light and glory of Spaine which name she saide did better fit it then the right name of it bicause in the mids of the infidelitie of Marsilius the Mahometicall king who had so many yeeres encompassed it with a cruell and continuall siege it did euer so strongly defend it selfe that it was alwaies the conquerour and neuer subdued and that it was called in the Portugall toong Montemor or Velho where the vertue valour wisedome and magnanimitie remained for trophees of the noble deedes that the Lords and Knights of it did in those daies and that the Lords and Ladies that now dwelt in it flourished in all kinde of vertues and commendable parts And so did the Shepherdesse tell her manie other things of the fertilitie of the foile of the antiquitie of the buildings of the riches of the inhabitants of the beautie discretion and vertues of the Nymphes Shepherdesses and of the aptnes and actiuitie of the iolly Shepherdes that dwelt about that impregnable castle All which things did put Felismena in great admiration But the Shepherdesses requesting her to eate somthing bicause they thought she needed it she thankfully accepted their curteous offer And whiles she was eating that which the Shepherdesses had set before her they sawe her shed so manie teares that caused no small sorrow in them both And desirous to aske her the cause of them they were hindred by the voice of a Shepherd that came sweetely singing to the tune of his Rebecke whom the Shepherdesses knewe to be the Shepherd Danteus for whom Armia pleaded so much to the gracious Duarda for pitie and pardon Who saide to Felismena Although these are but homely cates faire Shepherdesse and countrey Shepherdesses fare yet fals it out to be a dinner for a Princesse for thou didst but little thinke when thou cam'st hither to dine with musicke There is not any musicke in the world saide Felismena that pleaseth me better then thy sight and conuersation gracious Shepherdesse which by greater reason makes me thinke that I am a princesse then the musicke thou talkest of These words should be adressed said Duarda to one of more woorth and higher deserts then I am and that had a riper wit and deeper conceite to vnderstande them But howsoeuer I am to my poore abilitie thou shalt finde an earnest will an vnfained affection in me readie to do thee all the seruice it may Ah Duarda saide Armia to her how discreete art thou and how mightest thou not win the onely praise of wisedome if thou wert not cruell Is there any woman in the worlde like thee heerein who of purpose art offring occasions of impertinent speech and to busie thy head with other matters bicause thou hast no list to harken to the wofull Shepherd that by dolefull song is breathing out his sorrowes and mishaps Felismena vnderstanding what that Shepherd was by Armias wordes praied them to be still and to giue eare vnto him who to the tune of his Rebecke did in his owne toong sing this song following SIghes since you lighten not my hart Why go you not why stay you still For in the end hope doth impart Aremedie vnto mine ill Yet hope to helpe me neuer stood Where reason worketh all in vaine Nor euer promis'd so much good As crueltie doth giue me paine But loue and trust giue me an art And qualitie of such a skill That neither hope reuiues my hart Nor crueltie the same doth kill Mine eies you neede not then complaine With which her faire ones I haue seene And what neede you to feare againe Since viewed by her you haue beene And therefore change shall haue no part Nor entrance in my constant will Though crueltie doth kill my hart Or whether hope remaineth still The Shepherds musicke pleased Felismena better then the Shepherdesses meat for she thought the song was made to complaine more of his owne griefe then to lament an others And as he made an ende she said Shepherd it seemes thou hast truely learned by my ils to complaine of thine owne Vnfortunate woman that can neither heare nor see any thing which sets not before me the small reason I haue to desire life But yet God grant I may so long enioy it vntil mine eies may see the cause of their burning teares Thinkest thou faire Shepherdesse said Armia to her that these words deserue not to be heard and that the hart from whence they came forth to be more esteemed then this Shepherdesse regards them Talke not saide Duarda of his words talke of his works speake not of his dittie but of his deeds for by them his intent and meaning is to be iudged If thou dost enamour thy selfe of songs and delightest in Sonets compacted of industrie of fine and flattering words Thinke not that I do so for as they are things wherein I take least pleasure so by them I lesse perswade me of the loue he beares me Felismena then fauouring Duardas reason said Behold Armia how many ils might be auoided and great mischiefes not effected if we would not hearken to smooth filed speeches lightly credit words framed by free harts for by nothing else they shew their properties more then by a cunning and false tale vttered by an eloquent fine toong that when we thinke it most true there is nothing more false Vnhappie me that could not in time helpe my selfe with this counsell But by this time was the Porugall Shepherd come where the Shepherdesses were who in his owne language saide to Duarda If the teares of these eies and the sighes of this my hart are not sufficient Shepherdesse to mollifie that hardnes wherewith thou dost so ill intreate me I require nothing else but that my company may not be troublesome vnto thee in these fields and that the sorrowfull verses which my griefe makes me sing like to the dying swanne neere to this riuer may be no occasion of thy miscontent and trouble Passe away faire Shepherdesse the parching heate of the day vnder the shade of these greene Osiars for thy swaine will driue thy goates to the riuer to drinke and tarrie with them while they are washing themselues in the cristalline waters Kembe and adresse louely Shepherdesse thy silke soft haire vpon the brinke of this cleere fountaine from whence issueth out the running brook that round about watereth this sweete meadow And in the meane time I will carrie thy faire flocks to feed and keepe thy sheep from going into the corne that growes along the riuer side I pray thee sweet Shepherdesse take no care for anything for I haue no rest all the while that I am not trauelling about thy busines If this seemes to thee but a small token of loue tell me then wherein I may shew the good will entire affection that I beare thee For no especiall loue doth wrong to speake the truth in anything whereof it offers any experience at all Danteus hauing made an end the Shepherdesse Duarda
imperfection was incident to all women but to my Mistresse Diana in whom I euer thought that nature had not omitted to frame euery good and perfect thing But Syluanus after this prosecuting his historie saide vnto him When I came neere to the place where Diana was I sawe her fixing her faire eies in the cleere fountaine where vsing her accustomed maner she began to say O woefull eies how sooner shall you want teares to water my cheekes then continuall occasions to powre you out O my Syrenus I would to God before the winter with his blustring stormes despoyles the greene medow of fresh and fragrant flowers the pleasant vallies of fine and tender grasse and the shadowed trees of their greene leaues that these eies may behold againe thy presence so much desired of my louing soule as mine is eschewed and perhaps hated of thine With this she lifted vp her diuine countenance and by chance espied me and going about to dissemble her sorrowfull complaint she coulde not so cunningly doe it but that her teares made it too manifest by stopping the passage of her dissimulation She rose vp at my comming and saide Sit downe heere Syluanus and see how thou art now to mine owne cost sufficiently reuenged of me Now doth this miserable woman pay thee home againe those paines which thou didst suffer as thou saidst for her sake if it be true that she was euer or yet is the cause of them Is it possible Diana saide I againe that these eares may heare these wordes In the end I perceiue I am not deceiued by saying that I was borne to discouer euery day new kindes of torments for thy sake and thou to requite them with the greatest rigour in the world Dost thou now therefore doubt that thou art the cause of my greefe If thou art not who dost thou imagine can deserue so great loue as this or what hart in the world but thine had not before this bene mollified and made pitifull by so many teares And to these I added many other wordes which now I doe not so well remember But the