The Equinox (Volume I, Number IV)

100 THE HIGH HISTORY OF GOOD Thief of my arms, my crest, my quest, My name, now meetest thou thy shame. See, with this whip I lash thee back, Back to the kennel whence there came So false a hound.” ‘Good knight, in sooth,” Answered Sir Palamede, “not I Presume to assert the idlest truth ; And here, by this good ear and eye, I grant thou art Sir Palamede. But—try the first and final test If thou or I be he. Take heed!” He backed his horse, covered his breast, Drove his spurs home, and rode upon That knight. His lance-head fairly struck The barred strength of his morion, And rolled the stranger in the muck. “ Now, by God’s death!” quoth Palamede, His sword at work, “I will not leave So much of thee as God might feed His sparrows with. As I believe The sweet Christ’s mercy shall avail, So will I not have aught for thee ; Since every bone of thee may rail Against me, crying treachery.