The second tome of the Palace of pleasure conteyning store of goodly histories, tragicall matters, and other morall argument, very requisite for delighte and profit. Chosen and selected out of diuers good and commendable authors: by William Painter, clerke of the ordinance and armarie. Anno. 1567.

Two Maydens of Carthage.

¶ CHERA hid a tresure ELISA going about to hang hir selfe, and tyeng the halter about a beame, founde that trea∣sure, and in place thereof left the halter. PHILENE the daughter of CHERA goyng for that treasure, and busily serching for the same, found the halter, wherwithal for des∣paire she woulde haue hanged hir selfe, but forbidden by ELISA, who by 〈◊〉〈◊〉 espied hir, she was restored to parte of hir losse, leading afterwards a happie and prospe∣rous life.

The. xj. Nouell.

FOrtune the ladie Regent & gouernesse of mās life, so altreth and chaungeth the state thereof as many times we se the noble born from that great mightie port, wherin they be debased so

farre, as either infamously their life is spent in the hun∣grie lappe of dame penurie, or else contriued in the vgly lothsom house of Wantonnesse, the stepdame of all hone∣stie and vertue. Sometimes we make the vnnoble ladde that was nooseled in the homely countrey 〈◊〉〈◊〉, or rude ciuile shoppe, attaine to that whiche the onely honorable and gentle do aspire: and he againe that is ambicious in climbing vp the turning whéele, throwen downe beneth the brinke of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 lucke, whelmed in the ditche & pit of blacke despaire. We note also somtimes that the care∣lesse wyght of Fortunes giftes, hath (vnlooked for) his mouthe and throte crammed full of promotion and worl∣des delights. Such is the maner of hir fickle stay. When of this Historie ensuing, giueth some intelligence, by re∣membring the destenied lucks of. y^u poore sorie girles that were left destitute of desired things, both like to fall into despaire, and yet both holyen with that thei most desired: which in this sort beginneth. In the time that Scipio Af∣fricanus had besleged the Citie of Carthage, Chera that was a widow (dwelling there) seing the daunger at hand wherin the Citie stode, and doubtyng the losse and ouer∣throwe of the same, and that the honor of the dames and womankinde, coulde vneths be safe and harmelesse, de∣termined not to abide the vttermoste: and hauing a good quantitie of golde and precious stones, she bestowed the same in a casquet, and hid it vpon one of the beames of hir house, purposing when the stirre and daunger was past, to retourne to hir house againe for those hir hidden things. Which done in the habite of a poore womā with hir onely daughter in hir hand that was aboute. b. or. bf. yeares of age, she went out of Caithage, and passed ouer the seas into Scicilia, where falling sick, after she had ben there thre or foure yeares, at length died. But before she departed, she called hir daughter before hir, then about. x.

yeares of age, and tolde hir the place where she had 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 casket. And by reason of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 gotten by Scipio, the citie was maruellously chaunged, and amongs other things, the house of Chera was giuen to a Roman 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that was so enriched with nobilitie of mynde, as he was poore of Fortunes goods. Which Chera vnderstan∣ding, was sorowfull, and doubted of hir things secretly bestowed vpon the beame. Whervpon she sayd vnto hir daughter, that for so much as their house was in the pos∣fession of an other, she ought to be wise and circumspect in the recouerie of hir hidden goods: and that hir death was the more sorowfull vnto hir, bicause she must leaue hir (so yong a maiden) vnprouided of frendes for hir good gouernement. But yet she incouraged hir and sayd: that sith necessitie approched, she must in childishe age, put on a graue and auncient mind, and beware how she bewray∣ed that casket to any person, for that of purpose she reser∣ued the knowledge thereof, to hir self, that it might serue for hir preferment, and procure hir a husbande worthie of hir selfe. And the maiden demaunding the value of the same, she told hir that it was worth. CC. 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and gaue hir in writyng the particulers inclosed within the Caskette, and sayde, that the lyke bill shée shoulde finde within the same, written with hir owne hande. And so the good woman wythin a while after dyed, leauing be∣hynde hir the yong mayden hir Daughter, that maruel∣lously lantented the death of hir mother, accordingly as Nature taught hir, and eche other reasonable wyght de∣priued from their dearest friends. The maiden for hir ye∣res was very wise, and would disclose to none what hir mother had sayd, kéeping the writing very carefully and 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Not long after Philene (which was the mai∣dens name) fell in loue with a Gentleman of Scicilia of greate reputation and authoritie, who all bée it he sawe