cruell enemie of my rest cut off my wordes saying If thy toong Syluanus fondly presumeth to speake to me againe of these matters and not to entertaine the time with talke of my Syrenus I will at thine owne pleasure leaue thee to enioy the delight of this faire fountaine where we now sit For knowest thou not that euery thing that intreates not of the goodnes of my Shepherd is both hatefull and hurtfull to my eares And that she that loueth well thinketh that time but ill imploied which is not spent in hearing of her loue Whereupon fearing least my wordes might haue bene an occasion to haue made me loose that great content and happines that I had by her sweete sight and presence I sealed them vp with silence and was a good while without speaking a worde onely delighting my selfe with the felicitie I had by contemplating her soueraine beautie vntill night with greater haste then I desired came on when both of vs then were constrained to goe homewards with our flockes to our village Then Syrenus giuing a great sigh saide Thou hast tolde me strange things Syluanus and all wretched man for the increase of my harmes since I haue tried too soone the small constancie that is in a womans hart which for the loue that I beare to them all for her sake in very trueth greeues me not a little For I would not Shepherd heereafter heare it spoken that in a moulde where nature hath conioined such store of peregrine beautie and mature discretion there should be a mixture of such vnworthy inconstancie as she hath vsed towards me And that which comes neerest to my hart is that time shall make her vnderstand how ill she hath dealt with me which cannot be but to the preiudice of her owne content and rest But how liues she and with what contentment after her marriage Some tell me saide Syluanus that she brookes it but ill and no maruell for that Delius her husband though he be as thou knowest enriched with fortunes giftes is but poore in those of nature and good education For thou knowest how lowtish of spirit and body he is and namely for those things which we Shepherds take a pride in as in piping singing wrestling darting of our sheepehookes and dauncing with the wenches on Sunday it seemes that Delius was borne for no more but onely to beholde them But now good Shepherd said Syrenus take out thy Kit and I will take my Bagpipe for there is no greefe that is not with musicke relented and passed away and no sorrow which is not with the same againe increased And so both the Shepherdes tuning and playing on their instruments with great grace and sweetnesse began to sing that which followeth Syluanus SYrenus what thought'st thou when I was viewing thee From yonder hedge and in great greefe suspending me To see with what affliction thou wert ruing thee There doe I leaue my flocke that is attending me For while the cleerest sunne goeth not declining it Well may I be with thee by recommending me Thine ill my Shepherd for that by defining it Is passed with lesse cost then by concealing it And sorrow in the end departs resigning it My greefe I would recount thee but reuealing it It doth increase and more by thus recording me How in most vaine laments I am appealing it My life I see O greefe long time 's affoording me With dying hart and haue not to reuiue me it And an vnwonted ill I see aboording me From whom I hop'd a meane she doth depriue me it But sooth I hop'd it neuer for bewraying it With reason she might gain say to contriue me it My passions did sollicite her essaying yet With no importune meanes but seemely grounding them And cruell loue went hindering and dismaying it My pensiue thoughts were carefully rebounding them On euery side to flie the worst restraining them And in vnlawfull motions not confounding them They prai'd Diane in ils that were not fayning them To giue a meane but neuer to repell it thee And that a wretch might so be entertaining them But if to giue it me I should refell it thee What wouldst thou doe O greefe that thus adiuring it Faine would I hide mine ill and neuer tell it thee But after my Syrenus thus procuring it A Shepherdesse I doe inuoke the fairest one And th' end goes thus vnto my cost enduring it Syrenus Syluanus mine a loue of all the rarest one A beautie blinding presently disclosing it A wit and in discretion the waryest one A sweete discourse that to the eare opposing it The hardest rocks entendereth in subduing them What shall a haplesse louer feele in loosing it My little sheepe I see and thinke in viewing them How often times I haue beheld her feeding them And with her owne to foulde them not eschewing them How often haue I met her driue and speeding them Vnto
glorie of thy thoughts My small desertes said Firmius So much the better said Seluagia bicause the glorie is greater Nay the worse for this said Firmius bicause the fall shall be the greater Thou art a great master of words said Seluagia Nay of workes said Firmius I haue not seene them hitherto said Seluagia To this last Firmius would not answer againe But Syrenus that maruelled all this while at the sharpe and wittie answers of the vnknowen Shepherd put himselfe betweene them both to ende this strife as also for that he saw Syluanus somewhat altered seeing his Shepherdesse vrged so much although he discreetly tempered himselfe with Firmius his moderate and mild answers which made him hold his peace which otherwise he would not haue done wherefore Syrenus said No more gentle Shepherds as you loue your selues Then Seluagia acknowledging her fault and the modestie of the Shepherd she looked on him with a milde and sober countenance saying Pardon me good Shepherd for the force of my great loue vrged me to say thus much But I said Firmius must rather craue pardon for if there be any offence it is of my side I am glad saide Syrenus that you are friendes againe and that you will not fall out for so small a matter I knewe thee Syrenus saide Syluanus when once thou wouldest not iudge it so light a thing as now thou dost But of friendship Shepherd looking vpon Firmius he saide tell vs since thou hast shewed thy selfe so wise in euery thing how that may be which thou didst say That loue doth make his operations as perfect in a short time as in a longer for me thinkes it should be cleane contrarie to reason and experience I meane if it be not by some extraordinarie and secret science as Felicia doth a Ladie not meanely experimented in those operations On the otherside I woulde faine know the cause thereof if at least there be any for to make a change in our selues which is but an easie matter in comparison we must haue the helpe of some time how much more then is it requisite for so great a worke as that which Cupid makes In base and simple Cottages in my natiue fieldes replied Firmius I woulde haue thee also aske this question where so wise and learned a Shepherd abides who is able not onely to satisfie thy doubts heerein but what else thou wouldst desire to knowe But as concerning this matter I remember I heard him say That as the Sunne when it appeeres doth in the very point and instant powre downe all his brightnes without wasting any time perfectly giues vs his light So Cupid whom he called the God of loue when he takes possession of the louers hart doth in an instant with his full and absolute force command and raigne there This comparison said Syluanus doth not like me so well Why so said Firmius for according to the same saide Syluanus we should all loue in equall proportion and degree if loue with all his force in such sorte wounded euerie one which I will not confesse Shepherd said Firmius thou hast so well touched the matter to the quicke that I must needs yeeld my selfe ouercommed and yet without shame since the meaning therof exceedes my pastorall condition and conceit But giue me leaue a little and I will bethinke me if I can remember how he resolued the like obiection But this I thinke and the rest is slid out of my memorie and yet me thinkes I should remember it and haue it at my toongs end And now I call it to minde though I know not whether so well as he spake it But howsoeuer it is you must accept it in such rude sort as I shall tell it you He said if Cupid wrought more in one hart then in another that this proceeded not of Cupids part who assailes all equallie but of the better disposition of the hart where he makes his impression and for this he brought a pretty comparison For with examples he made vs Countrey-fellowes vnderstand this and manie other things bicause by them we might remember the better what hee told vs. But the example was this That as the Sunne or fire doth sooner heat a piece of wood then a stone