knowen, and bicause Dardanea might not thinke of thee the worse, that being present there, thou didst not helpe her brother in so great danger, I thought good not for any loue I bare him (whom I would rather haue pursued to death, then to defende him from it) but for thy sake Placindus, to put my person in hazard. And therefore bicause it might bee thought, that thou wert the man that came to helpe him, when I stept in before him, I saide: Accept this small token of good will Lord Sagastes for my Mistresse Dardaneas sake, your vertuous sister. And now therefore that thou knowest how al hath hapned, and that I charged thee not to forget the least part thereof, giue eare to the end, whereunto this particular discourse of mine is adressed. To morrowe thou shalt goe to my mother and carrie her a letter from me, and tell her what thou hast done, touching that busines which she had giuen thee in charge, wherein all the whole matter shall consist. First, bi∣cause she may aduise thee howe to behaue thy selfe with Dardanea, and with anie other that perhaps may aske thee howe this matter passed. Secondly, bicause she may set downe some good order for that which is needfull to be done. After this, thou shalt go and speake with Sagastes, to stand to thy word (or rather mine to saie better) where, (as thine Aunt shall instruct thee, and as I haue aduised thee) thou shalt speake vnto him. Thou shalt also carrie this sword with thee, bicause I thinke he will aske for it, for the good proofe that it made on the rapiers and daggers there. If he would know where thou hadst it, tell him that when thine Aunt was with me, I gaue it thee, and so I am sure hee will bestow some suites of apparell on thee in recompence of thine which were spoiled and defaced in his defence. But thou must do me so much pleasure, not to take them at his hands, but rather tell him, that thou carest not for any other recompence, then that thou didst it for Dardane∣as seruice, being Mistres to thine Aunt. In doing whereof, thou shalt not onelie binde me, to bestow this, and more on thee, but also her (when she shall know howe thou didst aduenture thy life for her sake) to requite this good turne, and euer here∣after to make more account of thy manhood and fidelitie: And, by denying to take any reward at Sagastes hands, oblige her moreouer to thine Aunt. The next daie in the morning I carried the letter that Disteus had written that night to mine Aunt, and told her all that had passed.
As Placindus went on thus telling the pleasant discourse of Disteus and Dar∣daneas loues, they all bent their cares to a certaine noise that a horse and his Master made, he to take him that ran vp and downe without his bridle, and the horse vn∣willing to be caught, bicause he liked his libertie better. Which when Placindus saw, with a merrie countenance he aroseland said. I beseech you sage Lady, and noble companie, pardon me, for it shall ill become me if I goe not to helpe that Gentle∣man to get his horse againe. And without more adoe he went and left them all laughing, and somewhat greeued to see how abruptly he left them for so small a matter. To whom Felicia spake thus. Thinke it not a small occasion that hath made him leaue you thus, for it should ill beseeme him indeede (as he well considered no lesse) if he did not helpe him, that ran after his horse, bicause he is a great friend to Disteus, called Martandrus, who as you must knowe went out long since in company of Delicius and Parthenius, to seeke out Disteus and Dardanea: wherefore you should be the rather glad of his comming at this time, bicause better then Placindus he can tell you out the rest of these loues that Placindus hath begun. If it be so, said Lorde Felix, and the Shepherdes, it shall not be likewise amisse for vs all to helpe him. And so rising vp, they helped Martandrus to get his horse againe. But Martandrus, who
