and sin. The life of earth in punishment to justice would belong, And in the life beyond the grave no pardon could I win." "The Countess is a burden here, and therefore must she die; In that gilt basin bring her head, all dripping with its gore." Count Yanno left the cruel king, his soul in agony, And followed the dark page, whose arms the fatal basin bore. The page was clad in mourning garb, the Count in sad array, As if in pain of parting breath his heart with anguish swelled, The Countess ran to meet him, as she saw him far away; Her husband and her little child in one embrace she held. "Well come--well come, Count, for my joy;" but not a word he said, He mounted slowly up the steps, and locked and barred the door; Then bade the wondering servants the supper table spread: The household marveled at a mien they 'd never seen before, They did not touch the food or wine, but sat in sad unrest. The tears welled from Count Yanno's eyes; he bent to kiss the child, That to his mother's warm, soft breast his rosy lips had prest: The infant turned to meet the kiss, and like an angel smiled. To see that mingled smile and kiss, her heart in sobs broke out, The echoes of her bursting grief filled all the lofty room: "What troubles you, my best beloved; resolve this dreadful doubt, What is the order of the king that fills you so with gloom?" The Count choked down his sudden sobs, he could no answer make. She clasped his neck and on his mouth she pressed a frantic kiss. "Take from my heart this agony I suffer for your sake, Let me partake your sorrow, dear, and you shall share my bliss." The woeful pair from table rose, and sought in bed to rest, But slumber came not to their eyes, to give their pains relief. "By the good God in heaven above, and Virgin Mary blest, My very life I'd sooner give than see you in such grief." "May death revenge such black command; perish his tyr anny! My Count, I do not understand what't is he bids thee do; Upon my life and soul, my love, reveal it now to me, This dreadful shadow of ill fate that comes between us two." "The fate of an ill-fated one, and no help can there be, The king commands that I kill thee, and the Infanta wed." Scarce had these dreadful words been spoke in stifled agony When the unhappy Countess fell, as if her life had fled. God did not give her death's relief, tho' better she had died For anguish deeper far than death recalled life to her heart, "Wait, wait, Count Yanno, kill me not, but let me go and hide