ere 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,
"Propter amnen Babylonis;" and these were three hundred.

After that came a great knot of the Lords, who were tilting helmets
and surcoats emblazoned with each one his own device; only each had in
his hand a small staff two feet long whereon was a pennon of scarlet
and purple. These also were three hundred.

And in the midst of these was a great car hung down to the ground with
purple, drawn by grey horses whose trappings were half scarlet, half
purple. And on this car lay the King, whose head and hands were bare;
and he had on him a surcoat, half purple and half scarlet, strewn with
golden stars. And his head rested on a tilting helmet, whose crest was
the hands of one praying passionately for forgiveness.

But his own hands lay by his side as if he had just fallen asleep.

And all about the car were little banners, half purple and half
scarlet, strewn with golden stars. Then the King, who counted but as
one, went by also.

And after him came again many maidens clad in ungirt white raiment
strewn with scarlet flowers, and their hair was loose and yellow and
their feet bare: and, except for the falling of their feet and the
rustle of the wind through their raiment, they went past quite
silently. These also were five hundred.

Then lastly came many young knights with long bright hauberks falling
over their knees as they rode, and surcoats, half scarlet and half
purple, strewn with golden stars; they bore long lances with