Page:Dorastus and Fawnia, or, The life and adventures of a German princess.pdf/9

 great rage, 'That she, and the bastard brat she had should die, though the Gods themselves said no.' Believing the child was begot by Egistus,  not that himself was the father or it.

Bellaria was, some time after brought to bed a fair and beautiful daughter, the news  being carried to Pandosta, he, instead of  thereat, determined, that both the child  the mother should be burnt. To prevent from which his nobles laid before him the  innocency of the infant princess, and the  character of her royal mother, who  always obeyed him with that respect, and  him with that tenderness, that left her without  least shadow of a crime. And that even tho' had been guilty (of which there appeared not  least proof) yet, to be banished from his bed, was a sufficient punishment, seeing it was more  the Gods, to be pitiful and forgive, than to  offenders with extreme rigour, especially  of reason, whatever were in these. All the answer that Pandosta returned was, Bellaria, being an adulteress, the child was a  and he would not permit so infamous a  to call him father. Yet, he so far yielded to importunity of his nobles, as not to lay  hands on the child, though, at the same time,  designed to expose it to a more cruel death, and, ordering a little cock-boat to be made,  caused the infant to be put therein, and  to the mercy of the sea. We cannot the grief and lamentation of Bellaria, for the  sentence passed on her innocent babe, and  by its own father. But neither prayers nor could prevail: the little infant was committed  the mercy of the merciless waters. Bellaria was upon her trial; and Pandosta, not satisfied