Page:Gesta Romanorum - Swan - Wright - 1.djvu/131

Rh he, I that am your true servant, am bound in duty to warn your highness, if I hear any thing 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