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chanted the following ballad to an air at once simple and melodious:
DURANDARTE AND BELERMA.
SAD and fearful is the story
Of the Roncevalles fight;
On those fatal plains of glory
Perished many a gallant knight.
Of the Roncevalles fight;
On those fatal plains of glory
Perished many a gallant knight.
There fell Durandarte: never
Verse a nobler chieftain named:
He, before his lips for ever
Clos'd in silence, thus exclaimed:
Verse a nobler chieftain named:
He, before his lips for ever
Clos'd in silence, thus exclaimed:
"Oh! Belerma! Oh! my dear one,
For my pain and pleasure born,
Seven long years I serv'd thee, fair one,
Seven long years my fee was scorn.
For my pain and pleasure born,
Seven long years I serv'd thee, fair one,
Seven long years my fee was scorn.
"And when now thy heart, replying
To my wishes, burns like mine,
Cruel fate, my bliss denying,
Bids me every hope resign.
To my wishes, burns like mine,
Cruel fate, my bliss denying,
Bids me every hope resign.
"Ah! though young I fall, believe me,
Death would never claim a sigh;
'Tis to lose thee, 'tis to leave thee,
Makes me think it hard to die!
Death would never claim a sigh;
'Tis to lose thee, 'tis to leave thee,
Makes me think it hard to die!
"Oh! my cousin Montesinos,
By that friendship firm and dear,
Which from youth has lived between us,
Now my last petition hear:
By that friendship firm and dear,
Which from youth has lived between us,
Now my last petition hear:
