What ill death hath wrought upon me! Her love never woman gave, But his heart it rejoiced in her gladness, and sad for her grief was he, Thus his true heart it gave him counsel who was aye from all falsehood free.' Now hearken yet more the story how the noble queen must mourn, 815 Within her arms would she hold him, her child who was yet unborn, And she spake, 'Now God send me safely the child of my hero fair, For this is my heart's petition; God keep me from dark despair, 'Twere Gamuret's second slaying if I thought myself to slay While I bear of his love the token who was faithful to me alway!' 820 Then careless of who might see her, the robe from her neck she tore, And her fair white breasts she tended with the wisdom of mother-lore, To her rosy lips she pressed them, 'Ah, thou food that shall feed my son, He hath sent thee before his coming who life from my life hath won!' And the queen it nothing vexed her that above her heart it lay 825 The milk that her child should nourish, and softly she spake alway, 'Twas true love that brought thee hither, if I yet unbaptized should be From thee had I won my baptism, and the tears which shall flow so free, And openly and in secret will I mourn for my husband dear!' Then the shift with his life-blood crimsoned she bade them to bring anear, 830 (Thus clad in the Baruch's army had Gamuret lost his life, For he chose him a gallant ending in the turmoil and stress of strife), And then for the spear she prayed them wherewith was her husband slain, From Nineveh's Prince Ipomidon such guerdon he needs must gain. And tho' tattered and hewn to pieces yet the queen fain the shift would wear, 835 As aforetime had been her custom when her lord did from Tourney fare, But her maidens who stood around her they took it from out her hand, And they carried them to the Minster, the highest from out her land, And the spear and the blood they buried as men bury a hero dead, And sorrow and bitter mourning thro' Gamuret's kingdom spread. 840 And when fourteen days were ended a babe lay the queen beside, 'Twas a son, and so great and goodly that the mother had well-nigh died.