Page:Gesta Romanorum - Swan - Wright - 2.djvu/266

254 with your wishes," and accordingly the girl was placed under his tuition. But her love preyed upon her health, and she visibly declined. Physicians were called in; and they had recourse to the usual expedients ; but the diagnostics led them to no certain conclusion. They were much puzzled with her case, and pronounced learnedly, but unhappily about it.

In a few days three young noblemen, who had long desired to espouse the lady, presented themselves before the king, and besought his favour. "You have often promised us," said they, "that one or the other should marry your daughter. We are rich, and of noble lineage: chuse then which of us shall be your son-in-law." "You come," replied the king, "at an unseasonable time. My daughter is unable to follow her usual pursuits, and for this reason languishes on her bed. But that I may not appear to you to protract unnecessarily your wishes, write each of you