Page:Gesta Romanorum - Swan - Wright - 1.djvu/275

Wandering about in various directions, he came at length to the cottage where the Count dwelt, and requested shelter. Now his hostess being at that time pregnant, and near the moment of her travail, prepared, though with some difficulty, a meal, and brought whatever he required. The same night she was delivered of a son. While the Emperor slept, a voice broke upon his ear, which seemed to say, "Take, Take, Take." He arose immediately, and with considerable alarm, said to himself, "What can that voice mean? 'Take! Take! Take!' What am I to take?" He reflected upon the singularity of this for a short space, and then fell asleep. But a second time, the voice addressed him, crying out, "Restore, Restore, Restore." He awoke in very great sorrow. "What is all this?" thought he. "First, I was to 'Take, Take, Take,' and there is nothing for me to take. Just now the same voice exclaimed, 'Restore, Restore, Restore.' and what can I restore when I have taken nothing?" Unable to explain the mystery, he again slept; and the third time, the voice spoke. "Fly, Fly, Fly," it said, "for a child