At last he sent for his youngest daughter, and when she was come into his presence, he asked her likewise how much she loved him.
Theodosia bowed her head, and bent her knee to her father, as she mildly replied: “Even as my father deserveth.”
Then was the emperor hurt with her reply, and he said: “Lovest thou me no more than this? thy reward shall be less than thy sisters.” So he married her unto a poor but good lord, who was one of the lesser nobles of his kingdom.
Time passed away, misfortune came upon the emperor, and his kingdom was all but taken from him by the king of Egypt. Then said he to himself: “I will appeal to my children.” So he wrote to his eldest daughter for aid.
“My lord, the king, I have here a letter from my father,” said the eldest daughter to her husband, “he asketh help of us in his misfortunes.”
“Is it not just that we should aid him?” replied the king; “we will raise an army, and go and fight for him.”
“Nay, my lord,” rejoined his wife, “consider the expense; send my father five knights to keep him company in his wanderings.”
“Alas, alas!” said the aged emperor when he read his eldest child’s answer, “in her was my chief trust; she, that loved me more than herself, hath done only this much, how then shall I trust the other two?”
Then wrote he to the second daughter, who, when she read her father’s letter, advised her husband to grant him food, lodging, and raiment, during the time of his need. The emperor was sore grieved at this reply. “Now have I tried my two daughters, and have found them wanting, let me try the third,” so he wrote to his youngest child.
When the messenger brought the emperor’s letter to Theodosia, she wept sorely as she read how that her father was driven from his capital, and was become a wanderer in his own kingdom. Then went she to her husband and said: