time
Till there was none but held the stranger-sir,
For all his chapman's dress of cramasie,
Goodlier than silks could make him. Presently
Talk rose upon the Holy Sepulchre:
"I go myself," said Torel, "with a score
Of better knights--the flower of Pavia--
To try our steel against King Saladin's.
Sirs! ye have seen the countries of the Sun,
Know you the Soldan?" Answer gave the king,
"The Soldan we have seen--'twill push him hard
If, which I nothing doubt, you Pavian lords
Are valorous as gentle;--we, alas!
Are Cyprus merchants making trade to France--
Dull sons of Peace." "By Mary!" Torel cried,
"But for thy word, I ne'er heard speech so fit
To lead the war, nor saw a hand that sat
Liker a soldier's in the sabre's place;
But sure I hold you sleepless!" Then himself
Playing the chamberlain, with torches borne,
Led them to restful beds, commending them
To sleep and God, Who hears--Allah or God--
When good men do his creatures charities.
At dawn the cock, and neigh of saddled steeds,
Broke the king's dreams of battle--not their own,
But goodly jennets from Torello's stalls,
Caparisoned to bear them; he their host
Up, with a gracious radiance like the sun,
To bid them speed. Beside him in the court
Stood Dame Adalieta; comely she,
And of her port as queenly, and serene
As if the braided gold about her brows
Had been a crown. Mutual good-morrow given,
Thanks said and stayed, the lady prayed her guest
To take a token of his sojourn there,
Marking her good-will, not his worthiness;
"A gown of miniver--these furbelows
Are silk I spun--my lord wears ever such--
A housewife's gift! but those ye love are far;
Wear it as given for them." Then Saladin--
"A precious gift, Madonna, past my thanks;
And--but thou shalt not hear a 'no' from me--
Past my receiving; yet I take it; we
Were debtors to your noble courtesy
Out of redemption--this but bankrupts us."
"Nay, sir,--God shield you!" said the knight and dame.
And Saladin, with phrase of gentilesse
Returned, or ever that he rode alone,
Swore a great oath in guttural Arabic,
An oath by Allah--startling up the ears
Of those three Christian cattle they bestrode--
That never yet was princelier-natured man,
Nor gentler lady;--and that time should see
For a king's