Feme ante vos yo · è vuestras fijas,
Infantes son è · de dias chicas.—vv. 268, 269.
Some of the irregularities of the versification may be owing to the copyist, as we have but one manuscript to depend upon; but they are too grave and too abundant to be charged, on the whole, to any account but that of the original author.
[18] Some of the lines of this passage in the original (vv. 723, etc.) may be cited, to show that gravity and dignity were among the prominent attribute of the Spanish language from its first appearance.
Embrazan los escudos · delant los corazones,
Abaxan las lanzas apuestas · de los pendones,
Enclinaron las caras · de suso de los arzones,
Iban los ferir · de fuertes corazones,
A grandes voces lama · el que en buen ora nasceò:
“Ferid los, cavalleros, por · amor de caridad,