GARCERAN. O Queen, sublime, and thou my father, too, And ye besides, the best of all the land! I feel today, as ne'er before I felt, That to be trusted is the highest good, And that frivolity, though free of guilt, Destroys and paralyzes more than sin Itself. _One_ error is condoned at last, Frivolity is ever prone to err. And so, today, though conscious of no fault, I stand before you sullied, and atone For youthful heedlessness that passed for wrong. MANRIQUE. Of that, another time! Your message now! GARCERAN. The King through me dissolves this parliament. MANRIQUE. And since he sent frivolity itself He surely gave some token from his hand, Some written word as pledge and surety? GARCERAN. Hot-foot he followeth. MANRIQUE. That is enough! So in the royal name I now dissolve This parliament. Ye are dismissed. But list Ye to my wish and my advice: Return Ye not at once unto your homes, but wait Ye rather, round about, till it appears Whether the King will take the task we leave, Or we must still perform it in his name. (_To_ GARCERAN.) However, you, in princely service skilled, If spying be your office 'mongst us here, I beg you tell your King what I advised, And that th' estates in truth have been dissolved, But yet are ready to unite for deeds. GARCERAN. Then once again, before you all, I say No tort have I in this mad escapade. As it was chance that brought me from the camp, So chanced it that the King selected me To guard this maiden from the people's rage; And what with warning, reason, argument, A man may do to ward off ill, although 'Twas fruitless, I admit,--that have I tried. I should deserve your scorn were this not so. And Doña Clara, doubly destined mine, By parents both and by my wish as well, You need not hang your noble head, for though Unworthy of you--never worthy,--I Not less am worthy now than e'er before. I stand before you here and swear: 'Tis so. MANRIQUE. If this is so, and thou art still a man, Be a Castilian now and join with us To serve thy country's cause as we it serve. Thou art acquainted in the castle there; The captain opes the gates if thou demand. Perhaps we soon shall need to enter thus, If deaf the King, our noble lord. GARCERAN. No word Against the King, my master!