Thither he came and there we were talking together as long as time woulde giue vs leaue and the loue of my side at the lest was so strongly confirmed betweene vs that though the deceit had bene discouered as not many daies after it was knowne it was yet of so great force and vertue that it coulde neuer make me alienate my minde and affection from him And I also beleeued that Alanius loued me well and that especially from that time he was greatly enamoured of me though afterwardes in effect he did not so well declare it so that for certaine daies together our loue happily continued and was handled with the greatest secrecie that might be which was not yet so great but that subtile Ismenia in the end perceiued it who seeing her selfe to be the onely cause thereof and most in fault not onely by deceiuing me but by ministring occasion to Alanius of discouering himselfe and by that which passed to fall in loue with me and to forget her as indeede he did for very greefe was almost out of her wits but that with this poore hope she comforted her selfe againe that if I knew the trueth I would immediately forget and cast him off wherein she was not a little deceiued for as he afterwardes loued me more and more so by his seuerall beauties and singular deserts I was more obliged to loue and honour him But Ismenia purposing to open the deceite which by her owne follie and suttletie she had framed wrote me this letter following Ismenias letter to Seluagia IF we are bound to loue those well Seluagia that loue vs there is nothing in the world which I ought to esteeme deerer then thy selfe but if to hate them that are the cause why we are forgotten and despised I leaue it to thine owne discretion I would put thee in some fault for casting thine eies vpon my Alanius but wretched woman what shall I doe that am the organ of mine owne mishap O Seluagia to my greefe I sawe thee and well could I excuse that which I passed with thee but in the end such fonde prankes haue seldome good successe For laughing but one little hower with my Alanius and telling him what had passed betweene vs I must now weepe and lament all my life time if my greefe at the lest may not mooue thee to some remorse of pitie I beseech thee by all I may that the discouerie of this deceite may suffice and so worke with thee to make thee forget my Alanius and restore this haplesse Shepherdesse to that which being not a little thou art able to doe if loue will permit thee to graunt me this fauour which I request at thy hands When I had read this letter and imparted it to Alanius he then at large vnfolded vnto me the maner of her deceit but not one word of the loue that was betweene them both whereof I made no great reckoning for I was so assured of that which he seemed to beare me that I woulde neuer beleeue that any passed or future thoughts might haue bene an occasion to haue made him afterwardes forget me But bicause Ismenia might not by my silence thinke me discurteous I answered her letter thus Seluagias letter to Ismenia I Knowe not faire Ismenia whether I may iustly accuse thee or giue thee thankes for disposing my minde and affection in this sort nor can resolue with my selfe whether of these two I should doe vntill the successe of my loue doe counsell me heerein On the one side I am sorie for thy ill hap on the other I see that thou wentst foorth as it were to meete and imbrace it Seluagia was free when thou didst delude her in the temple and is now subiect to his will into whose handes thou wouldst needes deliuer her Thou praiest me to leaue off the loue that I beare Alanius with that which thou thy selfe wouldst doe in this behalfe I may easily answere thee Yet one thing makes me very sad that thou art greeued for that for which thou hast no iust cause of complaint which to the patient therof giueth the greatest paine in the world I do often consider thinke of those faire eies with which thou didst behold me and of that sweete face which after many importunate requestestes thou didst shew me and it greeues me Ismenia that such faire things and so like to my Alanius should suffer any sorrow and discontentment at all Behold then what remedie is left for thy greefe that for the bountie which thou hast vsed towardes me by giuing me the most precious gemme thou hadst I kisse thy faire and daintie hands which curtesie of thine being so great God graunt that by some meanes or other I may be able to requite If thou seest my Alanius there tell him I pray thee what reason he hath to loue me for he knoweth already how much he hath to forget thee And God glue thee the content thou desirest which may not be to the cost of that which I haue by seeing my affection so happily and well imploied Ismenia could not reade this letter to the end for in the middest of it her sighes and teares which she powred out were so many that she thought at that very time to haue lost her life She laboured as much as she could to make Alanius forsake me and deuised so many meanes for the same purpose as he to shun those places and occasions whereby he thought he might see her Not that he meant her any harme thereby but bicause he thought by doing so in some part he requited the great loue that I bare him All the daies that he liued in this minde there escaped not any wherein I sawe him not for he passed euermore that way feeding his flockes which from our towne did leade to his He accounted no trauels nor troubles too great which he did for my sake and especially if he thought I regarded them Day by day Ismenia inquired after him and neuer ceased to seeke him out who being sometimes tolde by others and sometimes knowing her selfe that he was in our towne had no patience at all to suffer such a corsiue at her hart And yet for all this there was not anything that contented and pacified her troubled minde more then when she could get some little time to speake with him But as necessitie is so ingenious and politike that it seekes out remedies where mans wit can scarce imagine any despised Ismenia aduentured to helpe her selfe by one which I woulde to God had neuer entred into her thought by faining that she extremely loued another Shepherd called Montanus who a long time had loued and serued her before And as she purposed so she put it in practise to trie if by this sudden change she might draw Alanius to that which so much she desired For there is not any thing which a man thinks he hath most sure though making but a small account thereof but that the losse of it if on a
this sort as you haue heard euery one tormented for them who loued them not againe Alanius to the tune of his Fiddle by this dolefull song began to complaine of Ismenias crueltie NO more O cruell Nymph now hast thou prayed Ynough in thy reuenge prooue not thine ire On him that yeeldes the fault is now apayed Vntomy cost now mollifie thy dire Hardnes and brest of thine so much obdured And now raise vp though lately it hath erred A poore repenting soule that in the obscured Darknes of thy obliuion lies enterred For it fals not in that that doth commend thee That such a Swaine as I may once offend thee If that the little sheepe with speede is flying From angrie Shepherd with his wordes affraied And runneth here and there with fearfull crying And with great greefe is from the flocke estraied But when it now perceiues that none doth follow And all alone so far estraying mourneth Knowing what danger it is in with hollow And fainting bleates then fearefull it returneth Vnto the flocke meaning no more to leaue it Should it not be a iust thing to receiue it Lift vp these eies Ismenia which so stately To view me thou hast lifted vp before me That libertie which was mine owne but lately Giue me againe and to the same restore me And that milde hart so full of loue and pittie Which thou didst yeeld to me and euer owe me Behold my Nymph I was not then so witty To knowe that sincere loue that thou didst shew me Now wofull man full well I knowe and rue it Although it was too late before I knew it How could it be my enemie say tell me How thou in greater fault and errour being Then euer I was thought should'st thus repell me And with new league and cruell title seeing Thy faith so pure and woorthy to be changed And what is that Ismenia that doth binde it To loue whereas the same is most estranged And where it is impossible to finde it But pardon me if herein I abuse thee Since that the cause thou gau'st me doth excuse me But tell me now what honour hast thou gained Auenging such a fault by thee committed And thereunto by thy occasion trained What haue I done that I haue not acquitted Or what excesse that is not amply paied Or suffer more that I haue not endured What cruell minde what angry brest displaied With sauage hart to fiercenes so adiured Would not such mor tall greefe make milde and tender But that which my fell Shepherdesse doth render Now as I have perceiued well thy reasons Which thou hast had or hast yet to forget me The paines the greefes the guiltes of forced treasons That I haue done wherein thou first didst set me The passions and thine cares and eies refusing To heare and see me meaning to vndoe me Cam'st thou to know or be but once perusing Th'vnsought occasions which thou gau'st vnto me Thou should'st not haue wherewith to more torment me Nor I to pay the fault my rashnes lent me Thus did my Alanius end his sweet song wherewith I would my life had also ended not without great cause since my mishap could not be more extreme then to see him whom I loued more then my selfe before mine eies to pine so much for the loue of another and so strangely to forsake me But as I was not alone in these misfortunes I did dissemble them for that time as well as I could as also bicause faire Ismenia casting her eies vpon her Montanus began to sing that which followeth HOw fond am I to hope for any rest In endlesse plaints vaine sighes and bootelesse teares The present now at hand to be exprest Yet few to these that with ten thousand feares I haue powr'd out vnto thy cruell eares And if at any time my life did tend To other loues in earnest or in iest This loue by that I neuer could offend Bicause I did but then begin to prooue And learne how well Montanus I could loue Then did I learne to loue my selfe I taught To loue by him who lou'd me not againe For I suspected that I should be brought Vnto thy loue Montanus when in vaine I loued him that did my loue disdaine I try'de I say my free and carelesse hart Of loue to taste some sorrow that it sought And let that Shepherd with his loue depart That loues with thee for all his paine and greefe Is but in vaine when vaine is his releefe Let none accuse me then if I disdaine Alanius loues whose loues are but a showe For I could neuer loue nor entertaine Any but thee for whom I will bestowe My deerest life since heauens will haue it soe And if at any time I fein'd to like I lik'd I say but how I did I knowe For neuer any Shepherd els could strike My hart indeede but thou to whom I giue My faith kept for thee since I first did liue Let burning sighes go forth and still increase Let both mine eies become two springs of teares Let accidents repugnant to mine ease Arise for thoughts which now my minde for sweares Shall neuer hurt that loue which now it beares Let sorrow goe and ill which way they will And now let ioies returne which way they please For where they are there will I houer still Since that no harme my purpose may reclame Nor cruell death it selfe although it came Ismenia by this song had reuenged me of cruell and disloyall Alanius if in the loue at the lest which I did beare him any desire of reuenge could befall but Montanus staied not long from requiting Ismenia againe who casting his eie vpon me sung this song as followeth FOolish loue ah foolish louer I for thee thou for another I am a foole and seeme no lesse For thee who will not be For he 's a foole I doe confesse That is not one for thee And yet this doth not well agree To be a foolish louer Or foole for her that is a foole for louing of another Now seeing thee thou seest not mee And diest for my foe Eate me with sauce that loueth thee Of him thou louest soe So shalt thou make me to my woe To be a foolish louer And such a foole for louing thee as thou art for another When he had made an ende of the last verses notwithstanding the present agonie and sorrow that we al suffered we could not choose but laugh hartily to see how Montanus would haue me deceiue my taste by looking on him with the sauce and appetite of Alanius whom I loued as if it might haue fallen in the compasse of my thought to suffer it to be deceiued by the apparance of an other thing But now with greater firmnesse then the rest I began to tune and play on my Bagpipe and to sing a song to it as you shall heare for by the same I thought to shew how more constantly then any of the rest there I had perseuered in my loue to
imagination of the suspect that I had of her honestie hath bredde in her so great despite and hatred against me that to be reuenged of me she hath hitherto perseuered therein which greeuous torment she is not onely content to lay vpon me but when she sees me before her eies flies from my presence as the fearefull Hinde from the hungry and pursuing Hounde So that by the loue which thou owest thy selfe I pray thee good Shepherdesse iudge whether this be a sufficient cause to make her thus abhorre me and if my fault on the other side be so great that it deserues such endles and extreme hate Filemon hauing made an end of the cause of his greefe and iniurie wherewith his Shepherdesse tormented him Amarillis began to shape her answer thus This Filemon faire Shepherdesse that sits before thee hath loued me well I must needes confesse or at the least made a fine shewe thereof and such haue his seruices beene towards me that to say otherwise of him then he deserues it would ill beseeme me But if for his sake in lieu and recompence of that affection I haue not reiected the suites and seruice of many iolly Shepherds that feede their flockes vpon these downes and in these pleasant vales and also for his loue haue not contemned many countrey youthes whom nature hath enriched with no lesse perfections then himselfe let himselfe be iudge For the infinite times that with their amorous sutes I haue beene importuned and those wherein I haue kept that firmnes due to his faith haue not I thinke beene at any time out of his presence which neuerthelesse should be no sufficient cause for him to make so small account of me as to imagine or suspect any thing of that wherein I am most of all bounde to my selfe For if it be so as he knowes well enough that for the loue of him I haue cast off many that died by mine occasion how coulde I then forget or reiect him for the loue of another A thousand times hath Filemon watched me not leesing a steppe that the Shepherd Arsileus and I haue troden amiddes these greene woods and pleasant vales but let him say if he euer heard Arsileus talke to me of loue or if I answered him any thing touching such matter What day did Filemon euer see me talke to Arsileus whereby he might conceiue any thing else by my words but that I went about to comfort him in such great forrow as he suffered And if this be a sufficient cause to make him thinke ill of his Shepherdesse who can better iudge it then himselfe Behold then faire Shepherdesse how much he was giuen to false suspects and wrongfull iealousie that my wordes could neuer satisfie him nor worke with him to make him leaue off his obdurate minde by absenting himselfe from this valley thinking therby to haue made an end of my daies wherein he was deceiued when as he rather ended his owne ioy and contentment if for me at the least he had euer any at all And this was the michiefe besides that Filemon being not onely content to beare mee such a kinde of vniust iealousie whereof he had so small occasion as now faire Shepherdesse thou hast seene hee did likewise publish it at euerie feast in all bridales wrestlings and meetings that were made amongst the Shepherds of these hilles And this thou knowest good Shepherdesse howe it did preiudice mine honour more then his contentment In the ende hee absented himselfe from mee which course since hee hath taken for a medicine of his malladie which it seemes hath the more increased it let him not finde fault with me if I haue knowne how to profit my selfe more thereby then he hath And now that thou hast seene faire Shepherdesse what great content that I felt when thou toldst the Shepherd Arsileus so good newes of his Shepherdesse that I my selfe was most earnest with him to haue him go and seeke her out it is cleere that there could not be any thing between vs that might ingeÌder such cause of suspition as this Shepherd hath wrongfully coÌceiued of vs. So that this is the cause that hath made me not only so cold in the loue that I did beare him but not to loue any more wherby to put mine honor good name in hazard of false suspects since my good hap hath brought me to such a time that without forcing my selfe I may do it at mine own choise libertie After Amarillis had shewed the small reason the Shepherd had to giue so great credit to his iealous imaginations and the libertie wherein time and her good fortune had put her a naturall thing to free harts the woefull Shepherd replied in this sort I doe not denie Amarillis but that thy wisedome and discretion is sufficient to cleere thee of all suspition But wilt thou now make nouelties in loue inuent other new effects then those which we haue heretofore seene When a louer would loue well the least occasion of iealousie torments his foule how much more when those were greater which by thy priuie conuersation and familiaritie with Arsileus thou hast giuen me Dost thou thinke Amarillis that for a iealousie certainties are needfull Alas thou deceiuest thy selfe for suspicions be the principall causes of their entrance which was also no great matter since I beleeued that thou didst beare Arsileus good will the publishing whereof was as little preiudiciall and lesse offensiue to thine honour since the force of my loue was so great that it made mee manifest the ill that I did feare And though thy goodnes assured mee when at stealth and deceite of my suspectes I thought thereof yet I alwaies feared least some aduerse successe might befall vnto me if this familiaritie had beene still continued But to that thou saiest faire Shepherdesse that I absented my selfe I answere that vpon a stomacke or to giue thee any offence or greefe thereby I did it not but to see if I could haue any remedie in mine owne not seeing the cause of my great mishap and greefe before mine eies and bicause my pursutes might not also offende thee But if by seeking remedy for so great an ill I went against that which I owed thee what greater punishment can I haue then that which thy absence hath made me feele If thou saiest thou didst neuer loue Arsileus it giues me greater occasion to complaine of thee since for a thing of so small importance thou didst forsake him who so greatly desired to serue thee So that I haue the more cause to accuse thee the lesse thy loue was to Arsileus And these are the reasons Amarillis and manie more which I do alleage not in mine owne excuse and fauour whereby I thinke not to helpe my selfe at all since in matters of loue they are woont to profite so little onely requesting thee gentle Amarillis that thy clemencie and the faith which I haue euer borne thee may be of my side and mooue thee
with thankes repaying I made an excuse that I had some busines another way and bad him farewell wherewith I went backe againe to Parthenius and the olde man homeward to his house The next morning for there we passed away the same night we went to the place where Stela had cast her selfe into the riuer attending there her comming foorth and being come foorth to see if we might talke with her But before we came we espied the virgins olde Father walking vp and downe along the riuer bankes And going neerer vnto him to see if he offered to cast himselfe into the riuer we sawe how wearie of walking he sat him downe and then with as lowde a voice as his greefe would giue him leaue heard him in this sort singing to his deerest daughter DAughter that in this deere And christ all riuer hast thy dwelling place With Nymphes O har ken heere To me a little space Parisiles thy wofull fathers case Deny not him thy sight Who euer did for thee himselfe despise The absence of thy light And heauenly shining eies Vnto his soule a bitter death applies Which so consumes his breath That liuing thus his life he doth defie For such a life is death And he would rather die Then leaue to liue without thy companie Ioy now and doe not stay An aged man consum'd with greefe vnlesse That thou wilt haue him say The loue thou didst professe To him was all but fain'd as he may gesse Why dost thou stay so long A wretched soule with comfort to sustaine O come and breake this strong And mourning vale in twaine Of his affliction miserie and paine My soule thou woont'st with glee To heare this voice but either I am not As once I woont to bee Or thou art chang'd I wot Or thy poore father els thou hast forgot But first I pray to God Then such obliuion in thy brest should bee My vitall period May finish not to see My selfe forgot of her that loued mee Come then my hart and cleere Thee of this doubt this fauour let me trie If not this riuer cleere Shall hide me by and by For there with thee I meane to liue or die If the waues of the riuer and the neighbour sea being mooued to ruthe and pitie seemed to stay and the noise of them both with his dolefull voice made gentle and calmed ceased a while that his tender complaints might be the better heard how much more would you haue iudged our harts being wrought with pitie and compassion to be mollified with the amorous plaints wherwith the pitifull old man did cal vpoÌ faire Stela For it might be wel vnderstood by his impatience how much he loued her when as he thought euery moment he staied there a thousand yeeres But there passed not much time when the waters being gently opened out of the middes of them rose a faire companie of Nymphes with garlands of diuers colours vpon their yellow haire in the middes of which appeered faire Stela like chaste Diana amongst her gracious quire of Nymphes At whose sight old Parisiles for the incomparable ioy he had to see his desired daughter and we to see our new beloued Mistresse fell all downe to the ground but raised vp againe with the sweetenes of a Set-song a consort of heauenly musick which the Nymphes had made amongst themselues we harkened to that which was sung as followeth PArisiles thy dolefull song and playning Thy piteous sighes and weeping without measure To comfort thee haue made this goodly quire Leaue their aboades and stately seates of pleasure Afflict not then thy selfe but cease thy paining And let thy wearied soule to rest aspire Let plaints begun retire And be in ioy and happy gladnes ended And be not now offended Parisiles or carefull for thy daughter For hither we haue brought her In good estate for thee to see her knowing That more then this to both we all are owing If that the Gods are iust in any wise Then are they bound to helpe those that doe pray To them for helpe and in their seruice liue Then since that you your selues did euer giue To follow them and choose the better way In honouring vs by deede and sacrifice The best we can deuise Of all good turnes that may your loue requite Belongs to you of right Parisiles the Gods in heauen doe knowe In sea and earth belowe Thy things and haue of them a greater care Then thou maist thinke and of thy happy fare For which thing they themselues had first ordeined That Stela the most monstrous Shepheard flying Should cast her selfe into this cleerest riuer For knowing what her fates and stars would giue her Their influence with all their helpe denying By secret meanes her fortune they restrained And such a signe that rained Ouer her head that threat'ned to destroy her And present to annoy her They therefore will she liue within our bowres Vntill these lucklesse howres Doe passe and while this signe and fate expires Vnwoorthy her deserts and high desires The Sonne of Goddesse Cytherea shall Heer after be the cause of her despaire The cruell wounding her with doubtfull loue And so this loue that shall so doubtfull fall Great strife in her and many wars shall moue Not knowing which to choose that is most faire Her brest loues sweete repaire Continu ally shall wauer on two men Inclining now and then Her loue to one then to another straight Poore soule she shall await In this suspence not knowing to define To whether of them both she should incline And thinke not that th' immortall Gods intended To bar these loues that heere I am declaring Nor their successe would euer haue denied For being to a vertuous end applied Either of both they would not haue suspended Alas it is their fate such woes preparing Not one nor other sparing Both for one cause in one loue shall be chained And both alike be pained But yet the Gods shall euer be procuring That Stela then enduring These âardest haps shall not with those be placed Whom Fortune alwaies checkes and hath disgraced But thou must comfort thee aboue the rest If of these three the hard and cruell fate Cannot be shunn'd their ioies that must adiourne After these woes Fortune shall make them blest Shewing her face milde and propitiate Gentle and sweete Then shall they cease to mourne Forââ¦e her wheele shall turne Annoyes to ioyes their sighes to sweetest songs Shall turne and all their wrongs Shall cease Their woes their miseries and teares Their sorrowes greefes and feares Shall be one day conuerted into ioy Which neuer after Fortune shall destroy Thy daughter then Parisiles imbrace And so restore her to this place againe The heauens must haue their race Then let them run And cease to mourne in vaine This beuie of faire Nymphes when they had ended their propheticall song came to the riuer side and with a maruellous sweete consent did put into Parisiles armes his welbeloued daughter Betweene whom
knowe is not vaine The God Hymen not beeing hatefull to mee I coulde perhappes submit my selfe to this onely fault But I beseech the Gods the earth may first swallowe mee vp and Iupiter with his thunderbolt smite me to the mournfull shades of Acheron and perpetuall night before I violate thee O chastitie or breake thy holy bondes The chaste minde that euer I haue borne shall accompanie me to my graue But I know it offends me not by thinking to which of both I shoulde encline if my firme intent should turn to any side which of them both excels the other in disposition feature and beautie to loue the one more for that and forsake the other for this I cannot discerne who are so like that if they themselues beheld one another they could not knowe the one from the other Great is the goodnes of Parthenius for euen to the hazard of his life he offered it for safetie of his friend What wittie and readie answeres for Delicius What wisedome to make my companion helpe his and me not to forsake him and that fierce Gorphorost might not hurt him Parthenius in the end deserued well my loue but yet I thinke he goes not beyond Delicius who needed not the fauour of his brother to helpe him and could no doubt haue done no lesse then he And though he neuer had occasion to shew the sharpnes of his wit his pithie wordes and wittie answeres from the which he was cut off from the very beginning yet how cleerely by all his sweete songs and ditties that he made did he manifest it What verses did he carue in the tree or rather in my hart how modest by refraining not to offend me to speake of that which concerned him most O God and what great reason haue I then to loue him But who beleeues not that Parthenius if he had also loued me would not haue done as much Alas then for me to whether of them shall I incline Must Delicius be despised bicause he loues me and for desiring so much my loue againe Must I consent that he die bicause he desireth to liue with me Must he be guerdoned with vnworthy death for so high a desert of his great loue O haplesse Delicius I would I had neuer seene thee or thou not cast thine eies vpon me Thou well deseruest my loue if I had not vowed chastitie and if my importunate destinies had not threatened me with marriage But must Parthenius be reiected bicause he loues me not as Delicius doth For this he is more woorthie to be admitted into my loue It imports but little that he loue mee not so I loue him that hath so many good parts in him woorthy to be beloued That which most of all forceth me to his loue is that I cannot suffer with patience that Crimine should loue him But whither do I range in these wandring thoughts what need I take such care for them after so many whom I haue despised Why doe I thus torment my selfe Their beautie mooues me not and yet the same might well do it who are but yet boies They themselues mooue me not but their yong and flourishing youth But let them go hence in a good hower now that of mine owne free will I haue counselled them and the rather since marriage is denied mee Let them go and seeke forth some other loues since none that are wise will reiect them But alas for me this leaue is too harde With these last words not able to passe on further though many other things remained still in my minde I held my peace my toong was silent but my hart did still speake And with these and like wordes and praises poore soule without knowing what I did and rude in such affaires I loued without the sence of loue I conceiued the fire without seeing it and nourished a wound in my vaines without feeling it Three or fower daies passed in the which we went not to the Shepherds bicause Crimine came not foorth for seeing herselfe disdained of Parthenius she endeuoured to forget him by her absence which kindled her fire the more So that I would haue beene now glad that Parthenius had loued Crimine in lieu of seeing him and Delicius For the which I many times importuned her that we might go see them by putting her in mind of the hope that Delicius had giuen her but for all this she forced herselfe not to come before him There remained now but two daies to come of the time prefixed for Parthenius departure when not able to endure so long an absence I spake thus vnto her It might not a little reioice me deere sister if we went to see the Shepherds bicause I promised to speake with Parthenius before he went Crimine desiring the same no lesse then I as I imagined answered me saying Thou maiest go good friend although I will not denie that I desire to see mine enimie But this haplesse loue is so cruell that I cannot choose in the end but tell thee the truth that my going this time will auaile me as little I know as other times before Behold thou canst not tell Crimine saide I what Delicius hath done for thee in recompence of the good turne he owes thee for the promise he made thee and if this were not so remember that certaine daies past my selfe hauing lesse occasion and will to go yet onely to content thee I went thither So that thou art bounde now to performe my request when I was then so willing to do thy command Thou hast ouercommed saide she I will nor cannot gainsay thy forcible reasons Whereupon we went to the Shepherds whom when I espied gone aside for on purpose they were talking very earnestly togither I saide to my companion They should now talke of some great matters and it may bee Delicius is talking about thy affaires Nay about thine answered she againe And it was true indeed For both of them were in counsell togither as afterwards we knew it Being come to the Shepherds we found such an alteration in them that it seemed very strange to vs. What will you more but that Delicius seemed to haue changed the loue that he did beare me to bestow it on Crimine when he had greatest reason to loue me Who at the last time when I spake to him got more of me then euer he did before I coulde not by any meanes know the cause of this sudden change Truth it is that as I had perceiued Delicius loue to Crimine to be but colde as that I also held him for such an one who would not change without great occasion and not able to coniecture it by any fault of mine owne I haue suspected and Crimine thinkes no lesse but that Delicius by some waies should know of Parthenius secret loue to me and by sayning that he had forgot mee it was to giue place to his deere friend in my loue Which if it be so as we beleeue
vpon his bodie it can do no harme but he that in high and loftie houses lodgeth though the thunderclap smite him not may be killed or wounded with the stones timber or some other thing that may fall from thence And may also be burned or choaked with the smoke of the fire that is kindled in the wood all which by experience haue beene often seene But bicause of good will you inuite me to do that which you request me I will go in although I was determined to lay me downe and sleepe if I had found out some fit place for the purpose bicause the thunderclap spareth those they say that are asleepe Thou wilt liue too long said Seluagia since with so many defences thou dost arme thy self Heereof thou maiest be ascertained said the Shepherd for there is not any who desires his life and health more then I do So me thinkes said Seluagia and the cause of it must be that thou art not in loue Naie rather the contrarie said the Shepherd which my song did euen now speake of Dost thou loue then saide Seluagia I loue said he with the greatest blisse and ioy as thou hast euer heard of Not onely heard but seene said Seluegia For they are before thee And this do I say said he And I that said she Leaue of these speeches said Lord Felix and let vs go in And do vs so much pleasure good Shepherd to tell vs by the way if thou beest in loue I am said he Are these loues thine own said Lord Felix They are mine said he none others I say not so said Lord Felix but if they be properly of thee thy selfe I haue not so many good parts said the Shepherd to be enamoured of my selfe and yet there is not any I thinke that loues me as much as I do my selfe But leauing this aside I loue as much as possiblie I may a most faire yoong Shepherdesse Thy loue is not perfect said Lord Felix bicause thou saiest there is none whom thou louest as much as thy selfe Why doth this hinder it said the Shepherd that it is not perfect Why not said Lord Felix Then by this I vnderstand said the Shepherd that there is none that loues in this degree But rather beleeue the contrarie saide Lord Felix for heere thou seest some who woulde gladly hazard their heades for them whom they loue This is an easie thing saide the Shepherd to saie it And easier said Lord Felix to do it I promise you sir saide the Shepherd if death knocked at your dore and if it were in your election to go with it your selfe or to sende your loue that it might be seene what I say But rather that which I affirme saide Lord Felix I thinke it a hard matter saide the Shepherd With these demands and answers they came to the Temple where they rested themselues and feasted that new guest who was well entertained of the sage Felicia bicause she knew him woorthie of it After they had made an end of their great dinner all of them requested him to sing the song that he came singing when he left it off at their sight He saide he was well content and glad if they woulde lende an eare vnto it not for his voice which was not woorth it but for the matter which deserued any good whatsoeuer But requesting that some instrument might play to him bicause his song might be the better set foorth Doria by Felicias command tooke a Harpe and tuning it to the highest note that he would sing the rest being all attentiue to him he began thus LOuers record my memorie and name For one that is more happie then the rest And solemnize my conquest and my fame which I haue got in being onely blest Extoll my glorie to the loftie sunne Which with this famous triumph I haue wonne To be the happiest man that hath beene borne Of all that haue to loue allegeance sworne What louer yet was found vnto this howre Though in his loue most fauour'd he had beene Of greefe that had not tasted yet some sowre And had not felt some paine and sorrowes seene Or who hath with such sweete his loue endured Though of his Mistresse he were most assured And though she loued him with truest hart That felt not yet a little iealous smart Amongst all these I onely am exempted From sorrowes troubles from mishaps and paines With both handes full I liue in ioies contented And more if I did tell yet more remaines Secure I am that in my happy brest Vile iealousie shall neuer build her nest And that I may with greefe be neuer paid A strong and firme foundation I haue laid Nothing in all the world shall breake this chaine If cruell death doth spare me with her dart And yet if loue in sepulcher remaine Death shall not there dissolue it in my hart See then how that most strong it needes must be Since to my will I wrought the same in me And for you may not say that I doe mooue it With blazons harke with reasons I will prooue i Who to himselfe could be so inhumane Vnlesse he were depriued of his wit That swimming in a pleasant Ocean Of ioies would wish for greefe not finding it Such ioies I taste as neuer more I could My loue admits no sadnes though I would For yet admit that I would now procure it My loue is such that it will not endure it I haue good fortune at mine owne commaund Since I haue fauours at mine owne free will My loue to her her loue to me is pawn'd Which fortunes spite and time shall neuer spill But now if ought with greefe my minde may mooue It is to haue Corriuals in my loue But they my ioy and glorie doe augment For more they are the more is my content If any care for these Corriuals dooe These faithfull louers in my brest remaine Then see how that with earnest suites I wooe And seeke them for my Shepherdesse againe And truly if it lay within my power A thousand I would send her euery hower But since I am so rude and but a clowne I cannot set her golden praises downe If that with all the faire one should resort Shewing her vertues and each goodly grace Little should then my homely praise import Hauing the world at her commaund and trace For saying naught her praise she better would Her selfe disclose though I said all I could And how much more since I want skill and art Of her to blazon foorth the meanest part But now behold how far from that aboue I haue estraied my promise and intent My promise was with reasons now to prooue That crosse nor care my ioies could not preuent I know not if by rashnes or aduice It was my thought that did my toong entice For when I thinke to praise my Shepherdesse Then straight my toong doth in her fauour presse It takes no heede and hath but small remorce To whom what where how oft why
treacherous counsell she gaue her husband as also for her dishonest loue and life that she leades with Alanius may likewise receiue due correction Filenus had scarce ended his tale when there arose such a noise amongst the people that all the towne seemed to haue suncke And the harts of all the Shepherds and Shepherdesses were so much altered at these words that they conceiued a mortall hatred against Montanus Some saide that he deserued to be stoned to death others to be throwen into the deepest place of the riuer Duerus others that he should be cast forth to be deuoured of hungrie woolfes so that there was not one almost amongst them all who allotted not his doome and manner of his death It mooued them also not a little to despite to heare that which Filenus falsely reported concerning my life but they were so incensed with anger and hate against Montanus and his pretenses that they had no leysure to thinke of mine When Montanus vnderstoode how his Father had openly before all the towne accused him of this deed and of the hurly burly and awaite that was laide to catch him he fell into a woonderfull desperation And besides this knowing what his Father had told of me before them all he tooke such a deepe conceit and griefe thereat that the like was neuer heard of From hence did all my sorrowes rise this was the cause of my perdition and here did my painfull life begin For my beloued Montanus knew that in times past I had loued Alanius and was beloued of him againe and imagining that old and mortified loues might oftentimes be reuiued seeing Alanius whom now for his sake I had quite forgotten to be in loue with me as much as euer he was by making daily suites to me for my loue with those kinde of pastorall feasts and sports that louers are woont to please their Shepherdesses withall he vehemently suspected that the false report which his Father Filenus had told of me was true and the more he thought of it the more he beleeued it to be so indeed In so much that waxing almost mad and desperate for the treacherie that Sylueria had wrought him and for that which he suspected I had done him he fled from the towne and countrey thereabouts and since was neuer more heard of And I then who knew of his departure and the cause thereof by the report of certaine Shepherds his friends whom he fully acquainted with his vnfortunate estate left also our town to seeke him out and while I liue will neuer leaue seeking vntill I haue found my deere husband to acquite my selfe of this crime which he suspectes although I shoulde die by his owne handes for my labour It is a good while since I haue gone vp and downe wandring and enquiring after him and for all that I haue sought in the cheefest townes and amongst all the Shepherdes and cottages Fortune neuer yet gaue me any notice of my Montanus The greatest accident that in these my trauels chanced vnto mee since I forsooke my towne was that I found the trayteresse Sylueria who knowing the voluntarie exile of Montanus went vp and downe following to tell him the plot and drift of the secret trecherie that she had done him and to aske him forgiuenes for it being verie penitent that she had committed such abhominable wickednes But as yet till then she had not spoken with him and when she sawe me she told me openly howe the matter stoode which was no small ease vnto my minde to know the maner how we were betraied I thought with mine owne handes to haue killed her though I was but a weak woman yet I did it not bicause it lay in her only to helpe my greefe by confessing her owne wickednes I praied her to seeke out my beloued Montanus in all the haste she could to certifie him of the matter and how it stoode and so I left her to seeke him out some other way I came hither to day to this woode where being inuited by the pleasantnes of the place I rested mee to passe the heate of the day away And since that Fortune for my great comfort hath brought you hither and that it is now the hottest part of the day I beseech you let me enioy your gracious companie while the heate of the sunne shall last Diana and Marcelius were glad to heare the historie that Ismenia tolde them and to knowe the cause of her greefe It pleased them also well to heare the discourse of her life who then gaue her some comfort to ease her greefe promising her all the fauour and helpe that they might possiblie bestow on her for remedie of her paine and trauels They praied her also to go with them to Felicias pallace bicause it was most like that there she should finde out some kind of comfort to make her glad againe And they both thought good to passe the time away there while the heate of the Sunne did last as Ismenia requested them But bicause Diana was very skilfull in that ground knew very well the woods fountaines forrests and the pleasant and shadowed places of it she told them that there was not farre from thence a more delightfull and pleasant place then that was for it was not yet full midday So that all three of them rising went a little way and came by and by to a forrest where Diana led them which was as pleasant coole and delightful a place as any of those hils or fieldes that euer was with fame renowned in the pastorall Arcadia There were in it faire and greene Sicamours Sallowes Ashes Byrch and Beech trees which round about the brinks of the chrystalline fountaines and in euery part thereabout being softly blowen with a coole and sweete winde made a pleasant and gentle noise There the aire did so sweetely resound with the tuned melodie of the little birdes which went skipping vp and downe the greene boughes that it cheered vp the minde with a gracious kinde of welcome It was couered all ouer with greene and small grasse amongst the which were many faire and coloured flowers which painting the place with knots in many places did with their sweete sinell recreate the most sorrowfull and melancholike spirits There were the Hunters woont to finde Heardes of fearefull Harts wilde Goates and of other little beasts in which games and sports they tooke no small pastime and delight They came into this forrest following Diana their guide that went in first for she went before to seeke out a little thicke groue of trees that she had marked out in that place where she was woont to resort to rest and refresh herselfe many times And they had not gone farre when Diana comming neere to the place that she thought the most pleasant of all the wood and where shee minded to haue passed away the heate of the daie putting her finger to her mouth she made signes to Marcelius and Ismenia to come on softly
soule The wise in ancient times a God thee nam'd Seeing that with thy power and supreme might Thou didst such rare and mighty woonders make For thee a hart is frozen and inflam'd A foole thou mak'st a wise man with thy light The coward turnes couragious for thy sake The mighty Gods did quake At thy commaund To birdes and beasts transformed Great monarches haue not scorned To yeeld vnto the force of beauties lure Such spoiles thou dost procure With thy braue force which neuer may be toulde With which sweete loue thou conqu'rest euery soule In other times obscurely I did liue But with a drowsie base and simple kinde Of life and onely to my profit bend me To thinke of loue my selfe I did not giue Or for good grace good partes and gentle minde Neuer did any Shepherdesse commend me But crowned now they send me A thousand garlands that I woon with praise In wrestling daies by daies In pitching of the bar with arme most strong And singing many a song After that thou didst honour and take hould Of me sweete loue and of my happy soule What greater ioy can any man desire Then to remaine a captiue vnto loue And haue his hart subiected to his power And though sometimes he taste a little sower By suffring it as milde as gentle doue Yet must he be in lieu of that great hire Whereto he doth aspire If louers liue afflicted and in paine Let them with cause complaine Of cruell fortune and of times abuse And let them not accuse Thee gentle loue That dost with blisse enfoulde Within thy sweetest ioies each louing soule Behold a faire sweete face and shining eies Resembling two most bright and twinkling stars Sending vnto the soule a perfect light Behold the rare perfections of those white And Iuorie hands from greefes most sure bars That minde wherein all life and glorie lies That ioy that neuer dies That he doth feele that loues and is beloued And my delights approoued To see her pleas'd whose loue maintaines me heere All those I count so deere That though sometimes Loue doth my toies controule Yet am I glad he dwels within my soule There was not one there amongst them all but tooke great delight in the Shepherds songs But Eugerius comming to giue his verdict praise and reward to him that had sung best could not so soone conclude of the matter he stept aside to Montanus to heare his opinion whose iudgement was that one had sung as well as another Then Eugerius turning to Syrenus and Arsileus said My opinion is cunning Shepherds that you are equall in the subiect of this contention and that if old Palemon were reuiued and made an indifferent iudge betweene you hee could not confesse I thinke any superioritie in your skill Thou art Syrenus worthie to beare away the cristall cup and thou Arsileus deseruest it as well so that I should offer you great wrong if I did not define who is conqueror and who is conquered To resolue my selfe therefore of this doubt with Montanus opinion I say that to thee Syrenus is allotted the Cristall cup and to thee Arsileus this Calcedonian cup of no lesse value which worthily thou hast wonne To both of you therefore I giue cups of like value both of them of account amongst Felicias treasure and by her bountifull hands bestowed on me The Shepherds were well pleased at the wife iudgement and rich rewardes of bountifull Eugerius to whom they gaue many thankes But Alcida by this occasion calling to minde her passed times said If the deceitfull errour wherewith I haue beene blinded so long had endured till now I would not then coÌsent that Arsileus should be rewarded equally with Syrenus But since I am now free from it and wounded afresh with the loue of my betrothed Marcelius for the paine which I suffer for his absence I like well of that which Syrenus did sing and for the ioy and sweete delight which I expect I also commend Arsileus song But take heed carelesse Syrenus that these complaints which thou makest of Diana be not like to those wherewith I blamed Marcelius bicause thou maist not repent thee of thy hardnes of hart and disdaine as I haue done Syrenus smiled at this and said What greater blame may be laide vpon that Shepherdesse who after she had forsaken me married her selfe to a iealous peruerse and vnfortunate husband Then Alcida answered Vnfortunate indeed he hath beene enough since he cast his eies vpon me and bicause it comes fit to the purpose I will tell thee that which yesterday by reason of Felicias discourses and affaires with me I could not declare vnto thee when as we were talking about Dianas matters and to this end especially bicause thou mightest forget all iniuries past and shake off thy wrongfull obliuion when thou shalt vnderstand of the strange and vnluckie accident that by my contempt befell to miserable Delius I haue told thee before how I was talking and singing with Diana at the fountaine of the Sicamours and how iealous Delius came thither and sorrowfull Marcelius after him in a Shepherds habit at whose sight I was so grieued that I fled from him incoÌtinently into a wood that was hard by But when I came to the other side of the wood I heard a far off a voice that still cryed Alcida Oh Alcida stay stay which made me to thinke that Marcelius followed me and bicause I would not fall into his hands I ran as fast as I could away But by that which afterwards happened I knew that it was Delius husband to Diana that came running after me And bicause I had run a great way and began to be wearie I then went so easily that he followed me in sight I knew him and staied to know what he would haue not thinking once of him nor of the cause of his comming And when he was before me what by the faintnes of his running and by the anguish of his minde that troubled him he was not able to vtter one word At the last with rude and ill formed reasons he said that he was in loue with me praying me after his homely manner to loue him againe and many other things I know not what which shewed his little wit and simple behauiour To tell the very truth I laughed at him and the best I could endeuoured to comfort him and to make him forget his folly but it auailed nothing for the more I disswaded him from it the more foole he was In faith Shepherd I sweare vnto thee that I neuer knew man in my life so assotted with sudden loue But as I went on my waies and he following me at an inch we came to a village a mile distant from his towne and there when he perceiued my rigour that I had flatly denied him for verie griefe and anguish of minde he fell sicke He was lodged there by a Shepherd that knew him who as soone as morning came certified his mother of
