“Now, Bracidas, let this likewise be plain: your brother’s treasure,
which has strayed from him, being well known to be the dowry of his
wife—by what right do you claim this to be your own?”
“What other right,” quoth Bracidas, “would you deem valid, except that
the sea has thrown it unto me?”
“Your right is good,” said Sir Artegall, “and so I judge it. That which
the sea sent unto you should be your own; for equal things have equal
rights. What the mighty sea has once possessed and quite plucked from
its owner’s hands—whether by the rage of the unresting waves, or
tempest, or shipwreck—it may dispose of by its imperial might to
whomever it chooses, as a thing left at random. So in the first place,
Amidas, the land was declared to be yours; and so, in like manner,
Bracidas, the treasure is yours by right.”
When Sir Artegall had thus pronounced sentence, both Amidas and Philtera
were displeased, but Bracidas and Lucy were very glad, and immediately
took possession of the treasure, in accordance with the judgment.
So their discord was appeased by this sentence, and each one had his
right; and Sir Artegall, having stopped their contention, went on his
way.