Page:Gesta Romanorum - Swan - Wright - 2.djvu/169

knight was poor; and espoused an old woman in consequence of her immense wealth. It happened that the young knight walked by the castle of the elder, and in a window his wife sat, and sang deliciously. The youth was much taken with her, and said in his heart, "It would be ten thousand times better if that sweet girl were united to me; and her old doting husband possessed of my infirm wife." From that hour he conceived a violent affection for her, and made her many valuable presents. The lady entertained a similar feeling, and whenever she could, permitted him to visit her. She endeavoured also to secure him for her husband in the event of the man's death. Now near the window of the castle which the old knight occupied, there grew a fig-tree on which a nightingale stationed herself every evening, and uttered the most ravishing harmony. This circumstance drew the lady thither; and it became a custom with her to remain at the window a long time to listen to the song of the nightingale. When her husband, good man! noticed this extreme watchfulness, he