me tell you Hylas that all those reasons which you have instanced for a proof that the loving party ought to be loved again though they be fals yet shall be allowed as good But how can you conclude from them that Tircis ought to betray the amitie of Cleon by beginning a new love of Laonice These are impossibilities and contradictions Impossible because none is obliged unto more then they can do How would you have this Shepheard love when he has no will You laugh Hylas when you heare me say he has none Faith I do so said Hylas I pray what has he done with it He that loves answered Phillis doth give his soul it self all its faculties unto the party loved and so by con equenee his wil is not in his power But this Cleon replyed Hylas being dead has nothing and therefore Tircis ought to to take his own again Ah Hylas Hylas answered Phillis you talke like an ignorant in Love for such gifts as are disposed on by Loves authoritie are for ever irrevocable Pray then said Hylas what is become of this will since the death of Cleon The lesse followes the greater replied Phillis if pleasure be the object of the will if that cease to be a pleasure where 's the will And so it hath followed Cleon if Cleon be not then there is no will for he had never had it but for her But if Cleon be in some certain place as our Druids hold that she is then this will is in her hands so contented in the place where she is that if she her selfe would chase it away she cannot returne it to Tircis as knowing well it would be in vain but it goes into the grave and rests with her beloved Ashes this being so why do you tax the faithful Tircis with ingratitude if it be in his power to love any other Also you do not only require things impossible but also things in themselves contraries for if every one ought to love the party that loves why should he not then love Cleon who never failed him in amitie And as for the recompences which you demand for the Services and Letters which Laonice carried pray let her remember the contentment she received by them and how merry she made herselfe as long as this fallacie lasted who otherwise would have droned out a dull and melancholy life So as if she balance the payment which the service I assure my selfe she will think her selfe very well payed You say Hylas that Tircis deceived her but I say it was no deceipt but a just punishment of love who returned her own blows upon her selfe for her intention was not to serve him but to delude Cleon. Thus Silvander have I briefly answered the false reasons of this Sheapheard and there remaines no more but to make Laonice confesse that she injured Tircis in her unjust pursuing of him which I shall easily do if she will be but pleased to answer me Fair Shepheardesse pray tell me do you love Tircis Shepheardesse answered she all that knowes me knowes I do If he were forced to be absent replyed Phillis and another in the mean time should court you would you not change affection No answered she for I would still hope he would returne If you heard that he would never return said Phillis would you then cease to love him No certainly answered she Then Fair Laonice answered Phillis think it not strange that Tircis who knowes that his Cleon is in heaven that she sees all his actions and rejoyceth in his fidelity should not change the affection he bore unto her nor let this distance of place seperate their loves since all the hindrances of life could never do it Do not beleeve what Hylas said that none ever returnes over the River Acheron many that have been beloved of the gods have both gone and come and who knowes but Cleon who was adorned with so many excellencies of soul may find the same favour from Love Oh Laonice were but your eyes permitted to look upon Divinitie you would see that Cleon to defend her own cause is in this place and whispers these words into my eares which I utter in her defence Then would you confesse that Hylas was in the wrong when he said that Tircis was mad to love her cold ashes Me thinks I see her in the midst of us and in lieu of a fragile body subject unto humane accidents she is cloathed with glorious imortality and chiding Hylas for the blasphemies he had breathed against her What wouldst thou answer Hylas if thy happy Cleon should say thus unto thee Wilt thou offer O thou inconstant wretch to stain my Tircis with thy own insidelity If he did heretofore love me dost thou think it was my Body If thou shouldst answer Yes I would then reply that then he ought to be condemned to love the ashes which I have left in my Coffin as long as they will last For a Lover never ought to retreat from a Love once begun If thou dost confesse that it was my Soul he loved which was my principall part then Oh thou fond and unconstant sinner why should he now change his will since she is now more perfectly glorious than ever she was Otherwise such is the misery of the living I should be jealous I should be vexed and I should be seen by many eyes as I am by his But now I am delivered from such mortall imperfections and am no more capable of any infirmities And wouldst thou Hylas with thy sacrilegious perswasions divert him from me in whom I only lived upon earth and by a most barbarous cruelty endeavour to give me a second death Oh! most horrid to hear These words wise Silvander do make such a Turring sound in my ears as I do believe they will make your heart resent them as well as mine And therefore to let this divinity argue the cause in your soul I will be silent only let me hint thus much unto you that Love is so just as you your selfe ought to stand in awe of his punishing hand if Laonice's pitty rather then Cleon's reasons should move you At this word Phillis made a low congee intimating thereby that she had no more to say in the behalfe of Tircis Laonice offered to answer further but Silvander would not suffer her saying that now she was to hear the sentence which the gods would pronounce by his mouth Then after he had weighed the reasons on both sides he pronounced this Doom The Judgment of Silvander THe principall point in the cause debated before us is to know whether Love can die by the death of the party loved Unto which I say that the Love which is perishable is not right Love for it ought to follow the subject which gave it life and therefore those who love only the Body ought to enclose their love of that body in the same Coffin where it is but such as love the Soul ought with their love to flie
still with as much affection as is due unto a Brother Adieu adieu my Celion live and love me who will love you to the last whatsoever becomes of Belinde At this word she kissed him which was a greater favour than ever yet she did him and left him so much out of himselfe that he could not utter one syllable When he returned to himselfe and considered that love ought to bend unto duty and that there was not one spark of hope left which could help him out of his griefes like a man that ravelled in his resolutions he wandred up and down Woods and unfrequented places where he did nothing but lament his cruell dyfaster do what all his friends could they could not perswade him from this errant life Thus he lived many daies in which he moved the very Rocks unto pitty And to the end she who was the cause of his misery might a little resent it he sent her these Verses Celion upon the Marriage of Belinde and Ergastes 'T Is hard by Jove that after so much love And service paid you should anothers prove Must I that serv'd a Prenti hip of sorrow See you anothers joy and blisse to morrow And have no other wages for my pains But sad remembrance of anothers gains You once did love me well 't is very true But Oh this fatall Did does griefe renew What am I better for a Love that 's past When you are in another's a mesembrac'd When you are once anothers halfe not mine Away my soul with sorrow needs must pine Had he more merit or more love than I Then were I silenc'd in my misery But this is cruell Martyrdome that he In one short day should finde felicity Without desert and I denyed am Who long had lov'd and merited the same Oh cruell memory of happinesse that 's past Out of my thoughts since hope is quite defac'd There is no reason you should harbour there Where nothing is but horror and despair Although he seemed by his actions to be quite out of any hope yet there was a little spark left because the Contract of Marriage was not yet past and he knew that some Matches have been broken off which were believed to be as currant as this But when he understood that the Writings were Signed and sealed on both sides Oh! in what a dismal despair was he then then did he wring his hands together scratch his head tear his hair beat his stomack and in short was so transported and besides himself that he was in a hundred minds to go and kill Ergastes and when he was upon the very point of putting it into execution this consideration amidst his fury did come into his minde that this perhaps would offend Belinde unto whom for all his madnesse he writ severall Letters full of love and reproaches which she could hardly read without tears and amongst the rest he sent her this Celion's Letter unto Belinde in his Transport WHat inconstant Shepheardess must my misery equall my affection must I still love you when I see you clasped in the armes of another Surely the gods do punish me for loving you too much or rather indeed for not loving you enough yet I do love you as much as ever any other in the world can And yet for gods-sake tell me why I should love you since you do love a person whom I do not And then again why should I not love you since I did once love you so well Faith me thinks I have no reason to love you because you are ungratefull your soul is a very stone and is insensible of any love But be you what you will you are still Belinde And can Belinde be and Celion not love her Should I love you then or should I not love you pray Shepheardesse be judge your selfe As for me my spirit is so much troubled that I cannot discern any thing but that I am the most afflicted person in the world At the lower end of this Letter he writ these Verses I never can excuse Such fond inconstancy As you it seemes do use In changing Amitie To change for better may Be called Prudence good But for the worse I say Is madnesse understood When Belinde received this Letter and Verses she had a good minde to send him one of hers for hearing what a strange kinde of life he lived and what language he used against her she was much displeased at it considering that it gave occasion of discourse unto such as have no ears nor tongues but to hear and talk of the businesse of others Her Letter to him was this Belinde's Letter unto Celion IT is impossible I should any longer indure the injuries which your strange kinde of life does both your selfe and me I cannot say but that you have reason to complain against our fortune but I must needs also say that any wise person cannot without abundance of blame play the fool Though your raptures and transport does let all the world know that you are ready to die for the love of me yet you do thereby force me to believe that in reality and truth you do not love me for if you aid you would never thus displease me Do you not know that death it selfe cannot be more horrour unto me than that opinion which you do raise in every one of our Amity Take heed therefore dear Brother I intreat you and by that name conjure you to have a care how you blemish my honour If you cannot endure this dysaster without divulging it to the censorious World then I conjure you to go away that my name may no more be brought into question If you do satisfie me in this then you will make me believe that it is a superfluitie and not defect of Love which hath made you erre thus against me And this will oblige Belinde to keep in memory her dear Brother whom in spite of all these in supportable injuries she loves Although Celion was so transported that he was hardly capable of any reason that his friends could urge unto him yet his affection did so open his eyes as he saw that Belinde advised him well So as resolving upon travel he took order for his departure and the day before he was to goe he writ unto his Shepheardesse intimating his intentions of obeying her and desiring so much favour onely as to take his leave of her before he went The Shepheardesse who did really love him though she did foresee that this would but augment his sorrows yet would not deny him his request but appointed him to meet her the next morning at the Fountain of Sicamours Day did no sooner dawn but the disconsolate Shepheard did drive his Flock towards this Fountaine where staying by the side of it and fixing his eyes upon the course of this streame he waited for his Shepheardesse and after a long silence sighed out these Verses The comparison of a Fountaine unto his Griefs THis restless River that doth run Wave after
five or six daies and therefore she was almost the last of all the visitants though the nearest neighbour I contrived it so that all my friends and neighbours sent both their Sisters and Daughters to my house when we were almost out of all hope to discover what I desired to know this way one came to tell us that Celidea was at the door As fortune was the Physician held him by the arm at that time and his pulse did beat a slower pace than it had done all the day but as soon as ever he heard Celidea named it began to beat as if he were in a most high Feaver The Physician finding this did look him in the face and saw his eyes more quick and lively than ordinary his complexion came into his cheeks and he saw so great an alteration every way as hee would hardly stay till Celidea entred for better assurance but when she entred his pulse then did keep a mad mans time and all parts were different from their ordinary temper Therefore drawing me aside Thamires said he It is not Celidea which enters into the Chamber but it is Calidons Wife if you would have him live Oh heavens how those words pierced me to the heart They struck me dumb I was not able to speak one word Afterwards when I had a little recollected my self I asked him whether considering the condition he was in it were fit to marry him No said he it will be enough if you can procure the Shepheardess to give him some knowledge of her affection and in the mean time you may talk with Clcontine who being wise will not bee against a match so advantageous The Physician went away and left me in a worse condition than his patient Oh what strange contrarieties were in my soul One side bade mee yeeld Celidea unto Calidon for friendship sake Love on the other side forbade the banes But said Friendship unto me Calidon will dy if you doe deny her and there is no Physician but this can cure him And Love answered how canst thou live thy self if thou doest not enjoy her Canst thou not surmount a vain passion said Friendship and be ruled by the Laws of Reason What reason is it replyed Love to dye thy self to make another live Doe you not consider replyed Friendship that Calidon is young and therefore lesse able than thy self to master his unruly passion Wilt thou that art arrived at grave and stayed yeares shew thy self weaker than he or to express it a little better wilt thou buy a little transitory pleasure that is past almost as soon as had at so deare a rate as the death and eternal losse of Calidon Away away change thy minde consider not what thou art but what thou shouldst be Think how the Father of that young Shepheard will reproach thee Did he not with his last dying breath recommend his young childe then in his cradle unto thy indulgent care Didst thou not swear he should be as dear unto thee as thy self Doest thou not remember the many good offices thou receivedst from him Oh Thamires do not buy thy repentance at so dear a rate Repent repent for shame of an act so unworthy an ancient Boyen from whence it is thy boast to be descended and let not thy soul be continually gnawed upon by an evil conscience I must confesse that these considerations had such a prevalency with me as I did once resolve to part with Celidea and resign her unto Calidon But O Madam what extream difficulties did I finde in the execution of it First to the end this young Shepheard might recover his health I begun with him and acquainting him with my knowledge of his disease I shewed him my extream desire of his cure At the first he denyed it unto me but at last hee did confesse it with watry eyes and asked me forgivenesse with so many apparent signes of sorrow that seeing his errour was by a most compulsive power of Love I could not chuse but take his fault upon my selfe But the grand difficulty was to speake unto Celidea for shee was so farre from loving him that shee did down right hate him And certainly this hatred proceeded from an Antipathy in Nature since she had not the least shaddow of any cause for it and the Shepheard had so many excellent good qualities that in all reason they should rather have gotten love than hatred And yet shee would alwaies say unto me that Calidon of all men shee knew should be the last man she would love But being resolved to make this overture so contrary both unto her will and my own I was at an extream puzzle where and how to begin At last I thought it best to break the Ice by degrees for to bid her downright to love Calidon was not the way both in respect of her affection to me and disaffection to him I went therefore to work by degrees and now she was not to be treated as a child I hinted unto her my extreame sorrows for the Shepheard how dear his life was unto me and how I should never enjoy any delights if I lost him That Physicians and all knowing persons told me his malady proceeded from nothing else but sorrow and not knowing what was the cause I could not chuse but desire all them that loved mee to study how to make him merry or at least to finde out the cause of his sicknesse And that she being one whom I loved and honoured most shee was in some sort obliged more than any to endeavour the cure of this Shepheard for my sake Therefore I conjured her by our friendship to see him as often as she could and to carrasse and cheer him up to keep him from that melancholly which would kill him She who did really love me did promise to doe it so oft as she conveniently could And indeed did so which on the one side did content me and on the other did so grieve me as I did thinke I should not live I had a conceit that her familiarity with him would in time engage her to liking of him which afterwards might the more easily make her bee perswaded unto love Shee having no other design did onely as shee promised but did not change her minde However this wrought good effects upon Calidon who receiving so many favourable visits and being so kindly carrassed above his expectation did in a short time begin to recover And though he was not presently cured yet there was apparent signes of amendment Now because that shee was weary of this life and because I saw my design did not take according to my thoughts I intended to oblige her another way I addressed my self unto Cleontine acquainted her with my affection unto Calidon with my intention of making him my Heir I represented unto her the quality of this young Shepheard his virtues and to be brief with the love he had unto Caledon and used all manner of arguments that might advance the
sentence of his Mistris he did oppose his innocency then the suddain execution of it did appear in the eyes of his fancy And as he was falling from one thought into another his hand fell a cidentally upon the Riband tyed to his arme in which was Astreas Ring Oh what horrid memorialls came then into his mind Then did he fancy the fury which her soul expressed both by words and actions when she pronounced the sentence of his banishment Then after a long and sad contemplation upon this last dysaster he began to think upon the change of his Fortune how happy he had been and how she favoured him Then begun he to think what she had done for him how for his sake she had slighted many well qualified shepherds how little she valued the displeasure of her Father or anger of her Mother when they opposed against her affection then began he to consider that Fortune is as fickle in matters of Love as in any thing else and how few of all her favours remained with him which was only a Bracelet of her hair tyed about his arme and a Picture which he wore at his brest whose Case he kissed many a time as for the Ring which he wore about the other arme he esteemed that rather as forced then of any benevolence Then upon a suddain he remembred the Letters which she had writ unto him in the happie dayes of his being in favour and which he alwayes carried about with him in a little bagg Oh what rapture was he in when he first thought upon them for he feared lest the Nymphes when they pulled off his cloathes should have seen them In this doubt he called out aloud for the little Merril for he allwayes waited in a Lobby close by The little boy hearing him call so hastily two or three times came to see what his pleasure was My little officer saith Celadon doest thou know what is become of my clothes for they containe somthing which would much perplex me to lose Your clothes Sir said he are not far from hence but there is nothing in them for I searched them Oh Meril said the Shepheard thou art much mistaken for there was something which I valued above my life then turning towards the other side of the bed he began to make exceeding sad complaints a long while together Meril hearing him was on the one side very sorry to heare him lament as he did and on the other side was in great doubt whether he should tell him all he knew at last not being able to be longer a witnesse of his sorrowes he told him that he needed not to trouble himselfe so much for he was sure the Nymph Galathea loved him too wel to keep from him any thing which he so much valued At this Celadon turned towards him and asked whether that Nymph had them I beleeve it is the same said he at least I found a litle bundle of papers and as I was bringing them unto you she met me and took them from me Oh Heavens said the Shepheard things are worse and worse then turning on the otherside he would speak no more Mean time Galathea did read the Letters for it was true she did take them from Merill and as those in Love are alwayes full of curiositie so she read them but she had strictly charged him to say nothing because she intended to restore them as unknown that she had seen them Silvia held the candle whilst Galathea unloosed the string which tyed them together we shall see said Silvia whether this Shepheard be such a dull fellow as he would seeme to be and whether or no he be in Love then Galathea took out the papers gently for feare of tearing them and the first she laid her hand upon was this Astrea's Letter unto Celadon Celadon WHat 's this you do attempt Into what a confusion are you about to bring your self Take my advice who counsell you as a friend and leave off this your design of serving me t is too ful of inconveniency beleeve it what content Celadon can you hope for I shal be extreamly intolerable you may with as much ease attempt an impossibility you must wait and suffer and be patient and have neither eyes or Love for any but me for never think I will share affection with any other nor accept of halfe-love I am full of suspitions extreamly Jealous I am exceeding hard to be woon and very easily lost quickly offended but abominably hard to be pleased my will must be destiny it selfe my opinions must passe for reasons and my commands must be inviolable Lawes Shepheard be wise and keep out of this dangerous Labyrinth Cease from a designe which may prove soruinous I know my selfe better then you do never think to alter my naturall Genius I shall certainly break rather then bend and if you will not beleeve what now I say do not hereafter complaine against me Never credit me said Galathea if this Shepheard be not in Love It cannot be doubted said Silvia being so well accomplished Then Galathea gave her another Letter which had been wet to hold unto the fire meanewhile she took another Letter which contained these words Astrea's Letter unto Celadon Celadon YOu will not beleeve that I Love you and yet you desire I should beleev you Love me If I do not Love you what will my credence in your affection profit you perhaps you thinke that beliefe will oblige me to it but alas Celadon that consideration is too weak if your merits and services were not more considerable but this is the state of your condition I would not only have you know that I think you Love me but I would have you know also that I do Love you and amongst many other this is an infallible argument of it that I have valued my Love to you above my obedience to my Parents If you consider how great my duty is to them you may by it value my Love to you since it is above all duties Adieu be not any longer incredulous As soon as this Letter was read Silvia brought the other and Galathea told her with a sad heart that Celadon was in Love and which was worse that he was extreamly loved which grieved her to the very soul for now she saw that she was to force a Fort which a victorious enemy was possessor of For by these Letters she found that the humour of this Shepherdesse was not to be halfe a Mistris but would have an absolute command over such as she daigned to accept as her servants and her opinion of this was much fortified when she read the other Letter which had been wet it was thus penned Astrea's Letter unto Celadon Celadon LYcidas told Phillis that yesterday you were in a very bad humour Am I the cause of it or you If it be I it is without occasion for did I ever desire any more then to Love and be loved by you And have you not sworne a
most true that she did love him and did give him so many proofs of it as he had been but a very shallow man had he not seen it And though she would have dissembled it with me yet I do know that she drew him in by such artifices and hopes of her goodwill towards him that I seeing demonstrable assurances given him did think her wholly his But he does most justly merit this punishment for that perfidie which he hath used towards a Nymph whose beguiled affection had just cause for revenge which Love at the last did execute upon him The truth is he is the basest impostor the most ungratefull and the most unworthy to be loved that is under heaven for his ingratitude and if he do resent that pain which others have endured for him he deserves no pitty Adamas seeing her so exasperated against Polemas asked her who that Nymph was which he had deceived for said he to her she must needs be one of your friends since you are so sensible of the offence which was done unto her She now saw that her passion had carried her too far and that she had unawares bolted out a thing which had been kept long a secret yet having a quick wit she so dissembled the businesse as Adamas took no notice of it Do you not know Daughter said Adamas that the aimes of all men is to overcome and compasse the designe which they attempt and the amitie which they shew unto you women when they love you is but to make the way more easie You see Leonida all Love is but a desire of something which is wanting that desire being sadded and cloyed is no more desire and there being no more desire there is no more love and therefore those that would be loved long are those that give least satisfaction unto the desires of their Lovers But said Leonida she whom I do speak of is one of my intimate friends and I know she never treated Polemas but with all the coldnesse she could That replied Adamas did stifle desire for desire is nourished by hopes and favours As a Lamp when Oyle is wanting doth extinguish so does desire die when that which should nourish it is taken away Thus does many Loves die some by too many some by too few favours But let us returne unto the discourse betwixt Galathea and you What was it which she did say unto you She said thus answered Leonida If Polemas had been so discreet as to measure himselfe aright as he was presumptuous in loving me he had taken these favours as flowing from my courtesie and not love But this is nothing to the passage that happened at that time for I had no sooner made an answer unto Polemas but Lindamor according to the order of the Dance came and stole me away and so dexterously that Polemas could not avoid it nor by the same means answer me but with his eyes but truly he made such a sourâ— face at me as I could not for my heart but laugh as for Lindamor he either took no notice of it or else would not make it appear but presently after he talked to me after such a manner as was enough to make Polemas mad had he heard it Madam said he is not this a fatall exchange What do you mean said I unto him I mean said he that in this Dance I have stolne you and in the very truth you have stollen my soul and my heart Then blushing at this I returned this seeming angry answer Fie Lindamor what strange language is this do you not consider who you are and who I am I do so Madam said he and that does invite me to this language for are not you my Lady and I your servant Yes answered I but not so as you do intend it for it is your duty to serve me with reverence and not love or if it be with any affection it must be such as proceeds from your duty To which he presently replyed Madam if I do not serve you with all humble reverence never was any deitie reverenced by any mortall but this reverence must be either the Father or the Child of my affection and call it what you please I am resolved to serve you to love you and to obey you your merits your perfections and my own fate has made me eternally yours he that sees and does not love you deserves not the name of Man and Clidaman's Lottery though it was some cause yet was it only a cover of my soules affection These expressions were uttered with a vehemency as made it plainly appear that his heart and tongue agreed and I beseech you observe one pleasant passage for said Galathea to me I never took any notice of this affection thinking it to be only in jeast and I never had perceived it untill the jealousie of Polemas did hint it unto my thoughts but ever since I have so set my thoughts upon Lindamor and I have sound him as well capable of causing love as jealousie and Polemas ever since that time hath so displeased me in all his actions as I could hardly endure him On the contrary all Lindamors actions did seem so plausible unto me as I wondred that I should observe them no sooner so as the jealousie of Polemas did quench my love of him and transferred my affection upon Lindamor This change had such an operation upon Polemas as ever since caused him to look asquint upon me and I am sure my eyes did not look upon him as they were wont When Galathea spoke thus against him I was not at all sorry by reason of his ingratitude but on the contrary the more to prejudice him I said thus unto her I do not at all wonder Madam that Lindamor should win more upon you than Polemas for their qualities and parts are not comparable and every one that sees them are of the same judgment you are It is true indeed I do foresee much jangling will arise first betwixt them two and secondly betwixt you and Polemas And why said Galathea to me do you think he has such an influence upon my actions or Lindamors That is not it Madam that I do mean said I unto her but I am so well acquainted with the humour of Polemas that he will try all manner of waies leave no stone unturned and will conjure both heaven and earth to ingratiate himselfe unto that happinesse which he hath lost and will commit such grosse follies as will be visible unto all but such as will not see them and such as will offend both you and Lindamor No no Leonida answered she if Lindamor do love me he will do as I shall command him and if he do not love me he will never care what Polemas does And as for Polemas I know how to order him Upon these words she commanded me to draw the Curtain and took her rest at least as well as these new designes would permit her But when the Ball was ended
griefe and when any resentments did divert her memory of them her eyes would then six themselves upon no objects but such as were sad which to avoid she kept her selfe most commonly in her Cabin But her greatest affliction was she was deprived of that consolation which is found even in the greatest misfortunes I mean she could not lay the fault upon any but her self nor could she find out any excuse to turn it another way And certainly it had bin absolutely impossible for her to have lived under such a load of griefs if the society of Diana Phillis had not helped her to bear the burthen for the presence of reall friends is doubtlesse one of the most soveraigne remedies that griefe can receive and these two reall friends not being ignorant of it they had so great a care of her that one or both of them were continually with her they would pull her out of her Chamber by force and carry her into the most unfrequented places for unto others they would not lest they should meet with some accidents which might bring Celadon afresh into her memory so as these kinde Shepheardesses did sweeten many an houre and stole many a bitter minute from Astrea Silvander on the other side under pretence of a faigned addresse unto Diana did fall so extreamly in reall love with her as he hath been an excellent example unto all the Country and at his own expences taught them this Doctrine that Love will not be jeasted withall He findes now so many compulsive causes of love in that Shepheardesse as he admires he should be acquainted with her so long and love her no sooner And though this task of courtship which he had undertaken was the Origen of his disease yet he made no complaint because Diana without any offence allowed him liberty to expresse his passion for such was the violence of his love that if it had not been allowed some vent it would have broke him and he could not possibly have lived without it When he consulted with himselfe he plainly saw that he had made a disadvantageous change especially when he remembered how happy he was an absolute Master of himselfe oft did he muster up all his arguments drawn from reason to rid himselfe from this new servitude and when he found that reason was too weak to do it he would arme himselfe with violent resolutions against it But alas look how oft he tryed all these waies so oft did he see that it is in vain for any man to strive aganst the ordinances of heaven and that whoso is wise will rather comply and submit his will thereunto And therefore every morning and night when civility denyed him Diana's company he used to retire himselfe from all manner of company as well because all the world without her was irksome unto him as to consult more freely with himselfe and to consider which way he had best take to effect his desires And though he saw many impossibilities in the pursuit of his affection yet for all that he could fix upon no resolutions which concluded not in advantage of his love If at any time he started a designe to make a retreat Oh how suddenly would his heart give a check unto himselfe If he determined to pursue Oh what difficulties what rubs and how many Martyrdoms did he foresee What shall we do Silvander would he say to himselfe since both pursuit and retreat are equally impossible Then would he say in answer to himselfe Thy best way is to do as the heavens they would have thee Can it be imagined that the heavens would ever have made her so admirably fair but only that all those who see her should love her And since in going both forward and backward thou findest equall impossibility chuse that course which is most agreeable to the will of heaven and to thy selfe She is made so fair purposely to be loved and adored and for my part I will far sooner quit my life then her service What then needs any further consultation since the will of heaven and my own do so well agree upon it As he was in discourse with himselfe he chanced to be neer the pleasant River of Lignon opposite to a Rock which resounded an Eccho that distinctly answered to the last syllable of every sentence And therefore after much turbulency of spirit he roused up himselfe as if awakned out of a dream and said Why should I thus turmoile my selfe in so many ravelled contrarieties The Eccho which inhabits in this place will tell me what it hath heard from the mouth of my fairest Shepheardesse and therefore it is the most infallible Oracle which I can consult withall Then clearing up his voice he began to enquire thus of it ECCHO TEll me where goes my cries and care Thou blabbing Daughter of the Air To the Air. Do'st think my heart which Torments nurse A better End will meet or worse Worse What then doth mean that charming eye Which seemes to love eternally A Lie If so then what will me recover And from my Errour me deliver Leave her How leave her saist thou to another How can I leave her when I love her Love her The best advice that thou couldst frame But did Diana say the same The same Had she but said that she did Love Oh! then I should most happy prove Happy prove And so I should could I but finde That thou wert sure this is her minde This is her minde Although Silvander knew well enough that he was his own Answerer and that the Aire being beaten by his voice into the concavities of the Rock was reverberated into his ears yet could he not chuse but resent great consolation from the auspicious Answers which he received conceiving that nothing was governed by Chance but all by an All-wise Providence and therefore he believed those words which the Rock returned to his ear were inspired into his tongue by some good Demon that loved him so as in this opinion he followed the custome of all Lovers who use to flatter themselves in what they desire and find such hopes out of very bare appearances in which there in no appearance of reason After he had given thanks unto the Genius of the Rocks and to the Nymphs of Lignon he intended to go and present himselfe unto his Shepheardesse at the field of Mercury for there she used to call in her way to Astrea and as he winded his course that way he espied afar off the Nymph Leonida and the generous Paris who hearing his voice turned towards him as well to enquire of the Shepheardesses Astrea Diana and Phillis as to enjoy his good company For though Paris did well enough know what affection he bore unto Diana yet did he love and esteem him very much because he could never believe that that wise and discreet Shepheardesse could prefer him before himselfe by reason of the grandure of Adamas who for his quality of Grand Druide was next unto
me is rather an argument of your little merit then of any ensuing victory for so it is usuall to do only to make all even What do you mean by that said the shepheard I mean replyed she that on that end which is too leight they use to put some weight to counterpoise it untill the journey be ended but when they are arrived there then they throw away that which was only to make an equall ballance So till we are arrived at the end of our terme Diana does wisely ballance that side which is the leighter by her favours but afterwards she will give her judgment without any regard unto the weight of my affection or the levity of your little love And then God knowes on whom the victory you speak of will fall Silvander smiled and answered It is rather the custome of miserable people to be envious and lessen the happinesse of others which they infinitely esteem by their language Phillis without any further reply left him and went unto the two shepheardesses and was extreamly offended at them And because Diana laid the fault upon Astrea and Astrea could not well excuse her selfe Silvander began to speak for them both addressing himselfe unto Diana I beseech you fairest Mistresse said he consider how prudent Love is and how wisely he governes the actions of those he is pleased withall You thought hitherto that Phillis loved you and indeed I know none but have in some sort been deceived by her dissimulations Love who knowes all the interiour faculties of the soul and purposing to undeceive you hath caused you to favour me with this Bracelet of your hair not onely as a mark of my affection but also to discover the hollow affection of this deluder by her jealousie For as it is a thing impossible that two contraries should be at the same time in one place so much more that love and jealousie should be at the same time in one and the same heart Silvander's aim was only to torment Phillis the more for knowing how jealous Lycidas was he doubted not but to trouble her by proposing that Love and Jealousy are inconsistent And she being touched to the quick could not chuse but answer him thus Pray Shepheard what reasons and arguments have you to maintain so bad an opinion Such said he as will make you confesse your selfe of the same at the least if you know what the reason is Love is nothing but a desire and every desire is hot Jealousie is nothing but a fear and all fear is as cold as ice and how can you imagine such a cold Child should be the issue of such a hot Parent We see said Phillis that flint which is cold will send sorth sparks that are hot Most true answered Silvander but fire never produceth cold Yet by your favour replied Phillis ashes that are cold do proceed from fire Yes answered the shepheard but when the ashes are cold the fire is not in them Phillis was almost non-plust at this reply and much more when Diana spoke So likewise said she when cold jealousie begins Love that is hot ends Mistresse replyed Phillis my enemy may well get the victory if he have so good a Second as your selfe Then turning her selfe towards Astrea And you fair shepheardesse said she I may justly think you a very ill friend if seeing me assaulted by two you will not take my part Astrea answered very sadly I do hold it for a thing so certainly true that jealousy may proceed from love as not to bring it into any doubt I will not dispute it lest I should be forced to confess that I my selfe did not love because I was jealous as I do see you are forced to confess that being jealous of Diana you do not 〈◊〉 her or at the least being in doubt whether jealousie may proceed from love you are not well assured whether you love her or no. I do kiss the hand of this fair and just shepheardess said Silvander who without respect of persons speaks with so much truth in my advantage If you be obliged unto me said Astrea then surely you do think that I did speak partially in your favour for none are beholding unto him that speaks truth more then to him that payes a debt justly due Most true answered Silvander if it be taken in the rigour of justice but we do live in an age wherein so few do follow vertue simply and cleerly as we may think our selves obliged unto those that will but acknowledge any benefit although they are obliged unto it But what can you argue against that experience which we daily finde said Phillis unto him For I know a shepheard who after he had loved long and fell into extream jealousie yet afterwards recovering out of it did continue his affection long after Can you say that this was a fire extinguished which produced these ashes It is not impossible answered Silvander but one that is well may fall sick and after that sickness grow well again nor that a fire may be put out and afterwards kindled again Affection that was long hot may be put out by cold jealousie and that jealousie being gone it may become as hot as ever it was before But it cannot be that health and sickness hot fire and cold ashes love and jealousie should be in the same subject at the same time And for a full clearing of this truth let us observe the effects of love and jealousie and by them judge whether the causes from whence they proceed have any conformity together The effects of Love is an extream desire in our soules to see the person loved to serve her and to please her as much as possibly we can The effects of jealousie is a fear to meet her whom we love a carelessness to please her and a disdaining to serve her And who can think such contrary effects can proceed from one and the same cause If we do we must confess that nature will destroy her selfe if she will have contraries to consist together Phillis would gladly have answered but she was so non-plust as she knew not where to begin at which Diana could not chuse but laugh especially when she considered the jealousie of Lycidas And to add more matter for her perplexities she did purposely speak in this manner Jealousie is a signe of love as old ruines are signes of ancient buildings which are the greater the more magnificent the Edifice was And therefore a great jealousie cannot proceed from a little love But as we cannot give the name of buildings unto these ruines so jealousy cannot be called love And if I may judge by my own humour if I did love I should not have power to be jealous And what would you be said Phillis if he whom you should love should love another His enemy answered Diana I would say hate him And though I do foresee that such an accident would displease me yet it would be more for being deceived so long then for
