Page:Gesta Romanorum - Swan - Wright - 2.djvu/178

is your most attached friend?" Instantly unsheathing his falchion, he severely wounded the dog, which fled howling away. The knight then called to him, and the dog returned. "Here," said he, "here is the most faithful of all friends." "True;" answered the king, "where is your joculator?" "Here also," replied the knight, pointing to his infant, "I never have so much pleasure as in the disportings of this child." "Well," continued the king, "where is your worst enemy?" Turning toward his wife, he struck her a violent blow, and exclaimed, "Impudent harlot, how darest thou look wantonly upon the king?" The wife, furious at the injustice of the attack, shrieked violently. "Cursed homicide," said she, "why dost thou smite me? Dost thou forget that in thine own house, thou perpetratedst the most atrocious murder, and didst kill a pilgrim for the sake of a little gold?" Again the knight beat her. "Wretch!" said she, "why dost thou fear to abuse thy child? Now see what thine ill-timed anger hath done. Come with me, and I will discover to you where the