"Ah, mercy, lord," said she, and fell down at his feet; "mercy, and I will tell thee all."
And then she told him of her plot to murder Tristram, so that her own sons might enjoy the kingdom.
"The law shall judge thee," said the king.
And so anon she was tried before the barons, and condemned to be burnt to death.
But when the fire was made, and she brought out, came Tristram kneeling at his father's feet and besought of him a favor.
"Whatsoever thou desirest I will give thee," said the king.
"Give me the life, then, of the queen, my step-mother," said he.
"Thou doest wrong to ask it," said Meliodas; "for she would have slain thee with her poisons if she could, and chiefly for thy sake she ought to die."
"Sir," said he, "as for that, I beseech thee of thy mercy to forgive it her, and for my part may God pardon her as I do; and so I pray thee grant me my boon, and for God's sake hold thee to thy promise."
"If it must be so," said the king, "take thou her life, for to thee I give it, and go and do with her as thou wilt."