NOW they do to-day as of old time, where a foreign law holds sway (Yea, in part of our German kingdom, as ye oft shall have heard men say), Whoever might rule that country, 'twas the law, and none thought it shame ('Tis the truth and no lie I tell ye) that the elder son might claim 70 The whole of his father's heirdom--And the younger sons must grieve, What was theirs in their father's lifetime, they perforce at his death must leave. Before, all was theirs in common, now it fell unto one alone. So a wise man planned in his wisdom, that the eldest the lands should own, For youth it hath many a fair gift, but old age knoweth grief and pain, 75 And he who is poor in his old age an ill harvest alone doth gain. Kings, Counts, Dukes (and no lie I tell ye) the law holdeth all as one, And no man of them all may inherit, save only the eldest son, And methinks 'tis an evil custom--So the knight in his youthful pride, Gamuret, the gallant hero, lost his Burg, and his fair lands wide, 80 Where his father had ruled with sceptre and crown as a mighty king, Till knighthood, and lust of battle, to his death did the monarch bring. And all men were sore for his sorrow, who truth and unbroken faith Bare ever throughout his lifetime, yea even unto his death. Then the elder son he summoned the princes from out his land, 85 And knightly they came, who rightly might claim from their monarch's hand, To hold, as of yore, their fiefdoms. So came they unto his hall, And the claim of each man he hearkened, and gave fiefs unto each and all. Now hear how they dealt--As their true heart it bade them, both great and small, They made to their king petition, with one voice from the people all, 90 That to Gamuret grace and favour he would show with true brother's hand, And honour himself in the doing. That he drive him not from the land But give him, within his kingdom, a fair Burg that all men might see, That he take from that Burg his title, and he held of all tribute free!-- Nor the king was ill-pleased at their pleading, and he quoth, 'A small grace, I trow, 95 Have ye asked, I would e'en be better than your prayer, as ye straight shall know, Why name ye not this my brother as Gamuret Angevin? Since Anjou is my land, I think me the title we _both_ may win!'