great
importaunce and effect: and therefore thought newly to returne
to the Halter for remedy of hir griefes; but it otherwise
chaunced, for the Father of Elisa, which was a Romane borne, and
affected with a Romane minde, and therefore of a Gentle and well
disposed nature, knew ful wel, that although the house was giuen
vnto him by the consent of Scipio, and other the Captaynes, yet
he knew that their pleasure was not to bestowe on him the
treasure hidden in the same, and therefore ought to be restored
to the true owner, or else confiscate and properly due to the
Romane Eschequer, or common treasure house of the same: and
albeit that it was true that hir Mother went out of Carthage, in
the time of the Siege, and therefore had forfayted the same, yet
he determined to shewe some curtesie vnto the younge mayden, and
to be thankfull to fortune, for the benefite which by hir meanes
he had receyued, thinkinge that she would be displeased with
him, if he with vngratefull minde or dishonourable intent should
receyue hir giftes. For in those dayes the Romans highly
reuerenced Lady Fortune, and in hir honour had Erected Temples,
and Dedicated Aultars, and in prosperous tyme and happy
aduentures, they consecrated vowes, and sacrifices vnto hir,
thinkinge (although supersticiously) that like as from God there
proceeded none euil, euen so from him all goodnesse was deriued:
that all felicity and other good happes, whych chaunced vppon
the Romane Common wealth, proceeded from Fortune, as the
Fountayne and most Principall Occasion, and that they which
would not confesse hir force, and be thanckful vnto hir
Godheade, incurred in the ende hir Displeasure and Daungers very
great and haynous. This Romane then hauing this opinion, beinge
(as I sayd before) of a gentle Disposition woulde at one instant
both render thankes to Fortune, and vse curtesie vnto that
mayden, by whose riches and goods from lowe degree he was
aduanced to honourable state. Wherefore turning his Face vnto
hir, with louing countenaunce he spake these wordes: "Right
gentle damosel, albeit by the reasons alleged by my sonne in
law, none of the treasure hidden by thy mother, and founde by my
Daughter in thys house, of right doth appertayne to thee, yet I
will that thou shalte vnderstande my curtesie, and that thou see
how the Romanes doe more esteeme the nobility of their minde,
than all the riches of the world. Therefore that thou mayst
enioy thy loue, I referre vnto