At last she said:--
"Now, my sweet lord, I pray thee tell me this. Would you rather I
should be as I am, and be to you a true and humble wife, wise in
judgment, subject in all things to your will, or young and foolish, and
apt to betray your counsels. Choose now betwixt the two."
Then the knight, who had listened in much wonder to the wisdom with
which she spoke, and had pondered over her words while speaking, could
not help being moved by the beauty of her conversation, which surpassed
the beauty of any woman's face which he had ever seen. Under this
spell he answered her:--
"Indeed I am content to choose you even as you are. Be as you will. A
man could have no better guidance than the will of so sensible a wife."
On this his bride uttered a glad cry.
"Look around upon me, my good lord," she said; "since you are willing
to yield to my will in this, behold that I am not only wise, but young
and fair also. The enchantment, which held me thus aged and deformed,
till I could find a knight who in spite of my ugliness would marry me,
and would be content to yield to my will, is forever removed.
Pages:
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156