Book II · HERZELEIDE, part 9 of 10

¶As for half a year he was absent she looked for his coming sure, For but in the thought of that meeting might the life of the queen endure. 710 Then brake the sword of her gladness thro' the midst of the hilt in twain, Ah me! and alas! for her mourning, that goodness should bear such pain And faith ever waken sorrow! Yea, so doth it run alway With the life of men, and to-morrow must they mourn who rejoice to-day!

¶So it chanced that the queen one noontide in a restless slumber lay, 715 'Twas as if with a start she wakened and by lightning was borne away, And towards the clouds it bare her, and they smote her with mighty force, The fiery bolts of Heaven, as they sped on their downward course, And sparks sprang from her floating tresses mid the fire of the circling spheres, And the thunder crashed loud around her, and the rain-drops were burning tears. 720

¶For a little space was she conscious, then a grip on her right hand fell, And, lo! it was changed, the vision, and wondrous things befell; For then did she nurse a dragon, that forth from her body sprung, And its dragon life to nourish awhile at her breast it hung, Then it fled from her sight so swiftly she might look on it never more: 725 And her heart it brake for the anguish, and the terror and grief she bore.

¶And never methinks a woman in slumber such woe hath seen, But now had she been so joyful, alas! all was changed I ween, And sorrow should be her portion, and her ill it waxed long and wide, And the shadow of coming sorrow did still on her heart abide. 730

¶Then she did what afore she could not, for the terror that on her lay, She stretched her limbs in her slumber, and moaned in her grief alway, And she cried aloud on her people; and many a maid sat by And they sprang to her side at her summons, and wakened her speedily.

¶Then Tampaneis he came riding, of her husband's squires the chief, 735 And many a page was with him, and joy's goal was o'erpassed in grief, And they cried, 'He was dead, their master!' And her senses forsook the queen, And she fell aback in her anguish--And the knights spake, 'How hath this been? Hath our lord been slain in his harness, who ever was armed so well?' And tho' sorely the squire must sorrow, to the heroes the tale he'ld tell: 740 'No long life should he have, my master! His helm he put off awhile, The heat thereto constrained him--'twas accursed heathen guile That stole him from us, our hero--A knight took a he-goats blood, And from a long glass he poured it on the helmet of diamond good, And softer than sponge grew the diamond. May He Whom as Lamb they show 745 With the Cross in His hold, have mercy on the deeds that are wrought below!'

¶'Then when one host met the other: Ah! that was indeed a fight, And the knights who were with the Baruch they fought all as men of might, And there in the field by Bagdad full many a shield was pierced, As they flew each one on the other, and they mingled in charges fierce, 750 And banner was mixed with banner, many fell who had bravely fought, And my lord's hand it did such wonders that his foemen became as nought, But Ipomidon he came riding, and with death would reward the knight, And he smote him down, and I think me many thousands they saw that sight.'

¶'For my master, free from falsehood, rode against Alexandria's king, 755 But, alas! for the guile of the heathen, this joust but his death should bring, For the spear cut sheer thro' the helmet, and it pierced thro' my master's brain (In his head did they find the splinters), yet the hero still held the rein, And dying he rode from the combat, o'er a wide plain his way he'ld take, And his chaplain he knelt above him, and in few words his shrift he spake. 760 And he sent here the shift and the spear-blade that hath robbed us of our friend, He died free from sin--us his servants he did to the queen commend!'

¶'At Bagdad was the hero buried, and the Baruch the cost would pay, With gold is it fair to look on, and rich is the tomb alway; And many a costly jewel doth gleam where he lies at rest, 765 And embalmed was the fair young body (sad was many a faithful breast); And the grave-stone it is a ruby, and thro' it he shineth clear, And they granted us as with martyrs, the cross o'er his tomb to rear,-- For as Christ by His death hath freed us, and to comfort that soul so brave, And for shelter we raised the symbol--And the Baruch the cost he gave. 770 For the cross was of emerald wroughten: heathen counsel we asked it not, For they know not the Cross, nor the blessing that Christ's death won for us I wot! And the heathen they pray unto him as if he were a god in truth, Nor they do it the Cross to honour, nor hath Baptism taught them ruth (Tho' it looseneth us from Hell's fetters when the uttermost day shall dawn), 775 But his knightly faith and honour, who leaveth us here forlorn, Have wrought him a place in Heaven where he shineth with Heaven's light, And true penitence and confession--for falsehood e'er fled that knight.'

¶'And there in his diamond helmet an epitaph did they grave, And fast to the cross they fixed it o'er the tomb of that hero brave, 780 And thus do they run the letters: '(Through this helmet a joust hath slain) This hero who bare all manhood, and Gamuret was his name, As king did he rule o'er three kingdoms, in each land the Crown he wore Whom mighty princes followed--Anjou's land this hero bore, And he lost his life for the Baruch at the city of Bagdad fair. 785 And so high did it soar, his honour, that no knight may with him compare, Howe'er ye may test their dealings. Nor is he of woman born, (I mean of the knightly order) to whose hand he his strength had sworn. But help and true manly counsel to his friends did he steadfast give; And thro' women much grief he suffered, for he would in their favour live. 790 Baptized was he as a Christian tho' Saracens mourn him yet, (This is truth and no lie)--All his lifetime since his years were on wisdom set His strength strove for fame and honour, till he fell in his knightly pride, Wish him bliss who here lieth buried! 'Twas by treason's hand he died!'