With a low bow the youth made answer in a clear voice : ' O my lord and gracious king , and you , nobles and wise men of the land , I leave my cause without fear in your hands , knowing that you will listen and judge rightly , and that you will suffer me to speak to the end , before you give judgment . ` For four years , you , O king , had been married to the queen and yet had no children , which grieved you greatly . The queen saw this , and likewise that your love was going from her , and thought night and day of some plan that might put an end to this evil . At length , when you were away fighting in distant countries , she decided what she would do , and adopted in secret the baby of a poor quarryman , sending a messenger to tell you that you had a son . No one suspected the truth except a priest to whom the queen confessed the truth , and in a few weeks she fell ill and died , leaving the baby to be brought up as became a prince . And now , if your highness will permit me , I will speak of myself . ' ` What you have already told me , ' answered the king , ` is so strange that I can not imagine what more there is to tell , but go on with your story . ' ` One day , shortly after the death of the queen , ' continued the young man , ` your highness was hunting , and outstripped all your attendants while chasing the deer . You were in a part of the country which you did not know , so seeing an orchard all pink and white with apple-blossoms , and a girl tossing a ball in one corner , you went up to her to ask your way . But when she turned to answer you , you were so struck with her beauty that all else fled from your mind . Again and again you rode back to see her , and at length persuaded her to marry you . She only thought you a poor knight , and agreed that as you wished it , the marriage should be kept secret . ` After the ceremony you gave her three rings and a charm with a cross on it , and then put her in a cottage in the forest , thinking to hide the matter securely . ` For some months you visited the cottage every week ; but a rebellion broke out in a distant part of the kingdom , and called for your presence . When next you rode up to the cottage , it was empty , and none could inform you whither your bride had gone . That , sire , I can now tell you , ' and the young man paused and looked at the king , who coloured deeply . ` She went back to her father the old duke , once your chamberlain , and the cross on her breast revealed at once who you were . Fierce was his anger when he heard his daughter 's tale , and he vowed that he would hide her safely from you , till the day when you would claim her publicly as your queen . ` By and bye I was born , and was brought up by my grandfather in one of his great houses . Here are the rings you gave to my mother , and here is the cross , and these will prove if I am your son or not . '
As he spoke the young man laid the jewels XXXXX the feet of the king , and the nobles and the judges pressed round to examine them .
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