hir to be very faire and comely, yet cared not for hir loue in respecte of mariage, for that he knewe hir to be poore, and without dowrie mete for a Gentleman, iesting and mocking to sée hir fire hir mind on him, for desire to haue him to hir husbande, that was a personage so noble and rich: which refusall pierced the heart of that tender mai∣den, bicause she saw hir self forsaken for nothing else, but for want of goods: which made hir to think and consider, howe shée myght recouer the riches that hir mother had layed vp in Carthage. It chaunced as shée was in this thought, that the daughter of him to whome the house of Chera was giuen, called Elisa, was likewise enamoured of a noble yong gentleman in Carthage, who bicause Eli∣sa was the daughter of a souldiour, and not very rich, in like manner laughed & iested at hir loue, no lesse than the other did at Philene. Notwithstanding Elisa attempted all meanes possible to induce the yong man to loue hir, but hir practise and attemptes tended to none effect. And last of all, desirous to haue a resolute answere, and there∣by vnderstode, that he woulde rather die than take hir to wife, she fell into despaire, and curssed fortune, and hir fate, that she was not borne riche enough to match with hir chosen Gentleman, and that she being poore, must fal in loue with such a personage: whervpon she miserably formented hir selfe, styll bewayling hir vnhappie lucke, that she could not win him to be hir husbande, for which only intent and purpose she loued him. And this amorous passion incredibly growing in hir, the rootes whereof bée planted in the restlesse humor of melancholie, and wan∣ting all hope and comforte to stay that ranke and rāmishe wéede, it so increased in hir, as shée franticke in raging loue, gaue hir self ouer to the spoile of hirself: And to rid hir from that griefe, she determined to kill hir selfe, ima∣gining which waye she might doe the same. At length she

was resolueb, with hir fathers sword to pierce hir body: But hir heart not seruing hir therevnto, deuised by the halter to ende hir life, saying thus to hir self: that at lest wise my death shall doe me good, bicause that cruel man shall know that for his sake I haue done this facte, and shall performe my funerals with some teares or sighes: And if his heart be not of yron or stéele, he can not chose but sorowe and lament, that one which loued him better than hir owne life, hath made such wretched ende onely for his crueltie. Elisa concluding vpon this intent, prepa∣red a halter: And being alone in hir house, in the cham∣ber where the Casket lay vpon the beame, placed a stoole vnder the same, and beganne to tie the halter aboute the beame: 〈◊〉〈◊〉 doing wherof, she espied the casket, and rea∣ched the same vnto hir, who féelyng it to be heauie and weightie, immediatly did open it, and found the bil with∣in, which Chera had written with hir owne hand, agrea∣ble to that which, she had deliuered to hir daughter, wher∣in were particularly remembred the Jewels and other ri∣ches inclosed within the casket. And disclosing the bagges wherein the golde and Jewels were bounde vp, and see∣ing the great value of the same, wondred therat, and ioy∣full for that fortune, hid the rope which she had prepared for hir death, in the place where shée found the casket, and with great gladnesse and mirth wēt vnto hir father, and shewed him what she had found, wherat the father reioy∣ced no lesse, than his daughter Elisa did, bicause he sawe himselfe thereby to be discharged of his former poore life, and like to proue a man of inestimable wealthe and sub∣stance: and saw like wise that the poore wench his daugh∣ter, by the addicion of those riches, was like to attaine the partie whome she loued. When hée had taken forth those bagges and well 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the value, to the intent no man might suspect the sodeine mutation of his state,

