_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 stoodst 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 that 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 other knights of chivalry which have been tofore him, and
shall come after him, moreover I shall tell you, said she, ye shall go
into our Lord’s temple, whereas is king David’s sword, your father, the
which is the marvellousest and 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 subtilly
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
ceiling 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, they
could not devise wherefore all this was made, but our Lord himself, and
thou that hast done it wotest not what it shall betoken. Now let it be,
said she, for ye shall hear tidings sooner than ye ween.
Now shall ye hear a wonderful tale of king Solomon and his wife.