麒麟小说

THE TALE（第5页）

bywayofreason，fortospeakallplain，

becausethattherewassuchdiversity

betweentheirbothelawes，thattheysayn，

theytrowe*thatnochristianprincewouldfain***believe**willingly

weddenhischildunderourlawesweet，

thatuswasgivenbymahound*ourprophete。*mahomet

andheanswered:"ratherthanilose

constance，iwillbechristenddoubteless

imustbehers，imaynoneotherchoose，

iprayyouholdyourargumentsinpeace，

savemylife，andbenotreckeless

togetteherthathathmylifeincure，**keeping

forinthiswoeimaynotlongendure。"

whatneedethgreaterdilatation?

isay，bytreatyandambassadry，

andbythepopesmediation，

andallthechurch，andallthechivalry，

thatindestructionofmahmetry，**mahometanism

andinincreaseofchristeslawedear，

orded*soasyemayhear;*agreed

howthatthesoudan，andhisbaronage，

andallhislieges，shally-christendbe，

andheshallhaveconstanceinmarriage，

andcertaingold，inot*whatquantity，*knownot

andheretofindtheysuffisantsuret

ordisswornoneitherside;

now，fairconstance，almightygodtheeguide!

nowwouldesomemenwaiten，asiguess，

thatishouldtellenallthepurveyance*，*provision

thewhichtheemperorofhisnoblesse

hathshapen*forhisdaughter，dameconstance。*prepared