Saladyne, weary with wandering up and down and hungry with long
fasting, finding a little cave by the side of a thicket, eating such
fruit as the forest did afford and contenting himself with such drink
as nature had provided and thirst made delicate, after his repast he
fell in a dead sleep. As thus he lay, a hungry lion came hunting down
the edge of the grove for prey, and espying Saladyne began to seize
upon him: but seeing he lay still without any motion, he left to touch
him, for that lions hate to prey on dead carcases; and yet desirous to
have some food, the lion lay down and watched to see if he would stir.
While thus Saladyne slept secure, fortune that was careful of her
champion began to smile, and brought it so to pass, that Rosader,
having stricken a deer that but lightly hurt fled through the thicket,
came pacing down by the grove with a boar-spear in his hand in great
haste. He spied where a man lay asleep, and a lion fast by him: amazed
at this sight, as he stood gazing, his nose on the sudden bled, which
made him conjecture it was some friend of his. Whereupon drawing more
nigh, he might easily discern his visage, perceived by his physnomy
that it was his brother Saladyne, which drave Rosader into a deep
passion, as a man perplexed at the sight of so unexpected a chance,
marvelling what should drive his brother to traverse those secret
deserts, without any company, in such distress and forlorn sort.
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