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jewell by you so much esteemed； as she is。
〃For this； and no other reason； did I presume to use the secret
cunning which now is openly made knowne unto you： and Gisippus
disposed himselfe thereunto； which otherwise hee never determined to
have done； in contracting the marriage for me； and shee consenting
to me in his name。
Moreover； albeit most earnestly I affected her； I sought to
procure your union； not like a lover； but as a true husband； nor would
I immodestly touch her； till first （as her selfe can testifie） with
the words becomming wedlocke； and the Ring also I espoused her；
demanding of her； if shee would accept mee as her husband； and shee
answered mee； with her full consent。 Wherein； if it may seeme that
shee was deceived； I am not any way to be blamed； but she； for not
demanding； what； and who I was。
This then is the great evill； the great offence； and the great
injurie committed by my friend Gisippus； and by mee as a Lover： that
Sophronia is secretly become the wife of Titus Quintus Fulvius。 And
for this cause； like spies you watch him； threaten him daily； as if
you intended to teare him in pieces。 What could you doe more； if hee
had given her to a man of the very vilest condition？ to a villaine； to
a slave？ What prisons？ what fetters？ Or what torments are sufficient
for this fact？ But leaving these frivolous matters； let us come to
discourse of more moment； and better beseeming your attention。
The time is come； that I may no longer continue heere； because
Publius my Father is dead； and I must needs returne to Rome； wherefore
being minded to take Sophronia thither with mee； I was the more
willing to acquaint you therewith； as also what else I have said；
which otherwise had still beene concealed from you。 Nor can you but
take it in good part； if you be wise； and rest well contented with
what is done： considering； if I had any intention eyther to deceive；
or otherwise wrong you； I could have basely left her； and made a
scorne both of her and you； you not having any power to stay mee
heere。 But the Gods will never permitte that any couragious Romane；
should ever conceive so vile and degenerate a thought。
Sophronia； by ordination of the Gods； by force of humane Lawes；
and by the laudable consent of my friend Gisippus； as also the
powerfull command of Love is mine。 But you perchance； imagining your
selves to be wiser then the Gods； or any other men whatsoever； may
thinke ill of it； and more brutishly then beasts； condemne their
working in two kinds； which would be offensive to mee。 The one is；
your detaining of Sophronia from mee； of whom you have no power； but
what pleaseth mee。 The other； is your bitter threatnings against
Gisippus my deare friend； to whom you are in duty obliged。 In both
which cases； how unreasonablie soever you carrie your selves； I intend
not at this time to presse any further。 But rather let mee counsell
you like a friend； to cease your hatred and disdaine； and suffer
Sophronia to be delivered mee； that I may depart contentedly from
you as a kinsman； and （being absent） remaine your friend： assuring
you； that whether what is done shall please or displease you； if you
purpose to proceed any otherwise： I will take Gisippus along with me；；
and when I come to Rome； take such sure order； to fetch her hence； who
in justice is mine； even in meere despight of you all； and then you
shall feele by sound experience； how powerfull is the just indignation
of the wronged Romanes。〃
When Titus had thus concluded his Oration； he arose with a sterne
and discontented countenance； and tooke Gisippus by the hand；
plainly declaring； that he made small account of all the rest that
were in the Temple； and shaking his head at them； rather menaced
then any other wise seemed to care for them。
They which tarried； when they were gone； considering partly on the
reasons alleadged by Titus； and partly terrified by his latest
speeches； became induced； to like well of his alliance and amitie；
as （with common consent） they concluded： that it was much better to
accept Titus as their kinsman （seeing Gisippus had made manifest
refusall thereof） than to lose the kinred of the one； and procure
the hatred of the other。 Wherefore they went to seeke Titus； and
said unto him； they were very well contented that Sophronia should bee
his Wife； hee their deare and loving kinsman； and Gisippus to
remaine their much respected friend。 And embracing one another； making
a solemne feast； such as in the like cases is necessarilie required；
they departed from him； presently sending Sophronia to him； who making
