bestow her upon another, perchance, than thee, and so we should both be losers.  Wherefore methinks that, so thou approve, I were best to complete what I have begun, bring her home as my wife, and celebrate the nuptials, and thereafter we can arrange that thou lie with her, privily, as thy wife.  Then, time and occasion serving, we will disclose the whole affair, and if they are satisfied, well and good; if not, ’twill be done all the same, and as it cannot be undone, they must perforce make the best of it.”

Which counsel being approved by Titus, Gisippus brought the lady home as his wife, Titus being now recovered, and quite himself again; and when they had made great cheer, and night was come, the ladies, having bedded the bride, took their departure.  Now the chambers of Titus and Gisippus were contiguous, and one might pass from one into the other:  Gisippus, therefore, being come into his room, extinguished every ray of light, and stole into that of Titus, and bade him go get him to bed with his lady.  Whereat Titus gave way to shame, and would have changed his mind, and refused to go in; but Gisippus, no less zealous at heart than in words to serve his friend, after no small contention prevailed on him to go thither.  Now no sooner was Titus abed with the lady, than, taking her in his arms, he, as if jestingly, asked in a low tone whether she were minded to be his wife.  She, taking him to be Gisippus, answered, yes; whereupon he set a fair and costly ring on her finger, saying:—­“And I am minded to be thy husband.”  And having presently consummated the marriage, he long and amorously disported him with her, neither she, nor any other, being ever aware that another than Gisippus lay with her.

Now Titus and Sophronia being after this sort wedded, Publius, the father of Titus, departed this life.  For which cause Titus was bidden by letter to return forthwith to Rome to see to his affairs; wherefore he took counsel with Gisippus how he might take Sophronia thither with him; which might not well be done without giving her to know how matters stood.  Whereof, accordingly, one day, having called her into the chamber, they fully apprised her, Titus for her better assurance bringing to her recollection not a little of what had passed between them.  Whereat she, after glancing from one to the other somewhat disdainfully, burst into a flood of tears, and reproached Gisippus that he had so deluded her; and forthwith, saying nought of the matter to any there, she hied her forth of Gisippus’ house and home to her father, to whom and her mother she recounted the deceit which Gisippus had practised upon them as upon her, averring that she was the wife not of Gisippus, as they supposed, but of Titus.  Whereby her father was aggrieved exceedingly, and prolonged and grave complaint was made thereof by him and his own and Gisippus’ families, and there was not a little parleying, and a world of pother.  Gisippus earned the hatred of both his own and Sophronia’s kin, and all agreed that he merited not only censure but severe punishment.  He, however, averred that he had done a thing seemly, and that Sophronia’s kinsfolk owed him thanks for giving her in marriage to one better than himself.