Page:Gesta Romanorum - Swan - Wright - 1.djvu/190

16 OF FIDELITY.

subject of a certain king fell into the hands of pirates, and wrote to his father for ransom. But the father would not redeem him; so the youth wasted away in prison. Now he who detained him in chains had a daughter of great beauty and virtue. She was at this time in her twentieth year, and frequently visited the young man with the hope of alleviating his griefs. But he was too disconsolate to hearken. At length, after some time had passed in this manner, believing her prejudiced in his favor, and disposed to succour him, he asked her to obtain his freedom. She replied, "But how am I to effect it? Thy father, thine own father will not ransom thee: on what ground then should I, a stranger, attempt it? And suppose that I were induced to do so, I should incur the wrath of my