Classic Poem

I

This morn a young squire shall be made a knight;
 Whereof the fain would be right worthy found,
 And therefore pledgeth lands and castles round
 To furnish all that fits a man of might.
Meat, bread, and wine he gives to many a wight;
 Capons and pheasants on his board abound,
 Where serving men and pages march around;
 Choice chambers, torches, and wax candle light.
Barbed steeds, a multitude, are in his thought,
 Mailed men at arms and noble company,
 Spears, pennants, housing cloths, bells richly wrought;
Musicians following with great barony
 And jesters through the land his state have brought,
 With dames and damsels whereso rideth he.

II

Comes Blithesomeness with mirth and merriment,
 All decked in flowers she seemeth a rose-tree;
 Of linen, silk, cloth, fur, now beareth she
 To the new knight a rich habiliment;
Head-gear and cap and garland flower-besprent,
 So brave they were May-bloom he seemed to be;
 With such a rout, so many and such glee,
 That the floor shook. Then to her work she went;
And stood him on his feet in hose and shoon;
 And purse and gilded girdle neath the fur
 That drapes his goodly limbs, she buckles on;
Then bids the singers and sweet music stir,
 And showeth him to ladies for a boon
 And all who in that following went with her.