happiness, she besought me to tell her of my sufferings, the which I
related to her little by little, for the recital, like my suffering,
was long. She wept all through, the which I forgave her, for the
narrative as I related it was indeed moving, the more where I described
to her how my thoughts in all my captivity were constantly with her,
and how for her sake, and notwithstanding all my misery and suffering,
I refused to yield to the temptation to turn renegade. I told her
how I had been offered freedom, wealth, and marriage with the king’s
daughter (for, indeed, I believe that the king would have given me his
daughter) and she could not find words to express her joy and pride in
my steadfastness. Then I showed her the riches I had gotten, which she
somewhat misdoubted at first, and would have it that I ought to send it
back, fearing that the king had presented it to me as a dowry with his
daughter; but I assured her that it was washed up by the sea for our
reward, and presently she became satisfied.
What more is there to relate? I was now even richer than when I left my
country, my appetite for adventure was more than satiated by the years
that I had passed in slavery, and I resolved thence-forward never again
to tempt fortune, but to pass in enjoyment and in quiet at home the
remainder of such days as it might please my God to grant me.
+Finis.+
[Illustration]
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Transcriber’s Note:
Table of contents has been added.
Inconsistent spelling has been corrected.
Obsolete spelling and punctuation have been retained as printed.
Italic text is enclosed in _.
Small caps text is enclosed in +.