Palamon and Arcite eBook

BOOK III.

  The day approached when Fortune should decide
  The important enterprise, and give the bride;
  For now the rivals round the world had sought,
  And each his number, well appointed, brought. 
  The nations far and near contend in choice,
  And send the flower of war by public voice;
  That after or before were never known
  Such chiefs, as each an army seemed alone: 
  Beside the champions, all of high degree,
  Who knighthood loved, and deeds of chivalry,
  Thronged to the lists, and envied to behold
  The names of others, not their own, enrolled. 
  Nor seems it strange; for every noble knight
  Who loves the fair, and is endued with might,
  In such a quarrel would be proud to fight. 
  There breathes not scarce a man on British ground
  (An isle for love and arms of old renowned)
  But would have sold his life to purchase fame,
  To Palamon or Arcite sent his name;
  And had the land selected of the best,
  Half had come hence, and let the world provide the rest. 
  A hundred knights with Palamon there came,
  Approved in fight, and men of mighty name;
  Their arms were several, as their nations were,
  But furnished all alike with sword and spear.

  Some wore coat armour, imitating scale,
  And next their skins were stubborn shirts of mail;
  Some wore a breastplate and a light juppon,
  Their horses clothed with rich caparison;
  Some for defence would leathern bucklers use
  Of folded hides, and others shields of Pruce. 
  One hung a pole-axe at his saddle-bow,
  And one a heavy mace to stun the foe;
  One for his legs and knees provided well,
  With jambeux armed, and double plates of steel;
  This on his helmet wore a lady’s glove,
  And that a sleeve embroidered by his love.

  With Palamon above the rest in place,
  Lycurgus came, the surly king of Thrace;
  Black was his beard, and manly was his face
  The balls of his broad eyes rolled in his head,
  And glared betwixt a yellow and a red;
  He looked a lion with a gloomy stare,
  And o’er his eyebrows hung his matted hair;
  Big-boned and large of limbs, with sinews strong,
  Broad-shouldered, and his arms were round and long. 
  Four milk-white bulls (the Thracian use of old)
  Were yoked to draw his car of burnished gold. 
  Upright he stood, and bore aloft his shield,
  Conspicuous from afar, and overlooked the field. 
  His surcoat was a bear-skin on his back;
  His hair hung long behind, and glossy raven-black. 
  His ample forehead bore a coronet,
  With sparkling diamonds and with rubies set. 
  Ten brace, and more, of greyhounds, snowy fair,
  And tall as stags, ran loose, and coursed around his chair,
  A match for pards in flight, in grappling for the bear;
  With golden muzzles all their mouths were bound,
  And collars of the same their necks surround.