OF PAINEFULL ADUENTURES.	293
innocent blond : and with that hee went into the graue and drue his dagger, and made him readie for the deede. Tharsia was now come from schoole, and made haste vnto the grave with a flagon of wine as shee was wont to doe, and entred within the vault. Then the villaine rushed violently vpon her, and caught her by the haire of the head, and threw her to the ground. And while he was now readie to stab her with the dagger, poore silly Tharsia all amazed casting her eies vpon him, knew the villain, and hold-ing vp her handes, said thus vnto him : O, Theophi-lus against whom haue I so greeuously offended, that I must die therefore ? The villaine answered, Thou hast not offended, but thy father hath, which left thee behind him in Strangullios house with so great a treasure in mony, and princely ornaments. O, said the mayden, would to God he had not done so : but I pray thee Theophilus, since there is no hope for me to escape with life, giue mee licence to say my praiers before I die. I giue thee licence said the villaine, and I take God to record that I am constrained to murther thee against my will.
the twelfth chapter.
How certaim Pyrats rescued Tharsia when she should haue been slaine, and carried her imio the dtie Machilenta to be sold among other bondslaues.
As fortune, or rather the prouidence of God serued, while Tharsia was deuoutly making her praiers, cer-taine pyrats which were come aland, and stood vnder the side of an hill watching for some prey, beholding an armed man offering violence vnto a mayden, cried vnto him, and said : Thou cruel tyrant 1 that maiden