pray
take a _modicum_ with me, for that is no dishonour to you, but great
honour to me before the states of this empire." Then said the king, "I
will gladly eat with thee." They sat both down in a fair vine garden,
and there dined together, both the king and the knight. And when dinner
was done, and that the king had washed, the knight said unto the king,
"My lord, ye have done foolishly, for that ye brought not with you your
father and mother." Then said the king, "What sayest thou? My father is
dead, and my mother is old, and may not travel; how should I then bring
them with me? Therefore, to say the truth, a foolisher man than thou art
did I never hear." Then said the knight, "Every work is praised at the
end."

When the knight had ridden a little further, and nigh to the emperor's
palace, he asked leave to go from him; for he knew a nearer way to the
palace, to the young lady, that he might come first, and carry her away
with him. Then said the king, "I pray thee tell me by what place thou
purposest to ride?" Then said the knight, "I shall tell you the truth.
This day seven years I left a net in a place, and now I purpose to visit
it, and draw it to me, and if it be whole, then will I take it to me,
and keep it as a precious jewel; if it be broken, then will I leave it."
And when he had thus said, he took his leave of the king, and rode
forth; but the king kept the broad highway.

When the emperor heard of the king's coming, he went towards him with a
great company, and royally received him, causing him to shift his wet
clothes, and to put on fresh apparel. And when the emperor and the king
were set at meat, the emperor welcomed him with all the cheer and
solace that he could. And when he had eaten, the emperor asked tidings
of the king. "My lord," said he, "I shall tell you what I have heard
this day by the way: there came a knight to me, and reverently saluted
me; and anon after there fell a great rain, and greatly spoiled my
apparel. And anon the knight said, 'Sir, ye have done foolishly, for
that ye brought not with you your house.'" Then said the emperor, "What
clothing had the knight on?" "A cloak," quoth the king. Then said the
emperor, "Sure that was a wise man, for the house whereof he spake was a
cloak, and therefore he said to you that you did foolishly, because had
you come with your cloak, then your clothes had not been spoiled with
rain." Then said the king, "When he had ridden a little further, we ca