Page 19 - Doralice

orders to a porter to carry it away and place it
on board his ship. The nurse, who was
watching the trafficking from a distance, was
well pleased with the issue thereof, though she
grieved sore at losing the maiden. Wherefore
she consoled herself by reflecting that when it
comes to the choice of evils it is ever wiser to
avoid the greater.

The merchant, having set sail from Salerno
with his carven chest and other valuable
wares, voyaged to the island of Britain, known
to us to-day as England, and landed at a port
near which the country was spread out in a
vast plain. Be fore he had been there long,
Genese, who had lately been crowned king of

the island, happened to be riding along the
seashore, chasing a fine stag, which, in the
end, ran down to the beach and took to the
water. The king, feeling weary and worn with
the long pursuit, was fain to rest awhile, and,
having caught sight of the ship, he sent to ask
the master of it to give him something to
drink; and the latter, feigning to be ignorant
he was talking to the king, greeted Genese

familiarly, and gave him a hearty welcome,
finally prevailing upon him to go on board his
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