agayne that is ambicious in climbing vp the turning wheele,
throwen down beneth the brink of aduerse luck, whelmed in the
ditch and pit of black despaire. We note also sometimes that the
carelesse wyght of Fortune's giftes, hath (vnlooked for) his
mouth and throte crammed full of promotion and worlde's
delights. Such is the maner of hir fickle stay: whereof this
History ensuing, gyueth some intelligence, by remembring the
destenied luck of 2 pore sory girles that were left destitute of
desired things, both like to fal into despaire, and yet both
holpen with that they most desired: which in this sort
beginneth. In the time that Scipio Affricanus had besieged the
City of Carthage, Chera that was a widow (dwellinge there)
seeinge the daunger at hand wherein the Citty stoode, and
doubtynge the losse and ouerthrowe of the same, and that the
honor of the dames and womankinde, coulde vneths be safe and
harmelesse, determined not to abide the vttermost: and hauinge a
good quantity of Gold and precious stones, she bestowed the same
in a casquet, and hid it vpon one of the beames of hir house,
purposinge when the stir and daunger was past, to retourne to
hir house agayne for those hir hidden things. Which done, in the
habite of a poore woman with her onely daughter in hir hand that
was about 5 or 6 yeares of age, she went out of Carthage, and
passed ouer the Seas into Scicilia, where falling sicke, after
she had bene there three or foure yeares, at length died. But
before shee departed, shee called her Daughter before hir, then
about Ten yeares olde, and told hir the place where she had
layed hir Casket. And by reason of the victory gotten by Scipio,
the city was maruellously chaunged, and amongs other things, the
house of Chera was giuen to a Romane Souldiour that was so
enriched with Nobilyty of Mynd, as hee was poore of Fortune's
Goods. Whych Chera vnderstandyng, was sorowfull, and doubted of
hir thynges secretlye bestowed vppon the beame. Wherevpon she
sayd vnto hir daughter, that for so much as their house was in
the possession of an other, she ought to be wise and circumspect
in the recouerye of hir hidden goods: and that hir death was the
more greuous vnto hir, because she must leaue hir (so yong a
maiden) vnprouided of frendes for hir good gouernement. But yet
she incouraged hir againe and sayd: that sith necessity
approched, she must in childyshe age, put on a graue and
auncient minde, and beware howe shee bewrayed tha