'Then Prince Urian of Punturtois stood before the Breton king, And against his life and his honour, her plaint did the maiden bring, And she spake so that all might hear her, and with weeping words did pray The king, for the sake of women, her shaming to put away. And she prayed by the honour of women, and by the Round Table's fame, 385 And the right which as message-bearer she thought of all men to claim, If he sat there that day for judgment he should judge her with judgment true, And avenge her of this dishonour which her soul must for ever rue. And she prayed they would do her justice, those knights of the Table Round, Since in sooth she had lost a treasure which might never again be found, 390 Her maidenhood fair and unstainèd! Then all men, with one accord, Spake him guilty, and for his judgment called loudly upon their lord!' 'Then an advocate spake for the captive, (Small honour was his I trow.) And he spake as he might in his favour, yet it went with him ill enow, For of life and of honour forfeit did they judge him, the headsman's sword 395 Should ne'er be his death, but a halter should they twine him of hempen cord. Then loud in his woe he prayed me, since he yielded him to mine hand, For mine honour should sure be stainèd if wrought were the king's command. Then I prayed of the weeping maiden, since she saw how that I in fight Had avenged upon him her shaming, to pardon the traitor knight. 400 For sure 'twas the spell of her beauty that had wrought upon him for sin, And the love of her form so shapely--"For aye if a knight doth win Sore peril for love of a woman, she should aid him, and hear his prayer, So I prithee to cease thine anger, and have pity on his despair."'