Who, from the first moment that he began

To ride upon a horse, loved chivalry,

Truth and honour, freedom and courtesy.

Worthy in the duty to his Lord’s will,

That no man had strived so hard, to fulfill,

In Christendom as well as heathen lands,

Always honoured, as worthiness demands.

At Alexandria when it was won,

Heading the table when battle was done,

Above all those nations from Prussia,

Fought in Lithuania and Russia,

As had no Christian man of such degree.

Also at Granada’s siege, so was he,

Algerciras saw him and Bellemarie.

At Ayas and Antalya was he

When won and also, on the Middle Sea,

Embarked on great ventures by royal decree.

In mortal combat his score was fifteen

Fighting for the true faith at Telemeen.

Three times in jousts and always slain his foe.

This selfsame perfect knight had served also

When he served with the Palathian Lord

Against another heathen Turkish horde.

For honour, always took the highest prize

For though he was most worthy, he was wise,

His manners were as gentle as a maid,

And discourteous language he never made

In all his life, in any kind of light,

He was a truly, gentle, perfect Knight.

But now to tell you all of his array,

His horses were good but his clothes not gay .

A fustian tunic showing much travail

As much bespattered as his coat of mail,

For, having returned from his last voyage,

He now was ready for his pilgrimage.