Many women are praised for beauty; if at heart they shall be untrue, Then I praise them as I would praise it, the glass of a sapphire hue That in gold shall be set as a jewel! Tho' I hold it an evil thing, If a man take a costly ruby, with the virtue the stone doth bring, And set it in worthless setting: I would liken such costly stone 45 To the heart of a faithful woman, who true womanhood doth own. I would look not upon her colour, nor the heart's roof all men can see, If the heart beateth true beneath it, true praise shall she win from me! Should I speak of both man and woman as I know, nor my skill should fail, O'er-long would it be my story. List ye now to my wonder-tale: 50 And this venture it telleth tidings of love, and anon of woe, Joy and sorrow it bringeth with it. 'Stead of _one_ man if _three_ ye know, And each one of the three hath wisdom and skill that outweigh my skill, Yet o'erstrange shall they find the labour, tho' they toil with a right good-will To tell ye this tale, which I think me to tell ye myself, alone, 55 And worn with their task and weary would they be ere the work was done. A tale I anew will tell ye, that speaks of a mighty love; Of the womanhood of true women; how a man did his manhood prove; Of one that endured all hardness, whose heart never failed in fight, Steel he in the face of conflict: with victorious hand of might 60 Did he win him fair meed of honour; a brave man yet slowly wise Is he whom I hail my hero! The delight he of woman's eyes, Yet of woman's heart the sorrow! 'Gainst all evil his face he set; Yet he whom I thus have chosen my song knoweth not as yet, For not yet is he born of whom men this wondrous tale shall tell, 65 And many and great the marvels that unto this knight befell.