Page:History of the seven wise mistresses of Rome.pdf/9

 Prince, she soon after married him.

They proved a happy pair, and were well beloved by their subjects

They had not been married long, before news was brought that the king his father lay dying, and he must go and take possession of the kingdom. When he was gone, an evil counsellor, who was privately in love with the Queen, intercepted all the King's letters and informed the Queen that he had married another lady in his own country; which so grieved her that she cried out, O my Lord, wherein have I offended thee, that another should reap the consolation of thy love. The King in the mean time wondered he received no letter from the Queen, likewise lamented, saying, O my dear lady, what is the reason I can never hear how you do, nor how the affairs of your kingdom stand!—All this time the wicked counsellor intercepted their letters on both sides. He invented a strong poison which he told the queen was of such virtue, that it she put a little into the hollow of a ring, and sent it to the King, as a token of her love, it would make him forsake all other women, and hasten home to her. The Queen believing this it was accordingly done, and the king joyfully received it; but his finger soon swelling, he sent to his physicians,