The curse of God 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 God's awful throne!"--

XXXIV.
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 God and Mary Mother in misery he cried.

XXXV.
Then called he for his esquires:--oh! deep