uld Rosader were well here to make
up a mess."

"Well remembered," quoth Saladyne; "I forgot I left my brother Rosader
alone, and therefore lest being solitary he should increase his
sorrows, I will haste me to him. May it please you, then, to command
me any service to him, I am ready to be a dutiful messenger."

"Only at this time commend me to him," quoth Aliena, "and tell him,
though we cannot pleasure him we pray for him."

"And forget not," quoth Ganymede, "my commendations; but say to him
that Rosalynde sheds as many tears from her heart as he drops of blood
from his wounds, for the sorrow of his misfortunes, feathering all her
thoughts with disquiet, till his welfare procure her content: say
thus, good Saladyne, and so farewell."

He having his message, gave a courteous adieu to them both, especially
to Aliena, and so playing loath to depart, went to his brother. But
Aliena, she perplexed and yet joyful, passed away the day pleasantly,
still praising the perfection of Saladyne, not ceasing to chat of her
new love till evening drew on; and then they, folding their sheep,
went home to bed. Where we leave them and return to Phoebe.

Phoebe, fired with the uncouth[1] flame of love, returned to her
father's house, so galled with restless passions, as now she began to
acknowledge, that as there was no flower so fresh but might be parched
with the sun, no tree so strong but might be shaken with a storm, so
there was no thought so chaste, but time armed with love could make
amorous; for she that held Diana for the goddess of her devotion, was
now fain to fly to the altar of Venus, as suppliant now with prayers,
as she was forward before with disdain. As she lay in her bed, she
called to mind the several beauties of young Ganymede; first his
locks, which being amber-hued, passeth the wreath that Phoebus puts on
to make his front glorious; his brow of ivory was like the seat where
love and majesty sits enthroned to enchain fancy; his eyes as bright
as the burnishing of the heaven, darting forth frowns with disdain and
smiles with favor, lightning such looks as would inflame desire, were
she wrapped in the circle of the frozen zone; in his cheeks the
vermilion teinture of the rose flourished upon natural alabaster, the
blush of the morn and Luna's silver show were so lively portrayed,
that the Troyan that fills out wine to Jupiter was not half so
beautiful; his face was full of pleasance, and all the rest of his
linea