Page:Works of Voltaire Volume 36.djvu/126

Of prudes her council she assembled,
The knight uncapped before them trembled;
With downcast eyes ne'er dared to stir,
He then had neither boot nor spur;
The court by no chicane delayed,
But ample full confession made;
That taking by Charonne his way
He was by Satan led astray;
That he repented of his crime,
Would ne'er offend a second time:
But that the first might prove the last,
Sentence of death was on him passed.
Robert had so much youthful grace,
So fine his person, fair his face,
That Bertha and assessors all
Awarding sentence, tears let fall.
Pangs of remorse sad Marton felt,
And every heart began to melt:
Berthe to the court then made it plain,
That the knight pardon might obtain,
And that if ready witted, he
Might from all punishment be free;
Since by the laws established there,
Who tells what pleases all the fair,
Has to his pardon a just claim,
Acquitted by each virtuous dame;
But then he must the thing explain
Completely, or his hopes are vain.
What thus had been in council started
Quickly to Robert was imparted.
The good Queen Bertha bent to save him,
Eight days to think upon it gave him;