按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
wilt be left vanquished； sinking under the burthen of loves
tyrannicall oppression； and then my turne is next to follow thee。
And therefore； had I no other reason to love thee； yet because thy
life is deare to me； in regard of mine owne depending thereon； I stand
the neerer thereto obliged。 For this cause； Sophronia must and shal be
thine； for thou canst not find any other so conforme to thy fancy：
albeit I who can easily convert my liking to another wife； but never
to have the like friend againe； shall hereby content both thee； and my
selfe。
Yet perhaps this is not a matter so easily done； or I to expresse
such liberality therein； if wives were to be found with the like
difficultie； as true and faithfull friends are： but； （being able to
recover another wife） though never such a worthy friend； I rather
chuse to change； I doe not say loose her （for in giving her to thee； I
loose her not my selfe） and by this change； make that which was good
before； tenne times better； and so preserve both thee and my selfe。 To
this end therefore； if my prayers and perswasions have any power
with thee； I earnestly entreat thee； that； by freeing thy selfe out of
this affliction； thou wilt （in one instant） make us both truely
comforted； and dispose thy selfe （living in hope） to embrace that
happinesse； which the fervent love thou bearest to Sophronia； hath
justly deserved。
Now although Titus was confounded with shame； to yeeld consent； that
Sophronia should be accepted as his wife； and used many obstinate
resistances： yet notwithstanding； Love pleading on the one side
powerfully； and Gisippus as earnestly perswading on the other； thus he
answered。 Gisippus； I know not what to say； neither how to behave my
selfe in this election； concerning the fitting of mine contentment； or
pleasing thee in thy importunate perswasion。 But seeing thy liberality
is so great； as it surmounteth all reason or shame in me； I will yeeld
obedience to thy more then noble nature。 Yet let this remaine for
thine assurance； that I doe not receive this grace of thine； as a
man not sufficiently understanding； how I enjoy from thee； not onely
her whom most of all I doe affect； but also doe hold my very life of
thee。 Grant then you greatest Gods （if you be the Patrones of this
mine unexpected felicitie） that with honor and due respect； I may
hereafter make apparantly knowne： how highly I acknowledge this thy
wonderfull favour； in being more mercifull to me； then I could be to
my selfe。
For abridging of all further circumstances； answered Gisippus； and
for easier bringing this matter to full effect； I hold this to be
our onely way。 It is not unknowne to thee； how after much discourse
had between my kindred； and those belonging to Sophronia； the
matrimoniall conjunction was fully agreed on； and therefore； if now
I shall flye off； and say； I will not accept thee as my wife： great
scandall would arise thereby； and make much trouble among our friends；
which could not be greatly displeasing to me； if that were the way
to make her thine。 But I rather stand in feare； that if I forsake
her in such peremptory sort； her kinred and friends will bestow her on
some other； and so she is utterly lost； without all possible meanes of
recovery。 For prevention therefore of all sinister accidents； I thinke
it best； （if thy opinion jumpe with mine） that I still pursue the
busines； as already I have begun； having thee alwaies in my company；
as my dearest friend and onely associate。 The nuptials being performed
with our friends； in secret manner at night （as we can cunningly
enough contrive it） thou shalt have her maiden honour in bed； even
as if she were thine owne wife。 Afterward； in apt time and place； we
will publiquely make knowne what is done； if they take it well； we
will be as jocond as they： if they frowne and waxe offended； the
deed is done； over…late to be recalled； and so perforce they must rest
contented。
You may well imagine； this advise was not a little pleasing to
Titus； wherupon Gisippus received home Sophronia into his house；
with publike intention to make her his wife； according as was the
custome then observed； and Titus being perfectly recovered； was
present at the Feast very ceremonially observed。 When night was
come； the Ladies and Gentlewomen conducted Sophronia to the
Bride…Chamber； where they left her in her Husbands bed； and then
departed all away。 The Chamber wherein Titus used to lodge； joyned
close to that of Gisippus； for their easier accesse each to the other；
at all times whensoever they pleased； and Gisippus being alone in
