Sudden a tall gaunt man before her stood, With hat broad-flapping slouched upon his face, Xaquéta and buckled shoon: in masking mood He seemed, half-monk and half of worldlier race. He raised his head, his features showed apace. Screamed Isabel who saw ’twas Fray Beltrán, Don Carlos’ brother who a rival place Had sought in Isidora’s heart, and ran, When Carlos he had smote, to cloisters fenced from man. IX. Now glared his eye with fearful purpose--swift He caught her wrist--she screamed again: “Thou’lt come “With me!” he said--she struggled--he did lift Her in his arms, where swooned the maid struck dumb With terror--to a steed he bore her from The bower, upon its shoulder laid her form, Then sprang to the saddle ere her senses numb Revived, and galloped swift his courser warm, Till on an ocean-cliff he stood ’neath gathering storm. X. Here by steep paths he led the maid perforce Adown the cliff amid the seamew’s wail. Terrific were the perils of their course, And Isabel with sobs outsighed the gale. Oh, dire to see that beauty lorn and pale! At length so difficult the rude descent, That in his arms he lifted her;--no jail She dreaded like those arms, and shuddering bent Away and shrieked, but none to aid the maiden went. XI. Within a lofty cave and wide they now Together stood, the ocean-wave before, Stalactites pendent from its rocky brow, And moon-lit shells and shingle strewed the floor. Little of these thought Isabel, though more Delighted none with Nature’s works than she, In calmer hours. Beltrán she doth implore On bended knees with tears full sad to see, And prayers and passionate sobs, to set her stainless free. XII. He shook his head: “Oh dread, mysterious man, “What would’st thou with me here?”--“Not harm a hair “Of thine, most beauteous maiden.” Curdling ran Her blood, for she did think he mocked her prayer. “If just thy purpose, why felonious tear “Me from my father’s side--my father ailing?” She wept again: “My innocence, oh, spare---- “Release me”--but her prayers were unavailing, And loud resounded all the cavern with her wailing. XIII. “Now hear me,” said Beltrán, while flashed his eye With supernatural light, and instant flushed His pale and haggard cheek. “My destiny “Thou know’st is terrible as e’er hath hushed The heart of man, or youthful spirit crushed. I loved, and in a brother found, oh God! A rival--all unconsciously I rushed And stabbed him--then a cloister’s pavement trod, And sought relief in prayer, in monkish fast, and rod. XIV.