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bason, and his mother the towel but he ⟨refused⟩ to let them hold either commanding his ⟨servant⟩ to do it.———Dinner being ending, he ⟨asked⟩ them, how many children they had, they ⟨said⟩ none. Had you ever any? said the king, Alas said the father, we had one son, but he ⟨was⟩ drowned long ago; well look you to it, said ⟨the⟩ king, for if I find it otherwise, you must ⟨expect⟩ no mercy. Then they fell upon their ⟨knees⟩ and confessed the whole matter; then the king mildly raising them from the ground ⟨discovered.⟩
Upon hearing this story, the Emperor resigned the government to his son Dioclesian, who demanded justice on the Empress and her paramour, which was granted, the former being burned and the latter hanged and quartered. And the Emperer dying soon after, left his son in full possession of the empire.
FINIS.
