, "the dangerous situation in which I stand."

"Certainly," said the judge, "we may credit thee. Now then for the third
truth, and thou hast saved thy life."

"Why," he replied, "if I once get out of this confounded place, I will
never willingly re-enter it."

"Amen," said the judge, "thy wit hath preserved thee; go in peace." And
thus he was saved.

III.--THE HUSBAND OF AGLAES.

In Rome some time dwelt a mighty emperor named Philominus, who had one
only daughter, who was fair and gracious in the sight of every man, who
had to name Aglaes. There was also in the emperor's palace a gentle
knight that loved dearly this lady. It befell after on a day, that this
knight talked with this lady, and secretly uttered his desire to her.
Then she said courteously, "Seeing you have uttered to me the secrets of
your heart, I will likewise for your love utter to you the secrets of my
heart: and truly I say, that above all other I love you best." Then said
the knight, "I purpose to visit the Holy Land, and therefore give me
your troth, that this seven years you shall take no other man, but only
for my love to tarry for me so long, and if I come not again by this day
seven years, then take what man you like best. And likewise I promise
you that within this seven years I will take no wife." Then said she,
"This covenant pleaseth me well." When this was said, each of them was
betrothed to other, and then this knight took his leave of the lady, and
went to the Holy Land.

Shortly after the emperor treated with the king of Hungary for the
marriage of his daughter. Then came the king of Hungary to the emperor's
palace, and when he had seen his daughter, he liked marvellous well her
beauty and her behaviour, so that the emperor and the king were accorded
in all things as touching the marriage, upon the condition that the
damsel would consent. Then called the emperor the young lady to him, and
said, "O, my fair daughter, I have provided for thee, that a king shall
be thy husband, if thou list consent; therefore tell me what answer thou
wilt give to this." Then said she to her father, "It pleaseth me well;
but one thing, dear father, I entreat of you, if it might please you to
grant me: I have vowed to keep my virginity, and not to marry these
seven years; therefore, dear father, I beseech you for all the love that
is between your gracious fatherhood and me, that you name no man to be
my husband till these seven years be ended, an