Page:Gesta Romanorum - Swan - Wright - 1.djvu/402

228 third place was inscribed: "If you walk this path, you will find entertainment both for yourself and horse; but before you depart, you will be miserably beaten." On a fourth part of the cross it was said: "If you walk this way, they will serve you diligently, but they will detain your horse, and oblige you to proceed the rest of your journey on foot." When the king had read the inscriptions, he began, to consider which of the evils he should chuse. He determined at length upon the first; "For," said he learnedly, "I shall fare very well myself, though my horse starve; and the night will soon pass away." On this, he struck the spurs into his horse; and arrived at the castle of a knight who entreated him courteously, but gave his steed little or nothing. In the morning, he rode on to his own palace, and related all that he had seen.

My beloved, the king is any good Christian, who journeys for the safety of his soul. The