The King said unto Rodingham,
"What news have you to me?"—
He said, "Your Queen's a false woman,
As I did plainly see."
He hasten'd to the Queen's chamber,45
So costly and so fine,
Until he came to the Queen's own bed,
Where the leper-man was lain.
He looked on the leper-man,
Who lay on his Queen's bed;50
He lifted up the snaw-white sheets,
And thus he to him said:—
"Plooky, plooky, are your cheeks,
And plooky is your chin,
And plooky are your armis twa,55
My bonny Queen's layne in.
"Since she has lain into your arms,
She shall not lye in mine;
Since she has kiss'd your ugsome mouth,
She never shall kiss mine."—60
In anger he went to the Queen,
Who fell upon her knee;
He said, "You false, unchaste woman,
What's this you've done to me?"
The Queen then turn'd herself about,65
The tear blinded her ee—
"There's not a knight in a' your court
Dare give that name to me."
He said, "'Tis true that I do say;
For I a proof did make:70
You shall be taken from my bower,
And burned at a stake.