Dedication
To take a ship and run away,
Would be your father’s slave to steal.”
“Oh, take this purse of yellow silk,
My mother dying gave to me,
The golden pieces it contains
Will richly pay your ransom fee.
“And when at home returned again,
To Christian maidens you can say
How Jewish hearts can sacrifice
And show a deeper love than they.”
As thus she spoke, the master came.
“Oh, master,” said I, “God be praised,
Good news has come across the sea,
My friends the ransom price have raised.”
“Ah, Christian, what is that you say,
Many cruzadoes it will need.
Who gives you enough of gold
To pay the heavy ransom’s meed?”
“My sisters twain have sent me part,
The other I had kept in store.
An angel has brought me the gold,
An angel bright from heaven’s door.”
“Hearken, Christian, change your faith, '
And you shall wed my daughter dear,
My goods and wealth shall all be thine,
And joy and peace surround you here.”
“I will not be a cursed Jew,
Nor heathen Turk of grace denied,
Nor will I change for all your wealth
The faith of Jesus crucified.”
“Why are you pale, Rachael, my girl,
Beloved child, tell me the truth;
Have you been brought to shameful harm
By this accursed Christian youth?”
“Oh, let the Christian youth go free,
For his amend I have no claim,
If my flower of love he’s had,
I gave it, and he ’s not to blame.”
He shut her in a dungeon tower,
Which he with heavy stone blocks made,
That the base Moors might never know
That shame had touched a Jewish maid.
Oh, mandolin, my mandolin,
Rest silent hung upon the wall,
My longing love across the sea
Is borne away beyond recall.
The Faithful Paladin has a more tragical ending for the captive. The ballad had its origin in the province of Algarve, but there are several variants in Portuguese as well as similar ballads in Spanish. Calderon has made the theme the subject of a drama under the title of The Constant Prince, relating to the captivity and sufferings of Don Fernando, heir to the throne of Portugal, who was captured by the Moors in 1438,