LIV.
“In France, in royal Charles’s famous court,
“The damsel hopes to find the cavalier,
“Who in a thousand feats of high report
“Has shown that he excels each puissant peer.
“All three are monarchs who the dame escort,
“And what their kingdoms ye as well shall hear.
“One Sweden rules, one Gothland, Norway one;
“Surpast in martial praise by few or none.
LV.
“These three, whose kingdoms at some distance lie,
“Yet the least distant lie from the lost isle,
“(Because few mariners its shore descry,
“As little known, that island so they style),
“Wooed and yet woo her for a wife, and vie
“In valour, and, to win the lady’s smile,
“Illustrious deeds have done, which Fame shall sound,
“While Heaven shall circle in its wonted round.
LVI.
“Yet she nor these will wed, nor cavalier
“That does not, as she deems, all else excell.
—‘Lightly I hold your proofs of valour here,’
" (Those northern monarchs was she wont to tell)
‘And if, like sun amid the stars, one peer
‘Outshines his fellows, him I honour well:
‘But therefore hold him not, in fierce alarms,
‘Of living men the bravest knight at arms.