that I cease loving you and I obey for if I die I cannot love you and if I do not love you I cannot delight in any life May you and your love to me said Phillis be immortall and so they shall before they die by my command But my desire is to have a relation of that from your own mouth which you hindred Florice from imparting to us Diana hearing this request and being much offended with the extremity of the Suns heat did say she would be a very willing Auditor so they could finde out an umbrage from the Sun's heat for she believed the discourse of Hylas would be very pleasant Astrea who longed to go about their businesse did think as much and therefore in compliance unto Diana's will she said that she would make one So said Hylas it shall not stick upon me and I should think my selfe to be very bad company if I were not very willing to give you satisfaction and my selfe also for I do believe there is as much delight in thinking upon old and past Loves as if they were present for the delights of Love are commonly more in the imagination then in the thing it selfe and in relation of things past the soul doth cast her eye upon those images which remain in the fancy and looks upon them as if they were present And therefore let us look out for a convenient shade from the rayes of the Sun It is impossible said Silvander to finde a more convenient place in all the Wood then by this little brook which you see for the coolnesse of the shade and murmure of the water is very inviting besides it is nothing out of our way All the company concur with him and when they came unto it every one began to wash their hands and sit round the Fountain of it unlesse Silvander who got into a great Cherry Tree which made part of the shade unto the Fountain and brought some of the best Cherries unto Diana who gave some to Paris and the shepheardesses and picking out some of the best she gave them unto Silvander saying Here Silvander I must needs give you some who gave them unto me I would to god said he and kissed the hand that gave them you would receive all I give you with as good a will as this Then taking his place as neer her as he could Hylas when they had eaten all their Cherries began his discourse thus The History of Parthenopea Florice and Dorinde I Have often laughed in my thoughts at all those who condemn inconstancy and are professed enemies against it considering that they themselves are not able to be as they say nor more constant then those whom they brand with that vice for when they do fall in love do they not fall in love with Beauty or something they think that is pleasing unto them Now when this Beauty doth fade as time doubtlesse will make all Beauty do are not they inconstant in still loving those faces that are now grown ugly and retain nothing of what they were but only the very name of a face If to love that which is contrary unto that which was loved be inconstancy and if uglinesse be contrary unto beauty then he that did love a fair face and continues loving it when it is ugly must be concluded inconstant This consideration makes me think that the way to avoid inconstancy is alwaies to love beauty and when it fades farewell love finde some other that is fair and still love beauty and not its contrary unlesse you be unconstant to your first love I know full well that this is point blank against the opinion of the vulgar But by way of answer let me tell you that the Heard of people the vulgar is but a heard of rude and ignorant beasts and in this they give a true testimony of it Do not think it strange fairest Mistresse nor you generous Paris if in relating the story of my life you hear of many such changes For I am so carefull not to decline from this constancy that I had rather quit all those whom hitherto I have loved then recede from it You have formerly been acquainted with the cause why I came out of Camargues how I came unto Lyons why I loved Palinice and Cercenea And when I interrupted Florice she would have told you how she began to captivate me but because she forgot some things which are requisite you should know I shall speak out that which she did so subtlely conceal and then relate the story of my life if we have time enough Be pleased to know then fairest Mistresse that Clorian was very ill advised in employing me to be his spokes-man unto Cercenea in such a businesse as that it is dangerous to make choice of a friend that is better accomplished then himselfe a hundred to one but in lieu of Friend he becomes a Lover and he that sent him not loved for if his Mistris have any wit she will chuse the better The truth is when I went with Palinice unto Cercenea in the behalfe of Clorian my intention was to serve him as a friend and to use all possible addresses which might conduce unto his contentment but assoon as I saw this Beauty I remembered that I my selfe was in love with her ever since I saw her that night in the Temple so as now the state of the question was whether I should stifle Friendship or stifle Love and after a long debate with my selfe unto which I should yield I concluded that the last commer must give place unto the first Love told me that it had taken possession of my soul almost assoon as I was born and that my affection unto Cercenea was before my love of Palinice which was the cause of my friendship with Clorian and therefore my friendship coming after my love it is injustice if I let it keep still in possession No surely thought I we see the Lawes allow primogeniture in Children and Nature it selfe seemes to approve of it This was the reason why I applyed my selfe unto Cercenea as Florice hath told you And I beseech you judge whether I am obliged to endeavour the contentment of another before my own Why should she upbraid me with the name of Traitor to my friend For if of two evills the lesser be alwaies to be chosen if killing ones selfe be the worst of murders who that is in his senses will say but I had better betray friendship then love and have a greater regard unto the preservation of my own life and contentment then the life and contentment of Clorian Clorian loved me and I loved Cercenea Clorian desired me to speak for him and my affection bad me speak for my selfe If I did not satisfie Clorian I offended against my friendship to him if I did not satisfie my affection I offended against Cercenea and Hylas I do love Clorian and I do love Hylas also Put selfe and another in the scales and selfe I dare
Thersander I was ashamed of them wondring that such a one as he should dare to look upon me in this way I was also offended with Leriana thinking it strange she should be the bringer of any such Letters and I was long in consultation with my selfe whether I should complain of her or take no notice of it I resolved at the last to tell her that I had throwne it into the fire and never read it and because I would flie all occasions as well to stop all reports as because I would have no occasion to put away Leriana whose humour was very agreeable unto me and though I knew she was in a fault yet my youth and the affection I had unto her constrained me to forget it and to seek for excuses in her behalfe A few daies after she came unto me and because I did not wear the Gloves which she gave me having an opinion they came from Thersander as well as the Letter she asked me what I had done with them I have given them away said I unto her because they were not fit for my hand And the Paper within them said she what have you done with it I threw it into the fire answered I was it of any importance Did you not read it said she And I answering No She said that she was very glad of it because she was deceived by one whom she trusted but she thanked god that the fire had purged away the fault What was it said I unto her You shall never know from me said she and I assure you that since I did know what it was which was within this houre I was extreamly afraid you should have read it and came now purposely to hinder you This crafty woman did think that I had read it but finding me not so well disposed as she desired she thought it necessary to imprint a good opinion of her selfe in me and to dissemble as well as I. And because she knew I loved Demon she accused me with it and condemned it thinking that she could not build her designes upon a better foundation then the ruines of that affection which I bare unto this Knight and therefore she turned her wits wholly to ruine it And because she knew very well that I had no ill opinion of my selfe she fancied that Damon's affection unto me was the cause of mine unto him her designe was therefore to put me into some doubts of him conceiving there was no better way then jealousie and that a generous spirit does more resent disdain then any other offence And though jealousie may proceed from severall causes yet the principall is when a Lover sees the party Loved loves another taking this new affection for an argument of disdain and conceiving that as she whom he loved did merit all his love so also he ought to have all hers in which she failing he doth attribute it unto disdain But when she went about to execute her designe she found it to be a piece of no small difficulty since this Cavalier did not look upon any woman but my selfe besides it was requisite that Leriana should have some power over her of whom she should make me jealous to the end she might the better mould her unto her ends moreover that such a one be secret and fair and of such a quality as might seem probable she deserved to be loved it was very hard for her to finde all these qualifications in one person But she whose acute wit never found any thing impossible after many a daies quest in vain at last resolved upon a Niece whom she brought up and to supply all defects by her subtlety This was a young wench whose name was Ormanthe young both in age and spirit who indeed was owner of a fair face but so shallow in all attracts of Love as very few deemed her fair yet notwithstanding Leriana had an opinion that she could so instruct her that where nature was defective her art would supply In order to this she took Ormanthe to task chid her for the little care she had of her selfe told her she might be ashamed to see all her Companions courted and loved who were much lesse fair then she was and that she could not oblige the meanest Cavalier to love her she told her all this proceeded from her carelessnesse and want of wit and that for her part if she did not resolve upon better courses she would send her home to her Mother for if she stayed any longer in the Court she would arrive at no other title but an old Maid Ormanthe fearing that her Mother would give her but coorse treatment if Leriana should send her home she fell down upon her knees with tears in her eyes and beseeched her to pardon all her faults and promised that for the time to come she would wholly conform her selfe unto her will Leriana seeing so good a beginning continued Ormanthe said she all these tears and protestations will be in vain if I do not see you change your behaviour and way of living all your Companions are courted and you are the only one that is not Do you think it is not a great griefe unto me to see all the young Beauties in the Court waited upon and when they walk every one hath her Gallant to lead her nay some two or three and you the only one that none looks upon This believe it is a great disgrace unto you Those who look you in the face and finde it fairer then most of your Companions must needs say that if you be not courted it must be because you are poor or that there is some fault either in your Race or in your Person And truly all this proceeds from your carelessnesse and from your rude and rustick nature which makes every one to shun you And indeed I know that Damon has a good minde to love you I know it because he has got some of his friends to tell me as much and yet he can never finde a way how to approach you you are so inaccessible and because your retired humour will never give him an opportunity he is the greatest Gallant in all the Court and this would be a great honour unto you Should this good fortune present it selfe unto any one of your Companions Oh! how welcome it would be What industry and artifice would they use to bring it to passe Ormanthe let me tell you this once for all if I do keep you here in Court any longer I shall expect and desire you shall give all occasions unto Damon to love you and do not fear to let others see the favours you do him for his designe being to marry you he will not think them disadvantageous to him This was the lecture which Leriana read unto this young Wench And truly it was seed not sowed in barren ground but produced plentifull effects Ormanthe being naturally of a free and affable humour without any dissimulation and being put forward by Leriana's
I should avoid them by preserving you Perhaps you will reply that love is the effect and consequent of beauty and nothing in the world is more pleasing then to be loved and carrassed Perhaps again you will say that whilst I am fair every one will adore me and when I am foul every one will disdain me But for all that let me tell thee by way of answer that in doing so strange an act every one will admire me and be apt to believe that there is some hidden perfection in me which does transcend this outward beauty Also in defacing thy luster I shall but anticipate time of a few minutes For this beauty which we so much prize for all our carefull preservation will quickly fade a few years more will ravish it from me Is it not therefore better to part from it voluntarily having so good an occasion and to sacrifice it unto the tranquillity of Calidon who hath born me so much affection What will the worst consequence be of it Why when I am ugly fewer persons will love me I cannot hope to finde any affection but from Thamires Now if the affection of Thamires be grounded only upon my beauty it will quickly fall off when my beauty decayes but if he have 〈…〉 any other basis for his love certainly he will love me the more because I have made my selfe wholly his since none else will yet look upon me To be briefe it is this beauty which hath caused all the miseries both of Calidon Thamires and my selfe I will ease them therefore and my selfe too by parting from that which would of it selfe ere long part from me I will set them both at liberty and my selfe at rest Now Madam I shall relate unto you a most strange and generous act Celidea as soon as she had said so took the Diamond and with a resolute hand did cut the skin of her fair face in severall places though the pain of it was extream yet she cut on still gnashing her teeth till she had made five or six long and dâ—â—â— gashes in her cheeks and forehead so as all her beauty was quite defaced Imagine Madam how sadly she must needs resent this act but she did not at all seem to be sorry for it only put a cloth about her head put out the Candle went into her Aunts Chamber laid the Ring in its place and went to bed you may easily imagine she took no greatrest that night But when morning was come and every one awake and up Cleontine wondered she did not see her Niece and fearing she had not been well she went softly to her bed-side but when she saw her all bloody she cryed out thinking she had been dead All the house ran up to her and found her kissing Celidea though her face was nothing but wounds and congealed blood Oh heavens Daughter said the good old woman who has thus inhumanly used you What barbarous hand could finde a heart to spoil this fair face Celidea in a low voice beseeched her to let her rest and she should know who had done it as soon as Thamires and Calidon were come Chirurgeons were immediately sent for and Thamires hearing in what condition Celidea was he ran presently to her Chamber but when he saw her he stood immovable and gave no signes of life but only by tears in his eyes At the last after a little recollecting of himselfe Is this Celidea whom I see in this sad plight said he Could the gods ever permit such a piece of cruelty What Tiger in the shape of a Man could have a heart to do it Was ever so much inhumanity executed Celidea turning gently towards him Thamires said she though you have lost the face of Celidea yet she hath preserved all the rest of her selfe if you will permit me to take revenge I will tell you who hath done this unto me Calidon upon this came into the Chamber which hindred Thamires from returning answer and Calidon hearing of this accident he had run himselfe so out of breath that he could not speak yet one might hear him utter vowes that the villain who had thus injured Celidea should not live till night Oh Calidon said she do not swear lest you should be perjured perhaps it may be such a one as you had rather die then keep your oath I do swear still by Hesius replyed Calidon and by my own soul who ere he be except Thamires he shall die Upon this he kneeled down by her bed side and offering to kisse her hand she pushed him back Calidon said she why should you offer to kisse my hand Look upon my face and take notice that I am not now the same Celidea whose beauty you so much esteemed The shepheard was so transported with fury that he had not yet looked upon her but when he fixed his eyes upon her and saw her so gastly transformed he stood more astonished then Thamires Then laying his hand upon his eyes and turning his head the other way it was impossible for him to endure the sight and stared like a man that had been frighted She all the while was not at all angry but with incredible courage endured it Then holding out her hand unto Thamires Friend said she unto him I hope this will be contentment unto you to see that I am all yours and that none now can or will ever pretend unto me This face thus disfigured was only done to make me only yours I cannot believe Thamires but that your affection unto me was built upon a better foundation then a fading face Now because I see you desirous to know who it was that made me thus know Thamires that it was Calidon And you Calidon know that it was Thamires Did you put her into this condition cried they both out Yes said she it is Calidon and Thamires that have thus wronged Celidea But have a little patience and you shall hear how Every one did wonder at these words but especially the two shepheards And when Calidon offered to speak she interrupted him thus Calidon do not go about to excuse your selfe for though Thamires and you both be the cause yet you are more to blame then he There is none that knowes me is ignorant how Thamires hath loved me from my infancy and hath ever since continued his affection to me this affection became reciprocall as soon as ever I was capable of Love and as his addresses unto me did invite me to love him so the good entertainment that he found from me invited him to continue it And indeed how happily had we lived unto this very day if Calidon had not cast his eye upon me so as I may say and Thamires knowes it that never two loved each other better than Thamires and Celidea But as soon as Calidon came all our happinesse and contentment was blasted first by his sicknesse afterwards by the gift which Thamires made of me unto him which I could never consent unto Truth
much in favour with his shepheardesse as soone as ever he saw him came and fauned upon him besides he observed the beloved Sheep of his Mistrisse though that morning she did not weare her dresse of various coloured Ribands which her Mistrisse was wont to decke her head with in the fashion of a garland for that shepheardesse being much displeased she did not give her selfe the leasure of dressing it as usuall She followed her flock as if her shooes were Lead and as might be judged by the garbe soâ—thing much troubled her mind so as being neare her shepheard she did not so much as turâ—e an eye towards him but set her selfe downe upon the bankes of the River Celadon not taking any notice of this beleeving she did not see him but that she went to the place where he was wont to waite for her did drive his flock towards her she sat upon the stumpe of an old Tree with a drooping head supported by her hand which leaned upon her kneâ— she sat in so sad a posture that if Celadon had not beene more then halfe blind he mightplainely perceive that this sorrow could not proceed from any thing but an opinion of a change in his affection for no other dysaster had power enough to cause such sad thoughts But an unexpected misfortune being far more hard to relish then an other it seemes fate had a minde to surprise him unawares Thus being ignorant of his ill hap after a choice of the fittest place for the grazing of his flock neare his dearest sheepherdess he went to bid her good morrow being extreamly joyed to see her she returned answer with looks and language so cold as if a chill winter had frozen every syllable The shepheard unaccustomed to such a sight was infinitly astonished and though he could not imagine his dysaster so great as afterwards he found it yet the very thought of offending her he loved was enough to cost him his life Had the shepheardess deigned him a look or had his zealous fancy permitted him to consider what might be the cause of her coldness certainly his apprehensions had vanished But Celadon must not be the Phoenix of happiness as he was of Love nor will fortune afford him more favour then other men in matter of content After a long and pensive extasie he rowsed up himselfe and turning towards his shepheardess he perceived that she looked upon him but it was with so sad an aspect that she struck him soulless They were both so neer the River that Celadon might easily reach it with the end of his sheephooke and some showers had so swelled the water above its common marke that it disgorged it selfe with a very impetuous streame into the River Loure The place where they sat was a hill a litle raised above the common levell against which the waves did beat in vaine the foundation of it being a Rock covered over with some moss From this place the shepheard did beat the waves of water with his sheephook and those waves were not halfe so turbulent as his thoughts he summoned up every action of his life nay not a thought escaped inquisition and all to find out wherein he had offended but his innocencie cleering up his conscience he was enboldned to aske her the reason of her anger She not observing his actions or else observing them to his disadvantage her heart begun to be the more inflamed with choler so as when he offered to speake she would not permit him to expresse himselfe without interruption saying Is it not enough too much perfidious and injurious shepheard to have deluded her who least deserved it from you but you must still persist in your wickednesse how dare you be so impudently bold as to looke her in the face whom you have so grosly offended Canst thou without a blush bring that dissembling face into my presence does not thy double soule tremble at its own villany before me Go go and deceive some other get thee gone traytor and imploy thy perfidies in beguiling some that knowes them not think not any longer to delude me who am too too well accquainted with thy falsnesse At this the poore shepheard fals downe upon his knees lookes pale and wanne as if blasted with a Thunderbolt Is it your designe onely to try me faire shepherdesse said he unto her or else to kill me with despaire Nay nay false man repli'd she I need not try thy infidelitie for I am too well accquainted with it Oh heavens said the shepherd I wish this fatall day had never dawnd It had beene happy for us both replied she if neither of us had ever seen the light then had thy infidelitie never troubled me Go go perfidious wretch I charge thee to be gone and never againe looke me in the face unlesse I command it Celadon would have replyed had not his extafie of love bedeafed him And as she was going away he was forced to pull her by the gowne saying I do not stay you deare shepherdesse to begge a Pardon for my unknowne fault but only to shew you that this is the last day of his life whom you seeme so much to abhorre but she being all in a fury and not so much as looking upon him did violently break away and left behind her a Riband upon which by accident his hand did lie and also a Ring which her Father had given her was tyed in that Riband The sad shepheard seeing her depart in such a fury did stand awhile like a stock immovable scarce knowing what he had in his hand though his eye was upon it At last recollecting himselfe with a deer sigh and taking notice of the Riband Witnesse deare Riband said he that rather then untie the least knot of my affection I would lose a hundred lives when I am dead and my cruell faire one shall happily see thee on my arme assure her that never any was more faithfull then I nor never any more cruell then she Then tying it upon his arme and kissing the Ring And thou right emblem of true affection said he let me enjoy thee to the last as a pledge of her promised affection to me He had no sooner uttered these words but turning his eyes toward Astrea he leaped into the River with crossed arms Lignon in that place was very deep and violent by reason of the Rocke which repulsed the water there was a kind of whirlpit so as the shepheard was long before he sunk to the bottom and longer in comming up to the top againe And when he did appeare nothing could be seen but first a leg and then an arm at last being gulfed up by the turning of the waves he was carried away under the water Now Astrea runs to the Water side and seeing him whom she could not chuse but love by her meanes so neer his death she was so affrighted that in lieu of lending any help she falls into a swound and that so neer the
hopes seeing me sutable with him in age did most particularly favour me with his affection more then any other when I came first to him it was then when the great and prudent Aetius did treat an agreement with Merovea and the Frankes for so he called all those who followed him to resist that fatall scourge of Heaven Attilla King of the Hunnes who having gathered together in the deserts of Asia an uncredible number of men even five hundred thousand combatants he descended like a Torrent most furiously ravaging all Countries through which he marched and though this Aetius the Lieutenant General of Valentinian in Gaule came with an intention of making war upon Merovea who during the Government of Castinus had seised upon part of Gaule yet he thought it better to make him the Visigots and Burgundians also his freinds rather then hazard a defeat by Attillas who having already passed Germany was upon the banks of Rheyne where he stayed not a long time before he advanced into Gaule and beseiged the Towne of Orleans till the comming of Thierry King of the Visigotts made him raise Seige and take another way But being met with by Merovea and Aetius with their confederates in the Cathalaunique fields he was defeated more by the valour of the Franks and prudence of Merovea then any other force After Aetius was slaine perhaps by his Masters command upon some discontent Merovea was received at Paris Orleans and the neighbouring Townes as their Lord and King and all the people ever since have borne him so much affection as they called themselves Franks as more pleasing unto him and their Country in lieu of Gaule took the name of France Whilst I was imployed in the armes of France the Gaules the Romans the Burgundians the Visigotts and the Hunnes my Brother was imployed in the Armes of Love Armes the more dangerous because all wounds light upon the heart such was his disaster that being brought up with Clidema he saw the fair Silvia and in seeing her he saw his death also for he never was himselfe since I never knew the cause of this for being with Childericke I enjoyed all imaginable content as being very gracious which my Master loved amongst all my equals and generally honoured of all out of a good opinion which they conceived of me in the present affaires which got me more credit and authoritie over them then perhaps my age did merit but hearing of my Brothers languishing condition I could not stay any longer with Childericke but taking my leave of him and promising to returne ere long I hasted to the place where my affection invited me as soone as I came there many did run to tell my Brother that Guyamant was come for so I am called when he heard it his Love to me did give him so much feeble strength as to rise up in his bed and to embrace me with abundance of affection It is to no purpose to trouble you Madam and grieve my selfe with a relation of all particulars that passed betwixt us only this within two or three dayes after my Brother was in such extremity that he had hardly strength enough to breathe all he had was only sighes and groanes and nothing understood to come from him but the name of Silvia I being extreamly perplexed at my Brothers sad condition was such an enemy unto this unknown Silvia as I could not chuse but curse her which my brother hearing and his affection to her being above his malady he forced himself to say thus unlesse Brother you will become my enemy cease these imprecations I beseech you which ttouble me more then all my misery besides What will they profit you further then to testifie that you hate what I do Love I know my death will grieve you but since all men are designed to the same why rather do you not with me thank the fates who have chosen so good a death for me and the fairest murderer that ever any had The abundance of my affection and the abundance of Silvias vertues are the armes which her beauty made use of to bring me unto my grave Can you curse her whose happinesse I prefer before my own soul's he would have said more but his strength failed him I answer'd him thus Brother she who thus will ravish you from us is the most unjust person that ever was If she be fair the gods themselves are guilty of injustice in making her so for they should have changed either her face or her heart Aristander hearing this assumed more strength and replied for Heavens sake Guyamant give over your blasphemy and beleeve that Silvias heart is sutable to her face As the one is all beauty so the other is all vertue if I die for Loving her never wonder at it As no eye is able to gaze upon the Sun so my soul is dazled at the rayes of so many Suns as shine in this beauty it is impossible to gaze upon so many Divinities and live Then said I unto him Is it possible Brother that one single Divinity should be the cause of your death Brother answered he I am in such extremity as I am not able to answer your demand but Brother continued he and took me by the hand I conjure you by all that 's sacred to promise me one thing carry this kisse from me to Silvia and then he kissed my hand and when you see that Nymph tell her I bequeath you unto her at this word he expired and lay cold in my armes My resentments of this losse is unimaginable by any but my selfe but without more condoling this disaster let me tell you Madam that as soon as my sorrow would permit me I came to render unto you the homage which is due and to demand Justice for the death of Aristander also to present unto her what he left her by his last will in writing But as soone as I presented my self before you and would have accused the murderer I found my Brothers words to be true and do not only excuse his death but desire and require the same Here Madam by your permission will I make my addresse Then making an humble reverence unto Amasis he chose out Silvia and kneeling unto her thus said Fair murderer if but one poor tear of pitty do but drop into that fair bosome at the news of his death whom you conquered your victory will be noble and entire but if you think so little water too much for those flames which you kindled in him then at least receive a zealous kiss which he hath sent you or rather his soul changed into this kiss which he presents unto you Upon this he kissed her hand and did rise up then thus continued Amongst the papers where Aristander had left his last will we found this and because it was sealed and directed unto you I have brought it with a protestation which by his testament he commanded me to make unto you before you open it
make such deep wounds He vexed me to see him in this condition and to enquire further of things I went unto Silvia but she protested that she knew not what they meant At last after a reading of these verses two or three times she lifted up her hand to her head finding her bodkin not there she begun to laugh and say her bodkin was lost that some or other had found it and that Ligdamon knew of it She had no sooner said so but Clidaman came into the Hall with this murdering sword in his hand I intreated her to let him have it no longer I will first try his discretion said she afterwards I will use all the power I have with him She was as good as her word for as soone as he came she said unto him This sword is mine He answered so Madam is he that hath it I would have it said she I wish with all my soul said he you would have all that 's yours Will you not restore it said the Nymph how can I will any thing replied â—e since I have no will at all What have you done with that which you had said she You Madam have ravished it from me said he and at this very minute it is changed into yours Since it is so said she that your will is mine you must restore the bodkin because my will is so Since I would the some that you would said he it must of necessity follow that I would have it also Silvia smiled a little but at last she said I would have you give it me I also said he would have you give it me Then the Nymph put out her hand and took it I will never deny you said he though you would have me and all Thus Silvia receaved her sword and I writ this Note unto Ligdamon Leonida's Letter unto Ligdamon Ligdamon THat which you thought to be a favour conferred upon your Rivall was only ravished and when the owner know of it she took it from him againe Judge you how things are the favours which your Rivall hath proceed from ignorance and his disfavours from deliberation Thus was Ligdamon cured not by the same hand but by the same sword which wounded him In the meane time Guyamants affection grew to this height as it was little short of Aristanders On the other side Ligdamon under the colour of Complement did suffer a most passion at Love to plant it selfe in his soul After that both of them had vyed which should most please Silvia and found that she did equally favour and frown upon them both they resolved one day to try which of them was most in favour and to that end they both came to Silvia from whom they both received such cold answeres that the controversie could not be decided Then by the counsel of a Druide who was grieved to seetwosuch men unprofitably lose that time which might better be spent in defence of their countryes they went unto the Fountain of the veritie of Love You know what the property of that water is and how it discovers the most secret thoughts of Lovers for he who lookes into it shall there see his Mistris and if she Love him he shall see himselfe by her but if she Love another then that other shall appear Clidaman was the first which presented himselfe before this Fountain he kneeled downe upon the ground kissed the side of the Fountain and after he had implored the Angell of the place to be favorable unto him he leaned a little over immediatly Silvia was seen so admirably fair that the transported Lover could not chuse but stoope to kisse her hand but his contentment was soone cooled when he saw no body by her He retired with a perplexed mind and after a discontented pause he beckned unto Guyamant to come and try his fortune He having with all requisite ceremonies prayed unto the Dietie of the place did cast his eye upon the Fountain but he fared no better then Clidaman for Silvia alone appeared and with her fair eyes seemed to burn the water Both of them much amazed at the matter they went to a Druide who was highly versed in Magique and asked the cause He answered that the reason was because Silvia loved neither of them nor any else as being capable of burning others but not of burning herselfe They who could not beleeve themselves to be so much out of favour as they looked severally before so now they would returne and looke in the water both together and though both of them leand over on severall sides yet the Nymph appeared alone The Druide saw them retire and smiled telling them that they might certainly beleeve themselves not loved for said he you must know that as all other waters do represent the body this represents the spirits Now the spirit which is only the will the memorie and the judgment when it loves is transformed into the thing loved And therefore when you present your selfe here it receives the figure of your spirit and not of your body and your spirit being changed into Silvia it represents Silvia and not you If Silvia loved you she would have been changed as well into you as you into her and so representing your spirit you should see Silvia and seeing Silvia changed by Love as I told you you should see your selves also Clidaman listned very attentively unto this discourse and considering that the conclusion was an assurance of that which he most feared he drew his sword and struck two or three times as hard as he could upon the Marble of the Fountain His sword broke in two and left no impression or signs of his blows but still striving to break the stone like an angry dogge which bites the stone which is thrown at him the Druide told him that he lost his labour for the inchantment of the place would never end by force but by extremity of love but if he would make it uselesse he could inform him of a way Clidaman had brought up for rarity in great Iron Cages two Lyons and two Unicornes which he often baited with severall sorts of Animals These the Druide begged for guards of the Fountain and so enchanted them aâ— though they ranne at libertie yet they would never go â—rom the entrance into the grate nor will they ever offer any hurt unlesse to such as will attempt upon the Fountain but such as will be so adventurous they assault with extream fury for the Lions are so great and terrible their Clawes so long and sharp they are so nimble and active and so unimated unto this defence as is incredible Again the Unicomes have Hornes so sharp and strong as they will pierce the hardest Rock and do thrust with such force and nimblenesse as none can escape them Assoon as this guard was placed Clidaman and Guyamant went to travell and departed so secretly that neither Amasis nor Silvia knew of it untill they were gotten a great way from them They went
who conferred the prise upon you hath shewed himself a very right Judge of beauty and yet though your cause did merit his sentence you are in some sort obliged unto him I think shepheard answered I in a low voice that he is more obliged to me then I to him for he gave me an apple only which in some degree I deserve and is my due but I gave him his life which for his impudent rashnesse he deserved to lose This is no more then was before resolved answered Celadon for he does not valew his life further then to prostrate it at your feet Were it not more in regard of my self then him replied I I should have punished his impudence but Celadon no more let us leave this discourse and know that the reason why I did not cause you to be punished according to your merits is only because I would not bring my selfe upon the stage and not for want of any will to see you chastised If that be the only reason said he I beseech you tell me what death you will have me die And you shall see that I have as much courage to obey you as I have Love to offend you This discourse would be very long and tedious if I should include every particular But so it was he gave me so many testimonies of his affection that I could not possibly doubt it but still seeming to be all anger I said thus unto him Shepheard consider the emnity that is betwixt our Fathers believe that mine to thee shal be the same if thou dost still thus trouble me with thy follies which for this time thy youth and my own honour moves me to pardon I mentioned a pardon because I would infuse a little courage unto him for the very truth is his beautie and courage and affection did please me but to the end he should not reply I turned from him and went to Stella who was neer me He all astonished at this answer went out of the company so sadly dejected as in a few dayes after he was grown not knowable and kept himself so private that he frequented no places but the most retired and wild partes of our woods Of which I being advertised by some of my companoins who did in a close manner tell me that I was the only cause I began to resent his condition and resolved to find out some way or other to give him a little comfort and because as I told you he shunned all manner of company I was constrained to drive my flock towards that place which he most frequented and after two or three times being there in vaine at last after a long search for him me thought I heard his voice amongst some trees and I was not mistaken For going neerer I found him lying all along upon the ground his eyes sweld with teares and hands held up to heaven which seemed to be immoveable This object moved me to so much pitty that I was resolved to give him a cordiall for his paine And therefore after a whiles consideration and not willing he should think I sought for him I retired a little way from him where seeming to take no notice I began to sing so loud that my voice reached both his eares and his heart As soon as ever he heard me I saw him leap up and turning his eyes towards the place where I was he stood like a statue still in a ravishing admiration Which I observing to give him so much boldnesse as to approch neerer I seemed as if I slept yet held mine eyes halfe open to see what he would do And indeed he did as I did imagine he would for drawing neerer me with a soft and gentle tread he kneeled down as neer me as he could and after a long stay in this posture I still seeming to be fast asleep he stooped down and kissed me Then seeing that he had taken courage enough I opened mine eyes as if he had wakened me And rising up as if in a raging anger thus said unto him Uncivill shepherd how durst you be so bold as thus to interrupt my sleep He with a trembling heart and kneeling still said thus unto me It is your selfe fair shepherdesse that did constrain me and if I have sinned then bright Starre you must dim your Luster and punish your own perfections which are the cause This is alwayes your excuse for your presumption said I unto him but shepheard beleeve it if you continue in this course of offending me I will not endure it If you call it an offence to love and adore you answered he proceed to sentence immediatly and doome me to what death you please for I do make a most solemne vow that I will so offend you as long as my life is in me It is neither the rigour of your cruelties nor the emnity of our Parents no nor all the impediments in the whole universe conspired together shall ever divert me from this resolution But Fair Diana I must abbreviate these pleasing discourses as being not sutable unto my present disasters And will only tell you that being overcome I said thus unto him shepheard what good can you hope for when those who have the dispose of you does disapprove of your beginning How Said he dispose of me Has Alcippe more power over my wil then I have my self You may dispence with your own wil answered I but never with that obedience which is due unto a Father without a most horrid crime The obedience which I owe unto him said he must be confined unto possibilities and it is no fault to faile where power wants to performe but admit I must obey in al things since of two evills the greater is to be avoided I will rather faile in my duty to him who is but a man then in my duty to your fair selfe who is all Divine Our discourse lasted so long and so prevalent he was in it that I was forced to admit him my servant and both of us being too young to shadow our designes with any artifice Alcippe did soone find us out and being loath this amitie should grow up to any higher pitch he resolved to send him upon so long a voyage with good old Cleantes as that absence might wear out this young impression of Love But the seperation did as little good as all the rest of his artifices which he used for Celadon though yet a Boy did so fixe his resolution to overcome all difficulties that though any other would have taken them for torments yet he looked upon them only as proofes of himselfe and called them the touchstones of his fidelitie And because he knew that his voyage would last long he intreated me leave to bid him adieu This leave I granted but Fair Diana had you heard how passionatly he begged me to Love him and the vowes he made never to change doubtlesse you would have concluded nothing more impossible then that this affection should ever decay At
