The Emperor Frederick one day had a great nobleman hanged for a certain
misdeed. And that his justice might be visible to all, he had him
guarded by a noble knight with the severe command not to let him be
removed; but the knight paid little attention, and the hanged man was
carried away.
When the knight became aware of this, he took thought with himself as
to what he might do to save his head.
And during the night, deep in thought, he went to a neighbouring abbey
to see if he could find some one newly buried there, that he might
swing him from the gallows in the other one’s place.
That same night he reached the abbey, and found a woman in tears
dishevelled and ungirt and weeping loudly; and she was grievously
afflicted and bewailed her dear husband who had died that very day.
The knight asked her softly: what manner of grief is this?
And the lady replied: I loved him so much that I never wish to be
consoled but desire to end my days here in lamentation.
Then the knight said to her: lady, what sense is there in this? Do you
wish to die here of grief? Neither with tears nor with lamentations can
you bring back to life a dead body. Therefore what folly is this in
which you are indulging? Do as I say: take me to husband, for I have no
wife, and save my life, for I am in danger. And I do not know where to
hide, for at my lord’s bidding I was guarding a knight who had been
hanged by the neck, and some men of his kindred carried him off. Show
me how I may escape, if you can, and I will be your husband and
maintain you honourably.
Then the woman, hearing this, fell in love with the knight, and said: I
will do even as you bid me; so great is the love I bear you. Let us
take this husband of mine, and draw him out of his sepulchre, and hang
him in the place of the man who was taken from you.
And she ceased her plaint, and helped him to draw her husband from his
grave, and assisted him to hang him by the neck, dead as he was.
The knight said: lady, he had one tooth missing from his mouth, and I
fear that if they came and saw him again, I might be dishonoured. And
she, hearing this, broke off a tooth from his mouth, and if more had
been required, she would have done it.
Then the knight, seeing what she had done with her husband, said: lady,
since you showed so little regard for one towards whom you professed
such love, so would you have even less regard for me.
Then he left her, and went about his business, and she remained behind
in great shame. [109]