thou dost bring me, I am not so: for I know not whether I may recken them in the number of good, or consort them amongst the ill. On the one side, by giuing cre∣dit to thy words, I see my brother free from harme (which I pray the Gods may be true) and on the other, see not wherein thou meanest to place mine honour with thy pretences, which the Gods also permit may not be hurtfull. It likes me well to see my brother in health and safe from wounds; but it would greeue me more to haue mine honour (only in thought) called in question. I am glad to know that my brother hath beene defended in so great danger, but sorrie that it was by Disteus. Thou mightest haue pleased me well Palna, and no lesse contented thy selfe, if with these good newes, thou hadst onely told me that Sagastes was free from danger, and not proceeded further to tell me, by whose means he escaped it. There was no cause I thinke (for that which toucheth me so neere, will not giue me leaue to vnderstand it otherwise) why Disteus helpe should be hidden from others, and onely made kno∣wen to me. And bicause I finde the thought thereof so highly to offend mine honor: I will therefore not onely speake of it, but, as though I had heard it in a dreame, quite forget it, commaunding thee (if now thou meanest not to go to thy Disteus againe) neuer hereafter to open thy mouth in any thing touching this matter, or that hath but a taste thereof, vpon paine of my highe displeasure, and abridging of that good will, which I haue hitherto borne thee. And that Placindus besides offer not to put foote in my house, or else not to enter in that where Disteus dwels. When shee had saide thus, without tarrying any longer to heare the fained excuse that Palna had alreadie prepared, in a great anger shee went vp to her chamber, where musing more deepely vpon the matter, the noble vertues of Disteus, and his bounteous minde was presented to her tender thoughts, since for her mans sake and in defence of his mortal enimy, he exposed himselfe to so ma∣nifest danger; and his approoued manhood and braue courage, whereby he got the victorie of his enimies, occurring ioyntly to her minde, and therewithall the golden praises which Palna had so many times insinuated in her eares, all which she knewe his generall fame did confirme, made her so content in minde, as that to a newe borne passion accompanied with sweete ioy (but of what she knewe not yet) she gaue a friendly welcome. Who being in these milde considerations, Sagastes came in with Placindus (for assoone as he had spoken to his Aunt, he went to kisse Sagastes hands) to comfort her, if perhaps she had knowne any thing of that which was past: And as he found her all alone, and very pensiue, he thought that the late danger of his life had driuen her into that sadde and melancholike moode, whereupon he de∣ferred not to tell her all in order what had passed, thinking she had not knowne it. To all which she gaue an attentiue eare, for she tooke great pleasure to heare him tell it. But when hee tolde any thing of Placindus (whom as I saide she knew to be Disteus) her colour went and came; but especially when he tolde that with valiant speed (when they had both drawne foorth their rapiers) he stept in betweene them, desiring him to keepe out, and to accept that small token of dutie and good will for the seruice he owed to his Mistres Dardanea. The often changing of her colour in her face gaue him no occasion of suspect, who thought it rather proceeded of feare, and of thinking in what great danger he had like to beene. After a fewe spee∣ches past, he tooke her aside, and charged her to gratifie Placindus, telling her that he would take nothing of him, and so hee went his waies. Palna was not present at any of these things, bicause she would not be an eie sore to her Mistres with her pre∣sence, vntill her anger was somewhat past, who did not for all this loose her hope;
