Page:Stories from Old English Poetry-1899.djvu/53

Rh on a Christian pilgrimage, all the noble Romans vied to do him honor. Among others, the senator with whom Constance abode invited him to a great banquet which he made for him. While Alla sat at this feast, his eyes were constantly fixed upon a beautiful boy, one of the senator’s pages, who stood near and filled their goblets with wine. At length he said to his host,“Pray tell me, whence came the boy who serves you. Who is he, and do his father and mother live in the country?”

“A mother he has,” answered the senator: “so holy a woman never was seen. But if he has a father I cannot tell you.” Then he went on and told the king of Constance, and how she was found with this boy, her child, on the pathless sea.

Alla was overjoyed in his heart, for he knew then that this child was his own son. Immediately they sent for Constance to come thither. As soon as she saw her husband, she uttered a cry and fell into a deep swoon. When she was recovered, she looked reproachfully at Alla, for she supposed it was by his order she had been so ruthlessly sent from his kingdom. But when, with many tears of pity for her misfortunes, King Alla told her how he had grieved for her, and how long he had suffered thus, she was convinced.