Into church came Arthur the rich man; Dubrich the archbishop—­the Lord was to him full good; of Rome he was legate, and prelate of the people—­he sang the holy mass before the monarch.  Came with the queen women fair; all wives of the rich men that dwelt in the land, and daughters of the noble men the queen had sought (or selected), all as the queen had ordered, on pain of their paying full penalty.  In the church, in the south half, sate Arthur the king himself; by the north side Wenhaver the queen.  There came before her four chosen queens; each bare in the left hand a jewel of red gold, and three snow-white doves sate on their shoulders; who were the four queens, wives of the kings who bare in their hands the four swords of gold before Arthur, noblest of kings.  There was many a maid-child with the noble queen; there was many a rich garment on the fair folk; there was mickle envy from land of many kind; for each weened to be better than other.  Many knights anon came to the church; some for gain; some for the king; some to behold the women that were noble.  Songs there were merry, that lasted very long; I ween if it had lasted seven years, the yet they would more, that were thereat.  When the mass was sung, from church they thronged; the king with his folk went to his meat, with his mickle folk—­joy was among the people.  The queen on the other side sought her lodging; she had of women wondrous many.

When the king was set, with his men to his meat, to the king came the bishop Saint Dubrich, who was so good, and took from his head his rich crown; on account of the mickle gold the king would not it bear; and placed a less crown on the king’s head; and afterwards he gan do to the queen also (likewise).  In Troy this was the custom in their elders’ days, of whom Brutus came, who were excellent men; all the men at their meat sate asunder by themselves, that to them seemed well done; and also the women their station had.

When the king was set with all his people to his meat, earls and barons, at the king’s board, then came stepping the steward, who was named Kay, highest knight in land under the king, of all the assemblage of Arthur’s folk.  Kay had before him many a noble man chosen; there were a thousand bold knights wondrous well told, that served the king and his chiefs; each knight had a cloth on, and adorned with gold, and all their fingers covered with gold rings.  These bare the things sent from the kitchen to the king.  On the other side was Beduer, the king’s high cup-bearer, with him were earls’ sons of noble race born, and the noble knights’ sons, who were thither come; and seven kings’ sons, that with him moved.  Beduer went foremost, with golden bowl; after him a thousand pressed towards the folk, with drink of all the kinds that men could think of.  And the queen at her end, women most fair attended; a thousand walked before her, rich and well choice, to serve the queen, and them that were with her.