the Bride…Chamber； preparing as if he were comming to bed：
extinguishing the light； he went softly to Titus； willing him to goe
to bed to his wife。 Which Titus hearing； overcome with shame and
feare； became repentant； and denyed to goe。 But Gisippus； being a true
intyre friend indeed； and confirming his words with actions： after a
little lingring dispute； sent him to the Bride； and so soone as he was
in the bed with her； taking Sophronia gently by the hand； softly he
moved the usuall question to her； namely； if she were willing to be
his wife。
She beleeving verily that he was Gisippus； modestly answered。 Sir； I
have chosen you to be my Husband； reason requires then； that I
should be willing to be your wife。 At which words； a costly Ring；
which Gisippus used daily to weare； he put upon her finger； saying。
With this Ring； I confesse my selfe to be your Husband； and bind you
（for ever） my Spouse and Wife； no other kind of marriage was
observed in those dayes； and so he continued all the night with her；
she never suspecting him to be any other then Gisippus； and thus was
the marriage consumated； betweene Titus and Sophronia； albeit the
friends （on either side） thought otherwise。
By this time； Publius； the father of Titus； was departed out of this
mortall life； and letters came to Athens； that with all speed he
should returne to Rome； to take order for occasions there concerning
him； wherefore he concluded with Gisippus about his departure； and
taking Sophronia thither with him； which was no easie matter to be
done； until it were first known； how occasions had bin caried among
them。 Wherupon； calling her one day into her Chamber； they told her
entirely； how all had past； which Titus confirmed substantially； by
such direct passages betweene themselves； as exceeded all
possibility of denyall； and moved in her much admiration； looking each
on other very discontentedly； she heavily weeping and lamenting； and
greatly complaining of Gisippus； for wronging her so unkindly。
But before any further noyse was made in the house； shee went to her
Father； to whom； as also to her Mother； shee declared the whole
trecherie； how much both they and their other friends were wronged
by Gisippus； avouching her selfe to be the wife of Titus； and not of
Gisippus； as they supposed。 These newes were highly displeasing to the
Father of Sophronia； who with hir kinred； as also those of Gisippus；
made great complaints to the Senate； very dangerous troubles and
commotions arising daily betweene them； drawing both Gisippus and
Sophronia into harsh reports； he being generally reputed； not onely
worthy of all bitter reproofe； but also the severest punishment。
Neverthelesse； hee maintained publikely what he had done； avouching it
for an act both of honour and honestie； wherewith Sophronia's
friends had no reason to bee offended； but rather to take it in very
thankfull part； having married a man of farre greater worth and
respect； than himselfe was； or could be。
On the other side； Titus hearing these uncivill acclamations； became
much moved and provoked at them； but knowing it was a custome observed
among the Greeks； to be so much the more hurried away with rumours and
threatnings； as lesse they finde them to be answered； and when they
finde them； shew themselves not onely humble enough； but rather as
base men； and of no courage； he resolved with himselfe； that their
braveries were no longer to be enclured； without some bold and manly
answere。 And having a Romane heart； as also an Athenian understanding；
by politique perswasions； he caused the kinred of Gisippus and
Sophronia； to be assembled in a Temple； and himselfe comming
thither； accompanied with none but Gisippus onely； he began to deliver
his minde before them all； in this manner following。
〃Many Philosophers doe hold opinion； that the actions performed by
mortall men； doe proceed from the disposing and ordination of the
immortall gods。 Whereupon some doe maintaine； that things which be
done； or never are to be done； proceed of necessity： howbeit some
other doe hold； that this necessity is onely referred to things
done。 Both which opinions （if they be considered with mature judgment）
doe most manifestly approve； that they who reprehend any thing which
is irrevocable； doe nothing else but shew themselves； as if they
were wiser then the Gods； who we are to beleeve； that with
perpetuall reason； and void of any error； doe dispose and governe both
us； and all our actions； In which respect； how foolish and
beast…like a thing it is； presumptuously to checke or controule
their operations； you may v