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than I burned for thee with such a flame of love as never yet had lady for
any man. Wherefore I am minded to have thee for my husband rather than any
other; so, if thou wilt not have me to wife, depart at once, and return to
thine own place." Albeit he knew not who she was, Alessandro by the retinue
which attended her conjectured that she must be noble and wealthy, and he
saw that she was very fair; so it was not long before he answered that, if
such were her pleasure, it was very much to his liking. Whereupon she sate
up, set a ring on his finger, and espoused him before a tiny picture of our
Lord; after which they embraced, and to their no small mutual satisfaction
solaced themselves for the rest of the night. At daybreak Alessandro rose,
and by preconcert with the lady, left the chamber as he had entered it, so
that none knew where he had passed the night: then, blithe at heart beyond
measure, he rejoined the abbot and his train, and so, resuming their
journey, they after many days arrived at Rome. They had not been there more
than a few days, when the abbot, attended by the two knights and Alessandro,
waited on the Pope, whom, after making the due obeisance, he thus
addressed:--"Holy Father, as you must know better than any other, whoso
intends to lead a true and honourable life ought, as far as may be, to shun
all occasion of error; for which cause I, having a mind to live honourably,
did, the better to accomplish my purpose, assume the habit in which you see
me, and depart by stealth from the court of my father, the King of England,
who was minded to marry me, young as you see me to be, to the aged King of
Scotland; and, carrying with me not a little of his treasure, set my face
hitherward that your Holiness might bestow me in marriage. Nor was it the
age of the King of Scotland that moved me to flee so much as fear lest the
frailty of my youth should, were I married to him, betray me to commit some
breach of divine law, and sully the honour of my father's royal blood. And
as in this frame of mind I journeyed, God, who knows best what is meet for
every one, did, as I believe, of His mercy shew me him whom He is pleased to
appoint me for my husband, even this young man" (pointing to Alessandro)
"whom you see by my side, who for nobility of nature and bearing is a match
for any great lady, though the strain of his blood, perhaps, be not of royal
purity. Him, therefore, have I chosen. Him will I have, and no other, no
matter what my father or any one else may think. And albeit the main purpose
with which I started is fulfilled, yet I have thought good to continue my
journey, that I may visit the holy and venerable places which abound in this
city, and your Holiness, and that so in your presence, and by consequence in
the presence of others, I may renew my marriage-vow with Alessandro, whereof
God alone was witness. Wherefore I humbly pray you that God's will and mine
may be also yours, and that you pronounce your benison thereon, that

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