And the grees that he goeth
up to the table be of precious stones mingled with gold.
And at the left side of the emperor's siege is the siege of his
first wife, one degree lower than the emperor; and it is of jasper,
bordered with gold and precious stones. And the siege of his
second wife is also another siege, more lower than his first wife;
and it is also of jasper, bordered with gold, as that other is.
And the siege of the third wife is also more low, by a degree, than
the second wife. For he hath always three wives with him, where
that ever he be.
And after his wives, on the same side, sit the ladies of his
lineage yet lower, after that they be of estate. And all those
that be married have a counterfeit made like a man's foot upon
their heads, a cubit long, all wrought with great pearls, fine and
orient, and above made with peacocks' feathers and of other shining
feathers; and that stands upon their heads like a crest, in token
that they be under man's foot and under subjection of man. And
they that be unmarried have none such.
And after at the right side of the emperor first sitteth his eldest
son that shall reign after him. And he sitteth also one degree
lower than the emperor, in such manner of sieges as do the
empresses. And after him sit other great lords of his lineage,
every of them a degree lower than the other, as they be of estate.
And the emperor hath his table alone by himself, that is of gold
and of precious stones, or of crystal bordered with gold, and full
of precious stones or of amethysts, or of lignum aloes that cometh
out of paradise, or of ivory bound or bordered with gold. And
every one of his wives hath also her table by herself. And his
eldest son and the other lords also, and the ladies, and all that
sit with the emperor have tables alone by themselves, full rich.
And there ne is no table but that it is worth an huge treasure of
goods.
And under the emperor's table sit four clerks that write all that
the emperor saith, be it good, be it evil; for all that he saith
must be holden, for he may not change his word, ne revoke it.
And [at] great solemn feasts before the emperor's table men bring
great tables of gold, and thereon be peacocks of gold and many
other manner of diverse fowls, all of gold and richly wrought and
enamelled. And men make them dance and sing, clapping their wings
together, and make great noise. And whether it be by craft or by
necromancy I wot never; but it is a good sight to behold, and a
fair; and it is great marvel how it may be. But I have the less
marvel, because that they be the most subtle men in all sciences
and in all crafts that be in the world: for of subtlety and of
malice and of farcasting they pass all men under heaven. 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. And no man is so
hardy to speak a word, but if the emperor speak to him; but if it
be minstrels that sing songs and tell jests or other disports, to
solace with the emperor. And all the vessels that men be served
with in the hall or in chambers be of precious stones, and
specially at great tables either of jasper or of crystal or of
amethysts or of fine gold. And the cups be of emeralds and of
sapphires, or of topazes, of perydoz, and of many other precious
stones. Vessels of silver is there none, for they tell no price
thereof to make no vessels of: but they make thereof grecings and
pillars and pavements to halls and chambers. And before the hall
door stand many barons and knights clean armed to keep that no man
enter, but if it be the will or the commandment of the emperor, or
but if they be servants or minstrels of the household; and other
none is not so hardy to neighen nigh the hall door.
And ye shall understand, that my fellows and I with our yeomen, we
served this emperor, and were his soldiers fifteen months against
the King of Mancy, that held against him. And the cause was for we
had great lust to see his noblesse and the estate of his court and
all his governance, to wit if it were such as we heard say that it
was.
