'Now fain would I speak with the hero, see thou to the time and way; 335 E'en now might he ride to the castle, for peace shall be kept to-day. Were it better that I should seek him? He is other than we in face, Pray Heaven it not displease him, but our need with the knight find grace! I would that I first might know this, ere the rede from my folk I hear That I show to this stranger honour--If it pleaseth him to draw near, 340 Say, how shall I best receive him? Shall the knight be so nobly born That my kiss be not lost, if I kiss him?' 'Nay, hold me of life forsworn If he be not of kings the kinsman! Lady, this word I'll bear To thy princes, that they shall clothe them in raiment both fit and fair, And stand before thee, in due order, ere yet to thy court we ride, 345 And the same shalt thou say to thy ladies--In the city he doth abide; I will ride below, and will bring him to thy palace, a worthy guest, For no fair or knightly virtue shall be lacking that noble breast.' But little space they delayed them, for the Marshal, with ready skill, Strove that all in such wise be ordered as should pleasure his lady's will. 350 But soon did they bear to the hero rich garments, he did them on, And this hath the venture told me that their cost should be hardly won; And thereon lay the anchors, heavy, and wrought of Arabian gold, For so had he willed. Then the hero, who fair payment for love had told A charger bestrode that 'fore Babylon a knight rode, for jousting fain, 355 From the saddle did Gamuret smite him, and I wot it hath wrought him pain. If his host thought to ride beside him? He and his gallant knights? Yea, in sooth they would do so, gladly--So wended they up the height, And dismounted before the palace; and many a knight stood there, And each, as was fit, had clothed him in raiment both rich and fair. 360 And his pages they ran before him, and each twain they went hand in hand, And in marvellous fair arraying he saw many ladies stand. And the queen, her eyes brought her sorrow as she looked on the Angevin, So lovely was he to look on that he needs must an entrance win Thro' the gates of her heart, if 'twere anguish or joy that within he bore, 365 Tho' her womanhood 'gainst all comers had held them fast closed before.