'
Richard I. also formed the subject of a very popular romance. We give
extracts from it:--
THE SOLDAN SALADIN SENDS KING RICHARD A HORSE.
'Thou sayst thy God is full of might:
Wilt thou grant with spear and shield,
To detryve the right in the field,
With helm, hauberk, and brandes bright,
On stronge steedes good and light,
Whether be of more power,
Thy God almight, or Jupiter?
And he sent rue to saye this
If thou wilt have an horse of his,
In all the lands that thou hast gone
Such ne thou sawest never none:
Favel of Cyprus, ne Lyard of Prys,[1]
Be not at need as he is;
And if thou wilt, this same day,
He shall be brought thee to assay.'
Richard answered, 'Thou sayest well
Such a horse, by Saint Michael,
I would have to ride upon.----
Bid him send that horse to me,
And I shall assay what he be,
If he be trusty, withoute fail,
I keep none other to me in battail.'
The messengers then home went,
And told the Soldan in present,
That Richard in the field would come him unto:
The rich Soldan bade to come him unto
A noble clerk that coulde well conjure,
That was a master necromansour:
He commanded, as I you tell,
Thorough the fiende's might of hell,
Two strong fiende's of the air,
In likeness of two steedes fair,
Both like in hue and hair,
As men said that there were:
No man saw never none sich;
That one was a mare iliche,
That other a colt, a noble steed,
Where that he were in any mead,
(Were the knight never so bold.
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