and happiest gentleman in France; but that their aid came so late, it
could bring him neither belief nor hope. Then, seeing that they strove
to make him believe them, he said--

"Well, since, on account of my feeble state, you promise me a blessing
which, even though you would yourselves have it so, can never be mine, I
will entreat of you a much smaller one, for which, however, I was never
yet bold enough to ask."

They immediately vowed that they would grant it, and bade him ask
boldly.

"I entreat you," he said, "to place in my arms her whom you promise me
for my wife, and to bid her embrace and kiss me."

The daughter, who was unaccustomed to such familiarity, sought to make
some difficulty, but her mother straightly commanded her, seeing that
the gentleman no longer had the feelings or vigour of a living man.
Being thus commanded, the girl went up to the poor sufferer's bedside,
saying--

"I pray you, sweetheart, be of good cheer."

Then, as well as he could, the dying man stretched forth his arms,
wherein flesh and blood alike were lacking, and with all the strength
remaining in his bones embraced her who was the cause of his death. And
kissing her with his pale cold lips, he held her thus as long as he was
able. Then he said to her--

"The love I have borne you has been so great and honourable, that,