This dusty half of us made up with fears.-- Have you been ever quite so glad to fight As I have thought men must? pray you, speak truth. CHASTELARD. Yea, when the time came, there caught hold of me Such pleasure in the head and hands and blood As may be kindled under loving lips: Crossing the ferry once to the Clerks' Field, I mind how the plashing noise of Seine Put fire into my face for joy, and how My blood kept measure with the swinging boat Till we touched land, all for the sake of that Which should be soon. QUEEN. Her name, for God's love, sir; You slew your friend for love's sake? nay, the name. CHASTELARD. Faith, I forget. QUEEN. Now by the faith I have You have no faith to swear by. CHASTELARD. A good sword: We left him quiet after a thrust or twain. QUEEN. I would I had been at hand and marked them off As the maids did when we played singing games: You outwent me at rhyming; but for faith, We fight best there. I would I had seen you fight. CHASTELARD. I would you had; his play was worth an eye; He made some gallant way before that pass Which made me way through him. QUEEN. Would I saw that-- How did you slay him? CHASTELARD. A clean pass--this way; Right in the side here, where the blood has root. His wrist went round in pushing, see you, thus, Or he had pierced me. QUEEN. Yea, I see, sweet knight. I have a mind to love you for his sake; Would I had seen. CHASTELARD. Hugues de Marsillac-- I have the name now; 't was a goodly one Before he changed it for a dusty name. QUEEN. Talk not of death; I would hear living talk Of good live swords and good strokes struck withal, Brave battles and the mirth of mingling men, Not of cold names you greet a dead man with. You are yet young for fighting; but in fight Have you never caught a wound? CHASTELARD. Yea, twice or so: The first time in a little outlying field (My first field) at the sleepy gray of dawn, They found us drowsy, fumbling at our girths, And rode us down by heaps; I took a hurt Here in the shoulder. QUEEN. Ah, I mind well now; Did you not ride a day's space afterward, Having two wounds? yea, Dandelot it was, That Dandelot took word of it. I know, Sitting at meat when the news came to us I had nigh swooned but for those Florence eyes Slanting my way with sleek lids drawn up close-- Yea, and she said, the Italian brokeress, She said such men were good for great queens' love. I would you might die, when you come to die, Like a knight slain. Pray God we make good ends. For love too, love dies hard or easily, But some way dies on some day, ere we die. CHASTELARD. You made a song once of old flowers and loves, Will you not sing that rather? 't is long gone Since you sang last. QUEEN. I had rather sigh than sing And sleep than sigh; 't is long since verily, But I will once more sing; ay, thus it was. [Sings.]