had thus said, he followed the Lady, 'till they came near a city, and then said the Empress to him; good friend, go forth thy way before me into the city, and see thou take up for us an honest lodging, for there I purpose to rest a while. Her man went forth as she commanded, and took up for her a good and an honest lodging, where she abode a long time When the men of the city perceived her beauty, they wondered greatly, wherefore many of them craved of her unlawful love, but all was in vain, for they might not speed in any wife. It happened after upon a day, that there came a ship full of merchandize, and arrived in the haven of that city: When the Lady heard this, the said unto her servant, Go to the ship, and see if there be any cloth for my use.
Her servant went forth to the ship, where he found many very fine clothes; wherefore he prayed the master of the ship, that he would come into the city, and speak with his Lady. The master granted him, and so the servant came home to his Lady before, and
