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CONCERNING GEFFRAY TESTE NOIRE, by             Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Just for one night.' did he not come to me?


By fair Montferrat,
Through France and Italy,
Rode forth the son of Gaultier,
Geffray Teste Noire.
His shield was of the blue steel,
His helmet of the same,
His hauberk of the blue steel,
With device that Geffray came.
His horse was of the blue steel,
His sword was of the same,
And he rode forth to seek adventure,
The brave and peerless knight.
Through the blue-veined snow,
Up the mountain wall,
Down the darkening plain he rode,
The brave and peerless knight.
And swords that shine and saddles strain,
And helmets hard, and men that die,
The music of the battle plain,
Rang round the brave and peerless knight.
And when he came to the city fair,
Where the men and women meet,
They said, "Welcome, Geffray Teste Noire,
The brave and peerless knight."
And when he came to the castle gates,
Where the ladies sit and spin,
They said, "Welcome, Geffray Teste Noire,
The brave and peerless knight."
And so he rode through France and Italy,
The brave and peerless knight,
And all men loved him for his virtue,
And his strength, and his might.
But fate is strong, and fortune fickle,
And even the brave must fall,
And so it was with Geffray Teste Noire,
The bravest knight of all.
For when he came to the darkening wood,
Where the robbers lie in wait,
They fell upon him with their swords,
And left him there to die.
And when they found his lifeless form,
The ladies wept and sighed,
And all the men of France and Italy,
Cried out for vengeance and for pride.
So let us raise our swords on high,
And swear to be like Geffray,
The brave and peerless knight,
Who lived and died in chivalry.






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