e thoroughly cleansed.' Then
Charles, of all kings the wisest, understanding the state of
affairs said to him: 'If I empty I can also fill.' And he
added: 'You may have that estate which lies close to your
bishopric, and all your successors may have it until the end
of time.' In the same journey, too, he came to a bishop who
lived in a place through which he must needs pass. Now on
that day, being the sixth day of the week, he was not willing
to eat the flesh of beast or bird; and the bishop, being by
reason of the nature of the place unable to procure fish upon
the sudden, ordered some excellent cheese, rich and creamy,
to be placed before him. And the most self-restrained
Charles, with the readiness which he showed everywhere and on
all occasions, spared the blushes of the bishop and required
no better fare; but taking up his knife cut off the skin,
which he thought unsavoury and fell to on the white of the
cheese. Thereupon the bishop, who was standing near like a
servant, drew closer and said: 'Why do you do that, lord
emperor? You are throwing away the very best part.' Then
Charles, who deceived no one, and did not believe that anyone
would deceive him, on the persuasion of the bishop put a
piece of the skin in his mouth, and slowly ate it and
swallowed it like butter. Then approving of the advice of the
bishop, he said: 'Very true, my good host,' and he added: 'Be
sure to send me every year to Aix two cartloads of just such
cheeses.' And the bishop was alarmed at the impossibility of
the task and, fearful of losing both his rank and his office,
he rejoined: 'My lord, I can procure the cheeses, but I
cannot tell which are of this quality and which of another.
Much I fear lest I fall under your censure.' Then Charles,
from whose penetration and skill nothing could escape,
however new or strange it might be, spoke thus to the bishop,
who from childhood had known such cheeses and yet could not
test them: 'Cut them in two,' he said, 'then fasten together
with a skewer those that you find to be of the right quality
and keep them in your cellar for a time and then send them to
me. The rest you may keep for yourself and your