Then he saw a fresh track, and before him short space did two horses fare, A war-horse was one, well harnessed, but unshod was, I ween, the mare, And it bare on its back a woman--Behind her he took his way, And he looked on her steed, to hunger o'er-long had it been a prey; 520 Thro' its skin might its ribs be counted, a halter of hemp its rein, Its colour was white as an ermine, to the hoofs hung the untrimmed mane; The eyeballs were sunk in the sockets, the hollows were deep and wide, And I ween that this lady's palfrey by famine had oft been tried. 'Twas lean and dry as touchwood, 'twas a marvel it yet could go, 525 For little should she who rode it of the care of a charger know. Narrow and poor the trappings that lay on that charger's back, The saddle and bells were shattered, and much did the harness lack; And the lady was sad, not joyful, and her girth was a hempen cord, Yet, I ween, was her birth too noble in such guise to ride abroad. 530 By twigs and thorny branches tattered her shift and torn, And the rags had she knit together where'er it had been out-worn, But beneath her skin gleamed spotless, white as the swan's white wing; And naught but rags was her clothing--where they might some shelter bring There her skin was fair to look on, but elsewhere 'twas by sunburn dyed. 535 Yet her lips were red, tho' sorrow and want she must long abide, And so glowing and bright their colour a fire had ye kindled there, And where-e'er one would ride beside her on that side had ye found her bare. Yet of base degree to hold her were to do her a wrong, I ween, Tho' little had she upon her, yet guiltless she aye had been-- 540 (Of your courtesy shall ye heed me, she forgot not her womanhood) Of her poverty have I told ye, yet wherefore? If ye deem good Then this will I say, that ragged and bare I this dame would take O'er many a well-clad maiden, were it fitting my choice to make.