OF UNCONVERSION.
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TALE XXXVII.
OF UNCONVERSION.
The emperor Frederic decreed that if any female were violated, whosoever freed her from the hand of the oppressor, should be compelled to marry her, if such were the lady's inclination. Now it happened, that a certain vile wretch caught up a young girl, and dragging her into a forest, there abused her. She shrieked violently; and a noble knight, riding by some chance in the same forest, heard her exclamations, and spurred on his horse to her assistance. He inquired the occasion of the clamour, "Oh, my lord," said the damsel, "for the love of God, succour me. This villain has abused, and threatened me with destruction." "My lord," answered the fel-
