uch of his lineage; but ever
he marvelled and studied who that should be, and what his name might
be. His wife perceived that he studied, and thought she would know it at
some season; and so she waited her time, and asked of him the cause of
his studying, and there he told her altogether how the voice told
him. Well, said she, I shall let make a ship of the best wood and most
durable that men may find. So Solomon sent for all the carpenters of
the land, and the best. And when they had made the ship the lady said
to Solomon: Sir, said she, since it is so that this knight ought to pass
all knights of chivalry which have been to-fore him and shall come after
him, moreover I shall tell you, said she, ye shall go into Our Lord's
temple, where is King David's sword, your father, the which is the
marvelloust and the sharpest that ever was taken in any knight's hand.
Therefore take that, and take off the pommel, and thereto make ye
a pommel of precious stones, that it be so subtly made that no man
perceive it but that they be all one; and after make there an hilt so
marvellously and wonderly that no man may know it; and after make a
marvellous sheath. And when ye have made all this I shall let make a
girdle thereto, such as shall please me.

All this King Solomon did let make as she devised, both the ship and all
the remnant. And when the ship was ready in the sea to sail, the lady
let make a great bed and marvellous rich, and set her upon the bed's
head, covered with silk, and laid the sword at the feet, and the girdles
were of hemp, and therewith the king was angry. Sir, wit ye well, said
she, that I have none so high a thing which were worthy to sustain so
high a sword, and a maid shall bring other knights thereto, but I wot
not when it shall be, nor what time. And there she let make a covering
to the ship, of cloth of silk that should never rot for no manner of
weather. Yet went that lady and made a carpenter to come to the tree
which Abel was slain under. Now, said she, carve me out of this tree as
much wood as will make me a spindle. Ah madam, said he, this is the tree
the which our first mother planted. Do it, said she, or else I shall
destroy thee. Anon as he began to work there came out drops of blood;
and then would he have left, but she would not suffer him, and so he
took away as much wood as might make a spindle: and so she made him to
take as much of the green tree and of the white tree. And when these
three spind