3.  He  had  been  blest  iu  his  earthly  state
With  such  fair  prosperity,

That  his  heart  beat  high  with  pride  elate,
Forgot  he  the  giver  good  and  great


ELEANOR,  128

And  christian  lnin:iility.
Whereat  to  punish  his  arrogance,
Our  Lady  sent  him  sore  mischance,
And  dire  adversit}'.
4.  Sir  Isumbrus  to  the  hunt  has  gone,
Riding  so  giilhiutly,

With  hawk  and  houud  in  the  dewy  morn,

When  a  vision  bright  above  him  born,

Appeared  in  the  clear  blue  sky.
He  saw  a  maiden  meek  and  fair,

An  angel  I  wist  was  she,

A  messenger  sent  to  bid  him  prepare

For  chill  calamity.
5.  A  woful  man  was  the  knight  that  day.
He  turned  him  home  in  sore  dismay.
When  his  good  steed  foil  and  died,
And  hawk  and  hound  of  life  bereft,
Sir  Isumbras  in  the  forest  left,

With  no  living  thing  beside.
When  to  him  there  came  his  little  foot  page,
As  fost  as  he  might  hie.
My  noble  master,  a  sad  message.
It  is  that  I  bear  to  thee.
"Thy  proud  castell  lies  in  ruins  low,
Thy  lady  and  children  escaped  the  blow,
But  and  with  jeopardy."

6.  The  knight  bowed  meekly  to  heaven's  decree  ;
A  wiser  and  sadder  man  was  he.
And  with  his  lady  and  children,  three,

Sir  Isumbras  boune  him  o'er  the  sea —

A  penitent  pilgrim  he  would  bo

To  holy  Palestine.
Through  seven  wcai-y  lands  tliey  went —

Tlie  slrengtli  nf  the  halics  was  wellnigh  spent.
For  charity,  cdld  was  their  noui'islunent.
I'hcy  eaiiic  to  a  w 1,  witli  flowers  besprent —

To  a  i-apid  river  of  broail  extent,
Where  never  the  sunbeams  sliine.
