Page:History of Fortunatus (4).pdf/14

 admitted to be private with her in her chamber, favour which none before had received: and there being none but they, he thought it was now time to declare his passion; which he did in such obliging terms, that she seemed to be pleased with it, only saying, your lavishing expenses, I fear, will bring us both to poverty, should I marry with you. He told her that could not be, for his treasure during his life was inexhaustible, and could not be spent spend what he would. Let me know, said the princess, from whence you have these great riches? Ah, said he, it was my dying father's command not to discover it to any; yet so dearly do I love you that I can deny you nothing. To this she obliged herself, and he, drunk with love, thereupon showed her his purse, told he how it was come by, and all the secrets of it, letting her see it experimentally, by pulling out several handfuls of gold, which he presented her with, telling her he could do so all day long, and every day as long as he lived. This made her inwardly rejoice, and from that time plotted how to get it, which she affected, under the colour of a promise he should lie with her before marriage, if he would swear to be true to her when she had rendered up to him her virgin treasure. But, whilst he expected, with a multitude of joy; the fruition of her delicate body, she contrived with her woman to give him drugs in his wine and so drinking them lustily, he fell fast asleep. Then turning aside his coat, she took his purse, and fastened another of the same likeness to his girdle, but different in virtue: so that waking in the morning, and finding him in a chair, he