sonne Polydorus bicause they would not be depriued of that merrie song which they expected at Belisas handes said vnto her The praise faire Shepherdesse and defence of women is iustly due vnto them and no lesse delightfull to vs to heare it with thy delicate voice repeated It pleaseth me well said Belisa if it like you for there are many sharpe and stinging inuectiues if I could remember all the verses in it but yet I will begin to recite them bicause I hope that in singing them one will reduce another to my minde Then Arsileus seeing that Belisa was preparing herselfe to sing began to tune his Rebecke at the sound whereof she sung the song that she heard Florisia in times past sing which was this Florisias Song FLie storming verse out of my raging brest With furious anger malice and despite Indigned spirits once at my request Powre foorth your wrath and pen prepare to write With scornefull stinging and inuectiue stile Against a people brutish base and vile Avile peruerse and monstrous kinde of men Who make it but their pastime and their game With bar barous mouth and with vnciuill pen To slaunder those who lest deserue the same Women Imeane a work manship diuine Angels in shape and Goddesses in minde Thou wicked man that dost presume too hie Of thy perfections but without desart False man I say accustomed to lie What euill canst thou thinke within thy hart Or speake of her whose goodnes more or lesse Doth fill the world so full of happinesse But onely this that woman was the cause Though not alone of one exceeding ill In bringing foorth constrained by natures lawes A man whose mischiefes all the world doth fill Who after that he is conceiu'd and borne Against his mother proudly liftes his horne Whom if she had not borne poore silly dame With fewer greefes her life she might haue lead For then he should not slaunder thus her name And such a crowe she should not then haue bred That being hatch'd her dam would thus despise And daily labour to plucke out her eies What man in all the world did euer knowe Although the tendrest father he had beene Those cares and greefes that sorrow and that woe Which wiues haue for their husbands felt and seene And how the louing mother for her sonne With sorrow hath beene oftentimes vndone Behold with what affection and what ioy What gentlenes and what intensiue loue The mother dothintreate her little boy Which after doth a Traitour to her prooue Requiting ill her paines and loue so kinde With powring sorrowes still into her minde What iealous feares what fearefull iealousies Doe haunt the mother for her cruell sonne What paine when that in any paine he lies What greefe when that with greefe he is vndone What perfect gladnes and what sweete content When that he is to any goodnes bent Alas how pensiue and how sad they ar If that their husbands suffer any paine What sorrow when they trauell somewhat far What moane when that they come not soone againe A thousand greefes to heare their losse of wealth Ten thousand deathes to heare their want of health But men that are so full of false deceate Our daily sorrowes neuer doe requite Or thinke of them though they be neuer so great But rather such their malice and despite Is that our louing cares both great and small Vniust suspects and iealousies doe call The cause of which surmise is onely this That as these wicked and detested men Of custome are enclined to stray amisse And in false loue their wits and wealth to spend Do thinke it now a burden to their liues To be belou'd so truely of their wiues Then since in louing them we euer finde Our selues a payde with hatefull scorne and blame I thinke it best for easing of our minde Quite to forget their nature sexe and name Or else to leaue our ioies in looking on them Or if we looke not once to thinke vpon them But yet it is a pretie iest to see Some kind of men whose madnes is so great That if the woman will not wholly bee At their desires then in a franticke heat They call her Tygresse cruell and vnkinde And trasteresse vnto a louing minde Then shalt thou see these men vnseemely call The modest women whom they would haue naught Coy and disdainfull to conuerse withall And her that 's chaste vnmanner'd and vntaught Those that be wise and sober full of pride And cruell those whose honesties are tride I would to God that those dishonored names Did fit them all as well as all the rest Then none of them should bide so many shames Nor be deceiu'd by men that loue them lest For being cruell proude and rusticall They would not loue nay could not loue at all For if the thing which they so faine would haue By any meanes they cannot once obtaine Then do they wish for death or for their graue But yet the same no sooner they attaine But make it but a sport and merie game And straight forget that ere they lou'd the same They faine themselues most sorrowfull and sad And wearied with a long and painfull life They still do tell the paines that they haue had And other lyes which are with them so rise They call themselues vnhappie poore and blinde Confounded slaues yet all but words of winde O how they can make Oceans of their eies And terme their flames their torments and their paines And breath out sighes like vapours in the skies And belch out sobs like Aetnas burning vaines In many things the greatnes of their minde They shew contemning base and doubtfull feare As those whose tender loue hath beene so kinde Vnto their husbands when they liuing were That all their moanes and sorrowes for their death They ended soone by stopping of their breath And if for vertue and his chaste intent Hippolytus deserued any praise On th' other side behold that excellent And noble Roman Matrone in her daies With stabbing dagger giuing vp the ghost I meane faire Lucrece for her honour lost It was no doubt great valour in the youth As neuer like hath beene in all the rest Who vowing to his father faith and truth Deni'd his stepdames foule and fond request All which admit Hippolytus is but one But thousands of Lucrecias haue beene knowne Giftes haue we more our beauties set aside For in good letters famous haue we bin And now to prooue our iudgements often tride And sharpnes of our finest wits therein Let Sappho and Corynna well suffice Who when they liu'd for learning got the prise And learned men doetherefore banish vs Their schooles and places where they do dispute For feare if we should argue and discusse With praise we should their arguments confute Too proud therefore they would not by their will That women should excell them in their skill And if some authors scorned in their loues Haue written ill of women in their hate Not this our credits any whit
beleeue that which from thy very thoughts and affection thou dost tell me I imagine oftentimes that as thou supposest that I loue thee not by louing thee more then my selfe so must thou thinke that thou louest me by hating me Behold Syrenus how time hath dealt better with thee then thou didst imagine at the beginning of our loues with safetie yet of mine honour which owes thee all that it may wherein is not any thing that I would not doe for thy sake beseeching thee as much as I may not to trouble thy minde with iealousie and suspicions bicause thou knowest how few escape out of their hands with safetie of life which God giue thee with all the content that I wish thee Is this a letter saide Syrenus sighing to make one thinke that obliuion could enter into that hart from whence such wordes came foorth And are these wordes to be passed so slightly out of memorie And that she then spake them and now forget me O sorrowfull man with what great content did I reade this letter when my Mistresse had sent it me and how many times in the same hower did I reade it ouer againe But for euery pleasure then with seuen folde paine I am now apaide and fortune could doe no lesse with me then to make me fall from one extreme to another For it had ill beseemed her with partiall hand to exempt me from that which to all others she is commonly wont to doe About this time from the hill beneath that led from the village to the greene medowe Syrenus might perceiue a Shepherd comming downe pace by pace and staying awhile at euery step sometimes looking vp to heauen and sometimes casting his eies vpon the greene medow and faire riuer bankes which from aloft he might easily view and discouer the thing which more augmented his sorrow seeing the place where the beginning and roote of his mishap did first growe Syrenus knew him by and by and looking towardes the place from whence he came saide Vnfortunate Shepherd though not halfe so much as I am that art a corriuall with me in Dianas loue to what end haue thy bootelesse suites serued thee and the disdaine that this cruell Shepherdesse hath done thee but to put them all on my score But if thou hadst knowen that the finall summe of all thy paines should haue bene like to mine what greater fauour hadst thou found at fortunes hands by preseruing thee still in this haplesse estate of life then by throwing me headlong downe from it when I did lest suspect it But now despised Syluanus tooke out his bagpipe and playing on it a little with great sorrow and greefe did sing these verses following I Am a louer but was neuer loued Well haue I lou'd and will though hated euer Troubles I passe but neuer any mooued Sighes haue I giuen and yet she heard me neuer I would complaine and she would neuer heare me And flie from loue but it is euer neere me Obliuion onely blamelesse doth beset me For that remembreth neuer to forget me For euery ill one semblant I doe beare still To day not sad nor yesterday contented To looke behinde or go before I feare still All things to passe alike I haue consented I am besides my selfe like him that daunceth And mooues his feete at euery sound that chaunceth And so all like a senselesse foole disdaines me But this is nothing to the greefe that paines me The night to certaine louers is a trouble When in the day some good they are attending And other some doe hope to gaine some double Pleasure by night and wish the day were ending With that that greeueth some some others ease them And all do follow that that best doth please them But for the day with teares I am a crying Which being come for night I am a dying Of Cupid to complaine who euer craue it In waues he writes and to the windes he crieth Or seeketh helpe of him that neuer gaue it For he at last thy paines and thee defieth Come but to him some good aduise to lend thee To thousand od conceits he will commend thee What thing is then this loue It is a science That sets both proofe and study at defiance My Mistresse loued her Syrenus deerely And scorned me whose loues yet I auouched Left to my greefe for good I held it cleerely Though narrowly my life and soule it touched Had I but had a heauen as he once shining Loue would I blame if it had bene declining But loue did take no good from me he sent me For how can loue take that he neuer lent me Loue 's not a thing that any may procure it Loue 's not a thing that may be bought for treasure Loue 's not a thing that comes when any lure it Loue 's not a thing that may be found at pââ¦re For if it be not borne with thee refraine it To thinke thou must be borne anew to gaine it Then since that loue shuns force and doth disclame it The scorned louer hath no cause to blame it Syrenus was not idle when Syluanus was singing these verses for with his sighes he answered the last accents of his wordes and with his teares did solemnize that which he conceiued by them The disdained Shepherd after he had ended his song began to reuolue in his minde the small regarde he had of himselfe and how for the loue of his cruell Mistresse Diana he had neglected all his busines and flockes and yet he reckoned all this but small He considered that his seruice was without hope of recompence a great occasion to make him that hath but small firmnesse easily cut off the way of his loue But his constancie was so great that being put in the middes of all the causes which he had to forget her who neuer thought of him with his owne safetie he came so easily out of them and so cleerely without preiudice to the sincere loue which he bare his Shepherdesse that without any feare he neuer committed any ignorance that might turne to the hurt or hinderance of his faith But when he sawe Syrenus at the fountaine he woondred to see him so sad not that he was ignorant of the cause of his sorrow but bicause he thought that if he had tasted but the lest fauour that Syrenus had sometimes receiued at Dianas handes such a contentment had bene ynough for him all his life time He came vnto him and imbraced him and with many teares on both sides they sat them downe vpon the greene grasse Syluanus beginning to speake in this sort God forbid Syrenus that for the cause of my mishap or at the lest for the small remedie thereof I should take delight or reuenge in thine which though at mine owne pleasure I might well doe yet the great loue which I beare to my Mistresse Diana woulde neuer consent thereunto nor suffer me to goe against that which with such good will and liking she had sometimes fauoured
the riuer in the heate where resting her With great care she was telling yet and heeding them After if that she was alone deuesting her Thou shouldst haue seene the bright sunne beames enuying her Resplendant hayre to kembe them manifesting her But on the sudden meeting and espying her My deerest friend Syluane how oft incended was Her fairest face with orient blushing dying her And with what grace how mildly reprehended was My staying long which she did aske correcting me Which if I greeu'd with blandishments amended was How many daies haue I found her expecting me At this cleere fountaine when that I was seeking her Along that thickest hedge to greefe subiecting me All paines and troubles what so ere in meeting her Of sheepe or lambes we straight way were forgetting them When she sawe me or when that I was greeting her Some other times Syluane we tun'd in setting them Our Bagpipe and the Rebeck which we plaied on And then my verses sung we nothing letting them After with bowe and arrowes we estraied on Sometimes with nets and she neuer refraining me And came not home without some chase we praied on Thus fortune went by these meanes entertaining me Reseruing for some greater ill and tendring me Which hath no end but by deathes end restraining me Syluanus Syrenus that most cruell loue engendring me Such greefe stints not nor hindreth the perswading me Of so much ill I die therein remembring me Diane I sawe but straight my ioy was failing me When to my onely sight she was opposing her And to my greefe I saw long lift inuading me How many tymes haue I found her in losing her How often lost in finding and espying her And I my death and seruice not disclosing her My life I lost when meeting I was eying her Faire louely eies which full of anger cruelly She turn'd to me when that my speech was plying her But her faire haire where Cupides in their fââ¦ll lye When she vndid and kemb'd vnseene then leauing me My ils return'd most sensibly which rue well I. But pitilesse Diana then perceiuing me Turn'd like a cruell serpent that in winding it Assailes the lion thâ⦠my life be reauing me One time false hope deceitfully but blinding it My hart maintain'd ewen for my comfort choosing it But afterwardes in such an error finding it It mocked hope and then it vanisht loosing it Not long after that the Shepherdes had made an ende of their sorrowfull songs they espied a shepherdesse comming out of the thicket neere to the riuer playing on a Bagpipe and singing with as sweete a grace and delicate voice as with no lesse sorrow and greefe which by her countenance and gesture she so liuely expressed that it darkened a great part of her excellent beautie Whereupon Syrenus who had not of a long time fed in those vallies asked Syluanus what she was who answered This is a faire Shepherdesse that hath sed but a fewe daies since in these medowes complaining greatly of loue and as some say with good cause though others say that she hath bene a long time mocked by the discouerie of a deceite Why saide Syrenus lies it then in her to perceiue it and to deliuer her selfe from it It doth saide Syluanus for I thinke there is no woman though neuer so much in loue whose wits and senses the force and passion of loue can so much blinde that may not perceiue whether she be beloued againe or not I am of a contrarie opinion saide Syrenus Of a contrarie saide Syluanus Why thou shalt not flatter thy selfe so much for the affiance which thou hadst in Dianus wordes hath cost thee deere and yet I blame thee not considering that as there is none whom her beautie ouercomes not so is there not any whom her wordes deceiue not How knowest thou that since she neuer deceiued thee by word nor deede It is true saide Syluanus that I was euer if so I may terme it vndeceiued by her but I durst by that which hath hitherto fallen out that she neuer meant any deceit to me but only to deceiue thee But let vs leaue this and harken to this Shepherdesse that is a great friend to Diana who is well worthy for the commendable report of her wisedome and good graces to be harkened vnto But now was the faire Shepherdesse comming towards the fountaine and began to sing this Sonnet following A Sonnet MIne eies once haue I seene you more contented And my poore hart more ioyfull I haue knowne thee Woe to the cause whose greefes haue ouer growne thee And yet whose sight your comforts once presented But as this cruell fortune hath inuented Sweete ioy to roote thee vp where she had sowen thee So now Seluagia she hath ouer throwen thee Thy pleasures scarce begun she hath tormented Let me to time or to his changing take me Let me with motions out of order leade me Then I shall see how free my hart is to me Then will I trust in hopes that not forsake me When I haue staide her wheeles that ouertread me And beaten downe the fates that doe vndoe me After that the Shepherdesse had made an end of her song she came directly to the fountaine where the Shepherdes were and while she was a comming Syluanus smiling saide Marke but those woâ⦠and the burning sigh wherewith she ended her song what witnesses they are of her inward loue and greefe Thereof I haue no doubt saide Syrenns for I woulde to God I could so speedily remedie her sorrowe as I beleeue to my great greefe all that she hath by dolefull song vttered And talking thus together Seluagia was by this time come and knowing the Shepherds curteously saluted them saying What doe you in this greene and pleasant medow despised Shepherds Thou saiest not amisse faire Seluagia by asking vs what we doe saide Syluanus for we doe so little in respect of that we shoulde doe that we can neuer conclude and bring any thing to passe that in our loues we desire to haue Maruell not thereat saide Seluagia for there are certaine things that before they ende they that desire them are ended True saide Syluanus if a man puts his rest in a womans disposition for she will first ende his life before she will ende or determine to giue him any fauour that he is still hoping to receiue at her handes Vnhappy women are these saide Seluagia that are so ill intreated by your wordes But more vnfortunate are those men saide Syluanus that are worse handled by your deedes Can there be a thing more base and of lesse account then that you are so ready for the lightest thing in the worlde to forget them to whom you haue borne the greatest loue For absent your selues but a day from him whom you loue well and then shall he neede to commence his suite new againe Two things I gather saide Seluagia by thy speech which make me wonder not a little The one to see thy toong goe so much
sudden he loose it doth not a little greeue him But now when Montanus perceiued that faire Ismenia his loue and Mistresse had at last mollified her long obdurate hart and now thought good to requite the great loue that he had so long time borne her Shepherdes you may well imagine what content he felt For so great was his ioy so obsequious his seruices to her and so many troubles that he passed for her sake that they were an occasion with the disfauours and contempt that Alanius had shewen her to make that fained loue prooue true which but in iest she began to beare him So that Ismenia yeelded her hart wholy to Montanus with such firmnesse that there was not any in the world whom she loued more then him nor whom she desired lesse to see then my Alanius the which as soone as she could she gaue him to vnderstand thinking that as by these meanes she was sufficiently reuenged of his for getfulnesse she had likewise busied my head with the cruell thought therof The loue that Alanius did beare me although it greeued him to the hart to see Ismenia loue that Shepherd whoÌ in all his life time he could neuer abide was yet so great that he neuer seemed to make any shew of his secret greese But certaine daies passing on and thinking with himselfe that he onely was the cause of his enemies good hap and of those singular fauours that Ismenia shewed him and that the Shepherdesse did now shun his sight who not long since before died for the want thereof despite wroth and iealousie at once so fiercely assailed him that his impatience had almost bereft him of his wits if presently he had not determined to hinder Montanus his good fortune or in the pursuite thereof to haue lost his deerest life For performance whereof he began to looke on Ismenia againe and not to come so openly in my sight as he was wont to doe nor to be so often out of his towne least Ismenia might haue knowen it The loue betweene her and Montanus went not on so forwardes as that betweene me and my Alanius backwardes though not of my part when nothing but death was able to diuorce my minde from him but of his in whom I neuer thought to see such a sudden change For so extremely he bumed with choler and rancour against Montanus and so deepely enuied his good fortune that he thought he could not execute nor asswage that anger but by renewing the olde loue that he bare to Ismenia for furtherance whereof his comming to out towne was a great impediment whose absence from me as it engendred forgetfulnesse in him so the presence of his Ismenia rekindled his hart with a straunger kinde of loue then before whereupon he returned againe to his fust thoughts And I poore soule remained all alone deceiued and scorned in mine owne affection But all the seruice that he bestowed on Ismenia the tokens and letters that he sent her and the pitifull complaints that he made vnto her or any thing els that he was able to doe could neuer mooue her fetled minde nor make her forget the lest part of that loue which she bare Montanus I being therefore lost for the loue of Alanius Alanius dying for Ismenia and Ismenia for Montanus it fell out that my father had a certame occasion of busines about the buttals of certaine pastures with Phylenus father to Montanus by reason whereof both of them came often to our towne and in such a time that Mont anus whether it was for the superfluous fauours that Ismenia bestowed on him which to men of a base minde is a cloying or whether he was too iealous of the renewed and earnest suites of Alanius waxed very colde in his loue to Ismenia In the end when he espied me driuing my sheepe to the folde and with a curious eie looking on me he began presently to be enamoured of me so that by the effects which he daily shewed it was not possible for me to beare greater affection to Alanius nor Alanius to Ismenia nor Ismenia to Montanus nor Montanus to loue me more then in very trueth he did Beholde what a strange cousinage of loue If Ismenia went by chaunce to the fielde Alanius went after her if Montanus went to his flockes Ismenia after him if I went to the hils with my sheepe Montanus after me if I knew that Alanius was in the wood where he was wont to seede his flocks thither I hied me after him And it was the strangest thing in the world to heart how Alanius sighing saide Ah my Ismenia and how Ismenia saide Ah my Montanus and how Montanus said Ah my Seluagia and how Seluagia saide Ah my Alanius It fell out afterwardes on a day that we fower met together in a forrest that lay betweene all our townes and the reason was bicause Ismenia went to visite certaine Shepherdesses of her acquaintance which dwelt thereabouts which when Alanius knew being forced and driuen on by his fleeting thoughts he went after to seeke her out and found her neere to a fine spring kembing her golden haire I being tolde by a certaine Shepherd my neighbout that Alanius was gone to the forrest of the valley for so it was called tooke out before me a few goates that were shut vp in a little yarde neere to our house bicause I would not goe without some errant and went after him where my desire guided me whom by chaunce I found weeping and complaining of his ill fortune and the Shepherdesse laughing and iesting at his bootlesse teares and sighes When Ismenia espied me she was not a little glad of my companie and began to be merry with me although I had no cause to be so with her to whom I rather obiected the small reason and lesse regarde of modestie and discretion she had to greeue my hart with that vnciuill part and bad deceit whereof she so wisely excused herselfe that whereas I thought she would haue made me some amendes for all my greefe and sorrow by her wise and well ordered reasons she gaue me to vnderstand that I was rather bound to her in that if she had mocked me I had saide she satisfied my selfe as well and requited her againe not onely by taking Alanius her cosin from her whom she loued more then her selfe but also by enticing Montanus to my loue from that he was wont to shew her By this time came Montanus who was tolde by a Shepherdesse a friend of mine called Solisa that I was gone to the forrest of the valley with my goates And when all the fower discontented and discordant louers met there together it cannot be imagined what we all felt for euery one looked vpon another that would not haue bene viewed of those eies againe I asked my Alanius the cause of his forgetfulnes he sued for mercie at craftie Ismenias handes she accused and complained of the colde loue of Montanus he of Seluagias cruelty Being therefore in
Alanius ALthough my quiet it doth let Rather then blame discredit me For God forbid that I forget Let me with wrong forgotten be Not onely where obliuion raineth There is no loue nor can be none Nay where there is suspicion There is no loue but such as faineth Great harme it is to loue where set In bootelesse hopes the minde they free But God defend that I forget Forgotten though a iest it bee If that I loue why then loue I To sport or leaue to loue at all For what more honor can befall Then die for that for which I die To liue therefore and to forget Is such a shamefull life I see That I had rather loue one yet Forgotten though to death I bee When I had made an ende of my song the Shepherdes teares but those especially of faire Ismenia were so many that of force they made me participate some of her greefe which thing I might well haue left vndone for no fault could iustly haue bene attributed to my great mishap as to all those that were there it was sufficiently knowen After this euery one of vs went to their owne towne bicause it was not meete for vs to be out of them at such inconuenient and late howers And the next day my father without telling me the cause why caried me out of our towne and brought me to yours placing me there in the house of Albania mine aunt and his sister whom you knowe well where I haue remained a few daies since my comming hither not knowing the cause of my sudden exile but haue heard of late that Montanus hath married Ismenia and that Alanius was about to marrie a sister of hers called Syluia whereupon to conclude I wish that he may liue since it was not my good fortune to haue him as ioyfull a life with his new spouse that nothing may want to the full accomplishment of their content and happinesse For the loue which I beare him will suffer me no lesse then to wish him all the felicitie of this life When Seluagia had made an end of her sorrowfull tale she began to weepe so bitterly that both the Shepherdes being a kinde of friendly dutie wherein they had no small experience began also to helpe her with their teares and after hauing spent a little time in this sort Syrenus saide vnto her Great is thy greefe faire Seluagia and yet I iudge thy patience and discretion greater Take example by other mens harmes looke into their paines consider their woes if thou wilt the better support thine owne And bicause it growes now towardes night let vs be iogging towardes our towne and to morrow passe away the heate of the day neere to this cleere fountaine where we will all three meete Let it be as thou saiest said Seluagia but bicause betweene this and the towne there is a pretie way let euery one of vs to passe it away with some thing sing a song befitting the condition and qualitie of his loue The Shepherdes answered if she would begin they would follow which Seluagia did all three going on softly towardes the towne SHepherd who can passe such wrong And a life in woes so deepe Which to liue is to too long As it is too short to weepe Greeuous sighes in vaine I waste Leesing my affiance and I perceiue my hope at last With a candle in the hand What time then to hope among Bitter hopes that euer sleepe When this life is to too long As it is too short to weepe This greefe which I feele so rife Wretch I doe deserue as hire Since I came to put my life In the handes of my desire Then cease not my plaints so strong For though life her course doth keepe It is not to liue so long As it is too short to weepe With a burning sigh that came from her afflicted soule Seluagia ended her song saying How vnfortunate alas am I that see my selfe buried in iealousie despaire which cannot in the end but bring my life to no other passe then to that which is infallibly expected of them After this forgotten Syrenus to the tune of his Rebecke began to sing this song following WEepe not my dolefull eies But if you weepe thinke at the lest They tolde no trueth but lies And then it may be you may rest Since that imagination Doth cause so much in euery state Thinke that she loues thee as of late And thou shalt haue lesse passion And if you will mine eies Haue ease imagine then the best And that they told you lies And so perhaps you may haue rest Thinke that she loues as well As euer she did heretofore But this sad men caunot restore To thinke what once befell Then mournfull eies where lies Your helpe Yet thinke of some at lest If not weepe still mine eies Or make an end and you shall rest After that sorrowfull Syrenus with many teares had made an end of his song despised Syluanus began his thus MY life yoong Shepherdesse for thee Of needes to death must post But yet my greefe must stay with mee After my life is lost The greeuous ill by death that cured is Continually hath remedie at hand But not that torment that is like to this That in slowe time and fortunes meanes doth stand And if this sorrow cannot be Ended with life as most What then doth this thing profit me A sorrow wonne or lost Yet all is one to me as now I trie A flattring hope or that that had not bene yet For if to day for want of it I die Next day I doe no lesse for hauing seene it Faine would I die to end and free This greefe that kils me most If that it might be lost with me Or die when life is lost And in this sort the two Shepherdes went homewardes in companie of Seluagia departing from one another with accorde to meete the next day following at the same place The end of the first booke of Diana The second Booke of Diana of George of Montemayor NOw did the Shepherdes which fed their sheepe in the fieldes of Ezla begin to shew themselues euery one with his flockes along the bankes of those cristalline waters each Shepherde knowing choosing out the best place before the Sun did rise the better to passe away the burning heate of the day when the faire Shepherdesse Seluagia came down from the hil which froÌ her towne did leade to a thick wood driuing her gentle sheepe and lambes before her who after she had put them amongst the lowe shrubs which grew very thicke thereabouts and seeing them busie in knobbing the yoong and tender boughes to stanch their hunger went directly to the fountaine of the Sicamours where the day before in companie of the two Shepherds she had passed away the noone-tide heate and seeing the place so agreeable to melancholie and contemplation of her sorrowes she thought it not amisse to take the opportunitie of the time and place and to sit downe
many a time she staide Casting vnto the ground her eies So comfortlesse and so dismade And sometimes vp into the skies That there they hung with greefe in steede Of two bright stars like stars in deede Saying with greater greefe of minde Then humane thought can once conceaue Since such annoy in ioy I finde From this day loue well maist thou leaue Thy ioies vnto thy selfe to keepe And me to feede no more but sheepe The cause of all her greefe and woe Which she by absence wrong did feare There did she very cleerely showe And if she wasted many a teare Aske but those blasing eies which still With passions did Syrenus kill If that her loue had euer peere Her goodnes there hid not the same And if that absence cost her deere Or feared her before it came This song aboue each other thing Can tell which she with teares did sing Dianas song O Loue thou gau'st me not the ioy That in sweete presence I did finde But that in absence the annoy Should seeme more greeuous to my minde Thou giuest ease thou giuest rest But not to giue content but guile And that the suffrance in my brest Might be but idle for a while She loues inuentions neuer scant In presence to affoord releefe Bicause in absence I should want Defence against my mortall greefe Now faire Diana being come Vnto the place where she did spie Her loue she would haue spoken some Few wordes but greefe did them denie And wofull man he nothing spake Though he did oft a semblant make How much they had betweene them both To talke their eies made manifest Declaring that which very loth Lay in their secret harts and brest With that milde countenance and show With which they spake not long agoe They both together downe did sit Vnder a flowrie Myrtle tree One by the hand the other yet Did take for ouer come was he By her and she by him againe Both in their mutuall passions slaine For that great pleasure and delight Of seeing one an other there And greefe to leese that happie sight So wrought their harts with ioy and feare That to each other neither could Vtter a word though faine they would Some other times they met againe Vpon this banke with other passions Which meetings they did entertaine And celebrate with other fashions Not as in times then gone and past For of this sort this was the last A strange effect of mighty loue To see two loue in such degree That greater torments they did proue When either did each other see Then when they were remooued quite From ioying in each others sight Syrenus seeing now the howre When greefe of parting was to come He had no patience nor no powre To speake but straight was striken dumbe Nor of his teares he could get leaue To vtter what he did conceaue His Shepherdesse he did behold His Shepherdesse beheld againe The man whose hart with feare was cold Speaking to her with cruell paine Indeede his Greefe for him did speake For he could not whose hart did breake Alas Diana who would haue said When I was in most heauie case Or who would haue imagined But that when I did view thy face My very soule then most opprest Should by that sight haue found some rest In any time who would haue thought That any thing sweete Mistresse might A greater greefe or paine haue brought Vnto my soule with more despight Then thy sweete presence and thy sight My soueraine ioy and chiefe delight Who would haue thought but that againe Those eies when that they viewed me Should haue dissolu'd and burst in twaine The knot of all my miserie Which my mishaps so long assured By any way might haue procured Faire Mistresse then behold my state And how mishap my soule doth chace For if I died but of late With great desire to see thy face Now doe I die by seeing thee Present and not thou killest me And thinke not that this passion drawes To want of louing thee for none Hath bene so firme but now bicause I come vnto this meade with mone To take my leaue where I before To see thee came but now no more My soule I would haue giuen faine This day which thou hast conquer'd soe Not to haue seene thee in this plaine Although no other life I knowe Onely to misse I care not how The greefe of this departure now And giue me leaue faire Shepherdesse To thinke that thou canst not deny it But thou dost feele my heauinesse In that degree as I doe trie it For in thy presence t' is not such A matter to presume so much If then Diana it be so Tell me how can I now depart How dost thou suffer me to go When each doth carry others hart Or how doe I come hither yet To take my farewell without let O my faire Shepherdesse againe No reason can I yeeld thee why Nor how of thee I should complaine As thou shalt haue continually Absent when I am gone from thee O neuer to remember me I knowe right well it is not thow That mak'st me to depart and lesse My purest faith constraines me now For needes I must the same confesse And if I should but tell and show it Who doth the same I doe not know it Thus full of paine and bitter teares And sighing which he neuer spar'd The Shepherd to her louing eares Did speake these words which you haue heard And hearing them in minde she kept Them and full bitterly she wept To answere him she went about A thousand times but could not doe it For still her greefe did put her out And so she could not frame her to it But then for her her loue so stable An answere shapt her toong vnable My friend in such a time I am Where I shall speake more then I would That though mine ill which lately came Cannot be vttered as it should Yet Shepherd would I thinke it good To hold my peace if that I could But woe is me that this great ill I come to tell and publish it In such a time against my will That it auailes not any whit Thy iourney to delay a while Nor these my torments to beguile Why goest thou hence O Shepherd tell Why wilt thou now forsake me heere So full of greefe alone to dwell Where time and place and all the deere And sweetest ioyes of this our loue Shall neuer from my minde remooue What shall I feele vnhappy wight Comming vnto this pleasant greene When I shall say Farewell sweete sight Heere haue I my Syrenus seene Heere did we sit heere did we play Discoursing with him day by day Behold if that it will not bee A daily sorrow when these bankes I doe beholde and cannot see Thy selfe where goodly trees in rankes And in their barke my name to stand Carued so finely by thy hand And see if any greefe or dole Is like to this when I behold The place so sorrowfull and sole Where deere
thou dost see Which for my sake I pray thee weare That though our bodies parted bee Nothing shall part not death alone Two soules vnited both in one He saide with thee what shall I leaue Naught haue I but this Sheepehooke heere The which I pray thee to receiue And Rebecke to the which my deere Thou saw'st me sing in this greene meade And play and many a daunce to leade To sound of which my Shepherdesse A thousand songs to thee I soong Singing of thy great worthinesse Too high for my base song and toong And of our loues and of my passions And of my sweetest lamentations Each one imbrac't the other fast And this I thinke the first time was And as I gesse it was the last Bicause those times did change and passe And loue with time did change and varie From that which once they both did carie For though Diana felt great paine For absence of her louer deere Yet in the same she found againe A remedie as did appeere For after he the seas did passe She to another married was Faire Cynthia hauing made an end of her sweete song Doria and Polydora wondred that a Shepherdesse could be the cause that loue kindled such burning flames and marueiled no lesse how time had cured her greefe which seemed at their farewell to be remedilesse But vnfortunate Syrenus all the while the Nymph with her sweete song did manifest his old cares and sighes forgot not to breath them out so thicke that Syluanus and Seluagia could not by any meanes comfort him for he was now no lesse pensiue then at the very time when he passed them maruelling much how she knew of these particulars which passed betweene him and Diana And Syluanus and Seluagia were no lesse astonished at the passing sweete grace wherewith Cynthia both song and plaied the same But now the faire Nymphes tooke vp their instruments and went walking vp and downe the greene meadow lest of all suspecting that which happened vnto them for hauing gone but a little way from the place where the Shepherdes were secretly abiding three monstrous and foule Sauages came out of a thicket of high broome and bushes on the right hande of the woode armed with corselets and morions of tygres skins and so vgly to behold that to the fearefull Nymphes it was a strange and terrible sight The braces of their corselets were at the endes armed with gasping mouthes of serpents out of the which their armes shewed monstrously great and full of haire and their morions that encompassed their grisely foreheads with dreadfull heads of lyons being naked in euery other part of their body but that it was couered all ouer with long and thicke haire and bearing in their rude hands clubs armed with iron and sharpe steeled points At their neckes their bowes and arrowes and likewise their shields which were broad shels of monstrous Tortuses were hanging downe behinde them who with an incredible swiftnes ranne vpon the fearefull Nymphes saying Now is the time come ingrate and scornefull Nymphes that by our strength and wils you shall be forced to do that which our milde loue and longe suites could neuer bring to passe for it is not reason that fortune should doe such iniurie to our captiue harts with so long and great paine to defer our remedies In fine we haue now in our hands the guerdon of our sighes and lamentations which wearied the birds and beasts of the darke and enchaunted woode where we dwell and the recompence of our burning teares wherewith we made the raging and lothsome riuer that watreth the dreadfull fieldes and plaines of our territories to swell and ouerflowe his banks Since then you haue no other meanes to saue your liues but by easing helping our harmes be not so wilfull by resistance to make our cruell hands take vengeance of that paine which so long you haue made our afflicted harts to feele The Nymphes at the sudden sur-sault of these monsters were so amazed that they were not able to answer to these proude and cruell wordes but onely with silence and teares Albeit faire Doria who had more courage then the rest at last did stoutly answer them thus againe I neuer thought that loue could bring a louer to so foule an extreme as with violent hands and such vnseemly force to sease vpon his beloued It is the manner of cowards to carie weapons and fight with silly women in an open and desart fielde where none is able to defend them but their vertue and honest reasons But of one thing cruell vile beasts you may be ascertained that your menaces shal not make vs leese one iot of that which our honours require and that we will sooner leaue our liues in your barbarous hands then suffer our deer chastities by your beastly forces to be violated It is needlesse Doria saide one of them againe to harken to their reasons who had none at all to handle vs with so great scorne and crueltie wherevpon vnloosing the string from his bowe that hung at his necke he tooke her by both her faire hands and rudely tied them togither and so did his companions Cynthias and Polydoras The two Shepherds and the Shepherdesse Seluagia astonished at the monstrous violence of the Sauages and seeing what beastialitie they beganne to vse to the faire and tender Nymphes not able to endure it resolued to die or to defende them from their cruell handes Wherefore all three taking out their slings and filling their scrips with stones came out of the woode into the greene medowe and beganne to throwe them at the Sauages with such courage and dexteritie as though their liues had lien in their handes And thinking to plie them so fast with stones that the Nymphes while the Sauages were busie about their owne defence might escape and saue their persons from their vile immanitie they redoubled their force with the greatest speede and valour they coulde Whose driftes the suttle Sauages suspecting one of them had an eie to the faire prisoners for running away while the other two by winning ground on their enemies thought to make a quicke dispatch of them But the stones came so dangerously and so many that they had ynough to defende themselues so that as long as they lasted the Sauages fared very ill But as the Shepherdes were afterwardes occupied in stowping downe to take vppe more stones the Sauages came running in to them so speedily with their massie clubs that nowe they were without any hope of life if presently a certaine strange Shepherdesse of such singular beautie and comely feature as made both the Sauages and the rest amazed at her goodly personage had not come out of the thicke wood neere vnto the fountaine where they before were singing She had her bowe hanging on her left arme and a quiuer of arrowes at her shoulder in her hand a fine staffe of wilde oke armed at the end with a long and well steeled pike But when she saw the
a little to heare them Twenty daies I was in going thither at the ende of which being come to the desired place I tooke vp mine Inne in a streete lest frequented with concurse of people And the great desire I had to see the destroier of my ioy did not suffer me to thinke of any other thing but how or where I might see him To inquire of him of mine host I durst not lest my comming might perhaps haue bene discouered and to seeke him foorth I thought it not best lest some inopinate mishap might haue fallen out whereby I might haue bene knowen Wherefore I passed all that day in these perplexities while night came on each hower whereof me thought was a whole yeere vnto me But midnight being a little past mine host called at my chamber doore and tolde me if I was desirous to heare some braue musicke I should arise quickly and open a window towards the street The which I did by and by and making no noise at all I heard how Don Felix his Page called Fabius whom I knew by his voice saide to others that came with him Now it is time my Masters bicause the Lady is in the gallerie ouer her garden taking the fresh aire of the coole night He had no sooner saide so but they began to winde three Cornets and a Sackbot with such skill and sweetenesse that it seemed celestiall musicke And then began a voice to sing the sweetest in my opinion that euer I heard And though I was in suspence by hearing Fabius speake whereby a thousand doubtes and imaginations repugnant to my rest occurred in my minde yet I neglected not to heare what was sung bicause their operations were not of such force that they were able to hinder the desire nor distemper the delight that I conceiued by hearing it That therefore which was sung were these verses SWeete Mistresse harken vnto me If it greeues thee to see me die And hearing though it greeueth thee To heare me yet do not denie O grant me then this short content For forc'd I am to thee to fliie My sighes do not make thee relent Nor teares thy hart do mollifie Nothing of mine doth giue thee payne Nor thou think'st of no remedie Mistresse how long shall I sustaine such ill as still thou dost applie In death there is no helpe be sure But in thy will where it doth lie For all those illes which death doth cure Alas they are but light to trie My troubles do not trouble thee Nor hope to touch thy soule so nie O from a will that is so free What should I hope when I do crie How can I mollifie that braue And stonie hart of pittie drie Yet Mistresse turne those eies that haue No peeres shining like stars in skie But turne them not in angrie sort If thou wilt not kill me thereby Though yet in anger or in sport Thou killest onely with thine eie After they had first with a concent of musicke sung this song two plaied the one vpon a Lute the other vpon a siluer sounding Harpe being accompanied with the sweete voice of my Don Felix the great ioy that I felt in hearing him cannot be imagined for me thought I heard him nowe as in that happie and passed time of our loues But after the deceit of this imagination was discouered seeing with mine eies and hearing with mine eares that this musicke was bestowed vpon another and not on me God knowes what a bitter death it was vnto my soule And with a greeuous sigh that caried almost my life away with it I asked mine host if he knew what the Ladie was for whose sake the musick was made He answered me that he could not imagine on whom it was bestowed bicause in that streete dwelled manie noble and faire Ladies And when I saw he could not satisfie my request I bent mine eares againe to heare my Don Felix who now to the tune of a delicate harpe whereon he sweetely plaied began to sing this Sonnet following A Sonnet MY painefull yeeres impartiall Loue was spending In vaine and booteles hopes my life appaying And cruell Fortune to the world bewraying Strange samples of my teares that haue no ending Time euerie thing to truth at last commending Leaues of my steps such markes that now betraying And all deceitfull trusts shall be decaying And none haue cause to plaine of his offending Shee whom I lou'd to my obliged power That in her sweetest loue to me discouers Which neuer yet I knew those heauenly pleasures And I do saie exclaiming euery hower Do not you see what makes you wise O Louers Loue Fortune Time and my faire Mystresse treasures The Sonnet being ended they paused a while playing on fower Lutes togither and on a paire of Virginals with such heauenly melodie that the whole worlde I thinke could not affoord sweeter musick to the eare nor delight to any minde not subiect to the panges of such predominant greefe and sorrow as mine was But then fower voice passing well tuned and set togither began to sing this song following A Song THat sweetest harme I doe not blame First caused by thy fairest eies But greeue bicause too late I came To know my fault and to be wise I neuer knew a worser kinde of life To liue in feare from boldnesse still to cease Nor woorse then this to liue in such a strife Whether of both to speake or holde my peace And so the harme I doe not blame Caused by thee or thy faire eies But that to see how late I came To knowe my fault and to be wise I euer more did feare that I should knowe Some secret things and doubtfull in their kinde Bicause the surest things doe euer goe Most contrarie vnto my wish and minde And yet by knowing of the same There is no hurt But it denies My remedie Since late I came To knowe my fault and to be wise When this song was ended they began to sound diuers sorts of instruments and voices most excellently agreeing togither and with such sweetnes that they could not chuse but delight any very much who were not so farre from it as I. About dawning of the day the musicke ended and I did what I could to espie out my Don Felix but the darknes of the night was mine enimie therein And seeing now that they were gone I went to bed againe where I bewailed my great mishap knowing that he whom most of al I loued had so vnwoorthily forgotten me whereof his musicke was too manifest a witnes And when it was time I arose without any other consideration went straight to the Princesse her pallace where I thought I might see that which I so greatly desired determining to call my selfe Valerius if any perhaps did aske my name Comming therefore to a faire broad court before the pallace gate I viewed the windowes and galleries where I sawe such store of blazing beauties and gallant Ladies that I am not able now to recount
Page played his part by depainting foorth their properties in their liuely colours And because I thought nothing more commodious for my rest and for the enioying of my desire then to follow Fabius his counsell I answered him thus In truth I determined to serue none but now since fortune hath offered me so good a seruice and at such a time when I am constrained to take this course of life I shall not do amisse if I frame my selfe to the seruiee of some Lord or Gentleman in this Court but especially of your Master because he seemes to be a woorthy Gentleman and such an one that makes more reckoning of his seruants then an other Ha thou knowest him not as well as I said Fabius for I promise thee by the faith of a Gentleman for I am one in deede for my father comes of the Cachopines of Laredo that my Master Don Felix is the best natured Gentleman that euer thou knewest in thy life and one who vseth his Pages better then any other And were it not for those troublesome loues which makes vs runne vp and downe more and sleepelesse then we woulde there were not such a Master in the whole worlde againe In the end faire Nymphes Fabius spake to his Master Don Felix as soone as he was come foorth in my behalfe who commanded me the same night to come to him at his lodging Thither I went and he entertained me for his Page making the most of me in the worlde where being but a fewe daies with him I sawe the messages letters and gifts that were brought and caried on both sides greeuous wounds alas coruiues to my dying hart which made my soule to flie sometimes out of my body euery hower in hazard to leese my forced patience before euery one But after one moneth was past Don Felix began to like so well of me that he disclosed his whole loue vnto me from the beginning vnto the present estate and forwardnes that it was then in committing the charge thereof to my secrecie and helpe telling me that he was fauoured of her at the beginning and that afterwards she waxed wearie of her louing and accustomed entertainment the cause whereof was a secret report whosoeuer it was that buzzed it into her eares of the loue that he did beare to a Lady in his owne countrey and that his present loue vnto her was but to entertaine the time while his busines in the Court were dispatched And there is no doubt saide Don Felix vnto me but that indeede I did once commence that loue that she laies to my charge but God knowes if now there be any thing in the world that I loue and esteeme more deere and precious then her When I heard him say so you may imagine faire Nymphes what a mortall dagger pierced my wounded heart But with dissembling the matter the best I coulde I answered him thus It were better sir me thinkes that the Gentlewoman should complaine with cause and that it were so indeed for if the other Ladie whom you serued before did not deserue to be forgotten of you you do her vnder correction my Lord the greatest wrong in the world The loue said Don Felix againe which I beare to my Celia will not let me vnderstand it so but I haue done her me thinkes the greater iniurie hauing placed my loue first in an other and not in her Of these wrongs saide I to my selfe I know who beares the woorst away And disloyall he pulling a letter out of his bosome which he had receiued the same hower from his Mistresse reade it vnto me thinking that he did me a great fauour thereby the contents whereof were these Celias letter to Don Felix NEuer any thing that I suspected touching thy loue hath beene so farre from the truth that hath not giuen me occasion to beleeue more often mine owne imagination then thy innocencie wherein if I do thee any wrong referre it but to the censure of thine owne follie For well thou mightest haue denied or not declared thy passed loue without giuing me occasion to condemne thee by thine owne confession Thou saiest I was the cause that made thee forget thy former loue Comfort thy selfe for there shall not want another to make thee forget thy second And assure thy selfe of this Lord Don Felix that there is not any thing more vnbeseeming a Gentleman then to finde an occasion in a Gentlewoman to leese himselfe for her loue I will saie no more but that in an ill where there is no remedie the best is not to seeke out any After he had made an end of reading the letter he said vnto me What thinkest thou Valerius of these words With pardon be it spoken my Lord That your deedes are shewed by them Go to said Don Felix and speake no more of that Sir saide I they must like me wel if they like you because none can iudge better of their words that loue well then they themselues But that which I thinke of the letter is that this Gentlewoman would haue beene the first and that Fortune had entreated her in such sort that all others might haue enuied her estate But what wouldest thou counsell me saide Don Felix If thy griefe doth suffer any counsell saide I that thy thoughts be diuided into this second passion since there is so much due to the first Don Felix answered me againe sighing and knocking me gently on the shoulder saying How wise art thou Valerius and what good counsell dost thou giue me if I could follow it Let vs now go in to dinner for when I haue dined I will haue thee carie me a letter to my Lady Celia and then thou shalt see if any other loue is not woorthy to be forgotten in lieu of thinking onely of her These were wordes that greeued Felismena to the hart but bicause she had him before her eies whom she loued more then her-selfe the content that she had by onely seeing him was a sufficient remedie of the paine that the greatest of these stings did make her feele After Don Felix had dined he called me vnto him and giuing me a speciall charge what I should do because he had imparted his griefe vnto me and put his hope and remedie in my hands he willed me to carie a letter to Celia which he had alreadie written and reading it first vnto me it said thus Don Felix his letter to Celia THe thought that seekes an occasion to forget the thing which it doth loue and desire suffers it selfe so easily to be knowne that without troubling the minde much it may be quickly discerned And thinke not faire Ladie that I seeke a remedie to excuse you of that wherewith it pleased you to vse me since I neuer came to be so much in credit with you that in lesser things I woulde do it I haue confessed vnto you that indeede I once loued well because that true loue without dissimulation doth not suffer any thing
