Unhappy Tantalus, amidst the flood,
    Where floating apple on the surface roll’d,
    Ever pursu’d them with a longing eye,
    Yet could not thurst nor hunger satisfie. 
    Such is the miser’s fate; who midst his store,
    Fearing to use, is miserably poor.

Ascyltos would have been for Naples the same day, had I not told him how imprudent it was to take up there, where, forasmuch as could be conjectur’d, we were most likely to be sought after:  “And therefore,’’ said I, “let’s keep out of the way for the present, and, since we have enough to keep us from want, stroul it about till the heat be over.”  The advice was approv’d, and we set forward for a pleasant country-town, where we were sure to meet some of our acquaintance that were taking the benefit of the season:  But we were scarce got half way, when a shower of rain emptying it self upon us like buckets, forc’d us into the next village; where entring the inn, we saw a great many others that had also struck in, to avoid the storm.  The throng kept us from being taken notice of, and gave us the opportunity of prying here and there, what we might filch in a crowd, when Ascyltos, unheeded of any one, took a purse from the ground, in which he found several pieces of gold; we leap’d for joy at so fortunate a beginning; but fearing, lest some or other might seek after it, we slunk out at a back-door, where we saw a groom saddling his horses; but, as having forgotten somewhat, he run into the house leaving behind him an embroider’d mantle, mail’d to one of the saddles:  In his absence I cut the straps and under the covert of some out-sheds we made off with it to a neighbouring forest.  Being more out of danger among the thickets we cast about where we should hide the gold that we might not be either charg’d with the felony, or robb’d of it our selves:  At last we concluded to sow it in the lining of an old patcht coat which I threw over my shoulders and entrusted the care of the mantle to Ascyltos, in design to get to the city by cross-ways:  But as we were going out we heard somewhat on our left hand to this purpose:  “They shall not escape us; they came into the wood; let’s separate ourselves and beat about, that we may the better discover and take them.”  This put us into such a fright that Ascyltos and Gito fled through briars and brambles to the city-ward; but I turn’d back again in such a hurry that without perceiving it the precious coat drop’d from my shoulders:  At last being quite tir’d and not able to go any further, I laid me down under the shelter of a tree where I first miss’d the coat:  Then grief restor’d my strength, and up I got again to try if I could recover the treasure; I ran hither and thither and every where but to no purpose; but spent and wasted between toil and heaviness, I got into a thicket, where having tarried four hours, and half dead with the horror of the place, I sought the way out; but going forward, a country-man came