508 The Maid of Covadonga. (Nov. 
His application did not prove fruitless. The prelate was himself eager to 
prevent the fulfilment of the sentence, and obtained a royal decree to 
have the cause investigated by the Council of Castile. The French inva- 
sion succeeded, and, in the confusion of those times, the sentence was 
suspended, and Maria lingered in prison. After a lapse of ten years, 
new judges have ordered the award of justice to be carried into execu- 
tion.” 
“ Can this be possible? Is such an instance of barbarity offered by 
a civilized nation? Methinks the ten years’ confinement is ample 
punishment for the unfortunate girl.” Sha 
« Well, but they say that strict justice requires her life.” 
“Then strict justice ought to have required that life ten years ago. 
But I don’t see how we can reconcile this double punishment with ideas 
of justice.” 
A sullen murmur interrupted our conversation, and the bell tolled 
solemnly—the moment for the execution was arrived. An instinctive 
impulse hurried me to the place; an immense crowd surrounded the 
scaffold. 
Presently the wretched victim appeared, supported by two friars: she 
seemed ready to drop into the earth. I shuddered at the sight of the 
poor maniac prisoner ; but my astonishment, my horror increased, when 
I recognized, in the unfortunate culprit, the strange female—the myste- 
rious being, who had ten years before surprised me so much in the Vale 
of Covadonga! Time and suffering had wofully altered her form and 
features. Her once full, dark eye had sunk into its yielding socket ; her 
cheeks, once round and blooming, time and despair had frightfully 
disfigured ; her rich, luxuriant tresses, once of raven-blackness, were now 
white as snow through extreme grief’ and terror—evidently not by age : 
her withered limbs, once symmetry itself, were almost paralyzed, and 
wholly unable to support their burden. But still there were ‘sufficient 
traces yet remaining to convince me of the justice of my opinion. 
The fatal noose was already round the neck of poor Maria. I could 
not support the horrid scene; and, with feelings of mingled pity, dis- 
gust, and indignation, I turned my eyes away, and rushed from the 
‘revolting scene. 
HispaNnus. 
