he emperor.

"The steward," quoth Fulgentius, "that is now dead, came to me and said,
that ye told unto him that my breath did stink, and thereupon he
counselled me, that when I served you of your cup, I should turn my face
away; I take God to witness, I lie not."

When the emperor heard this, he believed him, and said, "O my nephew,
now I see, through the right wise judgment of God, the steward is burnt,
and his own wickedness and envy is fallen on himself, for he ordained
this malice against thee, and therefore thou art much bound to Almighty
God that hath preserved thee from death."

XXX.--VENGEANCE DEFERRED.

A law was made at Rome, that no man should marry for beauty, but for
riches only; and that no woman should be united to a poor man, unless he
should by some means acquire wealth equal to her own. A certain poor
knight solicited the hand of a rich lady, but she reminded him of the
law, and desired him to use the best means of complying with it, in
order to effect their union. He departed in great sorrow; and after much
inquiry, was informed of a rich duke, who had been blind from the day of
his birth. Him he resolved to murder, and obtain his wealth; but found
that he was protected in the daytime by several armed domestics, and at
night by the vigilance of a faithful dog. He contrived, however, to kill
the dog with an arrow, and immediately afterwards the master; with whose
money he returned to the lady. He informed her that he had accomplished
his purpose; and being asked how this had been done in so short a space
of time, he told all that had happened.

The lady desired, before the marriage should take place, that he would
go to the spot where the duke was buried, lay himself on his tomb,
listen to what he might hear, and then report it to her. The knight
armed himself, and went accordingly. In the middle of the night he heard
a voice saying, "O duke, that liest here, what askest thou that I can do
for thee?" The answer was, "O Jesus, thou upright judge, all that I
require is vengeance for my blood unjustly spilt." The voice rejoined,
"Thirty years from this time thy wish shall be fulfilled." The knight,
extremely terrified, returned with the news to the lady. She reflected
that thirty years were a long time, and resolved on the marriage. During
the whole thirty years the parties remained in perfect happiness.

When the thirty years were nearly passed, the knight built a strong
castle, and over o