I loved her well and I was faithful in my oath to her, indeed, not until she was dead did I know how dear she had grown to me.

It is true that there was a great gulf between us which widened with the years, the gulf of blood and faith, for I knew well that she could not altogether put away her old beliefs, and it is true that when I saw her leading the death chant, a great horror took me and for a while I loathed her.

But these things I might have lived to forgive, for they were part of her blood and nature, moreover, the last and worst of them was not done by her own will, and when they were set aside there remained much that I could honour and love in the memory of this most royal and beautiful woman, who for so many years was my faithful wife.

So I thought in that hour and so I think to this day.

She said that we parted for ever, but I trust and I believe that this is not so.