them in earnest and that thou art so content to see me vse him well that thou canst not without doubt loue me at all O how ill dost thou acquite the loue I beare thee and that which for thy sake I do nowe forsake O that time might reuenge me of thy proude and foolish minde since loue hath not beene the meanes to do it For I cannot thinke that Fortune will be so contrarie vnto me but that she will punish thee for coÌtemning that great good which she meant to bestow on thee And tell thy Lord Don Felix that if he will see me aliue that he see me not at all And thou vile traitour cruell enemie to my rest com no more I charge thee before these wearied eies since their teares were neuer of force to make thee knowe how much thou art bound vnto them And with this she suddenly flang out of my sight with so many teares that mine were not of force to staie her For in the greatest haste in the worlde she got her into her chamber where locking the dore after her it auailed me not to call and crie vnto her requesting her with amorous and sweete words to open me the dore and to take such satisfaction on me as it pleased her Nor to tell her many other things whereby I declared vnto her the small reason she had to be so angrie with me and to shut me out But with a strange kinde of furie she saide vnto me Come no more vngratefull and proud Valerius in my sight and speake no more vnto me for thou art not able to make satisfaction for such great disdaine and I will haue no other remedie for the harme which thou hast done me but death it selfe the which with mine owne hands I will take in satisfaction of that which thou deseruest which words when I heard I staied no longer but with a heauie cheere came to my Don Felix his lodging and with more sadnes then I was able to dissemble tolde him that I could not speake with Celia because she was visited of certaine Gentlewomen her kinsew omen But the next day in the morning it was bruted ouer all the citie that a certaine trance had taken her that night wherein she gaue vp the ghost which stroke all the court with no smal woonder But that which Don Felix felt by her sudden death and how neere it greeued his very soule as I am not able to tell so can not humane intendement conceiue it for the complaints he made the teares the burning sighes and hart-breake sobbes were without all measure and number But I saie nothing of my selfe when on the one side the vnluckie death of Celia touched my soule very neere the teares of Don Felix on the other did cut my hart in two with greefe And yet this was nothing to that intollerable paine which afterwardes I felt For Don Felix heard no sooner of her death but the same night he was missing in his house that none of his seruants nor any bodie else could tell any newes of him Whereupon you may perceiue faire Nymphes what cruell torments I did then feele then did I wish a thousand times for death to preuent all those woes and myseries which afterwards befell vnto me For Fortune it seemed was but wearie of those which she had but till then giuen me But as all the care and diligence which I emploied in seeking out my Don Felix was but in vaine so I resolued with my selfe to take this habite vpon me as you see wherein it is more then two yeeres since I haue wandred vp and downe seeking him in manie countryes but my fortune hath denied me to finde him out although I am not a little now bounde vnto her by conducting me hither at this time wherein I did you this small peece of seruice Which faire Nymphes beleeue me I account next after his life in whom I haue put all my hope the greatest content that might haue fallen vnto me When the Nymphes had heard faire Felismenas tale and vnderstoode what a great Lady she was and how loue had made her forsake her naturall habite and taken vpon her the weedes and life of a shepherdesse they were no lesse amazed at her constancie and zeale then at the great power of that cruell tyrant who absolutely commands so many liberties to his seruice And they were mooued besides to no small pittie to see the teares and burning sighes wherewith the Ladie did solemnize the historie of her loue Doria therefore whose tender soule Felismenas greefe did most transpierce and who was more affected to her then to any woman with whom she had ouer conuersed before tooke her by the hand and began to say to her in manner follwing What can we do saire Lady against the blowes of Fortune what place is there so strong where one may be safe from the mutabilities of time What harneys so impenetrable and steele so well tempered that may serue for a defence against the violence of this tyrant whom so vniustly they call Loue And what hart though it be harder then diamond which an amorous thought can not mollifie and make tender Certes this beautie this valour and this wisedome deserue not to be forgotten of him who had but once seene and knowne them But we liue now in such an age that the deserts of any thing are the meanes and occasions of not obtaining it And cruell loue is of so strange a condition that he bestoweth his contents without any good order and rule and giueth there greatest fauours where they are lest esteemed but the medicine of so many ils whereof this tyrant is the cause is her discretion courage that suffers them But whom doth he leaue so free that these may serue her for a remedie Or who can command her selfe so much in this passion that in other womens affaires she is able to giue counsell how much lesse to take it in her owne Yet for all this I beseech thee faire Ladie to put before thine eies and consider what thou art bicause if women of such high renowne and vertue as thou art are not able to tolerate his aduerse effects how can they suffer them that are not such And in the behalfe of these Nymphes and mine owne I request thee to go with vs to the sage Felicias pallace which is not farre from this place for that to morrow about this time we may be well there where I am assured thou shalt finde great remedies for thy greefes as many others haue done heeretofore that haue not deserued them as much as thou hast whose profounde skill and rare experiments besides many other notable things in her wherein no man or woman in our times came euer neere her and her princely bountie doth'make her so famous and renowned that the greatest kings and estates in the worlde are desirous of her companie I know not faire Nymphes said Felismena againe who is able to applie a remedie to such an
thorow the valley In the middes of that moate was an Iland wherein grew some greene trees amongst the which stoode a Sheepe-cote and about the same a flocke of sheepe went seeding of the greene and tender grasse The Nymphes thinking this a fit place to passe away the night which was neere at hand vpon a fine causey of stones most artificiallie as it seemed laide in order they passed all ouer into the iland and went directly to the cote which they sawe before them But Polydora going in first for she was a little before the rest was scarce entred in when she came foorth as fast againe and looking towards her companie did put her singer vpon her mouth in token that they should come softly on without any noise which the Nymphes the Shepherdes perceiuing with the least they could came into the cote and looking into it espied a bed in a corner not made of any other thing then of the greene bowes of those Sicamours that were growing about it and of the greene grasse that did growe about the water brinkes Vpon the which they sawe a Shepherdesse lying a sleepe whose beautie stroke them with no lesse admiration then if on a sudden they had seene faire Diana before their eies She had on a light skie coloured petticoate and vnder that a gorget of so passing fine net-worke that they might at pleasure behold the delicate proportion of her snow white brest and comely feature of her euen body for the vpper part being of the same colour with the rest hung so loose about her that they might take a perfect view of her fine and daintie waste Her yellowe haire in brightnes surpassing the sunnie beames were loose and hanging downe without any order But neuer did frizeling and adorned periwigge of any Lady in stately court beautifie in such sort as the carelesse disorder that these had and her white legge being bare by the negligence of her harmelesse sleepe laie seemely out of her petticoate but not so much that the lookers on might perceiue any part but what with modestie they might well beholde And by manie teares that sleeping yet went trickling downe her faire and rosie cheekes her sleepe it seemed should not hinder her sorrowfull imaginations The Nymphes and Shepherds were so amazed at her beautie and at her inward sorrow which by outward signes they well coniectured did trouble her waking soule that they knew not what to saie but were forced to shed teares for pittie of those which they sawe the Shepherdesse powre foorth who as with pittie and admiration they were looking on her turned her on the other side and with a greeuous sigh fetch 't from the bottome of her hart saide thus to her selfe How vnfortunate art thou Belisa that thy greefe consisteth in no other thing but in that thy life is of so small value that it is not able to pay those things with extinction thereof which by thine owne occasion are destroyed and lost And then with a sudden sursault she awaked in such sort that the end of her daies it seemed was neere at hand But when she sawe the three Nymphes and two such faire Shepherdesses with two Shepherds she was so amazed that it was a good while before she came to her selfe againe who at last lifting vp her eies to looke on them againe without stopping her teares which continually she powred out or putting silence to her burning sighes which her afflicted hart sent foorth began to speake in this sort Howe great a comfort to so comfortles a sonle as mine is should it be if I were assured that none by worde nor deede woulde endeuour to giue me any at all bicause the great reson that I haue faire Nymphes to liue enwrapped in such sadnes as I doe hath put such a kinde of emnitie betweene me and the consolation of my greefe that if I thought at any time to enioy it I would my selfe be the authour of mine owne death Whereat maruell not faire Nymphes or that I woulde seeke to preuent me of this remedie since there is no other that can greeue me more then this your sudden sight and comming to this vncouth cote a place selected out and fit for no other thing but to bewaile remedilesse greefes Wherefore let it be a warning to those that are attending their torments to go quickly out of this place bicause the misfortunes of loue haue stopped vp the waies in such sort that they neuer let any hope of comfort or remedie enter in But what hap hath ledde such a faire companie to this place where nothing is that yeelds content What is it thinke you that makes the greene grasse of this iland growe and the waters that encompasse it rounde about to encrease but my ceasles teares What is it that moues the trees of this faire valley but the voice of my piteous outcries and the violent breath of my sorrowfull sighes which filling the aire do execute that office for it which for it selfe it cannot do Why do the pretie birdes sing among these springes when golden Phoebus is in all his force but to helpe to lament and bewaile my mishaps Wherefore is it that the timerous wilde beastes come foorth to the greene meadowe but to heare my continuall plaints I pray God your fortune hath not brought you faire Nymphes to this place to that end that mine hath bicause nature according to the sorrowfull life that I doe passe in it hath for no other thing it seemes framed it but for those that are troubled with the incurable malladies of loue therein to passe away their sorrowfull liues If any of you therefore be in this extremitie let her passe on no farther if not let her go quickly from hence againe least by staying heere long she be forced by the nature and qualitie of the place The faire Shepherdesse spake these words with so many teares that there was not any amongst them that coulde staie theirs They were all amazed to see the spirit gesture and countenance wherewith she spake them for they came as it appeered from the verie center of her painfull soule And she coulde do no lesse then this because the sorrowfull successe of her loue did take away all manner of suspicion that that greefe which so extremely she shewed was either counterfaite or fained But faire Doria spake thus vnto her What is the cause faire Shepherdesse that hath driuen thy beautie to these extremities What greefe so strange coulde loue make an occasion of so manie teares accompanied with so sole and solitarie a life as thou dost leade in this place But what do I aske when seeing thee to complaine of loue thou tellest me more then I am able to aske thee It was thy desire when we came hether to be assured that none of vs would offer thee any comfort wherein I cannot blame thee since it is the propertie of sorrowfull soules not onely to abhorre comfort but to flie from them by whom
cause that I loued him well whose sight I euer enioyed before mine eies But Syluanus turning his eies to her saide This debt I shoulde with great reason my life requite if it were such a thing that might with life bee paied which God grant thee saide Seluagia since without the same mine shoulde be woorse then a continuall death Syrenus seeing the amorous words on both sides with a smiling countenance saide vnto them It is well that euery one can so well acquite himselfe for his good turne done him that the one will neither be in debt nor the other haue any indebted to him and yet in mine owne opinion it is better that you reioyce so much and so louingly entreate of your amorous affections my selfe not being a thirde in them With these and other speeches the newe Louers and carelesse Syrenus passed away the time and length of the way which they made an end of about sunne set And before they came to the fountaine of the Sicamours they heard a voice of a Shepherdesse sweetely singing whom they knew by and by for Syluanus hearing her saide vnto them This is Diana doubtlesse that singes at the fountaine of the Sicamours It is she indeede said Seluagia Let vs go behinde these Myrtle trees neere vnto her bicause we may heare her the better Agreed saide Syrenus although the time hath beene when her musicke and sight delighted me more then now But all three going into the thicket of Myrtle trees and bicause it was about the going down of the Sunne they sawe faire Diana neere to the fountaine shining with such surpassing beautie that they stoode as men that had neuer seene her before amazed and in a woonder Her haire hung downe loose from her head behinde and gathered vp with a carnation stringe which parted them in the middes her eies were fixed on the ground and somtimes looking into the cleere fountaine and wiping away some teares that nowe and then trickled downe her beautifull cheekes she sung this Dittie WHen that I poore soule was borne I was borne vnfortunate Presently the Fates had sworne To foretell my haplesse state Titan his faire beames did hide Phoebe ' clips'd her siluer light In my birth my mother dide Yong and faire in heauie plight And the nurse that gaue me sucke Haplesse was in all her life And I neuer had good lucke Being maide or married wife I lou'd well and was belou'd And forgetting was forgot This a haplesse marriage mou'd Greeuing that it kils me not With the earth would I were wed Then in such a graue of woes Daily to be buried Which no end nor number knowes Yong my father married me Forc't by my obedience Syrenus thy faith and thee I forgot without offence Which contempt I pay so far Neuer like was paide so much Iealousies doe make me war But without a cause of such I doe goe with iealous eies To my foldes and to my sheepe And with iealousie I rise When the day begins to peepe At his table I doe eate In his bed with him I lie But I take no rest nor meate Without cruell iealousie If I aske him what he ailes And whereof he iealous is In his answere then he failes Nothing can he say to this In his face there is no cheere But he euer hangs the head In each corner he doth peere And his speech is sad and dead Ill the poore soule liues ywisse That so hardly married is The time was once when Dianas teares and dolefull song and the sorrow that by her sadde lookes she expressed might haue so much mooued Syrenus hart as put the Shepherdes life in such danger that all other remedies but onely proceeding from the same had beene impossible to haue helpt it whose eies and hart since now they were deliuered out of that dangerous prison tooke no delight to beholde Diana nor greeued at her sorrowfull lamentations And the Shepherd Syluanus had lesse cause in his minde to be condolent for any greefe that Diana had considering she neuer had the smallest regard of the greatest woes which he passed for her sake Onely Seluagia helped her with her teares fearefull by the fall of her ioy of her own fortune whereupon she said to Syrenus There is no perfection beautie nor fauour in natures gift which she hath not liberally bestowed on Diana bicause her beautie is peerelesse her wit and discretion admired her good graces excellent and all other her commendable parts which a Shepherdesse should haue not to be seconded since in the lest of them that made her such a woonder in our age there was neuer any yet that excelled her Onlie one thing she wanted which I euer suspected and feared and this was her good Fortune which woulde neuer accompanie her to haue made her liue a contented and ioyfull life which to speake the truth she euer well deserued She that so vniustly hath taken it from so many saide Syrenus by great reason should not enioy such a happie estate which I speake not that I am not sorrie to see this Shepherdesse so sorrowful but for the great reason I haue not to wish her any content at all Saie not so said Seluagia for I cannot thinke that Diana hath offended thee in any thing What offence did she by marrying compelled thereunto by the constraint of her parents and kinsfolkes and not by her owne will And after she was married what could she do hauing due regarde to her honor and honestie but forget thee Truly Syrenus thou shouldest haue greater cause to complaine of Diana then I haue heard thee hitherto alledge In truth Syrenus saide Syluanus Seluagia hath so great reason for that she saith that none can well disprooue it And if there be any that of ingratitude can iustly accuse her it is I who loued her more then my selfe she requiting it so ill againe and with such cruell contempt as thou knowest well enough Seluagia casting an amorous eie vpon him saide But thou didst not deserue my beloued Shepherd to be so ill entreated since there is no Shepherdesse in the worlde that may not thinke her-selfe blest to enioy thy happy loue About this time Diana perceiued that their talke was of her for the Shepherds were so loude that she might heare them very well Wherfore rising vp and looking among the Myrtle trees she knew the Shepherdes and the Shepherdesse that was sitting betweene them Who perceiuing that she had espied them came to her and curteously saluted her and she them againe with a good grace and countenance asking them where they had beene so long a time Whom they answered with another kinde of wordes and countenance then they were wont to do which seemed so strange to Diana that though she tooke no care for any of their loues yet in the end it greeued her to see them so much altered from that they were wont to be and especially when she perceiued what great ioy Syluanus tooke in beholding faire Seluagia And
and feeble body Syrenus his libertie and obliuion and Syluanus his new content were not so great but that their harts did melt with pitie at Dianas sorrowfull words and afflictions for the passions and effects which with her dolefull speeches so liuely she represented were so manie that might haue mooued the cruell Tygres to tendernes and compassion In all this complaint she spake not a worde almost that was not accompanied with a greeuous sigh Seluagia therefore who by experience knew well how much a great greefe aggrauateth the hart that suffers it felt Dianas paine no lesse then both the Shepherds But aboue all the rest a certaine Shepherd who bicause he woulde not be seene stoode closely behinde a great Oke yet as neere vnto her as he could to heare her the better to see her face The three Shepherds that were not far off perceiued him though he saw them not againe And it was woorthy of admiration to see how astonished he stoode at Dianas beautie augmented if it might be with the burning anger and anguish of her greeuous thoughts and enameled with the cristalline teares which he sawe trickle downe from her cleere eies vpon her Rosie cheekes so that the Shepherd did neither stirre hand nor foote nor did once put togither a common and naturall thing in all men his moouing eie-lids But Diana vnable to take some little rest and ease in any place rising vp from the harde grouÌd she went into those bushy thickets next vnto hir which was as great a griefe vnto the vnknowne Shepherd as if his tender hart had been rent out of his panting brest For seeing Diana gone and that she would not harken to his request for he praied her to stay a little longer he made haste to followe her But thinking with himselfe that it contented her better to be alone he went not after her bicause he woulde not in any thing offende her but sitting downe againe and taking out his Rebecke he began to sing this song following FAire Shepher desse Diana Where dost thou now thy figure hide More bright then cleere Diana When to her full course she is hide Venus the Goddesse faire Of beauties all the souer aine Wonders at this affaire That now her beauties doe not raine A sunnie beame thou art And who beholdes thy heauenly dies Thou wound'st with natures art And wounded in his passions dies Thou art a Dimond well From whence sweete liquor floweth fast Ambrosium thou art well From which mine eies shall neuer fast Each thing in thee thou hast To make thee perfect in each part If now thou would'st but haste To pitie not my soule to part This wager will I beare And lay Thou wantest not an ounce More cruell then a Beare To be or Tygre or an Ounce Cruell thou art in praying For thee I burne as flames in Kill Those that to thee are praying For mercie thou dost scorne and kill My soule thine absence teares And giues vnto the same againe Torments my torments teares Teares that doe make so small a gaine More bitter then the gall Thy absence is or Sallow wan With sorrow it doth gall My hart and makes me pale and wan In beautie not a peere Thou hast for it exceedes the rest But where it doth appeere Thy crueltie there giues no rest O what a foole am I To wish to see her in this plaine That from her mouth an I Will not afford but No so plaine No paine I doe deserue For words hauing worse deeds essaid For whom Loue thus doth serue It is not much this to haue said If that thou mean'st to seale Thy crueltie in deedes to leaue How can I then conceale The same in song among these leaues Faire Shepherdesse who bad Thee flie from me If thou dost waigh So base a thing and bad Deserues not glory any way They maruelled much at the Shepherdes new kinde of song and how hee wrested the selfe same words to fall in ryme that were of different significations to whom at last they came who perceiuing he was espied held his peace And after they had saluted each other Syrenus said Whosoeuer thou art iollie Shepherd so may not thy louing flockes be deuoured of the hungrie wolues nor want the sweete and coole shades in burning summer nor taste of the foule waters in seeking out cleere streames and fountaines that thou wouldest hold on thy song for this Shepherd and faire Shepherdesse here shall plaie vnto thee whose merie Bagpipes and sweete songs haue not once but a hundred times stayed the nimble footed Faunes and Satyres in their swift flight and made the faire Nymphes to come out of their greene arbours to listen to them Shepherd saide Firmius againe for this was his name thy manner of adiuring me is but of little force since it shall greeue me little or nothing whether my flockes be torne by rauening wolues when deeper matters then these trouble my mind which more then deuouring wolues teare my hart a sunder But yet for the respect which thou hast told me of these Shepherds which I beleeue no lesse I would be glad to giue you all the pleasure I could but since I haue it not my selfe nor am desirous to haue it in this sort it is impossible that you should take any by my meanes and the more since by those signes of ioye that by their countenance may bee gathered they haue little neede to borrowe it from him that hath none at all We will not denie said Seluagia but that which thou hast said is true that so much and more readie we are to shew our ioye as thou art to manifest thy sorrow which is not by that we our selues haue seene of many daies nor howers continuance bicause it seemes to bee to speake in plainer termes for loue of the faire Shepherdesse Diana And if it be so the sorrow cannot be much which in so small a time cannot do any great harme I will not deny Shepherdesse said Firmius nor confesse vnto thee that Dianas beautie hath destroyed my content But admit she were the cause thereof thou hast but little skill it seemes and lesse experience in Cupides woundes for thou sayest that in a small time a great wound cannot be made as if it were needfull for loue to haue some longer time to make a deep perfect wound to touch one to the quick Thou knowest mine but a little said Seluagia by not confessing that it is not onely greater then thine or any others that were euer borne Thou hadst not said amisse said Firmius if thou didst adde in thine opinioÌ It needed not said Seluagia and lesse need haue I said Firmius by thy loue to know mine own if at the least I had any at al. By not confessing it said Seluagia thou shewest the litle interest thou hast in loue and perhaps the great propertie said Firmius that I haue in griefe and sorrow bicause I dare not tell it Why said Seluagia who doth hide the
senses Dreame so should it be For Sure this is the Oke wherewith despaire She lean'd vnto and heere the grasse yet lies And field that she did water with her eies What doubt I then mine Eies see it so plaine For Sure I knowe this is the very Meade And tree that did her tender lims sustaine This is the Bagpipe which my Nymph did treade Vpon This is the Oke the happy beame Whereto she lean'd I knowe this is no Dreame But if I Dreame that thinking with mine Eies All this I see and all doth prooue but nought And if this Oke in dreame I doe surmise And see this Meade but onely in my thought Where my faire Nymph did print her goodly feete O Sure it were a dreame to me most sweete Ioue thee I pray if this I doe but feare And if my Dreame doth fall out Sure or no By all the loue to Nymphes that thou didst beare Open mine Eies the trueth that I may knowe Helpe me to pray him greene and flowrie Meade Helpe me to pray him Oke with branchie heade What hath deseru'd this faire and stately Oke Why that should not be Sure which I doe see What hainous fault could this fine Meade prouoke Why things in deede should seeme but Dreames to mee Vnto mine Eies what is befallen of late Why that they should not see my Nymphes estate This Bagpipe of my Nymph I will deuise To hang it heere faire Oke to honour thee A woorthy Trophee though before mine Eies Lying disgrac't for teares they cannot see If it be Sure or if I dreame in vaine Spoil'd in this Meade with parching sunne and raine That gracious Nymph that gaue my hart the stroke In this greene Meade I sawe a heauenly prize And if I dreame not leaning to that Oke Nay Sure I did be hold her with mine Eies O that she had but seene me then againe Or that I had but seene or dream'd in vaine Thus as he made an end of his song gathering vp the freshest and sweetest flowers he could finde he adorned Dianas Bagpipe so finely with them that one would haue thought it had beene that Horne that Hercules tooke from Achelous transformed into a Bull the which the Naiades decked with plentie of coloured Apples and flowers whereupon it tooke the name Cornu copia or the Horne of plentie When he had done thus he hanged the Bagpipe vpon the Oke whereunto she had leaned and hard by it as afterwards they perceiued wrote these verses I am Dianes th' Arabian bird in beautie and in grace Let no man therefore once preseume to take me from this place Syrenus who of purpose it seemed would haue had Diana shew some loue to Firmius stept before his company and pulling Firmius by the lappe of his coate behinde for his backe was towards him said vnto him I will shew thee Shepherde a brauer and fresher bowe then this and more woorthy of this Trophee and which will perhaps giue thee more content then this Bagpipe and such a thing that shall be no lesse welcome to it then to thy selfe Firmius desired him to shew it him Then Syrenus pointing to Diana with his finger said vnto him Dost thou see it there Firmius was so altered with the sudden sight of faire Diana that though he would faine haue dissembled it neither the colour in his face nor the faintnes of his legs would giue him leaue to do it for that was gone and these were not able to support the bodie without great paine But in the end borrowing a little strength of his weaknes in the best sort he could he incouraged his hart to hide that which was so openly manifest and answered Syrenus There should be other Trophees of higher honour placed in this bowe By this time came the two Shepherdesses and Syluanus and saluted him but he was in such a case seeing Diana so neere him that he gaue no great heed to their salutations Whereupon Diana turning to Seluagia said This Shepherd should belike talke to none but to himselfe alone for in company me thinkes he hath no list to answere vs. You must needes be the cause thereof saide Seluagia for he neuer wanted talke for vs. Now as thou louest thy life said Diana aske him how he knew my name This I can tell thee said Seluagia without asking him For when thou threwest downe thy Bagpipe in this place talking with thy selfe thou didst name thy selfe which I know to be true for we our selues heard it and then she told her in what sort they saw her and how they found Firmius and what he then did and said when she was gone and told her moreouer that they had asked the same things of Firmius himselfe bicause in his song hee had many times named her If it be thus saide Diana he knowes more of my matters then I would he did But let vs heare what thy Syluanus sayeth vnto vs. We haue requested Firmius saide hee to sing heere a little and we can by no meanes entreate him but as I vnderstande by others and partely by mine owne coniecture that if thou wilt but speake the worde vnto him hee will doe it by and by There is no reason saide Diana by condescending to my requestes that hee should denie you yours But if you be not able to entreate him heere is Seluagia that can enforce him Indeed in thy beautie said Seluagia all the force and vertue that is sufficient to mooue greater matters then this doth consist But let vs leaue this do that I pray thee which my Syluanus requesteth thee Diana then looking vpon Firmius saide vnto him Vrged more by the importunate requestes of these Shepherdes then by any confidence of thy part or assurednes of mine owne I pray thee yoong Shepherd satisfie their desires Firmius comming neere to Diana said vnto her and so softly as they could not heare him As these Shepherdes are in a safe hauen so would they not by their wils but be euer singing and merrie but as I am continually in stormy tempestes and suffring shipwiacke for thy sake not knowing on what shelfe of disgrace my fortune will cast me would not be but euer weeping and sad But bicause I neither can nor will disobey thy will vnlesse it be in leauing of to serue thee which yet at thine own desire I can not do what shall please thee I will sing though it be with a hoarce voice like to the dying swanne diuining her ensuing death Thou art not so neere thy ende saide Diana that death should helpe thee I am so neere ended saide Firmius that I looke onely but for death I did neuer yet see any saide Diana die for this cause but with words and do beleeue besides there are not any such And speaking a little lowder bicause they might all heare with dissembling that which she had secretly spoken vnto him she saide Thou wouldest belike haue me tell thee Firmius and the rest that I am desirous to heare thee
the euening dewe of approching night came stealing on apace with her sable coloured horses when Hercules with his company tooke vp a caue neere to the vineyards of Lidia wherein while supper was a preparing for the seruants Iole for her pleasure or for some other merrie conceit that she had in her head did put her apparell vpon mightie Hercules vnripping the seames to make it fitter for him and tearing that which was too streight On her-selfe she put the Lyons skin and tooke his club on hir shoulder and in her hands her husbands bowe and arrowes In this sort they supped and laid them downe to sleepe and with this habite each of them in a bed by themselues as time and place affoorded them began to sleepe for it was not lawfull for them that night to lie togither bicause the next day they were to offer vp sacrifice to Bacchus And now Pan burning in impatient loue about midnight which was very darke for what doth not a louer enterprize came into the caue and found the seruants what with their great cheere and wine at supper and what with their sports afterwards fast a sleepe thinking the same might be also the cause of their Master and Mistresse sleepe His good fortune therefore falling out so well conducted him to the place where Iole was happie man if he had knowne his good happe where groping vp and down and feeling the Lyons pawe with feare he lifted vp his hand thinking it was Hercules that lay there as the musing traueller by the high way his foote that hath vnawares troden vpon some snake or hidden adder he sawe not Going therefore from thence he met by chance with the couch where Hercules in a habite different from his person lay a sleepe whom when Pan touched and selt Ioles soft and delicate garments thinking he had founde that he sought for at the beds feete began to mount vp and lifting vp his clothes in lieu of finding a soft and tender skin felt a hard flesh and full of haire Hercules awaked out of his sleepe gaue the poore louer such a blowe with his fist that he smote him from the bed to the ground where he laie all along Iole awaked at the noise and calling to her seruants for light found the sillie God on the grounde complaining for the blowe he had receiued which made not onely Hercules and his men but his beloued Iole laugh apace at the infortunate louer You therefore see heere my friends why the God deceiued by the garments doth so much hate them It is well saide Syrenus But tell vs I beseech you as you haue begun how we should know him to bee the God of all by his picture They paint him with two hornes answered Parisiles like to the sunne beames and to the hornes of the Moone his face redde like a firie flame in imitation of the firie Element In his brest a star called Nebrides in representation of the starres which starre I thinke was made of a wilde goates or Hearts skinne bicause Nebrides is as much in signification as a wilde Goate or Heart which skins they vsed in Bacchus sacrifices whereby we may easily gather that he is God of all aboue From the mids of his body downward they paint him full of haire and bristled to signifie the trees and wilde beasts with Goates feete to shew the hardnes of the earth And let this suffice for this time With these and many other like curiosities that the Shepherds demanded of Parisiles the night came on to his great contentment The verie same day as I said Felicia carried with her Stela And Lord Felix Felismena and the Nymphes with Crimine went by themselues to another place To whom after they were set vnder the shadow of some thick Sallowes Lord Felix said So may all thy fortunes succeed happily to thee faire Nymph and according to thine owne desire by seeing thy selfe in the greatest prosperitie in the world as thou wilt deigne to tell vs why Stela and thy selfe go wandring vp and downe so sorrowfull in the company of this faire yoong Shepherd and how long since it is you had acquaintance with him Thou commandest me Lord Felix said Crimine to renew the summe of my sorrowes and extremest griese Alas who can stop my teares from their continuall flowing by awaking such tormenting memories Who can quench my scalding sighes that with such a heauie recitall will come smoking out of my balefull breast How can I tell you my excessiue misfortunes in order since there was neuer any in my innumerable passions Let it content you Lord Felix and you faire Ladies to knowe that you haue before your eies the most haplesse woman of all our sexe and in your presence the verie summe and pattern of all disastrous virgins Hauing thus spoken a profound sigh accompanied with abundant teares hindered the rest of her dolefull words whereupon they came all together to comfort her Felismena saying Beleeue me faire Nymphe my Lord Don Felix woulde neuer haue requested this at thy hands if he had thought to haue giuen thee the least griefe in the world but that he and all we were desirous by knowing the cause of thy sorrowfull life to helpe thee as much as we could in thy cares and troubles O happie Ladie said Crimine how much art thou deceiued and the rest that thinke there is any remedie for my mishaps But for the loue and friendship you shew me and for that which I beare to you all giue attentiue eare vnto my words and vnderstand my misfortunes for I will satisfie you in that which Lord Felix hath demaunded of me And because you may knowe how far my mishaps haue extended and to what end my miseries haue driuen me Know that I am forced to loue one that hath no power to loue me againe that it is not in my power not to account her my deerest friend that entreats me like a cruell foe Which thing because it may perhaps seeme hard to you to beleeue you must vnderstand that I loue this Shepherd that is our guide in our trauels as much as I can can in truth as much as I wil. I loue also Parthenius his frieÌd as much as I will will truely as much as I can for as it cannot be discerned which is Delicius and which Parthenius and the one impossible to be knowen from the other for like two drops of water they resemble one another so much so cannot I tell which of them I loue most louing both in equall balance of extreme affection I thought once to be content and happie by being beloued of one of them whereof when I was perswaded I was not yet satisfied I cannot with reason complaine of them since both or at the least Delicius I think nay firmly beleeue that my suspition is not in vaine hath forced himself as much as may be to loue me by working al the means he could which neuer yet lay in his
Crimine shall we appoint for such iudges My selfe said I and those whom thou wilt besides that are of better iudgement and skill then these Shepherdes Why what saiest thou said Crimine I answered that which I said This sufficeth me said Crimine and now I care not a whit for that they shall say since the sentence is giuen with a better vow and voice in my fauour In these and other iestes which I omit to tell you bicause I know you are desirous to heare the other song we spent a pretie time wherein after we had sung some merie and ioyfull ditties we heard the sound that the Nymph our watch woman gaue to hie vs home because Gorphorost was comming downe the hils beneath whereupon with the greatest haste we could we hied vs away before he began to passe ouer the riuer Who by chaunce espying vs with humble requests began to perswade vs not to flie away since it was not his mind to offend vs in any thing To whose bootlesse speeches hating him for mine own part as much as I loued the Shepherds I would not abide to listen though Crimine requested me to stay a pretie way off to see what he would say and if offring to come neere vs he would not go backe with warning him to the contrarie we might then be gone and saue our selues being in so sure a place as then we were But I that had no desire to condescend to Crimines request with my company entred no sooner into our riuer when Gorphorost came on the other side where my deere Shepherds were To whom he saide Parthenius which of you two soeuer he be although by thee your likenes was so fully made knowen vnto me yet I thought it was not so great that it might trouble mee from knowing thee againe Nowe I confesse that I cannot tell which of you two is Parthenius Speake therefore to mee both of you and by your voice I shall discerne that which by your countenaunce and apparell I cannot Then they saide both togither I am Parthenius If I had not seene you both mooue your lippes saide Gorphorost I woulde haue thought it had beene but one voice Do me therefore this pleasure to speake each one by himselfe and then by that meanes I shall knowe you Delicius speaking first said I am Parthenius dost thou not know me Gorphorost said yes and that very wel Then spake Parthenius and said I am Parthenius dost thou not know me Now said Gorphorost I know not thee nor the other But which of both soeuer thou beest for the friendship betweene thee and me I pray thee sing those verses which thou didst sing the first time I sawe thee for I neuer remembred to demand it sooner at thy hands and when I heard thee first sing it I could not vnderstand them well being both so farre asunder Parthenius who as you knowe desired to giue him all the content he could taking out his Rebecke began to sing this Sonnet which he had made of purpose bicause with patience he might suffer the disdaine that I did beare him A Sonnet IF teares we spill by louing and bereaue not Our harts of troubles which for loue we faine not Dainties they are of loue which we obtaine not Dainties they are of loue which we conceiue not If that by louing passions we desire not And sighes for loue wherewith we doe complaine all Dainties they are of loue which we disdaine all Dainties they are of loue which we require not The false suspectes to be of all eschewed The ie alousies of euery Mistresse mooued Dainties they are of loue not well aduised To faine not without why not to be loued To thinke not without cause not to be viewed Dainties they are of loue of all despised O how glad would I haue beene said Syluanus to haue heard this Sonnet when I poured out so many vaine teares and had so many disfauours of ingratefull Diana What comfort couldst thou haue had saide Syrenus since his purpose and intent doth maruellously import that they are the pleasures and ioyes of loue to faine without any cause thereof that they are not loued so that to vnderstand that they are not loued hauing good cause to beleeue it they should be no sweetes nor dainties of loue Whereupon perceiuing so cleerely that Diana did not loue thee thou shouldst haue had but small comfort by this Sonnet I perceiued well enough answered Syluanus that I was despised but yet for all that would not conceiue that I knew so much It is well saide saide Doria talke no more of times that are gone and past since both of you are content with this that is present And thou faire Stela for the loue of vs all proceede in thy sweet discourse In many other songs said Stela they passed away a good time with sicice Gorphorost and now that Titan went downe to visite the other earth he tooke his leaue of them requesting Parthenius to come and visite him sometimes promising him that when he came to passe ouer the riuer he woulde not faile to come and helpe him ouer That night I slept not soundly in my bed nor with much rest for so manie imaginations of things that I had passed the day before of many other more ran vp and down in my troubled fantasies that I could take no rest at all For I thought of the goodly behauiour graces and beautie and personage of the two Shepherds each thing in them seeming to me being not men of flockes as I supposed more woorthie of greater things then my selfe The sorrowfull wordes of Delicius song written in the tree filled me full of pirie and the frantike iealousie that rooted in my hart I had of Crimine for Parthenius sake stung me mortally On the one side I endeuoured not to loue and was vnwilling on the other that any should loue them besides my selfe In the trouble of which considerations hauing a good while turmoyled my wearied spirits at the very point when faire Aurora began to awake a profound sleepe began to take more holde on me then in the whole night before I dreamed but will not tell you what bicause I desire to forget it let it suffice that th' extreme fear of so horrible a dream awaking me eased me in som sort Seeing my selfe free from that danger as if my bed had beene in fault the onely cause of my sorrowe and full of stinging vipers and fierie flames with a sudden seare I lept out of it At the noise whereof Crimine who lay with me awaked and enquiring the cause of my sursault I answered her that it was nothing but a starte in a fearefull and vnacquainted dreame which should not be a small one said Crimine since my friend it hath altered thee so much that there is no colour left in thy face but such as in dead pale bodies and thine eies swelling with seares not yet sully ascended vp to issue foorth seeme to burst
although we could neuer get it of him it is Gentlemen one of the noblest deeds of friendship that was euer seene to this day For in more then a whole yeere that we accompanied togither he neuer solicited me for himselfe but for his friende beholding me euer with such modestie as if we had beene both borne in one bellie But I pray thee tell vs said Doria what meanes he vsed to shew that he did not loue thee That I will said Stela bicause there remaines now but litle of my tale for our long peregrination with many misfortunes that we haue passed shal be kept for some fitter time When we were come before the Shepherds Delicius shewed a certaine kinde of greater libertie and boldnes in his words and more merrines in his countenance then he was woont to do Whereat both of vs maruelling not a little and asking him the cause he answered Times are not euer all one nor equall Stela The fire many times mollifies that which is harde The finest plaister be it neuer so well tempered if it be too much charged fals downe againe So much water may be cast on the greatest fire that it will put it quite out My great loue serued me nothing at all to make thee gentle and thy extreme disdaine hath auailed me to make me forget thee I had grounded well mine affection on thee but thou hast choaked it with a multitude of torments sorrowes cares Great was the flame that burned coÌtinually in my brest but thou hast quenched it with excessiue water of thy cold disfauours with th' abundance of my teares So that from this day thou maiest well match thee with one who is more vertuous wise constant then I am who may in iust proportion bee more answerable to thee in euery thing then my selfe for I confesse I am not sufficient for it Yet I will not denie but that I am now as truely and as much deuoted to thy seruice as euer I was before whereof thou maiest make triall if it please thee in whatsoeuer thou wilt command mee though in another kinde of respect then in these daies past We were all three looking with what libertie he tooke his leaue of my loue and maruelled more at his change Delicius had tolde Parthenius before of his determination but he neuer beleeued all till then when he verily thought his companion did not loue me bicause face to face so constantly he tolde mee it thinking if it had beene otherwise it had not beene possible for him to haue vsed the boldenesse nor courage by speaking to me in such sorte At this noueltie I stoode astonished and a certaine kind of remorse and repentance me thought troubled mee for handling him and mine owne matters so ill but dissembling it as well as I coulde I saide O howe glad am I to heare these good wordes Shepherd From this time forwarde I will loue thee more then euer I did But I know not said Crimine what I may say vnto thee friend Delicius neither can I sound the cause of such a sudden alteration Tell me if thou hast any occasion to complaine of Stela For heere I will cause her to make thee amends without the consent of such a breach The Gods be contrarie to me in all my desires saide Delicius if I haue any iust complaint of her but onely of my hap And by them I sweare vnto thee that I do this bicause I finde it most expedient for me Wherefore if thou desirest my good thou shouldst not speake to me about it In faith Crimine said I thou art verie pleasant how long I pray you had you leaue to trouble your selfe with my matters and such as like me not at all Bicause it should like thee wel said Crimine I spake it If such things liked me well said I smiling there is Parthenius who hath no lesse good parts in him to be loued then his friend if they haue not both perhaps agreed togither about this matter This did I speake but in iest but loue did not iest with me at all I would not make this agreement said Delicius if it were not for that which I loue most in this life which I wish thou wouldst loue leauing him to saile with the greatest prosperitie in the seas of thy happie loue Delicius laboured so much in the end by shewing himselfe also so appassionate for Crimine but truely but now that Parthenius discouered himselfe the next day to be my open louer and for Delicius his sake had kept it so long close which was the cause he said why he could neuer be mooued to loue Crimine I had not then beene a little proud and glad as I should be now if I had then knowen or did now know that I was equally beloued of them both as I loue them both alike Crimine had no end of her ioy and content thinking that she was in good earnest beloued of Delicius the which he cunningly shewed by words and deeds But now she is not I thinke in such glorie and content bicause he is as cold in her loue again although he euer makes her some shew thereof The last day of respit wherein Parthenius was to depart was now come when the night before Delicius said to Parthenius Since it is thy will deere brother to absent thy selfe from me a hard and heauie chaunce it shall be needfull for me to goe to morrow to Gorphorost and speake to him in thy behalfe bicause with the instructions that thou hast giuen me I may know from henceforth how to conuerse with him and as thou shalt afterwards aduise me how I may entertaine his company It may be he will keepe me till night Thinke not therefore much if I stay so long This agreement Delicius made with Parthenius bicause he had now determined to goe and seeke out his parents and to leaue Parthenius with me for he neuer meant to goe seeke out Gorphorost nor to speake with him at all but onely to absent himselfe secretly as afterwards he informed vs of it He knew or at the least suspected that Parthenius would not consent to haue him goe without him and therefore thought it good to vse this dissimulation bicause he would not haue him nor vs passe the hard traunce of his greeuous departure Hereupon he went towards the riuer and neere to the place where he was wont to stay for Gorphorost wrote this with a knife in an Elme in letters that might be discerned a good way off My deere friende Parthenius thou shalt feele by thy selfe if thy absence will not breede an extreme sorrow in me but bicause this is forced and necessarie I thinke it best for thee to tarie still since thou hast so great reason for it That which I commende to thy charge for the friendship betweene vs both is to make no change of place nor of thy faire yoong Shepherdesse for this shall be the greatest pleasure that thou maist doe
