Page:History of the seven wise masters of Rome.pdf/5

 upon his knees. The Empreſs ſeeing, turned her love to hatred, tearing her and robes in a moſt wretched manner,  out for help. At this alarm, the Emperor came and demanded the cauſe, when declared, that the Prince would have been  with her, and forced her to lewdneſs. Emperor then commanded he ſhould be to death directly: upon which the nobles  on their knees before their Lord, and  a reſpite for his execution; to which  Emperor agreed, which pleaſed all but  Empreſs.



HE Empreſs, grieving at the delay of the ſon's execution, told the Emperor following example, ſaying, If this ſon, it would fare with him as with a Roman Nobleman, who had in his orchard a  tree bearing fruit, but one day he ſaw bringing from the root thereof, a young , at which he rejoiced, ſaying, That  would be a fair tree: but finding it  not in growth, aſked the gardener  reaſon, who anſwered, That the large  of the old tree kept the ſun and  ſhowers from it; whereupon he