unto others and that the familiarity which was between them was only the consequent of a long acquaintance but as for any matters of love and addresses of that nature that they were altogether indifferent unto me Then this subtile man answered me thus I thank the gods that your humour is such and since it is so you will take some delight in hearing some of those passionate expressions which he bestowed upon his deare Aminthea I must confesse wise Diana when I heard Aminthea called his I changed colour and because he offered to relate their discourse I seemed willing to heare more of the infidelity of Celadon though alas more faithfull then I was well advised So I accepted of his offer and indeed he made good his promises For a little after he came running unto me and told me he had left them together not farre off and that Celadon's head did lie in Amintheas lap and she holding his head relating these particulars purposely to nettle me the more Then I followed him though I neither knew which way I went nor what I did until we came very neere though they neither heard nor saw us I have since thought that it was because they cared not who either saw or heard them but so it was that I heard Celadon answer her Beleeve me fair shepheardesse never did beautie make a deeper impression in any soul then it hath in mine but Celadon answered Aminthea It is not possible a heart so young as yours should long retaine that impression which love hath made in it Incredulous shepheardesse replyed my Celadon let us leave off these reasons do not measure me by the yard or weights of another but bless me with your favour and you shall see whether or no my young heart can preserve them as long as it lives Celadon Celadon replyed Aminthea you would be but deservedly punished if your dissimulations should become truthes and if heaven in my revenge should make you love Aminthea in earnest whom now I know you do but jeast with Hitherto all was well enough but Oh heavens what a strange answer of dissimulation did he returne Fair shepheardesse answered he if I do mock or jeast with you may Love turne all my mockery upon my self if I have merited it that he would punish me with your menaces Aminthea not being able to reach the intention of his discourse did answer him only with a sigh and in such a manner as I in my language did interpret that she would not have rejected him if she could have credited his language But that which most perplexed me was that after Celadon had been a while silent he fetched a deep sigh which presently she answered with another and when he did rise up to speak unto her she covered her eyes with her hand blusht as being ashamed that this sigh had escaped her and after a little pausing silence Aminthea said thus unto him Come Celadon are you so soone weary of my company I rather feare said he that I shall weary her whom I extreamly desire to please and therefore since you command it I will stay I dare not use commands replied the Shepheardesse where intreaties perhaps will be too indiscreet Use what termes you please replied the Shepheard but I am much your servant So he set himselfe down and began thus A Madrigall Upon a resemblance 'twixt his Lady and him WEll may one say that our two hearts Are like a Rock that never starts A Rock in Constancy isimine A Rock insensible is thine Fair Diana I was not able to stay any longer in this place but stealing gently away I returned to my flock so sad as all that day I could not utter one word and passed away the night with a thousand sad conceits and cryed as long as I had any tears I do admire I should be so blinded for had I retained the least spark of judgment I should have remembered that it was my command he should faigne love But the next morning when he came unto me I gave him such harsh entertainment as made him desperate and caused him to throw himselfe into that gulph where he and all my joyes were drowned together At this word she looked as pale as death and had not Phillis revived her taking her into her armes she had swouned The noise which they made at Astrea's swouning was so great that Leonida waked and hearing some talk so neer her her curiosity invited her to know who they were And because these three Shepheardesses were risen up to go away all she could do was to wake Silvia to shew them unto her Assoon as she saw them she knew Astrea though the disaster of Celadon had much altered her Leonida asked her who were the other two The one of them said she who is on the left hand is Phillis her deer companion and the other is Diana daughter to the sage Relinda and Celion I am very sorry we have slept so long for I am confident we should have received some newes from them for it is likely they came into this place so far from company purposely to talk with more freedome I must ingenuously confesse said Leonida that I never in all my life saw any fairer then Astrea she has the advantage of all others Consider then said Silvia what hopes Galathea has to divert the affection of this Shepheard from her This consideration did touch Leonida so to the quick that she did resent it more for her own cause than Galathea's However Love which never leaves a Lover without some sweet hopes would not treat this Nymph worse then others and therefore though with small probability yet she promised her selfe thus much hope that perhaps absence from Astrea together with her own kindnesse mightwork an alteration in him Then after some other such discourse these two Nymphs parted Leonida towards Feurs and Silvia towards Isoures whilst the three Shepheardesses retired to their Cabins No sooner had they set foot in the great meadow where of late they used to meet but they espied Lycidas talking with Silvander yet assoon as ever this Shepheard saw Astrea he grew so pale and altered that least Silvander should take notice of it he broke from him with a hollow excuse but striving to avoid meeting with them Phillis with Diana crossed the way to overtake him and when she came at him she said unto him If you thus flie your friends Lycidas what would you do to your enemies The company you keep so much Phillis answered he does not deserve the title of friend She whom you so much complain of answered Phillis does endure more torment for her offending of you then you your selfe doth There is no way to cure the wound answered the Shepheard but by breaking the weapon which gave it By this time Astrea was come up who addressed her selfe unto Lycidas and said unto him I am so far Lycidas from thinking your hatred of me unjust as I must confesse you cannot hate
me so much as you have cause for yet if the memory of him who causeth me to give you this sad satisfaction be yet as fresh in your minde as it is and ever shall be in mine you will also remember that I was she whom he loved above all the world Lycidas would have answered and perhaps according to his passion very sharply but Diana stopped his mouth with her hand and said Lycidas Lycidas if you do not accept of this satisfaction both I and all the world will say you are unreasonable Astrea not insisting upon what Diana said and taking away her hand from before his mouth she said No no wise Shepheardesse do not constrain Lycidas let him use all the harsh language he pleasth I know they are effects of a most just sorrow yet I know withall that his losse is not greater then mine Lycidas hearing these words and not being able to command himselfe he went away Phillis followed and knew so well how to represent the griefe of Astrea and the villany of Semires that at last she reconciled him to the Company But though Leonida made all the haste she could yet because she slept so long she could get no further then Ponsins her Host being a very honest man lodged her in the best lodging he had In the next room unto hers were lodged two other strangers there being only a thin partition betwixt their two Chambers so as Leonida could hear all that they said and hearkening at the partition she heard one of them say unto the other What should I say more unto you only that Love has made you thus impatient Leonida thought she should know the voice but she could not well remember it untill the other spake saying But that Climanthes is not it which troubles me for the attempt shall never so much dismay me but I will still hope for a good issue of our Enterprise That which I most fear and which makes me fit upon such thornes as you see me is that you have not made her well understand what we have determined to do or else that she does not give any credit unto your words Leonida hearing this discourse and knowing very well who it was which spoke being both amuzed and desirous to know more she setled her selfe so neer the partition that she lost not a word of what was spoken And then she heard Climanthes say I have oft told you that the businesse is impossible Yes said the other only in your judgment Truly answered Climanthes to make you confesse it and to ease you of your pain I will once more make you a repetition of the whole businesse Then he began thus The History of the Falsities of Climanthes AFter we were all parted and you had by your discourse made me acquainted with Galathea Silvia Leonida and all the Nymphs of Amasis as afterwards you did by a sight of them I conceived that the next principall thing which might further our designe was to know how Lindamor was habited the day of his departure For you know that Clidaman and Guyamant being gone into Merovea Amasis commanded Lindamor to follow him with all the brave Cavaliers of this Country to the end that Clidaman might appear in more lustre And it seemed as ill luck was that Lindamor intended to change the Livery of his servants but so it was that I having an observant eye of every thing one night as he was in the street I heard him command one of his men to go unto his Taylor and fetch the Coat that he had made against the day of Rendevonz that he might try how it fitted him And since he had charged the Taylor to let none see it he gave this servant a Ring as a token that he came from his Master I followed the servant so close that I knew the lodging and the name of the Taylor The next morning betimes I went unto him and told him that I came from Lindamor to see in what forwardnesse his clothes were for Amasis was so pressing to have him go and his fears of his cloths not being finished in time made me come to bring him the certain truth for he would not trust him he would have given his Ring for a token said I but he told me this would be sufficient that I tell you he sent last night for the Coat and he who came for it brought it again Thus I deceived the Taylor and took notice of his cloths as well as possibly I could Then I seeming to hasten him with his work he told me that he had time enough for he had seen a Letter which Amasis did write unto the Maior of the Town commanding him to summon all the gallantry of the Town against such a day on which Lindamor and such as went with him were to depart By this means I came to know the day of Lindamor's departure and moreover then you were in this country which was an accident that fell out very happily for the furthering our designe which you had already been advertised of In order to this I retired my selfe into the great wood of Savignieu neer a little River which â—â—ns through it there I erected a little Hut of boughes so close that many passed by never espying me and this I did that it might be believed I had long dwelt there for you know that none in this Country knew me And to make it seem I had long inhabited there the leaves and boughes which covered my Cabin were all withered I decked up a Table with a Looking-glasse upon it setround with Ivy Misletoe and Holline and strewed my room with Rushes Vervin and such like I set my Looking-glasse in the most dark part of the room to the end my Art might not be so soon discovered and opposite to this mirrour I placed my painted Paper wherein I had so exactly drawn the place which I intended to shew Galathea as none could distinguish between the Originall and the Copy Above this glasse did hang a plank upon which an ugly grim visage was painted and hanged by a small thred which with the obscurity of the place could not be discerned at the bottom of this plank was fixed a steel which when the plank fell the steel did hit against a piece of flint purposely so set as it never failed of fire about which place I had set a composure of Sulphure and Salt-peeter which when fire did fall into it did break into strange kinde of flames in such a strange manner and with such celeritie as might well cause wonder All this I invented that it might be thought either some Divinity or else some Witchcraft After all things were thus ordered I did sometimes expose my selfe to sight but very seldome and assoon as I perceived any saw me I presently retreated into my Cell where I made a show as if I lived only upon roots herbs and air though in the night I changed habit and provided all things necessary Within a
SInce Father you command it so said the Shepheard I will relate the whole matter unto you Stella is the Widow of a Husband which Heaven gave her rather for a name then ought else for besides his sicknesse his age which was above sixtie six had so impaired his strength that he left her a lusty young Widow before she was almost married And the affection she had unto him was not so much as to make her grieve too much for her losse nor indeed was her humour such as to take any thing too much to heart When she saw her selfe ridd of two heavy yokes both almost at once to wit a riddance from an old crasy and peevish Husband and from that strictest observance which is expected from Ghildren to Parents she then began to shew her selfe and ruffle in the world with a great noise And as she was none of those killing beauties that make themselves loved by force so her affectednesse did not at all please any that looked upon her Her age was some seventeen or eighteen an age that is apt to commit much folly when liberty is given unto it This was the reason that Saliam her Brother a very honest and discreet Shepheard not being able to endure the expensive courses which she drew upon him and in some sort to restrain her did get her out of his village into such a place where she might live in lesse danger of scandall in order to which he intreated Cleanthes that he would be pleased to let her accompany his Daughter Amintha because they suited so well in age though Stella had a little the start of her And Cleanthes being content there grew such a familiarity betwixt these two Shepheardesses and they lived such private lives and contented as they were never out of sight of one another Many did wonder that these two being of such different tempers yet they did so well comply but the sweet and loving disposition of Amintha and the supple and easie nature of Stella were the causes so Amintha never crossed the designes of her Companion and Stella never thwarted whatsoever Amintha desired so as they kept such a correspondency together as nothing was hid from each other But at last Lysis the Son of the Shepheard Genetian leaving the frozen valleyes of Mount Luna and coming into our more pleasant plaines and seeing Stella at an assembly in the Temple of Venus when Astrea did carry away the prise of beauty he fell so in love with Stella as I do not well know whether or no it hath not sent him to his Grave And she was so compliant to him as after severall journeyes and messages things were come to that passe as Lysis moved her to marriage unto which she gave as favourable an answer as he could desire At this time Saliant was constrained unto such a far off journey as he knew nothing of this treaty besides she did now take upon her selfe such absolute authority as she did not communicate her matters unto him On the other side Amintha seeing her so soon resolved upon marriage did often ask her whether or no she was in good earnest and told her that it was a matter of so great importance as required very great and serious consideration Amintha answered she never trouble your selfe for I am not gon so far but I can easily make a retreat Mean time Lysis did make himselfe so sure of marriage as that he set down the day invited many of his friends and was at such charges as are usuall upon such occasions But Stella according to the custome of many women who are proud of their own libertie started from her first intentions and broke all off by such unreasonable demands as she knew the Parents of Lysis would never consent unto But his love being above all difficulties and satisfying all her unreasonable demands she was at last forced to break off with him upon no other pretence but the slendernesse of his affection to her You may easily imagine how Lysis resented this affront but however he could not yet master his love And I remember upon this subject he composed these Verses which afterwards he gave unto me Upon Anger against Love IS Anger mad in making me to go Gainst such a fatall and puissant foe Must I conducted be into the field By such a Captain as is sure to yield A Leader in such lamentable armes Gainst love that 's arm'd with arrowes and with charmes Can faint and feeble Anger ever think Victorious Love to conquer and make shrink No no the wafting of his wing will shatter Thy Squadrons all and will thy Bulwarks batter Love hath of anger such infinite of odds As with his fore-works he can conquer Gods Resistance will but add unto his glory And being conquer'd make more sad my story I 'le therefore mercy ask and quarter cry Which if my fairest shepheardesse deny Then triumph in Elizian shades will I And my own death shall be my victory The cause of Stella's change in her affection was the courtship of another Shepheard called Semires which did imprint it selfe very deep in her soul and which Lysis did perceive the last of all men for she did conceal it more from him than any other This Shepheard Semires was of all men that my conversation ever met with the most dissembling and crafty that he was otherwise a man of very excellent parts which caused this Shepheardesse to go against her own promise and reject the match with Lysis and to confer all her favours upon her new Lover who yet did not long triumph in this victory For so it happened that Lupeander making a great Feast at the marriage of his Daughter Olympia Lysis and Stella were invited thither and I being a kinsman unto the Bride I would not sail to be there also I know not whether Love did it cut of revenge or whether it was the naturall giddinesse of Stella's wavering temper but so it was that she no sooner saw Lysis then she had a minde to recall him into her favour and in order to that spruced up her selfe in all her affectednesse which nature had very imprudently been prodigall of unto her But the offended spirit of this Shepheard had armed him with so much courage as to hide all his affection to her though he could not extinguish the flames of love Towards night when every one prepared for dancing and to apply themselves unto those persons most sutable to their liking Stella did so pursue Lysis that he being in a corner of a window he could not handsomely avoid her but was forced to receive the assaults of his loving enemy Semires all this while observing how she pursued Lysis all the evening according to the naturall temper of all Lovers he began to be sprinkled with jealousie knowing well that a candle newly extinguished will soon light again And seeing her so close to Lysis he got so neer as seeming to talk unto another he heard her ask Lysis
why he shunned her so much To which Lysis replied The reason is because you do so impudently pursue me But Shepheard replyed Stella I know from whence your discontents proceed and I believe not from him whom you imagine For gods-sake answered Lysis let me alone in quietnesse it is enough that thy offence proceeds from your hating me and your hatred from your own levity But 't is no matter all 's forgotten and now I have no minde to love Well well answered she I know from whence all your anger proceeds and certainly you have some seeming reason for it but I beseech you consider it a little better Is it such an impardonable injury not to take a man to a husband as soon as ever he hath asked the question Is it not the custome of our Country that he should ask that question twice The truth is if I had marryed another I had done you an injury But what likelyhood is there that I should ever refuse a man so constant that hath loved me almost these three months The offended spirit of Lysis not suffering him to love her and his affection not suffering him to hate her he did not know in what termes to answer her and yet to stop the torrent of words he thus said unto her I have had sufficient experience Stella that you know better how to say then do and that you abound much more in words than reason but take this for an unalterable certainty that look how much I loved you heretofore so much or more do I hate you now and shall do as long as I live so as there shall not be a day in which I will nor divulge you unto all the world for the most ungratefull and consening woman under heaven Upon this forcing his affection and the arme of Stella away he broke from her and left her alone in the window whilst he went amongst the rest of the Shepheards Semires who as I told you heard all this discourse was both so amazed and ill satisfied with her as he resolved ever since to make no more addresses unto such a wavering weathercock which resolution was much more confirmed by me for I having long looked for an opportunity of speaking to her and seeing Lysis had left her alone I accosted her for I must confesse that her allurements had some power upon my soul and so much as the affronts which she had put upon Lysis would not let me see her imperfections and fleeting disposition And as every one is apt to flatter himselfe in his own desires so I supposed that what the merits of Lysis could not obtaine from her my good fortune might As long as Lysis courted her I would not let my affection appeare for besides consangunity there was a great league of amitie betwixt us but when I saw he was off and thinking the place vacant for I never took notice of Semires I thought it a fit time to open my self before she entertained any other so addressing my selfe unto her and finding her all pensivenesse I said unto her that certainly it was some great occasion which thus had altered her for sadnesse was seldom seen in her pleasant humour It is that troublesome Lysis answered she who has put me in mind of old stories and still upbraids me with the refusing of him Does that trouble you said I unto her can it chuse answered how she for affection is not so soon put off as ones cloaths are but because I did a little delay his desires he took it for an absolute discharge Truly said I Lysis did not deserve the honour of your favour for what he could not compasse by his merits he ought to have tryed what all his services accompanied with a long patience would do but his boyling temper together with perhaps his too little love would not permit him Had the same happinesse hapned unto me as unto him with what affection should I have entertained it And with what patience should I have waited for it You would think it strange reverend Father to heare me tell you how suddenly this shepheardesse changed yet I protest she entertained the overture of my Love as soon as ever I made it and in such a manner as before we parted she permitted me to call my self her servant You may easily conceive that Semires who heard all this was no better satisfied with me then he was with Lysis but ever since he hath discontinued his addresses yet so discreetly as many think Stella to be the cause for she seemed not to care for it because the place of her affection was possessed with the new hopes she had of me which was the cause that I received many favours from her and which Lysis quickly perceived But Love which alwaies will tryumph over freindship did keep me from speaking unto him lest I should offend the shepheardesse and though he was much offended that I should thus conceale my my selfe from him yet I never did speak unto him without Stella's leave who also seemed desirous it should be so But I who then was ignorant of her tricks and strived at nothing but how to content her one night when Lysis and I were together I had this discourse with him I must confesse Lysis said I unto him that I have not so clearly opened my self unto you as our freindship required but now you must help me out or else I am undon I answered Lysis why you may be assured that I will never faile the part of a friend though your mistrust of me might alter the case and yet do not think but I do know of your Love but your silence so offended me that I said nothing of it Since you did know it replied I and never spoke to me of it I have the greater cause to be offended for I do confesse that I have somthing failed in point of freindship by my silence but you must consider that a lover is not himselfe and his disease is an excuse for all his errours but you who are not troubled with the same passionate disease you have no excuse for your failings in point of freindship Lysis hearing my reasons began to smile and said You are very pleasant Corilas and I will not contradict you but I pray you tell me how I may make amends for my fault In doing that for me said I which you could not for your self which is that I may obtain the affection of Stella Oh heavens cryed out Lysis then unto what a dangerous precipice have you brought your self Shun it Corilas shun it for it is a most dangerous passage which ruines all those which ever took it I speak unto you by experience you know it I know that from any other your merits can obtaine more then mine but it is grosse folly to hope for any thing from this perfidious woman whom neither vertue nor reason will move to which I answered that to hear him say so was no smal contentment for said I until now
last when he thought his hair was reasonably well grown he returned to Gerestan and told him that he had already broken the Ice of the businesse but Daphnis did think it expedient to see his Neece before she spoke in the businesse and likewise that Amindor also saw her and therefore she thought the best course was to let Callirea carry her thither and she to shew her selfe as complaisant as she could unto Amindor and the rest Gerestan who desired nothing more then to be rid of his Neece did hearken unto this proposition with a very willing eare and did peremptorily command his wife to make her self ready for the voyage who to make him more eager upon it did seem to be a little unwilling and shewed some signes of sorrow to part from her Husband saying that such businesse as this might be wel enough effected without her and that it would take up a great deale of time which might better be spent in her houshould affaires But Gerestan who would have her will to yeeld to his in all things was so extreamly hot upon the matter that three dayes after she departed with her Brother and her Neece The first dayes Jorney was to Filanders where they changed habits which so well fitted each other that even those in their company could not perceive the change And I must confesse I was deceived as wel as they and found no manner of difference betwixt them But well might I be deceived when Philidas was who looked upon him with the eyes of Love which they say are more observant then all the eyes of Linx for as soon as they came she left the faigned Callirea I mean Filander and carried the true into a chamber to rest her self All the way as they came Filander instructed his Sister in all passages and how she should find the persons with whom she was to transact now though Callirea was resolved to undergo all difficulties for her Brothers contentment yet thinking Philidas to be a man it went much against the hair of her mind to talk with her As for us when Daphnis and I were retired we treated Filander with all the civilities that are used amongst women I mean such as either amitie or privacie requires which that shepheard did receive with much Jollitie and as he hath since sworn to me he was almost transported besides himselfe Had I not been a meer child in matter of observation certainly his actions and behaviour would have discovered him unto me but the truth was shee did counterfeit the matter so exceeding well that Daphnis was deceived as well as I while we retired into our chambers after supper Callirea and Philidas did walk into the chamber I know not what their discourse was but ours was nothing but assurance of amitie and cordiall expressions of affection which Filander used in such a passionate way as it was easie to judge that though she would have said nothing yet he could not be blamed for want of any good wil but for the want of boldnesse For my part I was extreamly free in my expressions also for beleeving him to be a woman I thought my selfe to be obliged unto it by his expressions of good will to me by his merits and by the kindred of her and Daphnis From this time Amindor who before bore me much good will began to change his affection to love the faigned Callirea And Filander fearing his demeans would not please this young man did strive as much as possibly he could to comply with him and the fleeting humour of Amindor would not let him receive such favours without being in Love Which I do not at all think strange For the beauty the judgement and deportment of Filander was such as that he came nothing short in the perfections of a woman so as he might well delude any man Observe what a wanton Love is and how he sports and spends his time He made Philidas who was a woman to love a woman and Amindor who was a man to love a man and that so extream passionatly that this very particular was subject enough to discourse of Filander he knew how to play the woman most admirably and Callirea did so well counterfeit her Brother and neither of them wanted prudence to carry out the matter That cold demeanure which Callirea shewed unto me removed all causes of jealousie out of Philidas and besides Philidas did love her and I must confesse that seeing her so fall off from Philidas from Daphnis and from me we had an opinion that Filanders mind was changed at which I much rejoyced by reason of the amity I bore unto his Sister Seaven or eight dayes were thus spent and none did think them one jot too long for every one of us had a particular designe But Callirea who feared lest her Husband should be angry at this long stay did solicit her Brother to make known his design unto me telling him that it was not likely I should refuse his service since he bad been so familiar with me But for all that he had not yet the confidence to declare himselfe Yet to delude Gerestan he desired her to go unto her Husband in that dresse wherein she was assuring her that he could not finde any difference between them and to let him understand that by the advice of Daphnis she had left Callirea with Philidas to treat with Amindor about the marriage of his Niece This proposition at the first did astonish his Sister for her Husband was a piece of angry flesh and the least disgust would move him unto passion At the last her desires to content her Brother in every thing did move her to yield unto the motion And to render this excuse more colourable they did speak unto Daphnis concerning Amindors marriage which for divers considerations she rejected but knowing that this businesse was their pretence under which they got leave to come this journey and without which they never had obtained it Daphnis who was well pleased with their company did communicate the matter unto me and we all agreed that the best way was to seem as if the project were feasible And in order to that Daphnis did write unto Gerestan advising him to let his Wife to stay a little longer amongst us the better to effect the businesse and that she hoped all things would be brought to a happy issue Upon this Embassie and thus clad Callirea went unto her Husband who being beguiled by her dresse as well as the rest he took her for her Brother and liked the cause of his wifes stay so well that he willingly consented unto the motion upon those termes Judge fair Shepheardesses whether I might not well be deceived since her own Husband was and could not distinguish them Now Filanders affection grew to that height that he could no longer conceal it do what he could and therefore he told me that though he was a woman yet he could not chuse but be extreamly in
no other language to expresse my selfe unto you but what you used unto Diana only add this consideration unto you to the end you may know the grandure of my Love that if the blow may be judged of by the strength of the arm that gave it then my wound must needs bâ— the deeper since the beauty of Diana is not comparable unto yours if you do love her so extreamly Judge how great the affection of Amindor must needs be that loves Callirea For hee knowes not how to declare it better unto you but by making a comparison of it with your own Shepheard answered Filander your declarations of any Love to me are both unjust and very offensive unto me who have a husband that will not with patience suffer such affront if he knew it Moreover since you speak of Diana unto whom I have wholly dedicated my selfe I must tell you that if you will have me measure your affection by mine according to the causes which we have to love I cannot beleeve you have much since what you call beauty in me is not worthy to retain the name of it if compaâ—â—ed with hers Fair shepheardesse said Amindor then I could never have beleeved it an offence to love you but since it is I do confesse that I merit punishment and am ready to receive what doome soever you please but you must resolve to put altogether and punish me for loving you as long as I live for it is impossible I should livâ— and not Love But never think I beseech you that the displeasure of Gerestâ—â—n can at all divert me he who feares neither dainger nor death it self can never feare a man But as to your selfe I must â—eâ—ds confesse my selfe to blame in comparing Diana unto you since doubtlesse she comes infinitly short which if you can be so good as to pardon I will protest never to commit the like error againe Philander who had an opinion that Amindo loved me and who did love mâ— himselfe could hardly endure to heare me thus un lervalued but having a designe not to discover himself he had so much power over himself as to put it up and thus answered him How is it possible Amindor said he that your tongue should so much bely your heart Can you think I do not know that you dissemble And that all this while your affection is devoted unto Diana My affection replyed he as if surprised Nono that is wholly yours may never any love me if I love any but you I cannot say but heretofore I have wished her well but her humour is so full of inequalitie somtimes all fire and somtimes all Ice that now I am very indifferent towards her I wonder said Filander how you dare to say so for I know she loves you and you still love her I will not deny said Amindor but that she may love me but who cares This was right according to Amindors humour which was ever full of vanitie and would have all men beleeve that he could have many good fortunes At this time Filander found out his artifice and had he not feared the discovery of himselfe he was so incensed against him in my behalfe that I beleeve he would have given him the lye However he could not chuse but give him a very sharp answer Amindor said he you are the most unworthy Shepheard that ever lived and not fit for any good society Can you find a heart to speake thus of Diana unto whom you have professed so much amitie and unto whom you are so much obliged What can we hope for from you since you will not spare her who transcends us infinitly in merit and perfection As for me I think you the most daingerous person that lives and such as would live in rest must fly you as from the Plague At this word Filander left him and came to us with a countenance so inflamed with anger as Daphnis knew that he was offended at Amindor who was so astonished at the seperation that he knew not what to do At night Daphnis asked Filander what their discourse was and because she thought this might much increase my amitie towards the disguised Callirea The next morning she related it all unto me with such bitter invectives against Amindor and so advantageously for Filander that I must confesse that I could never since forbid my selfe from loving him when I knew him conceiving that his reall good-will unto me did oblige me to it But Daphnis who knew that if I loved him as Callirea I should also love him as Filander did advise him to discover himselfe unto me telling him that though at the first I might perhaps repulse him and be angry yet in the end all would be well and for her part she would so solicite in his behalf that she feared not but to bring all unto a good conclusion Yet all her perswasions could not infuse so much courage into him so as Daphnis resolved to do it her selfe without him or his knowledge for she foresaw that Gerestan would ere long have his Wife home again and then all the plot was spoiled With this resolution she came one day unto me when she found me alone and after much other-common discourse she began thus Diana said she what should be the meaning of Callirea's folly I verily believe she will run out of her wits she loves you so extream passionately as I think she will not live All day long she is in your Chamber and all nights in the Garden and so pleaseth her selfe with her own melancholy fancy that I cannot shake her out of her musings I would I could give her any consolation answered I but what would she have me do do I not repay affection for affection do I not make it appear in all my actions am I failing in any point of courtesy or duty towards her All this is true replied Daphnis but did you hear her discourses to her selfe I believe you would extreamly pitty her and I beseech you unknown to her let us go one night and hear her I did promise her that I was very willing and would go with her assoon as she would for Philidas would ere long make a visit unto Gerestan and then would be the fittest time A few daies after Philidas according to his intentions went to see Gerestan and carried Amindor with him resolving not to return of seven or eight daies When he was gone Filander according to his custome went into the Garden halfe dressed when he thought every one was a sleep Daphnis who went to bed the first as soon as he was gone did come to me and told me I put on my clothes as fast as I could and followed her untill we came into the Garden When she found where he was she beckened unto me to come a little after her and when we were so neer as to hear we sat our selves down upon the ground Presently after I heard him say But why should I put my selfe to
all this patience what will all these delayes do me good Shall I die before I discover my maladie to the Chirurgeon Then staying a while he began again with a most profound sigh Why should I fear that she will banish me her presence and doom me to death for if I should die it is a comfort to shorten such a miserable life and my death would satisfie for the fault I have committed if death do not fall upon me from the incensed brow of the fair Diana will not the violence of my affection cause it What then should I do and what shall I say unto her Alas I would not offend her if I could possibly help it And why should I keep silence since my death will give her most certain knowledge What then shall I offend her Ah! alas injury and amitie are never together Rather die there 's an end But if I should die do I not deprive her of the most faithfull servant ever that she had Is it possible I should offend in adoring her I will then tell her and at the same time open my breast that the sword may more easily punish my crime if she condemn me to it Thus then will I say unto her Here fairest Shepheardesse here is Filander in the habit of Callirea who in lieu of begging your favour lookes for nothing but your sury Revenge your selfe then Oh fairest and punish him and be confident that if his death will please and satisfie you it is most welcome to him Faire Shepheardesse when I heard Filander thus expresse himselfe my amazement was so great that I knew not what in the world to do I was so vexed and trembled so extreamly that I would have gon away and never have looked upon this impostor any more But Daphnis to compleat her treason held me by force and as I told you being neer this Shepheard he turned his head at the noise which we made and thinking it was only Daphnis he came unto us But when he spied me and thought I heard him Oh heavens said he what torment is little enough for me Oh Daphnis who could ever have expected this treason from you At this he ran away as if he had been distracted though Daphnis called him two or three times by the name of Callirea but fearing to be heard by others and more fearing that Filander might do some hurt unto himselfe she left me alone and followed him saying unto me in an angry manner at parting Well Diana if Filande do perish you will resent it as long as you live Judge fair Shepheardesses if I was not astonished at this accident But so it was that I could not hit the way out of the Garden a long time at last groping on every side and recollecting my spirits I found my Chamber where lying me down upon my Bed and trembling I could not close an eye that night As for Daphnis she searched for Filander so long that at last she found him more dead than alive and after she had chid him for not closing with so good an opportunity and yet assuring him that I was not so much troubled at the accident as he was he took a little heart to himselfe but yet not so much as to embolden him the next morning to come out of his Chamber I on the other side was extreamly offended against them both and was forced to keep my bed lest I should make my displeasure seen unto those about us and particularly unto the Niece of Gerestan but as good fortune was she had no more wit then there was need of so as we did easily hide from her this scurvy businesse which was almost impossible to do especially for Filander who had her company almost continually Daphnis she was not a little busied in the matter and perplexed for at the first I would not look upon her and her excuses but at the last she did so overcome me that I promised to forget the injury she had done me yet vowing that Filander should never look me in the face again and I do think he had gone away without a sight of me had he not feared the danger which Callirea would have incurred for she had a Husband that was extreamly perverse and peevish and it was this very consideration that restrained him But for all the arguments that Daphnis could use I never stirred out of my bed feigning my self sick for five or six daies And had I not heard that Philidas and Amindor with Callirea were returned I had no seen him of a long time but my fears that Philidas would take notice of it and lest thâ—s secret should come to be divulged all over the Country I did resolve to see him upon condition that he should never make the least shew of what was past though I had not so much power over my selfe as not to shew my displeasure â—he promised me that he would observe my commands and kept his promise for he durst not so much as turn an eye towards me and if he did at any time by chance give a glance upon me it was in such a submissive manner as did assure me his love was extream Presently after as fortune was Philidas Amindor and the disguised Filander came into my Chamber where the windowes being close we could the better hide the disorders in our faces Filander had acquainted his Sister with all passages and that was the reason that the stay of Philidas was not so long as he intended for she telling him that her Sister was sick they returned But this discourse would be very tedious if I should not omit many of our triviall quarrells But so it was that Callirea being acquainted with all passages sometimes turning them into rallâ—rie and sometimes into seriousnesse she so brought it about by the assistance of Daphnis that I consented unto Filanders stay untill his Sisters hair was grown unto its length again knowing that it would ruine both her and my self if I should hasten her returne And so it fell out as Daphnis did well enough foresee that during the time Callirea's hair was growing the discreet carriage of Filander and the knowledge of his great affection began so to flatter me as I did of my selfe excuse his disguise so as before he went he obtained what he so much desired which was that I would forgive and forget his Imposturisme and promised him that as long as he kept himselfe within the compasse of his duty I would accept of his good will and cherish his merit as it deserved His contentment upon this did much confirm my opinion of his affection for it was so great as he could not dissemble it Whilst we were upon these termes Philidas whose love did still increase now resolved to discover himselfe unto the disguised Filander and in order to this one day when they were walking together under a shade of Trees in the Garden she spoke thus unto him Well Filander said she cannot all my affection to you