giuing as much heate to the one as to the other bicause the wood is apter and better disposed to receiue the heate then the stone so loue maketh a greater impression in one hart then in another by reason of the better disposition of one then of another He added moreouer that as the stone resisteth heate better then the wood and after it is once hot more hardly leeseth that heat then the wood which more easily receiued it so he that most resisteth loue and being after subiect vnto it with greater difficultie deliuers himselfe then he who suffered himselfe but easily to be ouercommed by it And with this aske me no more of this matter for as I now remember no more so was not then my weake capacity able to attaine to the knowledge conceit of those things which he alleaged And yet I know not how I vnderstood this for when we were satisfied thinking we had knowen it sufficiently and that in our iudgements there was no more to conceiue you might haue seene him chaunge the whole matter againe and gainesay his former propositions so that he quite vndid all that he said before and confuted his former examples by other cleerer assertions and more apparaunt reasons that he had in store and when we were inclined to this place he turned vs againe to the other and then to the contrarie at his pleasure so that he wrought vs like weakelings on euerie side as liked him best making vs euer incline to that which he last of all alleaged In the end though he had set all cleerely down before vs yet when he list he marred and darkened all againe If he had spoken said Syrenus in any other thing but in loue his company had beene as fit and acceptable to me as thine is now But truely it was a strange sufficiencie in a Shepherd to do what thou hast told vs for there is no reason me thinks to refell that which thou hast said by that experience which sometimes I haue had in like matters But tell mee yoong Shepherde where did this Shepherde learne so much I knowe not saide Firmius For as I am a straunger in these partes soe is hee in those But I imagine that loue and his good iudgemente were his best Schoolemasters there For as I perceiued by him hee had in both no small experience and was as wee heard but a Shepherd in habit and that his misfortunes had clad him in pastorall weedes They must no doubt be very great said Syrenus when they brought him to so poore an estate Doe you not know them well said Firmius No said Syluanus and therefore I pray you tell them vs. It were too long and troublesome a taske for me answered Firmius to tell them now and
for the Shepherd was yet sleeping and the old man and the other Shepherdesse were still embracing each other Lord Felix comming to them both said Thou shouldest haue enough noble Lord of these vnfit embracements Whereat Felicia laughed to her-selfe to see how much in their mindes they disdained the Shepherdesse But the old man said Nowe may yee O Gods conclude my many daies with their last period since you haue granted me this vnspeakeable fauour to see my deerest daughter now may yee make an end of my wearied yeeres hauing before mine eies my onely beloued Stela for so was the Shepherdesse called that spake vnto him Stela mine onely hope my ioy and comfort of my life To this end my praiers tended to lengthen my decaying life and to see this ioyfull day This was the white whereat my petitions oblations and sacrifices aymed for prorogation of my death And now let it come when it wil since I haue her in my presence who in despite of death maintaines my life but yet gentle death rather then by any other misfortune that may ensue I might be depriued of her againe come and bereaue me of this common light O my deerest daughter who did take thee away from me for I coulde neuer beleeue that of thine owne accord thou wouldst haue left me without first taking leaue of thy louing father Woe befall to thee false Shepherde that liest there asleepe and an ill end betide thy friend wheresoeuer he be if he hath it not yet already Bende not thy eares O Iupiter saide the Shepherdesse to this cruell petition but rather turne it vpon me a thing more requisite for my miseries and not on them whose goodnes neuer deserued any ill at all I will not consent good Father nor be content to heare them accursed that in all points are so faultlesse Lo Loue she would haue said hath erred if modestie and maidenly shame had not staied her toong in the middest I haue erred or rather my Fortune to speake more truely hath beene to blame by granting me no meanes to take my leaue of thee Felicia who knewe the cause of the Shepherdesse her greefe said Let these excuses now cease And Parisiles forsake thy sadnes since now thou inioyest thine onely desire Who turning to sage Felicia and marking with what graue auctoritie she spake vnto him said vnto her Whosoeuer thou art noble Ladie whether thou dost recken thy selfe in the number of mortall women or art registred in the Catalogue of the immortall Gods for such an one thou seemest to be pardon me if hitherto I haue not done my obliged duetie and reuerence hauing so pitifull and condigne a cause of pardon in euerie thing hereafter I am wholy at thy deuotions and subiect to thy commaund whatsoeuer It is well said Felicia we shall thinke of that hereafter And bicause I will make thee more ioyfull then euer thou thoughtest to be for from him thy comfort shall proceed of whom thou dost most complaine let vs goe to rest vs vnder the shadowes of those Laurell trees neere to the siluer fountaine brincke and that thou maist beleeue my words to be true know that I am Felicia if euer my name hath sounded in thine eares Parisiles then with the Shepherdesses fell downe on their knees to kisse her hands saying Who of all those that honour our immortall Gods is there that is ignorant of the portion which thou hast with them Felicia lifted them all three vp and would not suffer them to do her such honour and taking one of the Shepherdesses by the hand called Crimine said to all the rest Go you my Sonnes to the fountaine and rest you there while I talke with this Shepherdesse and with that Shepherd a word or two And thou my friend Parisiles with thy deere daughter shalt keepe them company and tell them some famous historie or antiquite vntill it be time to go in to dinner Then taking Crimine by the hand she went towards the Shepherd that was yet sleeping all this while and shaking him by the shoulder awaked him said He should sleep but a little that comes as a guard to two faire yoong Shepherdesses Whereat the vnknowen Shepherd awaked and not seeing Stela without making the sage Ladie any answere with a sudden sursault of griefe said O Crimine where is Stela Be not afraid said Felicia for she is not far from hence Thou mightest do better to looke more aduisedly to thy selfe when as but euen now thy temporall slumber had verie neere cast thee into thy last and endlesse sleepe They of whose liues and honours they chose thee their onely ampare had more care to faue thy late endangered person then thou hadst of thy selfe or them And bicause thou maist see vnto what extremitie thy fates had almost brought thee knowe that it is not long since the knife was at thy throate readie to cut it The Shepherd could not imagine what she meant by these words nor what companie that was that sat about the fountaine where turning his eies about to see Stela he espied her but Crimine secretly admonished him to doe his duetie to Felicia who then making low obeisance vnto her craued pardon of her Felicia then told him in order what had passed and how Parisiles forgetting his aged weaknes and ayded by the force of his furie would haue killed him how they would not let him with that that folowed In the end the Shepherd was verie sad when he knew that old Parisiles was there not for feare of him but bicause he now thought to loose his beloued Stela which sage Felicia perceiuing said vnto him Abandon Shepherd these sorrowfull thoughts for all shall redound to thy content and ioy for now thou art in such a place where thou shalt haue no wrong and where thy passed troubles those of thy sweet company deerest friends shall be better ended then thou art able to imagine To all this the Shepherd could yeeld no more but humble thankes though it was not sufficient to comfort him bicause he was absent from a deere friend of his whom he loued more then himselfe and who euer requited him with no lesse loue againe as by manie proofes most often it appeered For well might they two haue been the thirde number annexed to the onely two paire of friends that after so manie thousande yeeres were accounted in the world for the greatest But the Lady Felicia assured him how she would finde out some meanes to haue him thither out of hande At which words he fell downe on his knees and kissed her hands for any thing that she could do the contrarie In these and other speeches they went talking vp and downe a pretie while But God knowes how Crimine was ashamed of her-selfe before Felicia though it was not long for Felilia did remedie that by and by hauing taken her aside to no other ende from the rest of the companie While these three were in these speeches Lord
