Book II · HERZELEIDE, part 3 of 10

¶And now it was fully noontide, and the knight in his tent abode; Then the king of Zassamank heard this, that o'er all the field they rode, 'O'er the length and the breadth they gallop, and in knightly order fight.' 165 And thither he rode, the hero, with many a banner bright; But he rode not in search of conflict, at his leisure he thought to see What was done by one side and the other of fair deeds of chivalry. On the plain did they spread his carpet, where the knights in strife would close, And the shriek of the wounded horses o'er all the tumult rose. 170 The squires stood round in a circle mid the clash of the ringing steel, And the heroes for fair fame battled, and the swords sang for woe or weal. There was sound as of splintered spear-shafts, but none need to question, Where? And his walls were of meeting foemen, by knightly hands builded fair.

¶And so near was I ween the jousting that the maids from the hall above 175 Might look on the toil of the heroes--But sorrow the queen did move Since the king of Zassamank did naught, nor mingled him in the fight, And she quoth, 'Ah! why came he hither? I had deemed him a gallant knight!' (Now the King of France, whose fair wife brought Gamuret sorrow sore When he fought for her sake, lay lifeless, and the queen sought the wide world o'er 180 To know if from heathen countries he had come to his land again. 'Twas love's power to the search that drove her, for love did her heart constrain.)

¶And many brave deeds were done there of many a poor man bold, Who yet for the highest strove not, which the queen for their prize had told, Herself and her two fair kingdoms,--they thought not such prize to gain, 185 But they battled for other booty, tho' their hearts were for payment fain.

¶Now clad was Gamuret's body in the harness whereby his wife Might bring to her mind forgiveness, and the ending of bitter strife. The Scotch King Friedebrand sent it, as a gift, to repay the woe That with conflict he heaped upon her, nor shall earth of its fellow know. 190 Then he looked well upon the diamond--'twas a helmet, thereon they bound An anchor, and jewels so precious were within its setting found; Nor small were the stones, but costly, and the weight it was none too light Of that helmet, and yet he bare it, and decked was the guest for fight

¶And what was his shield's adorning? of gold of Araby fair, 195 And the boss it was rich and costly, and heavy the weight he bare. And the red gold shone so brightly that mirrored the face therein, And an anchor beneath of sable--I were fain to myself to win That wherewith the knight was girded, full many a mark its worth. And wide was the coat emblazoned, and it reached e'en unto the earth, 200 And I ween that few in battle such raiment shall think to wear. And if I have skill to praise it, or its value aright declare, It shone e'en as when there burneth thro' the night-time a living flame, And never a tint was faded, and its shimmer as lightning came, A feeble eye had feared it! And with gold was it all inwrought, 205 That in Kaukasus' distant mountains from out of the rock was brought By gryphon claws, for they guarded, and shall guard it unto this day. And from Araby came the people who stole it by craft away,-- Elsewhere shall be none so precious,--and they bare it to Araby Where they weave Achmardi and Pfellel, and no vesture like that shall be! 210 His shield, round his neck he hung it--There stood a charger proud, Well-nigh to the hoof was it armed--and the squires cried the war-cry loud, And he sprang on his steed as he found it; and many a spear of might Did he break with strong hand in the Tourney, and where men did the closest fight There he brake a way thro' the mêlée, and came forth on the further side, 215 And ever behind the Ostrich the Anchor did close abide.

¶Gamuret smote from off his charger Poytewin of Prienlaskors And many another hero, their pledge must they yield perforce. But what knight bare the cross he rejoiced him in the hero's valiant deeds, And much did he win by his valour, since he gave him the captured steeds. 220

¶Now four banners, with self-same bearing, were led 'gainst that gallant knight, (And bold riders they rode beneath them, and their lord was a man of might,) And on each was the tail of a gryphon; and that hinder part I trow Was e'en as a hailstorm smiting, so rode they in goodly row. And Gascony's king before them the fore part of that gryphon bare 225 On his shield; he was skilled in battle, and his body was armed full fair As women alone might arm him; and he rode forth his knights before Where he saw on a helm the Ostrich, but the Anchor towards him bore, And he thrust him from off his charger, the brave king of Zassamank, And made of him there his captive. Here close thronged the knightly ranks, 230 And the furrows were trodden level, and their locks must the sword-blade know, And many a wood was wasted, and many a knight laid low-- And they who thus fell, 'twas told me, they turned their chargers round And hied to the back of the Tourney, where none but the cowards were found.

¶And so near was I ween the combat that the women might see aright 235 Who there won the prize of valour; Rivalein that love-lorn knight With his spear hewed afresh a token, of Loheneis was he king, And the crash of the splintered spear-shaft did aye with his onslaught ring. Of a knight did Morhold rob them, for he drew him from off his steed And lifted him up before him (unseemly methinks such deed) 340 And Killirjacac they called him,--and ere this King Lac had ta'en Such payment from him as in falling a knight from the earth may gain-- So his deeds had been fair and knightly; then this valiant man he thought He would take him with never a sword-thrust, and the knight in his arms he caught. Then the hand of the valiant Kailet it smote from the saddle-bow 245 The Duke of Brabant, Prince Lambekein, and the hero was laid alow. And what think ye they did, his soldiers? Their swords into shields they turned, And with them did they guard their monarch--And ever for strife they yearned.