And noble knights rode with him adown from the palace hall, Some were wise, some were young and foolish,--So rode they around the wall 470 To sixteen gates, and they told him not one of them might they close Since Eisenhart's death called for vengeance--'So wrathful shall be our foes Our conflict it resteth never, but we fight both by night and day, Nor our portals since then we fasten, but open they stand alway. At eight of our gates they beset us, true Eisenhart's gallant knights, 475 And evil shall they have wrought us; spurred by anger each man doth fight, The princes of lofty lineage, the king of Assagog's ban!' And there floated before each portal a banner, so pale and wan, With a piercèd knight upon it. When Eisenhart lost his life His folk chose to them this symbol, as badge in the coming strife. 480 'But against these arms have we others, wherewith we their grief would still, And thus shalt thou know our banner; 'twas wrought at our lady's will, Two fingers in oath she stretcheth, that never such grief she knew As Eisenhart's death hath brought her (true sorrow for heart so true), And so doth it stand the semblance of our queen, on a samite white 485 Belakané in sable fashioned,--Since against us they came in might, (To avenge him for whom she sorrows) so she looks from our portals high. And proud Friedebrand's mighty army doth to eight of our gates stand nigh, Baptized men, from o'er the waters. A prince doth each portal hold, And forth from the gate he sallies, with his banners and warriors bold.' 490 'From the host of Gaschier the Norman, a count have we captive ta'en, And heavy methinks the ransom we may hope from that knight to gain; He is sister's son to Kailet, and the harm _he_ to us hath done His nephew I ween shall pay for! Yet such prize have we seldom won. Here have we no grassy meadow, but sand, thirty gallops wide 495 Betwixt the tents and the trenches; here many a joust we ride.