'Tho' hasty the prince they counselled a prisoner to make his lord, His host had he been, and such treason of a true knight were aye abhorred. Farewell, the king ne'er bade him, but he rode forth in wrath and pride, And his pages, the sons of princes, aloud in their sorrow cried. Long time with the king they dwelt there, and goodwill they to Lippaut bare, 165 For in truth did he aye entreat them, nor failed them in knighthood fair. 'Tis my master alone who is wrathful, tho' he, too, Lippaut's care might claim, A Frenchman, the lord of Beauvais, Lisavander they call his name. And the one alike and the other, ere a knight's shield they thought to bear, Must renounce the prince's service, and war against Lippaut swear; 170 And some shall be prince's children, and some not so highly born, Whom the king to the ranks of knighthood hath lifted, I ween, this morn.' 'And one who in strife is skilful and bold doth the vanguard lead, Poidikonjonz of Gros, and with him hath he many an armed steed. And Meljanz is son to his brother; and haughty of heart the twain, 175 The young as the old, I think me discourtesy here doth reign!' 'Thus these two kings, moved by anger, will forth unto Beaurosch ride, Where with toil he would win the favour that the maid to his love denied. And there with thrust and onslaught shall be broken many a spear; Yet so well is Beaurosch guarded that, tho' twenty hosts were here, 180 Each one than our army greater, it ne'er to our force would yield! The rear-guard knoweth naught of my journey, from the others I stole this shield, Lest perchance my lord should find here a joust, and with onslaught fierce And clash of the meeting chargers the spear thro' his shield might pierce.' Then the squire he looked behind him, and his lord on his track did ride, 185 Three steeds and twelve spears unsplintered sped onward his rein beside. And I ween that his haste betrayed him, he would fain in the foremost flight The first joust for his own have challenged, so read I the tale aright.