may see what confidence I have in my cause since I make choice of a partiall Judge I shall judge according to reason said Diana Then said Phillis since words cannot justifie a businesse is it not requisite to come to proofes Doubtlesse it is said Diana Condemne then this shepheard replyed Phillis to render some proofs of that merit which he saith is in him and that he undertake to serve and love a shepheardesse in such a manner as she be constrained to confesse that he merits to be loved againe and if he cannot do that then that he ingenuously acknowledge his unworthynesse Leonida and the shepheardesses thought this proposition so agreeable to reason that with one common voice he was condemned Not said Diana that he should be constrained to love for that must ever proceed from a free voluntary genius and not from constraint but I do ordain that he do serve and honour as you do say My Judg answered Silvander though you have condemned me without hearing me yet I will not appeal from your sentence only I require that she whom I must serve do merit and ackowledge my service Silvander Silvander said Phillis because you want courage you fly unto evasions but I shall prevent you by a proposition which I shall make I do propound unto you one against whom there is no exceptions either in matter of wit courage or beauty and that is Diana For my part said Silvander I do accept of the motion provided it be with the approbation of all these beauties Diana would liave answered and made some excuse but at the request of Leonida and Astrea she consented upon condition that this essay should not last above three monthes This courtship being Silvanders sentence he kneeled down and kissed the hand of his new Mistrisse as if he had taken his oath of fidelitie and afterwards rising up he said thus Fairest Mistriss I do in all humility submit unto your ordinance but I do most humbly beseech you to let me make one proposition And when Diana said that he had free liberty he went on As I have been justly condemned to make this proof of my selfe for speaking too highly of my own merits against a person who despised me So I beseech you why should this vain glorious Phillis who infinitly outswells me in vanitie and who was the first cause of this dispute why I say should not she be sentenced to render the like testimony Astrea not staying for Dianas answer said that she thought the motion so just as she was consident it would be granted and Diana asking the Nymphs opinion who was of the same mind she condemned the shepheardesse as was requested I did never expect a more favorable doome said Phillis but well what must I do You must get the favour of some shepheardesse said Silvander That said Diana is not reasonable She must do more then that For I do ordaine that she do love and serve a shepheardesse and so as she do cause her selfe to be loved and he or she of you two who shall be least unto her you serve shall be constrayned to yeild unto the other Then my desire is said Phillis that I may serve Astrea Sister said she you are about a work which is already done to your hand but it were much better you made choice of Diana not only for the two reasons which you alledged unto Silvander which was her merits and wit but also because she is best able to judge of both your services if they be both addressed unto her This did carry such a sound of reason with it that it was immediately consented unto then after Diana had taken an oath that without any regard but truth the should do equall justice at the three months end It was very pleasant to observe the passages of this new love For Phillis was a very excellent servant and Silvander feigning to be one became one in good earnest as afterwards you shall heare Diana on the other side did so well know how to play the Mistrisse that any would have thought it to be in reall earnest As they were thus discoursing and Leonida thinking this kind of life to enjoy more happinesse then any other they saw two Shepheardesses and two Shepheards comming along the meadow who by their habits seemed to be strangers and when they were a little neerer Leonida who was very inquisitive to know the names of the Shepheards and Shepheardesses of Lignon did aske who they were To which Phillis answered that they were strangers to which Silvander said that surely he should know one of them particulary whose name is Hylas a merry shepheard and one that loves all he lookes upon but the best is he who receives the blow has the plaister for as he can soon love so he can soon forget and he has the maddest and most extravagant arguments to prove his inconstant humour to be the best as it is impossible to heare them and not laugh truly said Leonida his company will be very good let us put him upon that discourse as soon as he comes That 's easily don said Silvander for he will alwaies be talking of it but as this is his humour so there is one with him of a quite contrary disposition for he does nothing but pule and grieve for the death of a Shepheardesse whom he loved he is a sâ—ber and discreet man but so sad and lumpish as nothing proceeds from him but expressions of a melancholy soul is he this country man said Leonida Fair Nymph said Silvander I do not know but if you please I will ask them at this word they were come so neer that they heard Hylas chanting out these verses Hylas his catch upon Inconstancy IF any beauty constant make me 'T is more her honour so to take me I love to change by Jove and must Unto my liberty be just And why should any be so shy To shun me for Inconstancy Since if a beauty constant make me 'T is more her honour so to take me It argues beautie in the height To make a crooked Lover streight And 't is a miracle more high To make my heart all Constancy Therefore if any Constant make me ' â—ie more her honour so to take me To stay a stone that still doth stand Is easie worke for any hand But 't is a matter much more high To stop an Eagle in the skie Therefore if any constant make me 'T is more her honour so to take me But why should any think it strange That I should for the better change Will any that have wit or eyes Not after for a better prize Then if a beauty constant make me 'T is more her honour so to take me Come then dear Mistrisses that faine The prize of beautie would obtain Settle my wanton wavering mind By Carrassing and being kind For she that can ere constant make me Has got the honour Let her take me Leonida smiled at Silvander and told him That this Shepheard
first that asked us of the state of our fortunes And therefore we do in all humility submit our selves and fortunes unto your doom beseeching you to determine the difference between us And to the end all things might be done according to the will of the Gods the old Matron who delivered the Oracle told us that both of us were to chuse our Advocate amongst the company by Lot the first Lot to plead for Laonice and the last for me Upon this he entreated them all that they would be pleased to take these offices upon them unto which they all consented The first Lot fell upon Hylas and the last upon Phillis Hylas he smiled and said thus If I were now as heretofore I was a servant unto Laonice I should very hardly be perswaded to argue in her behalf that Tircis ought to love her but now at this time since I am all for Madonche I am very willing to obey that God who so ordained it Shepheard said Leonida you may by this observe the great Providence of this Divinity who to move one unto change hath committed the charge of it unto unconstant Hylas as unto one who best knows the way and to move one to a faithful amity hath cast the Lot upon a Shepheardesse that is firm and constant in her actions Also such a Judge is chosen as will not be partial For Silvander is the most fit since he is neither constant nor unconstant in his affection because he never loved Then Silvander began to speak and thus said unto them Since Tircis and Laonice you are both willing that I should be the Judge of your differences I shall require you both to swear that you wil inviolably observe my Sentence for otherwise the Gods may be the more incensed and all our labours lost Which both consented unto and then Hylas began in this manner The Oration of Hylas in behalfe of Laonice Most wise and impartiall Judge WEre I to plead before some hard harted and unnaturall person I should feare lest perhaps the defects of my capacity should prejudice the justice of my Clients cause But since I am to argue the businesse before you who has the heart of a man I mean who knowes the duties of a man well born I cannot chuse but be confident of a favourable judgment and take it for almost certain that if you were in the roome of Tircis you would be extreamly ashamed to be branded with such a crime I wil not strive for any far fetcht reasons to approve that which is so abundantly cleere in it selfe only shall hint thus much unto you that the very name of man does oblige him unto a confession of his error And the Lawes and ordinances both of heaven and nature do all command him to dispute no further in the cause Does not the rules of courtesie and gratitude require a retaliation for benefits received Does not heaven it selfe say that all services ought to be remunerated with some wages And does not nature force him to love a faire woman who loves him and to abhor rather then to dote upon dead corps But this man is a grand offend eragainst all these sacred Laws for in lieu of all the great favour he hath received from Laonice he has returned high discourtesies in lieu of all those services which he himself confesseth she hath done him serving him so long for a cloak of his amity to Cleon he does pay her the wages of ingratitude and for that dear affection which she ever bore him even from her cradle he answers her only with scorne If thou beest a man Tircis make it appeare thou dost adore the gods and recompence this fair shepheardesse who has run so many hazards and miseries for thy sake And if thou beest a man then surely thou hast the qualitie of one which is to love the living and not the dead If thou dost acknowledge the gods dost thou not know they use to punish such as despise their ordinances and that Love never pardons crimes betwixt a Lover and a Loved If thou doest confesse that she hath served and loved thee even from her very cradle Oh heavens is it ever possible such a long affection and agreeable service should be payed with scorne But admit and suppose that this affection and service being voluntary in Laonice and not courted or desired by Tircis yet surely I cannot beleeve Oh just and wise Silvander but you wil decree that a deceiver ought to make satisfaction unto the party deceived and so by consequence Tircis who has so long deluded this fair Shepheardesse by his dissimulations and trickes ought he not to repair the injury done her with a reall and unfaigned affection He has long used lyes and falsities let him at last use truths and honesty nor can I ever think you will decree that Tircis should Love and live with a dead person and not a living but will rather doome his Love to be bestowed upon me that can love him again rather then upon a few could ashes in a coffin But good Tircis tell me what thy designe is when thou hast drowned the sad reliques of poor Cleon in a flood of teares dost thou think that it and all thy sighes and groanes can ever raise her up again Alas Caron never wafts any over but once and is ever after deaf to all cries and calls No no Tircis 't is flat impiety to trouble the tranquillitie of those whom the gods have called to themselves Amitie is ordained for the living and coffins for the dead do not then so preposterously give thy affection unto the dead Cleon and a coffin unto the living Laonice This does not get thee the name of constant for Cleon now has no interest in thee must one alwaies go naked because their first cloathes are worne And that is no more ridiculous then to heare you say that because Cleon your old Mistrisse is worn away therefore you will never have a new one Fie fie call your selfe to accompt acknowledge your error cast your self at the feeet of this fair one acknowledg unto her your fault and so avoid that sentence unto which our just Judge by this sentence will doom you Hylas thus ended with much contentment unto every one except Tircis whose teares did testifie the grandure of his griefe When Phillis by the command of Silvander began to answer Hylas thus The Answer of Phillis in the behalf of Tircis Oh Fair Cleon who out of heaven hears the injury that is offered unto thee inspire me with thy Divinity for so I may wel esteem thee if vertue couldever make any humane person divine and so furnish me with soliditie of reasons as I may make it most apparant that Tircis ought never to love any but thy perfections And you prudent Judge whose wisdom is infinitly above my shallow conceptions I beseech you let the abundance of reason which is in my cause supply those wants that are in me And to begin Let
favour as well as he And it seemes Love could never finde any rest in the breast of Galathea the memory of one was no sooner out but another was presently in and now at this very time her thoughts are all upon a Shepheard whose qualities as a Shepheard may indeed merit much but never to be Galathea's Servant and yet she is so extreamly passionate and tender of him that if his-sicknesse should continue I know not what would become of her for I never saw one so carefull nor so troubled as she hath been ever since he was ill But this is not all most wise Adamas Your Niece is also so taken with Celadon as I know not whether Galathea or she be more and hereupon great jealousie is grown betwixt them and though I qualifie the matter as well as I can yet so it is that I do despair of it for the future And therefore I thank the gods that you are come for really without you I know not how to carry my selfe betwixt them Excuse me in speaking thus freely unto you since it is upon a businesse that concerns you the affection I do bear unto you constraines me to it Thus did Silvia end her discourse with abundance of demonstration of her hatred against this kinde of life for which Adamas did much esteem her And to begin the cure of this Shepheard and these Nymphs for the last of these was the greater difficulty Adamas asked her advice For my part said she I would first take away the cause which is this Shepheard and the effects may of themselves follow but this must be done with much artifice else Galathea will never let him go 'T is very true answered the Druide but in the mean time untill that can be handsomly contrived care must be taken that he do not fall in love with them for there is such a sympathy between Youth and Beauty that if they should conjoyne affections once all separations will be in vain Oh Adamas said Silvia did you but know Celadon as well as I do this would be the least of all your fears for he is so rooted in the love of Astrea that all the beauty in the world except hers cannot shake him especially now he is sick for his care may well be more of his cure than any thing else Fair Silvia answered the Druide you speak as one that is ignorant in Love and never knew the force of it this little god can do such miracles that when there is least appearance of any effects even then will he shew his power Be not therefore so secure for there is no kinde of vertue whatsoever that is Armour-proof against Love Chastity it selfe cannot do it witnesse Endymion Away away said Silvia Oh! wise Adamas why do you terrifie me with so great a dysaster Because said he I would have you arme your selfe against the forces of this god lest being too secure in your opinion of that which you judge impossible you should be surprised before you be prepared I have heard say that Celadon is so handsome so discreet and so every way accomplished as he is furnished with all perfections which cause Love and therefore there is danger Treasons of Love are so hard to be discovered that not one of a thousand can see them Nay nay said Silvia let me alone for that and tell me only what I should do in this businesse that we have already discovered I do conceive said the Druide this cure must be wrought very much by the eye and when I have seen how the world goes we shall order things to the best advantage we can and in the mean time let us keep our design secret Hereupon Silvia left Adamas to his rest and went to Galathea who with Leonide was by Celadon's bed side for they hearing he was awake they could neither of them hold from him He esteemed Leonida very much her carrasses did oblige him to it but Silvia's humour pleased him much better A litter after they fell into discourse of Adamas much extolling his wisdome prudence and goodnesse Upon which Celadon asked whether it was not he who was son unto great Pelion of whom so many wonders are reported The very same said Galathea and he is come hither purposely to be your Physician Oh Madam answered the Shepheard he must have abundance of Art if he can cure my disease but I am of opinion that when he knowes it he will so despair of my recovery as he will not undertake the cure Galathea thought that he had spoke of the disease in his body But is it possible said she that you should finde your selfe so ill I am confident that if you would but help your selfe you would be able to quit your bed in two or three daies Perhaps not Madam said Leonida for some are so inwardly sick as they themselves do not know of it untill it be at the height Their discourse had lasted longer had not the Druide come to see how squares went and he found him well enough disposed in body for the Malady was past the height and in its Decline but when he talked with him he found the disease to be most in the minde though he did not believe it was for any of these Nymphs Yet like a prudent Physician he would feel how the pulse of his minde did beat and therefore to begin the cure he would try how he stood affected first to Galathea and in order to this when all the Nymphs were retired he shut the dores and began thus I see Celadon said he that your astonishment is not little to finde your selfe exalted so suddenly unto such a height of fortune as this you enjoy for I am confident it was above your hopes since being born a Shepheard and brought up in a Village you are now carrassed cherished and waited upon by Nymphs and such as are accustomed to command and more then that such as command the whole Country You have great reason to be thankfull unto the gods for it and pray that it may continue Adamas spoke in this manner purposely as an invitation to make him speak the truth of his affection thinking by this means seeming to approve of it he would discover himself Unto which the Shepheard answered with a deep sigh Father said he if this be such a high fortune then certainly my mouth is out of tast for I did never in all my life relish more bitter Wormwood than this which you call good-fortune and since I came into this condition wherein you find me Why said the Druide the better to discover his subtlety is it possible you should be so insensible of your happinesse as not to see the Grandure unto which you are advanced Alas alas said Celadon all this does but shew me a Precipice and menace me with the greater fall Are you afraid said Adamas that this good fortune will not last I fear said the Shepheard that it will last longer than I would have it Why
Shepheards together looking and admiring her and alwayes concluded that there was no perfection which could be wished but was to be found in her And though her genius be not very inclinable to love yet she is such a sincere lover of Virtue as shee does oblige more that way than others doe by their most violent affections How comes it to passe said Silvia Has she not many servants No answered Celadon she will not entertain any The deceit which the Father of Philidas did put upon her does hinder her And truly it was the most notorious trick that ever I heard of Were it not too much trouble to you said Silvia I should bee very glad to understand it from you and also to know who Celion and Belinda were I feare answered Celadon that the story will bee so long as to weary you No no said the Nymph we cannot better employ the time whilst Galathea is reading her Letters Then in obedience to your command answered hee I shall do it as briefly as possibly I can And thus he began The History of Celion and Belinda IT is most certain fair Nymph that Virtue be it never so naked is yet most lovely in it self and has so many attracting Adamants in it that as soon as any soul is touched with it it must needs love and follow it But when this virtue meets with a fair body it is not onely lovely but admirable all eyes and spirits are ravished at the lustre of such a glorious vision And this will bee apparently seen by the discourse I intend to make you of Belinda Be pleased to know that not far off hence about the River Lignon there was a very excellently well quallified Shepheard called Philemon who after a long Mariage had a Daughter whom he named Belinda and who being grown up to ripe years appeared in beauty both of body and mind admirable Not far off her house inhabited another Shepheard called Leon As neighbourhood had contracted a firm league of Amity betwixe these two houses so Fortuns would have some equality also between them and bestowed one Daughter upon Leon whose youth promised much beauty for the future her name was Amaranthe The amity of the Fathers begat a frequency of Society between the Daughters They were from their cradles brought up together and since did alwayes keep their Flocks together also As they grew in stature so in beauty Many young Shepheards courted their amities but all their services and fair professions of affection could obtain no more from them but a civil and courteous reception It hapned that Celion a young Shepheard about these parts having a Sheep that strayed he came to look for it in Belinda's Flock where she her self was She restored the Sheep with so much kindnesse as the finding of this strayed Sheep proved the losing of himself and from that time hee began to be sensible that fair eyes have power to offend for before he was so ignorant that no such thought could ever enterunto his soul but be his ignorance what it would he so carried the matter as knowing his disease he made it known unto that Physician from whom only he could expect a cure Belinde by his actions knew his disease almost as soon as himselfe for at the first he could not tell her his minde but his affection growing with his age it came to such a Grandure as he did resent it in good earnest and was constrained to change his childish Pastiâ—â—es into a very curious Courtship Belinde on the other side though she was câ—urted by severall other Suitors yet she entertained Celion's affection better han any of the rest but yet no otherwise then a Sister to a Brother which she did plainly make appear unto him one day when he thought to have declared his minde unto her She kept her flock by the River side and was câ—ntâ—mplating her own beauty in the water The Shepheard took this opportunity and holding his hand before her eyes in an amorous manner he said thus unto her Take heed fair Shepheardesse lâ—ok not in the water lest you should incur the same danger that others have done by the like action Why do you say so said Belinde who did not understand him Oh fair Shepheardesse said Celion you see more beauty in this River than ever Na 〈◊〉 did in the Fountain At these words Belinde blush'd which did the more advantage her beauty yet she answered him How long Celion have you wished mâ— so well I have wishâ—d you well very long said the Shepheard and believe it this good-will is confined unto no other time then the end of my life Then the Shepheardesse bowing towards him told him that she never made any question of his affection but ever received it with as much benevolence as she offered her own unto him To which Celion presently answered I do kisse this fair hand by way of thanks for so great a favour and by way of promise of that faithfull service which Celion vowes unto you as long as he lives Belinde perceived by the zealous utterance of his words and the kisse which he passionately imprinted upon her hand that he meant of another kinde of affection then she intended and therefore would not let him go on in his errour Celion said she unto him you are very far off that which you do fancy to your selfe you can finde out no readier way to banish me your company than this if you do desire I should continue the same affection to you which I promised continue you also within the same compasse which your vertue did ever promise me otherwise I will break off all manner of familiarity with you and protest never to love you I could as the custome of those that are loved is chide and brawl with you but I will not because I would freely have you know that if you behave yourselfe otherwise than becomes you you can never have any hopes in my affection She added many other bitter expressions which did so astonish Celion that he knew not what to answer only he cast himselfe upon his knees at her feet and without any capitulation but submission asked pardon and protested that his affection should proceed no further but as she did cause it so she should regulate it If you do behave your selfe so said Belinde you will oblige me to love you otherwise the contrary Fair Shepheardesse replyed he my affection is now born and such as it is it must live for it cannot die but with me so as I cannot remedy it but with time but I will promise to give it such a check as you shall command and let me never be blessed with any favour from you if you finde any action of my life that can displease you To conclude she permitted him to love her upon these termes And thus these two Lovers lived long in such contentment as they had good cause to thank their Fates for it Sometimes he would send Letters unto her
wave as it begun Is like my Sorrows that doe flow Upon my soul woe after woe As like a Vagabond it wanders Murmuring it self into Meanders So I must glide away and rove Murmuring against my Fate and Love Whilst this Shepheard was thus talking to himself and so troubled at this dysaster as he talked loud enough to be heard a long way off Belinde who had not forgot the time and place of appointment as soon as ever she had rid her self of her company shee came unto him so troubled at the thought of losing him as she could not so hide her sorrows but some appeared in her face Ergastes who was that morning got up betimes to walk by fortune spied her afarre off and seeing shee was by her self as if she sought for some close place hee had a minde to see whither shee intended to goe and following her at a distance he saw she went towards the Fountaine of Sicamours then looking a little further hee saw though it was very early a Flock feeding Ergastes not being ignorant of all passages betwixt his Shepheardesse and Celion had a conceipt that it was his Flock and that Belinde was going unto him Although hee did not suspect the Chastity of his Mistris yet he was easily induced to beleeve that she did not hate him imagining that so large a Courtship had never been if it had been disagreeable unto her And so to satisfie his curiosity as soon as he saw her amongst the Trees so as she could not perceive him he crept nearer and hid himself in a bush from whence he could see the Shepheardesse sitting upon the grassie seats about the Fountain and Celion upon his knees before her Oh how he was startled as soon as he saw this Yet because he would hear what they said he crept close under the hedge which was about the Fountain and so heard every syllable what the Shepheardesse said What Celion said shee is this your profession to please mee Hath this accident more force upon you than the power which you have given me hath Where is your courage Celion or indeed where is your affection Have you not out of your love to me surmounted greater difficulties than this Where is your affection What is become of those resolves which you once professed Would you have me beleeve that you have lesse affection unto me now than at that time Oh Shephead rather rob mee of my life than of that good will which you long since have promised unto mee How comes it to passe that hitherto I have had as much power over you as I could desire And why should I have any lesse for the future Ergastes heard also what Celion answered Is it possible Belinde said hee that you can make any question of my affection or the power you have over me Can you be so forgetfull of all those testimonies which I have rendred you of it And must I survive that good opinion which you ought to have of mee Can you Belinde tax mee in any of my actions or ever doubt of my obedience unto all your commands I pray before you doe entertain any such ill opinions of mee aske Amaranthe what she thinks Nay ask Belinde her self if ever she imposed any difficulty upon mee which my affection has not surmounted Even at this very time when I see you are giving your selfe unto another I am ready to leave you in the arms of one more happy than my selfe by putting an end to my dysasterous love and banishing my selfe for ever from you Alasse can you say that this is any want of affection or will to obey you since I doe resent it more dismally than death it self Oh Shepheardesse what strange misunderstandings are betwixt you and me For if you doe doubt of my affection because I support this dysaster and live I will tell you that your extreme resoluteness is too certain an argument of your small affection But to what purpose should I retain any hopes of you since another O fatal word another must enjoy you At this word the poor Shepheard without any strength or thought leaned upon Belinde's knee and there swooned Whether Belinde was toucht to the heart at this I leave you to judge fair Nymph since she did love him as well as was possible to love and seemed onely as if shee did not resent this sad separation When she saw him in this swounding fit and thought there was no witness but the Sicamours and Fountain she would not conceale from them what shee had kept so secret from her all companions Alass said she and held up her hands Oh ye soveraigne powers either deliver me from this misery or from my life either remove this cruel dysaster or let this cruel dysaster remove me Then casting her eyes upon Celion and thou O too faithfull Shepheard said shee who hadst not been so miserable if thou hadst not loved me Oh that the heavens would either give thee that contentment which thy affection deserveth or else take mee out of the world since I am the onely cause that thou endurest these miseries which thou doest not deserve Then pausing a while she went on O how hard a thing it is to love well and be wise both together I know very well that my Father has good reason to bestow me upon the prudent Shepheard Ergastes because the Alliance is convenient for him but alass what 's that to mee as long as my love and affection lookes another way I know Ergastes deserves very well and I could never hope for a more advantageous match than him but how should I give my selfe unto him when as Love hath disposed of me unto another Reason is on my Fathers side but Love is on mine And not a love newly begun but a love even from my cradle by a long continuance hath so insinuated it self into my soul that he is more my soul than my soul it self is Oh heavens Is it possible to lose my soul and live Tell me Belinde wilt thou not be utterly undone when it is gone As she uttered these words a river of tears ran from her eyes and fell upon the hands and cheeks of the Shepheard who coming to himselfe by little and little caused the Shepheardess to be silent and wipe away her teares from her eyes lest hee should take any notice of them And changing her countenance and voice spake thus unto him Shepheard I must needs confesse I am very sensible of your pain and did I doubt of your affection I were the most ungreateful person in the world But alass what will my acknowledgements and sensibilitie avayl since heaven hath subjected mee unto the will of him who gave mee my being Would you wish me to requite him with disobedience But admit I should suffer my affection to transport me beyond my duty Will that Celion set us in any more tranquillity Can it be any contentment unto you if you doe love me to see me grieve and mourn
shall endeavour to give them It hath already been said that Love doth first begin at the eyes but it is not the eyes that doth nourish it Beauty and goodnesse without any more give it a growth in us when they are once known Now the knowledge of this Beauty indeed comes first by the eyes but when that knowledge is once in our souls wee may love afterwards without the help of eyes which you will easily grant if ever you were in love Consider and tell mee would you lose your love if you lost your eyes No certainly and therefore you must needs confesse it is not your eyes which does preserve your love As for the knowledge of goodness it is produced either by actions or by words both which doe stand in need of presence to be first known but afterwards not at all for that knowledge is afterwards preserved in the secret Cabinet of the memory whereupon a soul does afterwards sufficiently feed Then I beleeve you know Madam that the more knowledge one hath of the party loved the more doth love encrease but then it is apparent that the turbulent motion of the senses doe infinitely hinder the clearnesse of the understanding and as the plummets of a Clock the one cannot ascend unlesse the other doe descend so when the senses are up the understanding part must needs bee down and so the contrary when the senses are absent the Intellectuals are best present and does work more perfectly than they would if they were disturbed by any objects of the eye which is able to doe nothing else but look and desire and sigh If you would think seriously upon any matter has not wise Nature taught you to put your hand upon your eyes to the end that the sight should not divert the understanding another way And therefore hence you must needs conclude with me in my argument and confess that Love digests it self better in absence than in presence But if it be so said Paris how comes it to passe that all Lovers should so passionately desire the sight of them they love It proceeds from ignorance answered Silvander He cannot attribute unto himselfe the name of a Lover who thinkes his love so great that it is impossible it should augment If any be of that opinion he will never seeke after any means to increase it nor bee in any quest of further knowledge but rests himselfe contented with as much onely as his eye can afford him without any deeper contemplation But O great Nymph what a vast difference there is betwixt a love that is nourished by the eyes and a love that is nourished by the understanding As much doubtless as the soul is superiour to the body so much is the understanding to be preferred before the eyes And absence in such is so far from diminishing love that it augments and begets fresh and violent desires to augment it and contemplation of a Beauty does imprint it deeper into the fancy than any eye can If it be so said Paris I wonder you doe not absent your selfe from Diana to the end you may the more love her I told you before answered Silvander that I ought to doe so but that I have not yet obtained so much mastery over my self for generous Paris we are all but men I mean all imperfect and the imperfections of humanity are not upon a sudden removed We are all sensitively inclined and love to see tast smell and touch and must needs hanker after these corporal senses This is the point unto which I have not yet arrived and unto which I ought Reason will forbid such considerations and bid us act all by the intellectual faculties Nature bestowed the senses upon us onely for instruments by which the soul may receive the knowledge of things but not to be our companions in the pleasures and felicities of them as being altogether incapable of so great a good This discourse had continued longer if they had not by chance heard Phillis sing neare the field of Mercury Shee was sitting with another Shepheardesse under a shady tree looking upon their Flocks as they were feeding untill the heat of the day was over As soon as Silvander heard her tone hee turned his head that way and knowing them hee turned his head again so suddenly that Leonida could not chuse but smile What doe you hear and see said she which causeth you to turn your head so quickly away I have seen Madam said he her whom I never see without sorrow Phillis I meane the most cruel of my enemies since she is the cause of my servitude At the very same time Lycidas was walking the same way and was upon them before he was aware Jealousie which made him fly all company made him shun Silvander more than any other but now Civility constrained him to salute Leonida and Paris and being invited to follow them though at first he would have desired their pardon with some frivolous excuses But Leonida who loved him for Celadous sake was so importunate with him that he was forced to make one in the company And Paris who was very desirous to know where Diana was did ask him if he knew who it was that was with Phillis under that shady Tree Lycidas who had not yet taken notice of them looked and then answered that it was Astrea Then going on their way Leonida resumed the discourse which she had begun with Silvander And why Shepheard said she unto him are you so offended against that Shepheardess for though shee be the cause of your love yet is shee also the cause of your becoming a more accomplished man And I beleeve you will confess that love is able to adde much ornament unto our soules and if it be so you are rather much obliged unto her I must needs confesse answered Silvander that I believe without Phillis I had not fallen in love but I must tell you withall that she is the cause that I have lost my liberty and am lesse my own than hers whom I adore And I must also tell you that liberty is of so high a price that I am not so much obliged to her for making me more accomplished as I am disobliged to her for the losse of my dear and desirable freedom But added the Nymph by her means you may perhaps obtain the affection of her whom you adore and love And a well born soul as yours is will set such a value upon that be it at any rate whatsoever as he cannot complain against her who is the cause of it A well born and generous soul replyed he will not upon any termes thank her who is the cause of her servitude for servitude be it in what degree it will is still servitude At the first when Lycidas heard Phillis named he stood still with much attention but after he had heard all the discourse and replyes of Silvander he did beleeve that he really loved her and not being able to hide his Jealousie as
