32
SIR PALAMEDES, THE SARACEN KNIGHT
And thereto at the end is Hell.
Believe! And why believe? Because
It is a thing impossible.”
Sir Palamede his pulses pause.
“It is not possible” (quod he)
“That Palamede is wroth, and draws
His sword, decapitating thee.
By parity of argument
This deed of blood must surely be.”
With that he suddenly besprent
All Scythia with the sage’s blood,
And laughing in his woe he went
Unto a further field and flood,
Aye guided by that wizard’s head,
That like a windy moon did scud
Before him, winking eyes of red
And snapping jaws of white: but then
What cared for living or for dead
Sir Palamede the Saracen ?