Speak to me, John! oh, for God's sake speak to me! Give some little sign that you live," but John was silent.

"My God, my God! Help, help! Will no one help me save this man?
See you not that his life is flowing away?
This agony will kill me.

John, my lover, my lord, speak to me.

Ah, his heart, his heart! I will know." She tore from his breast the leathern doublet and placed her ear over his heart.

"Thank God, it beats!" she cried in a frenzied whisper, as she kissed his breast and turned her ear again to hear his heart's welcome throbbing.