"I will, by God's grace."
"Promise that you will be true and allegiant to your liege sovereign."
"I promise that I will be true and allegiant to my liege Queen and Lady, Maud of England, and to her son and Prince, Henry Plantagenet, and thereof your Grace is witness."
"And between my hands, as your liege sovereign's proxy, lay your hands."
Gilbert held out his joined hands to the Queen, and she took them between her palms, while Anne of Auch held the great sword, still kneeling.
"I put my hands between the hands of my Lady, Queen Maud of England, and I am her man," said Gilbert Warde.
But Eleanor's touch was like ice, and she trembled a little.
Then she took the sword of Aquitaine and held it up in her right hand, though it was heavy, and she spoke holy words.
"Gilbert Warde, be a true knight in life and death! 'Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things'—and do them, and for them live and die."
When she had spoken, she laid the sword flat upon his left shoulder, and let it linger a moment, and then lifted it and touched him twice again, and sheathed the long blade.