“Yes; the Franks are coward traitors!
Else the victory were mine.”
“Man, beware! nor friend nor foeman
Curse thou: ‘tis no right of thine.
“And the king, the Lord’s anointed,
Least of all be curst by thee.”
“Say you so? Nay rather, soothly,
Satan’s own anointed he:
Brittany by Heaven’s anointed
Devastated ne’er would be.
“But the silver of the demon
Goes the ancient Pol to shoe;[157]
Yet unshod is Pol, and ever
Silver is he fain to sue.
“Come, then, venerable hermit,
Open unto me thy door.
But a stone whereon to rest me,
This I ask, and ask no more.”
“Nay, I cannot bid thee enter,
Lest the Franks should work me woe.”[158]