Adenis and Virsise (book)/Full text

Chapter one
''In bright of day, on starry night, two starstruck lovers were meant to be. Adenis, she was, of noble blood, and Arab vise. He, Virsicius, was a merchants son, a good but lowly boy. As in the stories of old, he was meant for her, and she for him. And indeed, the witch-woman to Adenis said, “a young boy you will meet, simple but true and he will be your man”. Adenis did not heed the tale, with thoughts of bethrothal to some rich prince of the orient filling up her head. Indeed one day, out in the market of, she came across a boy, which struck her dumb. Of spanish blood he was, but a noble heart he bore. Just like the witch-woman predicted, the two, in an instant had locked eyes and joint hands. She had found true love, one which gold could not buy. The two were locked in passionate love, under the seclusion of a grove of trees. Beknownst to them her father’s maid Laila could see the unfolding events from the cook-house window. She could do nothing but reveal her seeings to her master. Enraged, he went to the grove of trees but instead found his sweet daughter with book in hand. He strode towards the witch-woman, demanding that she predict if his daughter was with a man. Flawlessly recanting as if kept to memory, she spoke of his daughter's faith and obedience to him.''