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.
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