Thingsthus arranged, the fair behind the knight
          Got up at once, and with him took to flight. 
          Our cavalier his servants sought to find,
          That, when he crossed the wood, he left behind;
          With these a nephew and his tutor rode;
          The belle a palfrey took, as more the mode,
          But, by her walked attentively the spark,
          A tale he’d now relate; at times remark
          The passing scene; then press his ardent flame;
          And thus amused our royal, beauteous dame.

          Thetreaty was most faithfully observed;
          No calculation wrong; from naught they swerved. 
          At length they reached the sea; on ship-board got;
          A quick and pleasing passage was their lot;
          Delightfully serene, which joy increased;
          To land they came (from perils thought released;)
          At Joppa they debarked; two days remained: 
          And when refreshed, the proper road they gained;
          Their escort was the lover’s train alone;
          On Asia’s shores to plunder bands are prone;
          By these were met our spark and lovely fair;
          New dangers they, alas! were forced to share.

          Tocede, at first, their numbers forced the train;
          But rallied by our knight they were again;
          A desp’rate push he made; repulsed their force;
          And by his valour stopt, at length, their course;
          In which attack a mortal wound he got,
          But was not left for dead upon the spot.

          Beforehis death he full instructions gave,
          To grant the belle whatever she might crave;
          He ordered too, his nephew should convey,
          Alaciel to her home without delay,
          Bequeathing him whatever he possessed,
          And—­what the princess owed among the rest.

          Atlength, from dread alarms and tears released,
          The pair fulfilled the will of our deceased;
          Discharged each favour was, of which the last
          Was cancelled just as they the frontiers passed.

          Thenephew here his precious charge resigned,
          For fear the king should be displeased to find,
          His daughter guarded by a youthful swain:—­
          The tutor only with her could remain.

          Nowords of mine, no language can express
          The monarch’s joy his child to re-possess;
          And, since the difficulty I perceive,
          I’ll imitate old Sol’s retreat at eve,
          Who falls with such rapidity of view,
          He seems to plunge, dame Thetis to pursue.

          Thetutor liked his own details to hear,
          And entertaining made his tales appear: 
          The num’rous perils that the fair had fled,
          Who laughed aside, no doubt, at what he said.