and thither, in great peril, and after that the mast and stern brake
likewise in pieces, could in no wise be brought to shore, but sunk into
the water, and so we did swim, and hardly escaped to land. And after
that, whatsoever was given unto us in recompense of our losses, either
by the pitty of strangers, or by the benevolence of our friends, was
taken away from us by theeves, whose violence when my brother Arisuatus
did assay to resist, hee was cruelly murthered by them before my face.
These things when he had sadly declared, the Cobler tooke up his money
againe which he had told out to pay for the telling of his fortune, and
ran away. The Diophanes comming to himselfe perceived what he had done,
and we all that stood by laughed greatly. But that (quoth Milo) which
Diophanes did tell unto you Lucius, that you should be happy and have a
prosperous journey, was only true. Thus Milo reasoned with me. But I
was not a little sorry that I had traind him into such a vaine of talke,
that I lost a good part of the night, and the sweete pleasure thereof:
but at length I boldly said to Milo, Let Diophanes fare well with his
evil fortune, and get againe that which he lost by sea and land, for
I verily do yet feel the wearinesse of my travell, whereof I pray you
pardon mee, and give me licence to depart to bed: wherewithall I rose up
and went unto my chamber, where I found all things finely prepared and
the childrens bed (because they should not heare what we did in the
night) was removed far off without the chamber doore. The table was all
covered with those meats that were left at supper, the cups were filled
halfe full with water, to temper and delay the wines, the flagon stood
ready prepared, and there lacked nothing that was necessary for the
preparation of Venus. And when I was entring into the bed, behold my
Fotis (who had brought her mistresse to bed) came in and gave me roses
and floures which she had in her apron, and some she threw about the
bed, and kissed mee sweetly, and tied a garland about my head, and
bespred the chamber with the residue. Which when shee had done, shee