This ballad is intended to represent the feelings of Don Sancho, Count of Saldenha or Saldaña, while imprisoned by King Alphonso, and, as he supposed, neglected and forgotten, both by his wife, or rather mistress, Donna Ximena, and by his son, the famous Bernardo del Carpio. I. The Count Don Sancho Diaz, the Signior of Saldane, Lies weeping in his prison, for he cannot refrain:-- King Alphonso and his sister, of both doth he complain, But most of bold Bernardo, the champion of Spain. II. "The weary years I durance brook, how many they have been, When on these hoary hairs I look, may easily be seen; When they brought me to this castle, my curls were black, I ween, Woe worth the day! they have grown grey these rueful walls between. III. "They tell me my Bernardo is the doughtiest lance in Spain, But if he were my loyal heir, there's blood in every vein Whereof the voice his heart would hear--his hand would not gainsay;-- Though the blood of kings be mixed with mine, it would not have all the sway. IV. "Now all the three have scorn of me--unhappy man am I! They leave me without pity--they leave me here to die. A stranger's feud, albeit rude, were little dole or care, But he's my own, both flesh and bone; his scorn is ill to bear. V. "From Jailer and from Castellain I hear of hardiment And chivalry in listed plain on joust and tourney spent;-- I hear of many a battle, in which thy spear is red, But help from thee comes none to me where I am ill bested. VI. "Some villain spot is in thy blood to mar its gentle strain, Else would it show forth hardihood for him from whom 'twas ta'en; Thy hope is young, thy heart is strong, but yet a day may be, When thou shalt weep in dungeon deep, and none thy weeping see." THE FUNERAL OF THE COUNT OF SALDENHA. The ballads concerning Bernardo del Carpio are, upon the whole, in accordance with his history as given in the _Coronica General_. According to the Chronicle, Bernardo being at last wearied out of all patience by the cruelty of which his father was the victim, determined to quit the Court of his King, and seek an alliance among the Moors. Having fortified himself in the Castle of Carpio, he made continual incursions into the territory of Leon, pillaging and plundering wherever he came. The King at length besieged him in his stronghold, but the defence was so gallant, that there appeared no prospect of success; whereupon many of the gentlemen in Alphonso's camp entreated the King to offer Bernardo immediate possession of his father's person, if he would surrender his castle.