thou purpose to destroy me When wilt thou make an end with woundes to noy me Not stretching foorth thy cruell hand to kill me Tell me the cause why dost thou so much will me To visit thee and with such words dost ioy me That to my death I rather would imploy me Then by such present pangs and greefes to spill me Woe to my soule since this doth cause thy sorrow That such a little fauour thou hast done me Little it is in sooth if it be peased With all my teares that neuer yet haue ceased To fall that to my death haue almost woon me They great this small those giue I this I borrow Firmius had scarce done when Faustus asked Diana how she knew that his loue to her was so small Who answered In that hoping to enioy thee inflamed in my loue thou complainest no purpose of a few teares thou hast spilt for my sake as if these were not as incident and requisite for loue as pasture for sheepe and oyle for the lamp To which wordes Faustus taking vp his Rebecke did thus answere her THou dost desire My life as thou dost say To see me in thy loues inflam'd at lest And yet an vncouth meanes thou dost suggest Which is to giue me care from day to day Dost thou not see the fier to decay Waxe cold and quench't within my louing brest With swelling teares which trickle without rest Out of mine eies to see thy hard delay The meade with raine her goodly greene redeemes The oile doth in the lampe the flame maintaine And loue with teares augmented is no lesse But loue the lampe and meadow as it seemes If that too much of these they doe containe Is spent is quench't and drowned in excesse As Faustus had thus made an ende Firmius said for all that I coulde not then heare he tolde me afterwards we are well content Diana that thou delightest thy selfe with our sorrowes since thou wilt take no pleasure in any of our other things if thy sweete voice in lieu of that might sound in our desired eares with some happie song Diana excused herselfe requesting them to pardon her saying she coulde not therein pleasure them since she wanted so much her owne content of minde They endeuouring to comfort her gaue her some hope saying that in the end sorrowes and griefes are not perpetuall and that she should remember that common song that saith Continuall griefe and sorrow neuer wanteth c. Bicause therefore you may see said Diana how ill this saying is vnderstoode tune your Bagpipe with your Rebecke and walking towards our flockes bicause it is now time to gather them vp although I thought not to doe it yet will I sing as well as I can vpon this theame and you shall take the tune of the song as of a woman so much tuned in miseries and mishappes as nothing more Firmius and Faustus made no delay And then Diana like a desperate woman with a mournsull and sorrowfull voice began thus taking for her first verse that which they had alreadie alleaged for her comfort COntinuall greefe and sorrow neuer wanteth Where feeding hope continues not decaying But euermore despaire that greefe recanteth From former course of minde doth cause estraying The glosse Riuers arise and run into the seas And waters without number day by day And yet the same seeme neuer to decay But new doe spring and run and doe increase So endlesse woes arise and multiplie Redoubled one vpon anothers head For one in truth is with another fed Still doe they come and yet they neuer die For since their fertill rootes each moment planteth Continuall greefe and sorrow neuer wanteth Torments of minde and vilest miseries Are sworne to dwell within a haplesse soule And there her ioies and pleasures doe controule As to my selfe my sweete content denies Then let not any Louer thinke to gaine The meanest thing that liues in any hope But liuing so to fall into a scope And wander in a world of greefe and paine For miseries men say continue staying Where feeding hope continue not decaying Who knowes it not Alas I knowe it well That if a wofull soule is hoping still She seldome doth enioy her mind and will But that her hope must euer be her hell So of this hope that flatters me I finde And doe confesse that with the same I liue But still in feare and therefore I would giue It for despaire to ease my doubtfull minde I wish not this false hope my iotes that scanteth But euermore despaire that greefe recanteth If any whit of goodnes euer came By vile despaire it comes to me in prime And it could neuer come in better time Then to be hoping still to haue the same The wisest and most prudent man at last Wanting the good that long he doth attend Which nourished by hope he did suspend Seeing the time that fed his hope is past And all his ioy by hope that is decaying From former course of minde doth cause estraying The Shepherds importuned Diana to proceed in her song or else if it pleased her to take some new matter for it was to be thought that Dianas song pleased them wel but they could not obtaine it at her hands for she rather requested them to sing something whilest they were going towardes their flockes Firmius then remembring that which a little before she had told him that he loued her not so much as he might began thus to tune his voice Faire Shepherdesse Iean no more But faine I would Loue thee more if that I could As this made also for Faustus purpose for the same cause he likewise sung to the same effect And so Firmius and Faustus sung by turnes and answered one another as followeth Firmius OF mine owne selfe I doe complaine And not for louing thee so much But that indeede my power is such That my true loue it doth restraine And onely this doth giue me paine For faine I would Loue her more if that I could Faustus Thou dost deserue who doth not see To be belou'd a great deale more But yet thou shalt not finde such store Of loue in others as in mee For all I haue I giue to thee Yet faine I would Loue thee more if that I could Firmius O trie no other Shepherd swaine And care not other loues to prooue Who though they giue thee all their loue Thou canst not such as mine obtaine And would'st thou haue in loue more gaine O yet I would Loue thee more if that I could Faustus Impossible it is my friend That any one should me excell In loue whose loue I will refell If that with me he will contend My loue no equall hath nor end And yet I would Loue her more if that I could Firmius Behold how loue my soule hath charm'd Since first thy beauties I did see Which is but little yet to mee My freest senses I haue harm'd To loue thee leauing them vnarm'd And yet I would Loue thee more if
and I carrie it alwaies about me bicause I like it well And heere it is But will you heare me reade it vnto you or reade it your selfe Thou hast wisely asked me this question said Lord Felix for of this point I haue seene diuers good conceites and from whence the cause proceedes I knowe not but let it goe For of conceites and opinions they say there is no disputing But I take more pleasure to reade it my selfe to stay and studie vpon that which likes me best and to vnderstand it the better Read it therefore aloude said Placindus that euerie one may vnderstand it and that I may tell you when you must leaue I read it said Lord Felix and therefore giue attentiue eare for thus it saith It fitteth not my song To deigne to answer with direction Men of such wit and small perfection That offer her such wrong For Fortune doth onely to those belong That haue the vse of reason and election For declaration whereof we must presuppose the learning and opinions of the Peripatetickes That Fortune is an accidentall cause which doth seldome happen and comes onely to them that worke by election ordained to some end It woulde be too long a labour to expound euery particular part heereof and tell how it is vnderstood and if it be distinguished from the fower causes which the Philosophers doe assigne and if it be not distinguished bicause then there should be fiue to which of the fower it is reduced and what difference there is betweene Chaunce Fortune and Fate and many other things touching this subiect But to fulfill our purpose it sufficeth to vnderstand That if one did dig or turne vp the ground to sowe or burie some thing and