The princess sat in her garden fair;

With a golden comb she combed her hair.

She raised her eyes to the azure bay.

A brave fleet bore in with pennons gay.

"Good captain, say, in the Holy Land

Have you seen my spouse with his brave band?

"In Holy Land is many a knight.

With what point device was he bedight?"

"His steed bore saddle of silver gilt

The cross of Christ was his gold sword hilt."

"
A knight with these I saw bravely fall

In fierce assault on a city's wall."

"A wretched widow I have become

To mourn and weep in a ruined home,

I have three daughters, lovely and sage,

But spouseless and weak in orphanage."

"What gift to him who returns your spouse?"

"All the gold and silver in the house."

"Of gold and silver I have no need,

Some other guerdon must be my meed."

"I have three great mills; all shall be thine.

They grind white wheat and benzoin fine,

The delicate flour, so finely wrought,

The royal stewards have always sought."

"For your three mills I have no desire,

Some other reward must pay my hire."

"My roof tile of gold and ivory."

"Your gold and iv'ry tiles are not for me."

"My daughters fair, you shall have them all;

Two to serve you in your banquet hall;

The third and fairest shall be your bride,

In love's nest to slumber by your side."

"Princess, your fair daughters count for nought,

A costlier gift is in my thought."

"I have nothing more to offer thee;

No other gift can you ask of me."

"But I only ask, and you can spare

The simple gift of your body fair."

"A fouler insult knight ne'er gave.

Haste, vassals, and scourge this loathly knave."

"The wedding ring with diamonds bright,

We broke in twain on our bridal night.

Where is the half you have kept so dear?

The other half you can see it here."

"How many tears you have made me shed!

How slow the lingering years have fled!

What pains and griefs lie in your debt!

When bliss like this cannot forget."

The ballad of Dom Duardos and Flerida has an antique flavor in its simplicity and indefiniteness, as in its element of imaginative poetry, which would lead to a belief in its ancient origin, dating beyond the acquirement of more accomplished art in the popular poets. A similar ballad is to be found in the Castilian.