toke his daughter with hym, and went to Rome, where after he had remained certaine monethes, he returned to Carthage, and began very galantly to apparell himselfe, and to kéepe a bountifull and liberall house. His table and port was very delicate and sumptuous, and his stable stored with many faire horsse, in all points shewing him selfe very noble and rich: By which sodein chaunge and mutation of state, the whole Citie beléened, that he had brought those riches from Rome. And bicause it is the cō∣mon opinion of the vulgar people, that where there is no riches, there is no nobilitie, and that they alone make the noble and Gentleman (a foolishe opinion in déede, procee∣ding from heades that be rash and light) the people séeing such a port and charge kepte by the Souldier, conceiued and thought that he was of some noble house. And tho∣roughout the whole Citie greate and solemne honour was done vnto him: wherevpon the yong Gentleman, with whome Elisa was in loue, began to bée ashamed of himselfe, that he had disdained such a maiden. And then the yong maiden séeing hir fathers house to be in such re∣putation, made sute to hir father, that he would procure the Gentleman to be hir husband. But hir father willed hir in any wise to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 secrete hir desire, and not to seme hir selfe to be in loue, and wisely told hir, that more méete it was, that she shoulde be solicited by hym, than she to make sute or request for mariage: alleaging that the lesse desirous the Gentleman had bene of hir, the more deare and better beloued she was to him. And many times whē his daughter was demaunded to wife, he made answere that Matrimonie was a state of no little importance as enduring the whole course of life, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ought wel to be considered and wayed, before any 〈◊〉〈◊〉 were made. But for all these demaundes and answers, and all these stops and stayes, the maiden was indowed with

〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and in the ende hir louer and she were maried, with so great pleasure and satisfaction of them both, as they 〈◊〉〈◊〉 them selues happie. In the meane time while these things were done at Carthage, Philene in Scicilia toke thought how she might recouer hir goodes giuen to hir by hir mother, destrous by their meanes al∣so to sorte hir earnest and ardcnt loue to happie successe: And debating with hir self (as we haue sayd before) how she might obteine them, bicause the house was in posses∣sion of an other, thought it to bée against reason and or∣der, that although she had lost hir house, yet that hir goo∣des ought to be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vnto hir, whiche were hir onely maintenance and reputation, and the fittest instruments that should conduct hir loue to happie ende. And hearing tell that the father of Elisa; the possessour of hir mothers house liued at Carthage with greate royaltie and 〈◊〉〈◊〉, thought that if by some sleight & policie she found not meanes to enter the house without suspicion, hir at∣tempt would be in vaine: determined therfore to goe to Carthage, and to séeke seruice in that house, counterfai∣ting the kinde and habite of a Page. For she considered, that if she went thither in order and apparell of a maiden she should incurre the perill of hir virginitie, and fall in∣to the lapse of diuers other daungers: purposed then to goe thither in maner of a page and lackie. And when she had in that sort furnished hir self, she passed the seas, and arriued at Carthage. And séeking seruice about the citie, at length chaūced to be retained in a house that was next neighbour to the Souldier, and bicause this wench was gentle and of good disposition, was well beloued of hir maister, who being the friend of Elisa, hir father, many times sent vnto him diuers presēts and gifts by Philene, wherevpon shée began to be acquainted & familiar with the seruants of the house, and by hir oft repaire thither,

viewed & marked euery corner, and vpon a time entred the chamber, wherin hir mother Chera tolde hir, that she had bestowed hir goods, and looking vpon the beames es∣pied by certaine signes and tokens, one of them to be the same where the casket lay. And therwithal well satisfied and contented, verily beleued that the casket still remai∣ned there, and without further businesse for that time, ex∣pected some other season for recouerie of the same. In the ende, the good behauiour and diligence of Philene, was so liked of Elisa, as hir father and she made sute to hir ma∣ster to giue hir leaue to scrue them: who bycause they were his friends, preferred Philene vnto them, and be∣came the page of that house. And one day secretly repai∣ryng into the chamber, where she thoughte the treasure lay, mounted vpon a stoole, and sought the beame for the casket: where she founde no casket, but in place 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that lay, the halter, wherwithal Elisa woulde haue stran∣gled hir self: And searching all the parts of the chamber and the beames, and finding nothing else but the halter, she was surprised with such incredible sorrow, as she 〈◊〉〈◊〉 like a stocke, without spirite, voice or life. After War∣des, being come againe to hir selfs, she began pitifully to lament and complaine in this maner:

