And now it was fully noontide, and the knight in his tent abode; Then the king of Zassamank heard this, that o'er all the field they rode, 'O'er the length and the breadth they gallop, and in knightly order fight.' 165 And thither he rode, the hero, with many a banner bright; But he rode not in search of conflict, at his leisure he thought to see What was done by one side and the other of fair deeds of chivalry. On the plain did they spread his carpet, where the knights in strife would close, And the shriek of the wounded horses o'er all the tumult rose. 170 The squires stood round in a circle mid the clash of the ringing steel, And the heroes for fair fame battled, and the swords sang for woe or weal. There was sound as of splintered spear-shafts, but none need to question, Where? And his walls were of meeting foemen, by knightly hands builded fair. And so near was I ween the jousting that the maids from the hall above 175 Might look on the toil of the heroes--But sorrow the queen did move Since the king of Zassamank did naught, nor mingled him in the fight, And she quoth, 'Ah! why came he hither? I had deemed him a gallant knight!' (Now the King of France, whose fair wife brought Gamuret sorrow sore When he fought for her sake, lay lifeless, and the queen sought the wide world o'er 180 To know if from heathen countries he had come to his land again. 'Twas love's power to the search that drove her, for love did her heart constrain.) And many brave deeds were done there of many a poor man bold, Who yet for the highest strove not, which the queen for their prize had told, Herself and her two fair kingdoms,--they thought not such prize to gain, 185 But they battled for other booty, tho' their hearts were for payment fain. Now clad was Gamuret's body in the harness whereby his wife Might bring to her mind forgiveness, and the ending of bitter strife. The Scotch King Friedebrand sent it, as a gift, to repay the woe That with conflict he heaped upon her, nor shall earth of its fellow know. 190 Then he looked well upon the diamond--'twas a helmet, thereon they bound An anchor, and jewels so precious were within its setting found; Nor small were the stones, but costly, and the weight it was none too light Of that helmet, and yet he bare it, and decked was the guest for fight