approoue the vertues and deserts that thou hast reported of her for the opinion which I spake of is that since she woulde do no hurt to any she also thought that none should offer any to her for this cause she would shew by the posie that it was her own It is wel said Felicia but leauing this aside giue attentiue eare to that which for the profit and pleasure of you all I will haue you do to morrow morning I know well Partheus it will be no pleasure for thee to staie heere vntill the next daies light bicause thou wouldest gladly see thy Shepherdesse for the good newes thou carriest with thee But bicause thy staying heere shall be for her profit and her husbands I hope thou wilt not thinke it greeuous nor too long And bicause thou maist vnderstand it so know that by my means this faune was lost by straying so far beyond his woonted fashion and let this suffice thee It is expedient therefore for let not any gainsay what I shall ordaine or thinke conuenient that thou Partheus carrie with thee to Coryneus and to his Shepherdesse this yoong Shepherd pointing to Delicius and shalt deliuer him a letter from me which I will write this night and he shall take order for that which I purpose to do It is needfull for thee Syrenus to accompanie them to thy fieldes for that way doth his lie bicause there are newe matters in hand When she had said thus after supper passed a little of the night in their woonted pastimes they went to bed though Crimine and Stela coulde not sleepe all that night for greefe of Delicius departure And it was to be thought that he slept as little as they for it greeued him to depart and leaue so good companie wherein he tooke the greatest ioy in the worlde but he coulde not chuse but obey Felicias pleasure for the great hope and trust he had in her The morning therefore being come before the three Shepherds tooke their leaue Felicia gaue Syrenus a certaine potion to make him by litle litle leese the contempt forgetfulnes that he had of Diana and Delicius a letter to carrie to Coryneus admonishing him to call himselfe by the name of Caulius and to tell him nothing of his owne matters nor aske him any questions concerning the same bicause it was not good for him vntill he came thither againe The contents of the letter were these TO thee noble Disteus Felicia seruant and minister in the Temple of chaste Diana sends all the health I may The Gods haue determined to make a period of thy infinite troubles and to augment thine honor and estate and haue deyned to humble themselues without any merit of mine to make a mediatrix for thee It is therefore requisite that with as much expedition as thou canst thou be heere with thy deere spouse Dardauea accompanied with thy louing nurse Palua and thy faire daughter Luztea This yoong Shepherd the bearer hereof shall beare thee companie and is one who shall best please thee Be not desirous to enquire more of him then he will tel thee of his own accord I wil be no longer bicause I hope very shortly to see thee And as for these wordes I doubt not but thou wilt credit and also her that could write vnto thee and the rest so right by their owne names This being done the three Shepherds went their waies hauing taken their leaue of all the rest Then that very night Felicia in presence of them all began to speake in this sort to Lord Felix and his wife Syluanus and his Shepherdesse I know well Gentlemen and my sonnes that I withhold you more then is conuenient from going to your owne houses but bicause it hath fallen out so to all the rest as afterwards you shall see and bicause you may know the Shepherd that I haue sent for and see the successe of his comming hither and of Parisiles Stela Crimine and their Shepherds I haue deferred it since it shall not be any long time with the soueraigne wils aboue All fower answered that what or howsoeuer she disposed of them they tooke it for no small fauour A little after that Lord Felix and Felismena came to Felicia saying Bicause it is alreadie manifest vnto vs most sage Ladie that nothing is hid from thy wisedome and knowledge we pray thee to resolue vs in this which troubles vs not a little bicause we do not know it Delicius and his companie these few daies past told vs as it were by peecemeale parts the abrupt processe of their liues and loues from their infancie vnto the present estate they are now in and though we know not who they are it skils not much and we care not greatly for it in respect of the earnest desire we haue to know the cause why Delicius did forsake if it be so faire Stelas loue who loued her so much as he did and at that time when he had receiued most fauour of her Whereof as it seemed Stela was either ignorant or else would not tell it Bicause I know you will keepe the cause secret said Felicia that mooued Delicius to do it I will tell it you You must therefore know that he left not of to loue her but fained to do it as he yet verie finely dissembles the same vnderstanding how his deere friend Parthenius loued her by shewing thereby the greatest part of friendship he gaue place to his friends affection and resolued to go without her himselfe A strange example of friendship said they all although it seemes it was no lesse due to Parthenius But Ladie we also suspecting this as Stela doth no lesse are desious to know how he knew it for by her discourse we could not gather it considering how he did so well dissemble it I will tell you said Felicia You must remember well as Stela told you that for the rigorous answer that Parthenius gaue to Crimine when she manifested her loue vnto him she determined not to goe where the Shepherds were to prooue if absence could worke that in her which it did in many by reason whereof some daies passed on in which they were not visited of them bicause without Crimine Stela durst not aduenture but for shamefastnes left of to goe to their woonted sports In these so sorrowfull daies for Delicius Parthenius and Stela and Crimine in the which these fower did not see one another as manie times they were wont to do there came some Nymphes to keepe the Shepherds companie and to passe away the time with them but they took no pleasure in their coÌpany although outwardly they dissembled it as by singing playing on their instruments other pastimes From the which sports Parthenius on a time faining a little busines that he had to go into the wood went from that company and entring into the thickest of it in a secret place a good way off sat him downe where musing vpon many
them Diana by and by caused him to sit downe by her on the other side But before I passe any farther you must knowe that Diana to discharge herselfe a little of the great passion that made her complaine of her discontent of purpose bestowed fauours on both though small ones which maner of hers did arise of a desire she had in this sort to passe away and forget her asslicted life Faustus as I told you but now with the desire onely to see that beautie so much blazed by fame going from his owne fieldes came to those where Diana kept With whom he spent some daies in good companie very freely especially for her part for as it seemed he was in loue with another yoong Shepherdesse in his owne countrie Diana liked well of his discretion and wisedome and therefore loued him a little as Firmius no lesse for the like good parts in him So that to see which of them excelled each other she set them many times togither in contention to trie them both in discourse and song Wherein each of them to please her as of their owne selues also willing to the same studied for nothing else Whereupon arose a certaine kinde of emulation betweene them not bicause they hated one another but bicause one endeuoured to excell the other before the faire Shepherdesse Whereupon it came into their heads that there passed not one day nor yet I thinke there is anie wherein they striue not either in wrestling pitching of the barre singing dauncing and in other things which we Shepherds make account of appointing euer iudges to crowne the Conquerour but the one neuer went so smoothly away with the victory that the other went cleerly without it for Firmius was neuer conqueror nor Faustus conquered nor Faustus conqueror nor Firmius conquered Of this emulation and corriualitie there were none but tooke great delight to see it and especially Diana aboue the rest who to make them contend the more on a day after certaine talke that had passed betweene Faustus and her smiling alone to her selfe she said vnto him As thou speakest me thinkes Shepherd with great libertie and boldnes so are thy words full of suttletie and dissimulation O that I might see thee one day so far in loue with me that thou mightest once pay me this ouermuch libertie From this hower therefore Faustus began to loue Diana and leese his libertie whereof he had now verie little or none at all when he came to the place where Diana and Firmius were But returning to this point bicause as I was not present at the other I cannot tell it you as he was set downe Diana said vnto him Do vs this pleasure Shepherd to sing that againe which thou camest singing Who without more adoe tooke out his Rebecke and began thus A Faire maide wed to prying iealousie One of the fair'st as euer I did see If that thou wilt a secret louer take Sweete life doe not my secret loue forsake Eclipsed was our Sunne And faire Aurora darkned to vs quite Our morning star was done And Shepherdes star lost cleane out of our sight When that thou didst thy faith in wedlocke plight Dame nature made thee faire And ill did carelesse fortune marrie thee And pitie with despaire It was that this thy haplesse hap should be A faire maide wed to prying iealousie Our eies are not so bold To view the sunne that flies with radiant wing Vnlesse that we doe hold A glasse before them or some other thing Then wisely this to passe did Fortune bring To couer thee with such a vaile For heeretofore when any viewed thee Thy sight made his to faile For sooth thou art thy beautie telleth me One of the fair'st as euer I did see Thy graces to obscure With such a froward husband and so base She meant thereby most sure That Cupids force and loue thou shouldst imbrace For t' is a force to loue no woondrous case Then care no more for kinne And doubt no more for feare thou must forsake To loue thou must beginne And from hencefoorth this question neuer make If that thou should'st a secret louer take Of force it doth behooue That thou should'st be belou'd and that againe Faire Mistresse thou shouldst loue For to what end what purpose and what gaine Should such perfections serue as now in vaine My loue is of such art That of it selfe it well deserues to take In thy sweete loue a part Then for no Shepherd that his loue doth make Sweete Life doe not my secret loue forsake Firmius bicause he would not leaue of his accustomed contention tooke his Rebecke and sung thus IF that the gentle winde Doth mooue the leaues with pleasant sound If that the kid behinde Is left that cannot finde Her dam runs bleating vp and downe The Baggepipe reede or flute Onely with ayre if that they touched bee With pitie all salute And full of loue doe brute Thy name and sound Diana seeing thee A faire maide wed to prying iealousie The fierce and sauage beastes Beyond their kinde and nature yet With piteous voice and brest In mountaines without rest The selfe same song doe not forget If that they staid at Faire And had not passed to prying Iealousie With plaintes of such despaire As moou'd the gentle aire To teares The song that they did sing should be One of the fair'st as euer I did see Mishap and fortunes play Ill did they place in beauties brest For since so much to say There was of beauties sway They had done well to leaue the rest They had ynough to doe If in her praise their wits they did awake But yet so must they too And all thy loue that woo Thee not too coy nor too too proud to make If that thou wilt a secret louer take For if thou hadst but knowne The beautie that they heere doe touch Thou wouldst then loue alone Thy selfe nor any one Onely thy selfe accounting much But if thou dost conceaue This beautie that I will not publike make And mean'st not to bereaue The world of it but leaue The same to some which neuer peere did take Sweete Life doe not my secret loue forsake Diana bicause she would haue them sing more when Firmius had made an ende said Shepherd I will consider of this matter vpon condition thou wilt tell me for what cause thou doest publish it so much by words that thou louest me when as thy deedes shew thy small affection As Firmius did aske her how she knew it she answered him If thy loue Firmius extends so farre as thou saiest thou wouldest come to see me oftner it greeues me in the end of the fauor that not long since I did thee Firmius not suffring Diana to passe any farther being as it were halfe madde with himselfe for these cruell words in that she greeued and repented her of her fauour done him tooke his Rebecke and sung this Sonnet FAire Shepherdesse what hast with greefe to fill me And how long dost
thou purpose to destroy me When wilt thou make an end with woundes to noy me Not stretching foorth thy cruell hand to kill me Tell me the cause why dost thou so much will me To visit thee and with such words dost ioy me That to my death I rather would imploy me Then by such present pangs and greefes to spill me Woe to my soule since this doth cause thy sorrow That such a little fauour thou hast done me Little it is in sooth if it be peased With all my teares that neuer yet haue ceased To fall that to my death haue almost woon me They great this small those giue I this I borrow Firmius had scarce done when Faustus asked Diana how she knew that his loue to her was so small Who answered In that hoping to enioy thee inflamed in my loue thou complainest no purpose of a few teares thou hast spilt for my sake as if these were not as incident and requisite for loue as pasture for sheepe and oyle for the lamp To which wordes Faustus taking vp his Rebecke did thus answere her THou dost desire My life as thou dost say To see me in thy loues inflam'd at lest And yet an vncouth meanes thou dost suggest Which is to giue me care from day to day Dost thou not see the fier to decay Waxe cold and quench't within my louing brest With swelling teares which trickle without rest Out of mine eies to see thy hard delay The meade with raine her goodly greene redeemes The oile doth in the lampe the flame maintaine And loue with teares augmented is no lesse But loue the lampe and meadow as it seemes If that too much of these they doe containe Is spent is quench't and drowned in excesse As Faustus had thus made an ende Firmius said for all that I coulde not then heare he tolde me afterwards we are well content Diana that thou delightest thy selfe with our sorrowes since thou wilt take no pleasure in any of our other things if thy sweete voice in lieu of that might sound in our desired eares with some happie song Diana excused herselfe requesting them to pardon her saying she coulde not therein pleasure them since she wanted so much her owne content of minde They endeuouring to comfort her gaue her some hope saying that in the end sorrowes and griefes are not perpetuall and that she should remember that common song that saith Continuall griefe and sorrow neuer wanteth c. Bicause therefore you may see said Diana how ill this saying is vnderstoode tune your Bagpipe with your Rebecke and walking towards our flockes bicause it is now time to gather them vp although I thought not to doe it yet will I sing as well as I can vpon this theame and you shall take the tune of the song as of a woman so much tuned in miseries and mishappes as nothing more Firmius and Faustus made no delay And then Diana like a desperate woman with a mournsull and sorrowfull voice began thus taking for her first verse that which they had alreadie alleaged for her comfort COntinuall greefe and sorrow neuer wanteth Where feeding hope continues not decaying But euermore despaire that greefe recanteth From former course of minde doth cause estraying The glosse Riuers arise and run into the seas And waters without number day by day And yet the same seeme neuer to decay But new doe spring and run and doe increase So endlesse woes arise and multiplie Redoubled one vpon anothers head For one in truth is with another fed Still doe they come and yet they neuer die For since their fertill rootes each moment planteth Continuall greefe and sorrow neuer wanteth Torments of minde and vilest miseries Are sworne to dwell within a haplesse soule And there her ioies and pleasures doe controule As to my selfe my sweete content denies Then let not any Louer thinke to gaine The meanest thing that liues in any hope But liuing so to fall into a scope And wander in a world of greefe and paine For miseries men say continue staying Where feeding hope continue not decaying Who knowes it not Alas I knowe it well That if a wofull soule is hoping still She seldome doth enioy her mind and will But that her hope must euer be her hell So of this hope that flatters me I finde And doe confesse that with the same I liue But still in feare and therefore I would giue It for despaire to ease my doubtfull minde I wish not this false hope my iotes that scanteth But euermore despaire that greefe recanteth If any whit of goodnes euer came By vile despaire it comes to me in prime And it could neuer come in better time Then to be hoping still to haue the same The wisest and most prudent man at last Wanting the good that long he doth attend Which nourished by hope he did suspend Seeing the time that fed his hope is past And all his ioy by hope that is decaying From former course of minde doth cause estraying The Shepherds importuned Diana to proceed in her song or else if it pleased her to take some new matter for it was to be thought that Dianas song pleased them wel but they could not obtaine it at her hands for she rather requested them to sing something whilest they were going towardes their flockes Firmius then remembring that which a little before she had told him that he loued her not so much as he might began thus to tune his voice Faire Shepherdesse Iean no more But faine I would Loue thee more if that I could As this made also for Faustus purpose for the same cause he likewise sung to the same effect And so Firmius and Faustus sung by turnes and answered one another as followeth Firmius OF mine owne selfe I doe complaine And not for louing thee so much But that indeede my power is such That my true loue it doth restraine And onely this doth giue me paine For faine I would Loue her more if that I could Faustus Thou dost deserue who doth not see To be belou'd a great deale more But yet thou shalt not finde such store Of loue in others as in mee For all I haue I giue to thee Yet faine I would Loue thee more if that I could Firmius O trie no other Shepherd swaine And care not other loues to prooue Who though they giue thee all their loue Thou canst not such as mine obtaine And would'st thou haue in loue more gaine O yet I would Loue thee more if that I could Faustus Impossible it is my friend That any one should me excell In loue whose loue I will refell If that with me he will contend My loue no equall hath nor end And yet I would Loue her more if that I could Firmius Behold how loue my soule hath charm'd Since first thy beauties I did see Which is but little yet to mee My freest senses I haue harm'd To loue thee leauing them vnarm'd And yet I would Loue thee more if
loue was not a little enamoured of Dardanea Sagastes sister a yoong gentlewoman passing faire and rich she being also adorned with all those gifts of nature and minde which onely enstall that noble sexe in immortal praises For in her did euerie vertue shine as in their proper place Her loue likewise to him was chaste and pure being onely grounded vpon Disteus his noble vertues and singular goodnes that was then the common subiect of euery mouth whose loue though in her chaste breast it was with all kind of honest affection entertained yet might his comely personage goodly features haue well procured a wanton thought in the most modest minde This noble Ladie had been married but three moneths to a knight of her own house but in many degrees remooued called Fenubius when Atropos before his iust time did cut off his vital thread and in the flower of her age made her a yoong widow Who bearing no small affection to Disteus when she was a maide would faine haue married him but neither by words nor signes durst once declare the lest thought thereof vnto him bicause she would not for all the world transgresse the due limits of her honor and vertuos reputation as also bicause she thought it impossible to conclude a marriage in two such contrarie houses Whereupon without more a doe she was constrained to take such a husband as her brother did giue her for her parents died when she was but eight yeeres old with whom she liued so content or at the least fained it as if she had neuer thought of any other matter a thing no lesse beseeming so braue a personage as she a most worthie example for them that take this honorable estate vpon them Dardanea being therefore a widow it fell out that Sagastes vpon a small occasion did to her great griefe put away her steward who had beene an auncient seruitor and well esteemed of her parents denying to pay him that which was his due for his late seruice In regard whereof and for his other deserts this noble Gentlewoman did not onely satisfie Anfilardus for so he was called but also bestowed bountifull rewards vpon him excusing her selfe to him and saying that his departure was much against her will There was not one in all the citie of Sagastes partie that would giue him entertainment bicause they would not offend so mightie a man the which Anfilardus perceiuing and how vniustly he was reiected he laboured to be with Disteus whose fauour bicause he deserued no lesse as also bicause it was an honor to Disteus to releeue Sagastes old seruants he soone obtained Though yet on the sudden so vnaduisedly he entertained him not without first taking his word and faith of a Gentleman not to go from him againe vpon no wrong nor iniurie offered him The which thing Disteus thought good not to forget bicause he might not after he was placed with him once offer to forsake him thinking the disgrace that resulted to him by such a departure would be greater then the honour that he got by receiuing him All this and more with solemne oath did Anfilardus auow of whose word as also of himselfe bicause he knew him well Disteus made no small reckoning The which to accomplish Anfilardus neuer failed though he had beene often molested to the contrarie But before he came to dwell with Disteus he forgot not to aske Dardanea leaue bicause he would not giue her any occasion of discontent if perhaps by meanes thereof she felt any at all But she consented the more willingly thereunto when she vnderstood that he was to be entertayned by Disteus For as her brother could not choose but be offended thereat so she therefore hoped that he would worke the meanes to place him with her againe But Anfilardus told her not of the faith and promise that he had giuen Disteus for his aboade and true seruice which if she had vnderstood she would not doubtlesse haue giuen him any such leaue knowing that Anfilardus would not do any thing repugnant to his word and promise It greeued not Sagastes a little to heare what the steward had done knowing that only he himself deserued blame for it but more when he perceiued that neither faire entreaties nor fierce threats could reclaime him to Dardaneas seruice Who therefore perceiuing the remedie thereof impossible bethought himselfe of one more preiudiciall to him then any other which was by giftes and faire promises or for that which afterwards fell out to entice from Disteus the woman whom he most tenderly loued a nurse of his for from the teate she had nursed him and brought him vp and an Aunte of mine called Palna to bestowe her on Dardanea in lieu and recompence of her late departed stewarde of which reuenge hee was so proud in minde for hee had soone brought it to passe that he thought he had done Disteus the greatest iniurie he coulde by bereauing him of his nurse and besides wounded his minde with greater greefe then the ioy that he conceiued at Anfilardus comming whose fact made none to maruell much knowing well what great occasion he had to doe it But mine Auntes departure filled euery one full of woonder thinking that she had no iust cause to make her blamelesse but that she was a woman bicause Disteus as they all knew rewarded euerie one so well that there was not the meanest in his house whom he iniuried and gratified not especially Palna whom he loued aboue al the rest and honored as his mother neuer knowing her by any other name Which thing greeued him so much that it made him almost besides his wits for first he would haue thought that al the world woulde haue left him before mine Aunt woulde haue forsaken him Disteus therefore being very sadde and pensiue and sometimes complayning of his Aunt Anfilardus came vnto him and began thus to say If my person had not beene exchanged my good Lord and Master for so deere a price I had then great reason to be glad and vaunt that I am the seruant to so woorthie a gentleman but considering that in the cause of my gladnes the effect of your sadnes doth consist let my ioy be drowned with your discontent and euer remaine so colde that it may seeme rather dead then liue without the sight of your wished good I woulde it had pleased the immortall Gods that I had neuer enioyed the perfect knowledge of your goodnes bicause you might not then haue tried the vnkindnes of ingratefull Palna I was maruelling at vnstable fortune that so on a sudden deined to giue me so sweete a potion but bicause she woulde not haue me fall from the common opinion that I euer had of her she by and by distempered it with a bitter taste Onely one thing comforts me and ioyes my thoughts that you my Lord shal know what difference there is betweene a man and woman though I wish you had not tried it by this example And though in truth
Fortune brought me to Dardancas seruice whose beautie and golden vertues are the woonder of our age When Disteus had read the letter softly to himself for he would not read it aloud before he had viewed the contents of it he said to Anfilardus I would haue read this letter vnto thee Anfilardus if I had thought it would haue made thee glad or sorrie and also bicause it is so obscurely written that I can scarce vnderstand one clause thereof The contents of it perswade me not to be carefull nor trouble my wits by inquiring out the cause of her departure vntill time doth manifest it when as then she saieth she shall be as free from fault as I from complaint With this also she writes me that she is content with Dardaneas seruice for proofe whereof she extols her highly with onely two wordes saying That she is the woonder of our age She that is of such excellent beautie saide Anfilardus enchased with all precious gems of vertue deserues no lesse assuring you Sir that Palna if with so much truth she iustifies that which she hath done as she hath reason for that she hath spoken may be blameles and excused to all the worlde wherein I must needes say she hath beene wise hauing no good discharge and excuse of her fault by putting you in a doubtfull loue and hope of a thing you knowe not to the ende that in the meane while you might forget and ouerpasse your anger by such thoughts and that she might not neede heereafter to excuse her-selfe I told thee not long since saide Disteus that though I feele Palnas absence very neere yet I must dissemble it with thee by meanes whereof happe good or ill I will still shewe one semblant prouided that I know the cause of it for indeed I could neuer perswade my selfe that this was no more but a dreame since I had euer so great confidence in her loue and fidelitie Whereupon I thinke some iust cause must needes mooue her to doe it for my behoofe and benefit as she writes vnto me which though it were not so I will not Anfilardus otherwise conceiue nor imagine In that which toucheth the fauour you do me said Anfilardus by imparting to me the contents of the letter I am bound to kisse your handes And in the rest as in this you shew my Lord your selfe what you are and maintaine the title of your noble minde In these and like speeches they spent a pretie time though Disteus sometimes altered his talke asking him of Dardaneas qualities beautie and wit for he tooke a great delight to heare that so many good parts in so high a degree were iointly found in one woman which Anfilardus did so brauely set forth as one that knew them well and to whom he was so much bound that the eloquence of the golden mouthed Lord of Ithaca had beene needlesse there All which was to cast an amorous and secret powder into Disteus foule that he might thereafter haue been set on fire On the other side mine Aunt Palna with great respect of dutie and discretion discoursed sometimes vnto Dardanea but with far fet circumstances of Disteus his honorable disposition and noble vertues which she so wisely insinuated as if she meant nothing lesse then to praise him Disteus now gaue leaue to his imaginations to be only imploied in Dardaneas beauty so that he loued melancholy sadnes abandoned al sports publick places He now delighted only in solitarines not only the company of strangers but of his own friends seruÌats was troublesom vnto him who neuer suspected that any amorous thought had so forcibly raigned in him but rather attributed this alteratioÌ to the greef that he had for Palnas abseÌce which if they had not beleeued they wuld not haue left to aske him the cause therof though it had bin but in vaine when he himself did scarce know it Disteus spent som daies in these considerations wherein his fansies being not meanly occupied he vsed these words O God how needlesse is it for thee my mother to tell me what reason thou hadst to leaue me for this excellent Ladie O ten times art thou happie that hast before thee as often as thou wilt the cleerest mirrour of our times Onely heerem from this day foorth I will not cease to blame thee for leauing me so late if any fit occasion had beene offered thee to defend thee with the shield of Dardaneas bountie and beautie for both which all mortall men are bound to serue and obey her Thou hast soone performed thy word that at length I should see thy iust cause Pardon therefore good mother my errour by reproouing thee although the same if thou dost marke it well was not my fault but the great loue that I did euer beare thee But wretch that I am what haue I done by not answering thy wise and louing letter and thrise vnhappy mee if thy nephew returned the sharpe answere from the venemous mouth of thy vnwoorthy sonne Ah then thou shalt haue more reason to detest the vnfruitfull milke thou gauest him then he had to condemne thee for thy iust departure and with greater cause to curse the vngratefull nouriture that thou hast bestowed on him then he hath now to blame thy forced absence O Disteus inconsiderate youth how rash wert thou in answering Palna thy graue and wise mother and how ill hast thou deserued to aduantage thy selfe by her gentlenes and helpe And thus thinking he had done a hainous offence by not answering her in haste he called for inke and paper and going about to write he was a good while in suspence and knew not how to begin for faine he would haue shewed her how willing he was not onely to forgiue her but also to haue craued pardon of her both which he durst not doe neither was it wisedome before Palna had cleerely made her iustification And therefore he wrote in such sort that my Aunt might take no offence thereat and did what became him the tenour whereof was this Disteus his letter to Palna BIcause thou maist haue no defence whereby thou maist not be bound to shew that innocencie which thou saiest thou hast and maist also vnderstand how I haue better plaied the part of an humble sonne then thou of a louing mother I haue strained my selfe to take pen in hand to answere thee By and by after I had read thy letter I would haue setled my selfe to this taske wherein I had so many contraries of I and no that not knowing what to determine or to which of both to adhere I haue till now suspended it If the loue I beare thee did sollicite me to do it the anger thou gauest me did forbid it If the faith which euer thou foundest in me did admonish me thereof the disloyaltie that then I sawe in thee did disswade me from it If my good minde towards thee did force an I thy impietie to me did forge a No. So
DIANA OF GEORGE OF MONTEMAYOR Translated out of Spanish into English by BARTHOLOMEW YONG of the Middle Temple Gentleman At London Printed by Edm. Bollifant Impensis G. B. 1598 TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE and my very good Lady the Lady RICH. RIGHT HONORABLE such are the apparant defects of arte and iudgement in this new pourtraied DIANA that their discouerie must needes make me blush and abase the worke vnlesse with vndeserued fauour erected vpon the high and shining pillar of your Honorable protection they may seeme to the beholder lesse or none at all The glorie wherof as with reason it can no waies be thought woorthie but by boldly aduenturing vpon the apparant demonstration of your magnificent minde wherein all noble vertues haue their proper seate and on that singular desire knowledge and delight wherewith your Ladiship entertaineth embraceth and affecteth honest endeuours learned languages and this particular subiect of DIANA warranted by all vertue and modestie as COLLIN in his French dedicatorie to the Illustrous Prince LEWIS of LORRAINE at large setteth downe and commendeth so now presenting it to so soueraigne a light and relying on a gracious acceptance what can be added more to the full content desire and perfection of DIANA and of her vnwoorthie Interpreter that hath in English attire exposed her to the view of strangers then for their comfort and defence to be armed with the Honorable titles and countenance of so high and excellent a Patronesse But as certaine yeares past my Honorable good Lady in a publike shewe at the Middle Temple where your Honorable presence with many noble Lordes and faire Ladies graced and beautified those sportes it befell to my lot in that woorthie assemblie vnwoorthily to performe the part of a French Oratour by a deducted speech in the same toong and that amongst so many good conceits and such generall skill in toongs all the while I was rehearsing it there was not any whose mature iudgement and censure in that language I feared and suspected more then your Ladiships whose attentiue eare and eie daunted my imagination with the apprehension of my disabilitie and your Ladiships perfect knowledge in the same Now once againe in this translation out of Spanish which language also with the present matter being so well knowen to your Ladiship whose reprehension and seuere sentence of all others may I more iustly feare then that which Honorable Madame at election you may herein duely giue or with fauour take away But as then by your gracious aspect and milde countenance I flattered my selfe with your fauourable applause of the first So now to preuent the second I haue no other meanes then the humble insinuation of it to your most Honorable name clemencie most humbly beseeching the same to pardon all those faultes which to your learned and iudicious view shall occurre Since then for pledge of the dutifull and zealous desire I haue to serue your Ladiship the great disproportion of your most noble estate to the qualitie of my poore condition can affoorde nothing else but this small present my praier shall alwaies importune the heauens for the happie increase of your high and woorthie degree and for the full accomplishment of your most Honorable and vertuous desires From High Onger in Essex the 28. of Nouemb. 1598. Your Honors most humbly deuoted BARTHOL YONG The Preface to diuers learned Gentlemen and other my louing friendes ABout nineteene yeeres past curteous Gentlemen comming out of Spaine into my natiue countrey and hauing spent welny three yeeres in some serious studies and certaine affaires with no meanes or occasion to exercise the Spanish toong by discontinuance whereof it had almost shaken hands with me it was my good hap to fall into the companie and acquaintance of my especiall good friend Edward Banister of Idesworth in the Countie of Southampton Esquier who perceiuing my remissenes in the saide language perswaded encouraged me earnestly by some good translation to recal it to her former place And to that intent he gaue me the first and second Part of Diana of Montemayor in Spanish which Booke although I had beene two yeeres in Spaine till then I neuer saw nor heard of whose friendly care and desire to preuent so great a losse and to preserue such an ornament in me I confesse was the chiefe and principall cause and therefore the onely credit of this translation whereby I recouered that toong againe that lay as it were smothered in the cinders of obliuion The second cause of this my labour was the delight I passed in discurring most of those townes and places in it with a pleasant recordation of my pen which mine eies so often with ioy and sorrow had beheld The third the resolued then intent I had neuer howsoeuer now it hath escaped my hands to put it in Print in proofe whereof it hath lyen by me finished Horaces ten and sixe yeeres more For till then I neuer tried my vnproper vaine in making an English verse how well or ill then the hard and strange kinde of Spanish is turned I leaue to your fauourable censure and pardon The low and pastorall stile hereof Montemayor in his Epistle to the L. of Villanoua excuseth entreating of Shepherds though indeed they were but shadowes of great and honorable personages and of their marriages that not many yeeres agoe liued in the Court of Spaine whose posteritie to this day liue in noble estate But touching the Bookes following you must vnderstand that George of Montemayor a Gentleman sprung out of the noble house of Montemayor in Portugal after he had ended his first Part of Diana which he distributed into seuen Bookes intending to set forth the second Part and before his departure into Italie where I heard he died imparted his purpose and the subiect of his intended second Part to Alonso Perez who answering his intent wrote the second Part of Diana contayning eight Bookes promising in the end thereof to continue it with a third Part which yet he hath not done although I heare he hath a purpose to do it But Gaspar Gil Polo a Valentian Gentleman who in my opinion excelleth for fine conceit whether before or after that Alonso Perez second Part came forth made another Part of Diana naming it the first Part of Enamoured Diana the which being diuided into fiue Bookes he intituleth to follow in due sequence the first seuen Bookes of Diana of George of Montemayor And in the ende of that first Part of Enamoured Diana he likewise maketh a reference to another Part which he promised to set foorth the which and that of Alonso Perez if euer they come to light I leaue to some finer wit and better iudgement to English my selfe hauing done too much by launching so far into the maine vnlesse happily in your fauourable iudgements it may finde a friendly and temperate construction Hauing compared the French copies with the Spanish originall I iudge the first Part to be exquisite the other
imperfection was incident to all women but to my Mistresse Diana in whom I euer thought that nature had not omitted to frame euery good and perfect thing But Syluanus after this prosecuting his historie saide vnto him When I came neere to the place where Diana was I sawe her fixing her faire eies in the cleere fountaine where vsing her accustomed maner she began to say O woefull eies how sooner shall you want teares to water my cheekes then continuall occasions to powre you out O my Syrenus I would to God before the winter with his blustring stormes despoyles the greene medow of fresh and fragrant flowers the pleasant vallies of fine and tender grasse and the shadowed trees of their greene leaues that these eies may behold againe thy presence so much desired of my louing soule as mine is eschewed and perhaps hated of thine With this she lifted vp her diuine countenance and by chance espied me and going about to dissemble her sorrowfull complaint she coulde not so cunningly doe it but that her teares made it too manifest by stopping the passage of her dissimulation She rose vp at my comming and saide Sit downe heere Syluanus and see how thou art now to mine owne cost sufficiently reuenged of me Now doth this miserable woman pay thee home againe those paines which thou didst suffer as thou saidst for her sake if it be true that she was euer or yet is the cause of them Is it possible Diana saide I againe that these eares may heare these wordes In the end I perceiue I am not deceiued by saying that I was borne to discouer euery day new kindes of torments for thy sake and thou to requite them with the greatest rigour in the world Dost thou now therefore doubt that thou art the cause of my greefe If thou art not who dost thou imagine can deserue so great loue as this or what hart in the world but thine had not before this bene mollified and made pitifull by so many teares And to these I added many other wordes which now I doe not so well remember But the cruell enemie of my rest cut off my wordes saying If thy toong Syluanus fondly presumeth to speake to me againe of these matters and not to entertaine the time with talke of my Syrenus I will at thine owne pleasure leaue thee to enioy the delight of this faire fountaine where we now sit For knowest thou not that euery thing that intreates not of the goodnes of my Shepherd is both hatefull and hurtfull to my eares And that she that loueth well thinketh that time but ill imploied which is not spent in hearing of her loue Whereupon fearing least my wordes might haue bene an occasion to haue made me loose that great content and happines that I had by her sweete sight and presence I sealed them vp with silence and was a good while without speaking a worde onely delighting my selfe with the felicitie I had by contemplating her soueraine beautie vntill night with greater haste then I desired came on when both of vs then were constrained to goe homewards with our flockes to our village Then Syrenus giuing a great sigh saide Thou hast tolde me strange things Syluanus and all wretched man for the increase of my harmes since I haue tried too soone the small constancie that is in a womans hart which for the loue that I beare to them all for her sake in very trueth greeues me not a little For I would not Shepherd heereafter heare it spoken that in a moulde where nature hath conioined such store of peregrine beautie and mature discretion there should be a mixture of such vnworthy inconstancie as she hath vsed towards me And that which comes neerest to my hart is that time shall make her vnderstand how ill she hath dealt with me which cannot be but to the preiudice of her owne content and rest But how liues she and with what contentment after her marriage Some tell me saide Syluanus that she brookes it but ill and no maruell for that Delius her husband though he be as thou knowest enriched with fortunes giftes is but poore in those of nature and good education For thou knowest how lowtish of spirit and body he is and namely for those things which we Shepherds take a pride in as in piping singing wrestling darting of our sheepehookes and dauncing with the wenches on Sunday it seemes that Delius was borne for no more but onely to beholde them But now good Shepherd said Syrenus take out thy Kit and I will take my Bagpipe for there is no greefe that is not with musicke relented and passed away and no sorrow which is not with the same againe increased And so both the Shepherdes tuning and playing on their instruments with great grace and sweetnesse began to sing that which followeth Syluanus SYrenus what thought'st thou when I was viewing thee From yonder hedge and in great greefe suspending me To see with what affliction thou wert ruing thee There doe I leaue my flocke that is attending me For while the cleerest sunne goeth not declining it Well may I be with thee by recommending me Thine ill my Shepherd for that by defining it Is passed with lesse cost then by concealing it And sorrow in the end departs resigning it My greefe I would recount thee but reuealing it It doth increase and more by thus recording me How in most vaine laments I am appealing it My life I see O greefe long time 's affoording me With dying hart and haue not to reuiue me it And an vnwonted ill I see aboording me From whom I hop'd a meane she doth depriue me it But sooth I hop'd it neuer for bewraying it With reason she might gain say to contriue me it My passions did sollicite her essaying yet With no importune meanes but seemely grounding them And cruell loue went hindering and dismaying it My pensiue thoughts were carefully rebounding them On euery side to flie the worst restraining them And in vnlawfull motions not confounding them They prai'd Diane in ils that were not fayning them To giue a meane but neuer to repell it thee And that a wretch might so be entertaining them But if to giue it me I should refell it thee What wouldst thou doe O greefe that thus adiuring it Faine would I hide mine ill and neuer tell it thee But after my Syrenus thus procuring it A Shepherdesse I doe inuoke the fairest one And th' end goes thus vnto my cost enduring it Syrenus Syluanus mine a loue of all the rarest one A beautie blinding presently disclosing it A wit and in discretion the waryest one A sweete discourse that to the eare opposing it The hardest rocks entendereth in subduing them What shall a haplesse louer feele in loosing it My little sheepe I see and thinke in viewing them How often times I haue beheld her feeding them And with her owne to foulde them not eschewing them How often haue I met her driue and speeding them Vnto
for the benefits she had receiued by his meanes and for the gentle entertainment she had in his Castle And willing to shew her selfe as liberall and thankefull as the rest she sent him a sweete Cypresse chest finely wrought and carued for a present and within it most curious and costly white garmentes for his owne person The valiant Gouernor accepting the presents with great thankes to them that sent them gaue the horses targets and launces incontinently amongest the gentlemen that did accompanie him that night in the skirmish taking the best of each and also the Cyprsse chest with that which faire Xarifa had sent him for himselfe and returning the fower thousand double peeces to the messenger againe he saide vnto him Tell thy Lady Xarifa that I receiue the Duckets for her husbandes raunsome and to doe her seruice sende them backe againe towardes the charges of her marriage and that for her friendship and sweete sake I woulde change all the interests that I haue in the world in lieue that she would make an account of this Castell as her owne and her husbandes also The messenger returned backe to Coyn where he was well receiued and the liberalitie of the noble Captaine of euery one highly commended whose linage doth continue in flourishing estate to this day in Antiquera equiualent in Heroicall and Martiall deedes with the first originall from whence they are descended The historie being ended Felicia did commend the grace and good wordes wherewith faire Felismena did tell it and so did all the rest that were preient who taking their leaue of the sage Lady went all to take their rest The end of the fourth booke The fifth Booke of Diana of George of Montemayor THe next day in the morning the Lady Felicia rose vp and went to Felismenas chamber whom she found not with few teares newly making an end of apparelling her-selfe thinking euery hower she staied there a thousand yeeres And the sage Lady taking her by the hande they went into a gallerie that looked into a garden where they had supped the night before and hauing asked her the cause of her teares and giuing her som comfort and assured hope that her greefes should haue such an end as she her-selfe desired she saide vnto her There is nothing in the world more ready to take her life away whom I loue well then with incertaine hope to depriue her of the remedie of her greefe for there is not an hower that seemes not so long vnto her liuing in this sort as she thinkes the howers of her life short and speedie Because therefore my desire is to fulfill thine and after some fewe troubles to haue thee obtaine the sweet content and rest that Fortune hath promised thee thou shalt depart from thine owne house heere in the same habite that thou camest when thou didst defend my Nymphes from the force and violence of the brutish and cruell Sauages assuring thee besides that when my helpe and fauour may stande thee in steede vnsent for thou shalt alwaies haue it So that thy departure faire Felismena must be presently trust in God that thy desire shall haue a happie end For if I knew it to be otherwise thou maist well thinke I woulde not be without other remedies to make thee forget these thoughts as I haue done to many other Louers more Felismena was glad to heare the graue Ladies wordes to whom she replied thus I know not howe with words discreete Lady I may giue you condigne thankes nor with what deeds and humble seruice make any part of satisfaction of this infinite fauour which I receiue at your Ladiships hands God grant I may liue so long that by proofe your Ladishippe may know the great desire I haue to do you all the seruice I may That which your Ladiship commands me to do I will presently go about which cannot but haue good successe being directed by her counsell that can in euery thing giue the best The sage Lady embraced her saying I hope to see thee faire Felismena in this house more loyfull and contented then now thou art And bicause the two Shepherdes and Shepherdesses are staying for vs it is reason that I go to giue them also some remedy for their sorrowes that need it so much Wherefore both of them going out of the hall and finding Syrenus and Syluanus Seluagia and Belisa attending their comming the Lady Felicia saide to Felismena Entertaine this company faire Lady while I come hither againe and going into a chamber it was not long before she came out againe with two cruets of fine cristall in either hande the feete of them being of beaten golde and curiously wrought and enameled And comming to Syrenus she saide vnto him If there were any other remedy for thy greefe forgotten Shepherd but this I woulde with all possible diligence haue sought it out but because thou canst not now enioy her who loued thee once so well without anothers death which is onely in the handes of God of necessitie then thou must embrace another remedie to auoide the desire of an impossible thing And take thou faire Seluagia and despised Syluanus this glasse wherein you shall finde a soueraine remedie for all your sorrowes past present and a beginning of a ioyfull and contented life whereof you do now so little imagine And taking the cristall cruet which she helde in her left hande she gaue it to Syrenus and badde him drinke and Syrenus did so and Syluanus and Seluagia drunke off the other betweene them and in that instant they fell all downe to the ground in a deepe sleepe which made Felismena and Belisa not a little to woonder to whom the sage Ladie said Discomfort not thy selfe Belisa for I hope in time to see thee as glad as euer any was after their many sorrowes and paines And vntill thy angrie fortune be not pleased to giue thee a needfull remedy for thy great greefes my pleasure is that thou still remaine heere in my companie The Shepherdesse woulde haue kissed her hands at these words but Felicia did not let her but did rather imbrace her shewing how greatly she loued her But Felismena standing halfe amazed at the deepe sleepe of the Shepherdes saide to Felicia If the ease of these Shepherds good Ladie consisteth in sleeping me thinkes they haue it in so ample sort that they may liue the most quiet life in the worlde Woonder not at this saide Felicia for the water they drunke hath such force that as long as I will they shall sleepe so strongly that none may be able to awake them And because thou maist see whether it be so or no call one of them as loude as thou canst Felismena then came to Syluanus and pulling him by the arme began to call him aloud which did profite her as little as if she had spoken to a dead body and so it was with Syrenus and Seluagia whereat Felismena maruelled very much And then Felicia saide vnto her
affection and tendernes as if a thousand yeeres had bin past since their loues had first begon between them And that day they all taried there with as great ioy and pleasure as by such a new commenced loue might be imagined vntil the next day in the morning when the two Shepherds and the Shepherdesse taking their leaue of the sage Ladie Felicia and of Felismena and Belisa and likewise of all the Nymphes with great ioy returned to their villages whither they came the verie same day And faire Felismena who had that day put on againe her Shepherdesses weeds taking her leaue of the sage Ladie and being particularly and well aduised what to doe with many teares embraced her and accompanied of all those Nymphes went forth into the great Court before the Palace gate where embracing euerie one by her selfe shee went that way that they did direct her Felismena went not alone neither did her imaginations giue her leaue so to do for on the one side she went thinking of that which the wise Ladie had told her and considering on the other what little hap and lesse successe she had yet in her loue which made her doubt of her future happines With these contrarieties of thoughts did she go warring in her minde which though on the one side they made her wearie yet on the other they did entertaine her with their company so that in the meane time she forgot her solitarie and painefull way She had not trauelled far in the mids of a faire valley when towardes the west part therof she espied a far off a Shepherds coat which at the entrance of a green wood stood amongst many high Okes and inuited thither by her importunate hunger and wearines and also bicause the heate of the day began to come on so fast that shee was forced to passe it away vnder the shadow of those braunchie trees she bended her steps directly towards it Comming to the coate she heard how a Shepherd said vnto a Shepherdesse that sat neere vnto him these wordes Entreate me not good Amarillis to sing since thou knowest what great causes I haue to sigh and weepe all the dayes whilest my languishing soule shall not forsake this wearied and fainte bodie For though musicke is no small meanes to encrease his melancholie that is euer sadde and pensiue as his ioye and mirthe whoe liues a merry life yet my greefe is not of such a qualitie that by any humane arte or industrie may be increased or diminished Heere hast thou thy baggepipe play and sing faire Shepherdesse for well maist thou do it hauing thy hart as free as thy wil exempt from the bondage of loue Then the Shepherdesse answered him againe Be not such a niggard of thy skill Arsileus which the heauens and nature haue so bountifully bestowed on thee for she that doth aske it at thy hands will not denie to pleasure thee in any thing she may Sing if it be possible that song which at the request of Argastus thou didst make in the name of thy father Arsenius when for hir loue you both serued and sued to the faire Shepherdesse Belisa Thy condition is strange Amarillis saide the Shepherd againe still demanding that of me which doth least of all content me What shall I do for perforce I must please thee and yet not perforce since he were very discourteous to say the truth that would not of his own accord do thee any seruice he could But now thou seest how my ill fortune doth euer narrowly pursue me when I woulde faine take some small respite and ease from my greeuous thoughts And seeing the great reason I haue Amarillis to burst out in continuall lamentations and teares why dost thou then command me to sing What pleasure dost thou take to offende the occasions of my sorrowe I pray God thou maist neuer haue the like to feele the greefe that I do bicause Fortune might not so greatly to thy cost informe thee of my paine Thou knowest well enough I haue lost my Belisa and that I liue without hope of her recouerie Why dost thou then commaund me to sing But since I will not haue thee conceiue an opinion of me to be discourteous for it was neuer my manner and condition to be accounted so amongst faire Shepherdesses to whom we Shepherdes and my selfe especially for my Belisas sake owe all respect of loue and dutie and are so much beholding I will endeuour though most against my minde to content thee Whereupon taking vp his Rebecke that lay hard by him he began to tune it and doe that which the Shepherdesse requested him Felismena that was listening to their talke might heare very well what speeches passed betweene them And when she sawe they talked of Arsenius and Arsileus seruants to faire Belisa both which she tooke to be long since dead as Belisa had told not only her but the Nymphes also the Shepherds when they found her in the Shepherds coat in the Iland she verily thought that all that she heard and sawe there was but a meere dreame or some fantastick illusion But giuing attentiue eare she perceiued how the Shepherd began to touch his Rebecke so diuinely that she thought it to be some celestiall musicke who hauing plaide on it a little with a more heauenly then humane voice began to sing this song following O Vainiest hopes Alas how many Daies Haue I beene bondslaue to a braue Deceite And how in vaine haue these two wearied Eies With show'rs of teares watred this pleasant Vale Appaid I am of cruell Loue and Fortune And knowe not yet whereof I doe Complaine No small harmes I must passe smce I Complaine For to endure framed are all my Daies The traunces and deceites of Loue and Fortune But whence Complaine I of a braue Deceite Of such a Shepher desse within this Vale On whom to my great harme I cast mine Eies Yet am I much beholding to my Eies Although with greefe of them I doe Complaine Since by their meanes I sawe within this Vale The fairest thing which neuer in my Daies I thought to see And this is no Deceite In proofe whereof aske it of Loue and Fortune Though on the other side instable Fortune And time occasion and my dolefull Eies And not suspecting this most braue Deceite Caus'd all the ill whereof I doe Complaine And so I thinke to end my wofull Daies Counting my greefes and passions to this Vale. If that the riuer hill the meade and Vale Earth heauen and fate and cruell Loue and Fortune The howers and the moments yeeres and Daies My soule my hart and these two wearied Eies Doe aggrauate my greefe when I Complaine Who then can say I liue by fond Deceite Deceiu'd I was but this was no Deceite For that I haue beheld within this Vale So rare perfection I doe not Complaine But to behold how Loue and cruell Fortune Would signifie vnto these wearied Eies That there should come a helpe after some Daies