Ah wretched Phi∣lene, vnder what vnluckie signe and planet was thou be∣gotten and borne? with what offense were the heauens wroth, when they forced thée to pierce thy mothers wōbe? Coulde I poore creature when I was framed within the moulde of nature, and fed of my mothers substance with∣in hir wombe, and afterwards in due time brought forth to light, commit such crime, as to prouoke the celestiall inpressions to conspire agaynst my Natiuitie, to bryng mine increased age into such wretched state and plighte, wherein it is nowe wrapped and intangled? No no, my faulte was nothing, it was parents offense, if any were

at all: For many times we sée the innocent babe, afflic∣ted and cruciated for the fathers guilt. The Gods do pu∣nish the posteritie, for some sacrilege or notorious crime cōmitted by progenitors. Their maner is not to suffer heynous faultes vnreuēged. Their Iustice can not abide such mischief vncorrected for example sake. So fareth it by me. First my father died, afterwardes my mother a widow was driuen to abandon natiue soile, and séeke re∣liefe in forain land: And leauing that wherwith we wer possessed in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 keping, were forced a simple life to leade among straungers. And my mother, yeldyng forth hir ghost, made me beleue that she had hidden great tre∣sures here: And I 〈◊〉〈◊〉 wench thinking to obteine the pray, haue wandred in counter 〈◊〉〈◊〉 kinde, and fetched many a bitter sigh, vntil I came into this place: And the thing I hoped for, which myght haue bene the meanes and ende of all my care, is turned to nothyng: A casket transformed into a halter, golde and Iewels into a piece of rope? Is this the mariage 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thou art like to haue to matche with him whom thou so derely 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Is this the knot that shall conioyne you both in yoke of man and wife? Ah wretche and miserable caitife, the goodes thy mother laide vp for thée, for maintenance of thy rest, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of thine honour, and for the reputation of thy noble house wher of thou camest, is nows berieued from thée. They that kéeye this noble house, and beare their loftie port amid the best, haue despoiled thée poore wench of that after which thon didst vainly trauaile. But what remedie now? Sith thy wicked lot doth thus fall out, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thy cruell fate is loth thou shouldest atteine the thing on which thy mind is bent, and sith thy painful life can take no ende, make spéede to rid thy selfe from miserie by 〈◊〉〈◊〉 meanes which he hath prepared for thée that hath found thy goods: who séeing his good aduenture to be thy bane,

his happie pray to bée thy spoile, hath left in lieu of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sure, a halter, that therwith thou 〈◊〉〈◊〉 dispatche thy selfe from all thy griefes, and in their vnhappie company to cease thy life, that the lothsome lengthning of the same might not increase thy further plaints, sorowes, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and affliction. And in the place where infortunate 〈◊〉〈◊〉 toke hir beginning, there the miserable wretche 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that, which without hir desired gaine no longer can be maynteined. Peraduenture it may come to passe as when thy soule is losed from this mortall charge, it shall stalke by him, by whom it liueth, and by him also whom she thought to ioy in greatest cōtentation, that euer mor∣tall woman did. And thus plaining and sighing hir ill for∣tune, when she had ended those wordes, she tied the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ter about the beame, where sometimes hir treasure lay, which being done she put the same about hir necke, say∣ing: O crooked Ladie Fortune that hast thus 〈◊〉〈◊〉 dealt with thyne humble client: Ah dispaire, thou 〈◊〉〈◊〉 wretch and companion of those that be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉, that is vnwilling to leaue my haunt vntil thou play the hang∣man. Ah diuel incarnate that goest about to hale & pluck the innocent into thy hellishe 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Out vpon thée thou deformed hellish dogge, that waitest at the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 gate to lette them in, which faine woulde passe an other porte.

