dwelleth in a small house, and is ever counting his
money, and hath a wife that is a companion of his
extreame misery, neither keepeth he more in his house
than onely one maid, who goeth apparelled like unto
a beggar. Which when I heard, I laughed in my
self and thought, In faith my friend Demeas hath served
me well, which hath sent me being a stranger, unto
such a man, in whose house I shall not bee afeared
either of smoke or of the sent of meat; and therewithall
I rode to the doore, which was fast barred, and knocked
aloud. Then there came forth a maid which said,
Ho sirrah that knocks so fast, in what kinde of sort
will you borrow money? Know you not that we use
to take no gage, unless it be either plate or Jewels?
To whom I answered, I pray you maid speak more gently,
and tel me whether thy master be within or no?
Yes (quoth shee) that he is, why doe you aske?
Mary (said I) I am come from Corinth, and have brought
him letters from Demeas his friend. Then sayd
the Maid, I pray you tarry here till I tell him so,
and therewithall she closed fast the doore, and went
in, and after a while she returned againe and sayd,
My master desireth you to alight and come in.
And so I did, whereas I found him sitting upon a little
bed, going to supper, and his wife sate at his feet,
but there was no meat upon the table, and so by appointment
of the maid I came to him and saluted him, and delivered
the letters which I had brought from Demeas.
Which when hee had read hee sayd, Verily, I thanke
my friend Demeas much, in that hee hath sent mee so
worthy a guest as you are. And therewithall hee
commanded his wife to sit away and bid mee sit in
her place; which when I refused by reason of courtesie,
hee pulled me by my garment and willed me to sit downe;
for wee have (quoth he) no other stool here, nor no
other great store of household stuffe, for fear of
robbing. Then I according to his commandement,
sate down, and he fell in further communication with
me and sayd, Verily I doe conjecture by the comly
feature of your body, and by the maidenly shamefastnesse
of your face that you are a Gentleman borne, as my
friend Demeas hath no lesse declared the same in his
letters. Wherfore I pray you take in good part
our poore lodging, and behold yonder chamber is at
your commaundement, use it as your owne, and if you
be contented therewithall, you shall resemble and follow
the vertuous qualities of your good father Theseus,
who disdained not the slender and poore Cottage of
Hecades.
And then he called his maid which was named Fotis,
and said, Carry this Gentlemans packet into the chamber,
and lay it up safely, and bring water quickly to wash
him, and a towel to rub him, and other things necessary,
and then bring him to the next Baines, for I know that
he is very weary of travell.
These things when I heard, I partly perceived the
manners of Milo, and endeavouring to bring my selfe
further into his favour, I sayd, Sir there is no need
of any of these things, for they have been everywhere
ministred unto mee by the way, howbeit I will go into
the Baines, but my chiefest care is that my horse
be well looked to, for hee brought mee hither roundly,
and therefore I pray thee Fotis take this money and
buy some hay and oats for him.