Page:Gesta Romanorum - Swan - Wright - 1.djvu/396

222 commonly reported, my lord, that whoever enters your garden shall espouse your daughter. For this purpose I come." "Enter then," said the emperor; "on thy return thou shalt marry her." "But," added the knight, "I solicit one boon of your majesty. Before I enter the garden, I would entreat an opportunity of conversing a short time with the lady." "I have no objection to that," said the emperor. She was called, and the knight accosted her in these words. "Fair damsel, thou hast been called the Lady of Comfort, because every one who enters thy presence sorrowful, returns contented and happy. I, therefore, approach thethee [sic] sad and desolate—give me the means to leave thee in happiness: many have entered the garden, but never any re-appeared. If the same chance happen to me—alas! that I should have sought thee in marriage." "I will tell thee the truth," said the lady, "and convert thy unhappiness into pleasure. In that garden there is an enormous lion which devours every one who enters with the hope of marrying me. Arm thyself, therefore, cap-a-pee, and cover your