Emelia made flat deniall of any of all these saiynges to bee true. Alberto in a greate furie, would haue taken witnesse of Philotus in the matter, but Philotus fearyng an other banket at night, when he should goe to bedde, durste not in any wise seeme to contrarie Emelia: In the ende after greate fendyng and prouyng had in the matter, Emelia from poinct to poincte discoursed to her Father, how she firste fell into the likyng of Flanius, and by his practise so conueighed her self awaie in his Pages apparell, and had with hym remained all this while, till now he had tourned her awaie. Her father would in nowise allow this tale to be true, but Flanius beeyng well knowne to bee a courteous Gentleman, Alberto deuised to sende for hym, who presently at his gentle intreatie, came to the house of Philotus, where he spared not to confesse a truth, that onely for the loue that he bare to Emelia, he deuised to steale her awaie: and there came one vnto him in the likenesse of Emelia, and in the same apparell that he had prouided for her, whom he verie charely kept, vntill suche tyme as he sawe with his owne eyes, that Emelia was married in the Churche to Philotus, and then assuryng hym self, that he had been deceiued by some Spirite, that had taken vppon the similitude and likenesse of Emelia, he presently came home, and tourned her awaie, and what was become of her, he could neuer learne. Alberto muche amazed to heare this tale, saied: Seignior Flanius doe you knowe your Emelia again, if you see her, and then, poinctyng to his daughter, he saied: Is not this the same Emelia that you speake of, whiche you haue tourned awaie. I knowe not (q. Flanius) the one from the other; but sure I sawe with myne eyes twoo Emelias so like, that the one of them of force must needes bee the Deuill. There is no question (q. Philotus) but that is my wife, if there bee euer a Deuill of them bothe, I knowe it is she: Out alas that euer I was borne, what shall I now dooe, I knowe I haue married the Deuill. And by fortune as Alberto chaunced to looke forthe of the windowe, he espied Philerno and Brisilla in the Streate commyng homewardes. Peace 32 OF PHYLOTUS AND EMELIA. (q. Alberto) here commeth the other Emelia, wee shall now trie, whiche of them is the Deuill (I thinke) before we departe. By this Philerno was come in, and hearyng how matters had been debated, and were falne out: againe, knowing Alberto to be his Father, and what preiudice his sister Emelia was like to sustaine, if she should be forsaken by her freende and louer Flanius, confessed the whole matter, humblie desiryng his Father to forgiue hym. When he had a while wondered at the circumstaunce, and the truthe of euery thyng laied open, and come to light, all parties were well pleased and contented, sauyng Philotus, for when he remembred, first the losse of his loue Emelia, then how Philerno had beaten hym, what a bedfellowe he had prouided hym, while he hym self went and laie with his daughter; these thinges put all together, made hym in suche a chafe, that he was like to runne out of his wittes. But when he had regarded a good while, and sawe how little helpe it did preuaile hym, he was contented in the ende that his daughter Brisilla, should Marrie with Philerno, and Flanius verie ioyfully receiued againe his Emelia (when he knewe she was no Deuill,) and bothe the Marriages consummate in one daie. And so I praie God giue them ioye, and euery old do- FINIS. |