Страница 310 из 626

Now the king felt great joy at this, and commanded that his

entire household should eat with him next day, and made a great

feast. When they were all assembled together, he said to the

huntsman: 'As you are so clever, you shall sit by me.' He

replied: 'Lord King, your majesty must excuse me, I am a poor

huntsman.' But the king insisted on it, and said: 'You shall sit

by me,' until he did it. Whilst he was sitting there, he thought

of his dearest mother, and wished that one of the king's

principal servants would begin to speak of her, and would ask how

it was faring with the queen in the tower, and if she were alive

still, or had perished. Hardly had he formed the wish than the

marshal began, and said: 'Your majesty, we live joyously here,

but how is the queen living in the tower?