CHAPTER XXVIII.
THE STORY OF THE KNIGHT WHO SPOKE THE TRUTH.
There was once a country in which dwelt a knight whom no lady of the land would love, and that because he spake the truth.

For the other knights, all in that land, would say to the ladies they loved, that of all ladies in the world they were the most beautiful, and the most gracious, yea in all things the very first; and thereby the ladies of that land were taught to love their own praise best, and after that the knight who was the best praiser of each, and most enabled her to think well of herself in spite of doubt.

And the knight who would not speak save truly, they mockingly named Sir Verity, which name some of them did again miscall SEVERITY,--for the more he loved, the more it was to him impossible to tell a lie.
And thus it came about that one after another he was hated of them all.

For so it was, that, greedy of his commendation, this lady and that would draw him on to speak of that wherein she made it her pleasure to take to herself excellences; but nowise so could any one of them all gain from him other than a true judgment.

As thus: one day said unto him a lady, "Which of us, think you, Sir Verity, hath the darkest eyes of all the ladies here at the court of our lord the king ?" And he thereto made answer, "Verily, methinketh the queen." Then said she unto him, "Who then hath the bluest eyes of all the ladies at the court of our lord the king ?"--for that her own were of the colour of the heavens when the year is young.