which mine Aunt would not for all the worlde had hapned, least her Mistres might haue taken some displeasure at them both, which thing made not a little for their good beginning. But as mine Aunt was very discreet and wise, so did she obuiate this doubt with a sudden remedie; for to preuent any such extreme passion, that by such a sight and ioy hemight haue had, she thought to moderate it with some pre∣sent thought of no lesse greefe and sorrow. And thus it was, that now performing that that was agreed vpon betweene them, he should come when the night began to waxe somewhat darke in my apparell; but sending for him in my name, she fained that it was to go for a Chirurgian to heale Dardaneas arme, the which by opening a great chest, the lidde by chance fell downe on, and brused very much. The greefe that he conceiued by these heauie news, was so great, that he would now haue chan∣ged the ioy that he expected by Dardaneas sight, in lieu that this mischance had not happened vnto her. For he felt it so sensibly, that he had almost no hart to goe, but yet encouraged himselfe, least I might haue perceiued it: and so hiding his greefe the best he could, he left off his garments, and putting on mine, went straight to Darda∣neas house. Where, without knocking at the doore (for so he was willed to doe) he went vp (as I was woont) into a broad chamber that was next to Dardaneas with∣drawing chamber, where he no sooner knocked, but a waiting maide comming to the doore, but not to the place where he stoode, went backe againe, and told mine Aunt that I was there, who willed her to bid me come in, for so had hir Mistresse commaunded, and true it was indeed. Bicause you may therefore vnderstand wher∣in Dardanea would haue in ployed me, you must know, that Sagastes her brother was in loue with a yoong Gentlewoman well descended and rich enough (called Marthea) but she requited him not with like againe, for his bad conditions and in∣tolerable pride; and also because shee was more affected to another Gentleman, though not so rich nor so highly borne in respect of him; but one that was vertuous, noble, and valiant, and of whom she was truely beloued and serued againe. But yet for all this she shewed Sagastes a good countenance in recompence of the great and continual seruices that he had done hir: For how much doth not interest & gifts preuaile, which are the onely tamers of affections? So that being glad to be serued by so mightie a man, and bicause it is the fashion of women to glorie in themselues by seeing men howsoeuer (they care not) appassionate for them, she gaue him as many superficiall fauours as he desired, and more indeed, then her honour required. Wherein Saga∣stes taking no little pride, beleeued that she loued him from her verie hart. The which opinion confirming in his breast with this also, That he was in fauour with the King, of great authoritie in the citie, and more nobly borne, and richer then her parents; thought that at the verie instant when he purposed to demaund her for his wife, he should not haue any deniall: Whereupon he did aske her Fathers good will, who thanked him for his, and for his part gaue his consent, but alleaging that it was not amisse to leaue some part to his wife and daughter. Whereat Sagastes like a proud and disdainfull man by his angrie countenance shewed some impati∣ence, who would not haue had the matter deferred any longer. But the loue that he bare Marthea, did so bridle it, that (contrarie to his naturall and woonted inclina∣tion) it pacified him well at that time: And therefore answered, that it was well re∣membred. This marriage pleased Martheas mother well, to see her daughter so highly aduanced (a propertie most naturall to the ambitious and couetous mindes of women) but disliked Marthea altogither, for that which is abouesaid. Who an∣swered them, that as she was their daughter, and thereby bound to obey their com∣maund;
