The empress presumed that Hippolytus must be in love and that all the sadness in his face was nothing but the passion of love. She thought also that since Plaerdemavida had said many times that she loved Hippolytus, she must be the one he was troubled about. And the empress unhesitatingly asked Hippolytus who the lady was that was causing him so much grief.
"Tell me, who is bringing you so much sadness?"
"My bitter misfortune," said Hippolytus. "And here, where I am, don't let Your Majesty think that my life is in less danger than Tirant's."
"In case you should tell me," said the empress, "I would keep it to myself always."
"Who would dare reveal his grief," said Hippolytus, "to a lady of such excellence?"
"There is no one," said the empress, "who should not listen to what another wants to say. And the loftier one's position, the more humbly he should listen."
"My lady," said Hippolytus, "since you want to know: love, it's love that I have, and it's not clothing that I can remove." "I'm not lacking in knowledge," said the empress, "about what you're saying. You say you're in love, and I ask you: With whom?"
"I don't have my five senses," said Hippolytus, "to tell you."
"Oh, man of little understanding" said the empress. "Why don't you say what it is that's making you suffer?"
"There are four things," said Hippolytus, "that surpass all others in excellence, and the fifth is the knowledge of truth. It is Your Majesty whom the heavens have foretold that I should love all the days of my life…"