The steed uprose, and upward goes Each sheep with dangling breech; Borne by the horse's rapid course, The miller's hut they reach. Scattering the fire, with reckless ire, The rafters caught the flame; And bleating breed and scabby steed Were roasted in the same. Now had that wight, that miller hight, Vouchsafed his house to keep; Ere he returned, it had not burned, Nor burned his horse and sheep.[8] The boy, made happy by the present, returned home. _Master._ "My child, have you stolen your verses, or made them?" _Celest._ "I made them, sir." He then read what we have given above; and the master, struck with the greatest astonishment at their uncommon beauty, exclaimed, "My dear boy, tell me if any one made these verses for you?" _Celest._ "No, sir; no one did." _Master._ "Unless you tell me the truth, I will flog you till the blood run." The lad, fearful of what might follow, declared all that occurred, and how he had bound himself to the devil. The preceptor, grieved at the communication, induced the youth to confess himself, and renounce this fearful confederacy. When this was done he became a holy man; and after a well-spent life, gave up his soul to God. XXVIII.--BRED IN THE BONE. There reigned some time in Rome a wise and mighty emperor, named Anselm, who did bear in his arms a shield of silver with five red roses. This emperor had three sons, whom he loved much. He had also continual war with the king of Egypt, in which war he lost all his temporal goods except a precious tree. It fortuned after on a day that he gave battle to the same king of Egypt, wherein he was grievously wounded; nevertheless, he obtained the victory, notwithstanding he had his deadly wound. Wherefore, while he lay at point of death, he called unto his eldest son, and said: "My dear and well-beloved son, all my temporal riches are spent, and almost nothing is left me but a precious tree, the which stands in the midst of my empire. I give to thee all that is under the earth and above the earth of the same tree." "O my reverend father," quoth he, "I thank you much." Then said the emperor, "Call to me my second son." Anon the eldest son, greatly joying of his father's gift, called in his brother. And when he came, the emperor said, "My dear son, I may not make my testament, forasmuch as I have spent all my goods, except a tree which stands in the midst of mine empire, of the which tree, I bequeath to thee all that is great and small." Then answered he and said, "My reverend father, I thank you much." Then said the emperor, "Call to me my third son." And so it was done. And when he was come the emperor said, "My dear son, I must die of these wounds, and I have only a precious tree, of which I have given thy brethren their portion, and to thee I bequeath thy portion; for I will that thou have of the said tree all that is wet and dry." Then said his son, "Father, I thank you."