digging did finde some treasure this digging should be termed Fortunate which was the cause of finding the treasure And it is called the Accidentall cause bicause that digging was not ordained to finde treasure but to burie a dead thing For if it had beene knowne that it was there and he had digged to that end it could not be termed Fortune It came to one that vsed election for it lay in his choice to digge which he might haue left vndone if he would considering besides howe finding of treasure doth seldome happen It must be called good Fortune if the effect be good as finding of treasure ill if the effect be naught as when he found treasure he found a viper that bit him It may be called great if the effect be great little if the effect be little Whereupon it may begathered for our purpose or intent for they vse all in one signification for this present disputation that it may be called Fortune So that in fooles and children that haue no reason there is no Fortune Whereupon you shall vnderstand that if the stone whereof they make the aulters or the woode whereof they make the statues of the Gods they poetically call Fortunate it is by a figure called Metaphora or likenes that those stones and woode hath in respect of others with fortunate men and those which are not But there is one thing to be noted that insensible things participate of Fortune passiuely as obiects by meanes whereof men are fortunate Giue it me againe said Placindus to Lord Felix for you go too far that which is read is sufficient for the vnderstanding of the foresaid verses Truely said Parisiles it is learnedly handled and I thinke that the point which Lord Felix desired to know is sufficiently vnderstoode and that he cleerely shewed it by that which he read considering the obscuritie of the matter I am satisfied said Lord Felix but I should take great pleasure if now the sence of the verse taken with the intent were quadrant to my minde I am content said Placindus to tell it Hauing said in the beginning if you remember that whosoeuer speaketh ill of Fortune was a foole answering to his reasons he prooues himselfe to haue no reason whereupon that it is inferred in that staffe which you aske that since they haue no reason at that time when one entreates of Fortune it is not meete to talke with them nor they to meddle with things of Fortune Since Fortune onely commeth to him that hath reason Nowe that I am resolued said Lord Felix returne to your Historie againe You made an end in telling how Beldanisus had interrupted the musicke leauing his brother and cosens in the reregard I brake it off at this worde Distcus that now And since I interrupted your continued discourse it is reason that I helpe you to knit it and reduce you to it againe Well then from that place I will begin said Placindus Disteus that now had come somewhat neere desirous to taste of that dainty musicke euen then when he saw violent hands laid on Sagastes although he hated him mortally yet to do his Lady Dardanea seruice he ranne in and stept betweene Eeldanisus and Sagastes for he had now also drawne his sword saying Keepe out Lord Sagastes and receiue this small peece of seruice for my Mistres Dardanea your sisters sake Beldanisus was so wroth to see Sagastes taken away that like an angrie Beare despoiled of her yoong ones with enraged furie he ran vpon Disteus to wreake his anger wholly vpon him and thinking he had beene but of small courage and partly incensed with violent despite and choler without any feare he ranne within him and lifting vp his sworde with all his strength did manfully discharge it vpon him But Disteus like a stout and couragious Gentleman knowing it was no time to dally when he sawe such a furious blowe comming before it was discharged by closing with him tooke it vpon his buckler wherewith he thumped him so strongly on the brest that he felled him to the ground where hauing knocked his head by the terrible fall he lay senceles for a space and was not able to rise vp againe Sagastes and his page would haue come in to helpe Disteus but that Beldanisus brother and his cosens seeing swordes drawne in Sagastes fauour two of them fell vpon Disteus thinking it had beene Sagastes with intent to haue made but a short peece of worke of it bicause they could not stay long about that busines for so the fower had concluded betweene them and the other two fell vpon Sagastes and his page whom they thought to be Sagastes men But it fell out cleane contrarie and in vaine came they in so soone for Disteus had now smitten Beldanisus to the grounde where his brother seeing him lie without a worde thought verily that he was slaine Wherefore determining either to die or to reuenge his death with one of his cosens he assailed Disteus who without any signe of feare or cowardise manfully receiued them both But yet he sawe him selfe narrowly beset bicause they were both hardy youths besides that the wrath and desire of reuenge to see Beldanisus on the ground made them desperate But they were not able to
controll Disteus his courage nor to abate his strength and dexteritie that had by this time wearied them and ended their liues if they had not bin wel armed with defences But when at his pleasure he lifted vp his good sworde to smite one of them he did so hardly entreate them that they thought it best not to come within his reach wherewith he had nowe broken their maile and wounded them lightly in some places The two cosens made Sagastes and his page flie before them and had killed them if they thought Sagastes had beene there being also ignorant in what case Beldanisus and his cosens were But nowe when Disteus had brought them to an ill passe Beldanisus came to himselfe againe for he had no other harme but that onely by the blowe in his head he had lost his sence and knowing what a great shame and dishonour it was vnto him and seeing besides how valiantly the man that came in betweene them had behaued himselfe with two of them he fell fiercely vpon him of purpose to take iust reuenge of him assailing him more aduisedly then before Disteus though he sawe himselfe encountred by three did not yet loose his manly courage but as if the effray had but then begun wounded them cruelly not escaping himselfe without some small wounds cuts in his garments bicause their swordes did not cut like his nor their armes had the strength as his had the cheefest cause whereof was that Disteus did not let them wound him at their pleasure albeit one of the cosins did put him to much trouble For as two of them did set him well a worke he with a long tucke did thrust at him mortall stocados wherupon Disteus thinking that all the victory consisted by ouercomming him he endeuoured to close with him for he perceiued wel that if he had thrust but one to his minde it had beene ynough for him But the other two perceiuing his intent preuented him of his purpose whereupon the other in the meane time reached him a desperate thrust the which with a ready eie auoyding he requited with such a sturdie blowe that he felled him to the ground And to Beldanisus who had wounded him in the shoulder without any pause at all he gaue an ouerthwart blowe on the left arme that he cut the maile from his sleeue and the flesh to the bone With these two blowes they were put in such a feare that they thought it best to giue backe studying rather to defend themselues then offend or hurt their enemie Disteus seeing the victorie in his hands did not cease to plie them still in such sort that he made them by one and one retire But now by this time there was much people gathered togither to part the effray though by the darknes of the night one knew not another Whereupon Disteus taking vp his cloke that he had cast downe got himselfe out of the prease and Sagastes to seeke the man out that had helped him so well in that encounter cared not to pursue his enemies so that they escaped then away vnknowen without getting any thing of their purpose Disteus perceiuing that with so great desire they sought him to doe his feate the better and that which heereafter you shall heare came to Sagastes page and putting a corner of his bandkercher in his mouth bicause he would not be knowen by his speech said vnto him Let not thy Master take any care to knowe who I am for to morrow I will goe my selfe to kisse his handes The page went with this errant but Sagastes not content therewith would haue gone himselfe to haue spoken with him if the page had not disswaded him saying Sir it is no reason to molest him that hath done you no lesse a good turne then the sauing of your life It seemes he would not now be willingly knowne let him