‘I tell you, lords in this hall, I hett[158] you all heed, Except you be the more surer Is for you to dread.’ VI He pluck’d out of his potener[159], And longer wo’ld not dwell, He pull’d forth a pretty mantle Betweene two nut-shells. VII ‘Have thou here, King Arthur, Have thou here of mee: Give itt to thy comely queene Shapen as itt is alreadye. VIII ‘Itt shall never become that wiffe That hath once done amisse.’ Then every knight in the king’s court Began to care[160] for his. IX Forth came dame Guenever, To the mantle she her bed[161]; The ladye shee was new fangle[162] But yett she was affrayd. X When shee had taken the mantle, She stoode as shee had beene madd; It was from the top to the toe As sheeres had it shread. XI One while was it gaule[163], Another while was itt greene, Another while was it wadded[164]; Ill itt did her beseeme. XII Another while it was blacke, And bore the worst hue: ‘By my troth,’ quoth King Arthur, ‘I thinke thou be not true.’ XIII Shee threw downe the mantle, That bright was of blee[165]; Fast with a rudd red To her chamber can[166] she flee. XIV She cursed the weaver and the walker[167] That cloth that had wrought, And bade a vengeance on his crowne That hither hath itt brought. XV ‘I had rather be in a wood, Under a greenè tree, Than in King Arthur’s court Shamèd for to bee.’ XVI Kay call’d forth his ladye And bade her come neere; Saies, ‘Madam, and thou be guiltye I pray thee hold thee here.’ XVII Forth came his ladye Shortlye and anon; Boldlye to the mantle Then is she gone. XVIII When she had tane the mantle, And her about it cast Then was she bare All unto the waist. XIX Then every knight That was in the King’s court Talk’d, laugh’d and showted Full oft att that sport. XX She threw down the mantle That bright was of blee, Fast with a red rudd[168] To her chamber can she flee. XXI Forth came an old Knight Pattering ore a creede, And he proferr’d to this little Boy Twenty markes to his meede; XXII And all the time of Christmasse Willingly to ffeede; For why[169] this mantle might Doe his wiffe some need. XXIII When shee had tane the mantle Of cloth that was made, Shee had no more left on her But a tassell and a threed: That every knight in the King’s court Bade evill might shee speed. XXIV She threw downe the mantle, That bright was of blee, Fast with a red rudd To her chamber can she flee. XXV