XI
Sir PALAMEDE the Saracen
Hath hied him to an holy man,
Sith he alone of mortal men
Can help him, if a mortal can.
(So tell him all the Scythian folk.)
Wherefore he makes a caravan,
And finds him. When his prayers invoke
The holy knowledge, saith the sage:
“This Beast is he of whom there spoke
The prophets of the Golden Age:
“Mark ! all that mind is, he is not.’”
Sir Palamede in bitter rage
Sterte up: “Is this the fool, ’Od wot,
To see the like of whom I came
From castellated Camelot ?”
The sage with eyes of burning flame
Cried: “Is it not a miracle?
Ay! for with folly travelleth shame,
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