Page:Power of affection.pdf/17

(17) The three firſt, after having confeſſed and received absolution, submitted to their fate. The fourth, whom fortune condemned, was a Portuguese gentleman that had a younger brother in the boat, who seeing him about to be thrown over-board, moſt tenderly embraced him, and with tears in his eyes besought him to let him die in his room, enforcing his arguments by telling him that he was a married man, and had a wife and children at Goa, beſides the care of three ſiſters, who absolutely depended upon him; that as for himself, he was ſingle, and his life of no great importance: he therefore conjured him to suffer him to supply his place. The elder brother, aſtoniſhed, and melting with this generoſity, replied, that ſince the divine Providence had appointed him to suffer, it would be wicked and unjuſt to permit any other to die for him, especially a brother, to whom he was infinitely obliged. The younger, perſiſting in his purpose, would take no denial; but throwing himself on his knees, held his brother so faſt that the company could not disengage them. Thus they disputed for a while, the elder brother bidding him to be a father to his children, and recommended his wife to his protection, and as he would inherit his eſtate, to take care of their common ſiſters: but all he could say could not make the younger deſiſt. This was a scene of