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Translated by Edward Churton
DON DIEGO or Padilla,—Heaven forgive him now he ’s dead!— | |
| Led apart the king Don Pedro, and in secret guise he said: | |
| “In Consuegra stands a castle; fairer ne’er was raised with stones; | |
| Fitter ’t were the king should hold it, than the Prior of St. John’s. | |
| Bid the Prior, good king, to supper; let him find, ere night be gone, | 5 |
| Such a feast as King Alfonso gave at Toro to Don John: | |
| When the Prior—he ’s worth no pity—shorter by the head shall be, | |
| If the castle want a tenant, grant the fief, dread lord, to me.” | |
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| “While these twain stood thus at council, lo! the simple Prior drew near. | |
| “Heaven,” he said, “preserve your Highness long the royal crown to wear!” | 10 |
| “Welcome, gentle Prior, O, welcome: tell the truth, good sir, to me; | |
| That same Castle of Consuegra,—tell me whose the place may be.” | |
| “Yours, my liege, both town and castle; yours they are by sovereign right.” | |
| “Then, good Prior, be here to supper; you shall be my guest to-night.” | |
| “I attend my sovereign’s pleasure, and with right good-will shall come; | 15 |
| But another charge now waits me: monks, who seek with me a home, | |
| Here as strangers need a lodging; let me to their comfort see.” | |
| “Granted in Heaven’s name, good Prior; but be sure you sup with me.” | |
| First the Prior would seek the kitchen; for his trusty cook was there, | |
| Brought to guard his master’s eating,—men may die of poisoned fare;— | 20 |
| Like a comrade he bespoke him; none his purpose guessed but he: | |
| “Friend, since friends have all in common, change awhile your dress with me. | |
| Thus attired, at cool of even, ere the summer sun go down, | |
| You may lounge with lords and ladies through the walks of this fair town.” | |
| Then the Prior alone in stable sought his mule oft tried at need: | 25 |
| “Good gray mule, once more to aid me thou must prove thy best of speed: | |
| Thrice my life thy help has rescued: if thy course this night thou hold, | |
| Thy brave hoofs, for steel too noble, shall be shod with beaten gold.” | |
| On her back be threw the saddle, drew the girths with silent haste, | |
| And, as evening shades were closing, on his lonely road he past. | 30 |
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| When he came to Azoguejo, market good for corn and hay, | |
| As the provender she scented, loudly did the gray mule bray. | |
| But her master could not tarry: on he rode; his mule so fleet, | |
| As the midnight cocks were crowing, passed Toledo’s bridge and street. | |
| Ere the cock again was crowing, while the dawn was yet in gloom, | 35 |
| To the Castle of Consuegra weary man and beast had come. | |
| There he found his guards all watching: “Guards,” he said, “in whose true hands | |
| Rests Consuegra keep and castle, tell me who the place commands.” | |
| “Town and castle own one master; street or turret, walls and stones, | |
| And the men that dwell within them, are the Prior’s of St. John’s.” | 40 |
| Glad at heart the weary Prior did his vassals’ answer hear: | |
| “Then unbar the gates, my children; for behold, your lord is here.” | |
| When the warders saw their master, peering out with jealous care, | |
| Softly they let down the drawbridge, holding still the gates ajar. | |
| “Take my mule,” the Prior commanded; “treat her well, I charge you all: | 45 |
| But for her no more your master had regained Consuegra’s hall. | |
| Treat her well: and for the watching, leave that care for once to me; | |
| I will keep the lantern-chamber, till the adventure’s end I see. | |
| I will watch; and watch, my warders: wrath and treachery, armed with death, | |
| Fain would pay with traitors’ guerdon those true hearts that keep their faith.” | 50 |
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| Scarce these words the Prior had ended, lo! the king, good man, drew near; | |
| When he saw the place well guarded, how he questioned you shall hear: | |
| “Tell me, warders of the castle,—Heaven requite your faithful care!— | |
| Tell me whose you call this fortress, whose it is, and whose ye are.” | |
| “Town and castle own one master; street or turret, walls and stones, | 55 |
| And the men that dwell within them, are the Prior’s of St. John’s.” | |
| “Then unbar the gates, my vassals: for behold, your lord am I.” | |
| “Stand apart, good king, we charge you: royal lips should scorn to lie. | |
| Stand apart; the Prior is with us: home he came ere dawn of day.” | |
| “May the glanders choke his mule then, mule with coat of silver-gray! | 60 |
| Seven good steeds that beast has cost me; ’t is the eighth I now bestride; | |
| Seven relays! and yet I could not catch the Prior on his night-ride. | |
| Yet, good Prior, your word can bid them open to their lord and yours; | |
| ’T is no more than right to pay me for my pains of boots and spurs. | |
| By my crown I swear, I never harm will do to thine or thee.” | 65 |
| “My good king, I know thou wilt not: for the game rests now with me.” | |
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