Page:History of the seven wise mistresses of Rome.pdf/10

10 who told him the ring was envenomed with the most strong poison, and that his finger must be cut off, or else it would affect 'his whole body. Cut it off then, said the King, which being done, his arm swelled, and he had that cut oft also; but finding, his whole body infected, thus exclaimed against his Queen: O thou ungrateful woman! why hast thou done thus to him who loved you equal to his own soul! how could thou return the most infectuous poison for the most ardent love! And saying this, he sunk down in his chair and died. The messenger hastened home, and told the Queen all that had happened, at which wringing her hands, she cried out, What have I done! by the advice of an evil counsellor, I have mistakenly slain my dear husband the King; so taking up a knife, she thrust it into her breast, and initially expired.

The, said the Empress, for this example’s sake my daughter shall not die.