Yet what can I say, for all men know that your valor needs the curb and not the spur.

It goes to my heart that you should ride forth now a mere knight bachelor, when there is no noble in the land who hath so good a claim to the square pennon, save only that you have not the money to uphold it." "And whose fault that, my sweet bird ?" said he.
"No fault, my fair lord, but a virtue: for how many rich ransoms have you won, and yet have scattered the crowns among page and archer and varlet, until in a week you had not as much as would buy food and forage.

It is a most knightly largesse, and yet withouten money how can man rise ?" "Dirt and dross!" cried he.
"What matter rise or fall, so that duty be done and honor gained.
Banneret or bachelor, square pennon or forked, I would not give a denier for the difference, and the less since Sir John Chandos, chosen flower of English chivalry, is himself but a humble knight.

But meanwhile fret not thyself, my heart's dove, for it is like that there may be no war waged, and we must await the news.

But here are three strangers, and one, as I take it, a soldier fresh from service.