Honorius was a king, very wealthy, who had an only son who he loved much.

The fame of this emperor flew across the world because

he was good and just in everything. However, he had a war against one king and was defeating him. That king, since he had sustained
many persecutions and infinite injury by him, finally considered, I have an only daughter and my adversary an only son. If through
any way I am able to join my daughter to his son in marriage, I shall have maintained perpetual peace. He sent customary messengers
to the emperor, that he might at least grant a truce for a time so that he might be able to personally speak with him. The king rightly
went to him personally and offered his daughter to his son. That one said, I will not do this unless I shall have two things. First, that
your daughter is a maiden; second, that after your death, your entire realm shall pass to my son. This one said, This please me well.
Immediately he signed a paper concerning the agreement. The king bid farewell to the emperor.

When, however, the king came to his own realm, he made ready a ship which was necessary so that his daughter could travel across
the sea to the emperor. The ship readied and all necessary things prepared, the girl boarded, having with her a dowry in great
abundance and also five soldiers with ladies and maidservants. When, however, they sailed across the sea, a whale of great size
hurried to the ship in the sea and wished to devour the ship. The sailors perceiving this feared greatly and especially the girl. The
sailors indeed made an abounding fire and stayed awake day and night. But after a period of three days passed, weary because of the
long vigil, they slept. The whale suddenly swallowed the ship with all it contained.

The girl, when she understood that she was in the belly of the whale, shouted strongly. All were awakened to her shout. The sailers
indeed called to the girl and the soldiers, Dearest, be strengthened; God will save us. Let us have a good plan since we are in the belly
of a whale. The girl said, Listen to my plan and we will be saved. They said, Lead. She said, Let us light a fire in great
abundance and let anyone who is able wound the whale just as deeply as he can and by these two things he will receive death and will
immediately swim to shore and thus through the grace of God we will be able to escape. They indeed completed the plan of the girl
in every respect. The whale, when it sensed death, proceeded to land.

A certain soldier was remaining close to this land, who, dinner having been made, walked toward the coast of the sea. Therefore, when
he saw that the whale was swimming back and forth and approaching land, he called his servants and dragged the whale onto land.
They began to strike with instruments. The girl, when she heard the sound, spoke on behalf of all and said, Dearest, strike gently and
open the side of the whale; we are here in its belly, the sons of good men of noble blood. The soldier, when the heard the voice of the
girl, said to his servants, Dearest, open the side of the whale and let us see what hides inside. When indeed opened, the girl exited
first nearly dead, then the soldiers and the others. She began ti report whose daughter she was and ought to be the wife of the
emperors son. Hearing this, the soldier retained her through several days with the whole household, until they regained their perfect
health. After this he sent the girl with gifts to the emperor with her whole household.

The emperor, when he saw her, said, Dearest daughter, may you be well now and in all times. But I say to you, before you shall have
my son in marriage, I will test you through one act. Immediately he had three coffins brought forth. The first was of the purest gold
and precious stones. And such was the inscription upon the coffin: Whoever will open me, will find in me what he deserves. And the
whole coffin was full with the bones of the dead. The second was of the purest silver, full of gems on every part, which had had such
an inscription: Whoever will choose me, will find in me what nature gave. This coffin was full of dirt. The third coffin was of lead,
having such an inscription: I preferably choose to be this and to rest, than to remain in the treasury of a king. In this coffin was a set
of three precious rings. Then the emperor said to the girl, Dearest, these are the three coffins; you may choose whichever you wish;
and if you choose well, you will have my son in marriage.

She indeed considered the three caskets closely and said in her heart, May God, who sees all, give me grace to be choosing so that
about this I may not fail for which I have labored much. She touched the first coffin and read the inscription: Whoever will open
me, etc. She thought, The coffin is precious on the outside, but I do not know what the inside hides thoroughly; therefore I do not
wish to choose this casket. Next she read the second, etc. She said, Nature never offered that the daughter of my father should be
joined to the son of an emperor. And therefore, etc. She read the third coffin saying, It is better to me to rest with the son of a king
than in the treasury of my father. And she shouted with a high voice, I choose this third coffin. The emperor, when he heard, said,
Oh good girl, you have chosen sufficiently wisely. In this coffin are my three precious rings; one for me, one for my son, the third for
you in a sign of engagement. Immediately he made to celebrate the wedding, and handed over his son to her, and so finished life in
peace.

Moral Interpretation: Dearest, the emperor is God, who had a long war with man to such a degree because the entire human nature was
destroyed through sin. Only truces were given to us through the king, that is, Christ. The daughter who ought to be engaged to the
emperors son is the soul. Therefore it is necessary that a ship be prepared for her with everything, that is, the body in which the soul
resides with the five senses and the rest; the sailors are reason, free will, etc. But it is necessary to travel across the sea, that is, across
the world. The whale is the devil, against whom we should be vigilant. But if we happen to sleep in sin, he will swallow the body and
soul. Therefore make just as the girl made; to kindle a fire of devotion and the persecute him with instruments, that is, with good
works, until he retires and sends away his power against you. Then the servants of the soldier, that is, preachers and Christians, have to
persecute him, until the girl, that is, the soul, may exit by its own power and may come to the court of God. But it shall be known what
his three coffins are representative of. Through the first coffin powerful and wealthy men are understood, who have such an
inscription: Whoever will open me, etc. that is, when the soul is separated from the body, God will find nothing in me unless I have
been guilty of sin, which is to be lamented; woe to the man who chooses this one. Through the second wise men of the world are
understood, of whom shine eloquence just as silver and inside are full of earthly things with such an inscription: Whoever chooses
me, etc. Nature always seeks contrary things to the soul and these men are not married to Christ. Through the third coffin good
Christians are designated, who are leaden, that is, who do not care about anything worldly; the three rings are in them, namely, faith,
hope, and love; whoever chooses these, is able to have the son of God more willingly than to remain in the treasury of the world. Let
us be devoted.