Whoe’er should be my master, for his care and pains would I not reward him lightly.”

[359]

The king to him then answered: “For the love to you I bear,

I will bid my best of masters teach you his art with care,

Till the three strokes are easy, that, in field-storms raging,

Men give to one another; by this will you be helped when battle waging.”

[360]

Then came a fencing-master, and began his craft to show

To Wâ-te, the daring fighter; in him he found a foe

Who fear for his life soon gave him. Wâ-te his onset parried,