membered her the loss which came from the tree. Then she
thought to keep the branch as long as she might. And for she had no
coffer to keep it in, she put it in the earth. So by the will of Our
Lord the branch grew to a great tree within a little while, and was
as white as any snow, branches, boughs, and leaves: that was a token
a maiden planted it. But after God came to Adam, and bade him know his
wife fleshly as nature required. So lay Adam with his wife under the
same tree; and anon the tree which was white was full green as any
grass, and all that came out of it; and in the same time that they
medled together there was Abel begotten: thus was the tree long of green
colour. And so it befell many days after, under the same tree Caym slew
Abel, whereof befell great marvel. For anon as Abel had received the
death under the green tree, it lost the green colour and became red; and
that was in tokening of the blood. And anon all the plants died thereof,
but the tree grew and waxed marvellously fair, and it was the fairest
tree and the most delectable that any man might behold and see; and so
died the plants that grew out of it to-fore that Abel was slain under
it. So long dured the tree till that Solomon, King David's son, reigned,
and held the land after his father. This Solomon was wise and knew all
the virtues of stones and trees, and so he knew the course of the
stars, and many other divers things. This Solomon had an evil wife,
wherethrough he weened that there had been no good woman, and so he
despised them in his books. So answered a voice him once: Solomon, if
heaviness come to a man by a woman, ne reck thou never; for yet shall
there come a woman whereof there shall come greater joy to man an
hundred times more than this heaviness giveth sorrow; and that woman
shall be born of thy lineage. Tho when Solomon heard these words he held
himself but a fool, and the truth he perceived by old books. Also the
Holy Ghost showed him the coming of the glorious Virgin Mary. Then asked
he of the voice, if it should be in the yerde of his lineage. Nay, said
the voice, but there shall come a man which shall be a maid, and the
last of your blood, and he shall be as good a knight as Duke Josua, thy
brother-in-law.

CHAPTER VI. 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 stoodest in doubt. Then was
Solomon glad that there should come any s