Page:Most excellent and delightful history of Fortunatus.pdf/3



THE HISTORY OF FORTUNATUS.

CHAP. I. Of Fortunatus' birth, parentage, &c. N the isle of Cyprus there is a stately city, called Famagosta, where once lived one Theodorus, descended of noble parents, who left him with a 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 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