And
therefore they say themselves, that they see with two eyes and the
Christian men see but with one, because that they be more subtle
than they. For all other nations, they say, be but blind in
cunning and working in comparison to them. I did great business
for to have learned that craft, but the master told me that he had
made avow to his god to teach it to no creature, but only to his
eldest son.
Also above the emperor's table and the other tables, and above a
great part in the hall, is a vine made of fine gold. And it
spreadeth all about the hall. And it hath many clusters of grapes,
some white, some green, some yellow and some red and some black,
all of precious stones. The white be of crystal and of beryl and
of iris; the yellow be of topazes; the red be of rubies and of
grenaz and of alabrandines; the green be of emeralds, of perydoz
and of chrysolites; and the black be of onyx and garantez. And
they be all so properly made that it seemeth a very vine bearing
kindly grapes.
And before the emperor's table stand great lords and rich barons
and other that serve the emperor at the meat.
