VII As nearer now, the stranger knight espied That face, which was so hateful in his sight, With menacing and savage voice he cried, "Either with me prepare thyself to fight, Or arm thee not on that old woman's side, Who by my hand shall perish, as is right. If thou contendest for her, thou art slain; For such their portion is who wrong maintain." VIII Him young Zerbino answered courteously, Twas sign of evil and ungenerous will, And corresponded not with chivalry, That he a woman should desire to kill; Yet if the knight persists, he will not flee -- But bids him well consider first how ill 'Twould sound, that he, a gentle knight and good, Should wish to dip his hand in woman's blood. IX This and yet more he vainly says; nor stand They idle long; from word they pass to deed; And having compassed on the level land Enough of ground, encounter on the mead. Not fired in some rejoicing, from the hand Discharged, so fast the whistling rockets speed, As the two coursers bear the cavaliers To hurtle in mid space with rested spears. X Hermonides of Holland levelled low, And for the youth's left flank the stroke intended; But his weak lance was shivered by the blow, And little the opposing Scot offended: But vain was not the spear-thrust of his foe, Who bored his opposite's good shield, and rended His shoulder, by the lance pierced through and through, And good Hermonides on earth o'erthrew. XI Thinking him slain who only lay amazed, By pity prest, Zerbino leapt to ground, And from his deathlike face the vizor raised; And he, as wakened out of sleep profound, In silence, hard upon Zerbino gazed; Then cried, "It does not me, in truth, confound, To think that I am overthrown by thee, Who seem'st the flower of errant chivalry. XII "But it with reason grieves me this is done Upon account of a false woman's spite; Whose wicked cause I know not why you own, An office ill according with your might: And when to you the occasion shall be known Which urges me her wickedness to quite, Whene'er you think on it, you will repent How she by you was saved, and I was shent. XIII "And if enough of breath, although I fear The contrary, is left me to expound Her evil actions, I shall make appear She in all guilt transgresses every bound. I had a brother once: the youthful peer Set out from Holland's isle, our natal ground, To serve Heraclius, 'mid his knights arrayed, Who then the Grecian empire's sceptre swayed. XIV "Brother in arms and bosom-friend installed Here was he by a baron of that court, Who, in a pleasant site, and strongly walled, On Servia's distant frontier had a fort. Argaeus he of whom I tell was called, Husband of that ill hag, whom in such sort He loved, as passed all mean, and misbecame One of his worth and honourable fame.