bicause it was now time to go home and that the flockes tooke their accustomed way towards the village they went after them and by the way faire Diana saide to Syrenus There are many daies past Shepherd since I sawe thee in these valleyes But more saide he since I woulde haue lost my life in lieu she had not seene me that made me passe it away in such great greefe whereas in the end it contents me not a little to talke of my passed fortunes that finde my selfe now in a safe hauen Dost thou then thinke this to be a sure estate saide Diana wherein thou now liuest It cannot be dangerous said he when I dare speake thus before thee I neuer remember saide Diana that I sawe thee so much lost for my loue but that thy toong might haue had as much libertie as now it hath Thou art as discreet in imagining this said he as in all other things else Why so saide Diana bicause there are no other meanes saide he to make thee not know that which thou hast lost in me but onely by thinking that I did not loue thee so much that my toong might not haue that libertie as thou sayest But yet for all this I pray God giue thee so much content as sometimes faire Diana thou hast wished me For though my loue be now past yet the relickes therof that remaine in my soule are sufficient to wish thee al the happines in the world Euery word that Syrenus spake was a dagger to Dianas hart For God knowes if she would not haue rather giuen a more willing eare to his wonted complaints then occupied her minde in beleeuing such apparant signes of his newe libertie And though she answered to euery thing the Shepherd spake vnto her with a certaine kinde of carelessenes and did helpe her-selfe by her owne discretion bicause she would not shew any signe of sorrow for their libertie yet in her minde she ruminated the discontent that by their speeches semblances she had so deepely coÌceiued And with talking of these and other matters they were come to their village by that time the Sunne had hidden all his beames and taking leaue one of another they went to their owne houses But comming to Arsileus againe who went with great ioye and desire towards the wood where Dianas Temple was to see his Shepherdesse he came to a little brooke that ranne hard by the Temple amongst a row of greene Sicamours vnder whose coole shadowes he sat him downe hoping that Fortune would send some body that way by whom he might make his Belisa vnderstand of his being there bicause he thought it somwhat dangerous to come vpon her on the sudden especially when she thought him long since to be dead And on the other side the vnpatient desire that he had to see her would not suffer him to take any rest at all But the Shepherd consulting with himselfe what was best to be done espied by chaunce a Nymph of wonderfull beautie comming towardes him with her bowe in her hand and her quiuer at her necke looking on euerie side if she could espie any Deare or wilde beast to trie how she could bestow an arrow that she carried in her bow ready bent But seeing the Shepherd she went straight vnto him who rising vp did her such reuerence as was due to so faire a Nymph whom she curteously saluted againe For this was faire Polydora one of the three that Felismena and the Shepherds deliuered from the violent hands of the Sauages and a deere friend to Belisa But both sitting downe againe vpon the greene grasse Polydora asked him what countrey man he was and the cause of his comming thither Whom Arsileus answered thus The countrey where I was borne faire Nymph hath so ill intreated me that me thinkes it greeues me to call it mine although on the other side I am bound to loue it much and more then I am able to expresse And to tell thee the cause that Fortune had to bring me to this place it were first needefull for thee faire Nymph to tell me if thou dost belong to the sage Lady Felicia in whose Palace I heard say my deerest Belisia doth remaine the onely cause of my exile out of my natiue town of that infinit sorrow which her long absence hath made me feel I am of Lady Felicias house said Polydora the gretest friend in the world to the Shepherdesse that thou hast named and bicause thou maist also make such an account of me if I thought I might profit thee any thing by giuing thee some consel I would aduise thee to forget hir if it were possible or if it lay in thy power not once to haue an amorous thought of hir bicause the remedie of thy griefe is no lesse impossible then the helpe of that which she suffers since the cruell ground doth now feede on him who was once the hope of al her sorrow And may this be true said he that the earth doth consume hir seruant Arsileus most true said Polydora for this was he whom she loued more then her selfe and he whom I may iustly call the most vnfortunate man besides thee bicause thou hast setled thy thoughts in such a place where it is impossible for them to haue any remedie For though I was neuer in loue my selfe yet do I hold it for a firme opinion that the passion of death is not so ill as that which one suffers by louing her that hath her affection setled in another place I beleeue it well faire Nymph said Arsileus and that such are Belisas golden virtues and rare constancie that as imperious death cannot make her settle her affection in any other place so there is none in the world that can make her chaunge her minde wherein faire Nymph the whole summe of my felicitie consisteth How doth thy felicitie consist Shepherd said she by louing so as thou saist when as her loue is so strongly fixed in another place This is a strange kinde of affection and neuer heard of before Bicause thou maist no longer faire Nymph maruell at my words nor at the maner of the loue which I beare to Belisa the soueraigne mistresse of my thoughts giue eare a while said Arsileus and I wil tel thee that thou neuer thought'st to heare although the beginning of it thy friend and the loadstarre of my life hath perhaps told thee And then he told her from the beginning of their loues to Alfeus his inchauntments and braue deceit and euerie thing else that till then in his loues aforesaid befell vnto him which the Shepherd told sometimes with teares being loth to recall to memorie his passed mishaps sometimes with sighes that he fetcht from the centre of his hart imagining what his mistresse Belisa might feele in these occurrents and greeuous accidents And by his dolefull words and alterations in his countenance he gaue so great a spirit to that he said and shewed such signes of inwarde griefe that
thee my deere Arsileus were but little if with words it might be told Let it suffice thee to know in what continual panges and dangers of my life thy supposed death hath put me and by that thou shalt see what a world of ioy thy renewed life hath brought to this my mournfull soule At the ende of which words by reason of an issue of swelling teares ascending vp from the center of her sorrowfull hart into her eye brinkes she was not able to vtter out the rest of her minde which the tender harted Nymphes being mollified with the milde and pitifull words of both these louers to one another did helpe and accompany with theirs And bicause night was comming on they went all to Felicias house telling to each other the discourse accidents of their liues which till then they had both passed Belisa asked her Arsileus for his father Arsenius who told her that as soone as he knew she was gon he went to one of his Farmes not far from thence where he liues as quiet and contented a life as he could wish hauing put all mundane affaires in obliuion whereat Belisa was verie glad and so they came to the Palace of sage Felicia where they were welcommed with great ioye and feast whose hands Belisa kissed many times saying euermore that shee was the cause of her good Fortune And so did Arsileus to whom Felicia shewed an earnest will to do euer for him what lay in her power The end of the fifth booke The sixth Booke of Diana of George of Montemayor AFter that Arsileus was gone Felismena staied still with the Shepherdesse Amarillis that was with him demaunding of one an other the course of their liues a common thing to them that finde themselues in like places And as Felismena was telling the Shepherdesse the cause of her comming thither a iolly Shepherd came to the Coate though very sad by his countenance and gate When Amarillis sawe him she rose vp in great haste to be gone but Felismena taking hold by her garment and suspecting what the cause of her sudden departure might be said vnto her It were not reason Shepherdesse that I should receiue this discourtesie at thy hands who desires so much to serue thee But as she striued to be gone from thence the Shepherd with many teares said vnto her My desire is Amarillis hauing respect to that which thou makest me suffer not to see thee sorie for this vnfortunate Shepherd but to consider what belongs to thy wisedome and beautie and that there is nothing in the worlde worse beseeming a Shepherdesse of thy braue qualities then to intreate one so cruelly that loues thee so entirely Beholde these wearied eies Amarillis that haue shed so many teares and then thou shalt see what reason thine haue to shew themselues so angrie against this miserable man Alas that thou fliest away from me not seeing the reason thou hast to abide my presence Stay Amarillis and harken to my complaints and to my iust excuses and if thou wilt not answere me at all yet I will be content so that thou staiest still What can it hinder thee to heare him whom it hath so deerely cost to see thee And looking vpon Felismena with many teares he besought her not to let her goe who with sweete and gentle wordes intreated the Shepherdesse not to vse him with so small pitie whom he shewed to loue more then himselfe or that she would at the lest harken vnto him since she could not hurt hir selfe much by doing so litle But Amarillis said Intreat me not faire Shepherdesse to giue eare to him who beleeues his thoughts more then my words For behold this Shepherd that stands in this fained sort before thee is one of the most disloyall men that euer liued one of them that most of al troubles our simple louing Shepherdesses with his false deceits dissimulatioÌs Then said Filemon to Felismena My onely request and desire is faire Shepherdesse that thou wouldst be iudge in the cause betweene Amarillis and me wherein if I am found culpable or the iust prouoker of that anger and ill opinion that she hath wrongfully conceiued against me that then I may loose my life and if she be that I may haue no other thing for satisfaction but her confession how much she hath iniured and owes me To leese thy life said Amarillis I am sure thou wilt not bicause thou wilt not wish thy selfe so much harme nor me so much good as for my sake to put thy life in aduenture But I am content that this faire Shepherdesse be iudge if it please her betweene vs to consider of our reasons and to declare which of vs both is more worthie of blame Agreed said Felismena and let vs sit downe at the foote of this greene hedge neere to the flourishing meadow before our eies for I will see what reason you haue to complaine of one another After they were all three set downe vpon the greene grasse Filemon began thus to say I trust faire Shepherdesse if thou hast at any time beene touched with the force of Loue that thou shalt plainly perceiue what small reason Amarillis hath to be angrie with me to conceiue so ill an opinion of the vnstained faith I beare her which makes her surmise that which neuer any other Shepherdesse hath euer yet imagined of her louing Shepherd Knowe therefore faire Shepherdesse that the fates not onely when I was borne but long before determined that I should loue this faire Shepherdesse which fits before thy faire my sorrowfull eies whose intents I haue answered with such effect as there is no loue I thinke like mine nor any ingratitude like to hers It fell out afterwardes that from my childehood seruing her in the best manner I coulde there are fiue or sixe moneths past since my mishap brought a Shepherd hither called Arsileus who went vp and downe seeking a Shepherdesse called Belisa which by some ill successe of Fortune wandred like an exile heere and there amongst these woodes groues And as his sorrow was very great it fell out that this cruell Shepherdesse either for great pittie she tooke of him or for the little she had of me or for what cause else she knowes best herselfe woulde neuer be out of his companie To whom if by chance I did but speake thereof she was ready to kill me with anger for those eies which thou seest there procure death no lesse when they are angry then life when they are milde and gentle But now when all my sences were thus occupied mine eies with teares my eares with hearing denials my thoughts with a bitter taste of sorrow my soule with a rare and vnspeakeable kind of affection and my vnderstanding with the greatest iealousie as the like neuer any had I made my complaint to Arsileus with sighes and to the earth and these groues with pitifull and bitter lamentations shewing them what iniuries Amarillis did me Her deceiued
what she had past since she had last seene him which made him to maruell verie much and especially at the death of the three Sauages and at the Palace of the sage Ladie Felicia and successe of the Shepherds and Shepherdesses and at euerie thing else contained in this booke And Don Felix wondred not a little to vnderstand how his Ladie Felismena had serued him so many daies as his page and that he was so far gon out of his wits and memorie that he knew her not all that while And his ioy on the other side to see that his Ladie loued him so well was so great that by no meanes he could hide it Thus therefore riding on their way they came to Dianas Temple where the sage Felicia was looking for their comming and likewise the Shepherd Arsileus and Belisa Syluanus and Seluagia who were now come thither not many daies before They were welcoÌmed on euerie side with great ioy intertained but faire Felismena especially who for hir rare vertues and singular beautie was greatly honored of them all There they were all married with great ioy feasts and triumphes which were made by all the goodly Nymphes and by the sage and noble Ladie Felicia the which Syrenus with his comming augmented not a little of whom of the Portugall Shepherds Danteus and Duarda more shall be spoken in the second part of this booke The end of the seauen Bookes of Diana of George of Montemayor THE FIRST BOOKE OF THE SECOND PART OF DIANA OF George of Montemayor Written by Alonso Perez ALthough it was not otherwise possible but that the ioy of these happie Louers was very great since fortune had now lifted them vp to so high a degree of content and happines as they themselues could not wish for more euery one possessing his onely desire yet I thinke that Felicias was not any whit lesse then theirs by seeing her selfe visited by so worthie a companie and that by her onely meanes they enioyed such wished rest And the rather for that she was more capable to feele this ioy by reason of the excellencie of her wit the mature iudgement whereof the more it was higher then theirs the more it made the internall powers and workes of the soule more perfect and absolute So that if the sage Lady had onely regarded her pleasure and content forgetting what was conueeient for euery one of them she would not haue requested them to come to her Palace againe but being so carefull for those things which were most needefull for them by neglecting her owne will and desire she prouided for euery one in particular Whereupon certaine daies being past in which she had entertained them with most royall and sumptuous feastes and small they were not since she was mightier in operations then others in imaginations she bethought her of Arsileus and of his deere loue Belisa and therewithall remembred how needefull it was for them to goe visit and comfort their aged parents who passed many a doubtfull and sorrowfull thought for them Arsenius especially father vnto Arsileus whom she had now remedied and rid from the loue which so lately had made him dote on faire Belisa Who therefore giuing the Lady Felicia infinite thankes for the benefites and louing entertainment they had receiued at her handes and taking their leaue of the Lordes Ladies Nymphes and Shepherdes that were there the next day following went to their owne towne And not many daies after Felicia one night after supper saide thus to Syluanus and Seluagia I could not choose but blame you fortunate Shepherdes for the small care you haue of your flockes if I my selfe were not in fault bicause you haue neuer asked after them in all this time nor I thinke once remembred them fearing lest by reason of your absence they haue beene in great want and not without cause being not carried to feede at conuenient times vpon the greene and sauorie grasse nor at their neede driuen to the cleere springs to quench their burning thirst nor with wonted loue put into the coole and pleasant shades And seeing that with familiar and gentle hand they are not eased of the burden of their fruitfull bags that swell with abundance of white milke and that with the accustomed and knowen voice of their louing Shepherds they are not called to licke the smooth peebles of the sauourie salt nor that your sweete Bagpipes seconded with many amorous Ditties which not long since made there the woods and dales to ring haue sounded in their eares It is therefore conuenient that to morrow you depart at the rising of purple Aurora the foreteller of speedie Phebus whereof I put you in minde at this time especially bicause your absence from them before was not so great that you needed to be told thereof Which departure of yours I woulde not haue you thinke is to any other ende but to set some order in your affaires that at your pleasure you may the sooner returne hither againe assuring you that elsewhere you shall not be better entertained with deedes then heere with hart and good will And your returne shall onely be to solace your selues in the companie of Don Felix and Felismena whose time is not yet come to depart Wherefore I pray you goe about it for setting all things in good order touching your flockes and domesticall affaires you may doe the other the better yet promising you that before you come to your dwelling places you shall finde those that can looke well to your flockes if you will at the lest commit them to their charge and who will most willingly take it vpon them Let your returne therefore be with as much speede as may be which shall result to your owne profite and to their pleasure with whom you shail passe away the time heere Syluanus and Seluagia had their eies so fastened on the maiesticall countenance of the Sage Lady perceiuing her speech to be onely addressed to them that with great reuerence they rose out of their places and gaue a diligent eare vnto her bicause they might better vnderstande the meaning and effect thereof For otherwise seldome were their eies caried away into any other part but to looke vpon one another vnable to remooue them the least time that might be from thence wherein each others soule had no small portion and thinking it stealth to remooue their thoughts from that entire affection whereof their mutuall harts had so sure possession Whereupon the sage Ladies speech being ended both of them turned their amorous eies to each other againe Syluanus making louing signes to Seluagia to answer the Ladies intent To whom with a seemly blush as partly ashamed thereat she saide in this sort It is now no time my deere Syluanus to vse circumstances of such arte when there is no cause neither doe they well beseeme this place For though their vsage to all women is commendable yet not in particular for the husband to his wife and in such sort
To be accounted chaste of euerie one And that her chiefest honour did consist In honest pure and vndefiled life Now therefore as the virgine did not know Bicause her minde was soon vertue bent What thing loue was nor due of marriage rites To hunt it was her onely ioy and sport Then hither came this gallant Nymph to chase Where proud Apollo went by chaunce to hunt Not thinking to finde out so farie a game Bicause his breast free from the thoughts of loue Was onely bent in thinking of his spoile He was so glad and did triumphe so much Within himselfe that he did neuer thinke Of any thing but this till to his harme He cast his wandring eies vnto the place Where he did spie faire Daphne in her chace The good old man Parisiles went prosecuting his historie carrying all his hearers with him verie silent by reason that the substance thereof as also the stile wherewith he told it delighted them verie much when they perceiued the sage Felicia comming with Crimine and the vnknowen Shepherd towardes them whose comming made not Stela a little glad for she lent but a small eare to the tale bicause the Shepherd was not in her companie But Parisiles turning his head and seeing Felicia said Behold how it fals out true which I feared my tale shall breake off till another day when we will haue fitter time and place for it wherein nothing shall be lost hauing made so good a beginning By no meanes saide Doria will I consent hereunto The like did all affirme with one voice Then came Felicia and as they were rising to do her honour they saw the Shepherd that came with her to be the fairest most gracious and goodliest youth of person as euer they beheld before His weedes were of gray cloth to signifie by that colour his troubles and griefes All along the border of his coate and sleeues went three ribons or laces of sundry colours two of them on either side of Lion tawney and Oliue greene to signifie by the first his sorrow and by the second his torment That in the mids of his sorrow and torment was his hope Other things did the Shepherd weare worthie himselfe and to be marked But Parisiles did hinder them bicause Crimine returned now cleane and washed at Felicias request whom now he also knew and therefore with a loud voice with casting vp his eies to heauen he said And is it true O Iupiter which with mine eies I here behold O sweete Nymph my friend and mistresse Is it possible thou art here If I had knowen my deere daughter had gone in thy company I would haue somewhat moderated my griefe for her absence And being come to her with reuerence he louingly embraced her But both of them desiring earnestly to know the meanes of their vnlooked for comming to that place Felicia said Defer this till further time for I know these questions will not hereafter a little delight this companie Come thou Crimine and speake to all this companie who will be verie glad of thine They were a prettie while in congratulations and conuesies wondering at Crimines beautie and therefore at last thus said Why did such a shining gemme as this Ladie Felicia goe hidden in such a base couerture if her conpanion be such another do vs this fauour to make her wash her selfe To auoide all danger by reason of their tempting beautie said Felicia and not to be molested like those that haue suffered many inconueniences for theirs they haue gone thus disfigured in apparell and face As for the washing of this yoong Shepherdesse pointing to Stela it shall remaine at my pleasure when I will request her to doe it for dinner being nowe readie I will deferre it till some other time for feare I should giue you a dinner against your stomacke for washing nowe her fowle face and handes will not perhaps make you eat so much as otherwise you would and make you haue a lesse appetite then to see them in the manner that nowe they be But if you like not of her companie at dinner she shall sit by her selfe and dine with Parisiles in whose eies she is nothing so soule nor ill-fauoured And then turning to her Nymphes she commanded them to bring in dinner who presently came in with it But if you please good Lady said Lord Felix command Parisiles first to make an end of the tale he hath begun Since you will haue it so said Felicia I will entreat not command him It were great reason sage Lady saide Parisiles to hold my peace not to shewe so great rudenes before your singular wisedome if it were not more to obey your iust command It is well saide Felicia leaue off this and do that which all the companie heere requesteth thee Parisiles then began thus Obeying then most willingly great Lady what you haue giuen me in charge and purposing to tell the cause why this Oke was planted betweene these two Laurel trees I haue touched the gifts that Apollo gaue to the Laurell tree when Daphne was turned into it From whence this noble company did not suffer me to passe any further though I alleaged some excuses to the contrary but that I must needes from the beginning recount this transformation of Daphne into a Laurell tree And so hauing told of the glorious victorie that Apollo had of the serpent Python and of the quarrell and contention betweene him and Cupid for carying both one weapon I went on along telling how Apollo being proud of this conquest by chance cast his eies vpon the faire and chaste Nymph Daphne And when you came hither good Lady with Crimine you gaue a gracious impediment to my tale So that now since it is your pleasure I will proccede in it beginning onely but with a worde or two recited before to annexe that and this that followeth the better togither APollo being in this heauenly ioy For victorie by Pythons death obtain'd Lift vp by chaunce his eies and spi'de the Nymphe The fairest Nymphe as euer he did see Whom at the first he onely did behold With an impartiall eye a common thing And onely markt her beautie and her grace And with that common kinde of honest loue In praise of her these louing wordes did moue What Nymph might yonder be So fine with her dishieueled haire That in this forrest hunteth all alone I will goe neere to see If that she be indeed so faire As she doth seeme Ah Godheades there is none In all your heauenly throne No Goddesse nor no power diuine With beautie and good grace That nature doth imbrace Then this in whom most cleerely shine Her giftes and chiefest art As many as to all she did impart But Cupid seeing her in such estate Thought it high time to punish the contempt And brauing words that proud Apollo vs'd And now to be reuenged on his head With more dishonor and with greater shame He did prepare him to assaile his foe
preordinate course from the Gods which we cannot attaine to saide she in bare conceite considering that they for the most part giue to those whom they loue wished ease and content when they thinke themselues farthest from it These and many other things did she discourse with him But the vnknown Shepherd that staied in the companie of Lord Felix Felismena the Nymphes and the Shepherdes Felicia being gone began thus to saie TOuching the first thing you demaund of me noble Lord and the rest to tell you who I am I know not how to resolue you therin for that not many yeeres since I knew these parts my parents not being those whom I tooke them to be and with desire to know who they were I came with a certaine friend of mine the halfe part of mine owne soule out of our supposed owne countrey The Gods made him and me not onely in body face and condition but in fortune and maner of life so like that it might be said they gaue vs two soules for one bodie or two bodies for one soule and so he knoweth no more nor lesse then my selfe who his father or mother is We beleeued we were brethren but that in distinct places with different persons we were brought vp I with a yoong and courteous Shepherd he with an old and reuerend Shepherdesse I who am called Delicius was brought vp in a little village in Tinacria in the corner called Pachinus and in the house of a Shepherd called Carpostus my friend whose name is Parthenius in another village in the second corner of one of the three which that Iland hath called Pelorus in the house of another Shepherd called Sarcordus From this base estate fortune lifted vs vp on high wherein we liued a while but bicause you may heare the braue and strange meanes whereby our good or ill hap did guide vs to it I will now tell it you wherein I must aduise you to carrie the names of my deere friend and mine in memorie as also of our nurses if you will delight you with the rare accident It happend that Carpostus my nune I being then but three yeeres old went about certaine busines to the place where my Parthenius was nursed who seeing him play with other children in the street stood halfe amazed thinking it was I so like were we to one another and that from out some Cannon I had beene shot into that place but yet he maruelled more when the child after he was come to him had kissed him against his will with his weake forces endeuored to winde himselfe from him At the crie that Parthenius gaue his nurse came out and with sharpe wordes blamed Carpostus who not so patiently endured her but that he had offered had it not beene for some of the townesmen which came running out at that noyse to haue rudely intreated her But he still affirmed obstinately that it was his child and made such adoe about it that of all of them there he was reputed for a man out of his wits In the end Carpostus held his peace seeing it was no point of wisedome to be opposite against the whole towne who affirmed with one voice that it was the child of that woman and seeing moreouer that the child ranne away from him which more perswaded him to the contrarie of that which he thought in his minde he was content to be quiet But the more he viewed the childes face handes qualities gesture age and stature the more he found himselfe incredulous And so much that he could not otherwise thinke but that the woman had bewitched them al or that he was surely in a dream To be briefe he returned as soone as he could to his owne towne in great feare and doubt not to haue found me there But the ioy that he conceiued in seeing me when he came home and with what a glad countenance I ranne vnto him as I was wont to doe made no lesse alteration in his minde the which my nurse Carpostus perceiuing with a moderate laughter said vnto me It is not long since my childe thou didst denie me for children sons our nurses called vs requested by them so to do that did first put vs to them to be brought vp And comming to his wife he asked her if I had beene at any time from home since his departure who answered no but some little while when I went to play with other children abroad But why said she Carpostus then told her all that had happened at which strange noueltie she wondred not a little and more when he told her of the great resemblance of vs both And who would indeed haue laughed hartily at the deceite but that her husband grew verie pensiue and sad which she considering well with her selfe asked him if any other thing had happened vnto him or what the matter was for if it were no more but that he might haue greater cause to be glad she said then sorrie Carpostus answered that he had made so great adoe in the towne affirming it was his childe that they might iustly iudge him for a sencelesse and drunken foole After my nurse Calasta for so she was called who was euer accounted suttle and wise had thought a little vpon the matter she resolued vpon this which you shall now heare And thus it was My nurse Carpostus and his wife carried me closely bicause I might not beé seene to the towne where Parthenius was brought vp where being verie priuately kept and Calasta tarying with me secretly at the Inne Carpostus went againe to seeke out little Parthenius and hauing founde him beganne to wrangle as before affirming still it was his sonne and that hee woulde prooue it before the best in the towne or anie Iustice else when as most of the townes-men that had flocked togither to see his madnes the other time before were laughing againe at his headlesse folly that nowe yet another time hee stoode stiffely in his former errour who neuerthelesse tooke away the childe Parthenius and for all that they could do to the contrarie running as fast as euer he could caried him home to the Inne It was woorthie the sight to see how he caried the childe that cried out amaine and how the people ranne after him fearing least like a frantike man he would haue done it some harme The bruite whereof being spred abroad Sarcordus nurse vnto Parthenius ranne vp and downe in a great heate to seeke Carpostus out fearing least some harme might befall to his little childe And hauing quickly found him in talke with other people in the street for by this time he had left the childe priuily with Calasta and me he woulde faine haue had a blowe or two with him but that the dissuasions of his neighbours staied his vnbrideled furie as also for the gentle and milde words that Carpostus gaue him who knowing him to be his father father he called him for he knew him for none other saide thus vnto him
Commaund him therefore I beseech you righteous Iudges to offer no violence to me for carrying away what is mine owne The Iudges not knowing what to determine in so doubtfull a case Carpostus said I know not graue Iudges why in a matter so manifest as this you should suspend your iust iudgment but that without delay you should proceed to definitiue sentence vnles you seem to make any more doubt herein which if you doe I will cleere it if it please you to send the child backe againe to my lodging by this boy who shall incontinently returne with him againe for whom I will in the meane time remaine heere a pledge bicause it shall not be saide that I tooke possession of him before sentence giuen That being graunted him he willed the boy that brought me but secretly in his eare to carrie me backe and to bring the other childe not forgetting to put on his owne coats who did it incontinently and hauing brought Parthenius there before them all without any more adoe he ranne to his Father Sarcordus and to his knowen nurse Sarcordus wife The Iudges seeing so strange an alteration and thinking he did what he listed with the child for they tooke me and Parthenius to be both one commaunded to lay hands on him for a notable Sorcerer To whom Carpostus seeing whereabout they went said Though here I am worthie Iudges at your disposition and commaund yet do me this fauour I beseech you to suspend your doome vntill you see the end of this matter it may be you will delight your selues with the conueiance rare sequele of it And then he bad the boy carrie back the child commaunding him softly in his eare to bring me and the other childe backe againe but both naked And this he deuised because Parthenius might not be knowen by his coats But before we cam he requested the Iudges to command Sarcordus his wife to go aside or to put themselues amongst the prease of the people so that the child when he was commight not see them They did so behold we were both broght naked thither and playing togither at the sight whereof the standers by maruelled verie much and they that came to behold the fame of that which was past wondring yet a great deale more and others that came after vs in the streetes looking vpon one another in signe of admiration spake not a word but opened their hands and sometimes lifted vp their eies to heauen in token of great wonder admiration Then with a loud voice Carpostus before we came spake thus One of these children is mine the other is Sarcordus his Let him therefore take his owne But bicause the child by seeing him may not know him let him come to claime him behinde the people and I will also hide me heere Sarcordus being therefore come in manner aforesaide and not able to discerne which was his my nurse saide Now do you see graue Iudges and good people assembled to behold the ende of this debate howe I haue this day to delight you with a rare noueltie presented before your eies the strangest wonder in the world bicause you might not woonder at me nor repute me for such a foole as you haue taken me for that which these fewe daies past I haue done with Parthenius beleeuing he was my sonne and bicause you might see whether I had iust cause to claime him with assurednes for mine owne or not They were all passing glad to see this strange conclusion and tooke him for a very wise man in that he had so well contriued the matter to saue his credit And with great reason saide Lord Felix though all was done in my opinion by Calastas counsell albeit I cannot also otherwise thinke but that Carpostus was very wise by knowing how to gouerne himselfe so well against the whole towne When he had saide thus Delicius proceeded in his discourse saying They put on our garments againe and to giue either their owne was no lesse variance and as great difficultie as before for if we of our selues had not made our selues knowne to our nurses either of vs going to his owne we might haue both gone naked home againe But from that time we entred both into such a mutuall league of amitie that by no meanes they coulde part vs asunder for much force had one God I knowe not that reigned in vs ouer each others soule diuining the great and inuiolable friendship that should be betweene him and me I feare me noble Sir and the rest that you would a good while since haue asked me what was become of my deere brother Parthenius for so we euer called one another and other questions that you haue left of not to interrupt mee in my tale Delicius would haue passed on farther but his falling teares would not permit him Wherefore Cynthia came to him saying Drie vp thy teares Shepherd and tell on thy tale for by doing this thou shewest the small confidence and hope thou hast in my Lady Felicias helpe whereas I my selfe haue also diuers times tolde thee before that thy sorrowes shall be remedied Delicius then wiping his eies saide Thou tellest me O Nymph by that which I shew the small trust I haue in Felicia but I tell thee that by thy speech thou dost manifest how little thou art acquainted with my greefe and how lesse thou knowest of like passions to which knowledge I wish thou maiest neuer attaine since ignorance in such matters is much more expedient I could tell thee much about these effects if I thought not to offende this woorthie companie but onely one word I will tell thee That hope doth not pardon the punishment although it doth lighten it a little But thou seemest Shepherde saide Polydora to know the very secrets of our harts bicause as thou hast tolde true touching the desire we had to know what was become of thy deere brother thou didst chaunce to say that we would not giue thee leaue for answers and replies wherefore dissembling thy greefe for a while tell out the rest as thou hast begun With a good will saide Delicius But let it not greeue you woorthie personages if you heare not now of my beloued brother considering that the great greefe which I suffer for him must nowe suffice and that the processe of my historie shall in conuenient place declare it amplie vnto you and if not so at some other time you shall know it when you shall see what great reason I haue to solemnize such a memory with these and many more teares The fame of this strange accident I told you of and of our great likenes within a fewe daies after came to the eares of old Synistius gouernour of the kingdome where we were borne who was placed there by Rotindus king of Eolia for the which cause Synistius commanding that wee should be brought vnto him as well for our great likenes as for the great beautie which we were reported to haue
the one side by the hope that Felicia promised them and by knowing that those louers were onely by her meanes recured but sad on the other that by imagination they could not finde out some way or remedie for their paines and passions which were so strange that though to their owne content they craued it yet they could not deuise how to their owne wils and desires they might enioy it For both of them equally loued Delicius and Parthenius but Stela especially who desired not to haue Delicius loue her if Parthentus forgat her nor esteemed of Parthemus his loue if Delicius had despised her Onely Delicius amids such sportes and pastimes as were offered there was far from all comfort by finding himselfe absent from his deere friend Parthenius without whose presence he cared not to enioy his sorrowfull life And the danger besides which shall bee heerafter spoken of wherein he knew his deere friend to be was euery hower so sensibly represented to his greeuous thoughtes that he was many times determined to goe and deliuer him or else to die in that resolution but that he was prohibited on the one side and had no force on the other to forsake Stela the ioy and light of his darke and mournfull life The seldome enioying of whose woonted sweete sight and discontinued speech with her by reason of old Parisiles applied more matter to the heauie burden of his greefe So that he though all the rest did sing and play could neuer be perswaded to keepe them companie from the which but with faint and fained reasons he for the most part excused himselfe Whereupon when opportunely he could do it he closely conuayed himselfe out of their company whose discontentment his yoong Shepherdesses with watchful eie perceiuing it did not a little greeue theÌ But sage Felicia seeing how little her promised hope preuailed with the fearefull Shepherd on an euening before them all saide thus vnto him I woulde neuer leaue to complaine on thee sorrowfull yoong Shepherd if I knewe not the great reason thou hast to bee so sad And therefore I beseech you that be heere not to be offended with the course of his melancholike life nor take it in ill part if hee cannot pleasure you as you woulde praying you besides to do me so much fauour not to aske him any more then he is willing of himselfe to tell you and to attende the time when with his gratefull conuersation and sweete discourses he shall fill your hands full Of curtesie then good Shepherd and for shame do no more then what thou shalt see most auailing thy content since we are so glad by al the meanes we can to giue it thee Then answered Delicius I can receiue no greater fauour in any thing most gracious and prudent Ladie vnlesse it be the enioying of my Parthenius his presence then in that which you haue alreadie done me which especiall benefits since my abilitie is so small must needs remaine without due requitall For though in signe of subiection my willing minde and person woulde bee euer ready at your command and seruices yet it were but a friuolous and vndiscreet part to promise you that which by all reason is alreadie due vnto it Don Felix Felismena the Shepherds and the Nymphes with one voice said That they were not a little glad to see Delicius take content in any thing who gaue them many thankes for it crauing pardon of them for the great strangenes he vsed amongst them At whose hands and of Felicia and the rest obtaining a friendly pardon hee passed away his sorrowes all alone going often into that thicke woode to lament his hard and sinister haps wherein he could not choose but many times haue lost himselfe if the shining turrets of Felicias pallace had not brought him thither again when he would Amongst many other daies that heere and there some went to sport themselues in diuers places it fell out that the Shepherdes Syrenus Syluanus and Seluagia for Felicia and Don Felix had gone one way and the rest of the companie another were one day all alone with old Parisiles in a quadrant of the rich pallace to whom Syrenus saide Since it hath pleased you woorthie Parisiles the fewe daies that you haue beene heere to content all our louers with your pleasant and amorous historie of Câpid their idolatrous God my selfe that haue not to do with this blinde boye why haue you refused to gratifie with some pleasant discourse touching a Shepherds state The first day that we enioyed your happie companie you propounded diuers things concerning the same from that time surcharging me with more then a meane desire to heate them discoursed by you And especially the manner of the sacrifice of our God Pan and how at the first it was vsed to be done and from what time it was held in reuerence and all the rest that you propounded about this matter So that your tale shall come nowe in good time and to very good purpose since we are heere all Shepherds and alone Whereupon I pray you noble Parisiles ease my impatient minde of the burden of this desire I cannot my friend Syrenus answered Parisiles but obey thee wherein thou crauest to be resolued since it is a thing appertaining to my office to declare the rights and honors due to our Gods and also a conuenient mysterie for you to know and a thing especially belonging to Pan the great God of Shepherds As touching the first you haue great cause to make no small account of your functions and estates when not onely Pan but many other of our Gods haue vsed the like besides many great Emperours Kings worthie personages that haue not disdained this simple and contented kinde of life which was the first charge and vocation that our forefathers in the primitiue world embraced whose names impertinent for you to know and tedious for me to report I meane to leaue vntold So that you must not maruell if I told you that the first to whom we offered sacrifice was this God I know well that I should take my beginning by declaring what God this is but bicause he hath none I cannot put it in any other thing but in himselfe For to say that Pan and Faunus is all one as almost all authors auerre I haue no reason to beleeue it when by them themselues I meane to refell it For they say that Faunus was the sonne of Picus Father to Latinus Pan the sonne of Demogorgon God of the earth To say also as they affirme that Pan and Syluanus is all one it is false for a certaine Autenticall author after he had told that Pan the God of Shepherds came said that Syluanus also came with a root of a tree into the which Cyparisus was transformed Whereupon it is cleerely gathered that one cohereth but ill with the other That which they hit neerest of Syluanus is that he is the God of the dregs of the Elements wherof all
spoken this we went towards them who perceiuing it felt an extreme ioy bicause they had now brought their desired purpose to effect But to dissemble the more with vs and bicause we might not take vs to our woonted flight they sat still without once rising to doe vs any courtesie vntill we first spake vnto them When we were come vnto them and sawe two such goodly yoong Shepherdes and so like in face and apparell turning to Stela I saide Behold what two faire Shepherdes but seest thou not how like they be There is not in my iudgement siluer to siluer gold to gold nor water to water so like as these be Our Iupiter and Amphitrion could not be so much one nor Mercurie so like to Sosia when to enioy Alomenas loue Iupiter in the likenes of Amphitrion kept him out of his owne house and Mercurie in the likenes of Sosia made his man feele the hardnes of his fist Then turning by and by to the Shepherds I spake thus vnto them Your vnaccustomed and sweete songs gracious Shepherds after the long suspence and silence of many that haue beene long since made in these fieldes haue forced vs to come thus abruptly to enioy the sweetenes of them if we therefore being Nymphes are of any estimation with you iolly Shepherdes we beseech you that our presence be not of woorse condition and entertainment then these trees which without moouing were euen now harkening vnto you nor may displease you no more then our absence and to make no more difficultie to sing now we are heere then when we were not At these wordes the Shepherdes rising vp and asking one another who should answere Parthenius said Sweete Nymphes in grace and beautie non pareille we will not deny but that in respect of your courteous speech to vs we are bounde to performe your gracious request at will they cast out golden wordes which sauoured of the glozings in the Court and confesse no lesse that we are constrained to obey you more for your owne sakes then for any thing else be it spoken with pardon of the rest of these goodly Nymphes So that onely tell vs wherein wee may giue you content and we will doe our best to please your mindes Our mindes saide I you haue already vnderstood Then since it is so saide Delicius begin Parthenius to sing It were better said Partthenius for thee to do it for in regard of the great sweetnes wherwith not without good cause thou hast alreadie delighted them thy selfe being also more skilfull in musicke whatsoeuer I shall sing after thee to my disgrace will be but yrksome and vnpleasant to their eares Thou hast no reason to say so said Delicius for thy verses will giue testimonie of the truth of thy side Whereupon Parthenius would haue begun but not finding himselfe satisfied bicause I onely entreated him and not Stela he said vnto me I would not gracious Nymphe by obeying thy request to content thee giue any occasion of dislike to thy companion which mooues me to speake it bicause I know not whether it be her will that I should sing or no There is not any thing answered Stela that likes this faire Nymph which doth not also please me how much the more if it were not so for hir owne sake should it suffice thee to fulfill her minde without making any matter of my liking at all Both of them would faine haue answered to these words but that I thinke they were afraid one of them because he would not shew himselfe on the sudden so appassionate the other not to displease or make me blush a thing that made much for their purpose and also because I now tooke them by the hands saying to Stela The Shepherd hath spoken verie well and hath great reason entreat him therefore to sing for he lookes for it Bicause then we will not delay the matter any longer said Stela leauing that aside which might be said heerein I request him with this warning that if another time thou entreatest him to do any thing and if he will not do it that he aske not counsell of me since by fulfilling thy will he shall satisfie mine We will obserue this charge said Delicius and see thou forgettest it not Parthenius Then the one began to touch his Rebecke the other to play on his Bagpipe And going about to begin his song Parthenius was a pretie while in suspence not knowing what matter to take in hand for he would haue saide something of Stelas beautie for whom he felt no lesse secret paine then Delicius publicke passion But the force of friendship on the other side diuerted him from it And so partly for ioy to do that which touched the loue of his friend Delicius and with griefe to go against that whereunto he was bound for himselfe he would by praysing Delicius perswade Stela to incline to his owne loue whose beginning was this entring after the selfe same sort as his friend did in the song before NEuer so true a subiect to great loue Put sounding Baggepipe to his mouth and toong Nor euer Shepherd that did keepe In any meade his silly sheepe And neuer did so gracious members mooue Shepherd so faire so lustie and so yoong In throwing of the barre or steeled dart As this my deerest friend and louing hart His songs and ditties which he sung and plaied Hath made the Satyres leaue the sweete pursute Of Nymphes that they had chaced And in their armes imbraced And them besides with his sweete musicke staied Forgetfull of their feare amaz'd and mute The hardest rockes he makes both soft and tender And mildnes in great wildnes doth engender Vnto his person beautie and his grace The Nymphes and Napees faire to yeeld are glad The Niades Hamadriades The Oreades and Driades For such a feature and so sweete a face Paris Alexis nor Endimion had The fairest in the world he doth despise But onely one whom iustly he doth prize Bicause that she may onely him admit Her onely and none else he doth obay She onely doth deserue Him he but her to serue She onely him he onely her doth fit For th' one is euen with th' other euery way For he for her was borne for her alone And she for him or else was borne for none So that if she had not beene borne at all He had not lou'd for he his like should want And so she to haue loued Her equall it be hooued That he was borne For none but he should fall Equall to her he then might iustly vaunt That she was borne onely for him reserued And she that he whom onely she deserued Fortune did fauour him aboue the rest By making him the gladdest man that liues If that perhaps she knew His loue so pure and trew And faith so firme within his constant brest She that her lights vnto each creature giues In whose braue beautie nature strain'd to showe More art and skill then euer she did
