being forthwith apprehended by the King:—­“In good faith,” quoth he, “’twere a pity so fair a creature were reft from the world so early; we would go in and visit her.”  And presently, attended only by two of his lords and Bernardo, he betook him to her chamber, where being entered, he drew nigh the bed, whereon the girl half reclined, half sate in eager expectation of his coming; and taking her by the hand:—­“Madonna,” quoth he, “what means this?  A maiden like you should be the comfort of others, and you suffer yourself to languish.  We would entreat you that for love of us you be of good cheer, so as speedily to recover your health.”  To feel the touch of his hand whom she loved above all else, the girl, albeit somewhat shamefast, was so enraptured that ’twas as if she was in Paradise; and as soon as she was able:—­“My lord,” she said, “’twas the endeavour, weak as I am, to sustain a most grievous burden that brought this sickness upon me; but ’twill not be long ere you will see me quit thereof, thanks to your courtesy.”  The hidden meaning of which words was apprehended only by the King, who momently made more account of the girl, and again and again inly cursed Fortune, that had decreed that she should be the daughter of such a man.  And yet a while he tarried with her, and comforted her, and so took his leave.  Which gracious behaviour of the King was not a little commended, and accounted a signal honour to the apothecary and his daughter.

The girl, glad at heart as was ever lady of her lover, mended with reviving hope, and in a few days recovered her health, and therewith more than all her wonted beauty.  Whereupon the King, having taken counsel with the Queen how to reward so great a love, got him one day to horse with a great company of his barons, and hied him to the apothecary’s house; and being come into the garden, he sent for the apothecary and his daughter; and there, being joined by the Queen with not a few ladies, who received the girl into their company, they made such cheer as ’twas a wonder to see.  And after a while the King and Queen having called Lisa to them, quoth the King:—­“Honourable damsel, by the great love that you have borne us we are moved greatly to honour you; and we trust that, for love of us, the honour that we design for you will be acceptable to you.  Now ’tis thus we would honour you:  to wit, that, seeing that you are of marriageable age, we would have you take for husband him that we shall give you; albeit ’tis none the less our purpose ever to call ourself your knight, demanding no other tribute of all your love but one sole kiss.”  Scarlet from brow to neck, the girl, making the King’s pleasure her own, thus with a low voice replied:—­“My lord, very sure am I that, should it come to be known that I was grown enamoured of you, most folk would hold me for a fool, deeming, perchance, that I was out of my mind, and witless alike of my own rank and yours; but God, who alone reads the hearts of us mortals,