Page:Gesta Romanorum - Swan - Wright - 2.djvu/214

202 the city being reduced to the most deplorable situation, the people sent out to him their senators, and young men and women, with their feet bare, who prostrated themselves before him, and humbly requested the forgiveness which he refused to grant. At length they despatched his parents, who were resident in the city, upon this embassy. His mother wept and intreated; conjuring him by the breasts which he had sucked, to spare the place of his nativity. Unable to resist the force of natural affection, he pardoned on her account their offences. He then marched into the city, and was honourably entertained.

My beloved, the emperor is Christ; the city is the human heart, from which he is expelled; Constantine is God; the senators, &c. are the prophets, and patriarchs, and apostles.