Then spake this flower of all knighthood, 'Say, boy, did they pass thy way? Two knights who have shamed their knighthood, nay, _robbers_ I ween are they, For they bear a maiden with them, and she rideth against her will!' Yet the boy, tho' he spake with a man's tongue, as a god must account him still; 170 For he thought how Queen Herzeleide had told him that God was Light And dwelleth in Light for ever; and so to his dazzled sight This knight, in his shining armour in the glow of the summer's day, Was the God of his mother's lesson, and he knelt him again to pray. But the prince he spake full gently, 'Fain am I to do God's will, 175 And yet for no God I hold me, but a sinful mortal still. Nay, wert thou more clear of vision, thou wouldst see, an thou sawest aright, No Lord of the host of Heaven, but only a humble knight!' 'Knight?' quoth the boy in answer, 'Nay! I wot not what that may be, Is thy strength not of God, but of knighthood, then I would such were given to me!' 180 'Then wend thy way to King Arthur, an thou camest unto his court, A noble knight he would make thee, ashamed and afeared for naught, For sure, now I look upon thee, thou com'st of a noble strain.' Then his knights they turned their bridles, and gazed at the boy again. Full well might they look and wonder, at the work that God's Hand had wrought, 185 For they say, who tell this story, that never could human thought Have dreamed of aught so goodly, since ever the world began, For of all men beloved by women, was there never so fair a man! Loud they laughed as the boy spake further, 'Good knight, what may these be? These rings that so close around thee, above and below I see.' 190 Then he handled, with curious finger, the armour the knight did bear, His coat of mail close-linkèd as behovèd a knight to wear; And he spake as he looked on the harness, 'My mother's maidens string On their chains, and around their fingers, full many a shining ring, But they cling not so close to each other as these rings that here I see, 195 I cannot force them asunder, what good are they then to thee?'