Page:History of the seven wise masters, of Rome (1).pdf/19

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in marriage, which he did, giving them great riches, with a ship to convey them to a port in Greece, where the Knight had large possessions; and, solemnly taking leave, they set sail, the King sending his eyes after them, till they were out of sight, and afterwards, went to divert himself with the Queen, but coming into the castle, behold she was fled! and he, suspecting the scheme, fell into great lamentations.———Even so, said she, will it befal if you, if you thus give way to your masters. To prevent the like, said the Emperor, they, with my Son, to-morrow shall die.

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CHAP. IX.

Diocles the Seventh Master's Intercession.

The seventh Master, named Diocles, came and thus spake: Know Sir, that in Ephesus lived a Knight who married a Lady, upon whom he doated so, that he could not endure her out of his sight; but playing at chess, and he holding a pen-knife in his hand, she hit her finger against it, which the Knight seeing, fell into a swoon, and gave up the ghost: Whereupon she staid mourning by his tomb. So her friend built her a house nigh to it to mourn in.———Now, when a malefactor was to be hanged, 'twas the law of the country, that the sheriff