Page:History of the seven wise mistresses of Rome.pdf/3

3 II. What is it gives the greatest pleasure to the soul of man?—She said, The answer of a good conscience

III. What knowledge made women wisest?—She replied, The knowledge of good and evil.

The Mistresses rejoiced at these accurate answers, and were of opinion that for wisdom she would excel all her progneitorsprogenitors [sic].

Soon after they received a command from the Empress to bring her home; on which they retired into the garden to consult the planets, whether the event would be fortunate or not; but observing a great contention among the signs they foresaw that if she spoke more words than one, her enemies would have power over her, to betray her to the most shameful death. This trouble the Mistresses much, which Sabrina perceiving, demanded the cause; it being told her, she viewed the stars herself and found it true; but promised to follow their advice, and hoped by their assistance to pervert the malice of her enemies; So the seven Mistresses agreed each to take a day to plead for the Princess, and at the expiration of that time the malignity of the stars would be over, and she might speak for herself telling here that the single word she was to speak must be JUSTICE: