A falcon brode[11] in hand he bare,
For he thought he woulde there
Have slain Richard with treasoun
When his colt should kneele down,
As a colt shoulde suck his dame,
And he was 'ware of that shame,
His ears with wax were stopped fast,
Therefore Richard was not aghast,
He struck the steed that under him went,
And gave the Soldan his death with a dent:
In his shielde verament
Was painted a serpent,
With the spear that Richard held
He bare him thorough under his sheld,
None of his armour might him last,
Bridle and peytrel all to-brast,
His girthes and his stirrups also,
His ruare to grounde wente tho;
Maugre her head, he made her seech
The ground, withoute more speech,
His feet toward the firmament,
Behinde him the spear outwent
There he fell dead on the green,
Richard smote the fiend with spurres keen,
And in the name of the Holy Ghost
He driveth into the heathen host,
And as soon as he was come,
Asunder he brake the sheltron,[12]
And all that ever afore him stode,
Horse and man to the grounde yode,