The Earl had hidden his face in the coverlet of the bed while the Kingwas speaking; but now he lifted up his face, weeping, and said:"Kinsman and friend and King; this is nought hard to do; but if it were, yetwould I do it."
"It is well," said the King: "my heart fails me and my voice; so giveheed, and set thine ear close to my mouth: hearken, belike my daughterGoldilind shall be one of the fairest of women; I bid thee wed her to thefairest of men and the strongest, and to none other."
Thereat his voice failed him indeed, and he lay still; but he died not,till presently the priest came to him, and, as he might, houselled him: then he departed.
As for Earl Geoffrey, when the King was buried, and the homagesdone to the maiden Goldilind, he did no worse than those wise mendeemed of him, but bestirred him, and looked full sagely into all thematters of the kingdom, and did so well therein that all men praised hisrule perforce, whether they loved him or not; and sooth to say he was notmuch beloved.