Old French Romances | Page 9

churl should have his daughter to wife. But he
thought in his heart that he would play him the turn.
When the Emperor had gotten Coustans, he was in sore imagination
how he should be slain in such wise that none might wot word thereof.
And it fell out so that the Emperor had matters on hand at the outer

marches of his land, much long aloof thence, well a twelve days'
journey. So the Emperor betook him to going thither, and had Coustans
thither with him, and thought what wise he might to do slay him, till at
last he let write a letter to his Burgreve of Byzance.
"I Emperor of Byzance and Lord of Greece, do thee to wit who abidest
duly in my place for the warding of my land; and so soon as thou seest
this letter thou shalt slay or let slay him who this letter shall bear to
thee, so soon as he hast delivered the said letter to thee, without longer
tarrying. As thou holdest dear thine own proper body, do straightway
my commandment herein."
Even such was the letter which the fair child Coustans bore, and knew
not that he bore his own death. The lad took the letter, which was close,
and betook him to the road, and did so much by his journeys that he
came in less than fifteen days to Byzance, which is nowadays called
Constantinople.
When the lad entered into the city, it was the hour of dinner; so, as God
would have it, he thought that he would not go his errand at that nick of
time, but would tarry till folk had done dinner: and exceeding hot was
the weather, as is wont about St. John's-mass. So he entered into the
garden all a-horseback. Great and long was the garden; so the lad took
the bridle from off his horse and unlaced the saddle-girths, and let him
graze; and thereafter he went into the nook of a tree; and full pleasant
was the place, so that presently he fell asleep.
Now so it fell out, that when the fair daughter of the Emperor had eaten,
she went into the garden with three of her maidens; and they fell to
chasing each other about, as whiles is the wont of maidens to play; until
at the last the fair Emperor's daughter came under the tree whereas
Coustans lay a-sleeping, and he was all vermil as the rose. And when
the damsel saw him, she beheld him with a right good will, and she said
to herself that never on a day had she seen so fair a fashion of man.
Then she called to her that one of her fellows in whom she had the
most affiance, and the others she made to go forth from out of the
garden.

Then the fair maiden, daughter of the Emperor, took her fellow by the
hand, and led her to look on the lovely lad whereas he lay a- sleeping;
and she spake thus: "Fair fellow, here is a rich treasure. Lo thou! the
most fairest fashion of a man that ever mine eyes have seen on any day
of my life. And he beareth a letter, and well I would see what it sayeth."
So the two maidens drew nigh to the lad, and took from him the letter,
and the daughter of the Emperor read the same; and when she had read
it, she fell a-lamenting full sore, and said to her fellow: "Certes here is a
great grief!" "Ha, my Lady!" said the other one, "tell me what it is."
"Of a surety," said the Maiden, "might I but trow in thee I would do
away that sorrow!" "Ha, Lady," said she, "hardily mayest thou trow in
me, whereas for nought would I uncover that thing which thou wouldst
have hid."
Then the Maiden, the daughter of the Emperor, took oath of her
according to the paynim law; and thereafter she told her what the letter
said; and the damsel answered her: "Lady, and what wouldest thou
do?" "I will tell thee well," said the daughter of the Emperor; "I will put
in his pouch another letter, wherein the Emperor, my father, biddeth his
Burgreve to give me to wife to this fair child here, and that he make
great feast at the doing of the wedding unto all the folk of this land;
whereas he is to wot well that the lad is a high man and a loyal."
When the damsel had heard that, she said that would be good to do.
"But, Lady, how wilt thou have the seal of thy father?" "Full well," said
the Maiden, "for my father delivered to me four pair of scrolls, sealed
of his seal thereon; he