Page:Gesta Romanorum - Swan - Wright - 1.djvu/369

Rh. "You know the law," said the judge. "I do," returned the other: "if I declare three unquestionable truths, I shall be free; but if not, I must die." "True," replied the judge: "take then advantage of the law's clemency, or undergo the punishment it awards, without delay."—"Cause silence to be kept," said the soldier undauntedly. His wish being complied with, he proceeded in the following manner. "The first truth is this. I protest before ye all, that from my youth up, I have been a bad man." The judge, hearing this, said to the by-standers, "He says true?" They answered, "Else, he had not now been in this situation."—"Go on, then," said the judge: "what is the second truth?"—"I like not," exclaimed he, "the dangerous situation in which I stand."—"Certainly," said the judge, "we may credit thee. Now then for the third truth, and thou hast saved thy life."—"Why," he replied, "if I once get out of this confounded place, I will never willingly re-enter it."—"Amen," said the judge, "thy wit hath preserved thee; go in peace." And thus he was saved.