Old Fortunatus
by Thomas Dekker
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At a glance:
- Author: Thomas Dekker
- First Published: 1599
- Type of Work: Drama
- Type of Plot: Allegory
- Setting: Cyprus, Babylon, and England
- Characters: Fortunatus, Andelocia, Ampedo, Agripyne, Fortune, Virtue, Vice,
- Genres: Drama, Comedy, Folklore
- Subjects: Parents and children, Sin or Original sin, England or English people, Fathers, Good and evil, Greed, Gods or goddesses, Middle East, Tenth century
- Locales: Europe, Asia, England, Cyprus, Babylon, ancient, United Kingdom
The Story:
Fortunatus has never assiduously pursued virtue. He has been compelled, however, by his poverty to lead a life of patience and temperance. One day, after wandering for three days in a forest and sustaining himself by eating nuts, he unexpectedly encounters the goddess Fortune. This meeting is to transform his life. The goddess, who enjoys both the praises and the curses of men as tokens of her power, chooses to smile on the old man. Of her six gifts—wisdom, strength, health, beauty, long life, and riches—she offers him one. Believing that all other blessings will...
(The entire page is 2328 words.)
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