"O magical Medea! O Progne dire! if your own babes in vengeance dared ye kill for alien crimes, and injuries of the sire, look ye, Teresa's deed was darker still. Foul greed of gain, incontinent desire, were the main causes of such bitter ill: Scylla her agèd sire for one did slay, for both Teresa did her son betray. "Right soon that noble Prince clear vict'ory won from his harsh Mother and her Fere indign; in briefest time the land obeyed the son, though first to fight him did the folk incline. But reft of reason and by rage undone he bound the Mother in the biting chain: Eftsoons avenged her griefs the hand of God: Such veneration is to parents ow'd. "Lo! the superb Castilian 'gins prepare his pow'r to 'venge Teresa's injuries, against the Lusian land in men so rare, whereon ne toil ne trouble heavy lies. Their breasts the cruel battle grandly dare, aid the good cause angelic Potencies; unrecking might unequal still they strive, nay, more, their dreadful foe to flight they drive! "Passeth no tedious time, before the great Prince a dure Siege in Guimaraens dree'd by passing pow'er, for to 'mend his state, came the fell en'emy, full of grief and greed: But when committed life to direful Fate, Egas, the faithful guardian, he was free'd, who had in any other way been lost, all unpreparèd 'gainst such 'whelming host. "But when the loyal Vassal well hath known how weak his Monarch's arm to front such fight, sans order wending to the Spanish fone, his Sovran's homage he doth pledge and plight. Straight from the horrid siege th' invader flown trusteth the word and honour of the Knight, Egas Moniz: But now the noble breast of the brave Youth disdaineth strange behest. "Already came the plighted time and tide, when the Castilian Don stood dight to see, before his pow'er the Prince bend low his pride, yielding the promisèd obediency. Egas who views his knightly word belied, while still Castile believes him true to be, Sweet life resolveth to the winds to throw, nor live with foulest taint of faithless vow. "He with his children and his wife departeth to keep his promise with a faith immense; unshod and strippèd, while their plight imparteth far more of pity than of vengeance: 'If, mighty Monarch! still thy spirit smarteth to wreak revenge on my rash confidence,' quoth he, 'Behold! I come with life to save my pledge, my knightly honour's word I gave.' "'I bring, thou seest here, lives innocent, of wife, of sinless children dight to die; if breasts of gen'erous mould and excellent accept such weaklings' woeful destiny. Thou seest these hands, this tongue inconsequent: hereon alone the fierce exper'iment try of torments, death, and doom that pass in full Sinis or e'en Perillus' brazen bull.'