although we turned it not a few times about if we had not a greater desire to heare what Parthenius had promised to tell vs. Who when he saw vs expecting what he would say began thus to speake vnto vs. Since the pitifull banishment of vs from our deere and natiue countrey is sufficiently manifest vnto you most soueraigne Nymphes and likewise the cause of our amorous staying in these parts it would seeme but time ill spent and tedious to make repetition of the same againe I will not say that my tarrying here to this present time hath beene onely commaunded by the request of my deere Delicius for that your sweete company and sight was sufficient to haue forcibly detained here a worthier person then my selfe But that which I minde to tell you is that as to this hower my being here hath beene perhaps conuenient so from this day forward my departure is needfull and in such sort that all affection laid aside you would iudge there is no other possible thing for our auayle Whereof bicause you may not be in suspence and of my late determination if with attention you will giue eare vnto me the inexcusable necessitie of my intended departure shal be cleerly known vnto you You are not ignoraunt of the odde and inconuenient loue of fierce Gorphorost with thee faire Stela nor of the euen and proportionable loue or of the sound to say better and perfect affection of Delicius with thee againe faire Stela But loue that discouers all things hath suggested into the fierce Shepherds eares as by his song you might well perceiue that he hath for riuall if it may be so saide my deere brother If he grieued thereat your selues haue heard him sing it on the top of yonder rocke and being in his company that same morning before I heard it from his owne mouth where he said vnto me that he purposed to be reuenged on him and onely for the great loue and friendship he bare me protested that he deferred the same But now not able to suffer it any longer and not knowing by what meanes to be auenged of his aduersarie without executing the punishment on me for the great likenes betweene vs and for auoiding the harme that might come thereof he gaue me this sheep-hooke bicause by carrying it he might know me from him the which for that it was offered me for a cruell act I then refused but afterwards seeing his great rage by studying out a good meanes for both our auailes I tooke it And this was my deuise I told him that Delicius by my counsell and perswasion would go his waies so that he might giue me the sheep-hooke whereby he might know that I remained still in this countrey For which departure I craued eight daies respit which he willingly graunted me Now therefore it behooues me to go seeke out my Father with whom or without him within a certaine time I will returne hither againe where Delicius in the meane time may stay in my place and visite Gorphorost in my name to dissemble the better with him whom before I will aduise and acquainte with all that I haue passed with him because hee may thinke it is I. This did Parthenius saie with ill vttered wordes for the greefe of taking his leaue of Delicius and mee whome hee loued so much woulde not let him frame them any better None of vs three had then the courage to answere any thing to Parthenius wounding wordes for the great greefe that wee conceiued of his sudden departure but after wee had all helde our peace a good while Crimine with watred eies for then she had not the power to dissemble the great loue she bare him any longer saide It is now no time my friend Parthenius by my forced countenance to dissemble the inward paine and greefe of my hart if hitherto by deedes and demonstrations thou wilt not vnderstand and see how much I loue thee by wordes therefore at this present let it be cleere vnto thee That I loue thee and louing thee more then mine owne life determine to goe in thy companie at the lest with thy consent if thou wilt not carie me with thee or else with mine owne hands if not with thine thou wilt not resolue to giue me my mortall stroke of death which shall be more glorious and acceptable to me then giuen by my selfe when thou art gone Then she being as it were cut off from her boldnes with a tainted blush and a sorrowfull sigh held her peace To whose amorous wordes Parthenius wisely answered thus Stela had scarce begun Parthenius answere when Felicia with the companie she brought with her came saying to Felismena Dost thou not thinke that I haue fulfilled that which I promised thee yesterday by comming hither to day at the woorst time Yes indeede good Lady saide Felismena But why must we pay for that saide Syluanus which she hath eaten bicause we must pay her something for her companie saide Felicia But more for your sakes then Felismenas I will be gone for I came to no other purpose but to accomplish my word and hereupon she went they remaining still that were there before Then Stela said But harke what Parthenius answered to Crimines words I am not able to iudge deere Nymph if thy ill fortune be greater by hauing placed thy loue in so miserable a man or my mishap greater by nothauing libertie to giue thee the like againe On the one side I would gladly satisfie thy desire and haue on the other no power to doe it yet I will not denie to doe thee this pleasure to carie thee with me whereby I should not gaine little if I thought not to doe faire Stela and my brother Delicius an ill turne her by bereauing her of so sweete companion him by depriuing him of her by whose meanes he hopes to be remedied whereas thou knowest how ill it would fall out for him with thy faire companion when thou art absent I was not a little glad to heare him with such modestie take an occasion to forsake Crimine bicause my life molested with the secret iealousie I had of Crimine depended me thought vpon his answere to her againe And so turning to Parthenius I saide For mine owne part good Shepherd I thanke thee for thy good will thou hast to doe me so much honour by not consenting to carie away with thee my friend Crimine But for that which I owe her and wherein I am bound to thee and for the content of both I agree thereunto though it be to mine owne cost wherefore denie not what she hath with such earnest affection requested But before thou answere me to this I must needes tell thee that it seemes thou hast taken more leaue bicause thou art going away then was reserued by taking so boldly vpon thee to speake for thy friend Delicius beyond the due limits of chastitie and common friendship which were promised me But I will pardon thee as I said
bicause thou art now but a ghest who are allowed to doe and say what they list But yet I would faine knowe who it is that hath taken thy libertie from thee as thou saiest no doubt the onely impediment to make thee condescend to the amorous request of my friend Crimine If thou thinkest saide Parthenius to haue me so obedient to thee as my friend Delicius by satisfying all thy demaunds pardon me faire Nymph thou art much deceiued This selfesame thing didst thou aske him which cost vs all deere how much more then hauing no cause to aske it when it can serue thee to no purpose One thing thou maist know that something thou must not know To that which thou repliest to me of gracious Crimine I haue now answered Crimine not able to suffer these wordes any longer with teares trickling downe her cheekes and without speaking a worde went her waies Delicius went after her to comfort her and telling her that Parthenius was not yet going promised to requite the good turne in like manner as she had done to him by regaining Stelas lost fauour with hope whereof being somthing cheered vp she went her waies And in the meane time I saide thus to Parthenius How faine would I Parthenius not haue thee go thy waies and as greatly desire that Crimines teares would not mooue thee For the first I thinke there is no remedie said he bicause I desire it more then any can imagine and for the second thou needest take no care in that thou commandest and I must obey I knowe thou wilt not go saide I without speaking to me No answered Parthenius for that were not possible Why then God be with thee said I for I cannot leaue my companie And with thee faire Nymph saide he Stay a little saide Felismena for I must needs tell thee that in faith thou didst Delicius great iniury by neuer fauouring him halfe so much as thou didst Parthenius at that time whereupon thou wert enclined it seemes more to him then to Delicius Impatient iealousie was the cause heerof answered Stela But harken on for I was not heerein one whit behinde hande with Delicius who deserued much bicause by a most amorous passage which ensued he shewed an euident proofe of loue and humilitie For after I had taken my leaue of Parthenius and going somewhat in haste to ouertake Crimine I met Delicius by the way comming backe from accompanying her who when a pretie way off he espied me in such haste before I came to him saide If I may not offend thee I beseech thee soueraigne Mistresse when thou commest nigh mee not to passe by in such haste bicause I may thinke that thou fliest not from me if not thy will be done Truelie saide all of them it was highly considered of him who well deserued to be rewarded but let vs heare what thou didst answere or do in hearing these words With a soft and slowe pace saide Stela I came to him saying Thy request being so reasonable and modest I cannot chuse but grant as all such besides that sauour of vertue and honest meaning touching thy selfe I will neuer disobey and will not onely go softly bie but staie with thee as much as thou pleasest so that I may conueniently ouertake Crimine I spake all this of purpose for as he iudged perhaps that I shewed Parthenius loue by the words which I vttered when I departed from him wherein I would not haue preferred him before Delicius since in loue and affection I did not I therefore endeuoured to make him not imagine any such matter at all Who in his owne iudgement not able to requite so great a fauour fell presently downe on his knees though I did the best I coulde to hinder him and taking my hand betweene both his with great humilitie kissed it Maruelling at such a sudden part and knowing that such presumption proceeded of deepe loue with patience I said vnto him Though for this bold attempt thou deseruest punishment yet I will not giue it thee bicause I will not giue thy brother an occasion to be offended with me by saying that I can pardon nothing Delicius came to himselfe again seeing that his boldnes had put him in no smal hazard to leese me he had such a colour for shame and feare that it did not a little augment his braue beautie which I noted too well Wherefore to encourage him I said Art thou content Delicius answered O my sweere Mistresse I but that I cannot thanke thee so much as I would and with this I will staie thee no more Both of vs being gone from one another I made haste after Crimine and he to Parthenius who passed many sweete and amorous speeches togither vpon his friends departure bicause Delicius would not consent thereunto but when he perceiued that he woulde needes go by reason of the imminent danger that they were both in if he had staied longer then the time prefixed he would not also agree vnto his departure without his companie But in the end being ouercome by Parthenius though much against his will he yeelded to his determination In this meane while beleeue not Gentlemen that we were idle on the other side for we were thinking of Parthenius bitter departure Crimine complaining somtimes before me of his cold affection and sometimes comforting herselfe with Delicius promise with which speeches and imaginations we went to bed The hower being now come when all mortall creatures take rest and Crimine lying by her selfe sole and solitarie to her owne thoughts what she suffered and talked softly to her selfe I know not but what I passed my selfe can tell you For thinking that my bedfellow was asleepe and the candles being put out and also the silent darkenes of the night a faithfull friend to thoughts and fansies seruing my minde so fitly diuers and sundrie things were represented to it which being well grounded in my breast I began thus to say to my selfe What God hath brought these two new Shepherds into these parts to make such an alteration in me What am not I she whom the onely thought of a man was woont to offend What great content then doth the thinking of these two yoong Shepherdes giue me Am I not shee who delighted so much in hunting of beasts and birds Why do I then hunt now after thoughts and vanities Am I not she that of mine owne free minde offered my selfe vp to Dianas seruice Why with my will then must I become a bond-maide to Venus Hence hence from me such an vnseemely fault O pardon me Delicius and Parthenius for yet I cannot choose but do that which you both deserue O Gods what a virgin colour is in their yoong and sweete faces adorned with that little haire vpon their vermillion and tender cheekes what beautie what mildnesse what discretion I thinke truely they must descende from some linage of the Gods if they bee not such themselues wherein my surmise I
me which is afraide of nothing Being stung with the pricke of iealousie and not able to suffer that she should goe alone with one whom I loued more then my selfe I said Since thou hast so good a defence with thee I will also accompany thee But let vs first I beseech thee endeuour to know what is become of Parthenius for if he be dead I will not liue nor come before Delicius with such vnfortunate newes being assured that whosoeuer shall first aduertise him thereof shall giue him no lesse then death Whom we should rather informe as soone as might be if he were prisoner to seeke out some meanes to deliuer him from thence which counsell we thought was the best We remained therefore in this determination and such was our good hap that walking the second day vp and downe the riuer bankes at the narrowest place of it there came a strong and lustie Shepherdesse with a sling in her hand and being right ouer against vs did fling ouer to our side a certaine thing like a round ball and then running away as fast as shee could got her into the Iland before her We not coniecturing what that might meane and desirous to know what it was went to take it vp that ran trendling in the meadow before vs. When we had it into our hands we saw it was a peece of linnen tyed vp fast togither and within it a round stone which we thought was put in least with the lightnes of the linnen it had fallen into the riuer This peece of linnen was written all ouer and I thinke with the iuice of Mulberies for it seemed he wanted inke and paper looking vpon the letter we knew it to be the hande of Parthenius wherby he willed vs to be of good comfort told vs the order of his imprisonment and how by the tokens which he gaue Gorphorost he was now sufficiently resolued that he was not Delicius and that he vsed him verie well but would nor dimisse him bicause he kept him for a baite for Delicius knowing that it might auaile him for the great friendship that was betweene them and also bicause if he did let him goe he might take Delicius if afterwards he met him for Parthenius of whom he might not be deceiued if he kept him still in his caue And therefore because Delicius might not come in sight by any meanes said that he would take some order himselfe for his owne deliuerie With these doubtfull newes and happie aduenture we went to seeke out Delicius And truely if we had not carryed that peece of linnen cloth written by Parthenius owne hand to him the griefe of the imprisonment of his deere brother had made an end of him by reason of the great sorrow that he felt thereof as yet he doth as you daily see Behold heere therefore Gentlemen what you desired to know of the Shepherd and vs and for what cause we go vp and downe in his company And the reason why my father woulde haue killed him I suspect to be this That the Nymphes our fellowes seeing vs all fower waiting at one time tolde him perhaps that the Shepherds had carried vs away with them So that we founde out this yoong Shepherd with whom we go and the infinite troubles that we haue suffered and must still endure vntill we see Parthenius so well beloued of vs all three Wherefore I pray you do me this fauour to request no more of me at this time nor howe we founde him out vntill with more ioy we be altogither if our misfortunes shall haue an ende as sage Felicia hath promised vs for now you see what content one takes in recounting of aduersities that are gone and past when she is free from them and contrarie what greefe when we still suffer them Of purpose saide Felismena wee tooke fit time for our discourses bicause we might haue had opportunitie to know all But bicause thy will is to the contrarie wee will not gainsay it to satisfie our owne Whereupon with this that Stela told them they knewe what great reason Delicius Stela and Crimine had to be sorrowfull who were partly no lesse for pittie of these fower vnfortunate louers The night being come they went in and after they had supped they went all to take their rest they at the least that were capable of it The end of the fifth booke The sixth Booke of the second Part of Diana of George of Montemayor ALl that companie comming foorth except Felicta and Parisiles with some Nymphes that tarried still praying in the Temple in a cleere morning the day was but a little spent when the aire changed on a sudden with such thunders and stormie tempestes that what with feare of the lightning and with the water that seemed to threaten them they were nowe going in againe when they heard a Shepherd singing a farre off and who they thought was comming towards them And hearing him they saide It seems he cares but litle for the iniury of the weather They all agreed to stay for him who not tarrying long from comming out of the wood where his way lay seeing so many togither maruelled much and left of his singing But they woondred more when he came nigh them to behold his strange kind of habit For he had on the skin of a beast called Hiena tied about his middle with a great wreath of leaues like to Bryony or the white vine which runs winding about the bodies of trees like a snake On his head he ware a Laurell crowne in his hand in steed of his sheepehook he caried a great bough of a figge tree All which when they had well marked they said vnto him Tell vs iolly Shepherd is this thy common wearing No said he but as I nowe vse to weare this or some such like as the qualitie of the time shall counsell me arming my selfe euer against the iniuries of it And therefore I clad me thus as at this present you see me bicause I would not be smitten with the furious lightning not thuÌderclap which the vertue of any one of these doth maruellously resist manie other things that came not so soone to my hands We are glad to know it saide they but bicause the rigour of this day warnes vs to put our selues vnder couert do vs this pleasure Shepherd to come in with vs here to Dianas temple The good report fame of this house your noble company shal carie me in although in such a time as this by the aduise of a cunning and expert Shepherd that dwels amongst vs it is not safe to be in statelie and high buildings Why so saide Lord Felix Bicause he saide answered the Shepherd that the thunderclap as it comes not right down but circularwise encounters with that which is highest therfore alights for the most part on high places as vpon towers castles Whereas on the contrarie if there be any in the field vnlesse it smite
Shepherdesse makes no small account of So that I must be forced to depart sooner then I would from such an honorable companie Take no care for that said Felicia for I haue taken order for it But Delicius mooued with a certaine desire to know or rather with a secret instinct and motion from aboue said If by entreatie I might obtaine at thy hands fortunate Shepherd to tell vs some curious things such as thou didst touching thy habit and who did first shew them thee I should thinke my selfe much bound to thee More questions yet said Felicia What dost thou meane Gracious yoong Shepherd answered the Shepherd those and many more I learned in the fertill fields which the great riuer Duerus with his cristalline fluents doth water in the Countie of Saint Stephen of a famous Shepherd that came thither from forraine parts to whose skill and knowledge it seemed nature it selfe with all her secrecies was subiect If I should tell you of his graces his vertues and courteous behauiour as to me it would be impossible so to you it would be tedious not being able to make an end We all know for it cannot otherwise be that he is no Shepherd although he faines it by his habit Of one thing I can assure you that with whom soeuer he conuerseth with great affection he winnes the same vnto him O what great profit do we and our flockes receiue by his companie with vs We by easing vs of our continuall labours by his industrie our flockes by healing their common diseases If there were any gadding goat that estraying from his company did put vs to trouble in seeking him by cutting his beard he made him keep still with the flock If the Ram which for guide of the rest we chose out for the stoutest we could not make gentle he made more milde then a lambe by making holes thorow his hornes hard by his eares If at any time we wanted tinder lint or a steele to smite fire with at our neede he procured vs light with rubbing two drie Laurell stickes the one against the other or with the Mulberie sticke against the Iuie and a great deale better with the Laurell sticke against the Iuie which being rubbed verie well with casting the dust of brimestone vpon them with great facilitie he got out fire To instruct vs and sometimes to be merrie with vs he vsed many pretie iestes amongst vs for he would secretly hang vpon the rackes in our sheepe-folds and other places the head or taile of a woolfe by meanes whereof not onely the lesser flockes as our lambes sheep durst not once take a mouthfull of fodder laid there before them but also the greater as Oxen Horses and the rest would stand and eat nothing We being ignorant of the cause thereof thought the cattell had some disease and he perceiuing vs to be greeued for it tooke them away againe but so priuily that we might not see him Whereupon the cattell falling to their woonted feeding we helde it for a woonder seeing them on the sudden so whole againe When we were in the fields misdoubting nothing and our goats feeding apace he would secretly put an herbe into one of their mouths called Eringius wherewith he made not that Goat alone stiffe and num and not to feed but all the rest in company of that to leaue of feeding We maruelling thereat and not able to make them feed asked some remedie of him for it Who faining then to make some characters vpon the Goat into whose mouth he had put the herbe bicause we might thinke it proceeded of his owne vertue tooke it out of her mouth and then did she and all the rest feed apace These prettie deceits he vsed in all things to make vs woonder at him the more and bicause we might not vnderstand that it was not the naturall virtue of those things The master Goat whom we call the leader of the rest he tooke out of the flocke by the beard and in an instant the whole flocke standing like sencelesse things forget their foode vntill he let him goe againe I omit other infinite deceits which we thought impossible to be done by naturall meanes bicause he made no mention of them though he shewed me their secrets for that they were not things belonging to Shepherdes And many of these I haue forgotten He made monstruosities in the trees corne preseruing them from that which might hurt them and hastening their fruite yea and chaunging their nature Hee deliuered the trees from any kinde of canker and worme and the corne from tempestes and the birdes that came to deuoure it with a certaine thing that he put in seede he tooke them with his handes He euer prouided vs with good store of fish out of that famous riuer wherein with casting the roule of Hartwoort beaten and mingled with lyme or chalke to the which paste the fish comming with all their force and by tasting of the baite did swim a pretie while as if they had beene dead with their bellies aboue the water And it was a strange thing to see howe soone they came to the nets that he had laid for them for I thinke hee did cast in the seedes of roses mustard-seede and wesell foote I remember not what herbe he tooke in his hand but putting it into the water the fish did swim aboue It were an endles peece of worke to tell you of the instructions which hee gaue vs to take heede from what pastures wee shoulde keepe our flockes and what we should seeke out But to see with what securitie he slept in places where were great store of snakes adders and vipers and other venemous and stinging serpents it was a maruellous and strange thing enuironing onely himselfe with Oken boughes from the shadowes of which trees we see by experience these vermine euer to flie And other things he did in our presence bicause we should see the hatred they had with this tree for he made halfe a circle of fire and another halfe circle of these boughes and in the middes of it did cast a viper the which not able to come out but by the fire or the boughes to auoide these came to the fire Hee did eate the deade flesh of a woolfe for he saide and so we found it indeed that it was more sauorie then any other flesh but he did not cloth himselfe with their skins nor haire bicause he said they bred lice He told vs of certaine howers times and taught vs the nature of diuers things By the moone he prognosticated the scarcitie or plentie of all that moneth By the Sallow tree white Poplar Oliue tree and others the Solsticies shewing to our eies how they turned their leaues vp and downe in euery one of them whether it were winter or sommer The howers of the day with the beames that he marked in the ground Them of the night with certaine little tables that he made The highth of the sun by an herbe
of a blue colour The fuls and wanes of the Moone by the Antes and dores For the Antes betweene the Moones take their rest and in the full labour night and day And that which made mee to maruell most about this matter bicause being so common a thing I neuer marked it so much thinking there was not any thing in them worthy the noting was that the dore a little creature so vile and common had such an instinct that if we looke into it well it shewes vs cleerely the coniunction of the Moone and Sunne For rolling vp and downe a little ball which she makes of oxe dung she fashions it in a round figure and buries it in a ditch or little pit that she makes where eight and twentie daies she keepes it secret while the Moone is passing towards the Sunne and then opening it by that teaching vs the coniunction of the Sunne and the Moone she takes foorth her yoong ones and knowes no other waies of generation And with this pardon me if I haue wearied you If you desire to know any more another day if we be al togither I wil tell you the little that I haue noted and gathered of that great store which that learned Shepherd bestowed among vs. They all said they were glad to heare and desired greatly that he woulde passe on farther By that which I haue nowe heard of thee said Syrenus and by that which not many daies since I heard of a Shpeherd called Firmius if thou knowest him who now keeps our sheep this wise Shepherd is called Coryneus By that which now I heare of thee and not long since haue heard saide the Shepherd thou shouldst be either forgotten Syrenus or despised Syluanus Firmius I know very well for he is one of my greatest friends I euer had or shall haue and it is true that this is the learned Shepherds name of whom I spake I confesse saide Syrenus that I am the man forgotten and nowe it greeues me not much although it made me once sorrowfull But bicause Firmius tolde mee manie things woorthy to be remembred and by that which thou hast nowe tolde vs of his friendship and acquaintance I gesse thy name is Partheus It is so saide he I knowe not saide Seluagia how thou hast made so large an account of Coryneus leauing his yoong Shepherdesse called Dinia bicause Firmius tolde vs she was passing faire wise and vertuous Ah Shepherdesse I dare not name her with my vnwoorthie mouth for if I would go about to set foorth her praises I thinke I should but diminish them since there is no iudgement nor conceite able to vnfolde the least perfection in her Let it suffice you to know that she is a yoong Shepherdesse whom I reuerence for her singular vertues And if I should speake of euery thing I would not omit a daughter to them both but yet twelue yeeres of age that in beautie vertue and discretion is the right type and figure of her parents to whom the fawne that is lost belongs and whom I loue so much that I dare not come before her sight vnles I bring it with me or know at the least where it is And so bicause I know what coÌtent I shal giue my Shepherdesse for that which the yong Shepherdesse shal haue I know not what I were best to do to finde it out to present it to her with mine owne hands And it is not without good cause indeede that she loues it so much bicause you would say the Gods had endowed it with vnderstaÌding to serue Luztea for so is this most faire yoong Shepherdesse called Tell me Partheus said Syrenus how long is it since thou didst see thy friend Firmius For if thou desirest to see him I can soone leade thee to him where he is I thanke thee said Partheus for thy good will It is not yet a moneth since I last sawe him the thing that I desire most in the world and truely it greeued me to see him in such a case as he was in bicause I thinke the loue of the ingratefull Shepherdesse Diana will make an ende of his life for his owne greefe thinking it not sufficient to make him leade such a sorrowfull life hath conspired with a forrain greefe to raise vp a great corriual against him a iolly yoong Shepherd wise and rich called Faustus What is it possible said Syluanus that Faustus loues Diana It is so answered Partheus and that not a little Indeed he tolde vs said Seluagia when we were comming hither that he desired to see Diana for the great report of her beautie And nowe hee hath seene it saide Partheus and I thinke will not praise the good market he made I warned him well before said Syrenus But these Shepherds mooue me to pitie them for I know by experience in what troubles Diana will put them and how ill they will deliuer themselues againe Syrenus and Syluanus would haue asked him how Firmius did when two Nymphes came in bringing with them the little faune Which when Partheus saw he rose vp ioyfully to go to it which fauned on him with skipping and leaping vpon his breast and licked his face Partheus began to speake verie louingly to it as if it vnderstood him All of them reioyced to see it for besides that it was a most faire one it was so finely set out that it inuited all eies to behold it And bicause it would be too long to recount the fables and histories that were wrote in a little saddle cloth and collar it had on I will not speake of it but onely that in the collar which was the finest of all the rest there was a posie that said thus To Luztea faire I do belong this collar can auouch it Let no man therefore be so bold without her leaue to touch it But Parisiles hauing read it said The Mistresse of it hath a great opinion it seemes and confidence of her selfe thinking it is enough for her to say bicause it is hers that no bodie should touch it Say not so said Partheus for there is nothing in Luztea woorthie of reprehension whereas it is well knowen that she may say so and the rather that she did not put it on her selfe for I would willingly tell you why she suffered it to weare this collar but that it is not now time to know it And none againe should be blamed in absence and since you are also ignorant of the cause it were better me thinkes by your fauour that you held your peace This is no place said Felicia stepping in betweene them for such words as these are If I haue Ladie Felicia in any thing offended said Partheus I craue pardon of thee and of this reuerend old man desiring you to hold me excused for answering in her behalfe to whom I am so much bound not induring that any thing should be spoken in her disgrace any waies I promise thee Shepherd saide Parisiles I neuer ment any such matter but to
matters and seeing how needfull it was for him to depart from his Mistresse by reason of the menaces of cruell Gorphorost against Delicius as it was told you he was many times about to kill himselfe but would not put it in practise onely bicause he knew Delicius would follow him therein as also for that the future blisse and hope of seeing his Mistres any more would haue ended Being therefore a greater while there then was needfull for the cause of his absence from his friend Delicius asked leaue of the Nymphes to go see why Parthenius staied so long And so seeking and finding him he came to him where he lay flat vpon his bellie with his mouth to the grounde who seeing him in this sort and thinking hee was asleepe came so softly to him that Parthenius could not perceiue him and in verie truth being in such extreme greefe of minde and deepe imaginations as hee was though he had come as fast and as loud as he could I thinke he had not heard him As these two were therefore thus togither and Parthenius now then speaking to himselfe thinking that no body heard him he vttered such lamentable wordes and complaints of himselfe and of his hard fortune that Delicius knew by and by he was a true-louer of Stela and that for his sake hee dissembled the same so much when Delicius perceiued this he went softly from thence againe bicause he would not be seene of Parthenius the better to do that which he had now determined Whereby he might shew that in his loue and friendship to Parthenius he had no lesse integritie and degree then Parthenius in his or to endeuour at the least to be euen with it And so without speaking or doing any thing he went backe to the Nymphes saying that he coulde not finde him but hoped he woulde not be long away After a good while Parthenius came to all their thinkings very ioyfull which made Delicius not a little to maruell knowing in what a miserable plight he had lest him wherupon he gathered it was but a sayned gladnes bicause hee might not suspect his greefe From this point therefore Delicius by little and little bicause he would not be suspected doing it on the sudden began to shew himself very cold in Stelas loue being merrier then he was wont to be saying it was needlesse to passe sorrowes and greefes for one that made no account of them nor cared a whit for him which he said he cleerely perceiued since so many daies she staied without comming to see him and that he had done a great deale better if hee had employed his loue on Crimine then on her of whom perhaps hee might haue beene rewarded so that with this he shewed that he made no great account of Stela and to beare no small affection to Crimine But for all this Parthenius would neuer declare his loue for he rather suspected that this was but a deuise to trie if hee loued Stela then once thought that Delicius knewe it the which hee imagined not at all But as Delicius coulde not by these meanes bring the truth out of Parthenius to light by forcing himselfe as much as he coulde he sung and plaied many merrie things like a man free from loue and without speaking any thing of Stela which was different from his wonted custome which he did not onely put in practise but determined to doe more if they met togither as he did indeed when face to face he told Stela that hee loued her not And behold heere what you desired to know We are satisfied said Lord Felix and truely it was a great part of friendship betweene them both But yet you shall see and heare said Felicia of many other proofes of their mutuall loue With these and many other speeches Lord Felix Felismena Syluanus and Seluagia passed that time meerely away while Felicia staied them there Parisiles Stela and Crimine with a meane content for the hope they had of their remedies to come But it shall not be amisse that leauing these Gentlemen heere we go on with the three Shepherds which went where Diana was if you will that we beginne to helpe Syrenus who now with his potion that Felicia had giuen him began to feele a tendernes of loue entring in by the passage of the late passed obliuion and a certain discontentment of Firmius and Faustus loues that followed the same Whereupon Syrenus musing with himselfe saide to Partheus By that yoong Shepherdesse which hath so great power ouer thee bicause with some thing we may lighten the wearines of our way I pray thee tell this yoong Shepherd and me something if thouknowest of that which passed betweene Faustus and Firmius with Diana Although it must be to mine owne greefe said Partheus bicause I shall reduce to my memorie a part of the troubles which so great a friend of mine as Firmius is passed yet to pleasure you heerein it lies not in my power gentle Shepherdes not to obey you Hauing intelligence from the place where he was that in the fieldes of Leon my Firmius had made his abode I went leauing on a sudden the presence of my soueraigne Shepherdesse for certaine daies to visite him and the very same daie I came thither found him sitting vnder the shade of a high Sicamour in companie of the faire Shepherdesse Diana To whom bicause she had not beene well at ease by reason of a conceit she tooke in leesing a paper that Firmius had giuen her he song this Sonnet IF that a small occasion had the power To make thee leese thy rosie hew and colour Diana say how fals it out this hower That all my woes to pitie make thee duller Hath now a little peece of paper made thee So milde and gentle in so short a morrow And cannot yet my greatest loue perswade thee To make thee take compassion of my sorrow How of my selfe am I my selfe ashamed That thou shouldst reckon of so short a writing Which cannot iudge nor vnder stand thy graces And yet thou wilt not bend thee to requiting Of that that 's written in my hart inflamed And which hath alwaies suffred thy disgraces I that behinde other trees hard by was harkening vnto him would not interrupt their pleasant conuersation with my abrupt presence but there wanted not a meanes that immediately hindred the same For Faustus going vp and downe to seeke Diana for now he knew she was gone to the field by chance he light vpon the place where they were who with the greefe he had to see her so fortunate in beautie as vnfortunate by marriage came singing this old dittie A faire maide wedde to prying iealousie c. The which he had scarce begun when hee espied Diana and Firmius togither Which sight if it greeued him not I leaue to your iudgements But as the beginnings are hurtfull to a louer to amend them by dissembling notwithstanding his greefe he came and saluted
you haue reason to bee sorrie for Palnas change yet you haue no cause to maruell at it in that she is a woman which name the ancient writers Philosophers Poets and Painters did not vainely impose to Fortune Pardon me good sir if I am so bold with one whom you loue so well since I haue iust occasion to do it by reason of the great and greeuous charge that she hath left me For if I was then bound of mine owne selfe to obey you to my power now by her occasion I am constrained to serue you more then my forces can well attaine to And if I being placed in your seruice shee had remained still the little that I could do might perhaps haue seemed something but she going awaie for my cause but not thorow my fault for all that euer I can do I shall be yet obliged to more being exchanged for her whom you so greatly loued And the worst of all is that if any thing which not by my will but by some negligence I may commit shall be open to the popular eie it will be a common by-worde in all the citie That it was a good exchange of Palna for Anfilardus Wherefore I beseech you my good Lord that omitting this you woulde accept of my good will which is sufficient enough if in my deedes there shall be any defect and that my fault which must needes proceed from my small abilitie or ignorance be not attributed but to the one or other To this did Disteus answer thus As I neither can nor will denie Anfilardus that I haue not greatly felt the ingratitude of my mother Palna my nurse I meane by not thinking of that mutabilitie which thou saiest is naturally incident to women by reason of the loue that I did alwaies beare her and doe yet to speake the truth which is not so little that in so short a time I may so easily forget the great iniurie which I haue receiued at her vnkinde hands So must I needs confesse that it is a great lightening to my hart that it was done for thy sake of whom I hope it shall be well considered since the greater part thereof is alreadie requited with the good will which at this present thou hast discouered though thy workes also haue seemed of no lesse effect both which when opportunitie shall serue I will not hereafter forget to reward The beginning whereof shall be this That I promise thee bicause I perceiue how heauily thou takest the great greefe which I haue felt for her absence and sweare neuer to shew my selfe agreeued for it in thy presence although perhaps I be in minde nor in thy absence to impart it to any but to my selfe They being in these speeches I came to Disteus house and speaking with one of his men willed him to tell his Master how I was come with a letter from mine Aunt vnto him The page did my errant and as Disteus was in suspence whether he might receiue it or no Anfilardus saide vnto him Sir send for the messenger in for by this you shall the more signifie your goodnes hearing with one countenance the iust and culpable person and not do Palna so much glorie as to make her know that her absence hath greeued you very much Disteus liked his counsell well and thereupon commanded me to come in With thy good leaue Lady Felicia and of all the rest said Parisiles I would aske how being without you might heare these speeches betweene them within From hencefoorth answered Placindus you must vnderstand that we tolde one another all the matters that passed and with this aduertisement I will proceed In the end I came in where Disteus and Anfilardus were and doing my dutie began thus to speake Your nurse Palna with her remembred dutie to you my Lord doth most humblie beseech you to reade this letter which she sends you Disteus tooke the letter and dissembling his greefe as Anfilardus had counselled him said If thine Aunt doth write to me to the ende to excuse herselfe she needed not haue taken these paines for she might haue done heerein according to her owne minde as in that which shall like me best I will do to mine own will and pleasure Thou shalt tell her that I will reade it wherein if there be anie thing for me to do for her I will heereafter bethinke me of it I not perceiuing this kinde of dissimulation maruelled not a little to see how soone he had shaken off the loue that he bare to mine aunt Truth it is that as I was then ignorant of that which afterwards succeeded so I esteemed his coye answere for a point of wisedome and was no lesse ashamed at that she had done With this answer I went my waies and they remained all alone Anfilardus praised not a little his fained answere commended his wisedome in that he would not call her mother as he was wont to do nor name her by her owne name in token of contempt But Disteus opening the letter saw it said thus Palnas letter to Disteus PAlna thy mother from thy milke and from the loue of her inward soule to thee her louing Sonne Disteus sendeth greeting Bicause as I know thou wouldest condemne me for a verie foole if I went about to shew that I had iust cause to forsake thee that wert mine onely comfort and to whom I am so much bound so will I not excuse my selfe heerein which if I should do and say that I am not worthie of reprehension I might then seeme in a manner to charge thee therewith since something must be attributed to so great a chaunge But if any fault be committed I am content that it be onely imputed to me for it shall greeue me lesse that the whole world should condemne me for it then that any should suspect the least defect in thee that might be Wherefore let this onely serue to entreate thee by the amorous milke that thou hast sucked out of my breast to haue so much patience vntill the successe shall manifest the cause hereof which to the end I will passe with the ill opinion that the world hath on me for leauing thee to an effect that shall result to thy profit whereby thou shalt affirme thy selfe satisfied and me acquited with thee at the least whereas for the rest it shall not greatly skill I know well thou wilt obiect say That if there were any hidden thing whereby I might haue procured thy content I had no reason to conceale it from thee I answer bicause I knew thou wouldest by no meanes giue me leaue to depart I would not tell thee of my purpose vntill seeing the good successe of it thou mightest know my great loue to thee since without making thee priuie I haue enterprized so great and difficult a matter And now bicause I haue spoken more then I thought I will conclude with this That I am in good health and not a little glad that my good
whereof she deuised bicause Dardanea might not thinke that they had any conference togither or written to one another and also bicause she might repose more trust and haue the better opinion in her that he should also write to her as if that letter had beene the first wherein hee shoulde charge her to giue Dardanea the other letter that he wrote vnto her and to leaue the care of all the rest to her good endeuours promising him to bring the matter to a good ende but vpon su h a condition that he woulde haue a little patience if perhaps the answere were deferred for some fewe daies Disteus as Palna did counsell him did write whose letters being receiued come as fit to her minde as could be she durst not for the reason abouesaid deliuer either of them to her Mistresse as also bicause she would worke her purpose more sure which was that knowing when Dardanea had most need of her or at such a time when she least thought of such a matter to withdraw her into an inner chamber next to her Mistresses to read the letters or to make as though he read them bicause Dardanea at one time or other seeing her occupied might take occasion to follow her or set some to spie what she did thereby to come to the sight of them Which fell out so fit to her minde as she could wish for as often as she perceiued her to go out of her sight she sent her waiting maide secretly after her to see what she did wherein she was not to seeke who tolde her Mistresse that she was writing and bicause she perceiued her comming did let certaine papers fall downe by her The desire that Dardanea had to know what she did write in so great secrecie was not small and Palnas no lesse to haue her see it Wherupon Dardanea went vp and downe musing in her minde by what meanes she might see it Palna for this was her onely desire knowing her minde did hide Disteus letters and with them another wherein she answered him with deniall of his demand to giue his letters to her Mistresse and graue aduise to forsake that fonde minde and purpose and did put them in such a secret place where she thought they might not be easilie founde to make her Mistresle thinke that by no meanes she woulde haue them come to any bodies hands The more she made a shewe to the contrary the more did Dardaneas desire increase although she kept it secret to her selfe Whereupon to come to the end of her desseignes one night after they had supped she fained herselfe to be drowsie that slumbring would not let her emploie that time in any other thing thereupon withdrew herselfe to take a nappe commanding that none should come in nor make any noise at al and to make ready her pallet that lay beside her bed and to shut vp the windowes close All which being done she went in and when she thought Palna and her waiting maides were gone backe againe to their worke she rose vp and opening Palnas chamber dore very softly sought for the letters not so closely laid vp but that she found them out Opening the first that came to her hands which was that which Disteus had sent to Palna she sawe that it said thus Disteus his letter to Palna DIsteus to thee Palna sendeth health After thou wentst from me if vniustly I know not I onely conceiued one harme that thy absence procured me by finding my selfe depriued of her whom I euer accounted for a mother and this amongst the rest I alwaies thought the greatest But howe more dangerous it is for me to haue placed thy selfe with faire Dardanea my hart onely knoweth For seeking reasons to condemne thee for that which in all mens eies made thee culpable I found out good cause to giue iudgement against my selfe in that for which I knowe not if I deserue to be punished I accused thy disloialtie and blamed thee for leauing me in such sort but when I came to consider for whom I was not able to vtter a worde O how many times woulde I haue forgotten this and howe manie more haue lost my life not to haue thought thereof How often did I endeuour to cast off such amorous fancies from me thinking to quench the flame that was kindled in me and how many times did I finde my selfe enwrapped therein the fire that had already taken full possession of my soule reuiuing it selfe more in me I will speake no more heereof bicause all is to mine owne cost but by the amorous milke that I haue taken from thee most humblie praie thee and for that great portion of amity and good will which thou dost owe me to giue this letter to my Mistresse Dardanea happie were I if she would accept it And with this I end hoping that either my passions or life will do no lesse Dardanea hauing now the letter in her hande that Palna sent to Disteus she first thought it best to see what Palna had written to him againe in answere thereof and when she had opened it she saw that it said thus Palnas letter to Disteus TO thee Disteus thy seruant Palna sendeth health Thy vertuous and magnificent minde hath beene no lesse manifest vnto me by the late and passed entertainment which thou euer gauest me not being constrained thereunto then by this present letter and by writing first vnto me not being bound to do it whereby the bountie of thy braue minde is apparant to me and the worthines of thy high and noble blood from whence thou art descended well showen and my base condition not made vnknowne I speake it not for that I haue forsaken thee for my Lady Dardanea for of this I will neuer aske thee forgiuenes nor repent mee but bicause as I was bounde I wrote not first vnto thee And though I haue sufficient matter to excuse mee yet I will not alledge it in mine owne behalfe bicause I doe not desire to be pardoned Thy sweete and louing letter had affoorded me no small pleasure if it had commanded me to doe something wherein my poore abilitie might auaile thee though it had beene to the cost of my life But I coulde not be but sorrie when I sawe I could not pleasure thee of which fonde request and ouersight in plainer termes if by regarde of due obedience I were not restrained I woulde flatly reprooue thee In deniall whereof for I will not for all the worlde doe any thing willingly whereby I might giue my Mistresse occasion of offence I sende thee thy letter againe which thou hast sent mee to deliuer vnto her But bicause I may by something paie that great debt which I owe thee I would counsell thee if I might to leaue of such a thought the contrarie whereof shall be no lesse dangerous then troublesome to thee and without any profite at all If in any other thing thou wilt trie my good will and fidelitie I would take
