two brethren were before, then the king's
servants began to wash the bone, but neither for washing nor rubbing
might they do away the blood of the bone, but it ever appeared bloody:
when the king saw this, he said, "It appeareth openly now that this
blood is of the nature of the bone, thou art his true son, and the other
two are bastards. I judge thee the tree for evermore."

XXIX.--FULGENTIUS.

In Rome some time dwelt a mighty emperor named Martin, which for entire
affection kept with him his brother's son, whom men called Fulgentius.
With this Martin dwelt also a knight that was steward of the empire, and
uncle unto the emperor, which envied this Fulgentius, studying day and
night how he might bring the emperor and this youth at debate. Wherefore
the steward on a day went to the emperor, and said, "My lord," quoth he,
"I that am your true servant, am bound in duty to warn your highness, if
I hear anything that toucheth your honour, wherefore I have such things
that I must needs utter it in secret to your majesty between us two."
Then said the emperor, "Good friend, say on what thee list."

"My most dear lord," quoth the steward, "Fulgentius, your cousin and
your nigh kinsman, hath defamed you wonderfully and shamefully throughout
all your whole empire, saying that your breath stinketh, and that it is
death to him to serve your cup." Then the emperor was grievously
displeased, and almost beside himself for anger, and said unto him thus:
"I pray thee, good friend, tell me the very truth, if that my breath
stinketh as he saith?" "My lord," quoth the steward, "ye may believe
me, I never perceived a sweeter breath in my days than yours is."
"Then," said the emperor, "I pray thee, good friend, tell me how I may
bring this thing to good proof."

The steward answered and said: "My lord," quoth he, "ye shall right well
understand the truth; for to-morrow next when he serveth you of your cup,
ye shall see that he will turn away his face from you, because of your
breath, and this is the most certain proof that may be had of this
thing." "Verily," quoth the emperor, "a truer proof cannot be had of
this thing." Therefore anon, when the steward heard this, he went
straight to Fulgentius, and took him aside, saying thus: "Dear friend,
thou art near kinsman and also nephew unto my lord the emperor, therefore
if thou wilt be thankful unto me, I will tell thee of a fault whereof my
lord the emperor complaineth oft, and think