Once there went past a great funeral of some king going to his own
country, not as he had hoped to go, but stiff and colourless, spices
filling up the place of his heart.

And first went by very many knights, with long bright hauberks on,
that fell down before their knees as they rode, and they all had
tilting-helms on with the same crest, so that their faces were quite
hidden: and this crest was two hands clasped together tightly as
though they were the hands of one praying forgiveness from the one he
loves best; and the crest was wrought in gold.

Moreover, they had on over their hauberks surcoats which were half
scarlet and half purple, strewn about with golden stars.

Also long lances, that had forked knights'-pennons, half purple and
half scarlet, strewn with golden stars.

And these went by with no sound but the fall of their horse-hoofs.

And they went slowly, so slowly that we counted them all, five
thousand five hundred and fifty-five. Then went by many fair maidens
whose hair was loose and yellow, and who were all clad in green
raiment ungirded, and shod with golden shoes. These also we counted,
being five hundred; moreover some of the outermost of them, viz., one
maiden to every twenty, had long silver trumpets, which they swung out
to right and left, blowing them, and their sound was very sad.

Then many priests, and bishops, and abbots, who wore white albs and
golden copes over them; and they all sang together mournfully,