equall to the other; yet in vertue, wherewith his minde was bountifully enriched, farre surpassed him. Betweene these two houses was an ancient quarrell and emu∣lation, by reason that neither of them would allow any equalitie, both still conten∣ding for superioritie, which to him that desires to beare rule and command is a great and heauie burden. Truth it is, that in the time of these two principall men, Disteus his partialitie went somewhat by the woorse, bicause king Rotindus that then reigned, fauoured not a little the contrarie part, onely for that Sagastes resem∣bled him so much in his bad conditions and disorder of life. For both of them were proude, cruell, libidinous, enimies to vertue, and imbracers of all kinde of vice, whereunto Disteus was a mortall enimie: So that the king with continuall fauours enriched Sagastes, and fauoured his followers, and with perpetuall hatred procured to impouerish Disteus, and persecute his friends. There were but fewe in the whole kingdome that for feare did not whatsoeuer Sagastes commanded, though they ha∣ted him in their mindes, and none that by their good wils would haue denied to ful∣fill Disteus pleasure in all things, who loued him deerely in their secret harts. So that they obeied Sagastes openly for respect of the king, and loued Disteus secretly for his owne deserts: Who yet with vertuous and sincere loue was not a little ena∣moured of Dardanea Sagastes sister, a yoong gentlewoman passing faire and rich, she being also adorned with all those gifts of nature, and minde, which onely enstall that noble sexe in immortal praises. For in her did euerie vertue shine as in their pro∣per place. Her loue likewise to him was chaste and pure, being onely grounded vpon Disteus his noble vertues, and singular goodnes, that was then the common subiect of euery mouth; whose loue though in her chaste breast it was with all kind of ho∣nest affection entertained, yet might his comely personage & goodly features haue well procured a wanton thought in the most modest minde. This noble Ladie had been married but three moneths to a knight of her own house (but in many degrees remooued) (called Fenubius) when Atropos before his iust time did cut off his vital thread, and in the flower of her age made her a yoong widow. Who bearing no small affection to Disteus when she was a maide, would faine haue married him; but neither by words nor signes durst once declare the lest thought thereof vnto him, bicause she would not for all the world transgresse the due limits of her honor and vertuos reputation; as also bicause she thought it impossible to conclude a marriage in two such contrarie houses: Whereupon without more a doe she was constrained to take such a husband, as her brother did giue her (for her parents died when she was but eight yeeres old) with whom she liued so content (or at the least fained it) as if she had neuer thought of any other matter, a thing no lesse beseeming so braue a personage, as she a most worthie example for them that take this honorable estate vpon them. Dardanea being therefore a widow, it fell out that Sagastes vpon a small occasion did (to her great griefe) put away her steward, who had beene an auncient seruitor, and well esteemed of her parents, denying to pay him that, which was his due for his late seruice. In regard whereof, and for his other deserts, this noble Gen∣tlewoman did not onely satisfie Anfilardus (for so he was called) but also bestowed bountifull rewards vpon him, excusing her selfe to him and saying, that his depar∣ture was much against her will. There was not one in all the citie of Sagastes partie, that would giue him entertainment, bicause they would not offend so mightie a man: the which Anfilardus perceiuing, and how vniustly he was reiected, he labou∣red to be with Disteus, whose fauour, bicause he deserued no lesse, as also bicause it was an honor to Disteus to releeue Sagastes old seruants, he soone obtained. Though
