good parts that God hath bestowed upon me,
the envy of my brother doth smother in obscurity; the harder is my
fortune, and the more his frowardness."

With that casting up his hand he felt hair on his face, and perceiving
his beard to bud, for choler he began to blush, and swore to himself
he would be no more subject to such slavery. As thus he was ruminating
of his melancholy passions, in came Saladyne with his men, and seeing
his brother in a brown study, and to forget his wonted reverence,
thought to shake him out of his dumps[1] thus:

[Footnote 1: revery.]

"Sirrah," quoth he, "what is your heart on your halfpenny,[1] or are
you saying a dirge for your father's soul? What, is my dinner ready?"

[Footnote 1: "You have a particular object in view."--_Greg._]

At this question Rosader, turning his head askance, and bending his
brows as if anger there had ploughed the furrows of her wrath, with
his eyes full of fire, he made this reply:

"Dost thou ask me, Saladyne, for thy cates?[1] ask some of thy churls
who are fit for such an office: I am thine equal by nature, though not
by birth, and though thou hast more cards in the bunch,[2] I have as
many trumps in my hands as thyself. Let me question with thee, why
thou hast felled my woods, spoiled my manor houses, and made havoc of
such utensils as my father bequeathed unto me? I tell thee, Saladyne,
either answer me as a brother, or I will trouble thee as an enemy."

[Footnote 1: food.]

[Footnote 2: pack.]

At this reply of Rosader's Saladyne smiled as laughing at his
presumption, and frowned as checking his folly: he therefore took him
up thus shortly:

"What, sirrah! well I see early pricks the tree that will prove a
thorn: hath my familiar conversing with you made you coy,[1] or my
good looks drawn you to be thus contemptuous? I can quickly remedy
such a fault, and I will bend the tree while it is a wand. In faith,
sir boy, I have a snaffle for such a headstrong colt. You, sirs, lay
hold on him and bind him, and then I will give him a cooling card for
his choler."

[Footnote 1: conceited.]

This made Rosader half mad, that stepping to a great rake that stood
in the garden, he laid such load upon[1] his brother's men that he
hurt some of them, and made the rest of them run away. Saladyne,
seeing Rosader so resolute and with his resolution so valiant, thought
his heels his best safety, and took him to a loft adjoining to the
garden, whither Rosader purs