In Scotland was I made a knight-at-arms,
Where for my country's cause I charg'd my lance:
In France I took the standard from the king,
And gave the flower of Gallia in my crest:
Against the light-foot Irish have I serv'd,
And in my skin bear tokens of their Kerns.
Our word of courage all the world hath heard,
Saint George for England, and Saint George for me!
Cyprus.
Like welcome unto thee, fair knight of France,
Well-fam'd thou art for discipline in war:
Upon th' encounter of thine enemy,
What is thy mot, renowned knight of France?
Frenchman.
In Italy I put my knighthood on,
Where in my shirt but with a single rapier
I combated a Roman much renown'd,
His weapon's point empoison'd for my bane,
And yet my stars did bode my victory.
Saint Denis is for France, and that for me!
Cyprus.
Welcome, Castilian, too, amongst the rest;
For fame doth sound thy valour with the best:[388]
Upon the first encounter of thy foe,
What is thy word of courage, brave man of Spain?
Spaniard.
At fourteen years of age was I made knight,
When twenty thousand Spaniards were in field,
What time a daring rutter[389] made a challenge,
To change a bullet with our swift-flight shot;
And I with single heed and level hit
The haughty challenger, and struck him dead:
The golden fleece is that we cry upon,
And Jaques, Jaques! is the Spaniard's choice.