Page:History of the seven wise masters, of Rome (1).pdf/5

 fell upon his knees. The Empress seeing this, turned her love into hatred, tearing erhher [sic] face and robes in most wretched manner, crying out for help. At this alarm the Emperor came and demanded the cause, when she declared that the Prince would have been rude with her, and forced her to lewdness. The Emperor commanded him to be put to death directly upon which the nobles fell on their knees before their Lord, and begged a respite for his execution to which the Emperor agreed; which pleased all but the Empress.

Empress grieving at the delay of the Prince's execution told the Emperor the following example, saying, if this son lived, it would fare with his with Roman Nobleman, who his in his orchard a fair tree bearing fruit, but one day he saw springing from the root thereof a young scion, at which he rejoiced, saying, This will be a very fair tree; but finding that it increased not in growth asked the Gardener the reason, who answered. That the large branches of the old tree kept the sun and falling showers from it: whereupon he