own mouth more from Thamires Cleontina and other of my friends but most of all from the effects of my passion Has she not seen me in the bed of death for her has she not held me by the hand and pulled me from my grave saying unto me Live live Calidon thy pretensions are not hopelesse And since I had suffered the very pangs of death why did she call me from that rest which my grave would have given me If it was to make me die again without pitty it was extream cruelty Must I be punished with a second death for obeying and adoring her But perhaps she will say that I ought to measure her by my own Ell and consider that as I have not power to quit her and love another so she being engaged another way she cannot disengage her selfe to love me Oh Love these are only words bare excuses Let her shew the contract of this engagement and if thou dost not presently adjudge it to be false then let me be condemned She never loved any but the shepheard Thamires as she hath told me but I dare say farther and maintain that she never loved this Thamires Did she love him Alas when Even when she was not able to love when her hands and mind were wholly taken up with childish Gew-gawes when her desires could not reach any higher then to be a little Fine or to make a Baby and dresse it and talk to it Was she not wholly ignorant what Love was or if she did at that age love Thamires or thought it to be love must she needs love him still Alas alas such young green affections as that is like our clothes to be cast off when we will Oh! puissant god of Love how ignorant was she or rather how did she despise all thy statutes and ordinances Is it not by thy Lawes declared a most capitall crime to think that ones Love shall ever end What then shall we think of this shepheardesse who could not so much as think because she was uncapable of desire but who is really retreated from that love which she bare unto him as she her selfe told Thamires Can it besaid Oh great deity that she was ever one of thy subjects Wilt thou acknowledge her or let her enjoy those priviledges which she pretends unto or suffer her to oppose me But if it be so that thy super-abundant goodnesse which transcends the goodnesse of all other deities will allow her to enjoy the benefit of true Lovers because she flies unto thee for sanctuary and may plead that loving Thamires will not love me no nor so much as look upon me how can she answer this that she her selfe hath confessed she would not love Thamires any longer With what excuse can she palliate her impiety And why dost thou not punish this high disobedience If thou dost not then she is the only one that despising is not punished and I the only one who adoring thee does not finde the reward of thy accustomed goodnesse I do believe Oh great Nymph that Celidea being thus accused before the Throne of this great deity she can hardly answer nor avoid being condemned to give me satisfaction for all the paines I have taken and to render love for love whilst Thamires cannot oppose me with any particular interest For what interest can he claim in that which he hath freely given me He hath estated the whole title upon me and is so far debarred from any right that he ought in reason rather to defend and maintain my title against all men living since it was from him I derived my title But perhaps he will say that it was his meer free and voluntary act without any consideration but his own love to me and therefore is not obliged unto any warrantie But why Thamires do you call that a meer voluntary act which you have confessed before your Judge that you were obliged unto it by your promises unto my dying Father unto whom you were much obliged for severall benevolences Do you call that a meer free act of your will which you were constrained unto to be quit of so many obligations Do you think you do oblige your Creditors by paying your due debts I must confesse great Nymph that Thamires hath paid both principall and interest which renders him not to be ungratefull but I do absolutely deny that there was nothing in this act which did oblige his will But admit it so that it was an act of his own meer free will and that he did it of himselfe did not the effect of this will aime at his own peculiar satisfaction If he do but consider the debt due unto the memory of my Father and his aime of obliging me by this act of giving Celidea unto me he will finde that it was not an act of pure and meer free will but a way to satisfie himselfe by paying that debt which was due to my Father and a way to purchase my obligations unto himselfe so as what he hath done is but a loan which I must perpetually pay interest for and which he may claim as an obligation upon me to pay If I should sail in paying my acknowledgments he might justly call me ingrate but he cannot say that he gave me Celidea freely since in consideration of himselfe and by the rules of human prudence he was obliged unto it and hath so debarred himselfe as he is obliged to maintain my claim unto her against any that shall hinder me from enjoying her The god of Love be my witnesse Father for so I will call you as long as I live unlesse you forbid me the great god of Love be my witnesse I say whether it grieves me not to the very foul I should oppose you in this businesse You your selfe doe know in what a sad condition you have seen me You know how Love had almost brought me to my grave and you must needs confesse that it was the power of Love which compelled me to displease you such was the force upon me that I had no free will unto it at all but was forced by a compulsive necessity unto it Nothing else under the Sun could have made me contradict your commands if there be let the gods punish me as the most ungratefull person that ever breathed But Father since there was an unresistable force upon me I beseech you pardon my weaknesse and do not you your selfe help me to complain against you for were not you the cause of all this For since it was wholly in your dispose why did you bring me from amongst the Boyens before you had married Celidea Could you think that being your Kinsman I should not sympathize with you and so be in danger to love her as well as you But perhaps you will say that you thought your command upon me not to love her was enough to keep me within the bounds of my duty and make me look upon her onely as my Sister But wise Thamires I doe wonder you
have brought up whom I love and whom I have chosen not onely for my Heir but also for my Companion in all the estate which the Heavens and Fortune hath or for the future shall give me You are obliged unto this by our Friendship as well as I am by my duty Love therefore my Calidon if ever you loved me and make it thereby appear that you are but a Lover and Religious towards the Gods who certainly would never have given me liberty to part with you against my will had they not so decreed it in their infallible Destinies Great and wise Nymph this is the language which Thamires doth or ought to use of which I am onely the instrument And which as I conceive is so just and so worthy of himself as I hope he will not disown it And therefore after I have vowed by the great Tautates that Calidon doth infinitely love Celidea and that there never was a more faithfull Lover than he I will use no other arguments or reasons but his own and so referring my life my death my happinesse my misery and my All unto your wise discretion I pray unto the Gods to endue you with all Wisdom and Justice Calidon concluding thus with a low and humble reverence he went unto Celidea and falling down upon his knees before her hee waited for her answer Thamires he proferred to speak but Leonida told him that Celidea was to speak before him since he had already spoke unto the matter So that Shepheard going againe to his place Celidea by the Nymphs command began thus The Answer of the Shepheardesse Celidea I Am so unaccustomed great Nymph to speak upon such a subject as this especially before so much company that though I doe blush and express my self with a trembling tongue yet I hope it will be no prejudice to the justice of my cause Were I not most confidently assured that my reasons not to love this Shepheard are in themselves so clear that they need no manner of artificial dresse to illustrate them unto you I durst not be so bold as to open my mouth upon this subject I perceive the eloquence of Calidon is much above mine I want both wit spirit and eloquence to glosse a matter as he can My words are onely simple and sutable to my reasons which though not many yet valid enough to make it manifest unto you that since I never did love Calidon I ought not to beginne at this instant nor continue that affection which once I had unto Thamires since I have so many reasons to the contrary But where shall I begin What Divine Powers must I ask assistance from in this dangerous combat I am assaulted not by Love but by Monsters of Love A combat ful of danger indeed since my wel or ill being depends upon it And Monsters of Love indeed they are since they will make me love by force and compel me to love and hate according to their wills I have heard our great and wise Druids say that Hercules whom we see erected upon our Altars with a Club in his hand and a Lyons skin upon his shoulders was in his time a great Hero who by his strength and valour quelled Monsters and was a great Patron of Truth From whom therefore in this extream necessity should I implore aid sooner than from this valiant Hero And the rather because as I have heard hee loved a Lady of Gaùle and doubtlesse will for her sake afford me the aid I implore To him therefore do I addresse my self to subdue these monstrous spirits and to furnish me with so much eloquence and audacity as may make my reasons apparent unto my Judges I beseech thee therefore by thy valour O great Hercules and by the fair Galathea our Princesse I conjure thee to deliver me from these monstrous Lovers and so to cleare my reasons unto this Nymph that she may give a just judgement and keep me from loving both Thamires and Calidon And to begin what dost thou mean Calidon by calling me before the God of Love whom thou dost make both thy Judge and thy God Dost thou think that he hath any power over us who are ashamed that his Name should be in our mouths though it do reach our ears A Maid Calidon who ever scorned to have any thing to do with this Love is now summoned to appear before his Throne to receive her doom And canst thou expect I will make any other answer but that let this God of Love doom what he will I will not obey him But I prethee tell me when I have observed his statutes and am constrained to live according to his will what recompence may I expect from him onely this to be called the most amorous Maid in all the Country A very brave and honourable title indeed for a maid of any quality and one that desires to live without a blemish upon her honour Therefore Oh Shepheard never summon mee before his Tribunal whose Power and Jurisdiction I will not acknowledge and unto whom I doe declare my self to bee an enemy If you will have me give an answer let us both appeal unto Virtue and Reason and certainly wee need not goe any farther than this great Nymph who is pleased to take so much pains to hear our differences Before her I shall answer unto any thing you have or can object which as I conceive may be reduced unto three heads First that I ought to love you because you love me and because I knew it Secondly because the favours which you received from me in your sickness and which as you say caused your cure have obliged me And lastly because Thamires hath given me unto you But Madam that I may give full answers unto all these objections I beseech you command him to answer unto my questions that you may come to the knowledge of the Truth out of his own mouth I ask you Calidon what allurement did I use to make you in love the first time you begun to love me When she saw he stood silent and gave no answer she addressed her self unto the Nymph Madam said she I beseech you command him to answer me And Leonida appointing him so to doe You ask me a question said he which you your self can best resolve but since you will needs have it from my mouth I will tell you It was the favour which I received from you in being pleased to shew your self unto me at the Sacrifice which was celebrated at the sixth of the month Was I the onely woman that assisted at the Sacrifice said Celidea and were you the only Shepheard of the Town that was there No answered hee for almost all the Shepheardesses and Shepheards of the Town were there also What one act was it I beseech you replyed she that did attract your affection In this answered Calidon you must acknowledge that my love was the decree of heaven You did no sooner turn your eyes towards me but as soon as
are loved consider the actions of those that love us if you finde them to be irregular and contrary to reason vertue or duty flie them as dishonourable if on the contrary you finde them to be moderate and not ramping beyond the limits of honesty or duty then cherish them and esteem them as vertuous This sapient lesson Shepheard teacheth me to cherish the affection of Thamires and to flie yours For what effect does the love of Calidon produce Violencies raptures transports and despairs were never the effects of vertue If the love of Thamires be considered we shall finde it to be all vertue When did he begin to love me At a time when there was no likelyhood any vice could invite him to it How has he continued this affection So as neither duty nor honesty could take the least exception against it But why did he give over For the reasons which he himselfe hath given Whether reason do not appear in all this I refer my selfe Madam unto your judgment These considerations moved me to entertain the affection of Thamires and reject the love of Calidon And this Amity and nothing else did enforce me to visit this Shepheard when he was sick to give him such good words as might recover him and all this as well to satisfie Thamires as out of a naturall compassion which all ought to have one unto another If I did fail in my love to Thamires Calidon for your satisfaction I will confesse it and repent with a protestation to love Thamires no more nor fall into the like fault But I cannot believe that therefore I am obliged to love you for if I should it would be to correct one errour by committing another which is worse Perhaps you will alledge against my defence that having given the whole disposition of my selfe unto Thamires and he transferring me into your hands I cannot contradict his disposall of me This is an excellent conclusion indeed I chuse you for my husband presently after you may give me unto another this is very fine Logick You must know Calidon that the reason why I gave Thamires all the power of my selfe was because I did love him and he loved me and therefore if he have any power over me he must love that is the implicite condition of his power but if he do not then the cause ceasing the effect must needs cease and therefore if he do not love me he hath no power over me But haply you will reply that he swears he does continue loving me still and that it is reason not want of affection which made him transfer me over unto another I must answer both him and you Shepheard that I do not believe him and yet if reason can so well perswade with his affection why should not reason have as much power over my affection Is there any reason I should love him whom nature and reason both forbids me to love Nature forbids the banes for since the first houre I ever saâ— you there was such a contrariety in my heart and such a secret antipathy in it against you that I disliked every thing I saw you do Believe it Calidon what I say proceeds not from any scorn of you but from the very truth I had rather chuse to rest in my grave then live with you not but I do know and confesse you deserve a much better fortune but the reason is because Nature does hold me from you with abundance of violence and without any cause And since it is so upon what pretence can you desire I should be yours since Nature does forbid it and Reason likewise which neverthwarts Nature Go go Calidon live in quietnesse do not wilfully endeavour to make two persons miserable for the truth is you will be as miserable by it as my selfe If you do love me let it suffice that your love is most troublesome to me and do not strive to surcharge me with an intolerable burthen by forcing me to love you And be assured of this that Lignon shall sooner run backward then you shall finde any place in the affection of Celidea This Madam is the Answer which I shall give unto the shallow reasons of Calidon But now I have another more dangerous enemy to encounter withall who has better Armes and who gives more smarting blowes I mean the ungratefull Thamires Thamires whom I did really love and whom I thought had loved me as well as any possibly could But alas what would he have now Can he expect any thing from her whom he hath betrayed into the hands of her most cruell enemy Does he yet hope for any love from her whom he hath most ungratefully wronged Whan colour and upon what ground can he desire me to love him Is it because he did love me or because I loved him This Madam had been some reason at that time but now since he has left loving me and would force me to love another and not himself why does he urge unto me the time past which is not nor ever will return The memory of that time is an argument to hate him the more since I do finde him at this present so unworthy I do confesse I did love him but when he resigned me unto another he did demonstratively shew that he neither did nor does love me And therefore let him not think it strange that since my affection did proceed from his mine should cease as well as his for his was the cause and mine the effect and the cause ceasing the effect must follow Why did he cut up a Tree from which he expected fruit He hath done me more wrong then I him since he was the first offendor and yet I am satisfied I complain not I can quit him with a very good will and cannot wish he should court me again because it is a thing impossible to obtain me What is it he would now have Does he not know that as long as our love was mutuall I was his and he was mine and then by the Lawes of Amity he might dispose of me as his own If he have given me unto Calidon how can he pretend me to be his If he have any thing to require from me he must addresse himself to him unto whom he hath given me if he can have his consent I will afterwards consider what I have to do if he cannot why does he complain of me or ask me for what he has given away He hath sacrificed me as he saith to Calidon's health manifesting thereby that Calidon was dearer unto him than I was and in very good time But can he not be contented that his sacrifice is accepted and that his deer Calidon is recovered from death Would he so sacrilegiously recall what he has dedicated unto the gods Remove Thamires all such thoughts out of your soul lest the gods do punish you for it and do not hope that since I have been offered unto the gods for the health of Calidon I will ever stoop
had the honour to be often 〈◊〉 you But I cannot keep my selfe within the confines of our wager Oh my fairest Mistresse do not be here it possible I should Your perfections are too high to be loved only by a seeming to love Heavens be my witnesse and I attest all the sacred duities of these solitary places that I do love you with a most reall perfect pure and eternall affection The reasons why this shepheard spoke thus was because he saw that within a few 〈◊〉 his terme of 〈◊〉 months would end and that after it he should finde more difficulty to express his affection knowing the humour of this shepheardess well enough so as he resolved to make use of his time And though it did but further his designe very little yet was it not altogether in vain for by this he had accustomed his shepheardess unto such discourse which perhaps iâ— not one of the least acts whereof an advised Lover ought to make use for custome renders things easy which at the beginning astonish us and which we think impossible Diana hearing this language though she thought it true yet would she not seem to believe it but continuing as she begun This shepheard said she does more confirme main the opinion I had of you and you may believe what I say to be true if you do observe how faintly I hear and answer you for did I give any credit unto your words be certain that the first word you should speak unto me should be the last word that I would hear Silvander would have answered had he not been prevented by an encounter Astrea and Tircis went first Phillis and Hylas next Mandonte and Tersander after them Diana and Silvander the next and after them the slie Laonice In this order they followed the path which Silvander shewed them and without much noise they came into a very pleasant Wood which was in their way The discourse of Astrea and Tircis being only upon things indifferent they espyed in the thick of the wood under a shade three shepheardesses with the generous Paris the son of Adamas the shepheardesses were unknown unto Astrea as for Paris he was of late grown so familiar amongst all that company as there was none in all that Town which did not both know and love him His love unto Diana brought him unto that acquaintance and to make himselfe more plausible as often as he came to see his Mistresse he put on the habit of a Shepheard and with his hook in his hand frequented that company as if he had been of the same quality Such power hath Love to free the most generous soules from all ambition And because one of those shepheardesses did at that time sing Astrea and Tircis stopt and turning towards those which followed them did make a signe that they should make no noise But because the Song was almost ended they heard only this last verse of it By Thought or Deed did I offend By Deed I neer did condescend And if by Thought I did amisse I le swear my thought a Traitor is The voice of this shepheardesse was so ravishing that all the company were very sorry they came not till her song was ended But Hylas leaving Phillis to get a little neerer he no sooner set his eyes upon them but he knâ—w them Had any observed him they might easily have seen that these shepheardesses were not unknown unto him yet that he might hear what they said he constrained himselfe as well as he could Then he heard her that sung say Generous Paris since we have satisfied your curiosity and desire we hope you will acquit your selfe of your promise made unto us I shall never deny you answered Paris any thing that is within the compasse of my power Then taking a Lute which these shepheardesses had he sung this Song unto that Instrument A Song 1. WHen Hylas did the splendid eye Of Phillis his fair Mistresse spy Was ever such a glorious Queen Said he unlesse in heaven seen 2. Fair Phillis with a blushing Aire Hearing these words became more fair Away said he you need not take Fresh Beauty you more fair to make 3. Then with a winning smile and look His candid flattery she tooke Oh stay said he 't is done I vow Hylas is captivated now 4. If he for liberty complain Let him said she take it again 'T is more divine said he in you That conquer can and pardon too 5. A captive Prisoner is blest When he does fear to be releast That Lover's happy who does cry When any does his bonds unty Assoon as this Song was ended these strangers asked him who Phillis and who Hylas was If you did ever hear said Paris of the Plain that is called Forrests and in it of the delectable River of Lignon certainly you have heard the names of the fair Shepheardesses Diana and Astrea This Phillis of whom you enquire is a deer Companion unto them as for Hylas I can tell you nothing unlesse it be that he is a stranger but of the sweetest and most jocosive humour that ever my conversation cop'd withall for he was never tired with the service of any shepheardesse but still will quit her after six daies courtship before any distaste shall be on any side Did he not dwell in a place called Camargue said one of these strangers which is in the Roman Province And Paris answering Yes Oh then said she you need not tell us any more since we know both his Name and Country as for all his other conditions we know them well enough to our own costs And after she had paued awhile she began again in this manner The History of Palinice and Cercenea I Shall never think any thing strange generous Shepheard when I remember Hylas and consider that most things do consist only in Opinion For nothing is so directly contrary unto each other as vertue and vice and this man taking the one for the other doth shew us that it is meerly opinion which puts the price upon all things And doubtless he is the most unconstant piece that ever thought himself in Love and he will go about to prove by arguments and reasons that it is a vertue to change or love many at once and that this is no inconstancy Also it is questionless that he speaks as he thinks and his arguments and reasons are the issues of his heart I remember that when he came from Camargue unto Lyons he got into the Temple amongst the women at the grand Feast and if Palinice had not shewed much compassion upon him for so is the name of this my Companion certainly he had payed very dear for his curiosity but she finding that his fault proceeded from folly and not malice disguised him with a vail and got him out of the Temple then carryed him to his lodging which was in a demi-Isle betwixt the Rosne and the Arar This courtesy was enough to oblige Hylas unto a gratefull visit of
other and therefore after she had looked upon him she turned sleightly another way and gave him no answer Hylas not satisfied with this he pulled her by the Gown and said What fair one no answer to a civill question I thought said she that you had not spoken unto me or that you had addressed your speech unto some other for I do not know what you mean by your fatall sight and your sacrifice It is to you only fair one whom I speak said he and to none other but your selfe that is to the fairest and most Angelick beauty that e're my eyes did see whose first sight of you had like to have cost me my life and so doubtlesse will the second if I do not finde you as kinde and favourable as Palinice was at that time I pray said she how kinde was Palinice unto you She sav'd my life answered he when the night before the Feast of Venus your beauty kept me so long in the Temple that I knew not how to get out I do not remember any such thing said Cercenea or that I ever saw you Whether you did or no replyed Hylas yet love you I must and in lieu of assisting at your sacrifice as I did intend to do I have assisted at that sacrifice which Love hath made of me unto you However I should think my selfe extreamly happy if I could finde any room in your affection I see said she you are a stranger and doe not know me and I do believe that my affection is very indifferent unto you Upon this she turned away and one of her Companions comming accidentally into the Temple she gave her place unto her as if out of courtesy and got as neer her Mother as possibly she could and all the while that the sacrifice lasted she would not come neer him But Hylas having broke the Ice he would go through and was not a man that would sit down in the mid way He found a way by the means of Palinice to come into Cercenea's Chamber and in conclusion grew very familiar making Clorian believe all this while that it was for his sake he frequented her company so much But such was the humour of Hylas as he did not think it enough to deceive his friend and to love both Palinice and Cercenea but one night as we were walking together he expressed himselfe as fair unto me as unto them and that before he knew my name Hylas who as I told you before was hearkning he could not chuse though it was contrary to his designe but shew himselfe and say Why fair Florice do you think it was your name that I was in love withall Hylas repented he had so rashly shewed himselfe but these strangers were exceedingly astonished when they saw him so surprisedly and though they looked fully upon him yet by reason of his alteration in habit they knew him not at the first But Astrea was very glad who thought the discourse of this stranger to be very long and that it hindred her from that satisfaction which she hoped for in this voyage yet she seemed to be sorry and with the rest all shewed themselves But Hylas seeming as if he had purposely interrupted Florice did run to her and embraced her and afterwards saluted the rest then turning to her again Well fair Historian said he must you needs renew my sorrowes and make those wounds which you gave me to bleed afresh Oh said Florice you need not fear any wounds since you have so many remedies 'T is true answered Hylas if all wounds were cured with the same remedies But to let this discourse alone I beseech you tell me what designe brought you unto this place The design said Florice was not to meet you here If it had said 〈◊〉 it had been but an act of civility and my services perhaps might merit as much But I see I have sowâ—d upon an ungratefull piece of ground which does not render a profit worth the pains Somtimes said Cercenea good land may bring forth weeds in lieu of corn because the feed may be naught or sowed out of season and the sower may be worst of all and perhaps some of these may be the cause of that sterilitie wherewith you tax us I know Cercenea said he that you have beauty enough to make men love you but withall you want no disâ—â—in and scorn for those that do adore you And I do know said Palinice that as you have been ever very fertile in new desires and fresh affections so you never wanted words wherewith to accuse others of your own faults Then Hylas stepping back two or three paces This is too much said he to fight against three at once Hercules himselfe would not undertake two Upon this Astrea Diana Phillis and the rest of their company came in and caused the dispute to end It was the custome of all Lignon shepheards when they met any strangers to use them with all possible assistance conceiving themselves obliged unto it by the Lawes of Hospitality This custome of civility invited Astrea Diana and their company to treat these strangers accordingly and afterwards to ask them the occasion of their voyage Unto which Florice answered in the name of all That being sent into this Country by direction of their gods who had forbidden them to reveal the cause they durst not disobey them and therefore they could not give them satisfaction Then enquiring who those shepheardesses were and Phillis telling her their names 〈◊〉 addressed her selfe unto Astrea I must needs confesse said she that I am angry with my selfe for not knowing you to be the shepheardesse Astrea whose beauty being too high to be consined unto so narrow a Country as Forrests the lustre of it hath shined into the Countries all about it But I do beg your excuse and confesse that now I am dazled and confused with admiration at so much lustre as is in you and Diana And I do begin to hope that our voyage will be prosperous since it meets with so happy a beginning Astrea all civility did answer her in as good language as possible and then kissing them Hylas interrupted Good Florice said he what do you think of our Villages did you ever see any greater Beauties in your Cities with all their Arts Have not I good reason to quit them all for these fair shepheardesses since the simplicity of my humour and spirit doth more sympathize with their naturall beauty then with those artificiall tricks which are used in your Townes If ever you did order your actions with judgment said Florice I must confesse it is in this but nor for any conformitie of humours that is betwixt these fair shepheardesses and you for in that you are far different but because Hylas having been all his life very wavering in his affection unto all others will become more constant here if at the least perfection of beauty be able to do it and for my part I do believe he is since
where he thought him selfe so unworthily treated and betrayed he would see whether all that was said was true and therefore took the Mirror in his hand seeming as if he much admired it and as he offered to take out the Glasse it broke at which he started as if it had been done by chance and seeing the glasse broken Mistress said he I beg your pardon I am obliged to make amends and put in another Glass She answered him that it was a small matter and not worth the pains upon this word she held out her hand to take it again but he thinking that she would not let him have it lest he should see the Picture in it he was the more backward in restoring it and in this dispute he took out the Glass then the paper and then he found what I had said was true Although he did believe me before yet when he saw my Picture he was so surprised that he could not speak of a long time and the amazement of Dorinde was no less Periander who stood mute looking sometimes upon the Picture and sometimes upon Dorinde and considering her amazement also had an opinion that she only seemed so to be thought ignorant of it therefore he was extreamly transported with anger Let me tell you said he unto her that both in well loving in secresy and in dissimulation you are the most admirable that ever I knew Periander said she I do protest by all that 's sacred that I am ignorant of it Take heed said he how you invoke things that are sacred but since you are not the first whose humour hath deceived me I will leave the place to another that I may have so much contentment as not to be the last whom you will deceive Upon this he went away in an extream fury Dorinde did all she could to undeceive him but that did more augment his opinion of her dissimulation Thus he left her and to observe the Lawes of friendship he resolved upon Travell not knowing any better way to overcome Love then absence which yet would not do as I shall tell you afterwards Now look upon me as arrived at the port of my designe having the place free unto my selfe But Oh! generous Paris when I went to see Dorinde Oh how she was displeased at me She had sent for her who sold her the Mirror and forced her to confesse of whom she had it and finding it to be my selfe I cannot expresse unto you the greatnesse of her anger Perfidious Impostor said she unto me why would you so mortally offend one that never gave you any occasion for it How durst you after so great an injury be so impudent as to come in my sight I had before han I prepared my selfe for a chiding yet could not endure it without a blush but knowing that the only way to stop an impetuous torrent of fury was to let her just anger cool a little before I gave any answer therefore I stayed mute untill she had vented all she had to say and then I answered her thus I must needs confesse that all your reproaches are just but alas I cannot complain against you for it only against Love who having inflamed my soul towards you did freez yours towards me Had Love been just it would in some sort have cooled my too ardent affection and then I should not have been forced to offend you and needed not have used any tricks to drive away my Rivall from you But alas I see that I am a very Novist in Love since I look for any reason in any thing it doth But for all that fair Dorinde you do me wrong in complaining against my actions since being but effects of Love yet you should expect them to be squared according to any rules of Reason I must confesse that I have sinned against the rules of Reason but not against Love and I beseech you take me not as rationall but as amorous and most extreamly wounded with the darts of Love I expressed the extremity of my affection with so much dejected humility and passionate language as it had a good melting influence upon her soul so as within a few daies after she began to smile upon me and pardon my offence and see how an ill chance is sometimes profitable for that which was the cause of her anger was it which augmented her good will unto me and considering the artifice which I had used she had an opinion that I did most certainly love her And this consideration caused Thcombres to misse his Mistresse for she devoted her selfe wholly unto me so as it may seem that I did love her only to make her hate him And yet for all this I loved Florice much more then I did Dorinde Truth is that when Dorinde's favours did flow more then usuall upon me I did begin to love her more for nothing doth kindle affection and augment it so much as favours Living then thus ambodexterously with Florice and Dorinde Florice began to enter into some suspition of me and the common brute of this affection was blown all over Therefore one day she spoke unto me as if she were quite altered and I who did really love her did vow and swear that all my courtship of Dorinde was but an effect of her own command to cover thereby my affection unto her That if she would I would never look upon Dorinde again and told her that if she would but look her selfe in a glasse and look upon Dorinde that sight would give her better assurance of my service and affection then all my words could To be brief with good language I brought her into a good opinion of me yet I was forced to promise that I would give her all the Letters which Dorinde writ unto me Take heed said she unto me lest you should promise and not perform for that would for ever lose me if I come to know it I will never fail in any thing I promise said I unto her and much lesse unto Florice then unto the gods Thus were we upon better termes then ever And because none was so dear unto me as Florice yet had I a corner in my heart for Dorinde and was much delighted in her company she conferred many favours upon me and I courted her so close with severall Letters that she answered me in Letters again which I presently carried unto Florice who read them and kept them carefully Hylas seeing Silvander sit neer Diana and whispering then laughed together he broke off his discourse to answer what he had a conceit they said I believe you laugh Silvander said he unto him at my loving Florice and yet held correspondency with Dorinde If I do meet in my way unto the happinesse of Florice with any delights in the conversation of Dorinde do I contradict the Lawes of reason if I do receive them Should I refuse that good which the gods do send me and which your unnaturall austerity disallowes Now because Silvander would
be no interruption he would not return an answer And Hylas seeing him silent after he had shook his head he fell into the discourse from which he had digressed See now said he the issue of these Loves the frequent conversation which I had with Dorinde began to encrease my love unto her the more And in as much as the conferring of one favour drawes on another that is greater so she did every day give me cleerer evidences of her love which was a cause that our Letters began to alter style and became more affectionate and passionate then usuall This was a reason why I gave them unto Florice but seldome and then only those which had fewest expressions of affection and craftily kept the rest to my selfe Thus I lived for a while in a sea of delights being welcome unto both but it was too high to hold and this happinesse did not last long For it hapned one day that as I pulled some things out of my pocket in the presence of Florice and other company she espied two or three little Letters lapped up after the very same manner as Dorinde's were which I had given unto her She began presently to suspect the truth and many daies passing and I not giving them unto her she concluded her selfe to be deluded and resolved to steal them from me and because I took no notice she easily got them out of my pocket whilst I was talking unto others who did what they could to abuse me and give her a better opportunity to play the thief thinking she did it only to make me seek them She took them out so dexterously that I perceived not she went away immediately and was no sooner come unto her lodging but locking her selfe up in her closet she threw them all upon the Table and found five some very freshly written and others of a longer date The first she took which was last writ contained these words Dorinde's Letter unto Hylas I Have here sent you the picture which you desired of me not to make you lose the person whom you have wone as heretofore you did with the like-present but to assure you that you have as much power over her that sent it as you have of the Picture when it is in your hands If it were permitted me I should be as often with you as it is and though it be in that more happy then I am yet it is less in not knowing the happiness it enjoyes which I should esteem infinitely above my life Then throwing this Letter upon the Table with an angry look and pushing away the rest further from her she went back a pace or two Then folding her armes and lifting up her eyes Oh heavens said she can this possibly be true Hast then betrayed me Hylas Couldst thou so long fool me and I never see thy treason Then standing silent a long while at last she struck both her hands upon the Table and said Well Traitor thou shalt not passe unpunished I will discover thee unto her whom thou hast betrayed as well as me and perhaps we shall both grow a little wiser by thy follies She had no sooner fixed upon this resolution but she lapt up all her Letters and went to Dorinde and desired her to go into her Closet and then shutting the dore Sweet cosen said she unto her I am come to manifest my affection unto you but upon condition that when I have discovered a secret unto you that you do prudently conceal it I know that Hylas hath long courted you and that you have long thought he loved you but I come now out of my true affection to you to undeceive you and to let you see that he hath deceived you Upon this Dorinde blush'd and seemed a little shie No no said Florice do not think Cosen to hide that which I do know better then your selfe I say better for you only know your own intentions and not his but I do know both If you do said Dorinde I must confesse you to be very knowing but what I beseech you do you know of mine I know said she that you do love him and sent him your picture and receives all his addresses Dorinde being touched to the quick she had not so much impudence as to deny it but looked down and blushed more holding her hands before her face for shame Do not vex Dorinde said she that these things should be thus known but rather rejoyce they are fallen into my hands not anothers who lesse loves you if you love your own honour withdraw your affection for the 〈◊〉 from this man who courts you only to get such favours from you as he brags of There hath been heretofore some familiarity betwixt him and me and that is the reason which you have reason to be glad of that he hath addressed himselfe unto me I do not think you ever spoke one syllable unto him which he hath not told me and because it would be too long to repeat them see here most of the Letters you have written unto him which you may do well to burn lest he should make use of them hereafter to your disadvantage Dorinde both seeing and knowing them she did ingenuously confesse that she did believe I loved her and therefore thought her selfe obliged unto what she did but for the future she would hate me a thousand times more then ever she loved me She thought her selfe infinitely obliged unto Florice for this discovery and commended her for the best friend in the world Then both of them began to inveigh against me with all possible bitternesse especially Dorinde who thought her selfe the most offended Florice having revenged her selfe upon me according to her desires returned unto her lodging fully resolved never to love me again no nor ever to see me again if it were possible But when the heat of her anger was a little cooled and when she began to recall into her memory the discourse which Dorinde and she had she remembered that what affection soever I had unto Dorinde yet I had never acquainted her with the affection I had unto Florice nor of any favour I ever received from her concluding from hence that I loved her more then I did Dorinde so as she began to repent of what she had don for she did believe that if I 〈◊〉 discoursed any thing concerning her she should certainly have heard of it upon this occasion The more this came into her minde the more she repented of her too much haste or said she what though he did visit her I my selfe was the cause If he did court her I did command him so to do If he did love her it was because she was amiable If he did receive her favours it was the better to cloak that affection which he bore unto me And the truth is being young very few of his age would have refused such a fortune If he did dissemble with me and not shewe me how much he was favoured