enioyed there without any feare and danger their sweete contents and were well beloued and reuerenced of all the Shepherds thereabouts who endeuoured to do them all the pleasure they could sometimes with rurall sports and games other times with dances and pastorall musicke To all which Disteus so well applyed himselfe that in a short time he farre excelled them all And so for this respect as for his affabilitie and mildnes by knowing how to conuerse with all that Shepherd thought himselfe vnhappie that had not some priuate friendship with Coryneus for so he named himselfe after he had changed his habit and Dardanea that named her selfe Dinia was no lesse acceptable to all the Shepherdesses and Palna called Corynea like her sonne was reuerenced of them all When all three went from me Dardanea was gone two moneths with childe but what God sent her or what became of the childe she brought foorth I know not for they had not dwelta whole yeere in that countrey when they went away for what cause or whither I also know not The cause whereof considering the time wherein they went away I suspect was this That in this meane while King Rotyndus married with the Kings sister of that Prouince where they were whose wife 's brother a little while after being dead an vncle of hers called Synistius aspired to the kingdome as Competitor with her For the which cause Rotyndus making warre against him with little losse of his men got the victorie whereupon a peace was concluded betweene them and the gouernment of the kingdome by the intercession of Agenesta his niece for so was the Queene called giuen frankly to Synistius So that Disteus as soone as the noyse of this warre was bruted abroad went as I coniecture bicause he would not be knowen from that countrey with his pettie family From which time I could neuer heare more of them though manie daies haue passed since Ansilardus and Placindus went out to seeke them And omitting mine own trauels Gentlemen and manie troubles that I passed in the like enterprise because they make not any whit to the purpose of your demaund I will onely tell you how theese two seruants of theirs went out so soone being as I told you before imprisoned and I so late being as you haue also heard at libertie When King Rotyndus married his Queene in ioy of the feast all the prisoners were let goe amongst whom Anfilardus and Placindus came out and sixe moneths after to make Sagastes suspect it the lesse by venturing their liues for vpon paine of death it was commanded that none should goe seeke out Disteus they went to the place where I told them they were At which place when they could not find them they coÌcluded by seuering themselues to seeke them out appointing to meete at that place a yeere after to know how they had sped and bicause the one might not goe that way or take in hand that the other did Whereof as of all things else though they for the space of sixe yeeres from time to time informed me yet I know not how nor by what sinister meanes it came to passe that in more then twelue yeeres after the end of the foresaid time expired I neuer heard any newes of them nor of their master Whereat being greatly greeued in minde I endeuoured to seeke out some good meanes or rather fained occasion to go about the same errant whereunto by the Kings most streight edict I could neuer directly accommodate my self in regard of which iourney if hope might haue perswaded me to finde them out I would not haue neglected both that and all paines abroad and affaires at home whatsoeuer But being in this impatient desire two braue yoong youths most highly fauoured of Agenestor Prince of Eolia with whom they were both brought vp were also determined to seeke out their parents knowing that those were not the same for whom they had till then taken them These yoong Gentlemen Delicius and Parthenius for so they were called leauing aside how much for their rare giftes and virtues they deserued the loue of all of purpose I endeuoured to make my special friends to this effect that as they were in great fauour with the King and Queene by their meanes and intercession to the Prince I might finde such fauour with them all that if Disteus and his companie were perhaps found out they might get their pardon and be restored againe to their former estates and reputation which we thought might easily be obtained since King Rotyndus by the good examples of his virtuous Queene Agenesta whom God preserue for many yeeres by her holy life conuersation had almost now forsaken his old coÌditions Wherby gentlemen we may note how the good examples of a vertuous wife doe oftentimes worke to amend and correct the lewde disposition of a vitious husband And therefore it is saide that the wise is the mirrour of the husband and the woman to the man bicause the man looking into her as into a cleere glasse may frame his life and minde to her modestie and semblance And contrarie the man is the womans glasse for the selfesame cause and reason Wherefore Rotindus loued not now Sagastes so well as in times past and liked lesse his lewde conditions which sauoured nothing of vertue whereon if any humane thought or action be not grounded it is not durable any long time for as vice is nothing being the priuation of vertue so is that of no stabilitie and permanence which is grounded vpon it The fame of Delicius and Parthenius departure and the end thereof was in a few daies spred ouer all the citie whereat though most were sorie yet some who enuied their deserued fauour for noble vertue is euer accompanied with base enuie were not wanting that ioyed to see that day This fit occasion therefore for the effecting of that which you shall heare offering it selfe to my semblable desseignes comming vnto them I vsed these wordes As I cannot be sorie Gentlemen and my deere friends for your departure since it is a thing that concernes you so much So am I not a little glad that it hath so happily fallen out for my determinations if in this iourney my poore companie for onely yours heerein I desired shall not be any waies troublesome vnto you And bicause you may knowe the forcible cause that mooues me heereunto I will vpon that fidelitie and trust which with all men but especially with me you haue alwaies vsed most frankly tell it you As it is not vnknowen to you I thinke what great friendship hath been betweene Disteus and me and for my part shall euer be while my soule shall rule this earthly body So must you know againe that I concealed and kept him close vntill I found out the meanes to put him in some safetie of his life and not content with this would if he had giuen me leaue or if it had not beene preiudiciall to his secret departure haue
accompanied him to the extremest danger of mine owne since which time I haue had a great desire to seeke him out the which for two causes I haue left of The one bicause two of his seruants who had no little care of that busines haue many daies since gone from hence to seeke him out The other depending of this bicause it behooued me to remaine here still to procure his pardon and leaue if he had beene found to come to his owne againe When Anfilardus and Placindus went hence there was an agreement betweene vs that they should aduise me of all they knew the which thing being not performed certaine daies after I coniecture that they are either dead or not at libertie With this hope or to terme it better despaire I haue though meanly to this point fed my thoughts The which being of late so mightily increased and Fortune presenting to my desires so good an occasion for my secret departure and occasion taking away all suspicion that I goe to seeke Disteus but onely to accompanie you tels me that there remaines nothing else but your fauourable acceptance of my companie into yours onely to passe out of the citie and afterwardes if it please you to diuide our selues or doe as likes you best To this like discreete and aduised youthes being faithfull to me their friend and loyall to Rotindus their king they answered thus As Disteua and Dardaneas misfortunes although we know them not Martandrus haue not a little as yet they doe most iustly greeued vs for their rare vertues and goodnes that thorow out this kingdome we haue alwaies heard of them so if our seruice might in any thing auaile either you or them we would most willingly shew the arguments of our good will which couets nothing else but fit meanes to make some triall thereof yet not denying that small seruice wherein our slender abilities doe consist prouided we doe not any thing in priuate or publike against that wherein we are bound to our soueraine Lord the king without whose countenance and woonted fauour we are no bodie But we haue thought of a better and more conuenient way whereby more then your request shall be performed and wherein we will not faile in our duties to our king nor to you nor in friendships holy lawes And it is That as the yoong Prince as it is well knowen vnto you doth not meanely loue vs and is not wel content by as much as I can perceiue by him with those extremities which are done to this Gentleman so by these as also by the Queenes meanes I hope to get leaue of the king for you not onely to depart in our companie but to seeke them out assuring your selfe that after they are found all shall be well ynough for though we come not so soone againe yet we will leaue a supplication in his behalfe with the Queene and the yoong Prince which fauour if we cannot obtaine we will furthermore so handle the matter that you nor any else shall take no harme or blame for this For by committing the matter into the Queene and Princes handes we wil trauel take such paines therein as though from vs from no other it only came Do Gentlemen said I againe as it please you best and heorewithall beleeue me that for their sakes I would not be sorie for any harme that might redound to me so that it might fall out to their good They are much beholding to you saide they but I more bound to them saide I. In the ende after a few daies they got leaue to seeke whom they would the which being bruted ouer all the citie gaue no small content to Disteus his friendes And thus without staying any longer I went with Delicius and Parthenius out of Eolia all three of vs prouiding necessaries for so vncertaine and long a iourney wherein after a while diuiding our selues such hath my fortune been that in two yeeres space since I went out I neuer heard any newes of them but onely those which Placindus when I found him heere hath tolde me of Delictus and the best of the Ladie Felicia that hath assured me that shortly I shall see them all here whereof I haue no doubt since she hath saide it That which hath happened to me in so long a trauell and the troubles that I passed as well for that I account them light for so good a cause as this and that by the fauours of the Gods I shall soone enioy their wished companie as also for that which you commanded me to do it makes so small to the purpose that I will with your good leaue omit to report So that Sir speaking to Don Felix you plainely see who Corineus Dinia and Corinea are and the cause of their exile and of our long iourney And pardon me if I haue beene too long since your demaund required no lesse Parisiles and all the rest yeelding him great thankes for that he had told them answered him that the fault was rather greater by making so short an end to so pleasant a historie and that he did not prolong it with recitall of his trauels and aduentures which befell to him in seeking out Disteus Let it not trouble you now saide Felicia for not onely this but the successe of Disteus life and his mishaps and theirs that did participate his company and fortunes in this iourney with those occurrents that befell to Plactndus in his trauels and that which hapned to others that went out to seeke Parthenius and Delicius shall haue their fit time wherein you shall take no small delight to heare them With this hope said Lord Felix we will content vs although it will be later then we desire Whereupon returning now to the Temple and eight daies being past Felicia said to Syluanus and Seluagia It is nowe time my sonne daughter that the friendship which to this hower you haue borne Syrenus be showen and because you may know that it may be made manifest vnto you what great need he hath both of his friends and of you you must vnderstand that when you shall come to your fieldes you shall finde many Shepherds doing their last duties to Delius as this day dead who as I told you was many daies since very sicke And as of purpose I sent Syrenus before now by vertue of a new drinke which at his departure I gaue him to rekindle that quenched flame of Dianas loue in his brest a thing no lesse conuenient to his weale then consonant to my will so would I not that in the meane time while he was with vs the two foresaide Shepherds being not a little enamoured of her and not woorthie to be cast off should be preferred before him both which haue beene and are yet not a little entred into her good liking Now therefore is the time wherein he needeth most of all your help and no lesse requisite for you to go finde him out assuring you that it will not
stormes and tempests and now am safely arriued in the secure hauen of content and rest And though thy paine be neuer so great yet hath not mine I dare boldly say beene lesse And since for the same I found out a happie remedie banish not hope from thy minde shut not vp thine eies from the truth nor thine eares from the substance of my words Are they words said Diana that shall be spent to remedie my loue whose workes exceed the compasse and helpe of wordes But yet for all this faine would I know thy name and the cause that hath brought thee into our fields the which if thou wilt vouchsafe to tell me shall so greatly comfort me that I will for a while suspend the complaints that I haue begun a thing perhaps which may not a little auaile for the lightning of my griefe My name said the Shepherdesse is Alcida but the rest which thou demandest of me the compassion which I haue of thy voluntarie greefe will not suffer me to declare before thou hast embraced my wholsome remedies though perhaps vnsanerie to thy distempered taste Euery comfort said Diana shall be most gratefull to me that commeth from thy hands which neuerthelesse is not able to roote out the strong loue in my brest nor to remooue it from thence without carying my hart with it burst in a thousand peeces And though it might yet I woulde not liue without bicause I woulde not leaue to loue him who being once forgotten of me tooke so sudden and extreme a reuenge of my vniust crueltie Nay then said Alcida thou giuest me no little hope and confidence of thy recouerie since now thou louest him whom thou hast heeretofore hated hauing learned thereby the pathway to obliuion and acquainted thy will with contempt and the more since betweene these two extremes loue and hate there is a meane which thou must embrace and follow To this Diana replied and said Thy counsell faire Shepherdesse contents me very well but I thinke it not sure enough for my safetie nor the best in common reason for my auaile For if my will were put betweene loue and hate I shoulde sooner yeelde to loue then to hate bicause being neerer to it mightie Cupid with greater force woulde assaile and ouercome me To this Alcida answered Do not honor him so much who deserues it so little calling him mightie who may be so easily ouercommed especially by those that choose out the meane aboue said for therein doth vertue consist and where that is all harts are armed with force and constancie against loue Thou mightest better terme those harts cruell harde vntamed and rebellious said Diana which pretend to repugne their proper nature and to resist the inuincible force of loue And yet when they haue oppugned it as much as they list in the end they haue little cause to bragge of their stoutnes and lesse helpe to defende them with their foolish hardines For the power of loue ouercomes the strongest holdes and makes most way thorow where it is most resisted of whose maruels and memorable deedes my beloued Syrenus did on a day sing in this verie place at that time when his remembrance was so sweete as now most bitter to my soule The which Sonnet and all his other Ditties which he then made and sung I well remember hauing euer a great care not to forget them for certaine causes which perswaded me to register the words and deeds of my deerest Syrenus in perpetuall memory But this which intreats of the mightie force of Loue saith thus THat mighty Loue though blinde of both his eies Doth hit the Center of the wounded hart And though a boy yet Mars he foiles with dart Awaking him where in his net he lies And that his flames doe freeze me in such wise That from my soule a feare doth neuer start Most base and vile yet to the highest part Strengthued by land and sea of heauen it flies That he whom Loue doth wound or prisoner take Liues in his greefes and with his giues content This is his might that many woonder at And that the soule which greatest paine doth shake If that it doth but thinke of Loues torment The feare of such a thought forgetteth that No doubt said Alcida but the forces of loue are well extolled But I would rather haue beleeued Syrenus if after hauing published the furie of Cupids arrowes to be so great and after hauing commended the hardnes of his chaines he had not also found out the meanes to set himselfe at libertie And so I maruell that thou wilt so lightly giue credit to him who makes not his word and deed all one For it is very cleere that the Songs and Sonnets are a kinde of a vaine and superfluous praises whereby louers sell their ils for dangerous things when that so easily of captiues they become free and fall from a burning desire to a secure obliuion And if louers feele passions it proceedeth of their owne will and not of loue which is not but a thing imagined of men a thing neither in heauen nor earth but in his hart that entertaines it whose power if any he haue onely by the default of those he vsurpes who of their owne accord suffer themselues to be ouercommed offering him their harts for tribute and putting their libertie into his hands But bicause Syrenus Sonnet may not so easily passe without an answere giue eare to this which as it seemes was made in countermaund of that and long agoe it is since I heard a Shepherd called Aurelius sing it in the fields of Sebetho and as I remember thus it said LOue is not blinde but I which fondly guide My will to tread the path of amorous paine Loue is no childe but I which all in vaine Hope feare and laugh and weepe on euery side Madnes to say that flames are Cupids pride For my desire his fier doth containe His wings my thoughts most high and soueraine And that vaine hope wherein my ioies abide Loue hath no chaines nor shaftes of such intent To take and wound the whole and freest minde Whose power then we giue him is no more For loue 's a tale that Poets didinuent A dreame of fooles an idoll vaine and blinde See then how blacke a God doe we adore Dost thou therefore thinke Diana that any one endued but with reasonable vnderstanding will trust to things in the ayre as thou dost What reason hast thou so truely to worship a thing so vnruly and false as the supposed God of loue is who is fained by fond and vaine heads followed by dishonest mindes and nourished in the braines of idle wantons These are they who gaue to Loue that name which makes him so famous thorow out all the world For seeing how fonde men for louing well did suffer so many sursaults feares cares iealousies changes and other infinite passions they agreed to seeke out some principall and vniuersall cause from whence as from a fountaine all
much as her life was worth if that Shepherd whom she hated more then death did either finde or had any knowledge of her They promised her so to do though verie sorie for her sudden and hastie departure Alcida as fast as she could hye her recouered a thicke wood not far from the fountaine and fled with such celeritie and feare as if she had beene pursued by some hungrie and cruell Tygre Immediately after the Shepherd wearied with extreme trauell and trouble came to that place which Fortune it seemed condolent for his griefe had offered him and that cleere fountaine and Dianas companie for some lightning of his paine who being faint after his painfull iourney and seeing the Sunne in the pride of his heat the place verie pleasant the trees casting forth coole shades the grasse fresh and greene the fountaine cleere cristalline and Diana passing faire thought good to rest himselfe a while though the earnest care and haste of that he went seeking and the ceaselesse desire he had to finde it gaue his wearied bodie no place of rest nor ease to his afflicted minde The which Diana perceiuing shewed her selfe as courteous towards him as Delius iealous eie who was present would giue her leaue and yet entertained the strange Shepherd with sweete words as well for his owne deserts which she deemed not small as also for that she perceiued him tormented with the like grief that she was The Shepherd cheered vp by Dianas friendly welcome and seemely fauours of a miserable man thought himselfe happie by finding out so good a chaunce But they being thus togither Diana by chaunce casting her eie aside could not see her husband Delius who newly surprised in Alcidas loue when Diana tooke least heed of him and while she was entertaining the newe Shepherd pursued amaine the Shepherdesse that fled away and tooke the verie same way with a strong resolution to follow her euen to the other part of the world Diana not a little perplexed to see her husband wanting so on the sudden called and cried a good while togither on the name of Delius but all in vaine to get an answere from him in the wood or to make him leaue of his fonde pursuite who rather running after her as fast as he could thought at the last to sease vpon his beloued Alcida Whereupon when Diana perceiued that Delius appeared in no place she shewed her selfe a most sorrowfull woman for him and lamented in such pitifull sort that the Shepherd to comfort her said thus vnto her Afflict not thy selfe thus without reason faire Shepherdesse and beleeue not thine owne imaginations so greatly preiudicially to thy rest and quiet for the Shepherd whom thoumissest is not so long since wanting that thou maiest haue anie cause to thinke that he hath forsaken thee Pacifie then thy selfe a little for it may be that when thy backe was turned he hauing some desire to change place secretly got away vnwilling perhaps that we shoulde see him go for seare of staying him being inuited by the coole shades of those greene Sicamours and by the fresh and pleasant winde that is gently blowing them or else perhaps discontended for my comming hither thinking my companie troublesome whereas now without it he may merrily passe the heate of the day away To this answered Diana By these words gracious Shepherd which thy toong hath vttered and forced cheere which thou dissemblest who cannot conceiue the greefe that consumes thy life Thou shewest well that loue is thy torment and art accustomed to deceiue amorous suspicions by vaine imaginations For it is a common tricke of louers to work their thoughts to beleeue false and impossible things bicause they would not credite things that are certaine and true Such comforts gentle Shepherd auaile more to quote out the sorrow of my greefe by thee then to remedie my paine For I know well enough that my husband Delius is fledde after a most faire Shepherdesse who went but euen now from hence and in regarde of the great and feruent loue wherewith he beheld her and sighes which for her sake came smoking from his hart I do verily beleeue knowing moreouer how stedfastly he performes that he imagines or takes in hand that he will not leaue following that Shepherdesse though he thinke to come neuer in my sight againe And that which greeues me most is that I know her disposition to be so rigorous and her hart so great an enimie to Loue that she will not onely shew him no pitic but with great despite contemneth the most soueraigne beautie and greatest deserts that may be At these very wordes the sorrowfull Shepherd thought that a mortall dart pierced his chill hart and therefore saide Vnhappie me most wretched Louer what greater reason haue not these harts not made of stonie flint to be sorrowfull for me when thorow out the worlde I seeke the most cruell and pitilesse Damsell that liues on earth Ah faire Shepherdesse thou hast good cause to be sorrie for thy husband for if she whom he followes be so cruelly conditioned as this then must his life be in great danger By these words Diana cleerely perceiued what his greefe was and that the Shepherdesse that ranne away at his comming was the very same whom in so many parts of the worlde he had sought And so she was indeede for when she began to flie from him she tooke the habite of a Shepherdesse by that meanes not to be knowne nor discourered But for that present time Diana dissembled with the Shepherd and woulde tell him nothing of the matter to keepe her worde and promise which she had giuen Alcida at her departure And also bicause it was now a good while since she was gone and ranne with such haste thorow the thicke wood that it was impossible for him to ouertake her All which if she should tell the Shepherd she thought would serue for nothing else but to adde a fresh wounde to an old sore and to trouble his minde more by giuing him some little hope to attaine to his purpose when by no meanes he was able to obtaine it But bicause she desired to know what he was the summe of his loue and the cause of her hate she said vnto him Comfort thy selfe Shepherd in these thy complaints and of curtesie tell me their cause for to lighten them I would be glad to know who thou art and to heare the successe of thy mishap the report whereof will be no doubt delightfull to thee if thou beest so true a louer as I do take thee He then without much entreatie both of them sitting downe by the cleere fountaine began thus to say My greife is not of such quality that it may be told to al kind of people though the good opinion I haue of thy deserts and wisedome and the confidence which thy vertues and peerelesse beautie do suggest to mee vrge me to lay open before thee the totall summe of my life if so it
to so faire a dame as Alcida and to so faithfull a louer as my selfe Vnto this passage my good fortune conducted me thus high she reared me vp to throw me downe afterwardes headlong into the depth of miseries wherein wretched man I still remaine O transitorie good mutable content vading delight and inconstant firmenes of mundaine things What greater ioy could I haue wished for then that I had alreadie receiued and what greater crosse am I able to suffer then this which I now carie about me Oh faire Shepherdesse entreat me no more to molest thy eares with so large and lamentable a historie nor to pierce thy compassionate hart with recitall of my ensuing calamities Let it content thee that thou hast knowen my passed felicities and desire not to search out farther my present greefes bicause I assuredly know that as my long and pitifull historie will be tedious to thy eares so will my continued disgraces alter thy reposed minde To which Diana answering said Leaue off Marcelius these excuses for I would not desire to know the successe of thy life onely thereby to reioice my minde with thy contents without sorrowing for thy calamities but woulde rather heare euerie part of them to bewaile them also in my pitifull hart How greatly woulde it please me faire Shepherdesse saide Marcelius if the good will I beare thee did not force me to content thee in a matter of so great grief And that which greeues me most is that my disgraces are such that they must needs fill thy hart full of sorrow when thou knowest them for the paine that I must passe by telling them I reckon not so great but that I would willingly suffer it in lieu of thy contentment But bicause I see thee so desirous to heare them out although they shall force me to make thee sorrowfull yet I will not seeme to leaue thy will herein vnsatisfied THen Shepherdesse thou must knowe that after my vnfortunate marriage was agreed vpon the Kings licence being now come her old father Eugerius who was a widower his sonne Polydorus and his two daughters Alcida and Clenarda and the haplesse Marcelius who is telling thee his greeuous accidents hauing committed the charges left vs by the King to sufficient and trustie Gentlemen embarked our selues in the port of Ceuta to goe by sea to the noble citie of Lisbone there to celebrate as I saide the marriage rites in presence of the King The great content ioy and pleasure which we all had made vs so blinde that in the most dangerous time of the yeere we feared not the tempestuous waues which did then naturally swel rage nor the furious boysterous winds which in those moneths with greater force violence are commonly woont to blow but committing our fraile barke to fickle Fortune we launched into the deepe and dangerous seas heedlesse of their continuall chaunges and of innumerable misfortunes incident vnto them For we had not sailed far when angrie Fortune chastised vs for our bold attempt bicause before night came on the warie Pilot discouered apparant signes of an imminent and sudden tempest For the thicke and darke cloudes began to couer the heauens all ouer the waues to roare and murmur and contrarie windes to blow on euerie side O what sorrowfull and menacing signes said the troubled and timorous Pilot O lucklesse ship what perils assaile thee if God of his great goodnes and pitie do not succour thee He had no sooner spoken these words when there came a furious and violent blast of winde that puffed and shooke the whole bodie of the ship and put it in so great danger that the routher was not able to gouerne it but that tossed vp and down by this mightie furie it went where the force of the angrie waues and windes did driue it The tempest by little and little with greater noise began to increase and the rauing billowes couered ouer with a fomy forth mightily to swell The skies powred downe abundance of raine with throwing out of euerie part of it fearful lightnings threatned the world with horrible thunders Then might there be heard a hideous noise of Sea monsters lamentable outcries of passengers and flapping of the sailes with great terrour The winds on euerie side did beat against the ship and the surges with terrible blowes shaking her vnsteadie sides riued and burst asunder the strong and soundest plaunchers Sometimes the proud billowe lifted vp vs to the skies and by and by threw vs downe againe into deepe gulphes the which also with great horrour opening themselues discouered to our fearfull eies the deepe and naked sandes The men and women ran on euerie side to prolong their ensuing and haples death and did cast out some of them dolefull sighs other some pitifull vowes and others plentie of sorrowfull teares The Pilot being appalled with so cruell Fortune and his skill confounded by the countenance and terrour of the tempest could now no more gouerne the tottered routher He was also ignorant of the nature and beginning of the windes and in a moment deuised a thousand different things The marriners likewise agast with the agonie of approching death were not able to execute the Masters commaund nor for such lamentations noise and outcries could heare the charge direction of their hoarse and painfull Pilot. Some strike saile others turne the maine yarde some make fast againe the broken shrouds others mende and calke the riuen planks some ply the pompe apace and some the routher and in the end all put their helping hands to preserue the miserable ship from ineuitable losse But their painfull diligence did not helpe them nor their vowes and teares profit them to pacifie proud Aeolus and Neptunes wrath but rather the more the night came on the more the winds blew and the storme waxed greater and more violent And now darke night being fully come and angrie Fortune continuing still her seuere punishment the olde Father Eugerius being past all hope of helpe and remedie looking on his children and son in lawe with an appalled and altered countenance felt such great sorrowe for the death that we had to passe that his greefe and compassion for vs was more bitter to our soules then the thought of our proper and present misfortunes For the lamenting olde man enuironed on euery side with care and sorrowe with a pitifull voice and sorrowfull teares said thus Ah mutable fortune common enimie to humane content howe hast thou reserued so great mishap and miserie for my sorrowfull olde age O thrise blessed are they who fighting in the middes of bloudie battails with honour die in their yoong and lustie yeeres bicause not drawing foorth their line to wearied old age haue neuer cause with greefe to bewaile the vntimely death of their beloued children O extreme sorrow O balefull successe who euer ended his daies in so heauie a plight as I poore distressed man that hoping to haue comforted my naturall death by leauing them to
pitie on her but they rather gaue to the Traitour sufficient prouision who went to imbarke himselfe againe with Clenarda whom poore soule at her perill she must needes follow from which time hitherto I neuer saw nor heard any newes of them There was I left all alone bound hand and foote and pinched with intolerable hunger But that which most of all greeued me was Alcidas want and sorrow who was likewise left alone in the Iland Formentera and in lieu thereof regarded not mine owne which was presently remedied For at the noise of my loude and lamentable outcries certaine Marriners came to me who being more pitifull then those before gaue me some meate to stanche my extreme hunger And at my incessant request they armed for my sake a Fregantine and carrying with them some store of meate and wine with weapons and other necessaries embarked themselues in my companie and within a short time with swift and speedie oares it came to the Iland of Formentera where Alcida was left a sleepe But for all that I could doe by seeking vp and downe in it and hallowing in euerie place and calling aloud on Alcidas name I could neither finde her nor by any signe perceiue that she was there I then thought that she had desperately throwen her self into the sea or else that she had beene deuoured of wilde beasts But yet seeking vp and downe the plaines and shoares and all those rockes and caues and most secret corners of the Ilande in a peece of a rocke made in forme of a quarriâ⦠found these verses with a sharpe point of steeled knife engrauen which said thus O Sandie desart and drie barren meade Thou that hast heard the sound of my lament O swelling seas fierce winde to changing bent Chang'd with my sighes that are in sorrow bread Hard recke wherein for euer may be read My torment heerein grauen and permanent Truly report my paines which you present For that Marcelius heere hath left me dead My sister stolne he hath forgotten mee His faith his sailes and then my hope forlorne Commend I to the windes and witnes yee That loue I will not any man that 's borne To scape those seas where calmes are neuer any Nor combat foes that are so fierce and many I cannot tell thee faire Shepherdesse how deepe a wound my soule felt when I read these letters knowing that for anothers fault and vile deceit and by the hard euent of cruell fortune I was so suddenly abhorred of Alcida wherefore resoluing with my selfe not to lead a life replenished with such woes and miseries I woulde forthwith with one of their swordes haue pierced my heauie hart had not one of those marriners who suspected such a thing by maine force hindred mee from it With comfortable words therefore they brought me backe againe halfe dead into their Fregatte and being mooued at my importunate and pitifull praiers for a peece of money caried me towards the coast of Italy and landed me in Gayeta in the kingdome of Naples Where enquiring of euery one that I knew and met after Alcida and publishing certaine tokens of her at the last by certaine Shepherds which came thither in a ship of Spaine I heard some newes of her which ship passing by Formentera found hir there al alone tooke her in and that she had taken vpon her the habite of a Shepherdesse with as strong a resolution to hide her-selfe from me as strange to liue vnknowne in those disguised weedes Which when I vnderstood I also apparelled my selfe like a Shepherd the better to finde her out and wandring vp and downe and seeking her thoroughout all that kingdome coulde neuer finde her nor heare which way she was gone vntill a long time after I vnderstoode that she knew how I had notice of her which made her flie the farther from me and to passe into Spayne in a shippe of Genua Then I embarqued my selfe presently to follow her and hither I am come into Spayne where hauing troden the greatest part of it in seeking her vp and downe haue not yet found any one that coulde tell mee any newes of this cruell one whom with so great greefe and trouble of minde and bodie I am continually seeking and can neuer finde This is faire Shepherdesse the tragedie of my life this is the cause of my death and this the processe of al mine ils In which so sad discourse if I haue been too tedious the fault is thine since my vnwilling toong by thy importunate requestes was constrained to tell it And that which now I craue of thee gentle Shepherdesse is that thou wouldest not trouble thy selfe to applie any remedies to my sorrowe nor comfort my cares nor to stop the teares which with so iust cause are due to my cordiall greefe Marcelius hauing ended his sorrowfull historie began to make a most dolefull complaint and to sigh so forciblie that it was great pittie to beholde him Faine would Diana haue told him tidings of his Alcida which was not long since in her companie but to performe her worde which she had promised not to discouer her vnto him and also for that she sawe it would but haue tormented him more by giuing him notice of her who extremely hated him helde her peace And rather wished him to comfort himselfe by entertaining an assured hope and confidence of his future gladnes since she herselfe doubted not before it was long to see him very ioyfull in the presence of his beloued Mistresse For if it was true as he beleeued that Alcida went wandring vp and downe in the companie of Shepherdesses and Nymphes of Spaine she could not then saide Diana bee long vnhidden from him and so she promised him to cause an enquirie and search to bee made in the strangest remote and solitarie places and in the fieldes most frequented by them but especially charging him to haue a regarde to his owne life and promising him to performe that which she had offered For which vnexpected curtesies Marcelius yeelding her infinite thankes would haue taken his leaue saying that after a fewe daies he thought to returne thither againe and to giue her a full account of al those accidents that in seeking out Alcida might happen vnto him But Diana staying him saide I will not be so great an enimie to mine owne content to let thee goe out of my companie but would rather bicause I see my selfe forsaken of my husband Delius as thou art of thy Alcida haue thee staie and eate if it please thee a little of my simple cheere to refresh thy selfe who hast it seemes no small need thereof And after when the shadowes of the trees and hils waxe greater we will both go home to our village wherewith that rest which continuall greefe will suffer vs to take we will passe the night away and in the morning betimes hasten vs towardes the Temple of chaste Diana where the sage Lady Felicia makes her abode whose secret wisedome will minister
greefe may any comfort giue Loue vnto feare subiected euer driue A soule to coldest ice O bitter woe That he whom Fortune did contrarie so Continually with iealousie must liue The fault I must Montanus lay on thee And all my greefe on thee I doe complaine O cruell soule that pitie dost disdaine For if thou hadst but taken part with mee I would not care though gainst me did conspire Heauen Earth and Loue and Fortune in their ire After that the Shepherdesse had sweetely sung enlarging the raines of her bitter and dolefull complaint she powred out such abundance of teares and gaue so many sighes that by them and by the wordes she spake they knew that a cruell deceit of her iealous husband was the cause of all her greefe But bicause they would know better what she was and the cause of her passion they went to the place where she was and found her sitting al alone in the shadowe which the thicke boughes made on euerie side vpon the fine and greene grasse neere to a little spring which rising out of the foote of an oke ranne by diuers waies thorow that little woode They curteously saluted her and she although it greeued her that they had interrupted her lamentation yet iudging by their countenances that they were Shepherds of good regard was not greatly discontented at their comming hoping to haue had the fruition of their good company therefore said vnto them To my remeÌbrance faire Shepherd and Shepherdesse I neuer receiued so great contenment that might be compared with this in seeing you now since the time that I was vniustlie forsaken of my cruell husband which is so great that though continuall greefe compels me to ceaselesse plaints yet will I make a pause of them a little while to enioy your peaceable and discreete companie To this Marcelius answered I praie God I may neuer see my torments cease if that it greeues me not to see thine and the same maiest thou also beleeue of faire Diana whom thou seest in my companie The Shepherdesse hearing Dianas name running vnto her did with the greatest gladnes that might be embrace her shewing a thousand louing signes and making the most on her in the world bicause she was desirous long since to knowe her for the great report that she heard of her wisedome and beautie Diana maruelling to see herselfe so entreated by a Shepherdesse whom she knewe not requited her yet with like curtesies againe and desiring to know who she was saide vnto her The great fauours that thou hast done me and the pittie which I take of thy complaints make me desirous to know what thou art wherefore tell vs faire Shepherdesse thy name and discourse vnto vs the cause of thy greefe bicause that after thou hast tolde it thou shalt see how our harts will helpe thee to passe it away and our eies readie to bewaile it The Shepherdesse then with a gracious speech began to excuse herselfe from telling the substance of her owne fall yet vrged in the ende by their importunate requestes she sat downe againe vpon the grasse and began thus to saie By the report of Seluagia that was borne in my towne and in thine too faire Diana which is now married to the Shepherd Syluanus thou hast beene told I thinke of the vnfortunate name of Ismenia that is now beginning to tell her sorrowfull tale And I thinke that she tolde thee at large when she was in thy towne howe against my will I deceiued her in the Temple of Minerua in the kingdome of Portugall and how by my owne deceite I was ouertaken then perhaps she hath also tolde thee how I fained to loue Montanus her mortall enimie to be reuenged of Alanius who for the loue that he did beare her forgot me quite and how this fained loue with the riper knowledge of his vertues and accomplishments fel out at last so true that by means of it I suffer this intolerable sorrow greefe which euen now I complained of Therefore passing on farther in the history of my life thou shalt vnderstand that when Filenus father to Montanus came sometimes to my fathers house about certaine of his affaires and bargaines that he had with him for flockes of sheepe and had espied me on a time although somewhat aged yet he was so extreemely enamoured of me that he became almost out of his wits A thousand times a daie he wooed me and euery hower reckoned vp to me his greefes but all in vaine for I would neither harken vnto him nor regard his wordes Yet bicause he was a man of more sufficiencie and of fewer yeeres then many other in his case I did not altogither forget him and the rather for his sonne Montanus sake whose loue had made me now his captiue before The old man knew not of the loue that Montanus did beare me for he was alwaies so carefull and dutifull a son and so discreetly handled the matter that the father had not any notice thereof fearing mightilie if it had beene knowne his fathers displeasure and that with bitter and angrie wordes he might haue iustly corrected him for it And as wisely did the father conceale from his sonne Montanus his owne follie for the better to chastise and amend what he thought amisse in his sonne he was very vigilant not to discouer his owne and greater faults Although for all this he neuer ceased with continuall suites to sollicite my loue importuned me to take him for my husband He discoursed to me a thousand odde matters and made me as many great offers he promised me many costly garments rich iewels and sent mee many letters thinking by those meanes if not to ouercome me at least to mollifie my hard refusals He was a Shepherd in his flourishing age no lesse commended for al youthful sports then cunning in all pastorall exercises one that could tell a smooth tale and with great wisedome and discretion bring his purpose to good effect And bicause you may the better beleeue me I will rehearse vnto you a letter that once he wrote vnto me the which although it altered my minde nothing yet it greatly contented me and thus it said Filenus letter to Ismenia FAire Shepherdesse The cause was Loue Who to acquaint thee with his paine This fault and blame in me did moue To write to thee But to be plaine Who would not be both shent and blamed In thy sweete loues to be inflamed But if my letter doe offend Thy modest eares as to too bold Then vnderstand that in the end The feare I haue to be controld My soule with paine and greefe hath fild And hath the same already kild I haue to thee ten thousand times My torments told wherein I liue Sometimes by speech sometimes by rimes Which first to me thy selfe didst giue The which no more thou dost requite Then mocke vnto thy great delighte With open mouth thou laugh'st at mee And makest it thine onely game To see me
this place a broad quadrant fortie paces of euerie side and compassed about with a great number of thick trees So that in a maner of a walled castle they that went to recreat themselues in it could not go but by one way into it It was couered all ouer with greene grasse and sweete flowers neuer troden downe with the feete of sheepe or goates nor mangled with their slicing teeth In the mids thereof was a goodly cleere fountaine which issuing foorth at the foote of an olde Oake rose vp fower square and deepe not made by skilfull hand but placed there by prouident nature to such purposes as with the abundance of the waters it made there a delightfull meeting which the Shepherds named the faire Fountaine The brinkes of this fountaine were of white stone so euen that none would haue thought but that it was made with artificiall hand if the naturall stones growing there did not deceiue his sight which were fastened in the ground as hard as the craggie rocke and flint in the wilde mountaines The water that came out of that sweete fountaine issuing out of two narrow pipes did water the grasse and trees about it making them continually to spring and fertill and keeping them in a pleasant and fine verdure This faire Fountaine for euerie goodly pleasure about it was so much visited of the Shepherds and Shepherdesses that there was neuer wanting about it pastorall mirth and ioy Who likewise had it in such veneration and account that when they came to it they left their flockes without bicause the cleere and sweete waters might not be troubled nor the fine little meadow fed nor troden downe by the hungrie and carelesse sheepe About this fountaine as I saide they all sat downe and taking necessarie foode out of their scrips did eate it more sauourly and with greater content then the greatest Lords their varietie and number of daintie dishes At the end of which repast as Marcelius on the one side and Polydorus and Clenarda on the other were greatly desirous to heare and make relation of their passed fortunes Marcelius first began to say to the other two in this sort It is great reason brother and sister that I know somthing of your aduentures and accidents since last I saw you bicause seeing not your Father Eugerius nor your sister Alcida in your company it makes a great alteration in my hart not knowing the cause thereof To whom Polydorus answered Bicause this goodly place might not be iniured me thinkes with reports of dole and sorrow and that these Shepherds with hearing of our hard haps might not be also greeued with the fewest words that possible may be I will report the many miseries and disgraces that we haue receiued of Fortune After that I was hindered by the mariners from leaping into the sciffe hauing attended fit time and occasion haue deliuered my father Eugerius being faint and halfe dead out of the dangerous ship and that of force I was constrained to remaine to my great griefe with my fearefull father in it the sorrowfull olde man was ouercome with such bitter anguish and paine as may be imagined of a louing father who in the end of his aged yeeres seeth the violent perdition of his owne life and of his louing children He tooke no heed now to the maine blowes which the cruell waues did beate against the ships sides nor to the rage of the angrie windes that did bluster on euerie side but casting his eies to the little boate wherein thou wert Marcelius with Alcida and Clenarda which at euerie flote of the hoisting billowes seemed to turne ouer the more he saw it going from the ship the more his hart burst in peeces And when he lost sight of you he was in danger of yeelding vp his decaied spirits The ship driuen on by the crueltie of Fortune went floating vp and downe the maine seas fiue daies togither after that we parted at the ende of which time the Sunne going downe towards the West we were in ken of lande At sight whereof the Marriners were verie glad as well for recouerie of their lost hope as also for knowing the coast whither the ship was driuen For it was the most fertill countrey and most abounding in all sorts of pleasures as far as the Sun doth heate with his beames In so much that one of the Marriners taking a Rebecke out of a chest with the which he was wont to cheere vp himselfe in long and dangerous voiages began to play and sing to it in manner following WElcome thy friendes from swelling seas that rore With hideous noise and tost by Neptunes toile O fortunate and faire Valencia shore Where nipping frost doth neuer hurt thy soile Nor Phebus with his woonted parching beames Doth burne thy meades nor heates thy christall streames Thrise happy he who liuing without feare In swallowing seas and billowes to be drownd Enioies thy golden beauties euery wheare Of thy sweete meades greene banks and fruitfull ground Thy ground bedeckt with flowres so fine and faire Maintainde with heauenly deaw and pleasant aire With greater toile the ship doth cut the seas Then wearie plowmen doth thy gentle fieldes Then happy Earth the ioy and wished ease Of traueled soules that to thy succour yeeldes Nereas Song IN those most happy fieldes and plaines Where Guadaljar in goodly vaines With christall streames doth glide Leauing the sweete and pleasant fieldes Vnto the sea his tribute yeeldes And runs with hastie tide Faire Galatee full of disdaine And ioyfull of the woes and paine To Lycius that she gaue Played vpon the sands and shore The which the sea sometimes before Doth wash with wallowing waue Gathering amongst the sandes alone Fine shels and many a painted stone As she went vp and downe And singing many songs so sweete The which the roring billowes yet Did alter much and drowne Neere to the water side she hies And there the waues that fall and rise She view'd with great delight And fled when that they came amaine And sometimes could not but was faine To wet her feete so white Lycius who had in suffring paines No equall in those fieldes and plaines His torments there suspended Whiles that he view'd with great content His Shepherdesse so excellent For beautie most commended But now comparing his vnrest With all the ioy that she possest The Shepherd halfe decaied With dolefull voice his sad complaints To shores and champaines he acquaints And in this manner said O fairest Nymph if that thou please Play not about the roring seas Although thy chiefe delight Consist therein yet Galatee As thou dost Licius so the sea Eschew with hastie flight And now sweete Nymph leaue of to play For it doth greeue me day by day To see thee on the sandes O doe not now torment me more For seeing thee vpon the shore I feare false Neptunes hands And this doth fill me full of doubtes That I must credit these my thoughtes Bicause it is most cleere
fortunes and helpe to receiue it at her hands who wrought such miracles and woonders Diana bicause she would know something of Syrenus said thus vnto her The great hope of content that thou hast giuen me faire Nymphe by telling me of that which is in Felicias Palace for Alcidas comming is not small but yet greater should I haue if thou wouldest tell me what Shepherds of account are there also There are many woorthie Shepherds answered Arethea but those that I do best remember are Syluanus and Seluagia Arsileus and Belisa and one other more principall then these called Syrenus whose vertues and deserts Felicia hath in great estimation but he is such an enimie to loue that he makes all the rest that are there to woonder at him Alcida is of like qualitie and condition in so much that euer since she came thither both of them haue not beene asunder discoursing of hate obliuion and disdaine And so I am verie certaine that Felicia made them come to her Court to marrie them togither being both of one minde and their conditions being so semblable one to the other For though he be but a Shepherd and she a noble Ladie Felicia yet by her supernaturall powers can giue him valour force riches and wisedome which is the truest nobilitie of all the rest And Arethea following on her speech turning to Marcelius she said thus vnto him By this Shepherd thou seest how thy ioy is in hazard to fall to anothers lot defer not therefore the time bicause if thou commest betimes thou maist preuent Syrenus of his match But when Diana heard these words she felt the greatest griefe that might be and had shewed it by teares and outcries if bashfulnes and modestie had not beene an impediment to it Marcelius suffered the like paine for the same cause and was so tormented with it that he thought to haue dyed for verie anguish of minde So that on knife wounded Marcelius and Dianas hart one iealousie molested their soules Marcelius feared Alcidas marriage with Syrenus and Diana the marriage of Syrenus with Alcida The faire Nymph knew Marcelius Diana very well those that were with them but she disembled it very cuÌningly as Felicia had told her how telling Marcelius first a true tale to giue him an vnexpected ioy after a fained matter to kindle his desire Dianas more also bicause by these bitter news the gladnes that they afterwards receiued might be greater more sweet Being now come to a broad most faire Court which was before the palace gate they saw a reuereÌd old Lady coÌming out of it apparelled with a long gowne of black veluet hauing a vaile on her head of white tynsell which hung down ouer her shoulders being accompanied with three most faire Nymphes representing a most venerable and diuine Sybill This Ladie was Felicia and her Nymphes were Dorida Cynthia and Polydora When Arethea was come before her Ladie and Mistresse but first telling her company that she was Felicia she kneeled downe and kissed her hands and so did all the rest Felicia seemed to be verie glad of their comming and with a merie countenance said vnto them Woorthie Gentlemen Lady and famous Shepherds although the ioy that I haue of your comming is great yet the same that you shall reape by my sight hereafter shall be no whit lesse But bicause you are somewhat wearie with your iourney go and take your rest and forget your griefes bicause you cannot want the first in my house and the second with my great knowledge shall be soone amended They all humbly thanked her shewing themselues verie glad of their louing entertainment and at last Felicia left them Shee made Polydorus Clenarda to stay there saying that she had to talke with them and the rest being guided by Arethea went to a chamber in the rich Palace where they were seasted that night and serued with all things needfull for their rest This house was so sumptuous and magnificent and so full of all kinde of stately riches of curious and costly gardens that there was not any other comparable vnto it But I will not trouble my selfe in making any particular recount of the beautie and riches of it since that was declared at large in the first part of this worke I will onely tell how Marcelius Diana and Ismenia were lodged in two chambers in the Palace hanged all about with rich Tapistrie curiously wrought with gold and siluer lodgings vnacquainted to simple Shepherds They were there entertayned with a daintie and plenteous supper serued with plate of gold and cristall and when they went to sleep layde in stately beds whose bodies yet though with trauell paine they were not a little wearied with the softnes sweetnes of them with the hope also that Felicia had giuen them were inuited to a sweet reposed sleepe On the other side Felicia in company of her three Nymphes and of Polydorus and Clenarda telling them by the way that they should say nothing of Marcelius Dianas and Ismenias comming thither went to a most pleasant garden where they sawe Eugerius passing the time away with his daughter Alcida Don Felix and Felismena Syrenus Syluanus and Seluagia Arsileus and Belisa and another Shepherd were sitting togither a pretie way off them about a fountaine Alcida had yet on the same pastorall weedes that she came apparelled with that day to the pallace but she was presently knowne by her brother and sister The ioy that the brother and two sisters had to see themselues altogither and the gladnes that the father had to see himselfe and them so well and happely met moreouer the great affection wherwith they embraced each other the louing talke that passed betweene them and the sundry questions that they asked of one another cannot be with words nor writing declared Alcida was rapt with ioy to see her brother and sister but was gladder to see Polydorus then Clenarda for the great presumption that she had that Marcelius went away with her leauing her in the desolate Iland all alone But Felicia purposing to cleere all these mistes errours to make an end of so many hard fortunes spake thus vnto them Though Fortune hath neuer so much faire Alcida by many kindes of iniuries shewed herselfe thy mortall enimie yet thou canst nor denie but that with this content that thou now enioyest thou art fully reuenged of all her wrongs And bicause the false imagination and deceit wherein thou hast liued hitherto hating without cause thy louing Marcelius if thou liuest still in it is enough to alter thy hart and to giue him much sorrow and greefe it shall be therefore very needfull for thee to shake off this coÌceit iniurious fuspicion out of thy mind That which thou thinkest of Marcelius is cleane contrarie bicause it was not his fault when hee left thee in the Iland but the deceite of a vile traytour and of Fortune who now to satisfie
