III.
He to the Pagan cries: “Forego thy theft,
“And down, false felon, from that pilfer’d steed;
“I am not wont to let my own be reft,
“And he who seeks it dearly pays the deed.
“More—I shall take from thee yon lovely weft;
“To leave thee such a prize were foul misdeed;
“And horse and maid, whose worth outstrips belief,
“Were ill, methinks, relinquished to a thief.”
IV.
“Thou liest,” the haughty Saracen retorts,
As proud, and burning with as fierce a flame,
“A thief thyself, if Fame the truth reports[1]:
“But let good deeds decide our dubious claim,
“With whom the steed or damsel fair assorts:
“Best proved by valiant deeds: though, for the dame,
“That nothing is so precious, I with thee
“(Search the wide world throughout) may well agree.”
V.
As two fierce dogs will sometimes stand at gaze,
Whom hate or other springs of strife inspire,
And grind their teeth, while each his foe surveys
With sidelong glance and eyes more red than fire.
Then either falls to bites, and hoarsely bays,
While their stiff bristles stand on end with ire:
So from reproach and menace to the sword
Pass Sacripant and Clermont’s angry lord.
