'Be manly and of good courage, so shalt thou deserve thy fame; Hold women in love and honour, it shall be to thine own good name; 995 And be ever steadfast-minded as befitteth good man and true, An with lies thou wouldst fain deceive them much harm can thy dealings do. If true love be repaid with falsehood then swift shalt the judgment be, And a speedy end to all honour and renown shall it bring to thee. As beneath the stealthy footsteps of the thief the dry stick breaks, 1000 And the slumbering watcher, startled, to his danger swiftly wakes So false ways and dealings crooked in their wake bring but strife and woe; Prove this by true love, for true women have skill 'gainst the hidden foe, And their wiles can outweigh his cunning--An thou winnest from women hate, Then for ever art thou dishonoured, and shame on thy life shall wait.' 1005 'So take thou to heart my counsel--And more would I tell to thee; Husband and wife united as one shall they ever be, As the sun that this morning shineth, and this morn that we call to-day, So the twain may be sundered never but _one_ shall be held alway. As twin blossoms from one root springing e'en so shall they bloom and grow; 1010 With wisdom receive my counsel that its truth thou hereafter know.' Then he thanked his host for his teaching, nor spake of his mother more, But as true man and son so loving in his heart her memory bore. Then the prince spake as did him honour, 'Yet more will I teach to thee, Thou shalt learn knightly skill and bearing--In such wise didst thou come to me, 1015 Full many a wall have I looked on that the shields might better deck Than that shield erewhile became thee, as it hung there around thy neck. None too late shall be the morning, we'll hence to the open field, And fitting skill I'll teach thee that thine arms thou mayst rightly wield. So bring to my guest his charger, and mine shalt thou hither lead, 1020 And each knight shall make him ready, and mount, e'en as I, his steed. And pages shall thither follow, and each one shall bear a spear, And the shaft shall be strong and untested, and blazoned with colours clear.'