Page:Peregrinaggio di tre giovani figliuoli del re di Serendippo.djvu/130

 So, he knew that she was no less wicked than the others. While she pretended to faint because of a small boat which she saw sink in the lake through the wind, and had covered her face because she didn't want the male fishes to see it, she passed the river so dangerously and was really fraudulent and deceitful as was shown by the laughter of the statue.

Nevertheless, he did not speak of this to anyone. He returned to his room, and went to bed with a great desire the following day to test the fourth young woman in the same way as he had tested the other three.

And in the morning, he got up early, and up to the hour of Vespers dealt with his affairs. He gave orders that the young woman should come to him, and until late, he passed time with her in the garden in varied conversation. Then they sat at the table with richly prepared foods. Finally, after fine music and songs they went to bed. And after they conversed for a while, the Prince pretended to be asleep. The young woman quietly rose from the bed, dressed herself, took a little book in her hand and went into a nearby small room to pray. But the Prince who had seen everything, led himself to believe that she had deceived him also. He dressed himself as well and followed her. And while he saw her praying there, he still was not sure of her goodness. But he stayed for a while and when she came to the end of her prayer and went towards the door of the small room,