Bannatyne Club > Philotus

AND EMELIA. 17
Emelia, whom you hauo heanl before, was lefte at Naples, beeyng an Infante,
and had remained there till this tyme at Schoole, and at this verie instaunte
was come from Naples to Rome, to visite his Father and Mother, of whom
he had no maner of knowledge, otherwise then by their names. And it for-
tuned that Alberto and Philotus, happened to meete with Philerno in the
streates, who was so like his sister Emelia, that bothe Alberto and Philotus,
assured themselues, that it could bee no other but she. Wherefore Alberto
commyng to hym, saied : staie, staie, moste shamelesse and vngracious Girle,
doest thou thinke that by thy disguising of thy self, in this maner, thou
canst escape vnknowne to me, who am thy Father, Ah vile strumpet that
thou art : what punishement is sufficient for the filthinesse of thy facte : And
with this he seemed, as though he would haue fline vpon her in the streate,
to haue beate her : but Philotus thruste in betweene them, and desired his
neighbour to staie hymself, and then imbracyng Philerno in his armes, he
saied : Ah Emelia my sweete and louing wenche, how canste thou so vn-
kindelie forsake thy Philotus, whose tender loue towardes thee is suehe, that
as I will not let to make thee soueraigne of my self, so thou shalt be Dame
and Mistresse of all that euer I haue, assuryng thee, that thou shalt neuer
want for Golde, Gemmes, Jewelles, suche as bee fit and conuenient for thy
degree.
Philerno seeyng a couple of old dotyng foole thus clusteryng aboute hym,
not knowyng what thei were : had thought at the first, thei had been out of
their wittes, but in the ende by their woordes, perceiuyng a farther circum-
stance in the matter, he deuised some thyng for his owne disporte, to feede
them a little with their owne follie, saied : Pardon me I beseeche you this
my greeuous otfence, wherein I knowe I haue too farre straied from the
limites and boundes of modestie, protestyng hereafter so to gouerne my self,
that there shall bee no sufficient cause, whereby to accuse me of sucho vn-
maidenlike partes, and will euer remaine with suehe duetie and obedit-ce, as
I trust shall not deserue but to be liked duryng life.
Philotus hauyng heard this pitifull reconciliation, made by his Emelia,
I