woman, how she gan there betray the King Vortimer! The
king received her fair, to his own destruction. Vortimer spake
British, and Rowenne Saxish; to the king it seemed game enow, for her
speech he laughed. Hearken how she took on, this deceitful woman! In
her bosom she bare, beneath her teats, a golden phial filled with
poison; and the wicked Rowenne drank (or drenched) the bowl, until she
had half done, after the king's will. The while that the king laughed,
she drew out the phial; the bowl she set to her chin, the poison she
poured in the wine, and afterwards she delivered the cup to the king;
the king drank all the wine, and the poison therein. The day forth
passed, bliss was in the court, for Vortimer the good king of the
treachery knew nothing, for he saw Rowenne hold the bowl, and drink
half of the same wine that she had put therein. When it came to the
night, then separated the courtiers; and the evil Rowenne went to her
inn, and all her knights with her forth-right. Then ordered she her
swains, and eke the thanes all, that they in haste their horse should
saddle; and they most still to steal out of the burgh, and proceed all
by night to Thwongchester forth-right, and there most fast to inclose
them in a castle, and lie to Vortiger, that his son would besiege him.
And Vortiger the false king believed the leasing.

Now understood Vortimer, his son, that he had taken poison; might no
leechcraft help him any whit. He took many messengers, and sent over
his land, and bade all his knights to come to him forth-right. When
the folk was arrived, then was the king exceeding ill; then asked the
king their peace, and thus he spake with them all: "Of all knights are
ye best that serve any king; there is of me no other hap, but that
speedily I be dead. Here I deliver you my land, all my silver and all
my gold, and all my treasures--your worship is the greater. And ye
forth-right send after knights, and give them silver and gold, and
hold ye yourselves your land, and avenge you, if ye can, of Saxish
men; for when as I be departed, Hengest will make care to you. And
take ye my body, and lay in a chest, and carry me to the sea strand,
where Saxish men will come on land; anon as they know me there, away
they will go; neither alive nor dead dare they abide me!"

Among all this discourse the good king died; there was weeping, there
was lament, and piteous cries! They took the king's body, and carried
to London, and beside Belyns-