Old Fortunatus | Old Fortunatus

At a glance:

Author: Thomas Dekker
First Published: 1600
Type of Work: Drama
Type of Plot: Allegory
Time of Work: Tenth century
Setting: Cyprus, Babylon, and England
Principal 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: England, Cyprus, Babylon, ancient

Fortunatus had never assiduously pursued virtue. He had 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 encountered the goddess Fortune. This meeting was to transform his life. The goddess, who enjoyed both the praises and the curses of men as tokens of her power, chose to smile on the old man. Of her six gifts—wisdom, strength, health, beauty, long life, and riches—she offered him one. Believing that all other blessings...

Old Fortunatus | Old Fortunatus

At a glance:

The Story:

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