Page:Gesta Romanorum - Swan - Wright - 1.djvu/133

Rh the steward unto him, if that thou wilt do my counsel, I shall bring this matter to a good conclusion, wherefore do as I shall tell thee.

"I counsel thee for the best, and also warn thee, that when thou servest my lord the emperor of his cup, that thou turn thy face away from him, so that he may not smell thy stinking breath, until the time that thou hast provided thee of some remedy therefore.

"Then was Fulgentius right glad, and sware to him that he would do by his counsel.

"Not long after it befell that this young man Fulgentius served his lord as he was wont to do, and therewith suddenly he turned his face from the lord the emperor, as the steward had taught him.

"And when the emperor perceived the avoiding of his head, he smote this young Fulgentius on the breast with his foot, and said to him thus: O thou lewd varlet; now I see well it is true that I have heard of thee, and therefore go thou anon out of my sight, that I may see thee no more in this place. And with that this young Fulgentius wept full sore, and avoided the place, and went out of his sight. "And when this was done, the emperor called unto him his steward, and said, How may I rid this varlet from the world, that thus hath defamed me? My