"Goe fetch him downe the Eldridge sworde,"
The kinge he cryde, "with speede:
Nowe, heaven assist thee, courteous knighte;
My daughter is thy meede."130
The gyaunt he stepped into the lists,
And sayd, "Awaye, awaye!
I sweare, as I am the hend Soldan,
Thou lettest me here all daye."
Then forthe the stranger knight he came,135
In his blacke armoure dight:
The ladye sighed a gentle sighe,
"That this were my true knighte!"
And nowe the gyaunt and knight be mett
Within the lists soe broad;140
And now, with swordes soe sharpe of steele,
They gan to lay on load.
The Soldan strucke the knighte a stroke
That made him reele asyde:
Then woe-begone was that fayre ladye,145
And thrice she deeply sighde.
The Soldan strucke a second stroke,
And made the bloude to flowe:
All pale and wan was that ladye fayre,
And thrice she wept for woe.150
The Soldan strucke a third fell stroke,
Which brought the knighte on his knee:
Sad sorrow pierced that ladyes heart,
And she shriekt loud shriekings three.
The knighte he leapt upon his feete,155
All recklesse of the pain:
Quoth hee, "But heaven be now my speede,
Or else I shall be slaine."