his malladie Delius mother came thither with a heauie hart in great haste and found her sonne tormented with a burning feauer With much sorrow she lamented his case and did importune him to know the cause of his griefe but no other answer would he giue her but sob sigh and weepe The louing mother powring forth many a bitter teare said vnto him Oh my deere Son what an vnfortunate chance is this Hide not the secrets of thy hart from me behold I am thy mother and perhaps I knowe some part of them alreadie Thy wife told me last night that at the fountaine of the Sicamours thou didst forsake her running after I knowe not what vnknowne Shepherdesse tell me if thy greefe doth grow thereby and be not afraid nor ashamed to impart it to me for ill may that malladie be cured the cause and beginning whereof is vnknowne Oh sorrowfull Diana thou didst this day go to Felicias temple to learn some newes of thy husband and he was neerer to thy towne and weaker then thou wert aware of When Delius heard his mother speake these words he answered not a worde but gaue a great sigh and then redoubled his painefull agonie For before he complained onely of Loue but at these wordes with loue and iealousie he was most greeuouslie molested For when he remembred that thou Syrenus wert here in Felicias pallace and hearing that Diana was come hither fearing least her olde and mortified loue might be rekindled againe in her he fell into such a frantike madnes that being assaulted with two most fierce and cruell torments he ended his life in a furious traunce vnto the greatest greefe of his sorrowfull mother kinsefolkes and lamenting friends In very truth I could not chuse but be sorrowfull for his death knowing my selfe to be the chiefest cause of it but I coulde haue done no lesse for safegard of mine owne content and honor Onely one thing greeued me not a little that not contenting him with any comfortable deede I gaue him not at the least some gentle words whereby he might not then perhaps haue come to so sudden a death In the ende I came hither leauing the poore soule dead and his kinsfolkes weeping for him not knowing the cause of his death Thus haue I digressed yet to the purpose to make thee knowe what harme a cruell disdaine and forgetfulnes procureth and also bicause thou shouldest vnderstand of Dianas widowhood and consider with thy selfe if now it were good for thee to change thine intent since she hath changed her condition and estate But I maruell much that Diana departing from her towne yesterday as Delius mother saide to come to this place is not yet heere Syrenus gaue attentiue eare to Alcidas words and when hee heard of Delius death his hart began somewhat to alter and change There did the secret power also of sage Felicia worke extraordinary effects and though she was not present there yet with her herbes and wordes which were of great vertue and by many other supernaturall meanes she brought to passe that Syrenus began now againe to renewe his old loue to Diana which was no great maruell considering that by the influence of his celestiall constellation he was so much enclined to it that it seemed Syrenus was not borne but onely for Diana nor Diana but for Syrenus The prouident and most wise Ladie Felicia was now in her magnificent and rich pallace enuironed about with her chaste Nymphes working with soueraigne and secret verses the remedies and content of all these Louers And as she sawe by her diuine wisedome that by this time Montanus and Alcida being by their imaginations deceiued had now acknowledged their errours and that hard harted Syrenus had mollified his obstinate and rigorous disposition she thought it now high time vtterly to confound olde errours and to ease the long trauels and troubles of her guestes by exchanging them into ioyfull and vnexpected happines Going therefore out of her sumptuous pallace attended on by Dorida Cynthia Polydora and manie other goodly Nymphes she came to the delightfull garden where the Lordes Ladies Shepherds and Shepherdesses were The first that she saw there were Marcelius Don Felix Felismena Syluanus Seluagia Diana and Ismenia sitting in one of the corners of that little square meadow neere vnto the great gate as is aforesaide When they sawe the reuerend Lady comming towards them they all rose vp and kissed those hands in which they had placed their cheefest hope and remedies She courteously saluted them againe making a signe vnto them that they shoulde all follow her which most willingly they did Felicia attended on by this amorous traine crossing euery part of this great and pleasant garden came at the last to the other part of it to the fountaine where Eugerius Polydorus Alcida Clenarda Syrenus Arsileus Belisa Montanus were They all rose vp in honor of the sage Matron And when Alcida espied Marcelius Syrenus Diana and Montanus Ismenta they were all astonished at the sight one of another and verily thought they were in a dreame standing like enchaunted persons and not beleeuing their owne eies The wise Ladie commanding them all to sit downe againe and shewing by her countenance that she was to entreat of important affaires sat her downe in the middes of them all in a chaire of Iuorie grauen with gold and precious stones and spake in this sort Nowe is the hower come renowned and faire assemblie wherein with my hands I meane to giue you all your long desired and happie contentment for by diuers strange meanes and vntroden waies I haue made you come to my Palace for no other intent and purpose Since you are heere therefore altogither wel met where the matters and meanes of your happie loue and life to come must be determined my desire is that you would follow my will and obey my commands herein Thou art Alcida by the true testimonie and report of thy sister Clenarda cleerelie deliuered from the suspicion of thy deceiued imagination And I knew well enough that after thou hadst forsaken that cruell disdaine the absence of thy Marcelius did not a little greeue thee Come hither therefore and offer thy selfe vnto him for this absence shall not be long which hath rather beene so short that at that time when thou complainedst to me of it Marcelius was in my pallace Nowe thou hast him heere before thee as firme and stedfast in his first loue that if it pleased thee and thy Father brother and sister he would thinke himselfe the happiest man aliue to solemnize this desired marriage long since betrothed The which besides that it must needes cause great ioy and gladnes being betweene such principall and noble personages shall make it more perfect and absolute by reason of Felismena his sisters presence whom Marcelius after many yeeres past hath happely found out in my Palace Thou Montanus by Sylueria herselfe that betraied thee art rid from thy erronious opinion After which time thou
didst weep continually for the losse of thy faithfull wife Ismenia who now is come to liue die in thine armes and to comfort all thy sorrowes after that thorow out all Spaine with many a wearie iourney and many dangers and troubles she hath sought thee out But now last of all it resteth to remedie thy paines faire Diana before which time I meane to aduertise thee of that which Syrenus and some of these Shepherds doe know by Alcidas report although it will be but a sorrowfull tale in thine eares and a grieuous corosie to thy pitifull hart Thy husband Delius faire Shepherdesse as it pleased the inexorable destinies hath ended the course of his life For the losse whereof I know well Diana that thou hast great cause to lament but yet in the end all men are bound to pay this tribute to Nature and that which is so common a thing ought not extremely to grieue any one Weepe not faire Diana for thou breakest my hart asunder in seeing thee powre forth such dolorous teares drie vp thine eies comfort thy sorrowes and cheere vp thy selfe Put on no morning weeds and make no long moan for too much lamentation sorrow is not allowed in this house when as also the heauens haue reserued for thee some better hap then that which thou had'st of late And since there is no remedie for that which is lately done it belongeth to thy wisedom to forget what is past and to my skill power to giue order to things present Heere is thy old louer Syrenus whose hart by my operations and by the reason that bindes him to it is become so tender gentle and chaunged from his former hardnes that now for his great contentment it onely behooueth him to conclude a marriage with thee That which I request of thee is that thou wilt obay my will in a thing which so greatly concerneth thy happie and ioyfull life The which although it may seeme to offer some iniurie to thy husband that is dead to marrie so soone againe yet being a thing practised by my decree and autoritie cannot any waies be deemed ill And thou Syrenus since thou hast begun to giue place in thy hart to honest and vertuous Loue make now an ende to yeelde vp thy thoughts and deeds to it and let this merie and happie mariage be put in effect to the fulfilling of which all the fauourable stars are inclined The rest of you which in this delightfull garden enioy your happie content reioice in your minds make merie pastimes play vpon your tuned instruments sing sweete Ditties and exercise your selues in delightfull sports and conuersation in honour and memory of these ioyfull meetings and happie marriages Sage Felicia had no sooner ended her speech but all of them were verie willing to do as she commanded them liking well of her motion and maruelling at her singular wisedome Montanus tooke his wife Ismenia by the hand thinking themselues thrise happie and fortunate and betweene Marcelius and Alcida Syrenus and Diana at that instant a holy and virtuous marriage was solemnly celebrated with great loue firmnes and sumptuous accustomed ceremonies All the rest exceeding glad for these happie accidents sung and reioiced with maruellous applause Amongst the which Arsileus for the great good will that he bare to Syrenus and for the friendship betweene them both at the sound of his Rebecke sung this Caroll in memorie and ioy of the new marriage betweene Syrenus and Diana LEt now each meade with flowers be depainted Of sundrie colours sweetest odours glowing Roses yeeld foorth your smels so finely tainted Calme windes the greene leaues mooue with gentle blowing The christall riuers flowing With waters be increased And since each one from sorrowes now hath ceased From mournefull plaints and sadnes Ring forth faire Nymphes your ioyfull songs for gladnes Let springs and meades all kinde of sorrow banish And mournefull harts the teares that they are bleeding Let gloomie cloudes with shining morning vanish Let euery bird reiòice that now is breeding And since by new proceeding With marriage now obtained A great content by great contempt is gayned And you deuoid of sadnes Ring forth faire Nymphes your ioyfull songs for gladnes Who can make vs to chaunge our firme desires And soule to leaue her strong determination And make vs freeze in Ise and melt in fires And nycest harts to loue with emulation Who rids vs from vexation And all our minds commaundeth But great Felicia that his might with standeth That fild our harts with sadnes Ring forth faire Nymphes your ioyfull songs for gladnes Your fields with their distilling fauours cumber Bridegroome and happie Bride each heauenly power Your flockes with double lambes increas'd in number May neuer taste vnsauourie grasse and sower The winters frost and shower Your kids your pretie pleasure May neuer hurt and blest with so much treasure To driue away all sadnes Ring forth faire Nymphes your ioyfull songs for gladnes Of that sweete ioy delight you with such measure Betweene you both faire issue to ingender Longer then Nestor may you liue in pleasure The Gods to you such sweete content surrender That may make milde and tender The beasts in euerie mountaine And glad the fields and woods and euerie fountaine Abâuring former sadnes Ring forth faire Nymphes your ioyfull songs for galdnes Let amorous birds with sweetest notes delight you Let gentle winds refresh you with their blowing Let fields and forrests with their goods requite you And Flora decke the ground where you are going Roses and vilets strowing The Iasmine and the Gilloflower With many more and neuer in your bower To taste of houshold sadnes Ring forth faire Nymphes your ioyfull songs for gladnes Concord and peace hold you for aye contented And in your ioyfull state liue yee so quiet That with the plague of iealousie tormented Ye may not be nor fed with Fortunes dyet And that your names may flie yet To hils vnknowen with glorie But now bicause my brest so hoarse and sorie It faints may rest from singing End Nymphes your songs that in the clouds are ringing When Arsileus had made an end of his song there was such a generall reioicing that it woulde haue cheered vp the most sorrowfull harts that euer were Sweete and delightfull songs resounded in euery part of the garden the tuned instruments made more then earthly Harmonie and it seemed that the blossomed trees the gliding riuer the pleasant fountaine and the chirping birdes reioyced at that feaste After that they had a pretie while delighted themselues in this kinde of exercise Felicia thinking it time to go to dinner commanded that it shoulde be brought to the fountaine where they were Whose commaunde the Nymphes obeying presently busied themselues seuerally to prouide for dinner and setting the tables and cupbordes of plate vnder the shadowe of those greene trees euerie one sitting in order as Felicia appointed them beganne to taste of those delicate and daintie meates that were
would be best me thinkes if both did sing one song and one answere another in it for it shall be lesse troublesome to them and more pleasant to vs. All of them seemed to take great delight at that kinde of singing bicause they knew how the readines and liuelines of their wits would be shewed and tried by it And so Syluanus and Arsileus seeming to be well content leading their daunce about againe sung in manner following Sylu. SHepherd why dost thou hold thy peace Sing and thy ioy to vs report Arsil My ioy good Shepherd should be lesse If it were told in any sort Sylu. Though such great fauours thou dost win Yet deigne thereof to tell some part Arsil The hardest thing is to begin In enterprises of such arte Sylu. Come make an end no cause omit Of all the ioies that thou art in Arsil How should I make an end of it That am not able to begin Sylu. It is not iust we should consent That thou shouldst not thy ioies recite Arsil The soule that felt the punishment Doth onely feele this great delight Sylu. That ioy is small and nothing fine That is not told abroad to many Arsil If it be such a ioy as mine It can be neuer told to any Sylu. How can this hart of thine containe A ioy that is of such great force Arsil I haue it where I did retaine My passions of so great remorce Sylu. So great and rare a ioy as this No man is able to withhold Arsil But greater that a pleasure is The lesse it may with words be told Sylu. Yet haue I heard thee heeretofore Thy ioies in open songs report Arsil I saide I had of ioy some store But not how much nor in what sort Sylu. Yet when a ioy is in excesse It selfe it will vnfold Arsil Nay such a ioy should be the lesse If that it might be told The Shepherds would haue sung one verse or two more when a goodly companie of faire Nymphes as Felicia had appointed came to the fountaine and euerie one playing vpon her seuerall instrument made strange and delightfull harmonie One of them plaied on a Lute another on a Harpe another made a maruellous sweet countertenour vpon a Recorder another with a peece of a fine quil made the siluer stringed Cyterne sweetely to sound others the stringes of the base Viall with rosined haires others with Virginals and Violins made delicate changes in the aire and filled it with so sweete musicke that in a manner it astonished them that heard it and made them to maruell no lesse at it These Nymphes were strangely apparelled and passing faire to behold euerie one in her proper colours their locks of golden haire hanging loose to the wauering winde with fine coronets on their heads and sweete flowers tied togither with threds of gold and siluer The Shepherds seeing this melodious quier of angels left of the daunce that they had begun and sat downe giuing attentiue eare to the heauenly musicke and concent of the sundrie sweete instruments that they plaied on which ioyned sometimes with cleere and delicate voices mooued strange and rare delight Then came out by and by sixe Nymphes apparelled with crimosin Satten embrodered with flowers leaues of gold and siluer wearing rich caules vpon their heads which were filled and wrought with Rubies and Emerauldes from the which hung downe vpon their fairest browes Diamantes of incomparable value with pendants at their eares of the rarest Pearles and richest Diamonds that could be founde They had crymosin Buskins on their legs that were finely printed and gilt with their bowes in their hands and their quiuers of arrowes hanging behinde their shoulders In this sort they began to dance to the sound that the instruments made but with so braue a grace that it was a rare sight to behold them And being in the middes of their dance there lept out on the sudden a stately white Hart marked all ouer with little blacke spots which seemed very pleasant to the eie his painted hornes with golde were large high and branchie In breefe it was such an one as Felicia could best deuise to make that companie sport When the Nymphes espied the Hart they ranne rounde about him and dancing neuerthelesse without missing one straine of the musicke that plaied still with a braue concord they began to shoote at him the which leaping from one side to another after the arrowes were once flien out with manie nimble and pretie skips did the best to defend himselfe But after they had a pretie while sported themselues with this pastime the Hart beganne to breake out from them amongst the orchards and courts the Nymphes pursuing him amaine vntill they chased him out of the Garden who with their ioyfull cries and pleasant hallowing made a delicate noise which the other Nymphes Shepherds seconded with their voices taking a most singular delight in this dance And with this sport the Nymphes made an end of their musicke In the meane time sage Felicia bicause there should not want some profitable lesson to be gathered out of those pleasures for the direction and instruction of life meaning to trie their conceits about the obscure mysteries and significations of that dance saide to Diana Canst thou tell me faire Shepherdesse what is ment by the chase of this goodlie Hart besides the thing it selfe To whom she saide againe I am not so wise gracious Ladie that I am able to expounde mysteries nor to dissolue your hard questions Why then will I tell thee said Felicia what matter is conteined vnder that inuention The Hart is mans hart made faire with delicate thoughts and rich with quiet content It submitteth it selfe to humane inclinations which shoote mortall arrowes at it but with discretion remoouing it selfe into diuers parts and applying it selfe to honest exercises it must defend it selfe from so many hurtfull arrowes that ayme so cruelly at it And when it is pursued of them it must flie away speedilie thereby to saue it selfe though those humane and fraile inclinations which shoote such arrowes will not cease to pursue it and will neuer leaue to accompanie it vntill it escapes out of the orchard of life How can I vnderstand saide Diana so difficult and Morall a conclusion as this when as the questions and Riddles which wee Shepherdesses exercise and disport our selues with to this but plaine and easie I could neuer yet dissolue nor expound Make not thy selfe so vnskilfull saide Seluagia since I haue knowne the contrarie in thee and that there was neuer any Riddle so hard but was easie enough in thy vnderstanding In good time saide Felicia for now we may wel try her cunning which pastime wil affoord no lesse delight then the other before Propound her therfore euery one of you a Riddle for I know Diana will acquite herselfe with you all It liked them all well but Diana who had not such confidence in her cunning that she durst oppose her skil to such difficult
questions as she thought they woulde propounde but bicause she woulde obey Felicia and please her Syrenus who seemed to take a pride and delight therein she was content to take in hand the charge that they imposed vpon hir Syluanus who was very ready in propounding of Riddles made the first saying Bicause I know well faire Shepherdesse that thy pregnant and liuely wit is able to discouer hard and hidden matters and that thy skill is no lesse sufficient to compasse and attaine to intricate and high things I will therefore by thy fauour aske thee a question by answering which I know thou wilt manifest thy delicate and ripe wit Tell me therefore what this Riddle meanes A Riddle NEere to a Shepherd did a damsell sit As leane as withered sticke by scorching flame Her body as full of eies as might be in it A toong she had but could not mooue the same her winde she drew aboue and eke beneath But from one part she neuer yet did change A wofull Shepherd came to kisse her breath Then made she plaints most sorrowfull and strange The more the Shepherd put his mouth vnto Her mouth in stopping it she cried amaine Opening her eies and shutting them againe See now what this dumbe Shepherdesse could doe That when her mouth he did but touch or kisse He waxeth dumbe but she still speaking is This Riddle said Diana although it be somewhat hard shall not trouble my wit much for I haue heard thy selfe propound it on a day at the fountaine of the Sicamours and because there was no Shepherd there that could tell the meaning of it thy selfe didst expound vnto vs saying that the Damosell was a Bagpipe or a Fluite played vpon by a Shepherd And thou appliedst all the parts of the Riddle to the effects that happen commonly in musicke All of them laughed to see how Syluanus memorie had deceiued him and how Dianas so readily found it out wherefore Syluanus to acquite himselfe and to be reuenged of his shame smiling said Maruell not at my weake memorie for this forgetfulnes seemes not so ill as Dianas nor so hurtfull as that of Syrenus Thou hast now paide vs home said Syrenus and better thou shouldest haue done if our obliuions had not beene changed into so perfect affections and happie estates as now they are No more said Seluagia for all is well spoken But answere me Diana to that which I will aske thee for I will trie if I can speake in a darker language then my Syluanus did The Riddle is this A Riddle I Sawe a hill vpon a day Lift vp aboue the aire Which watered with blood alway And tilled with great care Herbes it brought foorth Of mickle woorth Pulling a handfull from that ridge And touching but the same Which leauing neere vnto a bridge Doth cause much sport and game A thing scarce of beleefe Lamenting without greefe Diana looking then towards her husband said Dost not thou remember my Syrenus that thou hast heard this Riddle that night when we were togither in my vncle Yranius his house And dost not thou remember also how Maroncius sonne to Fernasus did propound it I remember verie well said Syrenus that he did put it there but told not as I thinke the signification of it But then I remember it said Diana For he said that the field was that part of the horse from whence they pull out his longest haires wherewith the Rebeckes being strong make a tuned noise although they suffer neuer the more any paine or hurt Seluagia said that it was so and that Maroncius Author of the Riddle had told it for a fine one although he had many more better then that There are many pretie ones said Belisa and one of them is that I will now put wherefore call thy wits togither Diana for this time thou shalt not escape scot free and it is this A Riddle WHat bird is that so light Her place that neuer changeth She flies by day and night In all the world she rangeth Ouer the sea at once she flies Mounting aboue the loftie skies She 's neuer seene by eies And who doth seeke to show her Hath beene accounted wise Yet sometimes we doe knowe her Onely the wals by viewing well Of her close house where she doth dwell Thy Riddle Belisa said Diana hath beene more vnfortunate then the rest before for I had not declared any of their significations if I had not heard them before now and this which thou hast put as soone as I heard it I vnderstood it which of it selfe is so easie and manifest that any indifferent conceite I thinke is able to dissolue it For it is verie cleere that by the birde which thou speakest of ones thought is vnderstood which flies with such swiftnes that is not seene of any body but coniectured and knowen by the outward signes and gesture of the bodie wherin it is included I confesse my selfe ouercommed said Belisa and haue no more to say but that I yeeld my reasons to thy discretion and wit and my selfe to thy disposition and will I will reuenge thee said Ismenia to Belisa for there comes an obscure probleme to my minde that hath posed the wisest Shepherds which I will propound and thou shalt see how I will grauell Diana who shall not be so fortunate I thinke in expounding it as she hath beene in the rest and looking vpon Diana she said A Riddle TEll me what Master he may be Whose Master is his man bound like a sencelesse foole is be Wittie it nothing can Vnlearned yet he doth abound In learning graue and most profound When that I take him by the hand Although I heare him not His meaning yet I vnderstand Though him I haue forgot So wise is he though wordes nor motions showing Yet thousand things he tels me woorth the knowing I would haue beene well contented said Diana and thought my selfe happie to haue beene ouercommed by thee beloued Ismenia but since in beautie and in other perfections and graces thou goest far beyond me I shall gaine no great praise glorie by ouerthrowing thy purpose whereby thou thoughtest to haue entrapped me with thy Riddle It is now two yeeres since a certaine Phisition of Leon came to attend my Father in his sicknes as he had a booke one day in his hands he gaue it me I began to read And the great profit occurring to my mind that is commonly taken in reading of bookes I told him that they were like doombe Masters that were vnderstoode without speaking Then to this purpose he told me this Riddle wherein some rare matters and excellent inuentions of bookes are particularly set downe and noted In good sooth said Ismenia there can none of vs Shepherds ouercome thee wherefore our courage is quailed in passing any farther in this contention vnlesse these Ladies heere meane to giue thee afresh assault with their weapons and to make thee yeeld Alcida which till that time had held her peace
thou art a Gentleman to come to my Castell of Alora there to yeelde thy selfe my prisoner within three daies I doe saide he and with solemne othe binde it Then goe saide the Gouernour and good fortune with thee and if thou standest in neede of mine owne person to accompany thee or of any other thing for thy way speake and thou shalt haue it The Moore thanked him very much but tooke no more but a horse which the Gouernour gaue him for his owne was hurt in the late encounter betweene them and went very heauie being also wearied and faint with much blood which he lost by the way and so turning the raines he rode as fast as he coulde towardes Coyn. Rodrigo of Naruaes and his Gentlemen returned homewardes to Alora talking by the way of the valour and goodly behauiour of the Abenceraje The Moore was not long according to the great speede he made in comming to the Fort of Coyn where going directly as he was commanded he first went about all the wals vntill at last he found a posterne gate and the Centrinels on the wals fast asleepe who though he had a great desire and made no lesse haste to enter in yet he staied a little looking about him on euery side least happily he might be espied or in danger of some thing else But when he perceiued that all was quiet he knocked with the punch of his launce at the wicket for that was the watchworde that his Mistresse had giuen him by the gentlewoman that went to call him the which was immediately opened vnto him by the same gentlewoman who saide vnto him Sir your long tarying hath put my Ladie in a great feare for she hath staide this good while for you Alight and I will bring you vp where she is attending your presence in great perplexitie he then dismounted from his horse and set him vp in a secret place that he founde there where also leauing his Launce against a wall with his Target and Cymitarre the gentlewoman tooke him by the hande and very softly led him vp a paire of staires for feare of being heard by them in the castle and brought him into Xarifaes chamber Before whom when he was come with a sudden sursault of ioye she ranne to receiue him and both of them with such extreme passions of loue and gladnes embracing one another were not able to speake one worde for the infinite ioy they had at each others sight But comming to themselues againe at the last she saide thus vnto him What the cause may be that thou hast staied so long my louing Lord I knowe not but what sorrowe and anxieties of minde I haue passed for thy slowe comming my impatient loue is able to testifie I hope thou dost imagine faire Lady saide he againe that it is not by my fault and negligence but mens disseignes doe not alwaies fall out fit to their desires So that if there be any trueth in me thou maist well beleeue me that it was not in my power to come sooner then I haue done But breaking him off in his excuses she tooke him by the hand leading him into a rich chamber they sat them downe vpon a faire bed where thus she said vnto him I was desirous my thrise beloued Abyndaraes to haue thee see how captiues in loue can fulfill their promise for from the very day that I gaue thee my word for pledge of my hart I haue sought the meanes to discharge me of it I sent for thee to come to this Castell to be my prisoner as I am thine But now I haue brought thee in hither to make thee Lord of me and of my fathers treasure vnder the honourable name of a lawfull husband whereunto my estate nor thy loyaltie cannot otherwise consent I do knowe well that my fathers will wil be contrarie to our workings who being ignorant of thy valour and not knowing thy deserts as well as I doe will perhaps bestowe some richer husband on me but I esteeme thy noble personage and thy vertuous and valiant mind more then the greatest riches in the world And hauing saide thus vnto him she hung downe her head blushing not a little that she had so much discouered her selfe and in so plaine and open termes declared her affection vnto him The noble Moore tooke her in his armes and many times kissing her white hands for such louing and curteous wordes saide thus vnto her I haue no new thing sweete Lady of my soule to giue thee in requitall of such great good as thou dost offer me bicause I am no lesse as I was before wholy thine Onely this pledge I giue thee in token of my vnspeakable loue that I receiue thee for my beloued Lady and wife And heerewithall thou maist lay aside for a while that modest shamefastnes and maidenly teynt which continually thou hast had since thou hast taken me for thine owne Vnwillingly she did the same And vpon this conclusion they went to bed where with a new experience they rekindled the flames of their enamoured harts In which amorous enterprise passed on either side many louing wordes and deedes fitter for imagination then to be written The Moore being in so great ioy and pleasure fetched on the sudden a profound and painfull sigh and turning from her began to lie so sad and pensiue that faire Xarifa perceiuing it was much amazed and troubled in minde to see so sudden an alteration who lying still heard him breath foorth a deepe and dolefull sigh with turning his body on euery side The Lady vnable to suffer so great an iniurie to her beautie and loyaltie thinking he was displeased with the one or both rising vp a little in the bedde with a milde and merrie voice though somewhat troubled saide vnto him What meanes this Abyndaraes It seemes thou art offended with my mirth I heard thee sigh and tumble and tosse thy body on euery side why man if I am wholy thy ioye and thy delight why dost thou not tell me for whom thou dost sigh and if I am not why hast thou thus deceiued me If thou hast found any fault in my person that hath abridged the delight of thy imagination cast thine eies and minde vpon my will which is sufficient to supply many wants and vpon my zealous and louing hart that wisheth it the fairest and finest in the world for thy sake If thou seruest any other Lady let me know her that I may serue her to And if thou hast any other greefe which shall not offend me tell it me for I will either die or rid thee from it And clasping him with a kinde of violent and forcible loue she turned him to her againe who being then confounded and ashamed for that he had done and thinking that it might be an occasion if he did not tell her the cause of his sorrow to fill her head full of iealousie and suspicion with an appassionate sigh he said vnto her If I did
not my sweetest life loue thee more then mine owne soule I woulde neuer haue made such signes of inwarde greefe for the wounding thoughts which I brought with me wheÌ I came with my selfe all alone I passed away with a better hart but now that I am constrained to go from thee I haue no force to endure them at all And because thou shalt be no longer in suspence of knowing the cause of my sorrow I will tell thee what lately passed And then he told her all the matter not leauing any thing out in the end of his tale with many teares saying thus vnto her So that thy captiue faire Lady is also prisoner to the Gouernour of Alora And the paine of that imprisonment which thou hast cast vpon me and taught my hart to suffer I feele not but the torment and bondage by liuing without thee I account woorse then any death Wherupon thou seest that my sighes are rather arguments of greater loyalty then of any want thereof And with this he began againe to be so pensiue and sad as he was before he had tolde her his greefe But then with a merrie countenance she said vnto him Trouble not thy minde Abyndaraes with these thoughts for I will take the care and remedie of this greefe vpon mee as a thing that toucheth mee most of all and the more since it is not denied any prisoner that hath giuen his worde to returne to prison to satisfie it by sending the ransome that shall be demaunded of him Wherefore set thy selfe downe what summe thou wilt for I haue the keyes of al my fathers treasure which I will put into thy hands leaue it all at thy disposition Rodrigo of Naruaez is a curteous gentleman a good knight and one who gaue thee once thy libertie And as thou hast acquainted him with the trust of these affaires so is he now the more bound to vse greater virtue and gentlenes towardes thee I am sure he will be contented with reason for hauing thee in his power and prison he must perforce set thee at libertie when he hath the value of thy ransome I see well faire Ladie said the Abencerraje againe that the loue which thou dost beare me will not suffer thee to giue me the best counsell for I will neuer commit so foule a fault as this For if I was bound to fulfill my word when I was alone and without thee now that I am thine the bond is greater I will therefore returne to Allora and yeeld my selfe into the Gouernors hands and when I haue done what I am bound to do let Fortune do with me what she will Nay let me rather die saide Xarifa if thou goest to be prisoner then once desire to remaine here at libertie For being thy captiue by duetie I am bound to accompanie thee in this iourney for the extreme loue that I beare thee whereas also the feare of my fathers frownes which I haue purchased by offending him will let me do no lesse The Moore weeping for ioy to heare these words embraced her saying Thou neuer ceasest my deerest soule to heape fauours vpon my happie head do therefore what thou wilt for this is my resolution With this determination they rose before it was day and prouiding some necessarie things for their iourney they went verie secretly towards Allora and when the day began to waxe cleere Xarifa went with her face couered with a maske for feare of being knowen and by reason of the greath aste they made they came in good time to Alora where going directly to the castle knocking at the gate it was opened to them out of hand by the Centrinels who had notice of that was past and what they should do The valiant Gouernor receiued them curteously and Abyndaraes going to the gate and taking his wise by the hand brought her vnto him said Behold Rodrigo of Naruaez if I keepe not well my word and appointed time For promising thee to returne thy prisoner insteed of one I bring thee two for one was enough to ouercome many Behold here my Ladie iudge if I haue not iustly suffered for her sake accept vs now for thine for in thy virtuous and noble minde I repose my whole trust and confidence and into thy hands commit her deere and chiefest honour The Gouernor was verie glad to see them both and said to Xarifa I know not faire Ladie which of you haue conquered each other in loue and curtesie but truely thinke my selfe greatly bound vnto you both Come in therefore and rest you in your owne house the which from henceforth as also the master of it accept for none other After this friendly entertainement they went with him into his dining chamber where after a little while they refreshed themselues bicause they came somewhat wearie The Gouernor asked the Moore how he did for his wounds I thinke said he that what with the way and what with paine they are somewhat rankled which faire Xarifa hearing with an altered an appalled countenance said vnto him Alas how comes this to passe my Lord Haue you any woundes about you and I not knowe them Who escapes saide he from thine needes little to care for any other Truth it is that at our late skirmish in the night I got two little woundes which my troublesome iourney and negligence in curing them hath made somewhat worse but all is but little or nothing It is best saide the Gouernour that you lay you downe and I will send for a Chirurgeon that is heere in the Castell to cure them Following which counsell faire Xarifa caused him to put off his apparell and though she set a good face on the matter bicause she woulde not giue him any occasion to feele her inwarde greefe yet was she altered much and troubled in her minde The Chirurgeon came and searching his wounds saide that they were not dangerous bicause the signe was not in those places when he receiued them and also bicause they were smitten ouerthwart would not be long in healing For with a certaine ointment that he made out of hand the paine of them was somewhat asswaged and in fower daies by meanes of the great care the Chirurgeon had in healing them hee was as sound and whole as euer he was before But one day after dinner was done the Abenceraje saide thus vnto the Gouernour As you are wise Rodrigo of Naruaez so can you not choose but by the manner of our being at Coyn and of our comming hither imagine more then you haue seene which affaires of ours by our owne misfortunes driuen to this desperate though happy euent wherein they nowe are must be I hope by your aduise and helpe brought to some good end This is faire Xarifa of whom I tolde you This is my Lady and my deerely beloued wife In Coyn she woulde not stay for feare of her Father For though he knowes not what hath passed betweene vs yet she feared least this accident
sorrowfull thoughts in their harts then heauy vapours in their heads The face of the one was right against the others as though they had beene talking togither leaning their cheekes vpon the one hand and with the other arme sustaining the waight of the arme and head in which sort they lay casting out somtimes profound greeuous sighs Which thing moouing vs to no small compassion for nowe we were somewhat affected to them we determined to withdraw our selues least being awaked they might perhaps haue had an occasion to be ashamed to be seene in that sort And from thence a little way off of purpose to awake them but as though we had seene nothing we began to sing taking for the ground and subiect of our song the teares that they had shed before vs. That which we sung was this WIth sorrow teares and discontent Loue his forces doth augment Water is to meades delight And the flaxe doth please the fire Oile in lampe agreeth right Greene meades are the flockes desire Ripening fruit and wheatie eares With due heate are well content And with paines and many teares Loue his forces doth augment As their sleepe was nothing else but an extasie scarce had we begun when they awooke and seeing that we left singing when we came neere them they saide If your comming were an occasion to make an ende of your singing we would be glad that you had stayed a little longer wherefore let not our presence be of worse condition to depriue vs of this delight then our absence was by enioying it and since we refused not to do what you commanded vs nor made it strange to acquaint you with the basenes of our simple Bagpipes disdaine not then faire Nymphes by that which we entreat you to shew vs the highnes of your excellent voices Well well the truth of this is knowen said we againe but not denying your demaunds since we haue time for it tell vs now if you meane to rest you here a fewe daies Rest faire Nymphes answered Delicius Why we know not what it is if we had it here But we are determined to haue it as long as it shall please your good wils which are ready to do you all the pleasure we may said I but I will tell you one thing which it may be ye neuer yet heard By the report and certaine newes of the fertilitie of this Countrey there are tenne or twelue yeeres past since from the North parts there departed a mightie huge Shepherd with a great number of sheepe and came to feed in these grounds certes not so faire and amiable a personage as either of you the Sonne of God Syluanus he saith and of a most strong and fierce Shepherdesse that came with him whether fayrer and more gracious then my companion here I am not able to tell you This vnseemely Shepherd was not onely like to his parents in face and fiercenesse but in either of both as also in hideous feature he hath the aduantage of them Seeing therefore that fame was no lyer and how the situation of that part of the riuer being no lesse then a great I land inuited him for his habitation without feare of the wilde beastes which made it desert and inhabitable he determined to liue there Which I land as it will in time I hope be cleane eaten out by the riuer for by little and little it is euerie day made lesse so I wish it had now the full and complete time with the forcible waters to be quite consumed The name of this monstrous man is Gorphorost whose incredible strength and bignes because you may vnderstand behold the depth of this riuer and the maine force wherewith it runs with wading ouer himselfe a foote by three and three and fower and fower he sets ouer all his sheepe on the other side which haue multiplied in such numbers for since his comming he hath almost killed all the wilde beasts that might destroy them that there is scarce any place to containe them and so not able to put a great part of them vnder the shades he lets them goe freely amids the fields and along the riuer bankes without feare of estraying or any other danger being inuironed by the waters that keepe them in manner of a prison We wished well to Gorphorost and would haue pleasured him for killing the wilde beasts that annoyed not a little this pleasant countrey wherefoeuer they went if there with all not iniuring the Shepherds of these places he had not depriued vs of their friendly company though to our selues but onely in these respects he did neuer any other harme who are rather bound vnto him though of his own vertue it proceeds not the not offending of vs that he hath bin a meanes whereby this faire Nymphe is in our companie The end therefore for the which I haue made this short admonition is that we would not haue you for our sakes suffer any harme by this rude Shepherd who for all this hath forgotten a great part of his fiercenesse since he gaue place and entrance to gentle loue Wherupon you may know how great the force of that mightie child is But if in these daies for I am certaine he will not come out for a solemne oath he made some good meanes may be found to make you liue heere with safetie we will not be a little carefull to seeke it out for you And if there bee none yet shall it please vs better that with your absence you should be free from daunger then with your presence for our content to hazard your liues or safetie anie waie They thanked vs for our good will and seemed not to take care for anie thing that might happen in lieu that wee fayled not of our agreement with them Parthenius assuring vs that he could so well flatter and please fierce Gorphorost that they might without any harme abide there still With these words and some amorous songs that we fower did sing in course we passed away the heate of that day and returned as we were woont to the riuer they remaining still in that pleasant forrest which serued them for their dwelling place and making prouision of necessarie foode for their sustenance from the villages thereabouts Not onely Delicius Parthenius Stela and I failed not in those first eight daies to be at the appointed place of our meeting but the fame of the new Shepherds came to the eares of some other Nymphes who comming thither and consorting with vs made many gracious and pleasant quiers dances and songs to the tune of their Rebeckes and Baggepipes somtimes lending a gentle eare to Parthenius and Delicius sweete songs somtimes applying our selues to telling of tales At which pleasant meetings old Parisies who sometimes came to see his daughter gaue no small content to euery one with his wise precepts and counsell touching the honour of the immortall Gods and shewing their diuine prouidence in all creatures and by them the great power and
might of their eternall creator by explaining the accelerate courses and motions of the celestiall globes and the cause of their vnwearied swiftnes In which time Delicius and Parthenius gained so greatly to their wils the loue of all my companions Shepherds and Shepherdesses who also resorted thither knowing what Gorphorost had vowed that they were not meanely beloued of all as well for their sweete songs and playing as also for their wisedome demeanour and good graces But aboue all faire Stela and I without comparison exceeded them though my loue with Parthenius was more openly extended wherunto I had then most of al disposed my minde and for no other cause then that I knew Delicius had emploied his thoughts and loue on Stela and also bicause Ithought Parthenius was most free Betweene vs both like rude girles we knew not how to gouerne our selues in Cupids affaires Betweene vs both being but a littleprudent we were ignorant howe we should behaue vs in the effects of this childe and therefore endured him impatiently though harder and more violent he was to Stela then to me not bicause I had beene a longer scholler in Venus schoole or had more experience in her blinde Sonnes effects then she but bicause she desired and forced her-selfe to wring out the worme out of her hart that euery day without feeling it crept more and more into the center of it for of such qualitie is this traytour loue that the more one endeuors to shake him off with greater force he takes place and seiseth on his conquered soule So that Stela the more she laboured not to loue the Shepherds the more couragiously loue assailed hir which made her night nor day take any rest nor finde ease in any thing all which I afterwards knew by her owne mouth who at the first dissembled the matter so cunningly that I could gather nothing of it And so meaning to take away the effect by remoouing the cause she would sometimes slie from coÌpany refraining to com where the Shepherds were staying for vs vnles she was importuned by me But after certain daies that we foure were al alone togither I said It is not reason yong Shepherdes that with therest we liue in doubt of knowing you but that in some point we may perceiue a difference betweene you when as oftentimes we cannot no more then the rest call you by your right names which I assure you troubles vs not a little So that I would faine haue one of you take some kinde of marke to be knowen from the other but in such secret sort to put vs out of doubt and make the rest remaine still therein Our intent answered Delicius hath beene hitherto gracious Crimine to haue our garments make no dissimilitude betweene them whom one will and shape hath made so like But to pleasure thee herein that by taking it no offence be ministred to thy companion let faire Stela set downe the difference betweene vs in outward shew since she hath made it in the inward soule I know not Shepherd said Stela what difference I haue put betweene you and Parthenius Thy conceit faire Stela is not I thinke so hard as thy hart but that thou maist easily coniecture how much loue workes in me for thy sake The putenesie of my thoughts saide Stela hath made me ignorant of that which I would had not beene The hardnes of thy hart said Delicius hath made me prudent in that which was not so much expedient for me Dost thou then speak it in good earnest saide Stela That thou louest me Dost thou then aske it in iest said Delicius if I loue thee No said Stela But then belike I am she as the matter fals out to whom thou hast adressed all thy songs and teares Delicius thinking to haue a prosperous gale whereof we also thought him assured for all this while she seemed not to be angrie but milde and gentle whereby she got that out of his hart which the forrowfull soule had kept so secret in his breast with a pitifull eie cast on her answered Euen she indeed thou art as the matter fals out to whom I auow the terme and seruice of my life and voluntarie subiection of my soule that is c. Enough enough said Stela I vnderstand thee too well and am now resolued of my former suspitions I neuer thought that the bold presumption of a miserable and obscure man could so far extend as to entertaine a thought so preiudiciall to my honor Wherefore from this day let come who will to enioy thy poisoned conuersation When she had spoken these bitter wordes with an austere and angrie countenance she flung from thence without any companie and with no lesse haste then the timorous virgin that walking by some hedge and treading with her fine foote vpon some carelesse viper appalled with feate flieth with speede away The tender harted Delicius not able to powre foorth any complaints as one stroken dumbe remained no lesse astonished then the Shepherde seeing the faithfull Mastie harde by his side stroken dead with a fearefull thunderclap and the grasse but euen now greene at his seete burned by the sudden lightning thereof On whom I tooke so great compassion that I could not staie my teares but turning my face to Farthenius to bid him helpe his fellow I espied him in a sencelesse trance representing more the image of a dead bodie then the sigure of a liue man to whom it was no lesse then death to see his deere friend in such a plight and woorse then death to his decaied soule knowing that he must nowe be depriued of the sight of his deere Stela the onely reward and comfort of all his priuate passions Seing my Parthenius in such a case like a true louer I clasped my hands togither and then opening them againe saide O dismall day At which very instant I cast my selfe vpon Parthenius for when Stela was risen vp to be gone I also rose vp from my place ioyning his pale face to mine kissed him softly he poore Parthenius hanging downe his head in my lappe At the voice that I gaue Delicius awaked as it were out of a deepe sleepe sighed and seeing Parthenius in like case fell againe into another swoune and remained in such sort as my Parthenius did I was a good while embracing my Parthenius for loue and pitie ouercame my due regarde of modestie and held him in such sort as you haue heard not taking away my face from his but at the end crauing helpe of Delictus I perceiued he stood in no lesse neede of the same Beleeue me Gentlemen if my paine might haue beene augmented I must needs haue felt it by this second sight of Delictus But my griefe being extreme and nothing able to adde more torments to my tortured soule I felt them not vnlesse it were to see my selfe all alone in such a case But animared by the desire I had to helpe them I tooke a fine