knew not Placindus before he had his horse in his hand, when now Placindus came to salute him, he most louingly then imbraced him, and forgetting his passed trou|ble for ioy to see Placindus, he cast his armes about his necke, and let his horse goe whither he would againe. In this sort they were a good while not able to vtter a word, when in the end, they being both desirous to be informed of one another, if they knew any thing of them, whom they went seeking vp and downe, Felicia came to them saying. Martandrus come with me, for heere you shall haue newes of what|soeuer you desire to knowe. Martandrus for this respect, but for the maiestie and authoritie which he noted in her graue person, and for that she had called him by his owne name as also vnderstanding what she was by that which you shall heare, framed his answere. The generall fame of your singular wisedome (most renowned Lady Felicia) which in all the world is so far extended, after a long time (spent in vaine) hath brought me to this place to be directed by your wisedome, in what vn|knowen part of the world I might finde out Distues and Dardanea, since so many of vs with lost labour haue trauelled in all forren countries and troden euery path, that, I thinke, there are no meanes left to attaine to our desired purpose, if by your helpe in these so iust cares and trauels we be not fauoured. The which heereafter shall not be wanting, said Felicia, when fitter opportunitie shall serue; in the meane while aduising you to take your rest, and not to trouble your selues to seeke them any more, whose long desired presence with others, whom perhaps you thinke not of, you shall (as soone as possible it may be) see heere in this Pallace to the generall ioy and content of all. While they were in these and such like speeches, the Shep|herdes went once againe to take vp the horse, and Placindus went for the bridle, where Martandrus told him it lay, and then they went where all the rest of the com|panie were. Which when Martandrus had seene, he maruelled very much, especially when he sawe Stela of so rare and incmparable beautie in so simple and poore a habit; for albeit Felismena, Crimine, the Shepherdes and the Nymphes tooke great pitie of her poore estate, yet they came not neere her in beautie: And Martandrus eies were not deceiued with the aduantage of the gorgeous apparell, wherewith Felismena and the Nymphes were not meanely adorned. Crimine and Stela vnder|standing by Felicia that Delicius and Parthenius were sonnes to Disteus and Dar|danea, and that Martandrus went to seeke them out, and what a great friend he was to them both, did sometimes cast their amorous eies vpon him, who with a little opinion of himselfe, thinking that after another sort he seemed gracious in that faire Shepherdesses eies (for he made not so great reckoning of Crimine) was some|what proud, and began to feele some little passion of loue, which had beene grea|ter if he had not abated it with thinking of her base estate. Felicia passing away a little time in talke, saide. But now it shall not be amisse to giue this Gentleman leaue to goe rest him, and bicause he may knowe, that we are all desirous to doe him what pleasure we can, we will goe beare him companie. Martandrus kissed her handes for this princely fauour: And so they went towardes Dianas Temple, and to Felicias stately Pallace, where with all kinde of noble entertainment for certaine daies he rested. Stela, and Crmine being no lesse desirous then all the rest, did humbly beseech Lady Felicia to request Martandrus to make an ende of that sweete tale, which Placindus had begun. Felicia considering their iust request, one day after dinner tolde Martandrus, how desirous those Gentlemen, Nymphes, Shepherdes, and Shepherdesses were to heare out the rest of the noble historie of Disteus and Dardanea, and the cause why they so earnestly desired it. Who therefore knowing at
