Page:Early poems of William Morris.djvu/199



A golden gilliflower to-day

I wore upon my helm alway,

And won the prize of this tourney.

''Hah! hah! la belle jaune giroflée.''

However well Sir Giles might sit,

His sun was weak to wither it,

Lord Miles's blood was dew on it:

''Hah! hah! la belle jaune giroflée.''

Although my spear in splinters flew,

From John's steel-coat my eye was true;

I wheel'd about, and cried for you,

''Hah! hah! la belle jaune giroflée.''

Yea, do not doubt my heart was good,

Though my sword flew like rotten wood,

To shout, although I scarcely stood,

''Hah! hah! la belle jaune giroflée.''