From the Spanish. Ancient Spanish Ballads. II. Don Nuno, Count of Lara

“King Alfonso the Eighth, having exhausted his treasury in war, wishes to lay a tax of five farthings upon each of the Castilian hidalgos, in order to defray the expenses of a journey from Burgos to Cuenca. This proposition of the king was met with disdain by the noblemen who had been assembled on the occasion.”

DON NUNO, Count of Lara,

In anger and in pride,

Forgot all reverence for the king,

And thus in wrath replied:

“Our noble ancestors,” quoth he,

“Ne’er such a tribute paid;

Nor shall the king receive of us

What they have once gainsaid.

“The base-born soul who deems it just

May here with thee remain;

But follow me, ye cavaliers,

Ye noblemen of Spain.”

Forth followed they the noble Count,

They marched to Glera’s plain;

Out of three thousand gallant knights

Did only three remain.

They tied the tribute to their spears,

They raised it in the air,

And they sent to tell their lord the king

That his tax was ready there.

“He may send and take by force,” said they,

“This paltry sum of gold;

But the goodly gift of liberty

Cannot be bought and sold.”

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