Page:History of the Emperor Manalay, and his virtuous wife (2).pdf/7

Rh the Emperor's brother, who seeing that no man was there but they two, thus he said unto the Empress: Lo, Lady, here is nigh us a private forest, and long it is ago that I spoke to thee of love, come now and consent unto me, that I may lie with thee.

Then said the Empress, Ah! fool, what may this be! yesterday I delivered thee out of prison upon thy pro- mise in hope of amendment, and now thou art returned to thy folly again, wherefore I lay now unto thee, as I have said before, there shall no man do such a thing with me, save only my Lord the Emperor, which he cught of very duty to do. Then, said he, If thou wilt not consent to me, I shall hang thee here upon a tree in this forest, where no man shall find thee, and so shalt thou die an evil death. The Empress answered meekly and said, though thou smite off my head, or put me to death with all manger of torments, thou shalt never have my consent to such a sin.

When he heard this, he unclothed her all save her smock, and hanged her up by the hair upon a tree, and