see this unhappy Marriage and that my intention was never to return again but since my affection would not give me leave to be so far distant I was constrained to return but arrived in the most unfortunate minute that could be and that it was absolutely impossible I should live unlesse she gave me some assurance that her affection was not changed She as if she never heard him took a Ring off from her finger and put it into his hand This Diamond said she may assure him that it hath lesse constancy then the affection which I promised unto him Now hear I beseech you what hapned That very same night and I believe about the very same houre when Theombres had her in his armes I was in my bed and held my hand upon my breast having the Ring upon my finger I know not how but it cut me and made so deep a wound that my shirt and sheets were all bloody and ever since hath left a mark upon my side neer my heart Oh heavens cryed I out upon a suddain thinking upon the wrong which I had done Florice and Theombres had done me how sensible am I of the offence and injury that is done unto my affection Perhaps I have insisted too long upon these particulars but I beseech you excuse Hylas since he was never so touched to the heart by any other except by you my fairest Phillis Or except any in this Company said she But pray tell us how you left Dorinde Unto which Hylas replyed thus When I was in the depth of my perplexities for indeed I did love Florice as well because she was fair as because I thought Dorinde loved another the heavens helped me out with as good an occasion as I could desire Periander who as I told you was constrained to quit Dorinde unto me and not being able to see me enjoy her was gone out of the Town was at length forced to return as not being able to endure so long out of her sight and though he did foresee his sorrowes would be greater in seeing then in hearing of our affection yet could he not chuse but return thinking it would be some consolation unto his wound to see the hand that gave it And because he came at the first to see me assoon as he came I resolved to give as they say two blowes with one stone to rid my selfe of Dorinde and to oblige Periander Two or three daies passed on and he never talked one word unto me concerning Dorinde and one time being separated from the Company I said thus unto him Periander it is impossible for my affection unto you to suffer my selfe to be a cause of that melancholly which I have observed in your face any longer I love you too well than to see you suffer for my sake You do not doubt of my affection unto Dorinde but you shall lesse doubt of the affection I have unto you And to give you evident testimony that it is not a little I release this Dorinde unto you whom my good fortune took from you and the affection I bear unto you shall surmount the love I bear unto her Receive her therefore Periander from me and be assured that I shall lesse grieve to part with her then to see you thus sad for my sake or be deprived of your presence If ever any condemned person was joyed when a Pardon came Periander was as much when he heard this and yet his discretion and affection unto me made him at the first refuse it but when he saw I persisted in this minde he received it with so many thanks as I was constrained to tell him that she was justly his due knowing very well that he did surmount me in love as my good fortune and cunning surpassed his Then I retired by little and little from Dorinde and Periander on the contrary advanced But in the mean time I attempted upon Florice I found out the means to speak unto her and assured her of my affection To be briefe I contrived it so as there was never better correspondency betwixt us and that which most helped me was the hollow-hearted affection which she bore unto Theombres 'T is true she had alwaies some suspition of Dorinde and therefore after she thought that she had made me hers she told me peremptorily that she would have me so clearly and openly break off with Dorinde as she should never be in any doubt of it afterwards otherwise she should live in a continuall incertainty of my affection and that she had rather part fair with me then live in such continuall apprehensions I desired that my breach with Dorinde might be done by some civill way and least offensive unto her But she would needs have it done by some rude and publick affront and she would not be perswaded otherwise At the last I resolved upon it Upon the sixt of July all the Gallantry of the Town went with the Druides to gather the sacred Misletoe in the Forrest of Mars called Erieu and then Florice charged me to satisfie her request All the Ladies were trimmed in their gayest dresses and every one in the Athenian habit The sacrifice being ended and publick rejoycings beginning I took Periander apart to the end he should not be offended at what I did I told him how I saw Dorinde had some hopes yet in me and therefore she did not receive his service so well as she ought but I would undeceive her and dash all her hopes Then seeing her with Florice and in the midst of the best company I went to her and after some common discourse I said unto her so loud as all about her might hear Now I see Dorinde that what is told me of you is true What 's that said she and smiled little expecting such an answer as I gave That you have replyed I the best opinion of your selfe of any person in the world Then she blush'd and asked me the reason of my judgment Because said I you measuring others by your selfe as you do love all you look upon so you think every one is in love with you and I know you are in that errour concerning me thinking that I am ready to die for the love of you but I would have you know that your merits are too mean to make me such a fool if you think otherwise undeceive your selfe and be assured that Hylas is ashamed he ever loved you or if he was such a fool that he is wiser now Imagine noble Paris how blank Dorinde was For my part I would not exchange a syllable more with her but went away and left her most pittifully out of countenance Ever since Florice was the most satisfied that is imaginable and wholly devoted her selfe unto me And as Theombres stood for a Husband so I enjoyed her as a Friend But Dorinde extreamly incensed against me resolved to do me all the mischiefe that possibly she could and discovering the intimate familiarity betwixt Florice and me she
ask thee what they are That spark les in those Eyes so fair VVhat are they soules or flames that fly And hover so about that Eye They are flames which death to foules do give Or rather soules that makes Love live 'T is strange that from the selfe same eyes A Life and Death should both arise The works of gods all wonders are And so these Sunâ— seemes sure as rare To think them human is a sin Since reverence from the gods they win To love them they command thy heart Since thou to look allowed art 'T is true but yet my heart doth bear In it such reverentiall fear As bids devotion pay not Love To one that equalls gods above But star the gods who blessings shoure VVill not require above our power But try I say and thou wilt prove Thou canst not look but thou must love Whilst Diana to amuse the company did read these Lines aloud and these being ended took others of which the Altar was full Phillis addressed her selfe unto Astrea Oh heavens dear Sister said she unto her how I am amazed at all I finde in this place For my part answered Astrea I am so much out of my selfe as I know not whether I be asleep or awake Look upon this Writing and then tell me whether you ever saw the like unto it This answered Phillis is Celadon's writing or else I am not Phillis There is no doubt of it answered Astrea and I do very well remember that he writ this last line VVanting the Substance Shadowes comfort me upon a little Picture which he had of me and which he wore about his neck in a little bag of persumed Leather I pray see said Phillis what is in this paper which I took up from under your Picture Stay stand and gaze did e're eye see A Saint so pure so fair as she Can any be so dully dumb As not Idolater become And rather all the gods give o're Then not so fair a Saint adore But soft ere I devotion pay Let me consider what I say These flaming Beauties are not eyes Only a Picture which I prize It is not reall only shade By an in genious Artist made Are they not eyes Can any Art Like them so captivate a Heart Sure Pictures be they ne're so like So mortally can never strike But be they what they will I 'me sure No Mortall can the blowes endure Since by their power I wounded am I 'le flie them to avoid the same But why fond Lover wilt thou flie From such a fatall piercing eye Thy heart 's already wounded by it What e're it be 't is vain to flie it Oh Sister said Astrea it is most certainly Celadon that writ these Verses it is without any manner of doubt for about three years since he did write them upon my Picture which my Father had of me to give unto my Uncle Focion Upon this tears flowed from her eyes But Phillis fearing the rest of the Company would see her Sister said she this is rather a cause of rejoycing then sorrow for if Celadon did write it as I do believe he did certainly he is not dead although you think he was drowned and if it be so what greater cause of joy could you have Ah Sister said she turning the other way and pushing her from her for gods sake do not torment me with any such language Celadon is too certainly dead by my folly and I am most miserable in the losse I see the gods are not yet contented with those tears that I have already shed for him since they have brought me hither to give me a fresh subject for more But since they will have it so I will turn my selfe wholly into tears and though I cannot wholly wash away my offence by them yet I will never cease untill I have lost either my eyes or my life or both I do not tell you said Phillis that Celadon is alive but I must tell you that if he did write these Verses I must of necessity conclude that he is not dead Sister said she our Druides tell us that we have soules which never die although our bodies do and so in that sence he may live I have heard say answered Phillis that it is our duty to give a buriall unto the dead and to put a piece of mony in their mouths to pay the Ferry-man for wafting them over the Stygian Lake and that such as are deprived of buriall are a hundred years wandring about the places where they lost their bodies and how can you tell but that the soul of Celadon having lost his body and being denyed that charitable office may be wandring about the fatall River of Lignon and still retain the same affection and thoughts which he had before Ah Sister said Astrea these are but meer phantasms Celadon is certainly dead and these are the testimonies of his affection and my folly What I do say answered Phillis is grounded upon more then phantaims and Chimeraes and I hint then upto you out of my desire to contribute unto your tranquillity I do know it Sister replyed Astrea but consider that if I should think Celadon alive and afterwards finde him to be dead nothing could preserve my life this would be to see him die twice and the gods and my own heart do know how near his first death did bring me to my grave Yet you may receive this satisfaction by it answered Phillis as to know that death could not extinguish the affection which he bore unto you That said Astrea conduceth unto his glory and my punishment Nay rather said Phillis this construction may be made of it that he being dead does cleerly and without a cloud see the pure and entire affection which you bear unto him and that the jealousie which caused your anger against him did proceed only from the superabundance of your love for I have heard say that our soules separated from the bodies do still see and behold them This answered Astrea would be the greatest satisfaction that I can receive for I do not doubt but as my imprudence did give him great cause of griefe so this sight of my affection would give him contentment For if I did not love him above all the world and if I do not continue stil in the same affection may the gods never love me These two Shepheardesses were talking thus whilst Diana entertained the rest of the Company sometimes in reading the papers which she found upon the Altar and sometimes a king Paris Tircis and Silvander what was their thoughts of these things There is not any here but knowes said Paris but this Picture was made for Astrea and conceives that he who put it in this place does not only â—ove but adore her For my part said Silvander if Celadon were not dead I should believe these Characters to be his How said Tircis Celadon who was drowned some three or four months since in the River Lignon The same answered Silvander
name was Damon neer kinsman unto Leontidas of whom the King had at the first no good opinion but since he began to change the King also changed his minde But Leontidas being one that was extreamly observant of every ones actions he took such notice of his designe that he could not endure him because he thwarted his aimes of giving me unto his Nephew And to give a stop unto this new courtship he did so peremptorily forbid me from seeing him and him from speaking unto me as both of us were extreamly offended at him We loving better because forbidden had ever since a greater desire to see each other than before so as you may believe that this prohibition was it only which did oblige me to it When Damon began first to court me his humour was so displeasing unto me as I could not endure him but after Leontidas with menaces and harsh language did expresly forbid me seeing him and seemed to distrust me he vexed me so extreamly as I resolved with my selfe never to love any other And therefore I did with all possible diligence correct his vices which his nature did most incline him unto sometimes blaming them in others and sometimes telling him that my humour was not to love those that were addicted to them Thus forming him into a new modell when I saw the conditions of this young Cavalier were changed I loved him much more then if he had begun to serve me with the same qualities and perfections for every one is much better pleased with the works of their own hands then any others yet I did carry my selfe so discreetly towards him as none could perceive that I did love him and stood so upon my guard as he had not so much boldnesse as to declare his minde unto me by his words But at last thinking that all his service was lost if I did not know his intentions he resolved to take more heart and put it to the venture and because he thought it more expedient to do it by Letter then Tongue after a long disputation in his minde he writ this Damon's Letter unto Mandonthe MADAM It is extream temerity to love an owner of so eminent perfections but I conceive it my duty to serve and adore them And if you will extinguish the affection of those who love you you must also extinguish those perfections which cause you to be loved which if you will not do not think it strange you should be disobeyed for force does alwaies excuse an offence that is committed against their will and necessity does not acknowledge those Lawes which the gods themselves do impose He was not a little perplexed how he should bring it to passe that I should see this Letter for he knew that I would not receive it unless by some Artifice And see what inventions Love hath He came unto me seeming to entertain me with some Court-newes and told me two or three passages which hapned very lately at the last he told me that he had discovered a new League of Love but feared to tell me the Parties because the Lady was one of my friends and the Cavalier one of his Why said I unto him do you think me to be so indiscreet as I cannot conceal what is not fit to be known Oh no said he but my fear is lest you should be an ill willer unto my friend And why so answered I a pure and honest Love cannot offend any one I plainly saw sweet shepheardesses that he was perplexed and knew not what to do but I could not imagine that it was any businesse concerning his own particular since if he had any such minde he might have spok unto me long since having had opportunities to do it And therefore I was very urgent with him and more perhaps then I ought to be And at the last he told me that as for their names he durst not tell them for severall considerations but he would let me see a Letter which he had found that morning Upon this he put his hand in his pocket and shewed me the Letter which he had writ unto me which without any scruple I took and read but knew not his hand because I had never seen it before But as I had before a little desire to know their names so after the reading of it my desire was extream and was more urgent then before At which he smiled and put me off with some bad excuses Why Damon said I will you not give me so much satisfaction as to tell me what I ask I am affraid said he that I shall offend you if I should obey for she unto whom this Letter is addressed is very much a friend of yours Nay certainly said I you will much more offend me by your disobedience Then I am said he betwixt two great extreams but since the fault which I shall commit is by your command it will be the lesse and therefore I will obey Then taking the Letter he read it aloud but when he came to the end he stopt and named no body See fairest Shepheardesse the strange effects of Love sometimes it hurries the poorest and basest spirits into incredible impudence and other times it makes the highest courage to tremble at such things as the meanest person would not dorre at Damon serves for an example of this since he whom no dangers could make start had not so much courage as to tell his name unto a woman and a woman whom he knew wished him no harm But as his courage failed him so my understanding more for I might well have known by his fear that it neerly concerned him and I well believe that it was Love which did infatuate me intending by us to make his puissance the better known unto others otherwise certainly I had seen it since I did love him and since they say the eyes of Love looks though stone-walls However it was I must confesse I did not apprehend it and seeing him stand silent What Damon said I must I know no more Truly I did think that I had a greater power over you then I see I have From thence it is answered he that my silence proceeds for your too much power over me makes me mute and yet what I have said might have sufficed you for what can I declare more after I have read the Letter and you heard my voice How Damon said I to him extreamly amazed was 't your selfe that writ it It was I said he and he 'd down his head and looked upon the ground Then I beseech you tell me said I unto whom it is directed Since it is your pleasure to know it said he directly it is unto the fair Mandonthe Upon this word he was silent purposely as I believe to see how I would receive his declaration I must confesse I was much surprised for I expected any other answer then that and though I did love him and that with a resolved will yet honour which ought to have the
other known disease but sometimes of a Megrim othertimes of my Teeth of the Collick and such like And because my friends would sometimes send to visit me not daring to come themselves for fear of offending Leontidas and his Wife who were very potent with the King and Queen I commanded my Nurse to put some of the Maides into my bed who should receive the messages for me and who faigning to be unwilling to speak my Nurse should make the answer the Windowes being close shut and the Curtains drawn no light almost came into the Chamber so as none could tell whether it was I or no. Leriana knew by her Niece that it was my constant custome to shut my selfe up in my Closet every afternoon And because I was no hater of Ormanthe though she had been simply instrumentall in my misery therefore I permitted her to be alwaies amongst my Maides for what she had done was not out of any malice unto me And at this time she told Leriana all passages concerning me more out of simplicity then any hatred unto me But her Aunt whose aime was absolutely to ruine me and my reputation nay even to take away my life lest I should make known all the villany unto Leontidas she thought that she had met with a fit occasion to effect her wicked desires And because she was sure Thersander had acquainted me with her artifices and tricks which she had used against Damon and me she turned all her affection to him into mortall hatred And there being never in this world a spirit so full of subtlety and malice as this woman she aimed to be revenged upon Thersander and me both at once and thus she had laid her plot She asked Ormanthe how long she thought her selfe to have been with Child and upon reckoning up of the time she found that she was within a month of her Account of which Leriana was very glad And after she had bid her be of good courage she commanded her to keep her big belly very close and that as soon as ever she found any throwes of Labour to be upon her then to acquaint her and in the mean time to get into my bed in my room as oft as she could And making this to be the foundation of her treason she went unto the Wife of Leontidas and falling down upon her knees most humbly beseeched her to pardon her carelessnesse in observance of me And because she knew that the aimes of this Lady were more at my Estate then me and since there was no likelyhood that her Nephew would marry me she added these words If you will be pleased Madam to take me into your favour again I shall shew you a most infallible and just way to make all Madonthe's Estate yours The Lady hearing this proposition so suitable to her humour she began to hearken unto it and asked her what way was it that she meant I shall in few words acquaint you said this wicked devill but Madam upon condition that you will pardon a new fault which I shall acquaint you withall And commanding her to speak freely Leriana thus continued Madonthe in the person of whom god Madam seemes to love you since he would not let her be in your house is the most miserable and lost woman in all Aquitain and I must confesse I never thought that one so young as she could have deceived one of my age her modest behaviour her high looks her family from whence she is descended and those good examples which she had of you might well move me to answer for her chastity as for my own and yet for all this I have discovered that she is with Child How Madonthe with Child said the Lady Yes Madam answered Leriana and more then that she is ready to be brought to Bed But how replyed she and from whom do you know this Madam said she I most humbly beseech you to pardon me and to believe that I was not so carelesse in the charge which you gave me as you imagine Considering her demeanour I might easily be deceived and could never imagine she should ever look so low as to love such a man as Thersander I see now that jealousie has clearer eyes then any prudence for Damon found this out which my eyes could never see At last I came to know it by the means of a Midwife unto whom she had addressed her selfe for a Medicine to make her selfe miscarry But the good woman being vertuous and hating such wickednesse did answer her That she could not because now the Child was entirely formed nay ready to be born but she would do thus much for her she could make her labour so easie and speedy as none should ever know any thing Now this woman came and acquainted me And because I was very desirous to know who the father was I asked her if she could suspect any person Very hardly said she unto me unlesse it be Thersander for as oft as I looked upon her belly or she thought upon the danger she was in she would say nothing else but Ah Thersander thy affection will cost me dear This makes me judge it to be him Now Madam I beseech you consider how could I keep her from this man a domestick a base man infinitely her inferiour Could I ever imagine she should look so low as him But since she hath rendred her selfe unworthy of your alliance let her be punished according to her merits and make her an example unto all of her age whilst you do enjoy that Fortune and Estate which she is unworthy of and this is the way You know Madam that by our Lawes every woman who offends in Chastity is to die by fire We shall very easily convict her of this crime since she hath a witnesse of it in her own belly And because those who are thus condemned do not only lose their lives but their Estates are also consiscate to the King be you the first that shall beg Mandonthe's Leontidas came into the Room and finding Leriana there How said he to his Wife can you endure the sight of her who is the cause of our displeasures His Wife full of desire to be Mistris of my Estate went to him and took him to the window there told him how the case stood And though he was a person of honour and a generous minded man yet she wrought so with him that at the last he consented unto what she desired So calling Leriana he commanded her to tell him the truth and be sure to say no more then what she could justifie She with an incredible impudence repeated all that before she had told unto his Wife and farther told him that if he would not believe her let him finde out any Midwife so she were one that was unknown to me and let him receive the truth from her report Leontidas thought this to be a good way the next morning he sent for one It hapned so as that day her
never come out I shall now make a strange relation unto you I did still love Damon most extreamly and the memory of him since his death was so imprinted in my soul that he was commonly alwaies before my eyes But since this accident and since I saw this strange Cavalier I know not how but I began to change my first affection and placed it upon him and though I never saw his face yet I must confesse I love him so as it may be said I was in love with a face of Armour I know not whether my obligation to him was the cause of it or whether his valour and courage and noble minde forced me unto it but so it is I never loved any since that day but this unknown Cavalier and in testimony of it after a long expectance of his return and hearing no newes of him I resolved to go my selfe unto Gergovea and the Golden Mount After I had consulted with my selfe about this designe I acquainted Thersander with it who offered me all his assistance and I addressed my selfe unto him rather then unto any other because since the day he fought for me he had wholly dedicated himselfe unto my service and because I had often heard him say that he was infinitely desirous to know that valiant Cavalier who had so bravely relieved us I gave out therefore that I would go and visit my Estate I prepared my Train I left the Court and came to my own house where leaving all my retinue I took with me only my Nurse for a companion and Thersander to defend me and so setforwards towards the Golden Mount The Country was extreamly rough and mountainous almost never without snow and ice my poor Nurse dyed there and having interred her I was much grieved to be alone with Thersander but I presently met with Tircis Hylas and Laonice whose company pleased me so much that not to lose it I resolved to put on the habit of a Shepheardesse as now you see me and Thersander in the habit of a Shepheard Then after we had stayed a while amongst the Mountains in hopes to hear some newes of him I was in quest of I resolved to come into this Country since he appointed us to make that way thinking that when I came to Gergovea I should haply finde this Cavalier unto whom I was so much obliged Madonthe was thus telling her story and not without bedewing her cheeks with tears whilst Paris and the rest of the shepheards were talking together for their mindes were possessed with that malady which above all others is an enemy to sleep For Tircis he loved his deceased Cleon although he was out of all hopes of ever seeing her again And because there was none of them so free as the inconstant Hylas he bore it out the best of any in the company and was least troubled with his Love Tircis thinking upon his dear Cleon he could not chuse but sigh very loud and Silvander at the same time did the same See said Hylas what difference there is betwixt these two sighes What is the difference said Paris The difference is said Hylas that Silvander doth sigh so to cool the fire which scorcheth him and Tircis sighes and blowes to kindle that fire which heretofore did scorch him Hylas had said very well said Tircis if he had said he had thought so for this is only a meer imagination of a soul that knowes not how to love How now Tircis said Hylas do you also upbraid me that I know not how to love I thought there had been none but that fantasticall Silvander who had been of that opinion If you would judge according to reason said Tircis you would be of our opinions Why said Hylas is it requisite that to love well I must needs Idolize one that 's dead as you do Did you but know how to love aright said Tircis questionlesse if you should meet with so great a misfortune as mine you would think your selfe obliged in duty so to do How how said Hylas in love with a Grave a Coffin believe it shepheard I will never be in love with any such Mistresses But come a little to reason what contentment and what end do you aime at in such a love Love said Tircis is a great god which can aime at or desire nothing but himself he is his own Center and has no aime or inclination but what begins and ends in himselfe Love is like a Ring it begins where it ends and ends where it begins it is perpetuall it aimes at no ends but is pleased and contented with its own nature These are delicate dreames indeed said Hylas for my part I believe them to be all fables invented by some silly women What is it Hylas said Tircis which you think so far from truth All that you say answered Hylas is so palpably grosse as I were mad if I did not see the simplicity of them You say Love desires nothing but it selfe and I say we see the contrary for we never desire any thing but that which we have not If you did understand answered Tircis how by the infinite power of Love two persons becomes but one you would know that a Lover can desire nothing but himselfe for as soon as you do understand how a Lover is transformed into the person Loved and the person Loved into the Lover and both becomes but one though being Lover and Loved they are two you would finde Hylas and confesse that since the Lover desires nothing but the person Loved and since he is himselfe both the Lover and the Loved by this conjunction he can desire nothing but himselfe See said Hylas how the old Proverb is truly verified one Errour begets a hundred You would perswade me into a beliefe of things impossible as that the Lover becomes the person Loved why by this argument I am Phillis for I do love her and yet I am Hylas and I do desire her The conclusion said Silvander is not good for you do not love her Had you said that I in loving Diana were transformed into her you had said right Well said Hylas are you then Diana is your Cap there changed into a Coyfe and your Coat into a Gown My Cap said Silvander does not love her Coife Very good said the inconstant Hylas if you be changed into Diana you should then dresse your selfe in the habit of a woman It is not handsome that so wise a shepheardesse as you are should disguise your selfe thus in the habit of a man There was none in all the company could forbear laughing at the pleasant expressions of this merry shepheard Silvander himselfe could not hold But afterwards he answered him thus I will if I can convince you of your errour Know therefore that there are two parts in a man the one is the Body which we see and touch and the other is the soul which we cannot see nor touch but is known by words and actions for neither words
pains when they are known are far more bitter and smarting And hence it is that every one strives to hide and conceal the afflictions which befall them and oftentimes had rather they were greater and secret then lesse and publick Now Sister there is one thing which my affection to you prompts me to advertise you of unto which me thinks your prudence ought to apply some remedies and I am sure if before my misfortune did befall me I had met with a friend who had freely spoken unto me I should not have been so sadly ashamed as I am Sister said Diana this is a great argument of your good affection to me and you will infinitely oblige me if not only now but alwaies you will tell me your opinion of all my actions freely and clearly and especially now when all are asleep Although these two Shepheardesses did think that none did hear them yet they were deceived for Laonice who was in the company although she seemed to be asleep yet she was awake and being extreamly desirous to hear more that she might according to her designe do them a displeasure she listened with a most attentive ear On the other side Silvander seeing all his company asleep and hearing the sheph eardesses talking he thought that he heard the voice of Diana and having an itching desire to hear their discourse he stole so gently neer them upon his hands and knees as he could hear them very distinctly and by fortune he came just as Astrea did begin to say thus Do you remember what I said unto you yesterday in you ear when Silvander disputed with Phillis Was it not said Diana concerning the affection of that shepheard towards me The very same answered Astrea and be pleased to understand that since I have discovered it more plainly by the discourse which I have had with him and you may most infallibly expect a most extream and violent affection from him If this affection be displeasing unto you it is requisite you keep him at a distance from you though I cannot tell whether that will do any good since his humour is of such a nature as the more it is crossed the more violent it will grow but if it be pleasing unto you it is most requisite you use abundance of discretion that it may not be known unto any but your selfe Sister said Diana after she had a while considered upon it I see you make your love unto me most evidently appear and will keep any thing secret which I shall say I will therefore open my very heart unto you but with a hearty desire that what e're I shall say may go no further no not to Phillis her selfe if it be no offence to the friendship that is betwixt you I should think answered Astrea my selfe unworthy of your love if I should impart any secret which you shall trust me withall unto any other nay I should think my selfe to be a most horrid Traitor And as for Phillis be confident Sister that as I would not do any act which might wound that affection I bear unto her so she shall never make me offend against the love I have vowed unto you Not that I have any diffidence in the discretion of Phillis said Diana but because I would if I could hide it from my own selfe Upon this she paused a while and then continued When I lost Philander as Sister I have told you I was so exceedingly grieved at it that for a long time after I resolved never to love any again but to spend all the rest of my mourning daies in an eternall widowhood For though Philander was not my Husband yet I do verily believe he had been if he had survived Philidas In this resolution I may most safely and truely protest unto you I have lived hitherto so insensible of any love as if I had neither any eyes or ears to see or hear any motion that was presented unto me in that kinde Amidor kinsman unto Philidas can testifie as much who though of a wavering humour had parts sufficient to make himselfe loved and who before he married Alfâ—runte did often offer to take me upon what conditions soever I should require Witnesse also the poor Nicander I call him poor because of the strange course which he took after my refusall To be briefe witnesse all those who since that day have made addresses of love unto me The memory of Philander has unto this very day so defended me against all others as I have not had so much as any thought of love But I must needs confesse that since the faigned addresse of Silvander I perceived my selfe much changed I know this shepheard at the first did only court me for a wager and yet as soon as he began his addresses did please me On the contrary the generous Paris did very really love me and quitted the grandure of his quality for my sake and yet for all his merits I could finde in my selfe no other love unto him then that of a Sister unto a Brother To finde out the reason of all this is a thing impossible but yet it is most certainly true Now Sister if I do say that I do love Silvander after another manner mistake me not do not think that I am in love with him but that I do resent the very same beginings which I remember I resented at the beginning of my affection unto Philander I beseech you Sister said Astrea unto her what is it which pleaseth you best in him First said Diana I perceive he never loved any before and this cannot be attributed unto any stupidity of his understanding since he does plainly evidence the contrary by his discourse Then he does so handsomely submit himselfe and gives me such an absolute power over his will as he never speaks a word but he fears the offending me Then again there is a continued and constant discretion in all the actions of his life you shal never see him either too much or too little in any thing he does and lastly which is the prime cause of my amity I do think him to be an honest plain open-hearted man and without vice I do assure you Sister said Astrea I do observe the same qualities to be in this shepheard and for my part I do think that if ever the heavens do destinate you to love any you will be very happy in him But let me tell you that if you will avoid displeasures you must use all your prudence I do wonder Sister said Diana why you should use this expression unto me for know that though I do love him better then any other I ever saw since the losse of Philander yet I would not have him to know it or that I have any intention to let him serve me and that if he should be so bold as to declare it unto me I do assure him I would treat him so as he should never dare to speak of it twice unto me But Sister said Astrea
prostrate my selfe upon my knees before you I will not argue the matter with you nor aske whether my torments which I have suffered through my sins be not above the grandure of them since I sinned ignorantly only I beg for pitty Shew your selfe all divine in pardoning and remitting me to my lost felicity for my submission may as well move you to pardon as my unknown offence unto punishment This was the prayer of the sad shepheard not daring hardly to let the words go out of his lips for fear of waking her unto whom they were addressed Then he arose and went neerer to her the better to look upon her As he was deeply in his contemplation Phillis turned her selfe from one side to the other yet not opening her eyes nor waking This put Celadon in such a fright that he ran as fast as he could unto his sad habitation where he no sooner was but thinking upon this encounter and that of the day before he knew not whether he should take it as a good or a bad presage At the last thinking upon that Letter which he put into the hand of Silvander for he supposed Astrea did know of it he resolved to hazard another and therefore to lose no time he went to write it lest he should be too late and the shepheardesses awake He superscribed this as he did the first and went with all haste to the place where he left his shepheardesse but being afraid she should be awake when he came neer her he crept behinde some Trees and looking every way he knew they were still asleep but he found the company was greater then he perceived at the first because then he did not see the shepheards of whom we spoke before and to see whether any of them was of his acquaintance he went gently towards them the first he saw was Silvander Oh faithfull friend said he in a low voice how much am I obliged unto thee for doing more for me then I durst ever ask Then turning his eyes upon the other foure shepheards he knew none of them yet he thought he had seen Tircis heretofore Finding them all thus asleep he went towards the shepheardesses The Sun was already a good height and finding passage through the leaves it began to shine in some places upon them so as if this shepheard had been as impartiall a Judge of Beauty as he was a perfect Lover he could hardly have told unto which of all these he should have given the prize of Beauty But as the long griefs of Astrea had then made her yield something unto Diana so the affection of this shepheard did supply that defect and gave judgment on Astrea's side Then looking particularly upon Astrea he kneeled down and could not chuse but kisse her fair hand afterwards did put the Letter into her breast and being transported with love he could not chuse but kisse her mouth Oh how the shepheard was ravished he had almost quite forgot all fears of waking her and leaned so upon her that she began to awake and opened her drousie eyes when he was halfe risen up and had not the Sun-beams which shined upon her face dazled her eyes doubtlesse she had known him this was the reason she could not see him but as a shaddow and when she began to look after him her hair was so intangld with a few rushes that was under her head that they did hinder her so as she could not chuse but cry out aloud Phillis started up and asked her what the matter was But Astrea was so astonished that she could not speak but still untangled her hair Phillis seeing Astrea up and let a paper fall she arose also and was very officious to take it up following her some twenty paces from the place where they lay Then Astrea sat down under a Tree extreamly pale and ready to swound which Phillis seeing she helped her all she could and when she was a little come unto her selfe Oh dear Sister said she unto Phillis with a deep sigh what is this which I have seen Then she was silent a long while and could not speak for sighing a little after she began with a very great sigh and said Oh Sister I have seen Celadon I mean his Ghost At this word Celadon her voice failed and her tongue could not do its office but she joyned her hands together and listed her eyes up to heaven as if from thence she begged help Phillis seeing her in this condition believed that she had been in some afrighting dream Sister said she unto her there is no credit to be given unto any dreams they are no more but the working of the fancy and imagination upon such subjects as have been seen or thought upon nor are they any presages of things future only images and fancies of things past Ah Sister said Astrea this was no dream I saw him with these eyes and as soon as ever he saw I looked upon him he vanished into aire Perhaps Sister said Phillis you did but think your selfe to be awake for so it often happens in sleep No no said Astrea I was awake And how did you see him said Phillis I was said Astrea betwixt sleeping and waking when I heard some sighing about me even about my face and when I opened my eyes I saw the soul of Celadon before me but Oh heavens how glorious and full of light it was the Sun it selfe had no more splendent lustre And Sister I was even dazled at the sight of it untill I came hither but as soon as ever I did cast my eye upon him he vanished like lightning Oh glorious Soul thou hadst good reason not to let the sight of her fully thee who was so undiscreetly carelesse of thy life How infinitely am I obliged unto thee who having so much reason to hate me yet makes it appear that thy love continues Phillis with much amazement did now believe that certainly it was the soul of Celadon and therefore said thus unto her All we can do for those who are departed this life is to preserve their memory to talk often of their vertues and to render them the last office of pitty which is buriall therefore I am of opinion that it is requisite for your own contentinent and satisfaction of this soul who so much loved you that you do cause a Tombe to be built in which it may rest and to preserve the memory of him amongst us as long as possibly we can That shall I do said Astrea as long as any life is in me But Sister said Astrea would it not be taken ill that I who am not a kin unto him should render him this last office of a Sepulcher What can be said answered Phillis but that his kindred neglecting their duty you have done what they ought to have done Were he alive there might some doubt be made of it but being dead they may well imagine that your past amity which is known as well as your
