was their dismay,
When they into the chamber came, and saw her how she lay;--
Thus died she in her innocence, a lady void of wrong,
But God took heed of their offence--his vengeance stayed not long.

XXXVI.
Within twelve days, in pain and dole, the Infanta passed away,
The cruel King gave up his soul upon the twentieth day;
Alarcos followed ere the Moon had made her round complete.--
Three guilty spirits stood right soon before God's judgment-seat.

TALES FROM THE
GESTA ROMANORUM.

CONTENTS.

I.--THE EIGHT PENNIES 103
II.--THE THREE TRUTHS 105
III.--THE HUSBAND OF AGLAES 106
IV.--THE THREE CASKETS 111
V.--THE THREE CAKES 116
VI.--THE HERMIT 118
VII.--THE LOST FOOT 121
VIII.--PLACIDUS 122
IX.--DEAD ALEXANDER 131
X.--THE TREE OF PALETINUS 132
XI.--HUNGRY FLIES 132
XII.--THE HUMBLING OF JOVINIAN 133
XIII.--THE TWO PHYSICIANS 139
XIV.--THE FALCON 141
XV.--LET THE LAZIEST BE KING 142
XVI.--THE THREE MAXIMS 143
XVII.--A LOAF FOR A DREAM 146
XVIII.--LOWER THAN THE BEASTS 148
XIX.--OF REAL FRIENDSHIP 151
XX.--ROYAL BOUNTY 152
XXI.--WILY BEGUILED 153
XXII.--THE BASILISK 155
XXIII.--THE TRUMP OF DEATH 155
XXIV.--ALEXANDER AND THE PIRATE 157
XXV.--A TALE OF A PENNY 158
XXVI.--OF AVOIDING IMPRECATIONS 159
XXVII.--A VERSE EXERCISE 161
XXVIII.--BRED IN THE BONE 164
XXIX.--FULGENTIUS 167
XXX.--VENGEANCE DEFERRED 173

I.--THE EIGHT PENNIES.

When Titus was Emperor of Rome, he made a decree that the natal day of
his first-born son should be held sacred, and that whosoever violated it
by any kind of labour should be put to death. Then he called Virgil to
him, and said, "Good friend, I have made a certain law; we desire you to
frame some curious piece of art which may reveal to us every transgressor
of the law." Virgil constructed a magic statue, and caused it to be set
up in the midst of the city. By virtue of the secret powers with which
it was invested, it told the emperor whatever was done amiss. And thus
by the accusation of the statue, an