And as she was grinding forth these spitefull wordes, re∣die to remoue the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to fetche 〈◊〉〈◊〉 swynge, the Gods which would not giue consent, that the innocent wench should enter that vile and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 death, moued the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Elisa; to passe by the place where she was in wor∣kyng on hir self that desperate ende: who hearing those 〈◊〉〈◊〉 plaints vttred after such terrible manner, ope∣ned the chamber doore, and saw that myserable sight: and ignorant of the occasion, moued wyth pitie, ranne and

〈◊〉〈◊〉 hir from the facte, saying thus vnto hir: Ah Phi∣lou

(which was the name that she had giuen to hir self) what folie hath bewitched thy mind? what phrensie hath incharmed thy braine? what harde aduenture hath mo∣ued thée in this miserable wise, to ende thy life? Ah (sayd Philene) suffer me Elisa, to finishe my tormented life, giue me libertie to vnburden my selfe from the bande of cares that do assaile me on euery side: Lette these hellhoundes that stande here rounde aboute me, haue their praye for which they gape. Thou moued by compassion, art come hither to stay me from the halter: but in doyng so, thou doest mée greater wrong, than doeth dispaire, which eg∣geth me thervnto. Suffer I say, that mine afflictiōs may take some end, sith cruel fortune willeth it to be so, or ra∣ther vnhappie fate: For sowre death is swéeter in my cōceite , than bitter life contriued in sharper sause thau gall or wormwood. Elisa hearing hir speake these words, sayd: For so much as thy myshap is such, as onely death is the nearest remedie to depriue thy paine, what wicked chaūce hath induced thée, in this house to finishe those thy mise∣ries? What hath prouoked thée to giue suche augurie to this our moste happy and ioyfull familie? Forced is the partie (sayd Philene) so to do, when destenie hath so ap∣pointed. What destenie is that demaūded Elisa? Tell me I beséech thée, perchaunce thou maist preuent the same by other remedie than that wherabout thou goest. No (aun∣swered Philene) that is impossible, but to satisfie thy re∣quest which so instantly thou crauest of me, I will tel thée the summe of al my miserie. In saying so, the teares gushed forth hir eyes, & hir voice brake out into complaints, & thus began to say: Ah Elisa, why should I seke to prolōg my wretched life in this vale of wretchednesse, wherin I haue ben so miserably afflicted? my mother pitieng mine estate and séeing me voide of frends, & a fatherlesse child, vpon hir death bed, disclosed vnto me a tresure which she

had hidden vpon this 〈◊〉〈◊〉, wherevnto this halter (the best 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of my miserie) 〈◊〉〈◊〉 tied, and I making 〈◊〉〈◊〉 for the same, in place of that treasure founde this halter, ordeined 〈◊〉〈◊〉 I suppose (by what misfortune I know not) for my death: and where I thought among 〈◊〉〈◊〉 happy to be the most happie, I sée my self amongs al 〈◊〉〈◊〉 wo∣men to be the most vnfortunate; 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hearing hir say so, greatly 〈◊〉〈◊〉 & sayd: Why then I 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a woman and not a 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 truly answered the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 maiden: A singuler example of extreme miserie to all sortes of women. And why so? demaunded Elisa. Bicause (answered 〈◊〉〈◊〉) that the pestilent planet vnder which I was 〈◊〉〈◊〉, will haue it to be 〈◊〉〈◊〉: and then she tolde hir all that which had 〈◊〉〈◊〉 from the time of hir mothers departure out of Carthage, and how she went into Scicilia and recounted 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hir the loue that she bare to a Scicilia Gentleman, and howe that he 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hir for hir po∣uertie, refused to be hir husband: whervpon to atchieue hir desire, as loth to forgoe him, was come in maner 〈◊〉〈◊〉 page to 〈◊〉〈◊〉, to recouer the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 which hir mother had hidden there, to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 she might obtaine (if not by other meanes) with some rich dowrie, the yong Gentle∣man to husband whome she so derely loued. And then re∣enforcing hir complaint, she said, that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Fortune had 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hir of that which might haue accomplished hir desire, resting no cause why she shoulde any longer liue, the halter was prepared for hir to ende hir dayes, and to rid hir life from troubles. And therfore she prayed hir to be cōtented, that she might make that end which hir mis∣aduenture and wicked fortune had predestinate. I doubt not but there be many, which vnderstading that the trea∣sure did belong to Philene, if they had 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the like as Elisa did, would not only not haue forbidden hir the deth, but also by spéedie méanes haue 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the same, for so

