thee and to thy disposition all
the goods and Iewels that were in the Casket, and contayned in
thy writinge. Beholde therefore (causing the casket to be
brought vnto him) all the Iewels and other parcels that were in
the same when they were founde, take so mutch thereof as thou
wilt, and if so bee thou desire the whole, willingly I render
the same vnto thee, sithens by means of those riches, and the
industry of my trafique, I haue gayned so mutch, as hauinge
gyuen a conuenient dowry vnto my daughter, I honorably liue
without it." Philene seeing the curtesie of this valiaunt
gentleman, gaue him infinite thanks, and then sayd vnto him:
"Sir, I for my part dare aske nothinge, well knowinge that if
you geue me nothinge, there is no cause why I shoulde complayne
of you, but of my hard and wicked fortune, whych hath offered
and giuen that to you, which ought to haue bin mine. Wherefore,
sith your curtesie is sutch, as you refer the whole to mee,
I purpose to take nothing, but will that the whole shall bee in
your disposition, and giue mee what you list, and that so gieuen
of your liberality, I shal more thankfully receiue, than if debt
or duty did constrayne it: and if it shall please you to giue me
nothing, my heart shal bee so well appeased, for that your
curtesie, as rather woulde I chose to liue in the poore estate
wherein I am, than be rych with your displeasure." Howbeit, the
Romayne intreated Philene to take thereof what shee thought
good: and Philene craued no more than it pleased hym to gyue.
Eyther of them standinge vpon these termes Elisa, brake the
strife, who knowinge the force of loue, and the griefes incident
to his clients, by hir own harmes, moued to haue compassion vpon
the afflicted, turned towardes hir father, and sayd vnto him:
"Right louinge father, the contencion betweene Philene and you,
is risen of a matter which came by me. The treasure for which
you striue, and committed to the will of Philene, was found by
me, whereof if it please you both, I wyll take sutch order, as
both you shalbe satisfied." "I am contented," sayd hir father:
"And I likewise," aunswered Philene. Then sayd Eliza: "You
father hitherto haue had but one Daughter, which am I, vnto whom
like a chylde and louinge daughter I haue bene obedient, and
shalbe all the dayes of my lyfe: and I agayne haue receiued from
you sutch fatherly education, as your ability and state
required. This treasure I found and gaue to you for ease and
comfo