therefore alone and trouble him not since he hath giuen you his word to come to morrow and visit you Thou saiest well saide Sagastes and till then I shall not be quiet in minde for it hath put me in a great wonder and confusion to knowe who he might be that so valiantly defended himselfe against three but in a greater when I call to minde the wordes that he spake when he stept in to helpe me That I should take it for a peece of seruice due to my sister and his Mistresse Dardanea For they were such that had I not knowen Dardanea well would haue put me in a great suspicion and iealousie of her And besides this it comes also to my minde that if he be wounded for he could not otherwise escape it shall be ill beseeming me if I doe not the best I can to procure his health and reuenge although by the last he hath sufficiently accuited himselfe Go tell him therefore from me what my desire and good will is towardes him and that before he be gone in haste to helpe himselfe I will not depart from this place The page went and being come to Disteus spake thus vnto him Sir whosoeuer you be my Lord Sagastes doth kisse your hands and by me giues you to vnderstand that he praies the Gods may graunt him but the lest occasion and opportunity to serue you in any thing he may and to requite the great good turne which he hath this night receiued at your hands who would haue come in person himselfe to thanke you but that the vnderstands it is your desire to cōceale your selfe He is also no lesse desirous to know who you are but he is loth to intreat you to any thing against your will lest perhaps you would deny to do that you shal think good although you haue forced him to be euer bound vnto you But for all this he would vrge and oblige you to fulfill your promise to see him to morrow according to your word He praies you moreouer to looke wel to your selfe if you be wounded and to take some speedy order for your safetie saying that vntill he see you go hence he will not depart from the place where he is Tell thy Lord answered Disteus that if I haue done any thing for him it was no more but a due debt which I owe him onely for that he is brother to my Mistresse Dardanea and bicause he may not be greeued in minde by not knowing who I am tell him that I am Placindus nephew to Palna free from wounds and I must needs stay here all alone about certaine busines that I haue agreed vpon and that therefore he may depart since I am greeued in nothing wherein his care may preuaile me assuring him that to morrow I will stand to my word and promise The Page maruelled much that I had so valiantly helped his Lord and him and as he esteemed me in his mind for a tall man so thought me to be ill brought vp by giuing him so rude an answere For Disteus of purpose would not answere him with more humanitie though
enioyed there without any feare and danger their sweete contents and were well beloued and reuerenced of all the Shepherds thereabouts who endeuoured to do them all the pleasure they could sometimes with rurall sports and games other times with dances and pastorall musicke To all which Disteus so well applyed himselfe that in a short time he farre excelled them all And so for this respect as for his affabilitie and mildnes by knowing how to conuerse with all that Shepherd thought himselfe vnhappie that had not some priuate friendship with Coryneus for so he named himselfe after he had changed his habit and Dardanea that named her selfe Dinia was no lesse acceptable to all the Shepherdesses and Palna called Corynea like her sonne was reuerenced of them all When all three went from me Dardanea was gone two moneths with childe but what God sent her or what became of the childe she brought foorth I know not for they had not dwelta whole yeere in that countrey when they went away for what cause or whither I also know not The cause whereof considering the time wherein they went away I suspect was this That in this meane while King Rotyndus married with the Kings sister of that Prouince where they were whose wife 's brother a little while after being dead an vncle of hers called Synistius aspired to the kingdome as Competitor with her For the which cause Rotyndus making warre against him with little losse of his men got the victorie whereupon a peace was concluded betweene them and the gouernment of the kingdome by the intercession of Agenesta his niece for so was the Queene called giuen frankly to Synistius So that Disteus as soone as the noyse of this warre was bruted abroad went as I coniecture bicause he would not be knowen from that countrey with his pettie family From which time I could neuer heare more of them though manie daies haue passed since Ansilardus and Placindus went out to seeke them And omitting mine own trauels Gentlemen and manie troubles that I passed in the like enterprise because they make not any whit to the purpose of your demaund I will onely tell you how theese two seruants of theirs went out so soone being as I told you before imprisoned and I so late being as you haue also heard at libertie When King Rotyndus married his Queene in ioy of the feast all the prisoners were let goe amongst whom Anfilardus and Placindus came out and sixe moneths after to make Sagastes suspect it the lesse by venturing their liues for vpon paine of death it was commanded that none should goe seeke out Disteus they went to the place where I told them they were At which place when they could not find them they cōcluded by seuering themselues to seeke them out appointing to meete at that place a yeere after to know how they had sped and bicause the one might not goe that way or take in hand that the other did Whereof as of all things else though they for the space of sixe yeeres from time to time informed me yet I know not how nor by what sinister meanes it came to passe that in more then twelue yeeres after the end of the foresaid time expired I neuer heard any newes of them nor of their master Whereat being greatly greeued in minde I endeuoured to seeke out some good meanes or rather fained occasion to go about the same errant whereunto by the Kings most streight edict I could neuer directly accommodate my self in regard of which iourney if hope might haue perswaded me to finde them out I would not haue neglected both that and all paines abroad and affaires at home whatsoeuer But being in this impatient desire two braue yoong youths most highly fauoured of Agenestor Prince of Eolia with whom they were both brought vp were also determined to seeke out their parents knowing that those were not the same for whom they had till then taken them These yoong Gentlemen Delicius and Parthenius for so they were called leauing aside how much for their rare giftes and virtues they deserued the loue of all of purpose I endeuoured to make my special friends to this effect that as they were in great fauour with the King and Queene by their meanes and intercession to the Prince I might finde such fauour with them all that if Disteus and his companie were perhaps found out they might get their pardon and be restored againe to their former estates and reputation which we thought might easily be obtained since King Rotyndus by the good examples of his virtuous Queene Agenesta whom God preserue for many yeeres by her holy life conuersation had almost now forsaken his old cōditions Wherby gentlemen we may note how the good examples of a vertuous wife doe oftentimes worke to amend and correct the lewde disposition of a vitious husband And therefore it is saide that the wise is the mirrour of the husband and the woman to the man bicause the man looking into her as into a cleere glasse may frame his life and minde to her modestie and semblance And contrarie the man is the womans glasse for the selfesame cause and reason Wherefore Rotindus loued not now Sagastes so well as in times past and liked lesse his lewde conditions which sauoured nothing of vertue whereon if any humane thought or action be not grounded it is not durable any long time for as vice is nothing being the priuation of vertue so is that of no stabilitie and permanence which is grounded vpon it The fame of Delicius and Parthenius departure and the end thereof was in a few daies spred ouer all the citie whereat though most were sorie yet some who enuied their deserued fauour for noble vertue is euer accompanied with base enuie were not wanting that ioyed to see that day This fit occasion therefore for the effecting of that which you shall heare offering it selfe to my semblable desseignes comming vnto them I vsed these wordes As I cannot be sorie Gentlemen and my deere friends for your departure since it is a thing that concernes you so much So am I not a little glad that it hath so happily fallen out for my determinations if in this iourney my poore companie for onely yours heerein I desired shall not be any waies troublesome vnto you And bicause you may knowe the forcible cause that mooues me heereunto I will vpon that fidelitie and trust which with all men but especially with me you haue alwaies vsed most frankly tell it you As it is not vnknowen to you I thinke what great friendship hath been betweene Disteus and me and for my part shall euer be while my soule shall rule this earthly body So must you know againe that I concealed and kept him close vntill I found out the meanes to put him in some safetie of his life and not content with this would if he had giuen me leaue or if it had not beene preiudiciall to his secret departure haue
