Princess hears of her champion shall be, that he has lost his head
for her sake."

"The injustice of which thou art guilty towards me," said Theodore,
"convinces me that I have done a good deed in delivering the
Princess from thy tyranny. May she be happy, whatever becomes of
me!"

"This is a lover!" cried Manfred in a rage: "a peasant within
sight of death is not animated by such sentiments. Tell me, tell
me, rash boy, who thou art, or the rack shall force thy secret from
thee."

"Thou hast threatened me with death already," said the youth, "for
the truth I have told thee: if that is all the encouragement I am
to expect for sincerity, I am not tempted to indulge thy vain
curiosity farther."

"Then thou wilt not speak?" said Manfred.

"I will not," replied he.

"Bear him away into the courtyard," said Manfred; "I will see his
head this instant severed from his body."

Matilda fainted at hearing those words. Bianca shrieked, and cried
-

"Help! help! the Princess is dead!" Manfred started at this
ejaculation, and demanded what was the matter! The young peasant,