NOTES TO CANTO FIRST.
305
Of Babiloun the soudan
Thider him sende gan,
With King Charls to fight.
So hard he was to-fond[1]
That no dint of brond
No greued him, aplight.
Thider him sende gan,
With King Charls to fight.
So hard he was to-fond[1]
That no dint of brond
No greued him, aplight.
He hadde twenti men strengthe,
And fourti fet of lengthe,
Thilke painim hede,[2]
And four fet in the face,
Y-meten[3] in the place,
And fiften in brede.[4]
His nose was a fot and more;
His brow, as brestles wore; [5]
He that it seighe it sede.
He loked lotheliche,
And was swart[6] as any piche,
Of him men night adrede."
And fourti fet of lengthe,
Thilke painim hede,[2]
And four fet in the face,
Y-meten[3] in the place,
And fiften in brede.[4]
His nose was a fot and more;
His brow, as brestles wore; [5]
He that it seighe it sede.
He loked lotheliche,
And was swart[6] as any piche,
Of him men night adrede."
Romance of Charlemagne, 1. 461-484. Auchinleck MS. fol. 265.
Ascapart, or Ascabart, makes a very material figure in the History of Bevis of Hampton, by whom he was conquered. His effigies may be seen guarding one side of a gate at Southampton, while the other is cccupied by Sir Bevis himself. The dimensions of Ascapart were little inferior to those of Ferragus, if the following description be correct:
"They metten with a geaunt,
With a lotheliche semblaunt.
With a lotheliche semblaunt.
