III.

My name is Rodrigo," thus answer'd the knight;

"Of the line of old Lara, though barr'd from my right;

For the kinsman of Salas proclaims for the heir

Of our ancestor's castles and forestries fair,

A bastard, a renegade's offspring-Mudarra,
Whom I'll send, if I can, to the Infants of Lara.”—

IV.

"I behold thee, disgrace to thy lineage !—with joy I behold thee, thou murderer !"-answer'd the boy. "The bastard you curse, you behold him in me; But his brothers' avenger that bastard shall be ; Draw! for I am the renegade's offspring, Mudarra ; We shall see who inherits the life-blood of Lara !"

V.

“I am arm'd for the forest-chase-not for the fight

Let me go for my shield and my sword," cries the knight—

"Now the mercy you dealt to my brothers of old, Be the hope of that mercy the comfort you hold ; Die, foeman to Sancha-die, traitor to Lara !"—

As he spake, there was blood on the spear of Mudarra.

THE

WEDDING OF THE LADY THERESA.

THE following passage occurs in Mariana's History, Book VIII. chap. 5:— "There are who affirm that this Moor's name was Abdalla, and that he had to wife Donna Theresa, sister to Alphonz King of Leon, with consent of that prince. Great and flagrant dishonour! The purpose was to gain new strength to his kingdom by this Moorish alliance; but some pretences were set forth that Abdalla had exhibited certain signs of desiring to be a Christian, that in a short time he was to be baptized, and the like.

"The Lady Theresa, deceived with these representations, was conducted to Toledo, where the nuptials were celebrated in great splendour with games and sports, and a banquet, which lasted until night. The company having left the tables, the bride was then carried to bed; but when the amorous Moor drew near to her,-Away,' said she; let such heavy calamity, such baseness, be far from me! One of two things must be either be baptized, thou with thy people, and then come to my arms, or, refusing to do so, keep away from me for ever. If otherwise, fear the vengeance of men, who will not overlook my insult and suffering, and the wrath of God, above all, which will follow the violation of a Christian lady's chastity. Take good heed, and let not luxury, that smooth pest, be thy ruin.' But the Moor took no heed of her words, and lay with her against her will. The Divine vengeance followed swiftly, for there fell on him a severe malady, and he well knew within himself from what cause it arose. Immediately he sent back Donna Theresa to her brother's house, with great gifts which he had bestowed on her; but she made herself a nun in the Monastery of Saint Pelagius, in Leon, and there passed the remainder of her days in pious labours and devotions, in which she found her consolation for the outrage that had been committed on her."

The ballad, of which a translation follows, tells the same story:

"En los reynos de Leon el quinto Alfonso reynava," &c.

THE

WEDDING OF THE LADY THERESA.

I.

"TWAS when the fifth Alphonso in Leon held his sway,

King Abdalla of Toledo an embassy did send;
He ask'd his sister for a wife, and in an evil day
Alphonso sent her, for he fear'd Abdalla to offend;
He fear'd to move his anger, for many times before
He had received in danger much succour from that Moor.

II.

Sad heart had fair Theresa when she their paction knew,

With streaming tears she heard them tell she 'mong the Moors must go,

That she, a Christian damosell, a Christian firm and true,

Must wed a Moorish husband, it well might cause her wo;

But all her tears and all her prayers they are of small avail ;
At length she for her fate prepares, a victim sad and pale.

8

III.

The King hath sent his sister to fair Toledo town,

Where then the Moor Abdalla his royal state did keep;

When she drew near, the Moslem, from his golden throne, came down

And courteously received her, and bade her cease to weep;

With loving words he press'd her, to come his bower within,
With kisses he caress'd her, but still she fear'd the sin.

IV.

"Sir King, Sir King, I pray thee," 'twas thus Theresa spake,—
66 I pray
thee have compassion, and do to me no wrong;
For sleep with thee I may not, unless the vows I break

Whereby I to the holy Church of Christ my Lord belong;

But thou hast sworn to serve Mahoun, and if this thing should be, The curse of God it must bring down upon thy realm and thee.

V.

"The angel of Christ Jesu, to whom my heavenly Lord

Hath given my soul in keeping, is ever by my side;

If thou dost me dishonour, he will unsheath his sword,

And smite thy body fiercely, at the crying of thy bride.
Invisible he standeth; his sword, like fiery flame,
Will penetrate thy bosom, the hour that sees my shame."-

VI.

The Moslem heard her with a smile; the earnest words she said,
He took for bashful maiden's wile, and drew her to his bower.
In vain Theresa pray'd and strove-she press'd Abdalla's bed,
Perforce received his kiss of love, and lost her maiden flower.
A woeful Woman* there she lay, a loving lord beside,
And earnestly to God did pray her succour to provide.

• Dueña El Moro la tornava.

VII.

The Angel of Christ Jesu her sore complaint did hear,

And pluck'd his heavenly weapon from out its sheath unseen,

He waved the brand in his right hand, and to the King came near, And drew the point o'er limb and joint, beside the weeping Queen. A mortal weakness from the stroke upon the King did fall,

He could not stand when daylight broke, but on his knees must crawl.

VIII.

Abdalla shudder'd inly, when he this sickness felt,

And call'd upon his Barons, his pillow to come nigh;

"Rise up," he said, "my liegemen," as round his bed they knelt,
"And take this Christian lady, else certainly I die;
Let gold be in your girdles, and precious stones beside,
And swiftly ride to Leon, and render up my bride.”—

IX.

When they were come to Leon, Theresa would not go

Into her brother's dwelling, where her maiden years were spent ;
But o'er her downcast visage a white veil she did throw,

And to the ancient nunnery of Saint Pelagius went.

There long, from worldly eyes retired, a holy life she led ;

There she, an aged saint, expired-there sleeps she with the dead.