What would it avail me to speak in my own defence?
His voice is in your ears, its lightest tone outweighing my most solemn oath.
"Oh, that he were alive!" That is all you find to say to me.' 'I know you not,' sobbed Veranilda.

'Alas, I know you not!' 'Nor I you.

I dreamt of a Veranilda who loved so purely and so constantly that not a thousand slanderers could have touched her heart with a shadow of mistrust.

But who are you--you whom the first gross lie of a man lusting for your beauty utterly estranges from your faith?
Who are you--who wail for the liar's death, and shrink in horror from the hand that slew him?
I ever heard that the daughters of the Goths were chaste and true and fearless.

So they may be--all but one, whose birth marked her for faithlessness.' As though smitten by a brutal blow, Veranilda bowed her head, shuddering.