st lying slain by him,
and so sweet a gentleman wounded. He presently, as he was of a ripe
conceit, began to conjecture that the gentleman had slain him in his
defence. Whereupon, as a man in a trance, he stood staring on them
both a good while, not knowing his brother, being in that disguise: at
last he burst into these terms:

"Sir, whatsoever thou be, as full of honor thou must needs be by the
view of thy present valor, I perceive thou hast redressed my fortunes
by thy courage, and saved my life with thine own loss, which ties me
to be thine in all humble service. Thanks thou shalt have as thy due,
and more thou canst not have, for my ability denies me to perform a
deeper debt. But if anyways it please thee to command me, use me as
far as the power of a poor gentleman may stretch."

Rosader, seeing he was unknown to his brother, wondered to hear such
courteous words come from his crabbed nature; but glad of such
reformed nurture, he made this answer:

"I am, sir, whatsoever thou art, a forester and ranger of these walks,
who, following my deer to the fall, was conducted hither by some
assenting fate, that I might save thee, and disparage myself. For
coming into this place, I saw thee asleep, and the lion watching thy
awake, that at thy rising he might prey upon thy carcase. At the first
sight I conjectured thee a gentleman, for all men's thoughts ought to
be favorable in imagination, and I counted it the part of a resolute
man to purchase a stranger's relief, though with the loss of his own
blood; which I have performed, thou seest, to mine own prejudice. If,
therefore, thou be a man of such worth as I value thee by thy exterior
lineaments, make discourse unto me what is the cause of thy present
fortunes. For by the furrows in thy face thou seemest to be crossed
with her frowns: but whatsoever, or howsoever, let me crave that
favor, to hear the tragic cause of thy estate."

Saladyne sitting down, and fetching a deep sigh, began thus:

SALADYNE'S DISCOURSE TO ROSADER UNKNOWN

"Although the discourse of my fortunes be the renewing of my sorrows,
and the rubbing of the scar will open a fresh wound, yet that I may
not prove ingrateful to so courteous a gentleman, I will rather sit
down and sigh out my estate, than give any offence by smothering my
grief with silence. Know therefore, sir, that I am of Bordeaux, and
the son and heir of Sir John of Bordeaux, a man for his virtues and
valor so famous, that I cannot th