said.

"Moreover, he has decided and commanded that in case of the death of the
Duchess Joan--which God avert!--without lawful issue of her body, the
most illustrious lord Andre, Duke of Calabria, her husband, shall have
the principality of Salerno, with the title, fruits, revenues, and all the
rights thereof, together with the revenue of 2000 ounces of gold for
maintenance.

"Moreover, he has decided and ordered that the Queen above all, and also
the venerable father Don Philip of Cabassole, Bishop of Cavaillon,
vice-chancellor of the kingdom of Sicily, and the magnificent lords
Philip of Sanguineto, seneschal of Provence, Godfrey of Marsan, Count of
Squillace, admiral of the kingdom, and Charles of Artois, Count of Aire,
shall be governors, regents, and administrators of the aforesaid lord
Andre and the aforesaid ladies Joan and Marie, until such time as the
duke, the duchess, and the very illustrious lady Marie shall have
attained their twenty-fifth year," etc. etc.

When the vice-chancellor had finished reading, the king sat up, and
glancing round upon his fair and numerous family, thus spoke:

"My children, you have heard my last wishes. I have bidden you all to my
deathbed, that you may see how the glory of the world passes away. Those
whom men name the great ones of the earth have more duties to perform,
and after death more accounts to render: it is in this that their
greatness lies. I have reigned thirty-three years, and God before whom I
am about to appear, God to whom my sighs have often arisen during my long
and painful life, God alone knows the thoughts that rend my heart in the
hour of death. Soon shall I be lying in the tomb, and all that remains
of me in this world will live in the memory of those who pray for me.
But before I leave you for ever, you, oh, you who are twice my daughters,
whom I have loved with a double love, and you my nephews who have had
from me all the care and affection of a father, promise me to be ever
united in heart and in wish, as indeed you are in my love. I have lived
longer than your fathers, I the eldest of all, and thus no doubt God has
wished to tighten the bonds of your affection, to accustom you to live in
one family and to pay honour to one head. I have loved you all alike, as
a father should, without exception or preference. I have disposed of my
throne according to the law of nature and the inspiration of my
conscience: Here are the heirs of the crown of Nap