sonne Polydorus bicause they would not be depriued of that merrie song which they expected at Belisas handes said vnto her The praise faire Shepherdesse and defence of women is iustly due vnto them and no lesse delightfull to vs to heare it with thy delicate voice repeated It pleaseth me well said Belisa if it like you for there are many sharpe and stinging inuectiues if I could remember all the verses in it but yet I will begin to recite them bicause I hope that in singing them one will reduce another to my minde Then Arsileus seeing that Belisa was preparing herselfe to sing began to tune his Rebecke at the sound whereof she sung the song that she heard Florisia in times past sing which was this Florisias Song FLie storming verse out of my raging brest With furious anger malice and despite Indigned spirits once at my request Powre foorth your wrath and pen prepare to write With scornefull stinging and inuectiue stile Against a people brutish base and vile Avile peruerse and monstrous kinde of men Who make it but their pastime and their game With bar barous mouth and with vnciuill pen To slaunder those who lest deserue the same Women Imeane a work manship diuine Angels in shape and Goddesses in minde Thou wicked man that dost presume too hie Of thy perfections but without desart False man I say accustomed to lie What euill canst thou thinke within thy hart Or speake of her whose goodnes more or lesse Doth fill the world so full of happinesse But onely this that woman was the cause Though not alone of one exceeding ill In bringing foorth constrained by natures lawes A man whose mischiefes all the world doth fill Who after that he is conceiu'd and borne Against his mother proudly liftes his horne Whom if she had not borne poore silly dame With fewer greefes her life she might haue lead For then he should not slaunder thus her name And such a crowe she should not then haue bred That being hatch'd her dam would thus despise And daily labour to plucke out her eies What man in all the world did euer knowe Although the tendrest father he had beene Those cares and greefes that sorrow and that woe Which wiues haue for their husbands felt and seene And how the louing mother for her sonne With sorrow hath beene oftentimes vndone Behold with what affection and what ioy What gentlenes and what intensiue loue The mother dothintreate her little boy Which after doth a Traitour to her prooue Requiting ill her paines and loue so kinde With powring sorrowes still into her minde What iealous feares what fearefull iealousies Doe haunt the mother for her cruell sonne What paine when that in any paine he lies What greefe when that with greefe he is vndone What perfect gladnes and what sweete content When that he is to any goodnes bent Alas how pensiue and how sad they ar If that their husbands suffer any paine What sorrow when they trauell somewhat far What moane when that they come not soone againe A thousand greefes to heare their losse of wealth Ten thousand deathes to heare their want of health But men that are so full of false deceate Our daily sorrowes neuer doe requite Or thinke of them though they be neuer so great But rather such their malice and despite Is that our louing cares both great and small Vniust suspects and iealousies doe call The cause of which surmise is onely this That as these wicked and detested men Of custome are enclined to stray amisse And in false loue their wits and wealth to spend Do thinke it now a burden to their liues To be belou'd so truely of their wiues Then since in louing them we euer finde Our selues a payde with hatefull scorne and blame I thinke it best for easing of our minde Quite to forget their nature sexe and name Or else to leaue our ioies in looking on them Or if we looke not once to thinke vpon them But yet it is a pretie iest to see Some kind of men whose madnes is so great That if the woman will not wholly bee At their desires then in a franticke heat They call her Tygresse cruell and vnkinde And trasteresse vnto a louing minde Then shalt thou see these men vnseemely call The modest women whom they would haue naught Coy and disdainfull to conuerse withall And her that 's chaste vnmanner'd and vntaught Those that be wise and sober full of pride And cruell those whose honesties are tride I would to God that those dishonored names Did fit them all as well as all the rest Then none of them should bide so many shames Nor be deceiu'd by men that loue them lest For being cruell proude and rusticall They would not loue nay could not loue at all For if the thing which they so faine would haue By any meanes they cannot once obtaine Then do they wish for death or for their graue But yet the same no sooner they attaine But make it but a sport and merie game And straight forget that ere they lou'd the same They faine themselues most sorrowfull and sad And wearied with a long and painfull life They still do tell the paines that they haue had And other lyes which are with them so rise They call themselues vnhappie poore and blinde Confounded slaues yet all but words of winde O how they can make Oceans of their eies And terme their flames their torments and their paines And breath out sighes like vapours in the skies And belch out sobs like Aetnas burning vaines In many things the greatnes of their minde They shew contemning base and doubtfull feare As those whose tender loue hath beene so kinde Vnto their husbands when they liuing were That all their moanes and sorrowes for their death They ended soone by stopping of their breath And if for vertue and his chaste intent Hippolytus deserued any praise On th' other side behold that excellent And noble Roman Matrone in her daies With stabbing dagger giuing vp the ghost I meane faire Lucrece for her honour lost It was no doubt great valour in the youth As neuer like hath beene in all the rest Who vowing to his father faith and truth Deni'd his stepdames foule and fond request All which admit Hippolytus is but one But thousands of Lucrecias haue beene knowne Giftes haue we more our beauties set aside For in good letters famous haue we bin And now to prooue our iudgements often tride And sharpnes of our finest wits therein Let Sappho and Corynna well suffice Who when they liu'd for learning got the prise And learned men doetherefore banish vs Their schooles and places where they do dispute For feare if we should argue and discusse With praise we should their arguments confute Too proud therefore they would not by their will That women should excell them in their skill And if some authors scorned in their loues Haue written ill of women in their hate Not this our credits any whit
