Page:Gesta Romanorum - Swan - Wright - 2.djvu/364

352 every thing that I desired I had. But I lost all this; and possessing neither house nor home, I was ashamed; and sought in this confession to obtain a remedy. I am willing to die; and for heaven's love command me to be put to death." The judge then turning to the knight of Baldac, "And you, my friend! why did you avow yourself the murderer?" "My lord," replied he, "this knight bestowed upon me a wife, whom he had previously educated for himself, with an infinite store of wealth. When, therefore, I perceived my old and valued friend reduced to such an extremity, and saw him led rudely to the cross, I proclaimed myself the murderer. For his love I would willingly perish." "Now then," said the judge to the real homicide, "what have you to say for yourself?" "I will tell you the truth," answered he: "It would have been a heavy crime indeed had I permitted two innocent men to perish by my fault, and I should have deserved the punishment I might hereafter have been doomed to." "Well," returned the judge, "since you have declared the truth, and saved the lives of the