"Go fetche him downe the Eldridge sworde,"
The kinge he cryde, "with speede:
Nowe heaven assist thee, courteous knighte;
My daughter is thy meede."
The gyaunt he stepped into the lists,
And sayd, "Awaye, awaye:
I sweare, as I am the hend soldàn,
Thou lettest me here all daye."
Then forthe the stranger knight he came
In his blacke armoure dight:
The ladye sighed a gentle sighe,
"That this were my true knighte!"
And nowe the gyaunt and knighte be mett
Within the lists soe broad;
And now with swordes soe sharpe of steele,
They gan to lay on load.
The soldan strucke the knighte a stroke,
That made him reele asyde;
Then woe-begone was that fayre ladye,
And thrice she deeply sighde.
The soldan strucke a second stroke,
And made the bloude to flow:
All pale and wan was that ladye fayre,
And thrice she wept for woe.
The soldan strucke a third fell stroke,
Which brought the knighte on his knee:
Sad sorrow pierced that ladyes heart,
And she shriekt loud shriekings three.
The knighte he leapt upon his feete,
All recklesse of the pain:
Quoth hee, "But heaven be now my speede,
Or else I shall be slaine."
He grasped his sworde with mayne and mighte,
And spying a secrette part,
He drave it intò the soldan's syde,
And pierced him to the heart.
Then all the people gave a shoute,
When they sawe the soldan falle:
The ladye wept, and thanked Christ,
That had reskewed her from thrall.
And nowe the kinge with all his barons
Rose uppe from offe his seate,
And downe he stepped intò the listes,
That curteous knighte to greete.