Page:Gesta Romanorum - Swan - Wright - 2.djvu/52

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OF THE CUNNING OF THE DEVIL.

not depute another to show our gratitude, but exert ourselves in the most earnest manner.





TALE VIII.

OF THE CUNNING OF THE DEVIL.

It is related of a certain prince, that with all his power he could not subdue his enemies. At length he made use of the following stratagem. He feigned a flight, and resigned his castles, with the provisions they contained, into the hands of his foes. Now the castles were furnished with casks of wine empoisoned with the seed of a certain herb; insomuch, that whosoever drank of it immediately fell asleep. He knew that his opponents were hunger-starved and gluttonous; and that, overjoyed to find such excellent quarters, they would drink