DORASTUS AND FAWNIA. 2$
remorse. Prefer thy content before riches, and a cleare minde before dignity; so beeing poore, thou shalt have rich peace, or else rich, thou shalt enjoy disquiet
Franion having muttered out these or such like words, seeing either he must die with a cleare minde, or live with a spotted conscience, he was so cumbred with divers cogitations that hee could take no rest: untill at last he determined to breake the matter to Egistus; but fearing that the King should eyther suspect or heare of such matters, he concealed the device till opportunitie would permit him to reveale it. Lingring thus in doubtfull feare, in an evening he went to Egistus lodging, and desirous to breake with him of certaine affaires that touched the King, after all were commaunded out of the Chamber, Franion made manifest the whole conspiracie which Pandosto had devised against him, desiring Egistus not to account him a Traytor for bewraying his Maisters counsaile, but to thinke that he did it for conscience: hoping that although his Maister inflamed with rage, or incensed by some sinister re-portes, or slanderous speeches, had imagined such causelesse mischiefe : yet when time should pacifie his anger, and try those talebearers but flattering Parasites, then he would count him as a faithfnll Seruant that with such care had kept his Maisters credite. Egistus had not fully heard Franion tell forth his tale, but a quaking feare possessed all his limmes, thinking that there was some treason wrought, and that Franion did but shaddow his craft with these false colours : wherefore he began to waxe in choiler, and saide that he doubted not Pandosto, sith he was his friend, and there had never as yet beene any breach of amity: he had not sought to invade his lands, to conspire with his enemies, to disswade his Subjects from their allegeance; but in word and