is wholly devoted unto your will prompts me unto more then you can say I shall untill the very last minute of my life do whatsoever you shall command me without any other aime end or designe but only to obey you Yet if my affection my services and obedience can merit so great a favour I shall beseech and conjure you by him you love most and who perhaps is the cause of my banishment that when I bid you my last and eternall adieu you will permit me so much honour as to aspire unto a kisse of your lip I cannot chuse Oh great Nymph but blush in my relation But however I must confesse the truth I did permit him conceiving that his goodness did oblige me unto as much Presently after he departed and I never found him since in any place where it was probable I should see him Now I beseech you were not all these testimonies of my affection enough to oblige this ungratefull shepheard for ever unto one But I found him quite contrary for afterwards he would never see me neither in the way of a Lover no nor so much as in the way of a Friend I much desired to know the cause of his retreat and therefore I did employ a faithfull friend to go unto him from me But no other answer could be gotten but this that Love drives out Love as one naile dxives out another Upon this I had two conceptions First that he was fallen in love with some other shepheardesse and this second love had driven out the first unto me Secondly that by his sleighting of me he gave me counsell to do the same Being thus abandoned and forsaken though it was extreamly requisitie to use my best armes against such an accident yet would I not make use of any such as my enemy sent me for scorning them as his I thought them unworthy of my selfe and I esteemed them perfidious because I esteemed their Inventor so I had recourse therefore unto other remedies which though more slow yet more certain in their effects which was Time Time I say was my Armes and it which taught me the use of them it was both my Physician and my Physick And truly as most things that are slow are yet most sure so the cure it wrought was through not for a day but I thank god for all the rest of my life I say I do thank god for indeed I had abundance of reason for great Nymph when I call into my memory the life I lived as long as this perfidious man seemed to love me and compare it with that which I do live now I must needs confess that I am more obliged unto him for betraying me then I am unto Pantesmon for obeying me For then I cannot call it a life but a slavery my affection was not affection but obedience and his love was not love but tyranny Now this disloyall man being as I believe envious at my happy life or else not contented with once triumphing he must needs make a second attempt And as at the first he surprised me by submission and great demonstrations of a violent affection so he thinks now to catch me with the same bait And therefore Oh great and wise Nymph you see him here on his knees before me using such language and expressions as they do who are really in love But he does not consider that finding my selfe weakest on that side I have more strongly fortified it I am fully resolved to hold him out at armed end let him attempt as long as he will his dissimulations in lieu of love have renewed such extream disdain of him in my soul that I cannot endure the very sight of him And if his designe was to displease me I must needs confess he hath brought it to passe but if that be not his designe as he swears and would make me believe it is not but that as a just punishment from heaven he hath revived his flame that he himselfe was the only author of his own misfortune and that he is prepared for punishment I must then confesse that in giving me this occasion of revenge upon the wrong he hath done me he is a just man but still no good Lover But yet why does he tell me of his misfortunes and miseries me I say who would not so much as remember that he is in the world Or why does he take up such Armes as thinking to hurt me with them he wounds himselfe He cannot ever have any hopes to obtain any thing from me whose soul smarts with the memory of what is past as oft as I look upon him Let him therefore let me alone and leave me to enjoy that happinesse which he conferred upon me by a contrary designe If the heavens as often they do have converted that unto my happinesse which he prepared for my misery why is he sorry I should enjoy it I know better how to make use of these favours from heaven then he hath of those which I have done him heretofore Let him acknowledge and confesse that the heavens have most justly maintained my cause and defended my innocent affection against the most ungratefull and perfidious person that ever pretended to be a Lover If like a losing gamester he ask any thing for his last hand this great and wise Nymph is all I can do for him I will confesse my selfe satisfied for his ingratitude and forgive it I will pitty him upon condition he will never see me nor trouble me any more and this shall be all the revenge I will take for all his injuries Thus the shepheardesse ended with so much colour in her face as rendred her fairer then she was wont to be Then Leonida perceiving she had no more to say she commanded Palemon to speak what he had to say for himselfe Then the shepheard rising up after an humble reverence unto the Nymph he began thus The Answer of the Shepheard Palemon GReat Nymph I acknowledge that to be most true which I have often learned from divinity That gods and goddesses do never come into any place without doing some good You who in your merits and quality are a representation of them amongst us were no sooner come into this place but you may 〈◊〉 me undeceived and convinced of that errour wherein I have long lived if I can call that a life which hath brought me more torments then death it selfe I do most ingenuously confesse all that this fair shepheardesse hath related unto you is most true and that I am infinitely more obliged unto her then either she or I can expresse But having heard her reproach me for complaining that the heavens as envious of my blisse hath kept me from it I should think this to be a greater occasion of sorrow and to accuse it of injustice did I not know that all men are in the like condition and that there is no perfect contentment here below I cannot chuse but beg leave to grieve for the wrong this
fair shepheardesse hath done unto that affection which she hath promised me by misinterpreting mine and taking that for an injury which she ought to take for the greatest assurance and demonstration of my affection But Oh great god of Love how dare I complain against her since thou hast commanded me to think all well that she doth I will therefore use no complaints against her for my heart will not give me leave to contradict her in any thing But Oh wise Nymph I will endeavour to let you see by telling the truth that Palemon doth love and that Doris has no reason to believe the contrary And to be as briefe as I can she does confesse that I did love her and that she did love me but why does she upbraid me with any infidelity Her reason is because I was jealous and I confesse I was But if she did love me as she saies she did for loving her why should my affection be pleasing to her and not the effects of my affection If all that looked upon her made me jealous if their conversation their words nay their very lookes made me suspitious was not this a most certain testimony that I did infinitely love her She hath often told me that to doubt of her was to offend her and to make a sinister construction of her Ah great Nymph did this fair shepheardesse know as well how to love as her eyes do to make her adored she would say that this was rather extream love and the high opinion of her which made me doubt her Had I not thought her most worthy to be served by every one I should never have thought that every one had served her And had I not been of that beliefe how could I have been jealous of every one Jealousie therefore Oh fair Doris is not a lesser signe of affection and violent love then sighes and tears are for it hath its originall from the knowledge one hath of the perfections in the person loved but sighes and tears do often proceed from her cruelty only and from the torments which they resent by reason thereof She therefore knowing Oh great Nymph that I was jealous ought she not therefore to encrease her affection in some sort to ballance the weight which mine endured but on the contrary she rewards me with cruelty she her selfe unties the knot of that amity which so many services and demonstrations of a perfect affection ought to have made indissolvable And to give some colourable pretence for all this she alledgeth faintnesse and coldness on my side and negligence and carelessenesse which alas was only in her own opinion She alledgeth that at that time I absented my selfe from her Indeed when I consider this allegation I must confesse that all actions may be suspected when the effects produce contrary semblances or are not known unto those that have interest in them If I should ask you fair Doris what opinion you had of me when my fortune had brought me into your acquaintance I am confident you will say that I loved served honoured and adored you with as much faithfull zeal of true affection as ever any shepheard could And let it not displease you if before this great Nymph and reverent Druide I beseech and conjure you to tell them who that shepheardesse is that ever I adressed my selfe unto except you or you ever heard of If you do not know nor ever heard of any but must needs confesse my affection was never placed any where else why do you complain of me and why should you suspect and put a misinterpretation upon my actions Me-thinks it is but very ill Logick to conclude that Palemon did love me but because he sees me not so oft as he was wont therefore he does not love me Were it not a better piece of sophistry in the Schooles of Love to argue thus Palemon does not see me so oft as he was accustomed but I know there is some urgent occasions which keeps him away Had you been thus compassionate upon the torments I endured in being absent from you and judged others by your selfe you had never so cruelly offended him who did never offend against the affection which he promised But perhaps you will ask me what I did mean by so many minute visits whereas formerly whole daies would not content me I shall tell you Oh sage Nymph and when you have heard me you will not make such a sinister construction of my actions as this fair one doth of my fidelity only I beseech you to consider the kinde of life which I led at that time and amongst what company I lived I can and truly say Oh great Nymph that never man lived a more salvage life then I no not such whose profession is to inhabit amongst Rocks and Desarts excepting only when my affection constrained me once a day to see her for as soon as day began to dawn I went out of my Cabin and shunning all manner of company I did not return untill dark night retiring my selfe sometimes into the most close and unfrequented Caves and other times upon the tops of the highest Mountains so solitarily alone as nothing but my own thoughts could finde me out but they still kept me so good company as they did often invite me unto some such place from whence I might see her habitation thinking the very sight of the happy walls where she dwelt to be no small consolation unto me Nothing could withdraw me from this kinde of solitary life no not the friendship of Neighbours nor duty to Parents nor care of my Flocks nor any thing in the world else but only my desire of seeing her every day once and that in such short visits as to my sorrow alwaies when I returned I thought I did but only go thither and not see her Now my extream affection unto her was the cause why I did not acquaint her with my reason for this kinde of life Now great and wise Nymph it was ever my opinion that he who loves as he ought to do ought to be more tender of her honour whom he loves then of his own contentment The malice of ill disposed men is never so weak nor drousie but it may alwaies finde out some subject to asperse those that are most vertuous And at this time our frequent visits were eyed and gave occasion unto those malignant spirits to spit their venome and talk very broadly and yet so closely that all the diligence I could use could never bring me to know who were the authors of these poysonous Impostures What should I do in such a case To undertake a long voyage I could not because I was not a free Master of my own actions and to cease to love her had been to cease to live Since our great familiarity was it which gave a colour for their calumny what could I better do then stop the black mouthes of scandall by abridging my selfe of my own contentment in not being so
or taxed I had great reason to say so for she from whence it doth proceed did never produce any thing but what was most perfect And I know that the gods would chastise me if I should dare to offer unto a soul so perfect as hers an affection that could any waies be blamed Silvander would have continued when Hylas not being able to be patient any longer interrupted him in this manner Silvander how long do you intend to abuse the patience of those who hear you How long will you fill their ears with your vanities and fond imaginations And how long do you think I can endure the impertinences of your language All the Company were surprised to hear Hylas come out with his expressions in so loud a voice as every one began to laugh so loud that he was forced to be silent And because the day was almost spent and Leonida was to return unto Adamas to relate unto him all these passages as Hylas was beginning to speak she said thus unto him No no you have disputed long enough Hylas for one time the reverend Chrisante is not accustomed to be so long from the Temple of the good goddesse Let it suffice shepheard that we know you have very good arguments against Silvander but we entreat you to refer them untill another time in the mean time we will go away in this belief that if you had had time to express your self you would have gotten the better of him as yet he hath got the better of you See said Hylas halfe angry how there will be still some imperfections or other in our natures What do you say replyed the Nymph I say answered Hylas that though you be a Nymph yet you make it appear you are but a woman and has not patience to hear out the truth but is pleased with the tickling flatteries of this shepheard who does but deceive you You do not at all offend me said Leonida smiled in calling me a woman for truly I am so and would be so and would not change sexes with the most accomplished man in the Country But I know not why you should accuse me with the fault that Silvander hath committed in alledging very good reasons and with the fault which Hylas hath committed in answering him so very ill Questionlesse Hylas had replyed if he had heard the Nymph but he being gone away in a chase he did not hear these last words And Leonida seeing it was very late she went with Chrisante and the Druides Daughters unto the Temple of the good goddesse and afterwards went to Adamas Paris not following her for his affection unto Diana was such as he enjoyed no felicity but in her presence Thus the Nymph went unto her Uncles and Paris taking the contrary way went unto the fair shepheardesses and stayed with them a long time Leonida desired very much to relate unto her Uncle all that had been done for Celadon and by fortune she met him walking upon a Tarrasse which was shadowed with Sicamours before the house He wondred to see her return so soon and she telling him the cause he could not chuse but laugh that every one should be so deceived I think said Leonida that it will be a good inducement unto him to leave this kinde of life which he lives for if he should be acquainted that his shepheardesse loves him and laments his losse doubtlesse he would take a resolution to see her but I do not conceive it so fit for me to tell him as for you assuring my selfe that the amity and respect he bears unto you will have better operation upon him then all the Rhetorick I can use for your words have more weight and solidity in them then mine have I shall tell Celadon said the Druide but I know not what effects my speaking will produce for I know he loves me and bears much respect unto me in all things but concerning his affection And I must confesse that I had long since acquainted the shepheardesse Astrea where he was knowing that she loved him had I not feared it would have been a means to make him go unto some other salvage and retired place where I could not finde him again but my fears of losing him did restrain me It is now two daies since we saw him and therefore it will not be amisse if tomorrow we give him a visit and do the best we can to prevail with him In this resolution therefore they went to bed and in the morning day did no sooner appear but Leonida got up and Adamas also so that as soon as they were dressed they set forward That morning the shepheard was not gone out of his Cave but was beyond measure pensive at the passages of the preceeding day yet very glad and wel pleased with his fortune that had given him leave to see the fair Astrea once more before he dyed And considering that he had never received such a favour from her as at that encounter except when he was a young Child when he saw her in the Temple of Venus he cryed out Oh most happy misfortune that hath been more favourable unto me then my best fortune Oh the goodnesse of Love which in his greatest torments gives the greatest contentments Who would ever retire himselfe from thy obedience since thou haste so great a care of all that are thine Whilst this shepheard was thus entertaining himselfe Adamas and Leonida came to him And because Celadon's face did testifie the contentment which he received the Druide and the Nymph after common salutations told him that they much rejoyced to see him look better then he did and hoped that he had received some kinde of comfortable courage The comforts which you do finde in my countenance answered Celadon are like unto Suns in Winter which rise late and set early and which indeed do give some light but it is through so many muddy clouds that neither the light nor the heat do much warm Then he related to them his encounter with Silvander how he had put a Letter into his hand how he saw Astrea with all the shepheardesses and had put a Letter into her breast But alas Father said he this happinesse was too great for me and I am afraid that it was only to make me more sensible of my sorrowes and that heaven to make me more sad in my miserable condition did only let me see her whose I ought to be if there were any justice in Love No Childe answered the Druide Love having care of you and intending to make you more happy then you are hath given you this small contentment lest you should be driven out of one extremity into another knowing very well that such sudden changes are very dangerous And in confirmation of what I say Leonida will tell you what she hath seen and what declarations of amity she has seen the fair Astrea make Then the Nymph acquainted him with the empty Tombe that was erected for him with
which you have preserved And upon assurance of secresie he continued thus Alexis would have continued her discourse and related all that Vrsaces told her but the comming of Adamas gave a stop unto her for both Leonida and she were constrained to rise and render that honour unto him which was due The sage Druide taking one in one hand and the other in another he began to walk in a Laund which though shaded from the Sun yet had a most delicious prospect towards the Wood of Issoures And whilst they were discoursing upon severall subjects one came to acquaint them that Silvia was arrived and already entred into the house Alexis was very shie and would not be seen lest she should be known but considering how willing that Nymph was to help her out of the Palace of Issoures she hoped she was not changed Yet Adamas had no minde that Silvia should see her fearing lest the young years of that Nymph and the favours which she lately received from Galathea should make her speak more then she should he would have kept the matter so close that if he could he would have kept it from his very selfe Therefore he commanded Leonida to go unto her Companion but be sure that if she desired to see Alexis to tell her that they were busie together concerning their Offices and that she being to return very shortly unto Carnutes and finish out her terme she would not be seen but as little as possibly she could So Leonida thus instructed went to Silvia who when they met kissed and embraced each other as if they had not met of seven years before After these first complements Silvia told her Companion that the Country had not a jot blasted the fresh complexion of her cheek And Leonida in requitall told her The Court Beauties were alwaies above the Country Complexions as plainly appeared by comparing theirs together Afterwards Silvia said thus unto her The sequell of the History of Lindamor THough Sister I had no businesse to invite me unto a visit yet my desires of seeing you are invitations sufficient But I must tell you that at this time that desire was not only my conductor but also some businesse I would impart unto you and if you think good unto Adamas also a business which I thought fit to let you know because Galathea and we may receive much contentment or much displeasure by the result of it Know therefore Sister that Flurial is returned from the place whither you sent him and hath brought Letters from Lindamor and wondred much not to finde you at Marcelles and would have come hither but Galathea took notice that he talked unto me and suspecting that you sent him to me for she knew of the journey which you had commanded him to make she called him to her asked him from whence he came and what was his businesse to me He thinking he had don well without concealing any thing answered her that he came from Lindamor and presently shewed her some Letters which he had She asking who sent him that voyage He answered that it was you since we were at the Palace of Issoures Galathea then turning towards me and shaking her head Do you see said she what humour your Companion is of And refusing the Letters she commanded him to give them unto me to send unto you Afterwards she went into her Chamber and commanded me to follow her This was the reason that I could not say any thing unto Fluriall but only taking his Letters I bad him stay there till I had done talking with the Nymph What do you think of your Companion said she unto me is she not fully resolved to do me all the mischiefe she can Madam said I unto her I cannot tell what to say unto it she must be talked with to know what her businesse and designe was I know it replyed she better then she will tell you for she will not confesse unto you the truth she has acquainted Lindamor with my love unto Celadon Can it be possible Madam answered I that she should take so much pains as to write that newes so far and by such a dangerous way See what is in Lindamors Letters said she unto me and I believe you will finde that I do not lie Then taking the Letters out of my hand she broke open the Seales and read them The first was directed unto you and having brought them you may read them Then putting her hand into her pocket she pulled them out and gave Leonida that Letter which was directed unto her which was in these terme Lindamor's Letter unto Leonida IT seemes you conceive my presence to be requisite and I think the like but in a different manner then as you expect Doubtlesse it is requisite two waies The one to bring me out of this miserable life wherein I am it being impossible for me to live and see such an alteration in my Lady And the other in taking revenge upon him that is the cause of my misery I vow by all the gods that the blood of this perfidious Rivall is the only satisfaction I can take for so great an offence I shall to these ends come to you within the compass of that time which the bearer hereof will tell you In the interim if you think it convenient let my Lady see the Letter which I have writ unto her importing that the end of my life and the death of that Villain shall testifie unto her that I cannot live without a fulfilling of her promise nor die till I have taken revenge See said Galathea unto me continued Silvia what I alwaies most feared The imprudence of Leonida or rather her malice is so great that she has told Lindamor of my affection unto Celadon and this report is the cause that he will come and kill him I had rather die then that shepheard should receive the least harm for my sake Alas how easily may hee do it since the poor shepheard never thinks upon it nor has any Armes but his sheephook Can there be a more pernicious malice then hers in procuring his death who never displeased her I believe rather it is rage for she loves him and because he sleights her she will be revenged Madam answered I I cannot believe that my Companion has committed this fault though perhaps she may as great for upon reading of Lindamor's Letter I cannot think he speaks of Celadon but Polemas for why should he phrase Celadon perfidious And why not Celadon replyed she presently as well as Polemas Because Madam said I unto her she has acquainted Lindamor with the Artifice which Polemas practised with the false and counterfeit Druide And why Silvia said she unto me do you yet believe that Leonida told you or Lindamor truly concerning that Druide Do you not know that it was meerly a device of her own pernicious invention to make me cast off Celadon that she her selfe might solely enjoy him Now let me tell you if you
do not know it already that she is so extreamly in love with him that she cannot endure I should look upon him And had she as much power over me as I have over her she would never have suffered me to come into the place where she was Did you never observe Silvia how she feeds upon him with her eyes if I may so expresse my selfe and to look off him is a death unto her To see me neer him struck her to the heart and swelled every vein with jealousie I have many a time observed the variety of passions that are in her I have seen her sometimes no fire hotter and immediately upon a sudden as pale as death sometimes she would be all talk and afterwards as mute as if she had not tongue I have often seen her so fix her eyes upon him as if she would have look'd him through and I have laughed at her in those extasies and ravishments And she desiring to engrosse him wholly to her selfe and take me off has invented this tale she hath told you which is as false as the gods are just and true Upon this she took another of Lindamor's Letters which was directed to her selfe which you may read said Silvia Which Leonida took and found in it these words Lindamor's Letter unto Galathea SInce my fatall absence does not only deprive me of your presence but also ravish from me the honour anâ— happiness of your favour I do vow that I will live only to render a testimony that I do better deserve that happiness which you have promised unto me than that perfidious man who is the cause of my disgrace This wicked Villain shall never aspire unto that honour either by Love or by Armes or by Artifice as long as I do live He shall ere long confess what I do say or else that sword which he hath already felt the sharpness of shall cut his throat who lives now too happily for the miserable and unfortunate Lindamor to endure When Leonida had read this Letter I assure my self Sister said she that Galathea did finde that her so deerly beloved Celadon was not in any danger of his life by any means of mine but rather that Traitor Polemas who is the cause of all our misery May Hesius punish him by armes and Tamaris by Thunderbolt that my Lady may know I did not lie when I related unto her the wickednesse of Climanthe and the cosening Lover For every syllable I said unto her is true If I did lye let the Sacred Misleto never be Salubrious unto me To be brief Sister I sweare by all that 's Sacred that this is true And though I do not care for returning unto Marcelles as long as she continues in this humour yet I shall be very glad you would take all occasions and use your best endeavours to let her see her errour Not for any other end but because I would vindicate my honour and live within the compasse of my owne quality without reproach Sister said Silvia you need not use so many othes to assure me of the subtility of Polemas For I did ever beleeve it both from what you told me and from my owne observation of his actions And you may beleeve I will take all occasions use my best Arguments and not leave one stone unturned to perswade the Nymph of the truth But I must not flatter you in this For I cannot hope either any words or perswasions will work with her untill her minde be better settled which perhaps will be too late unlesse God send some unlookt for meanes For I see that Polemas hath a bad designe which he would not hide but for his feares that he hath of Clideman and Lindamor whom he knowes to be armed and so much in favour with King Childerick who is successor unto the great Meroveus and who has a very great particular love unto Clideman and Lindamor especially unto Guyemant so as he cannot be without them Polemas being subtile and crafty does feare that if she should attempt any novelty in the State these Frankes would by force ruine all his designes But to let Matters of State alone which should be medled with by more able persons then we are Let me tell you Sister that when Galathea read Lindamors Letter she plainly found that Celadon was not in danger therefore halfe of her anger was over Did I not tell you Madam said I unto her That Lindamor did meane Polemas T is very true said she unto me and I confesse that I accused Leonida wrongfully but it was my compassion unto that poore shepheard which moved me unto that language Madam sayd I I beseech you beleeve that Leonide would willingly never do you that displeasure but she knowing very well that you did not love Polemas she had good reason to desire that Lindamor might obtaine the happinesse of your favour because there is a neere relation of Kindered betwixt her and him For be pleased to know Madam that Lindamor is of the illustrious blood of Lavieu and she of Fieur which have bin so long linked together by alliances that those two families seeme but one On the contrary there was ever emnity betwixt the house of Surieu and that so as she may well be excused if she did desire and endeavour to defeat Polemas from the happynesse which he pretended unto I do know answered Galathea that there hath beene great emnity betweene the house of Lavieu and Surieu and since the combate betwixt Lindamor and Polemas there hath been no amity betwixt them And I must needs confesse Leonida has reason for what she did for it is Naturall to desire that the Family from whence any do derive themselves may flourish and be advanced And had I knowne it sooner I should not have taken her protection of Lindamor so ill whether it was against Polemas or against Celadon Also when I consider upon what you tell me I am apt to beleve that it was Adamas who helped Celadon to escape to the end that Lindamor being as you say his cosen might arrive at his desire and I do think Leonida to be innocent in the matter Therefore in that consideration and because she did not send unto Lindamor any of our passages in the Pallace of Issoures I will pardon her yet said she we must make further use of her in a businesse which by her meanes may be effected Here Silvia stopt and leaving her discourse upon that subject said thus unto Leonide You see Sister that I do hide nothing from you because our friendship bids me be open unto you but if you should discover me I am utterly ruin'd And therefore I beseech you be as secret in it as possible you can I had rather I were eternally dumb said Leonida then I should commit such a fault Know then continued Silvia that Galathea after she had well bethought herselfe said thus unto me you see Silvia how extreamly I am troubled with these two men I meane Lindamor
Chamber when you sent me to him that you have heard of the Battles that have been wone from the Neustrians by the King yet with the assistance of Clidaman and my Master I assure my self also that you have heard talk of a Lady he did name her said he unto Leonida but I have forgot it who putting her selfe into the habit of a man did follow beyond the Sea a Neustrian whom she loved and who resembled Ligdamon so much who was taken for him and dyed because he would not marry a woman for whom that man fought and killed a man for which Murther being banished he fled into a Country beyond Sea I cannot hit upon the name of it and afterwards upon his return was Prisoner by a kinsman of him that was killed And had it not been for this Lady of whom I mean he had been put into the hands of Justice but she fought for him and stayed in Prison her selfe to release him This intricate tale of Flurial's made the Nymphs to laugh though Silvia in memory of Ligdamon and Leonida also had a good minde to help him out Thou dost mean Flurial said Silvia the fair Melander True true said he that 's her name And Lydias continued the Nymph who was kept in Calice by Lypandas because of Arontes his death The very same said Fluriall and clapped his hands together but I shall never remember their names and therefore I shall finish my relation upon condition that you will help me out Now this Lady continued he was the cause of Calice being taken by the Francks and Lypandas I cannot tell whether I name him right was made a Prisoner As for Melander who was in Prison as soon as ever she was released she would go unto Lydias thinking that Ligdamon who was in the hands of his enemies had been Lydias as every one reported him to be As soon as Lydias heard of this Ladies departure he followed after her not fearing any severity of enemies nor rigour of justice But Lypandas who was in Prison knowing that he had kept a Woman Prisoner and that he had fought with her he fell so in love with her that he never left soliciting till he obtained his liberty and then went as fast as he could to the Town whither she was gone I have quite forgot the name of it for it was a very hard word Was it not Rhothomages said Leonida The very same said Flurial Oh god what fine stories could I tell you if I had a good memory But so it was that the King's Son fell upon some of the Enemies and defeated them after a long Combat in which Lindamor was so wounded that he was forced to keep his bed Truly said Leonida you are an excellent story-teller and therefore I pray proceed My memory said he is not so as I wish it but I had rather not tell many things then lie Now whilst this young man told me these things Lindamor sighed and sometimes spoke but I could not possibly hear what he said because the dore was shut At the last I heard him call me and not drawing the Curtains he said unto me Fluriall I would have thee return to morrow and I would be before thee if I could endure a Horse-back but I will presently follow thee tell Leonida that I will come to the house of Adamas and it shall be within this twenty nights at the least if my wounds will give me leave Upon this he commanded me to take my rest But I was much astonished when they told me that very same night that they thought him dead two or three times and that his wounds were so much changed upon a sudden that he was in great danger of his life I do believe that the Letter which you writ was the cause He continued long in this condition so as I could not be dispatched of a month after within which time he grew better and not in so much danger Besides his wounds he had such a Feavour as caused him very often to talk lightly and ordinarily name Galathea Leonida and Polemas Love revenge death At the last he recovered but not so well as to go out of his bed and the Physicians told him that he must not stir out of his Chamber at the least of fifteen nights And therefore he dispatched me saying that before the sixteenth of the next Month he would be here and gave me the Letters which you have seen commanding me to tell you many fine words which did only signifie thanks and which in good faith Madam I have quite forgotten The Nymphs could not chuse but laugh at Fluria's discourse and good memory And because they would talk together they commanded him to go out and stay till Silvia returned especially to have a great care he told none when Lindamor would be back Then being alone together they resolved to tell Galathea plainly the truth of that voyage hoping that perhaps the merits of Lindamor would make her more considerate but by all means to conceal from her the time of his comming lest if she should know it she should advertise Polemas not out of any good-will unto him but only that he might stand upon his guard and that Lindamor intending to kill him they might be both in a possibility of dying or that so acquainting him with the designe of Lindamor he might challenge him the field and there die This then being the designe Silvia thought it expedient to communicate the matter unto the sage Adamas and to know his opinion But Leonida told her that she would acquaint him with it at leasure but now he was very busie with his Daughter And shall not I see her said Silvia It will not be convenient at this time said Leonida for they are both exceedingly busie because it is not much above a month before the Druides assemble at Dreux And I do believe that for this year my Uncle will be exempted because of his Daughter whom he will be constrained to bring back whose presence he would enjoy as long as possible he can Yet if you please I shall acquaint them for I know they will be extreamly glad to see you No no said Silvia I am very glad that Adamas resolves to stay at home this year for I believe his presence will be more necessary unto us then we imagine I will not by any means disturb them it sufficeth me to know that they are well Then after some other discourse Silvia took her leave and returned unto Marcelles where Galathea was in a longing expectation for her desiring to know what discourse Leonida and she had but above all to know what newes of Celadon assuring her selfe that Leonida could tell But when she understood that the shepheard was not in his Town and that none knew where he was she was not a little perplexed but knew not how to accuse Leonida for she imagined that if this shepheard had escaped by her contrivance she would never have suffered him to
is after I had long endured the faintnesse of Thamires I and the fiery affection of Calidon I rejected them both as in reason I might since Calidon had made me lose Thamires and Thamires without cause had resigned me to Calidon Afterwards when I was wholly adjudged unto Thamires by the Sentence of the Nymph Leonida yet still was I tormented by him when he was in all reason obliged to decline me both out of duty of a friend and the Nymphs command yet still he persisted and would needs die On the other side the kinde nature of Thamires seeing his Nephew in that condition did leave me in bed and made it appear that his affection unto Calidon was greater then his love to me whom he had courted with so much earnestnesse and passion I was extreamly astonished at this accident when I was told that both my Husband and his Nephew were brought in chaires as dead I must confesse that when I saw them and heard how all was I knew not what to resolve upon But afterwards considering the whole state of the matter I lifted up my heart unto Tharamis beseeching him to advise me what course to take to compose this businesse Doubtlesse he did inspire me with the means This therefore Oh shepheards was the holy inspiration Consider said that god unto me the violent affection of Calidon and be assured of this that he will never leave you as long as you are fair never think that either religion to the gods or any duty to men will restrain him Nor can you imagine that Thamires though he be your Husband and love you above his life can ever enjoy any contentment as long as he sees his Nephew so tormented As for your part What kinde of life can you hope to live as long as you are the cause of both their miseries To give your selfe unto Calidon your own will cannot consent unto it besides you are already devoted unto Thamires that nothing can separate you but death The violent passion of Calidon will not suffer you to be quiet with Thamires nor can the kinde nature of Thamires endure the continuall displeasures of his Nephew What then Celidea caust thou do Put on a generous resolution and deprive thy selfe of that which is the root of all this dissention Caust thou think it any thing else but the beauty of thy face 'T is true answered I but in losing that beauty I shall also lose the love of Thamires as well as Calidon and if so I had better die You are deceived answered he the love of these two shepheards is different Thamires loves Celidea and Calidon adores the beauty of Celidea If your fears should prove true you had better die presently then live long and be assured that when age has made you unhandsome Thamires will cease to love you But let that be the least of your fears Thamires loves Celidea and let Celidea become what she will still Thamires will love her This Shepheards was the sacred counsell which the gods did inspire into me unto which I durst not be disobedient and therefore sought out for means to put it in execution so as having heard my Aunt say that the wounds which were made by a Diamond would never heal I intended to sacrifice that beauty which was in my face unto your tranquillity and union But Oh my Thamires I hope you will not cease loving Celidea though she has not the same face she had for what she has done was only to satisfie the desires of Calidon that she might be entirely yours Thus ended Celidea leaving all that heard her full of admiration at her generous act It would be too long and tedious to relate Calidon's reproching her the displeasure of Thamires the sorrowes of Cleontine and Celidea's Mother with all those that considered her condition But so it was that when the Chirurgions had dressed her pittifull sacrificed face they all concluded that she would never recover her beauty again for the cuts were so deep and in such places that they had for ever spoiled all her delicate features and proportion So it falls out that Calidon seeing her so deformed his fiery flaming passion did quite extinguish and Thamires as she hoped continues his love so as she has ever since lived in abundance of satisfaction and quietnesse and so much esteemed and honoured by every one as she hath vowed that she never in all her life received halfe that contentment from her beauty as she has since from her deformity You have related said Leonida the most generous and commendable act that ever was done by a woman and I am extreamly glad to hear that such a vertuous resolution should proceed from one so neerly allyed unto me as Celidea is I beseech the gods to make her as happy in Thamires as Thamires has reason to love her and esteem her vertue Now continued Lycidas Thamires thinking he shall never have any Children he would gladly make a match between Calidon and Astrea and to invite Phocion unto it he offers to give him all his Lands and Flocks Astrea who grieves so for the losse of Celadon and resolves never to love any again she will not upon any termes hear of it and when her Uncle made the motion unto her she did nothing but weep insomuch as when he pressed her unto it she answered That she would spend all the rest of her daies amongst the Vestalls and Druides so as in order unto that she desired me to speak unto the venerable Chrisante about it Do you think said Leonida that Chrisante will receive her without the consent of her Parents I asked her the very same question answered Lycidas but she answered me that Astrea having neither Father nor Mother living she might dispose of her selfe and that if she could not dispose of her selfe this way she would then enter into her grave I perceive said Leonida that she is excessively afflicted But I pray tell me who is contented Would I durst tell you answered the shepheard Why should you make more difficuly in telling me that replyed the Nymph then in telling me the rest There are many reasons for it replyed he but since I have gone so far I will venter to go a little farther therefore Madam be pleased to know that it is Phillis whom I mean But I most humbly beseech you to ask me no farther I cannot chuse said she but swell with a strange curiosity at your request and do wonder why you should so conceal that which I do so extreamly desire to know For loving Phillis as I do why would you not have me enquire of her contentment But I perceive you do strictly observe the Lawes of Love the chiefe of which is to Conceal and be silent And because he would needs seem as if it did not concern him Nay nay said she never think to hide your selfe from me for shepheard I do know more of you then you imagine Can you think I could frequent the
