Saladyne, hearing this shepherdess speak so wisely, began more narrowly to pry into her perfection, and to survey all her lineaments with a curious insight; so long dallying in the flame of her beauty, that to his cost he found her to be most excellent:  for love that lurked in all these broils to have a blow or two, seeing the parties at the gaze, encountered them both with such a veny,[1] that the stroke pierced to the heart so deep as it could never after be rased out.  At last, after he had looked so long, till Aliena waxed red, he returned her this answer: 

[Footnote 1:  assault.]

“Fair shepherdess, if Fortune graced me with such good hap as to do you any favor, I hold myself as contented as if I had gotten a great conquest; for the relief of distressed women is the special point that gentlemen are tied unto by honor:  seeing then my hazard to rescue your harms was rather duty than courtesy, thanks is more than belongs to the requital of such a favor.  But lest I might seem either too coy or too careless of a gentlewoman’s proffer, I will take your kind gramercy for a recompense.”

All this while that he spake, Ganymede looked earnestly upon him, and said: 

“Truly, Rosader, this gentleman favors you much in the feature of your face.”

“No marvel,” quoth he, “gentle swain, for ’tis my eldest brother Saladyne.”

“Your brother?” quoth Aliena, and with that she blushed, “he is the more welcome, and I hold myself the more his debtor; and for that he hath in my behalf done such a piece of service, if it please him to do me that honor, I will call him servant, and he shall call me mistress.”

“Content, sweet mistress,” quoth Saladyne, “and when I forget to call you so, I will be unmindful of mine own self.”

“Away with these quirks and quiddities of love,” quoth Rosader, “and give me some drink, for I am passing thirsty, and then will I home, for my wounds bleed sore, and I will have them dressed.”

Ganymede had tears in her eyes, and passions in her heart to see her Rosader so pained, and therefore stepped hastily to the bottle, and filling out some wine in a mazer,[1] she spiced it with such comfortable drugs as she had about her, and gave it him, which did comfort Rosader, that rising, with the help of his brother, he took his leave of them, and went to his lodge.  Ganymede, as soon as they were out of sight, led his flocks down to a vale, and there under the shadow of a beech tree sate down, and began to mourn the misfortunes of her sweetheart.

[Footnote 1:  wooden mug.]

And Aliena, as a woman passing discontent, severing herself from her Ganymede, sitting under a limon tree, began to sigh out the passions of her new love, and to meditate with herself in this manner: 

ALIENA’S MEDITATION