Page:History of Fortunatus (3).pdf/3

 lived with her very virtuously for a time, to the content of both their relations. In a year after this marriage, Gratiana was brought to bed of a son, who was christened Fortunatus. Theodorus, in a little time, began to follow his former bad courses, insomuch, that he began to sell and mortgage most part of his land, till at last he wasted all his estate, so he fell into such extreme poverty that they were not able to keep any servants; Gratiana being forced to dress her own meat and wash her clothes herself. Theodorus and his wife, sitting at a poor dinner, and the father beholding his son, could hardly refrain from weeping; which when his son perceived, being then eighteen years old, and was expert in hunting, hawking, and playing on the lute, which was his chief pastime, he spoke to his father and said. Dear father, what aileth you? for I observe, that when you behold me, you seem sad Sir, have I any ways offended you. His father answered, Dear son, thou art not the cause of my grief, but myself is the cause of my pinching poverty I am brought to, when I call to mind the great wealth and honour I lately enjoyed,