And his anchors they never tested or mainland or haven fair And found in that place abiding--But the hero must further bear Thro' many a land, a brave guest, the load of this heraldry, 225 And behind the sign of this anchor but short space might his resting be, And nowhere he found abiding--The tale of the lands he saw, And the vessels in which he sailed him? If the truth unto ye I swore, On mine own oath must I swear it, and my knightly honour true In such wise as the venture told me; other witness I never knew! 230 And men say that his manly courage held the prize in far heathendom, In Morocco's land, and in Persia, and elsewhere he high honour won, At Damascus and at Aleppo, and where knightly deeds should be: In Arabia and lands around it was he held of all conflict free, For no man might dare withstand him, he won him such crown of fame; 235 And his heart for honour lusted, and all deeds were brought to shame, And became as naught before him, as all men bare witness true Who a joust with him had ridden, and Bagdad of his glory knew. And his heart never failed or faltered, but onward his course he bare To Zassamank's land and kingdom; there all men wept that hero fair, 240 Eisenhart, who in knightly service gave his life for a woman's smile; Belakané thereto constrained him, sweet maid she, and free from guile. (Since her love she never gave him, for love's sake did the hero die,) And his kinsmen would fain avenge him, and with force and with subtlety Their armies beset the maiden, but in sooth she could guard her well 245 Ere Gamuret came to her kingdom, and her wrath on her foemen fell. For the Prince Friedebrand of Scotland, and his host that against her came By ship, ere he left her kingdom had she wasted with fire and flame.