noon
His plain black mail was covered with a surcoat of white and green linen ; over this a narrow baldrick of red bore in gold stitches his device of a hooded falcon , and his legend on a scroll , many times repeated and intercrossed -- _ I bide my time _ . In his helmet were three red feathers , on his shield the blazon of his house of Gai -- _ On a field sable , a fesse dancettée or _ , with a mullet for difference . He carried no spear ; for a man of his light build the sword was the arm . Thus then , within and without , was Messire Prosper le Gai , youngest son of old Baron Jocelyn , deceased , riding into the heart of the noon , pleased with himself and the world , light-minded , singing of the movement and the road . Labourers stayed their reaping to listen to him ; but there was nothing for them . He sang of adventure . Girls leaned at cottage doorways to watch him down the way .