Page:Peregrinaggio di tre giovani figliuoli del re di Serendippo.djvu/144

 She took a knife and wanted to cut her veins with it, but was kept from doing so by a daughter of her nurse, called Achel, who had always lived with her. She severely criticized her and showed her that it was a grave error to despair. And if she did kill herself, her soul would eternally be damned in the painful fires of Hell. For this and many other reasons Giulla renounced her proud resolution. And Achel consoled her also somewhat by saying that it was not easy to believe that the tyrant had spread the news through the city that he had put Feristeno to death. She could not believe this herself anyway. The tearful Giulla answered her, "I truly know, dearest Achel, that you see me in such great need of comfort because of the overwhelming love you have for me, that you try to prevent me from deciding to kill myself. But tell me, please, if I do not kill myself, when I find myself in such a miserable state of life, deprived of my dearest husband, is it reasonable that I should give my virginity to such a cruel and impious tyrant, who is an enemy of our faith?"

"Never," Achel said, "nor would I ever comfort you, because this would show little friendship to you and be untrue to my belief in Christ with whose help, I hope we could find a way out of this misfortune. You must also know how good and holy our confessor is considered by everyone.