Page:Peregrinaggio di tre giovani figliuoli del re di Serendippo.djvu/23

 He then took us into your presence and wrongfully accused us, as you can see.

This, we are telling you, is the truth; and if it is found otherwise, we will accept whatever death you please, however harsh and cruel it may be." When the Emperor heard the words of the young men, he could not be persuaded, that the six indications given to the camel driver could perchance all have come true, and he said to them, "I don't think that you are three prophets, but well, three highway bandits, murdering people you meet on the way, and the reason why I believe this is that none of the six clues you gave the camel driver about his lost camel were wrong". Therefore, he made them go back to jail.

Meanwhile, it so happened, that a neighbor of the camel driver going about his business found the lost animal on the road. He recognized it and took it, and when its master, who was his neighbor, returned, he handed it over to him. When the camel driver became aware of his mistake, and considering that because of him the young men found themselves in great danger, he hurried immediately to the Emperor and explained to him that his camel had been found, and humbly and urgently asked him that the innocent three young men would be released from jail. After the Emperor heard what had happened, he was very distressed about having imprisoned the unfortunate young men since they had not committed any serious crime and he ordered them to be released from prison forthwith and brought before him. The minister carried this out without delay.