The leaves of the oak were falling on the ground
When Richard read these letters: he decreed
That presently such succours should be found
As Mano thought to meet the present need:
Who straight began his levies to collect
Then his brave following back did Richard lead,
And crossed the forest, that he might effect
A mournful penance at his father's tomb
At Fechamp, and a canonry erect:
Richard, surnamed Gonorides: than whom
No man more pious on the sun did look:
Sad piety constrained him thus to come
Nor shall I now omit to praise this duke,
Who was a prince of mild and gracious thought,
Holding his lofty state without rebuke.
At Fechamp therefore passed we through the port
Into a pleasance fair and wide, wherein
Grew many trees around the sanded court:
There fountains sprang, and runnels wandered clean:
And winding walks along rose-borders led:
And midst there was a goodly chantry seen,
By the old duke before established,
And chambers, where with all her royal train
The duchess of young Richard had her sted:
The sister of Duke Geoffrey of Bretagne
Was she, nor less in rank than beauty rare:
But fairest among all were ladies twain,
And they were sisters; namely, Blanche the Fair,
To whom Giroie was sworn, whom lately we
In Lyon forest found, when we passed there,
And sweet Joanna, scarce less fair than she,
Joanna, for whose soul I bid you pray,
Sith ye shall sorrow for her history.
And there I saw amid the others gay
That evil child Diantha also set,
Who wrought us all that trouble in the way
Now all the riders with sloped lances let
Their horses slowly pace these dames before:
And still the prayer-bell rang with clamour great:
Then the duke entered by the chapel door,
And as he went, each footstep of the way,
The beadles strewed fresh rushes on the floor:
Then down their staircase came those ladies gay
On this side sat the duke, and upon that
Duke Geoffrey of Bretagne in like array
The ladies in their place appointed sat,
And all the knights came trailing two and two,
And ranged themselves on stool and bench and mat,
Mano, Brionne, Ferrieres, and Ponthieu.