hosoever came
first in the morning, saying, as you have said, that we should take him,
and cast him into the furnace, and burn him to ashes." And with that
they threw him into the fire.

And when he was burnt, Fulgentius came to them and said, "Good sirs,
have you done my lord's commandment?" "Yea, soothly," said they, "and
therefore go ye again to the emperor, and tell him so." Then said
Fulgentius, "For Christ's love, tell me that commandment?"

"We had in commandment," said they, "upon pain of death, that whosoever
came to us first in the morning, and said like as thou hast said, that
we should take him and cast him into the furnace. But before thee came
the steward and therefore on him have we fulfilled the emperor's
commandment; now he is burnt to the bare bones."

When Fulgentius heard this, he thanked God that he had so preserved him
from death; therefore he took his leave of the workmen, and went again
to the palace.

When the emperor saw him, he was almost distract of his wits for anger,
and thus he said, "Hast thou been with the brickmakers, and fulfilled my
commandment?" "Soothly, my gracious lord, I have been there, but ere I
am there, your commandment was fulfilled." "How may that be true," quoth
the emperor.

"Forsooth," said Fulgentius, "the steward came to them afore me, and
said that I should have said, so they took him and threw him into the
furnace; and if I had come any earlier, so would they have done to me,
and therefore I thank God that he hath preserved me from death."

Then said the emperor, "Tell me the truth of such questions as I shall
demand of thee." Then said Fulgentius to the emperor, "You never found
me in any falsehood, and therefore I greatly wonder why ye have ordained
such a death for me; for well ye know that I am your own brother's son."
Then said the emperor to Fulgentius: "It is no wonder, for that death I
ordained for thee, through counsel of the steward, because thou didst
defame me throughout all my empire, saying, that my breath did stink so
grievously, that it was death to thee, and in token thereof thou
turnedst away thy face when thou servedst me of my cup, and that I saw
with mine eyes; and for this cause I ordained for thee such a death; and
yet thou shalt die, except I hear a better excuse."

Then answered Fulgentius, and said, "Ah, dear lord, if it might please
your highness for to hear me, I shall show you a subtle and deceitful
imagination." "Say on," quoth t