Dupes of every age and clime, whate'er your station, sex, or years,
Lend me all your strength of credence, all your wondrous length of ears,
Whilst of things that in the old time in King Arthur's court befel,
Till his very table moved, a veritable tale I tell.
Good King Arthur had a custom, whence he swerved not in the least,
That the morn should bring the tourney, and the noon should bring the feast,
For he knew his knights, aye ready for the battle or the board,
Were as prompt with knife and cleaver as with battle-axe and sword,
With the same good will would carve a haunch and cut a foeman down,
And with equal satisfaction crack a marrow-bone or crown;