Thus, after this noble and solempne doctryne, He made me knight, and gave me in charge Unto these poyntes right low to enclyne, And to stere well the frayle tombling barge Over vayne glory whan I sayle at large. Whan the winde is right, the barge can not fayle, Unto his purpose so with hardines to sayle. I dyd well register in my remembraunce Every thing which he hath to me tolde, And right anone in good resemblaunce The kyng I thanked, with courage right bolde, Of his great grace and giftes many a folde, Which unto me right openly he shewed, With golden droppes so lyberally indewed. I toke my leve of his right hye estate; And than Mynerve into the hall me brought, Accompanied by Trouth, my faythfull mate. Us for to solace ther lacced right nought, That ony man can printe in his thought; The knightes all unto their armes went, To bryng me forward with a true entent. And Mynerve armed me as she coude devyse, And brought unto me my fayre barbed stede, On whome I mounted in all goodly guyse, With shelde and spere, as nothing to drede In right to fyght for to attayne my mede. So with me wente both my greyhoundes twayne, And good Attendaunce, my verlet certayne. The good knight Trouth brought me on the way, Accompanied then of syr Fidelitie, Wyth haute courage betrapped fayre and gaye Wyth shyning trappers of curiositie; And then also there rode forth wyth me The sturdy knight well named Fortitude, With the noble veterane syr Consuetude. And eke syr Justice and syr Mysericorde, Syr Sapience, with good syr Curteysy; Wyth famous Nurture, and than syr Concorde Accompanied me full ryght gentylly Oute of the castell, ryding ryally; And dame Minerve, the chevalryous goddes, Dyd me endue then with harty hardynes. And whan we came into a goodly playne, Right of them all I toke my lycence; Me thought it time that they tourne agayne Unto the king with all their diligence. I made mine othe with percing influence, Unto them all for to remayne full true In stedfast love, all treason to eschue. Full loth they were fro me to departe, Every one of them, as ye may understande; With salt teres full wofull was my herte, Whan all on rowe they toke me by the hande. Adew! they sayd, and grace with you stand, You for to ayde whan that you do fyght! And so they turned unto the castell ryght. And good dame Mynerve unto me then sayd: Be not adredde of your hye enterpryse; Be bolde and hardy and nothing afrayde; And rather deye in ony maner of wyse, To attayne honour and the lyfe dyspyse, Than for to lyve and remayne in shame; For to dye with honour it is a good name.