mpassion, he
came before Varro and said, 'Praetor, my fates impel me to solve the
grievous contention of these twain and I know not what God within me
spurreth and importuneth me to discover to thee my sin. Know, then,
that neither of these men is guilty of that whereof each accuseth
himself. I am verily he who slew yonder man this morning towards
daybreak and I saw this poor wretch asleep there, what while I was in
act to divide the booty gotten with him whom I slew. There is no need
for me to excuse Titus; his renown is everywhere manifest and every
one knoweth him to be no man of such a condition. Release him,
therefore, and take of me that forfeit which the laws impose on me.'

By this Octavianus had notice of the matter and causing all three be
brought before him, desired to hear what cause had moved each of them
to seek to be the condemned man. Accordingly, each related his own
story, whereupon Octavianus released the two friends, for that they
were innocent, and pardoned the other for the love of them. Thereupon
Titus took his Gisippus and first reproaching him sore for
lukewarmness[469] and diffidence, rejoiced in him with marvellous
great joy and carried him to his house, where Sophronia with tears of
compassion received him as a brother. Then, having awhile recruited
him with rest and refreshment and reclothed him and restored him to
such a habit as sorted with his worth and quality, he first shared all
his treasures and estates in common with him and after gave him to
wife a young sister of his, called Fulvia, saying, 'Gisippus,
henceforth it resteth with thee whether thou wilt abide here with me
or return with everything I have given thee into Achaia.' Gisippus,
constrained on the one hand by his banishment from his native land and
on the other by the love which he justly bore to the cherished
friendship of Titus, consented to become a Roman and accordingly took
up his abode in the city, where he with his Fulvia and Titus with his
Sophronia lived long and happily, still abiding in one house and
waxing more friends (an more they might be) every day.

[Footnote 469: Sic (_tiepidezza_); but _semble_ "timidity" or
"distrustfulness" is meant.]

A most sacred thing, then, is friendship and worthy not only of
especial reverence, but to be commended with perpetual praise, as the
most discreet mother of magnanimity and honour, the sister of
gratitude and charity and the enemy of hatred and avarice, still,
without