Page:Peregrinaggio di tre giovani figliuoli del re di Serendippo.djvu/34

 "Sire, since you, high and great lord have deigned to honor the banquet of your humble servant, I have also with all my power made an effort to find food and dishes worthy of you. Therefore, I had this potion prepared, the like of which cannot be found anywhere in this world. It would take too long to mention the many virtues which it possesses and there is nothing that refreshes a man's liver more than this drink. That is why I want to offer it to Your Majesty."

The Emperor who knew that it was the poisonous drink which had been prepared by the counselor much earlier, as he has heard from the woman, replied as follows, “You know how, not long ago, I condemned your son to death, for crimes committed by him. Since it is possible that your liver has been heated up exceedingly because of his death, I would show myself unkind and unloving towards you, if I deprived you of this potion which can greatly benefit you. I thank you with all my heart for having received it and I give it to you and will be grateful if you drink it forthwith in my presence."

The counselor was very troubled by these words of the Emperor, and fearing that his plan would have been in vain, he replied immediately, saying, "Sire, because this is such a rare and precious drink, I know it is not befitting to myself, but to your Imperial Majesty."