them all. And so for this respect, as for his affabilitie and mildnes, by knowing how to conuerse with all, that Shepherd thought himselfe vnhappie, that had not some pri∣uate friendship with Coryneus (for so he named himselfe after he had changed his ha∣bit:) and Dardanea that named her selfe Dinia, was no lesse acceptable to all the Shepherdesses, and Palna called Corynea, like her sonne, was reuerenced of them all. When all three went from me, Dardanea was gone two moneths with childe: but what God sent her, or what became of the childe she brought foorth, I know not, for they had not dwelta whole yeere in that countrey, when they went away for what cause, or whither, I also know not. The cause whereof (considering the time wherein they went away) I suspect was this. That in this meane while King Rotyndus married with the Kings sister of that Prouince where they were; whose wifes bro∣ther a little while after being dead, an vncle of hers (called Synistius) aspired to the kingdome, as Competitor with her. For the which cause Rotyndus making warre against him, with little losse of his men got the victorie, whereupon a peace was concluded betweene them; and the gouernment of the kingdome, by the intercessi∣on of Agenesta his niece (for so was the Queene called) giuen frankly to Synistius. So that Disteus as soone as the noyse of this warre was bruted abroad, went as I con∣iecture (bicause he would not be knowen) from that countrey with his pettie family. From which time I could neuer heare more of them, though manie daies haue pas∣sed since Ansilardus and Placindus went out to seeke them: And omitting mine own trauels (Gentlemen) and manie troubles that I passed in the like enterprise, be∣cause they make not any whit to the purpose of your demaund, I will onely tell you, how theese two seruants of theirs went out so soone, being (as I told you before) im∣prisoned, and I so late, being, as you haue also heard, at libertie. When King Ro∣tyndus married his Queene, in ioy of the feast, all the prisoners were let goe, amongst whom Anfilardus and Placindus came out, and sixe moneths after (to make Saga∣stes suspect it the lesse) by venturing their liues (for vpon paine of death it was com∣manded that none should goe seeke out Disteus) they went to the place, where I told them they were. At which place when they could not find them, they cōcluded, by seuering themselues to seeke them out, appointing to meete at that place a yeere after, to know how they had sped; and bicause the one might not goe that way, or take in hand that the other did. Whereof as of all things else, though they for the space of sixe yeeres from time to time informed me; yet I know not how nor by what sinister meanes it came to passe, that in more then twelue yeeres after, the end of the foresaid time expired, I neuer heard any newes of them, nor of their master. Where∣at being greatly greeued in minde I endeuoured to seeke out some good meanes (or rather fained occasion) to go about the same errant, whereunto by the Kings most streight edict I could neuer directly accommodate my self, in regard of which iour∣ney, if hope might haue perswaded me to finde them out, I would not haue neglec∣ted both that, and all paines abroad and affaires at home whatsoeuer. But being in this impatient desire, two braue yoong youths (most highly fauoured of Agene∣stor Prince of Eolia, with whom they were both brought vp) were also determined to seeke out their parents, knowing that those were not the same, for whom they had till then taken them. These yoong Gentlemen Delicius and Parthenius (for so they were called) leauing aside how much for their rare giftes and virtues they deserued the loue of all, of purpose I endeuoured to make my special friends to this effect, that as they were in great fauour with the King and Queene, by their meanes and inter∣cession to the Prince, I might finde such fauour with them all, that if Disteus and his
