Page:Gesta Romanorum - Swan - Wright - 1.djvu/254

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OF AN EXEMPLARY LIFE.

then, the High Priest with the emperors will draw near—that is, Christ with a multitude of angels—and convey your soul to the church of St. Boniface—that is, to eternal life, where all sanctity (or joy) abounds.





TALE XVI.

OF AN EXEMPLARY LIFE.

We read of a certain Roman Emperor, who built a magnificent palace. In digging the foundation, the workmen discovered a golden sarcophagus, ornamented with three circlets on which were inscribed, "I have expended—I have given—I have kept—I have possessed—I do possess—I have lost—I am punished." In the front also, was written, "What I expended, I have; what I gave away, I have." (13) The Emperor, on seeing this, called to him the nobles of his empire, and