麒麟小说

THE TALE（第34页）

somemenwouldsay，

howthatthechildmaurice

didthismessageuntotheemperor:

but，asiguess，allawasnotsonice，**foolish

tohimthatissosovereignofhonor

ashethatisofchristianfolktheflowr

sendanychild，butbettertistodeem

hewenthimself;andsoitmaywellsee

thisemperorhathgrantedgentilly

toetodinner，ashehimbesought:

andwellrede*i，helookedbusily*guess，know

uponthischild，andonhisdaughterthought。

allawenttohisinn，andashiught

arrayed*forthisfeastineverywise，*prepared

*asfarforthashiscunning*maysuffice。*asfarashisskill*

therrowcame，andallaganhimdress，**makeready

andekehiswife，theemperortomeet:

andforththeyrodeinjoyandingladness，

andwhenshesawherfatherinthestreet，

shelighteddownandfellbeforehisfeet。

"father，"quothshe，"youryoungechildconstance

isnowfullcleanoutofyourremembrance。

"iamyourdaughter，yourconstance，"quothshe，

"thatwhilomyehavesentintosyrie;

itami，father，thatinthesaltsea

wasputalone，anddamned*fortodie。*condemned

now，goodefather，iyoumercycry，

sendmenoreintononeheatheness，

butthankmylordhereofhiskindeness。"

whocanthepiteousjoyetellenall，

betwixtthemthree，sincetheybethusy-met?