LIV "And any damsel whom the stranger bore With him, dismount, and strip her of her vest. So, thus surprised, the warlike prisoners swore; So were constrained to observe the cruel hest, Though grieved and troubled: nor against the four, It seems, can any joust, but vails his crest. Knight infinite have come, but one and all, Afoot and without arms have left that Hall. LV "Their order is, who from the castle hies, The first by lot, shall meet the foe alone, But if he find a champion of such guise As keeps the sell, while he himself is thrown, The rest must undertake the enterprise, Even to the death, against that single one, Ranged in a band. If such each single knight, Imagine the assembled warriors' might! LVI "Nor stands it with our haste, which all delay, All let forbids, that you beside that tower Be forced to stop and mingle in the fray: For grant that you be conquerors in the stower, (And as your presence warrants well, you may,) 'Tis not a thing concluded in an hour. And if all day he wait our succour, I Much fear the stripling in the fire will die." LVII "Regard we not this hindrance of our quest," Rogero cried, "But do we what we may! Let HIM who rules the heavens ordain the rest, Or Fortune, if he leave it in her sway; To you shall by this joust be manifest If we can aid the youth; for whom to-day They on a ground so causeless and so slight, As you to us rehearsed, the fire will light." LVIII Rogero ceased; and in the nearest way The damsel put the pair without reply: Nor these beyond three miles had fared, when they Reached bridge and gate, the place of forfeitry, Of horse and arms and feminine array, With peril sore of life. On turret high, Upon first sight of them, a sentinel Beat twice upon the castle's larum-bell. LIX And lo, in eager hurry from the gate An elder trotting on hackney made! And he approaching cried, "Await, await! -- Hola! halt, sirs, for here a fine is paid: And I to you the usage shall relate, If this has not to you before been said." And to the three forthwith began to tell The use established there by Pinnabel. LX He next proceeds, as he had wont before To counsel other errant cavalier. "Unrobe the lady," (said the elder hoar,) "My sons, and leave your steeds and martial geer; Nor put yourselves in peril, and with four Such matchless champions hazard the career. Clothes, arms, and coursers every where are rife; But not to be repaired is loss of life." LXI " -- No more!" (Rogero said) "No more! for I Am well informed of all, and hither speed With the intention, here by proof to try If, what my heart has vouched, I am in deed. For sign or threat I yield not panoply, If nought beside I hear, nor vest nor steed. And this my comrade, I as surely know, These for mere words as little will forego.