XI
There was long looking that liege to behold, Not a man but marvel’d what it might mean, That an athel and a horse should have such a colour As to grow green as grass, and greener it seem’d, Glowing more green than enamel on gold. They studied what stood there, then stalk’d it a-nigh With áll the wónder in the wórld what work it would do, For many a marvel had they seen but no marvel like this; Wherefore phantom and fäerie the folk must it deem, And many an athel was for answer o’erawed. All were stounded at his speech and stood there like stocks, In a swooning silence; as on sleep they were fall’n, All that court so stately were still as a stone well-nigh; Not all, in faith! for fear, But some for courtesy; On the Prince that had no peer They waited for reply.