much as by that occasion the hidden tresure should haue bene out of strife and contention:

so great is the force of Couetousnesse in the minde of man. But good Elisa knew full well the mutabilitie of Fortune in humaine things, for so much as she by séeking death, had founde the thing which not onely deliuered hir from the same, but made hir the best contented woman of the worlde. And Philene séeking hir contentation, in place therof, and by like occa∣sion, found the thing that would haue ben the instrumēt of hir death. And moued with very greate compassion of the mayden, desired to haue better aduertisement howe that treasure could belong to hir. Then Philene shewing forth hir mothers writing, which particularly remēbred the parcels within the casket: and Elisa séeing the same to be agreable to the hand wherwith the other was wri∣ten, that was founde in the casket, was assured that all the gold and Iewels which she had found, did belong vn∣to 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and sayde vnto hir selfe:

The Gods defende that I should prepare the halter for the death of this inno∣cent wench, whose substance hath yelded vnto me so gret contentation. And comforting the maiden, in the end she sayd: Be contented Philene, and giue ouer this thy des∣perate determination, for both thy life shal be prolonged, and thy discontented minde appeased, hoping thou shalte receyue the comforte thou desirest.

And with those words she losed the halter from hir neck, and taking hir by the hande, brought hir to the place where hir father and hus∣bande were, and did them to vnderstand the force & terms whervnto the fier of loue and desperation had broughte that amorous maiden, telling them that all the treasure and Iewels which she had found (where she left the hal∣ter, and wherwith Philene was minded to hang hir self) did by good right and reason belong to hir: then shée did let them sée the counterpaine of that bil which was in the

〈◊〉〈◊〉, in all pointes agreable thervnto, declaring more∣ouer, that very mete and reasonable it were, like 〈◊〉〈◊〉 should be vsed vnto hir, as by whome they had receyued so great honor & contentation. Hir husband which was a Carthaginian borne, very churlish and couetous, albeit by conferring the writings together, he knewe the matter to be true and that Philene ought to be the possessor ther∣of, yet by no meanes wold agrée vnto his wines request, but fell into a rage, calling hir foole and 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and saying that he had rather that she 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ben a thousand times han∣ged, than he would giue hir one peny: and although she had saued hir life, yet she ought to be banished the Citie, forsomuch as the same and all the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 therof was brought into the Romanes handes, and amongs the same hir mothers house, and all hir goodes in possession of the victors, and euery part therof at their disposition & plea∣sure. And moreouer, for so much as hir mother and shée had departed Carthage, and would not abide the hazarde and extremitie of their countrey as other Citizens did, and hauyng concealed and hidden those Riches whiche ought to haue ben brought forth for the common defense of their countrey, and gone out of the citie as though she had ben a poore simple woman, poorely therfore she ought to liue in Scicilia, whither she was fled. Wherfore he was of opinion, that she in this maner being departed when the citie had greatest nede of hir helpe, was disfranchised of all the rightes and customes of the countrey, and that like as a straunger can recouer nothing in that citie, ex∣cept he haue the priuiledge and fréedom of the same, euen so Philene (for the considerations before sayde) ought to be compted for a stranger, & not to participate any thing within the citie, accordingly as the lawes forbid. When he had so sayd he was like by force to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the sorowful maiden out of the house. These wordes greatly grieued

