Page:Gesta Romanorum - Swan - Wright - 2.djvu/133

up a universal favorite; but on attaining his tenth year the mother died, and was splendidly interred. By the advice of his counsellors, the emperor took another wife, who conceived a dislike for her son-in-law, and did him many injuries. (23) When this was communicated to the king, being desirous of gratifying his new spouse, he banished the young man from the kingdom. Thus driven from his home and destitute of the usual accompaniments of regal birth, he turned his attention to physic, and became, in course of time, a great and perfect physician. The emperor, who had so unnaturally discarded him, hearing of his celebrity, was much pleased at it; and happening a short time afterwards to fall sick, sent letters to recall him. When the son understood his father's pleasure, he made haste to comply with it; and by his skill in medicine soon restored him to convalescence. The fame of this cure spread through the whole kingdom. Now it chanced that his step-mother sickened even to death, and physicians from every place were summoned to attend her. They all, however, unanimously declared,