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striking, Tharsia cried out, "Theophilus! what crime have I committed against you, or against any other, that I should die?" "You are innocent," answered he, "of everything, save possessing a sum of money and certain royal ornaments left you by your father." "O sir!" said the forsaken orphan, "if I have no hope, yet suffer me to supplicate my Maker before I die." "Do so," answered the steward, "and God knows that it is upon compulsion that I slay thee." Now, while the girl was engaged in prayer, certain pirates rushed into the monument, expecting to carry off a booty; and observing a young maid prostrated, and a man standing over her in the act to destroy her, they shouted out: "Stop, barbarian! that is our prey, not your victory." Theophilus, full of terror, fled hastily from the monument, and hid himself by the shore.
The pirates carried off the maid to sea; and the steward, returning to his mistress, assured her that he had obeyed her commands. "I advise you," said he, "to put on a mourning garment, which I also will do, and shed tears for her death. This will deceive the citizens, to whom we will say that she was taken off by a sickness." When Stranguilio heard what bad been done, his grief was sincere and violent. "I will clothe myself in deep mourning," cried he, "for I, too, am involved in this fearful enormity, Alas! what can I do? Her father freed our city from
