Theodosius, the emperor, in short space took notice of her excellent beauty and good parts, and a little after, upon his sister’s sole commendation, made her his wife:  ’twas nobly done of Theodosius. [5891]Rudophe was the fairest lady in her days in all Egypt; she went to wash her, and by chance, (her maids meanwhile looking but carelessly to her clothes) an eagle stole away one of her shoes, and laid it in Psammeticus the King of Egypt’s lap at Memphis:  he wondered at the excellency of the shoe and pretty foot, but more Aquilae, factum, at the manner of the bringing of it:  and caused forthwith proclamation to be made, that she that owned that shoe should come presently to his court; the virgin came, and was forthwith married to the king.  I say this was heroically done, and like a prince:  I commend him for it, and all such as have means, that will either do (as he did) themselves, or so for love, &c., marry their children.  If he be rich, let him take such a one as wants, if she be virtuously given; for as Siracides, cap. 7. ver. 19. adviseth, “Forego not a wife and good woman; for her grace is above gold.”  If she have fortunes of her own, let her make a man.  Danaus of Lacedaemon had a many daughters to bestow, and means enough for them all, he never stood inquiring after great matches, as others used to do, but [5892]sent for a company of brave young gallants to his house, and bid his daughters choose every one one, whom she liked best, and take him for her husband, without any more ado.  This act of his was much approved in those times.  But in this iron age of ours, we respect riches alone, (for a maid must buy her husband now with a great dowry, if she will have him) covetousness and filthy lucre mars all good matches, or some such by-respects.  Crales, a Servian prince (as Nicephorus Gregoras Rom. hist. lib. 6. relates it,) was an earnest suitor to Eudocia, the emperor’s sister; though her brother much desired it, yet she could not [5893]abide him, for he had three former wives, all basely abused; but the emperor still, Cralis amicitiam magni faciens, because he was a great prince, and a troublesome neighbour, much desired his affinity, and to that end betrothed his own daughter Simonida to him, a little girl five years of age (he being forty-five,) and five [5894]years older than the emperor himself:  such disproportionable and unlikely matches can wealth and a fair fortune make.  And yet not that alone, it is not only money, but sometimes vainglory, pride, ambition, do as much harm as wretched covetousness itself in another extreme.  If a yeoman have one sole daughter, he must overmatch her, above her birth and calling, to a gentleman forsooth, because of her great portion, too good for one of her own rank, as he supposeth:  a gentleman’s daughter and heir must be married to a knight baronet’s eldest son at least; and a knight’s only daughter to a baron himself, or an earl, and so upwards, her great dower deserves it.  And thus striving for