Page:Peregrinaggio di tre giovani figliuoli del re di Serendippo.djvu/39

 But as the ambassador's words were of no avail, he returned, and said that because of the benefit that the kingdom at that time received from the change of a man into a horse or an ox, which the Hand carried into the sea every day, that the Queen did not want to return the Mirror unless my father was able to find a remedy against the ruin which the Hand caused. But if it so happened, that her kingdom was freed from so much misery, and since her ancestors had been on very on good terms with our predecessors, she would, out of the goodness of her heart, have the Mirror returned. But since my father did not know how to realize this, he could never recover the previous tranquility. Because I know you to be men gifted which such lofty and noble intelligence, I am led to believe that if you wish to liberate that kingdom from the misfortune of the Hand, you will bring back the Mirror to me and thus, peace and happiness to my empire. If you are willing to do that, I promise to bestow great treasure upon you.

The young men understood the words and the need of the Lord and because of the many courtesies and honors they had received, they immediately promised him that they would go to India, and would not return in front of his presence unless they brought the Mirror back with them. This delighted the Emperor beyond measure and he escorted them with some of his main barons as he sent them on their way to India.