Forces of the Emperour as much as possibly he could that when opportunity served he might the more easily seize upon him At that time all the world looked at Rome with an envious eye and made it the butt of their Armes The Goths the Fruncks and Burgundians in Gaul the Vandats and Almaines in Spain the Anglois and the Picts in Britany the Hunnes and the Gipides in Pannonia To be briefe every part of the whole Empire was so divided as no part was entire but Italy It fortuned that Alarick King of the Goths would not suffer it to enjoy more tranquillity then Its neighbours of the West and therefore fell into it with such a vast number of People as it was impossible for Honorius to resist him insomuch as to get him out again he was advised to make a Peace with him upon what termes soever he could get unto which he being of ho Warlick disposition but above all things loving tranquillity he lent a willing ear Peace then being propounded it was so prudently managed that Alarick consented to retire beyond the Alpes into some Provinces which were assigned him by the Emperour At which Stilicon being malecontent as thinking this agreement prejudiciall to his designes he so tampered with an Officer then in pay under the Emperour that he procured him to charge some of Alarick's Forces as they were marching away without any mistrust At which Alarick was so incensed against Honorius that he returned to Rome besieged it and at the end of two years took it and entirely sacked it Although Honorius to make it appear that he never consented unto this perfidie did put the Traitor Stilicon to death as soon as ever he heard that he was the author of it Thus this ambitious man came to a miserable end but not before he had put all Italy into a most miserable flame For Alarick after he had plundered and burned this great City and not yet loadned with spil he pillaged all the Country about it and laid it so sadly waste as would have moved any Barbarian unto pitty But that which was most deplorable besides the ruine of so many Temples and the losse of so many rarities with which the Emperours had erected and adorned this City was the miserable fortune which befell this wise Princesse who through the carelessenesse of a Brother was destitute of all succour She who by extraction was Daughter unto the Cesars and Sister unto two Emperours was through the fault of another a Captive in the hands of these Barbarians her Country burned the Temples prophaned and she in danger to lose her life or that which was more deer unto her had not Ataulfus a Prince of Alarick's blood been taken with her beauty and vertue and thought her worthy to be his Wife But this Prince seeing her so fair and so wise and knowing her to be Daughter to the great Theodosius he fell so passionately in love with her that he courted her in Marriage and presently after by Alaricks consent did marry her You may imagine what force this wise Princesse did use upon her selfe before she consented unto this Marriage and Alliance and how prudent she had need to be in behaving her selfe amongst such a rude and barbarous people so wisely as she did god did in this make it appear that he had pitty upon miserable Rome for had it not been for this Alliance it had been utterly ruined for ever For it so fel out that Alarick dyed at Corsienses and the Prince Ataulfus was by the common voice of the Army chosen King If you look upon that Piece next unto Placidias you will imagine him to be a sterne and salvage person more delighted in blood and war then peace and he had no sooner gotten the absolute power but he went to Rome with a designe to burne and utterly demolish it thinking that as long as the Walls of this Town stood there would be still a Roman Emperour which name was so odious unto him that he would absolutely destroy the very memory of it When this prudent Princesse understood his intention she was resolved to do all that possibly she could to prevent him the utter ruine of her Country wounding her to the very soul At the first she shewed her selfe swelled with abundance of griefe and sorrow tears did abundantly flow from her fair eyes she refused her rest and meat and never ceased tormenting her selfe but when Ataulfus was by her and then she constrained her selfe to put as good a face upon it as she could This Prince who loved her so well as to marry her could not long endure to see her live thus but he must needs aske her the cause of her discontents unto which she made this answer I have done all that I possibly could O great King to hide my excessive sorrowes from you fearing I should but the more vex and trouble you with them but since nature will not permit me to conceal the sadnesse of my soul any longer and since the goodnesse of Ataulfus unto the wretched Placidia is such as to ask me I do most humbly beseech you take it not ill if I shed my tears in lieu of my blood for my Country's sad desolation and if to stop the ruine of it I could effect it I would much more willingly shed my blood then my tears My Country Oh great Sir my native Country that gave me breath it bleeds and it is ready to bleed to death and can you think I would not most willingly part with my life to stop the wounds ' Alas it would be better imployed that way then in your service Since you are pleased to do me so great a favour as to aske me the cause of my sorrowes I beseech you give me leave in all humility to aske you What advantage will the ruine of Rome and all Italy be unto you Does the riches and the treasures of it invite you to it Surely those are things too low and unworthy of your high courage besides those are things that cannot be expected out of an already ruined and plundered Country or a demolished and halfe burned Towne which hath been already ravaged by a vast Army Is it any glory that you expect to get by it I cannot believe it for what glory can be added unto that which you have already or what hopes is there to get in ruining those Walls which are already demolished in massacring a naked and disarmed people who cannot be brought into greater submission then they are If it be a shame to wound a dying man what honour can you expect in giving fresh wounds unto a dying people If you think to strengthen your Dominion by it be pleased Oh great Sir to let me tell you that it would be most horrid cruelty to do it by exterminating all the people of Italy Should you put them all to the sword you would be in lesse security then you are for you would thereby incense and raise against
thirty The fair Eudoxe and I took notice of this growing affection and Placidia did not give it any check And though Olimbres was neither King nor Emperour yet Eudoxe was not offended against this affection because Olimbres was very rich and of as illustrious a Race as any in Rome his Father Grandfather and great-Grandfather being all Senators and oftentimes Consulls so as upon these considerations so it came not to the eye of the Emperour she was not against it especially for the friendship sake that was betwixt him and me I thought fit to acquaint you with these things before I related my reception by the fair Eudoxe lest I should be constrained to interrupt my discourse Know therefore kinde Silvander that we returning with Aetius we were welcomed into Italy with all possible honour and thanks the Roman-people made such acclamations when this great Captain entred into the Town that never was a greater triumph But the Emperour had no great liking unto all this for this grandure of courage which was in Aetius the prudence wherewith he managed all â—is actions the applaud which the people gave him and the honour which all Italy rendred him did make Valentinian so jealous of the grandure of Aetius as he ever after looked asquint upon him and was apt to hearken and consent unto any ill counsell that was given him But for my part who looked after no matters of State but was wholly intent upon the favour of the fair Eudoxe as soon as I arrived with Aetius and had kissed the Emperours hand I went unto the Empresse where pretending I had some businesse with her from my Generall I saw her in private and received such a welcome as my twelve years seemed well imployed since army return I received such extraordinary favours Being at the last constrained to go out of her Closet lost my too long stay should beget suspicion I went unto the wise Isidore as to one whom next Eudoxe I loved and honoured most but I found her so changed from what she was wont to be as I wondred at it I asked her the cause but all the answer I could get was tears at which I wondred more I thought at first that cares of Marriage might perhaps be the cause or else perhaps her Husband was very sharp with her or else disdained her for some other and this doubt made me shorten my visit sooner then I would But when afterwards I observed that Maximus did love her and infinitely carrassed her and when I looked upon the riches and plenty of his house I was quite out of my first opinion and could not imagine what should be the cause of her sadnesse But one night as I was talking with the fair Eudoxe I understood that she came very seldome at Court and was so altered as she hardly knew her I began presently to suspect the businesse though not all yet in part and enquiring whether the love of Valentinian continued unto which she answering that she never took any notice of it Believe it my Princesse said I unto her that there is some ill understanding betwixt them the Emperour hath done her some displeasure or would do and that keeps her from comming to the Court for you have not driven her away by any disfavour her Husband is not unkinde Domestick affairs cannot trouble her and therefore her griefe must proceed from some higher cause Were it any malady of body it would appear I do believe said she that you are in the right for she never sees me but with tears in her eyes and when the Emperour comes where she is I shall see her change presently and go away as soon as possibly she can I have often asked her the reason but I could never get her to tell me Upon these considerations she commanded me to go unto her from her and use my best endeavours to discover the cause but all my labour was lost and I could finde out nothing but a great animosity against the Emperour When I made this report unto Eudoxe I advised her to seem as if she knew something concerning Valentinian and that perhaps would make her discover more And it hapned as I did imagine for being one night all three in the Closet of the Empresse and Isidore falling into her usuall tears Eudoxe seemed unto her as if she knew the cause upon which she began to confesse unto us the injury which the Emperour had done her and fell into such passionate expressions against him as the fair Eudoxe could not chuse but accompany her in her tears I did extreamly compassionate this good Lady and I must confesse that had it been any but the Emperour I should have offered her my hand and sword in revenge of the wrong do 〈…〉 to her but against him whom I acknowledged for my Lord unto whom I had pro 〈…〉 my fidelity and from whom I had received many benefits and much honour 〈…〉 ld sooner have dyed then entertained any thought of such a thing or attempted any thing against him or his Estate When they had condoled together a long while and that I could speak unto Eudoxe Madam said I unto her me-thinks you have now a good occasion offered to make me the most happy man alive How answered she You may my fairest Princesse said I unto her revenge your selfe by the same armes you are injured and do three or foure actions worthy of your selfe First you will be revenged upon him that hath wronged you next you will give some satisfaction to your dear Isidore and you will recompence me and make me the most contented man upon earth The wise Isidore who had not spoke a long time by reason of her tears did reply before the Empresse Madam said she and fell upon her knees I protest unto you I conceive that this is the most just revenge and best that I can any way receive nor is it reasonable that he who does so ill requite a happinesse which the heavens have given him should enjoy it without the same measure that he useth unto others Madam he is unworthy of you and you are unjust if you continue any longer his The injury which he hath done unto you his ingratitude unto the Emperour your Father the dishonour he hath done unto your House and the affront put upon the miserable Isidore whom you have heretofore loved does invite you to grant the request which Ursaces makes unto you What harm can come unto you by it You do love this Cavalier he is discreet none can ever know it and you may this way sweetly revenge an injury which is any other way irreparable The Empresse smiled and answered us Persons that are interrested are not compleat judges you do both of you advise me to a revenge which will offend me much more then before If the Emperour have committed a fault 't is true I do receive an injury by it but since I have not the dispose of his actions I am not culpable
life could not end upon a more noble account nor in a better cause Having ambuscado'd my selfe in a Wood neer the way of Hostia I saw some part of this great Army march in very bad order but my aime being only at Eudoxe I kept my selfe still close till I saw some Chariots comming in which I perceived some Ladies and supposing them to be the same I did expect I encouraged my men telling them that this would be an act worthy of a Roman name Upon setting spurs to my Horse and they most couragiously following me we charged these Chariots whose Guard was above ten thousand Barbarians I shal not relate the passage of this charge for it is impertinent But so it was that we routed them and had Eudoxe been there as I thought she was doubtlesse I had delivered her out of these barbarous hands but as ill luck was she was still behinde and those Ladies which I saw were such as had been taken in the City and Country and were to be carried with the rest of the Booty into Affrica Oh heavens how was I grieved when I saw my selfe thus mistaken and had all the Army on my back for upon this Tumult the Vanguard recoyled and the Reerguard advanced and drew into Battalia so as I was environed on all sides with so great a number of enemies as we could expect nothing but ruine Some ran away others stayed for my part I laid me down amongst the dead and was stripped of my clothes as they were and it was happy for me for my clothes being carried by a Souldier Eudoxe knew them and shewed them unto Olimbres who would not leave her All that she said was I see Ursaces at the last hath met with that Rest which Fortune ever denyed him Upon this expression she swouned in her Chariot Olimbres running after him who had my clothes he asked where he got them and being told the place he went presently unto it and sought till he found me how sad was he when he saw me However he got leave of the Vandal to do me the last office of buriall He would needs return to Rome and have me carried also upon Boughs I was so jogged in the carriage that I gave some signes of life Olimbres seeing this was beyond all measure glad and brought me into the first house they came unto where I received such Cordialls as I recovered out of my long swoun You may imagine Silvander how glad I was when carrying my friend to his grave I found him alive those who saw me did plainly see that his life was as deer unto me as my own yet we had both been happy had we ended our daies then for then I should not have grieved at the absence and ravishment of the fair Eudoxe nor Olimbres at parting from his dear Placidia This consideration made me resolve upon death as soon as I heard this persidious Genserick had carried Eudoxe and her two Daughters away but the great care which my friend had of me kept me from the execution of my designe as long as my wounds kept me in bed But when I had recovered my selfe of these wounds and was able to get upon a Horse I stole away as secretly as possibly I could from him and taking the way towards Tuscany I hid my self in the Appennine Mountaines intending to die with hunger or some such hardship not being willing to shed my blood for fear of offending the great god who punisheth Homicides At the last the languishment of this life made me resolve upon a more sudden death and when casting off all consideration of heaven I would have run my sword to my heart my dear Olimbres came and stayed my arme so by this means gave me a life the second time Then afterwards when I still persisted in my resolution to effect my intentions a young man came in whose beauty and wisdome did make us think that comming in such a nick of time he was some messenger sent from god purposely to divert me from my designe I must confesse that at the first I thought him so and was so obedient to his words that I had no minde to kill my selfe hoping to receive from him some supernaturall aid so as being thus deceived we all three went unto the next Town to get Olimbres dressed of a great wound which I gave him when he offered to take the sword out of my hand where with I would have killed my selfe But when I understood that this young man was a Segusian as you are and that he came to the place where I was by meer chance I confesse I took a stronger resolution of dying then before and doubtlesse had but for this young man whose name was Celadon as afterwards he told me who used such strong arguments and gave me such good reasons that I resolved to stay till the recovery of Olimbres There was in this place an old and grave Chirurgeon who dressed the wound of my friend whose age and travells in severall Countries had got him great knowledge and experience this man took speciall notice of our sorrowes and as one word may sometimes discover what we desire to keep secret so I did not so well dissemble the matter but he did partly suspect my designe so as one day he took me aside and said thus unto me Think it not strange Sir that I unasked intrude my selfe to give you some counsell my age your merit and my duty to god invites me to it take therefore in good part what I shall say I know that you are seized with extream sorrowes and that you have a designe against your own life Do not offer it for god after your death will most severely punish all murderers of themselves And besides to kill ones selfe argues a defect in courage as if you durst not look a dysaster in the face and as those who fly for fear of their enemies so such as kill themselves for fear of any dysaster do flye out of the world for want of courage and because they dare not abide one of fortune's blowes God hath given unto man judgment and prudence to make his election by solid and sound reason and because man being possessed with passion can neither judge nor chuse aright he hath given him a communicative soul to the end that making choice of one or more friends he may ask counsell of them in all matters of importance And because friends are very often interested in their friends businesse this god not leaving man without a good guide hath given him Judges and Kings to order and decide all manner of doubts and controversies This great Creator of men loving them as his Children would furnish them with all that is necessary both to live and to die and to that end hath inspired the Massilians to constitute prudent Judges it seeming unto them that death is no injury but a tribute of nature and therefore it would be unjustly done to deny that remedy
unto such as with reason do demand it And therefore they have erected a publick Theater in their City where they use to keep poyson and will give it unto him to drink who shall desire to die if it be so that the Councell of six hundred do adjudge that his reasons why he desires death be good I do hint this unto you Sir that if you be oppressed with any sad dysaster you may rid your selfe from the tyranny of it by the judgment of so many worthy wise and prudent persons For my part because you shall not think I give you such counsell as I will not take my selfe I am resolved within these few daies to make my addresse unto them being incited thereunto by a contrary opinion unto yours for I have lived along age full fourescore and nineteen years in great felicity according to my rank and quality rich in the gifts of fortune above any of my profession happy in Children beloved of my Neighbours esteemed of every one and as I have lived so I would die happily I would not stay so long as untill my hundreth year lest I should tempt some dysaster to make me die miserable having learned that if Priamas had dyed a little before the losse of his Town he had been the greatest Prince of all Asia This good old man used this language unto me which had no small operation upon my thoughts for as soon as I came to Olimbres I made this relation unto him and the result was that we would all three for company go unto this place and put an end unto our daies But heaven would not have it so for he dyed when you relieved us These two Women which you saved were his two Daughters who came along with him to close his eyes if the Councell of Six Hundred had granted him the poyson We thought our selves obliged to assist them and not to forsake them till they had found the Corps of their dead Father and given their last duty unto him who never had any misfortune in his life and to the end that after his death he might be happy also in being interred by the hands of his own Children But to return unto that which concernes us We were fully resolved to prosecute our designe and to make it appear that it was not the losse of Estate or shipwrack or any such did move our wills unto it being very rich and owners of great possessions we sent unto our houses for our servants to come unto us with a considerable summe of many Thus Ursaces ended moving me infinitely to compassionate his fortune and Eudoxe's And having answered that I have seen many who had petitioned the Counsell of Six Hundred for this poyson and that it was granted unto some and refused unto others He desired in all favour to keep it secret lest some friend unto Maximus should prevent them and hinder their death Then he asked me how the Request or Petition used to be presented in what termes and what ceremonies were used To which I answered that the thing was very easy one to addresse himselfe unto a Magistrate especially appointed to receive such Petitions That he would make report of it unto the Councell of Six Hundred That none ever used to name themselves because there should be no respect of persons and the Petition must be in this Forme A Petition Presented unto the Councell of Six Hundred demanding the Poyson THe high and soveraign Councell of six Hundred are humbly requested to grant unto the Petitioner the favourable Cure of all human miseries by vertue and according to the sage and generous Lawes of the Massilians who are ordained Judges upon earth betwixt Fortune and Men. And to that end he humbly beseecheth that a certain day may be assigned on which he may produce his reasons and arguments before you And so god preserve and augment your Grandure They desired a Copy of this to the end they might not mistake and having promised one unto them I continued After they have assigned you a day said I unto them and after you have laid before them the occasions which move you unto a desire of death which must be done in as clear and short a method as you can without naming your selves or any other If they finde your matter just they will grant your request When I had spoken these last words I plainly saw by the tears of Ursaces that he did desire death but I perceived that Olimbres was invited unto it only out of affection unto his Companion from whom he would never part After a few dayes thus spent their servants came unto them out of Italy being many in number and bringing abundance of riches with them All things being then in readynesse they entreated me to accompany them before the Judges and to do them this last and lamentable office Which I did with much sorrow for I loved them and was afraid the Councell would think their request just They presented their Petitions and were assigned the third day after for that was the terme which was given them in which they might change their minds But Ursaces was constant and resolute in his opinion and with Olimbres presented themselves both being very well habited and attended And being called before the Councell they were asked their reasons why they would dye Ursaces briefly answered thus The Request of Ursaces I Desire to dye Massilian Lords because life is displeasing unprofitable and shamfull unto me displeasing because loving and being loved by a most faire and vertuous Lady she is carried away a slave into a strange Country unprofitable because the ravisher is infinitely puissant above my strength And shamfull because having sworne a thousand times unto this Lady that as long as I lived he should not wrong her It is a most abominable shame for me to live and suffer it Now the great God having given life unto men for their good there is no reason it should be enjoyed if it be bad For this cause sage Sirs I do present my self before you in hopes to obtaine that comfort which you do not use to refuse unto miserable men and be most certaine of this that you did never grant it to any more miserable nor who desired it more then my selfe The speech of Ursaces caused every one to fixe their eyes upon him admiring his constancy and resolution of language for he did not alter either in voyce or complexion Then Olimbres addressed himselfe in this manner The Request of Olimbres I Desire to dye Massilian Lords for the same reasons which my freind hath formerly alledged for as he so I have lost her I love and more because I see that he my friend desires to dye For loving him above all the world all the world is nothing to me if he leave it Amity is nothing but an union of two wills and I do not love him should I consent unto a disunion It is against the duty of any man of honor to
I am not only come my selfe unto you but I have left behinde me two of your greatest enemies Since it is so answered he I do much more fear your blowes My blowes said the shepheardesse do not offend or if they do it is only such as would have them do so It is very true said Silvander they do indeed offend none but those as would have them do so but yet that 's the reason why there are so many wounded for all those that see you do desire to receive your wounds The blowes which are desirable replyed Diana need not be feared Your wounds answered Silvander are desired but not desirable and are terrible but not terrifying When I did say that I feared them it was rather to shew what I ought to do then what I did I shall but laugh at you said Diana if you know your own good and will not follow it But to leave this discourse pray tell me shepheard from whom this Letter is and to whom it is directed Silvander not knowing how he lost it returned this answer My heart and your eyes if they did but look in a glasse would answer for me that it is directed unto you as Unto the most fair and the most loved shepheardesse in the whole Universe And your severity and my affection may tell you that it comes from me The most unfortunate yet the most faithfull of all your servants But said Diana unto him and then Astrea with Phillis came to them if this Letter came from you why did you not write it Because said he I found a better Secretary than my selfe and I must needs ingenuously confesse that there is something supernaturall in it since I found my own conceptions in it without writing them and since you have it and I never gave it unto you But my good Angell who was my Scribe seeing I was too slow in presenting it unto you did steal it from me though I did stay only for an opportunity of privacy to present it And why so said Diana Do you think I will receive any Letters in private which I would refuse in publick My intention of privacy replyed Silvander was in consideration of my selfe and not of you because I had rather receive a denyall from you without a witnesse then before the face of my enemy But I see that he who assumed the boldnesse to write of me has found out a way to let you see it I shall receive your excuse said Diana upon condition you will tell me who was your Secretary This last night answered the shepheard after a long meditation and entertainment of my own thoughts I chanced to fall asleep in a wood not far distant hence and in the morning when I awaked I found this Letter in my hand At the first I was much amazed at it but after I had read it I conceived that some good Angell which loved me and had read the same thoughts in my imagination did write them in this paper for me to present them unto you Phillis who had wit at will seeing Diana mute did ask him if he knew the way unto the wood No said he if there be none but you that would go unto it but if it be the pleasure of my Mistresse I will wait upon her unto it and I assure my selfe that the Trees which heard me almost all the night will relate the discourse which I had with my selfe amongst them Astrea being very desirous to see the place did make a signe with her eye unto Diana that she should take him at his word who thereupon asking whether they had time enough to go and return and being answered Yes she intreated him to conduct them all thither Silvander who was full of civility and who desired nothing more passionately then to do any service unto his fair Diana did freely consent to shew them the way So Diana turning towards the shepheardesses purposely to umbrage Astrea's designe did very particularly intreat them they would be pleased to go along with her and they should command her as much another time Astrea who was very glad that Silvander took Diana to be the Author of this designe did answer That she would most willingly follow her whithersoever she was pleased to go So committing the charge of their flocks unto one of their neighbours who came accidentally Silvander took the shortest way to the wood and conducted them thither Where the way was narrow and bad Silvander alwaies went before but assoon as they came into the Meadow which is often watered by the River Lignon he waited upon his Mistresse and led her by the arme She who had Phillis on the other side who was betwixt her and Astrea did accept of her shepheards service with a very good will lest the length of the way should weary her and giving him her left arme You Silvander said she I make use of you in this voyage as my Servant and of you Phillis for my Companion Phillis desiring to make Silvander talk that the company might be the lesse weary and who would not have a word so much to her advantage pronounced by Diana to pass unobserved she addressed her selfe unto the shepheard and asked him what he thought of this favour That it is greater answered Silvander then we deserve But replyed Phillis how do you take the difference that she puts betwixt us As a faithfull Servant ought to take what is pleasing unto his Mistress said Silvander But you said the shepheardess who are so great a stickler against jealousie have not you some sparks of it your selfe in seeing the great favour which your Mistresse hath conferred upon me I do perceive said he that you measure my affection by your own since you think any thing that pleaseth my Mistress can displease me But however I were a meer simplician in matters of Love if I did not think the favour she hath done me to be a very great honour unto me and disadvantageous unto you Diana hearing this answer smiled and Phillis who expected another kinde of an answer was so surprised as she knew not what to say but looked earnestly upon him yet he beginning to walk Phillis said he that smile is only a cloak for your ignorance I have not yet made you understand neither by my words nor my actions any of Love's mysteries but I do not accuse any except the defects that are in your affection If I do not understand these mysteries said Phillis you might accuse me of ignorance but not of defect in affection since understanding is not an act of will as affection is You are mistaken said the shepheard and this is one of those mysteries you are ignorant of and whereof I do not accuse either your understanding facultie or your will but this fair Diana How said Diana do you make me culpable of the ignorance of Phillis I do not think you culpable fair Mistress replyed Silvander but I do say you are the cause as I have learned
from an antient Oracle by which I understand said he and turned towards Phillis that I am better loved by our Mistress then you are Astrea who had not yet spoke This discourse said she is the most obscure and the reasons the most intricate that ever I heard Will you but please to give me leave said Silvander I am confident I shall cleer them unto you and make you confess them as well as my selfe And for your better understanding I say once again that the reason why Phillis does not understand the mysteries of Love is because she does not love enough and that for this defect in her love I ought not to accuse her will but Diana onely as an ancient Oracle tells us by which I know that she loves me more then she doth Phillis and this is the reason When you desire to know what is the will of the gods unto whom do you use to address your selves to come to the knowledge of it Doubtless said Phillis unto those that are Priests in their Temples and whose office it is to wait at their Altars And why do you not rather address your selfe said Silvander unto those that are more knowing than unto those Ministers of the Temple who commonly are ignorant in every thing else but their Office Because said Phillis the gods do more freely communicate themselves unto those that are entred into those mysteries and more familiar about their Altars than unto any strangers though they be more knowing See said Silvander then the power of Truth which constraines you to speak it against your intention For if you do not understand the mysteries of the god of Love is not that a signe you are a stranger unto him For you confesse that the gods do communicate themselves more freely unto those who serve in their Temples and wait at their Altars But which way should they serve at the Altar of the god of Love unlesse it be by Loving Hearts are the only sacrifices which are acceptable unto that deity Do you not see then Phillis that if you be ignorant in these mysteries it is not a fault in your understanding but in your love And if it should be so said Phillis which I will never grant how can you accuse Diana for any defects in my affection Is she not fair enough or are not her merits sufficient to make her selfe loved This said Silvander is a second mystery of that god which I will explain unto you Diana has no defects neither in beauty nor merit but she is all perfection the defect is only in your selfe that you do not love enough and that your love does not equall those admirable excellencies which you see in her But it is impossible you should love her in that height because she does not love you according to the Oracle of which I spoke Venus seeing her Son so little did ask the gods what she should do to make him grow To which question she received this answer That she should get him a Brother and then he would grow to full proportion but as long as he was alone he would never grow Do you not see Phillis that this answer was given against you and in favour of me For if your love be little and a dwarfe the reason is because it hath not a Brother If mine on the contrary do excell the highest it is because Diana my most fair Diana hath given it one whom he loves whom he honours nay whom he adores And do you think Silvander replyed Phillis that she does love you better then she does love me It can be no more doubted answered the shepheard then truth it selfe The gods do never lie Oracles are the interpreters of their will How dare you tax an Oracle with any untruth No no Phillis since I do love this fair Diana better then you do most certainly she does love me better then she doth you otherwise the gods would be impostors and not gods Many have been deceived said Phillis in the understanding of Oracles 'T is true answered Silvander but when that is the contrary event doth presently discover it and so they remain not long undeceived But the Oracle of which I speak is answered by such conformable effects both in you and me that it would be impiety to doubt it since do what you can you cannot make your love so great as mine And to confirm it the more is it not a common received opinion that whosoever will be loved must love Why shepheard said Phillis and interrupted him do you think by loving much to make your selfe much loved If you would give me leave to expound this mystery unto you said Silvander perhaps you would be as ready to confesse it as you have been to interrupt me but this is all I will say if the way to get love be to love then there is no doubt but that Diana who constraines me to love her with such ardency of affection doth love me extreamly Phlllis was dumb at this not knowing what to answer the shepheard who indeed defended his cause but too well Astrea whispered Diana in her ear Never credit me again said she in a whisper if this shepheards jeast do not turn to earnest and if he do not like children who play so long with their finger about the candle that at last they burn themselves Diana answered that such a thing might perhaps be if I were as capable of burning as he is of being burned but since he himselfe is only in the fault let him only bear the punishment as for me I do not intend to participate with him This talk had continued longer if Phillis had not interposed and chid them for taking Silvander's part We did not take his part answered Diana but we may well say that you are too weak to argue with him for his knowledge is much above yours But I would gladly know said Phillis how he can conceive that what you said unto him at the beginning was more advantageous to him than to me for I do apprehend it to be a greater honour unto me since you did thereby chose me to be your Companion She did confer that honour indeed upon you answered the shepheard but her affection upon me No no replyed the shepheardesse under the name of Companion is both affection and honour comprehended for they do almost signifie the same thing You may as well assert answered Silvander that affection and flattery are the same and not contrary If that person whom you love best should tell you that your perfections do transcend any goddesse would you not say this is grosse flattery And why poor deceived thing that you are do you not think the same of Diana when she sayes that you are her Companion For as you your selfe expound it that Companion signifies one like her selfe and her perfections are so transcendently above all other women as there cannot be a greater difference between men and gods then betwixt you and her Poor blinded
Phillis do you not see that this sweet word which is so pleasing to you is only pure flattery which my Mistresse is pleased to put upon you to acknowledge in some sort that shallow affection which you bear unto her For since she cannot love you she will give you satisfaction in this coyne In taking you for a Companion she shewes flattery and flattery shewes small affection On the contrary in taking me for her Servant she shewes the good will she bears unto me since I am capable of that favour if any mortall man be Oh impudence cryed out Phillis Oh love answered Silvander Why replyed the shepheardesse do you think your selfe worthy to serve her whose merits are above all mortalls The greatest gods said the shepheard are served by men and are pleased with their service and duty Then why if I be a man as I hope you do not question will you not permit me to serve and adore my goddesse especially since she her selfe requires this holy duty from me Phillis standing mute and considering well of Silvander's reasons she knew not how to answer one word but did really think that Diana did confer a greater favour upon Silvander then upon her and therefore addressing her speech unto her Mistresse said she upon consideration of my enemies reason I finde that he is in the right and that you have conferred more favour upon him than me Is it possible you should do it intentionally If you did I shall have a just occasion of complaint and take it ill he should be so much advanced above his merit I see said Diana coldly that opinion hath a greater power of you then truth and you are guided only by it Within this quarter of an houre you were boasting of the favour which I did you in preferring you before Silvander And now this opinion being changed you complain of the contrary so as I am afraid that your affection also is nothing but opinion No question of it said Silvander for every word she hath spoken is an argument of it Is it any argument of Love Phillis to finde fault with the actions of your Mistresse If they be to my disadvantage said she would you have me to think well of them It were but your duty to conform your selfe and strive to get more love then you have said Silvander Would you have Diana conform her selfe unto your will or ought you to conform your selfe unto hers I wish to the gods said she that I had as much advantage over her as it seemes she hath given you over me If it were so said Silvander pray tell me which of you two should be the Mistresse and which the Servant Truly shepheardesse I do not think you ever received the least scratch in Love's War Astrea who silently heard their difference was at last constrained to say thus unto Diana I think wise shepheardesse that this shepheard will take away from Phillis the use of her tongue No said Silvander it is rather Love for hitherto she thought that she had loved but now she sees the contrary Thus those fair Shepheardesses deceived themselves in the length of the way and the Sun shining very hot they asked Silvander how far it was yet unto the place which he conducted them unto and understanding that they were about the mid way they resolved to rest themselves at the next Fountain or the next good shade they come unto and Silvander told then that they should presently come unto such a one where they should finde a Cherry tree full of ripe fruite In order to this resolution they doubled their pace but meeting with Laonice Hylas â—â—â—cis Manduates and Thirsander they stayed awhile These shepheards and shepheardesses were walking together seeking for cool shades and pleasent Fountaines for they were strangers and having no flocks to keep they passed away the time as pleasantly as possibly they could And intending not to part that day they walked up the banks of the delectable River of Lignon Now these two Companies being met Hylas presently left Laonice and came to Phillis and she left Astrea and Diana and went to him at which Silvander was not sorry thinking himselfe in more absolute possession of his Mistresse Tircis seeing Astrea alone for Thirsander did lead Maduntes he addressed himselfe in a humble manner unto her and offered his service in leading her She having a great esteem of that shepheard especially because there was a conformity betwixt their fortunes did very willingly accept of his offer so as every one had a Companion except Laonice who as I told you formerly having an extream desire to be revenged of Phillis and Silvander all her aime was to watch an occasion of doing them some mischiefe And to compasse her designe she kept a spying eye upon all their actions hearknâ—â— unto all their discourse especially when they spoke low or in secret and when 〈…〉 by their gestures that they spoke any thing affectionately She had formerly 〈…〉 partly a cause of the jealousie of Lycidas and had since learned much of Silâ—â—â—â—â—â— and other shepheardesses yet more from her own suspicions then any else But 〈…〉 much more and became so knowing as it may be said she knew all 〈…〉 as well as themselves Also there being none in the company who suspected her designe she had more free accesse to hear none taking any notice when she 〈◊〉 them After she had 〈◊〉 upon all the shepheards and shepheardesses and 〈…〉 Companion to divert her she got as neer as she could unto Silvander who led Diana 〈…〉 to whom she wished most ill and having already an opinion of their being in love the passionately desired to discover more Diana who had no designe at all upon Silvander though she did wish him better then any shepheard of Lignon did not care whether her words were heard or no And Silvander took no heed because he was so attenive unto what his Mistresse said as he did hardly see the ground he trod upon which gave Laonice a better opportunity to hearken Silvander then assoon as he was alone with his Mistresse Well my fairest said he unto her what do you think now of Phillis and me I do think answered she that Phillis of all persons in the world is the worst lyar and that of all the shepheards I know Silvander is the best dissembler for certainly you can counterfeit a passionate part the best of any living Ah shepheardess replyed Silvander it is an easy matter to counterfeit what one does really resent This replyed Diana is that which confirmes what I say I could never believe that a feigned passion could be glossed with words and actions so resemblant unto truth Ah Diana said he how far short are both my actions and my words of declaring the truth of my affection Could you but see my heart as wel as my face you would have a better opinion of me I must confess the wager betwixt Phillis and me hath been a cause that I have