"Look!" cried Mahaud, as she came in the hall With the two minstrels. "It is terrible! Sooner would I have lost my crown than come Alone at midnight to this dreadful place." "Does this old iron," said the troubadour, Striking the armour of Eviradnus, "Frighten you?" "Leave my ancestors in peace!" Exclaimed Mahaud. "A little man like you Must not lay hands on them." The troubadour Grew pale with anger, but the tall lute-player Laughed, and his blue eyes flamed upon Mahaud. "Now I must sleep," she said, "the priest's strange wine Begins to make me drowsy. Stay with me! Stay and watch over me all night, my friends." "Far have we travelled," said the troubadour, "In hopes to be alone with you to-night." And his dark face lightened with a grim smile, When, as he spoke, Mahaud fell fast asleep. "I'll take the girl," he cried to the lute-player, "And you can have the land! Are you content?" "Yes," said the lute-player, "but love is sweet." "Revenge is sweeter!" cried the troubadour. "'A little man like me!' Those were her words. Neither as queen nor empress shall she reign! I swore it when she flouted me. She dies!" "I cannot kill her," said the lute-player, "I love her." "So do I!" the other said. "I love her and hate her. If she lived, There would be war between us two. She dies! We love her; we must kill her." As he spoke The troubadour pulled at a ring, and raised A flagstone in the floor. "I know this place," He said. "A lord of Lusace had this trap Made for his enemies. 'Twill serve our need! Help me to lift her. All the land is yours." "Look!" screamed the lute-player. "Oh, God! Oh, God!" The troubadour turned round, and his knees shook. One of the iron images had leapt Down from its lifeless horse, and with drawn sword And clank of armour, it now drove at them. "King Ladislas and Emperor Sigismund!" It shouted in a terrible voice that fell Upon them like a judgment from on high. They grovelled at its iron feet, and shrieked, "Mercy! Oh, mercy!" And Eviradnus, Doffing his helmet and cuirass, exclaimed, "I am a man and not an iron ghost! It sickens me to see such cowardice In the two greatest conquerors of the age. Look! I have taken all my armour off; Meet me like men, and use what arms you will." "'Tis only an old man," said Ladislas. "Hold him in front, while I strike from behind." Eviradnus laid down his sword, to loose The last piece of his armour, and the Pole Ran at him with a dagger; with one hand The old man gripped the little king, and shook The life out of him. Then, as Sigismund Snatched up his sword, and left him still unarmed, Eviradnus stooped, and, seizing the dead king, He whirled him by the feet, like a huge club. Stricken with terror, Sigismund recoiled Into the open trap.