Page:Gesta Romanorum - Swan - Wright - 1.djvu/98

lxxii knights and servants went unto his daughter's chamber, and found her not, for the aforesaid knight had taken her with him. And thus the king was deceived of the damsel, and he went home again to his own country ashamed.

CHAPTER XXI. Theodosius reigned, a wise emperour, in the city of Rome, and mighty he was of power; the which emperour had three daughters. So it liked to this emperour to know which of his daughters loved him best. And then he said to the eldest daughter, how much lovest thou me? forsooth, quoth she, more than I do myself, therefore, quoth he, thou shalt be highly advanced, and married her to a rich and mighty king. Then he came to the second, and said to her, daughter, how much lovest thou me? As much, forsooth, said she, as I do myself. So the emperour married her to a duke. And then he said to the third daughter, how much lovest thou me? forsooth, quoth she, as much as ye be worthy, and no more. Then said the emperour, daughter, sith thou lovest me no more, thou