"I ask from thee no favor sweet; Nor love nor honor at thy hand; But only that thou choose me out The servant of thy least command. "The choicest nobles of the realm The glory of this office crave; The lowliest soldier, with delight, Would die to prove himself thy slave. "Each life, each heart is at thy feet; Thou with a thousand hearts mayst live; And if thou wouldst not grant my prayer, Oh, take the warning that I give. "For there are ladies in the court To my desires would fain consent, And lovely Bendarrafa once These jealous words but lately sent: "'Those letters and those written lines, Why dost thou not their sense divine? Are they not printed on thy heart As thy loved image is on mine? "'Why art thou absent still so long? It cannot be that thou art dead?'" Then ceased the King and silent stood, While Tarfe to his Celia said: "Celestial Celia be thy name; Celestial calm is on thy brow; Yet all the radiance of thy face Thy cruelty eclipses now. "A witch like Circe dost thou seem; For Circe could o'ercloud the sky; Oh, let the sun appear once more, And bid the clouds of darkness fly! "Ah, would to God that on the feast, The Baptist's consecrated day, I might my arms about thee fling And lead thee from thy home away. "Yet say not that 'tis in thy power To yield or all my hopes to kill; For thou shalt learn that all the world, In leaguer, cannot bend my will. "And France can tell how many a time I fought upon the tented field, And forced upon their bended knee Her loftiest paladins to yield. "I vanquished many a valiant knight Who on his shield the lilies bore; And on Vandalia's plain subdued Of Red Cross warriors many a score. "The noblest I had brought to yield Upon Granada's gory plain, Did I not shrink with such vile blood The honor of my sword to stain." At this the trumpets called to arms; Without one farewell word each knight Turned from the lady of his heart And spurred his steed in headlong flight. THE KING'S DECISION Amid a thousand sapient Moors From Andalusia came, Was an ancient Moor, who ruled the land, Rey Bucar was his name. And many a year this sage had dwelt With the lady he loved best; And at last he summoned the Cortes, As his leman made request. The day was set on which his lords And commoners should meet, And they talked to the King of his wide realm's need, As the King sat in his seat. And many the laws they passed that day; And among them a law that said That the lover who took a maid for his love The maid of his choice must wed; And he who broke this ordinance Should pay for it with his head. And all agreed that the law was good; Save a cousin of the King, Who came and stood before him, With complaint and questioning;