Beatrice of Swabia
of Salerno, still more terrified, recounts it to the Cardinal, saying:
'Twas terrible, that strange and silent girl!
You told me not she was so beautiful.
Has she some Saracen spell? My Lord, I would not
Face her again to win back Sicily!
When round her brow I bound the diamond wreath
I could but start to see what I had done,
For as she stood with all its light upon her,
Her lips just parted, with wide open eyes,
So cruel and so deadly was her silence
She seemed scarce human when I knelt before her,
And clasped her knees, she did not look at me
Or seem to hear me. I well nigh had cried
Is this indeed the Princess, Manfred's daughter,
Or is it, truly, Mary come from Heaven,
To take the prisoner's place and doom us all?
My Lord, I shiver! Oh will she have mercy?
My Carlo, will she save him? Say, Lord Cardinal,
Is it not yet too late?
Card. No, lady, no!
Wonder not, if this long imprisoned girl
Was struck dumb by such sudden change of fortune;
But they will keep their promise and his life
More profits than his death. Well Loria knows
His father's son.
You told me not she was so beautiful.
Has she some Saracen spell? My Lord, I would not
Face her again to win back Sicily!
When round her brow I bound the diamond wreath
I could but start to see what I had done,
For as she stood with all its light upon her,
Her lips just parted, with wide open eyes,
So cruel and so deadly was her silence
She seemed scarce human when I knelt before her,
And clasped her knees, she did not look at me
Or seem to hear me. I well nigh had cried
Is this indeed the Princess, Manfred's daughter,
Or is it, truly, Mary come from Heaven,
To take the prisoner's place and doom us all?
My Lord, I shiver! Oh will she have mercy?
My Carlo, will she save him? Say, Lord Cardinal,
Is it not yet too late?
Card. No, lady, no!
Wonder not, if this long imprisoned girl
Was struck dumb by such sudden change of fortune;
But they will keep their promise and his life
More profits than his death. Well Loria knows
His father's son.
193
