CII.
He of Seleucia at Sir Gryphon’s casque,
At the same time, so fell a blow addrest,
It would have rent and torn the iron mask,
Had it not been enchanted like the rest.
The paynim’s labour is a fruitless task,
Of arms so hard Sir Gryphon is possest;
Who has the foe’s already cleft and broke
In many parts, nor thrown away a stroke.
CIII.
Each one might see how much Seleucia’s lord
Was overmatched by Gryphon, and that day,
The worsted man had perished by the sword,
Had not the monarch quickly stopt the fray.
To his guard king Norandino spake the word,
And bade them enter, and the duel stay:
They part the knights, whom they asunder bear,
And much the king is lauded for his care.
CIV.
The eight, who had to keep the field pretended
From all the world, nor yet their part had done
On a sole knight,—their quarrel ill defended,—
Had vanished from the tilt-yard one by one.
The others, who with them should have contended,
Stood idle; for to answer them was none.
Since Gryphon had forestalled, in the debate,
What they should all have done against those eight;
