Erastus, or, The Roman prince being a more full acount of that famous history of the seven wise masters : with many pleasant additions of excellent, and divertive discourses, and songs, not unsuitable to the design of the story.

CHAP. VIII.

NO sooner had Euprosigorus entered the presence of Dioclesian; but it may well be imagined what a storm of fury fell on him for his presumption, in that he im∣pudently

had intruded himself upon the Em∣perors presence, when his fury, and tran∣sport on the forementioned occasion were such, as none durst attempt to come into his sight: Especially such as he thought the Tutors to the unfortunate Erastus must be, having instead of the excellent dictates of Philosophy (as he thought) instructed him in nothing more than to seek the shame and ruine of himself, and cast perpetual infamy on his Parents. I say 'tis not hard to guess how welcome Euprosigorus must needs be to a presence that had entertained such thoughts as these confirming him. But the good Philosopher arming himself with the Male of innocence, and the considera∣tion of the Care the Gods had over such, without the least shew of trouble or con∣cern, thus replied to the Emperor; having given place to the first shocks of his fury. And is it then (most excellent Dioclesian) so small a thing (said he) with one suddain, and undeliberate stroke to cut of the Glo∣ry of your stock, I had almost said of man∣kind, through the importunities; nay, per∣haps false suggestions of a weak and silly woman, whose Passions sometimes admit not of the Councels of reason or delibera∣tion. Hear me then mighty Emperor (con∣tinued he) and suspend this rigid Sentence

until I have (by commemorating an acci∣dent that once befell in this City) shew∣ed your Highness the irrecoverable loss that attends a hasty and rash Determina∣tion: which request being complied with∣all; he assumes his discourse to this pur∣pose. There was not many years since, a noble Man of this your Emperial City, who had one only Child, which he delive∣red to the care of a Nurse, to be brought up in his own House; he had besides a Dog, in which he took great satisfaction; for many qualities incident to that active and faithful Creature, in the which he had observed this Dog to excel. Now it hap∣pened on a certain day, when this Lord, with his Lady and Attendants, went to see a Tournament performed in the O∣limpick fields, according to the custome of the antient Romans; and having left only the Nurse with the care of their darling Child, her curiosity carried her to the top of the house, to observe what she could of the Sport at so great a distance, leaving only the fond Dog in the Room, where the Child slept in its Cradle; but whilst this careless Woman was there diverting her iule and wanton Fancy, a Serpent came into the Chamber where the Infant lay, which soon espied by the trusty Span∣niel,

was as soon set upon, in defence of the dear little Pledge, whose charge he maintained; the Contest was fierce and long, so that in the fray, the Cradle was overthrown, but to such advantage, that it secured the Child from what it might otherwise have been exposed to: At length the Dog won the Victory; but not with∣out the loss of much Blood; which be∣ing perceived by the careless Nurse, as soon as her impertinence gave her leave to descend into the Chamber; without fur∣ther enquiry, she flies, with the Alarum, to the Place where her Lady was, ac∣cusing the faithful Spanniel that had been the protector of his little Master, to have been his Destroyer. All enter the Room with all that hast which Passion and Fu∣ry could convey them withall, and finding the Cradle overthrown, the honest Guar∣dian bloody; without more ado, rewarded his Fidelity by knocking out his Brains, thereby robbing the pooor Dog of his life, that had been the Instrument to preserve the Childs. But when a little respite and breathing had given them leave to search for the deplored Infant; it was found alive, and entire, under the Cradle; and on a stricter view, the remains of a venomous Serpent, from whom the trusty

Dog had received his wounds in his Ma∣••ters defence: when these and other cir∣cumstances began more clamly to be re∣••lected upon; then indeed did the errours of rash & precipitate passion shew themselves in their true colours: Insomuch, that the too credulous Gentleman now saw, how, for want of consideration, he had rewarded the valiant and faithful Defender of his Child and House, with a base, cruel, and treache∣rous Death; and believing it impossible, that ever such another faithful Servant could fall to the share of one that knew no better to distinguish his services: these, and such like reflections had like to have put him on the sending Wife, Nurse, and Servants into the other World, to expiate the irreparable loss of his trusty Spanniel. This, mighty Sir, may be your case, and much worse, if by the advice of your wi∣sest Councellors, you do not take such mea∣sures in this great and important Affair, as the just merit of the Cause requires. Wherefore let me crave your Royal defer∣rence of this so rash and severe Sentence; which the Emperor (being much taken with the Morality of the Story) granted accor∣dingly.

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