He pondered naught but wiles, to compass their defeat.
By secret message, with the king he held converse.
The king to him fair gratulations sent, diverse.
A missive came to him at length: “My faithful son,
’Tis time my heart was set at rest. What hast thou done?”
His answer was: “The thing’s prepared; have patience yet;
The Christian folk to puzzle soon, we’ll not forget.”145
The Christians portioned were, for purposes of war,
In legions twelve; to each, a captain void of fear.
The men of every legion to their captain bound