No signal they, no trumpet they attend,

  To blow them to the lists, no master who

  Should teach them when to foin and when to fend,

  Or wake their sleeping wrath; their swords they drew:

  Then, one against the other, boldly wend,

  With lifted blades, the quick and dextrous two.

  Already 'gan the champions' fury heat,

  And fast and hard their swords were heard to beat.