The Geste of Duke Jocelyn
all a youthful mind, Thus happiness ye all shall find If wit have ye, Like me!    “O list ye, great and small, Proud knight, free man and thrall, True happiness, since life began, The birthright is of every man; Seize then your birthright if ye can, Since men are ye—   Like me!    “Thus I forsooth, a Fool, Do now ye wise ones school; Since of my folly, full and free, I wisely thus admonish ye, Be wise—or eke fools learn to be In verity—   Like me!”  

       Now when the song was ended some there were who laughed and some looked grave, some talked amain and some wagged solemn heads, while many a good coin rang heartily at Duke Jocelyn's feet; smiling, he bade Sir Pertinax take them up, joying to see the proud Knight stooping thus to pouch the money like any beggar. But now, when he would fain have gone his way into the town, the people would by no means suffer it and clamoured amain on all sides, insistent for more; wherefore, lifting his scarred face to the sunset sky, Duke Jocelyn sang as here followeth:     

   “When man is born he doth begin With right good will, to daily sin, And little careth. But when his grave he thinketh near, Then grave he groweth in his fear And sin forsweareth.    “This life that man doth cherish so, Is wondrous frail and quick to go, Nor will it stay. Yet where's the man that will not give All that he hath so he might live Another day.    “Fain would I know the reason why All men so fearful are to die And upward go? Since Death all woes and ills doth end, Sure Death, methinks, should be a friend, Not hated foe.    “So when Death come, as come he must, Grieve not that we this sorry dust Do leave behind. For when this fleeting life be run, 

   By Death we all of us—each one, True life shall find.”    Now while he sang melodious and clear Amid the throng that closer pressed to hear,   Duke Joc'lyn of a sudden did espy The “wherefore” of his coming and the “why.”    Yolande herself he, singing, did behold, Her eyes, red lips, her hair of ruddy gold; And all her warm and glowing loveliness Did sudden thus his raptured vision bless; While she, in gracious ease, her horse did sit That pawed round hoof and champed upon his bit, Arching proud neck as if indeed he were Proud of the lovely burden he did bear. As Joc'lyn gazed upon her thus, she seemed A thousand times more fair than he had dreamed. Now while he sang, she viewed him, gentle-eyed, And quite forgot the gallant by her side, A tall, dark-featured, comely lord was he, With chin full square 
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