Page:History of Fortunatus (4).pdf/2

 THE

OF

CHAP. I.

Of Fortunatus' Birth, Parentage, &c.

the isle of Cyprus there is a stately city called Famagosta, where once lived one Theodorus, descended of noble parents, who left him with great estate; but being brought up to nothing but pleasures, he soon wasted the greatest part of his riches, to the great grief of all his relations, who, thinking to make him leave off these courses determined to match him to a rich merchant’s daughter in the city of Nicovia named Gratiana, a discreet woman, whose prudence and good humour might be a means of bringing him to live soberly and frugally; and proposing it to him with many persuasive reasons and arguments how much it would he for his good, he resolved to visit her; and, after a few months courtship; they were married in a splendid manner, most of the principal gentlemen of either city being at the wedding, and so they lived together in content and great felicity for the space of one year, in which time