Page:History of the Emperor Manalay, and his virtuous wife (2).pdf/8

8 It befel on the third day after, there. came an Earl to hunt in that forest, and as he rode beating the bushes, he unkennels a fox, which his hounds followed fat, till they came near the tree where the Empress hanged. And when the dogs smelt the favour of her, they left the fox, and ran towards the tree as fast as they could.

The Earl, seeing this, wondered greatly, and spurring his horse, followed them, 'till he came where the Empress hanged, when the Earl saw her thus hanging, he marvelled greatly, for as much as she was right fair and beautiful to behold; wherefore, Le said unto her in this wife: O woman who are thou? and of what country? and wherefore hangest thou here in this manner?

The Empress that was not yet fully dead, but at point ready to die, an- swered and said, I am (quoth she) a