Philene, who doubted least his father in law would haue toyned 〈◊〉〈◊〉 him, and agrée vnto hys alleaged reasons, which séemed to be of great importaunce and effect: and therfore thought newly to returne to the halter for 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 griefs:

but it otherwise chaunced, for the fa∣ther of Elisa, whiche was a Romane borne, and affected with a Romane minde, and therfore of a gentle and well disposed nature, knew full well, that although the house was giuen vnto him by the cōsent of Scipio, and other the captains, yet he knew that their pleasure was not to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 on him the treasure hidden in the same, and there∣fore ought to be restored to the true owner, or else 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and proprely due to the Romane 〈◊〉〈◊〉, or cōmon treasure house of the same. And albeit that it was true that hir mother went out of Carthage, in the time of the siege, and therfore had forfaited the same, yet he determi∣ned to shew some 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vnto the yong mayden, and to be thankful to fortune, for the benefite which by hir mea∣nes he had receyued, thynkyng that she would be displea∣sed with him, if he with vngratefull minde or dishonou∣rable intent should receiue hir giftes. For in those dayes the Romanes highly reuerenced lady Fortune, and in hir honor had directed Temples, and dedicated Aultars, and in prosperous time and happy aduentures, they 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vowes, and did sacrifices vnto hir, thinking although supersticously) that like as from God there proceded none euill, euen so from him all goodnesse was deriued that all felicitie and other good happes, which chaunced vpon the Romane common wealth, proceded from Fortune, as the fountaine and moste principall occasion, and that they which would not confesse hir force, and be thankfull vn∣to hir godhead, incurred in the ende hir displeasure and daungers very great and heinous. This Romane then hauing this opinion, being (as I sayd before) of a gentle

〈◊〉〈◊〉 would at one instant both render thankes to Fortune

, and vse curtesie vnto that maiden, by 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ches and goodes from lowe degrée he was aduaunced to honourable state. Wherefore turning his face vnto hir, with louing countenance he spake these wordes:

Kight gentle damosel, albeit by the reasons alleged by my sonne in lawe, none of the treasure hidden by thy mother, and founde by my daughter in this house, of right 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to thée, yet I will that thou shalte vnderstande my curtesie, and that thou sée howe the Romanes doe more esteme the nobilitie of their minde, than all the riches of the worlde. Therfore that thou mayst enjoy thy loue, I referre vnto thée and to thy disposition all the goodes and Iewels that were in the Caskette, and conteyned in thy writyng. Beholde therefore (causing the Casket to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 brought vnto him) all the Iewels and other parcels that were in the same when they were founde, take so muche therof as thou wilte, and if so bée thou desire the whole, willingly I render the same vnto thée, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by meanes of those riches, and the industrie of my trafique, I haue gained so muche, as hauyng gyuen a conuenient dowrie vnto my daughter, I can honorably line without it.

Phi∣lene séeing the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of this valiant Gentleman, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 him insinite thanks, and then sayd vnto him:

Sir, I for my part dare aske nothing, wel knowing that if you giue me nothing, there is no cause why I should complaine of you, but of my hard and wicked fortune, which hath offe∣red and giuē that to you, which ought to haue ben mine. Wherefore, fith your curtesie is such, as you referre the whole to me, I purpose to take nothing, but wil that the whole shalbe in your disposition: and giue me what you list, & that so giuen of your liberalitie, I shal more thank∣fully receiue, than if dette or dutie did constraine it: And if it shall please you to giue me nothing, my heart shal be

〈◊〉〈◊〉 well appeased, for that your curtesse, as rather woulde I choose to liue in the poore estate wherein I am, than be rich with your displesure.

