It being done, the court was set;
The Dutch lord came, seeming to fret, 110
About the ring seeming to fear,
How truth would make his shame appear.
And so it did, and soon they call
The maid, who on her knees did fall
Before the court, and did confess 115
The Dutch lord's unworthiness.
The court repliéd, "Is it so?
The lady, too, for ought we know,
May be alive; therefore we'll stay
The sentence till another day." 120
Now the Dutch lord gave him a ton
Of gold, which he had justly won,
And so he did with shame and grief,
And thus the knight obtain'd relief.
The Dutch lord to revenge the spite 125
Upon our noble English knight,
Did send a letter out of hand,
And so the Jew did understand,
How he was in a German court;
So here upon this good report, 130
The Jew has cross'd the ocean wide,
Resolving to be satisfied.
Soon as e'er he fixed his eyes,
Unto the knight in wrath he cries,
"Your hand and seal I pray behold; 135
Your flesh I'll have instead of gold."
[Then] said the noble knight in green,
"May not your articles be seen?"
"Yes, that they may," replied the Jew,
"And I'm resolved to have my due." 140
So then the knight began to read;
At length she said, "I find, indeed,
Nothing but flesh you are to have;"
Answers the Jew, "That's all I crave."
The poor distressed knight was brought; 145
The bloody-minded Jew he thought
That day to be reveng'd on him,
And part his flesh from every limb.