Ancient Spanish ballads Author:John Gibson Lockhart Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: Iv. From underneath his garment the King unluck'd his chain, A golden chain with many a link, and the royal ring of Spain ; He gave them to the wondering man,... more » and with heavy steps and slow He up the wild his way began, to the hermitage to go. The sun had just descended into the western sea, And the holy man was sitting in the breeze beneath his tree; " I come, I come, good father, to beg a boon from thee: This night within thy hermitage give shelter unto me."? The old man look'd upon the King, he scaun'd him o'er and o'er; He look'd with looks of wondering, he marvell'd more and more ; With blood and dust distained was the garment that he wore, And yet in utmost misery a kingly look he bore. " Who art thou, weary stranger ? This path why hast thou ta'en ?"? " I am Rodrigo ;?yesterday men calFd me King of Spain ; I come to make my penitence within this lonely place; Good father, take thou no offence, for God and Mary's grace."? vIII. The hermit look'd with fearful eye upon Rodrigo's face, " Son, mercy dwells with the Most High?not hopeless is thy case j Thus far thou well hast chosen, I to the Lord will pray, He will reveal what penance may wash thy sin away."? 10 THE PENITENCE OF DON RODERICK. Now, God us shield! it was reveal'd that he his bed must make Within a tomb, and share its gloom with a black and living snake. Rodrigo bow'd his humbled head when God's command he heard, And with the snake prepared his bed, according to the word. The holy Hermit waited till the third day was gone, Then knock'd he with his finger upon the cold tombstone; " Good king, good king," the Hermit said, " now an answer give to me, How fares it with thy darksome bed and dismal company ?"? " Good father," said Rodrigo, " the snake hath touch'd me no...« less