Page:Peregrinaggio di tre giovani figliuoli del re di Serendippo.djvu/134

 When she became aware of this, she quietly got up, took her clothes, left the room and went to the river with the clothes on her head and she held the unfired vase under her arms. She went into the river where the vase sank since it was unfired and she immediately drowned with it as well.

When the report reached the Prince in the morning, he was overjoyed because he had firmly avenged himself on the three wicked women. He then wanted to give all his thoughts to fulfill his promise to the fourth young woman who was wholly devoted to prayer and in which he saw goodness and rare virtues, to take her as his wife. The wedding was celebrated with great solemnity. And in a short time, she gave him three sons, and his vassals, who wanted to see offspring, were endlessly comforted. And he devoted himself with his wife wholly to virtuous works and they lived quietly and happily for many years.

The Emperor was greatly moved with compassion for the three wicked women and their cruel and bitter fate of death imposed upon them by the Muslim Prince. Although he blamed their malfeasance, he also severely accused women of their wicked nature. After he finished thinking about this, he gave orders that the court should be dressed in dark brown, the color with which the sixth palace was also decorated. The next Saturday morning they were to ride there on horseback.