is vessel be full precious, and made of pure
gold, nevertheless I know not what is within, therefore, my dear lord,
this vessel will I not choose."

And then she beheld the second vessel, that was of pure silver, and read
the superscription, "_Whoso chooseth me, shall find that his nature
desireth._" Thinking thus within herself, "If I choose this vessel, what
is within I know not, but well I know, there shall I find that nature
desireth, and my nature desireth the lust of the flesh, and therefore
this vessel will I not choose."

When she had seen these two vessels, and had given an answer as touching
them, she beheld the third vessel of lead, and read the superscription,
"_Whoso chooseth me, shall find that God hath disposed._" Thinking
within herself, "This vessel is not very rich, nor outwardly precious,
yet the superscription saith, "_Whoso chooseth me, shall find that God
hath disposed_;" and without doubt God never disposeth any harm,
therefore, by the leave of God, this vessel will I choose."

When the emperor heard this, he said, "O fair maiden, open thy vessel,
for it is full of precious stones, and see if thou hast well chosen or
no." And when this young lady had opened it, she found it full of fine
gold and precious stones, as the emperor had told her before. Then said
the emperor, "Daughter, because thou hast well chosen, thou shalt marry
my son." And then he appointed the wedding-day; and they were married
with great solemnity, and with much honour continued to their lives'
end.

V.--THE THREE CAKES.

A certain carpenter, in a city near the sea, very covetous, and very
wicked, collected a large sum of money, and placed it in the trunk of a
tree, which he set by his fire-side, and never lost sight of. A place
like this, he thought, no one could suspect: but it happened, that while
all his household slept, the sea overflowed its boundaries, broke down
that side of the building where the log was placed, and carried it away.
It floated many miles, and reached, at length, a city in which there
lived a person who kept open house. Arising early in the morning, he
perceived the trunk of a tree in the water, and thinking it would be of
use to him, he brought it home. He was a liberal, kind-hearted man; and
a great benefactor to the poor. It one day chanced that he entertained
some pilgrims in his house; and the weather being extremely cold, he cut
up the log for firewood. When he had struck two or three