Page:Gesta Romanorum - Swan - Wright - 1.djvu/121

Rh then shalt thou have my son. And if thou chuse that wherein is no profit to thee, nor to any other, soothly thou shalt not marry him.

"When the maiden heard this, she lift up her hands to God, and said, Thou Lord, that knowest all things, grant me grace this hour so to chuse, that I may receive the emperor's son. And with that she beheld the first vessel of gold, which was engraven royally, and read the superscription: Whoso chuseth me, shall find that he deserveth; saying thus, Though this vessel be full precious, and made of pure gold, nevertheless I know not what is within, therefore, my dear lord, this vessel will I not chuse.

"And then she beheld the second vessel, that was of pure silver, and read the superscription, Whoso chuseth me, shall find that his nature desireth: Thinking thus within herself, if I chuse this vessel, what is within I know not, but well I know, there shall I find that nature desireth, and my nature desireth the lust of the flesh, and therefore this vessel will I not chuse.

"When she had seen these two vessels, and had given an answer as touching them, she beheld the third vessel of lead, and read the superscription, Whoso chuseth me, shall find that God hath disposed: Thinking within herself, this vessel is not very rich,