Howbeit, the Roman intreated Philene to take therof what she thought good: And Phile∣ne craued no more than it pleased 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to gyue. Cyther of them standyng vpon these termes, Elisa brake the strife, who knowing the force of loue, and the griefs incident to his cliēts, of hir own harmes, moued to haue compassion vpon the afflicted, turned towardes hir father, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vnto him:

Right louing father, the contencion betwéene Philene and you, is risen of a matter which came by me. The treasure for which you striue, and cōmit to the will of Philene, was found by me, wherof if it please you both, I will take such order, as both you shall be satisfied. I am contented sayd hir father: and I likewise answered Philene. Then sayd Elisa: You father hitherto haue had but one daughter, which am I, vnto whom like a childe and louing daughter I haue bene obedient, and shalbe all the dayes of my life: And I againe haue receiued from you such fatherly education, as your abilitie and state requi∣red. This treasure I sound, and gaue to you for case and comfort of vs both. To me it yelded the only delectation of my heart in choise of husband, to you honour and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 within this citie. Wherefore, sith the principall came from me, and the right resteth in this carefull mai∣den, my desire is this, that where before you had but one daughter, you will adopte this maiden for an other, and think that you haue twaine, and that you will intreate Philene in like sort as if she were my 〈◊〉〈◊〉: And where this inheritance and renenue wherwith now you be pos∣sessed, and this casket also ought to be onely mine aster your decease, for that you haue no sonnes, nor other is∣sue, my desire is that you giue vnto hir the halfe, and that you accept hir for your daughter, as I doe meane to take

hir for my sister:

and accordingly to vse hir during 〈◊〉〈◊〉. With these wordes Elisa imbraced Philene, and louingly dyd kisse hir, saying vnto hir: For my sister I entertain thée Philene, and then she toke hir by the hand, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hir vnto hir father with these wordes:

Beholde father; your new daughter, whome I beséech you so heartily to loue, as you doe Elisa youre naturall chylde.

The father praised the curtesie of Elisa, and receiued Philene for his daughter: And was contented with the arbitrement of his daughter. But Elisa perceyuing hir husbande to bée somewhat offended therewith, specially for that the same shoulde bée 〈◊〉〈◊〉 into two partes, whiche was like to haue bene his wholly béefore, persuaded hym by gentle meanes to be content with that agrement: and although at the first he coulde not well brooke the liberalitie of his wife, yet at length viewing the good behauiour and gen∣tle disposition of Philene, and the contented minde of his father in lawe, together wyth the noble nature of hys wife, and hir wise aduertisement of Fortunes fickle as∣surance, yelded, and acknowledged Philene for his 〈◊〉〈◊〉. And so Philene put in possession of the halfe of those goodes, wherof she was altogether out of hope, was well satisfied, and had the Romane for hir 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Elisa for hir sister, and hir husband for hir kinsman. That 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Roman was so careful ouer Philene, as if she had ben his owne daughter, and so indeuored, as he brought to passe that she obteined hir beloued Scicilian to husbande: who also 〈◊〉〈◊〉 for him to Carthage, where he continued with his wife in the Romans house, and loued them both so dearely as though he had ben father to the one, and fa∣ther in lawe to the other.

In this maner these two poore wenches attained their two husbands, for hauing of whome, their only care was for Riches, and for lacke therof were dryuen to despaire.

And in the ende both (though 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and the one more fortunate than the other) recouered riches, and with the same their husbandes, to their heartes singular ioye and contentation. Whiche lucke I 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to all other poore Girles (but not hanging ripe, or louing in despaire) that bende their myndes on Mariage, and séeke to people by that estate, their countrey common wealth.

But leauyng for a tyme these Tragicall Nouels and heauie chaunces, wée purpose to remember some morall matters right worthie of remembrance, Letters they bée from a godly Pagane clerk, the famous phi∣losopher Plutarch, Schoolemaister to an Emperour of no lesse vertue, than his maisters schoole and minde was 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with diuine precepts. Wherfore procéede (good reader) to continue thy paines vpon the reading of these, so well as thou hast 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to employ thy time before. They shal no lesse de∣lite thée, if vertue brooke thée, they shall no lesse content thée, if duetie please thée, than any delighte some thing, where∣vpon (at any time) thou hast employed thy vacant time.