Nine royal knights in equal rank succeed, Each warrior mounted on a fiery steed; In golden armour glorious to behold; The rivets of their arms were nail'd with gold. Their surcoats of white ermine fur were made; With cloth of gold between, that cast a glittering shade. The trappings of their steeds were of the same; 260 The golden fringe even set the ground on flame, And drew a precious trail: a crown divine Of laurel did about their temples twine. Three henchmen were for every knight assign'd, All in rich livery clad, and of a kind; White velvet, but unshorn, for cloaks they wore, And each within his hand a truncheon bore: The foremost held a helm of rare device; A prince's ransom would not pay the price. The second bore the buckler of his knight, 270 The third of cornel-wood a spear upright, Headed with piercing steel, and polish'd bright. Like to their lords their equipage was seen, And all their foreheads crown'd with garlands green. And after these came, arm'd with spear and shield, A host so great as cover'd all the field: And all their foreheads, like the knights before, With laurels ever-green were shaded o'er, Or oak, or other leaves of lasting kind, Tenacious of the stem, and firm against the wind. 280 Some in their hands, beside the lance and shield, The boughs of woodbine, or of hawthorn held, Or branches for their mystic emblems took, Of palm, of laurel, and of cerrial-oak. Thus marching to the trumpet's lofty sound, Drawn in two lines adverse they wheel'd around, And in the middle meadow took their ground. Among themselves the tourney they divide, In equal squadrons ranged on either side. Then turn'd their horses' heads, and man to man, 290 And steed to steed opposed, the jousts began. They lightly set their lances in the rest, And, at the sign, against each other press'd: They met. I sitting at my ease beheld The mix'd events, and fortunes of the field. Some broke their spears, some tumbled horse and man, And round the field the lighten'd coursers ran. An hour and more, like tides, in equal sway They rush'd, and won by turns, and lost the day: At length the nine (who still together held) 300 Their fainting foes to shameful flight compell'd, And with resistless force o'er-ran the field. Thus, to their fame, when finish'd was the fight, The victors from their lofty steeds alight: Like them dismounted all the warlike train, And two by two proceeded o'er the plain, Till to the fair assembly they advanced, Who near the secret arbour sung and danced.