Chương Chương 412 · How Solomon took David’s sword by the counsel of his wife,

. How Solomon took David’s sword by the counsel of his wife,

and of other matters marvellous.

Now have I certified thee of that thou stoodest in doubt. Then was

Solomon glad that there should come any such of his lineage; but ever

he marvelled and studied who that should be, and what his name might

be. His wife perceived that he studied, and thought she would know it

at some season; and so she waited her time, and asked of him the cause

of his studying, and there he told her altogether how the voice told

him. Well, said she, I shall let make a ship of the best wood and most

durable that men may find. So Solomon sent for all the carpenters of

the land, and the best. And when they had made the ship the lady said

to Solomon: Sir, said she, since it is so that this knight ought to

pass all knights of chivalry which have been to-fore him and shall come

after him, moreover I shall tell you, said she, ye shall go into Our

Lord’s temple, where is King David’s sword, your father, the which is

the marvelloust and the sharpest that ever was taken in any knight’s

hand. Therefore take that, and take off the pommel, and thereto make ye

a pommel of precious stones, that it be so subtly made that no man

perceive it but that they be all one; and after make there an hilt so

marvellously and wonderly that no man may know it; and after make a

marvellous sheath. And when ye have made all this I shall let make a

girdle thereto, such as shall please me.

All this King Solomon did let make as she devised, both the ship and

all the remnant. And when the ship was ready in the sea to sail, the

lady let make a great bed and marvellous rich, and set her upon the

bed’s head, covered with silk, and laid the sword at the feet, and the

girdles were of hemp, and therewith the king was angry. Sir, wit ye

well, said she, that I have none so high a thing which were worthy to

sustain so high a sword, and a maid shall bring other knights thereto,

but I wot not when it shall be, nor what time. And there she let make a

covering to the ship, of cloth of silk that should never rot for no

manner of weather. Yet went that lady and made a carpenter to come to

the tree which Abel was slain under. Now, said she, carve me out of

this tree as much wood as will make me a spindle. Ah madam, said he,

this is the tree the which our first mother planted. Do it, said she,

or else I shall destroy thee. Anon as he began to work there came out

drops of blood; and then would he have left, but she would not suffer

him, and so he took away as much wood as might make a spindle: and so

she made him to take as much of the green tree and of the white tree.

And when these three spindles were shapen she made them to be fastened

upon the selar of the bed. When Solomon saw this, he said to his wife:

Ye have done marvellously, for though all the world were here right

now, he could not devise wherefore all this was made, but Our Lord

Himself; and thou that hast done it wottest not what it shall betoken.

Now let it be, said she, for ye shall hear tidings sooner than ye ween.

Now shall ye hear