Page:History of the Emperor Manalay, and his virtuous wife (2).pdf/22

22 Ah my Lord (quoth he) I dare not tell my life openly, except I be sure of thy pardon. What hast thou trespassed against me? said the Emperor, Then answered his brother, and said, Mine offence against thee is grievous, and therefore, I ask thee heartily forgiveness. The Emperor thought not on the Empress, for as much as he supposed, the had been dead many years before; he commanded his brother to tell forth wherein he had offended him, and he should be forgiven.

When the Emperor had thus form given his brother, he began to tell openly how he had desired the Empress to commit adultery with him, and be- cause she denied, he had hanged her by the hair in the forest on such a day. When the Emperor heard this, he was almost beside himself, and in this rage he said thus: O thou wretched creature, the vengeance of God is fallen upon thee, and were it not that I have pardoned thee, thou should die the most shameful death that could be thought.

Then said the Knight that flew the Earl's daughter, I wot not, quoth he,