"And when thy servant thou didst cause In battle to be slain, Thou causedst then more strife than I, 55 Who would come here so fain." "The woman's mad," said Solomon, "That thus doth taunt a king;" "Not half so mad as you," she said, "I trow, in many a thing. 60 "Thou hadst seven hundred wives at once, For whom thou didst provide, And yet three hundred wh...., God wot, Thou didst maintain beside. "And those made thee forsake thy God, 65 And worship stocks and stones; Besides the charge they put thee to In breeding of young bones. "Hadst thou not been besides thy wits, Thou wouldst not thus have ventur'd; 70 And therefor I do marvel much How thou this place hast entered." "I never heard," quoth Jonas then, "So vile a scold as this;" "Thou wh...son runaway," quoth she, 75 "Thou diddest more amiss." "They say," quoth Thomas, "women's tongues Of aspen leaves are made;" "Thou unbelieving wretch," quoth she, "All is not true that's said." 80 When Mary Magdalen heard her then, She came unto the gate; Quoth she, "Good woman, you must think Upon your former state." "No sinner enters in this place," 85 Quoth Mary Magdalen then; "'Twere ill for you, fair mistress mild," She answered her again. "You for your honesty," quoth she, "Had once been ston'd to death, 90 Had not our Saviour Christ come by, And written on the earth. "It was not by your occupation You are become divine; I hope my soul, by Christ's passion, 95 Shall be as safe as thine." Then rose the good apostle Paul; Unto this wife he cried, "Except thou shake thy sins away, Thou here shalt be denied." 100 "Remember, Paul, what thou hast done All thro' a lewd desire, How thou didst persecute God's church With wrath as hot as fire." Then up starts Peter at the last, 105 And to the gate he hies; "Fond fool," quoth he, "knock not so fast; Thou weariest Christ with cries." "Peter," said she, "content thyself, For mercy may be won; 110 I never did deny my Christ As thou thyself hast done." When as our Saviour Christ heard this, With heavenly angels bright, He comes unto this sinful soul, 115 Who trembled at his sight.