mayst be brought in
chains to the land of the King of the South, thine enemies may name me
there over their beaded cups of ruby wine, jeers and scandals may reach
thine ears, and thou wilt curse thyself that thou didst not kill me!
Thrust thy sword into my heart! Tear me from the grasp of the monster!'

As if in sudden madness, she wildly stretches out her hands as if to
push away the thronging phantoms which appal her.

'Look! his forehead sparkles--a word is written there in blazing
diamonds--read it--it is INFAMY! Hell glitters in his eyes; his writhing
arms are hissing vipers; they crawl to me, they touch me, wind around
me, bury their heads in my bosom, and poison as they drink my pure blood
from the virginal cup of my heart!'

She falls exhausted on the floor, washing his feet with her tears as her
long tresses stream around them.

He lifts her like a feather from the ground.

'By the Holy Mother of our Lord, such fate shall not be thine! Like the
flame of incense burning on the sacred altar, purest among the pure,
thou shalt ascend to God!'

His heart breaks, his manly features flicker and quiver like the mist;
strange spasms distort them; he bows his head in anguish, and with every
tear from her eyes mingle the bitter drops only shed by man.

But this is over now. It was the last sign of weakness, hesitation,
regret, wrung from him in his mortal agony. A solemn calm rests on his
broad brow as he presses the maiden to his heart.

'With this kiss of peace I consecrate thee to a holy death! He who first
breathed upon thy young cheek, first touched thy rosy lip, who may not
give thee his name in the sanctity of marriage, who cannot save thee
from condemnation--will give thee DEATH! In this thought I sought thee,
my sister; but when I found thee faithful, loving, a sudden dream of
bliss deceived me. Lulled by lovely visions, the weak one yielded to
unmanly hopes, unmanly fears! Forgive him, virgin hero! Temptation and
fear have fled forever--we will die together--let us pray!'

* * * * *

'Let us pray! but thou must remain to lead thy people. Longing, but
patient, I will await thee in Hades. Thou wilt often come to the spot in
which they will bury me, to throw a plume from thy helmet, a ring from
thy coat of mail upon the grassy mound. And the old grave-digger will
say: '_He_ was here to-night; she is still remembered by the chieftain.'

With pure, confiding glance she read