a vertue of necessity； converted her love （in short time after） to
Titus； in as effectuall manner； as formerly shee had done to Gisippus；
and so was sent away with him to Rome； where she was received and
welcommed with very great honour。
Gisippus remaining still at Athens； in small regard of eyther theirs
or his owne friends： not long after by meanes of sundry troublesome
Citizens； and partialities happening among the common people； was
banished from Athens； and hee； as also all his familie； condemned to
perpetuall exile： during which tempestuous time； Gisippus was become
not onely wretchedly poore； but wandred abroad as a common begger；
in which miserable condition he travelled to Rome； to try if Titus
would take any acknowledgement of him。 Understanding that he was
living； and one most respected among the Romanes； as being a great
Commander and a Senator： he enquired for the place where hee dwelt；
and going to be neere about his house； stayed there so long； till
Titus came home； yet not daring to manifest himselfe； or speake a word
to him； in regard of his poore and miserable estate； but strove to
have him see him； to the end； that hee might acknowledge and call
him by his name； notwithstanding； Titus passed by him without either
speech； or looking on him： Which when Gisippus perceived； and making
full account； that （at the least） he would remember him； in regard
of former courtesies； done to him： confounded with griefe and
desperate thoughtes； hee departed thence； never meaning to see him any
more。
Now； in regard it was night； he having eaten nothing all that day；
nor provided of one penny to buy him any food； wandred he knew not
whether； desiring rather to die than live； hee came at last to an
old ruinous part of the City； over…spred with briers and bushes； and
seldome resorted unto by any： where finding a hollow Cave or vault； he
entred into it； meaning there to weare away the comfortlesse night；
and laying himselfe downe on the hard ground； almost starke naked； and
without any warme garments； over…wearied with weeping； at last he fell
into a sleepe。
It fortuned that two men； who had beene abroad the same night；
committing thefts and robberies together； somwhat very earlie in the
morning； came to the same Cave； intending there to share and divide
their booties； and difference happening betweene them about it； hee
that was the stronger person； slew there the other； and then went away
with the whole purchase。
Gisippus having heard and seene the manner of this accident； was not
a little joyfull； because he had now found a way to death； without
laying any violent hand on himselfe； for life being very loathsome
to him； it was his only desire to die。 Wherfore； he would not budge
from the place； but taried there so long； till the Sergeants and
Officers of justice （by information of him that did the deede） came
thither well attended； and furiously ledde Gisippus thence to prison。
Being examined concerning this bloudy fact； he plainly confessed；
that hee himselfe had committed the murder； and afterward would not
depart from the Cave； but purposely stayed for apprehension； as
being truely toucht with compunction for so foule an offence： upon
which eremptorie confession； Marcus Varro being then Praetor； gave
sentence that he should be crucified on a Crosse； as it was the usuall
manner of death in those dayes。 Titus chancing to come at the same
time into Praetorium； advisedly beholding the face of the condemned
man （as hee sate upon the bench） knew him to bee Gysippus； not a
little wondring at this strange accident； the povertie of his
estate； and what occasion should bring him thither； especially in
the questioning for his life； and before the Tribunall of justice。
His soule earnestly thirsting； by all possible meanes to helpe and
defend him； and no other course could now be taken for safetie of
his life； but by accusing himselfe； to excuse and cleare the other
of the crime： hee stept from off the judgement bench； and crouding
through the throng to the Barre； called out to the Praetor in this
manner。 Marcus Varro； recall thy sentence given on the condemned man
sent away； because hee is truely guiltlesse and innocent： With one
bloudie blow have I offended the Gods； by killing that wretched man；
whom the Serjeants found this morning slaine； wherefore Noble Praetor；
let no innocent mans bloud be shed for it； but onely mine that have
offended。
Marcus Varro stood like a man confounded with admiration； being very
sorrie； for that which the whole assistants had both seene and
heard； yet hee could not （with