XII.
He shook his head: “Oh dread, mysterious man,
“What would’st thou with me here?”—“Not harm a hair
“Of thine, most beauteous maiden.” Curdling ran
Her blood, for she did think he mocked her prayer.
“If just thy purpose, why felonious tear
“Me from my father’s side—my father ailing?”
She wept again: “My innocence, oh, spare——
“Release me”—but her prayers were unavailing,
And loud resounded all the cavern with her wailing.