"The Gryphon and the Dragon" - a 13th century Anglo-Norman Trouvère, or troubador poem

St. Brendan is a real life 6th-century Irish monk renowned for his voyage to the discover the Promised Land of the Saints. A largely fictional account of his voyage appeared in the 10th century, describing legendary events and sights St. Brendan and his crew encountered. One such encounter was a wild gryphon who attacked the monks' ship. The crew panics, but St. Brendan reminds them that God is on their side. A larger bird suddenly appears and kills the gryphon, allowing the crew to continue on to a Christmas festival.

At some time in the 13th century, a trouvère was composed about the event. I have copied the trouvère below, although the poem and the story can both be read in an 1893 version of St. Brendan's Voyage archived online - https://archive.org/stream/gb0U49kFVbJcsC#page/n197/mode/2up

THE GRYPHON AND THE DRAGON

A flaming griffin in the sky,

With fearful hearts they now espy

With crooked claws to seize, I ween,

And flaming wings and talons keen;

And o'er the ship he hovereth low,

And vainly may the strong wind blow;

More swift is he, than barque more strong.

And fierce he chaseth them along,

But, lo ! a dragon takes his flight,

With outstretched neck, and wings of might:

A flaming dragon he, and grim,

And toward the griffin beareth him.

And now the battle furiously

In mid air rageth fell to see

Sparks from their teeth fly thick around,

And blows, and flames, and many a wound

Is given. The pilgrims anxiously

Gaze up; oh ! which shall victor be?

The griffin's huge - the dragon slight,

But far more lightsome for the fight;

And lo ! the griffin in the sea

Falls dead. The dragon victory

Hath won - O then they joyed outright

And thanked the God of power and might.