Those arms his peerless fathers bore;
And many a goodly rood of land,
And castle fair were in his hand;
And many a serf ‘with buckled brand,’
Rode to the fight at his command.
A braver knight ne’er strode a steed,
Or couch’d a lance in rest;
A stalwart knight was he at need,
His war-spear was no coward’s reed;
In mercy he was best.