loue was not a little enamoured of Dardanea Sagastes sister a yoong gentlewoman passing faire and rich she being also adorned with all those gifts of nature and minde which onely enstall that noble sexe in immortal praises For in her did euerie vertue shine as in their proper place Her loue likewise to him was chaste and pure being onely grounded vpon Disteus his noble vertues and singular goodnes that was then the common subiect of euery mouth whose loue though in her chaste breast it was with all kind of honest affection entertained yet might his comely personage goodly features haue well procured a wanton thought in the most modest minde This noble Ladie had been married but three moneths to a knight of her own house but in many degrees remooued called Fenubius when Atropos before his iust time did cut off his vital thread and in the flower of her age made her a yoong widow Who bearing no small affection to Disteus when she was a maide would faine haue married him but neither by words nor signes durst once declare the lest thought thereof vnto him bicause she would not for all the world transgresse the due limits of her honor and vertuos reputation as also bicause she thought it impossible to conclude a marriage in two such contrarie houses Whereupon without more a doe she was constrained to take such a husband as her brother did giue her for her parents died when she was but eight yeeres old with whom she liued so content or at the least fained it as if she had neuer thought of any other matter a thing no lesse beseeming so braue a personage as she a most worthie example for them that take this honorable estate vpon them Dardanea being therefore a widow it fell out that Sagastes vpon a small occasion did to her great griefe put away her steward who had beene an auncient seruitor and well esteemed of her parents denying to pay him that which was his due for his late seruice In regard whereof and for his other deserts this noble Gentlewoman did not onely satisfie Anfilardus for so he was called but also bestowed bountifull rewards vpon him excusing her selfe to him and saying that his departure was much against her will There was not one in all the citie of Sagastes partie that would giue him entertainment bicause they would not offend so mightie a man the which Anfilardus perceiuing and how vniustly he was reiected he laboured to be with Disteus whose fauour bicause he deserued no lesse as also bicause it was an honor to Disteus to releeue Sagastes old seruants he soone obtained Though yet on the sudden so vnaduisedly he entertained him not without first taking his word and faith of a Gentleman not to go from him againe vpon no wrong nor iniurie offered him The which thing Disteus thought good not to forget bicause he might not after he was placed with him once offer to forsake him thinking the disgrace that resulted to him by such a departure would be greater then the honour that he got by receiuing him All this and more with solemne oath did Anfilardus auow of whose word as also of himselfe bicause he knew him well Disteus made no small reckoning The which to accomplish Anfilardus neuer failed though he had beene often molested to the contrarie But before he came to dwell with Disteus he forgot not to aske Dardanea leaue bicause he would not giue her any occasion of discontent if perhaps by meanes thereof she felt any at all But she consented the more willingly thereunto when she vnderstood that he was to be entertayned by Disteus For as her brother could not choose but be offended thereat so she therefore hoped that he would worke the meanes to place him with her againe But Anfilardus told her not of the faith and promise that he had giuen Disteus for his aboade and true seruice which if she had vnderstood she would not doubtlesse haue giuen him any such leaue knowing that Anfilardus would not do any thing repugnant to his word and promise It greeued not Sagastes a little to heare what the steward had done knowing that only he himself deserued blame for it but more when he perceiued that neither faire entreaties nor fierce threats could reclaime him to Dardaneas seruice Who therefore perceiuing the remedie thereof impossible bethought himselfe of one more preiudiciall to him then any other which was by giftes and faire promises or for that which afterwards fell out to entice from Disteus the woman whom he most tenderly loued a nurse of his for from the teate she had nursed him and brought him vp and an Aunte of mine called Palna to bestowe her on Dardanea in lieu and recompence of her late departed stewarde of which reuenge hee was so proud in minde for hee had soone brought it to passe that he thought he had done Disteus the greatest iniurie he coulde by bereauing him of his nurse and besides wounded his minde with greater greefe then the ioy that he conceiued at Anfilardus comming whose fact made none to maruell much knowing well what great occasion he had to doe it But mine Auntes departure filled euery one full of woonder thinking that she had no iust cause to make her blamelesse but that she was a woman bicause Disteus as they all knew rewarded euerie one so well that there was not the meanest in his house whom he iniuried and gratified not especially Palna whom he loued aboue al the rest and honored as his mother neuer knowing her by any other name Which thing greeued him so much that it made him almost besides his wits for first he would haue thought that al the world woulde haue left him before mine Aunt woulde haue forsaken him Disteus therefore being very sadde and pensiue and sometimes complayning of his Aunt Anfilardus came vnto him and began thus to say If my person had not beene exchanged my good Lord and Master for so deere a price I had then great reason to be glad and vaunt that I am the seruant to so woorthie a gentleman but considering that in the cause of my gladnes the effect of your sadnes doth consist let my ioy be drowned with your discontent and euer remaine so colde that it may seeme rather dead then liue without the sight of your wished good I woulde it had pleased the immortall Gods that I had neuer enioyed the perfect knowledge of your goodnes bicause you might not then haue tried the vnkindnes of ingratefull Palna I was maruelling at vnstable fortune that so on a sudden deined to giue me so sweete a potion but bicause she woulde not haue me fall from the common opinion that I euer had of her she by and by distempered it with a bitter taste Onely one thing comforts me and ioyes my thoughts that you my Lord shal know what difference there is betweene a man and woman though I wish you had not tried it by this example And though in truth
you haue reason to bee sorrie for Palnas change yet you haue no cause to maruell at it in that she is a woman which name the ancient writers Philosophers Poets and Painters did not vainely impose to Fortune Pardon me good sir if I am so bold with one whom you loue so well since I haue iust occasion to do it by reason of the great and greeuous charge that she hath left me For if I was then bound of mine owne selfe to obey you to my power now by her occasion I am constrained to serue you more then my forces can well attaine to And if I being placed in your seruice shee had remained still the little that I could do might perhaps haue seemed something but she going awaie for my cause but not thorow my fault for all that euer I can do I shall be yet obliged to more being exchanged for her whom you so greatly loued And the worst of all is that if any thing which not by my will but by some negligence I may commit shall be open to the popular eie it will be a common by-worde in all the citie That it was a good exchange of Palna for Anfilardus Wherefore I beseech you my good Lord that omitting this you woulde accept of my good will which is sufficient enough if in my deedes there shall be any defect and that my fault which must needes proceed from my small abilitie or ignorance be not attributed but to the one or other To this did Disteus answer thus As I neither can nor will denie Anfilardus that I haue not greatly felt the ingratitude of my mother Palna my nurse I meane by not thinking of that mutabilitie which thou saiest is naturally incident to women by reason of the loue that I did alwaies beare her and doe yet to speake the truth which is not so little that in so short a time I may so easily forget the great iniurie which I haue receiued at her vnkinde hands So must I needs confesse that it is a great lightening to my hart that it was done for thy sake of whom I hope it shall be well considered since the greater part thereof is alreadie requited with the good will which at this present thou hast discouered though thy workes also haue seemed of no lesse effect both which when opportunitie shall serue I will not hereafter forget to reward The beginning whereof shall be this That I promise thee bicause I perceiue how heauily thou takest the great greefe which I haue felt for her absence and sweare neuer to shew my selfe agreeued for it in thy presence although perhaps I be in minde nor in thy absence to impart it to any but to my selfe They being in these speeches I came to Disteus house and speaking with one of his men willed him to tell his Master how I was come with a letter from mine Aunt vnto him The page did my errant and as Disteus was in suspence whether he might receiue it or no Anfilardus saide vnto him Sir send for the messenger in for by this you shall the more signifie your goodnes hearing with one countenance the iust and culpable person and not do Palna so much glorie as to make her know that her absence hath greeued you very much Disteus liked his counsell well and thereupon commanded me to come in With thy good leaue Lady Felicia and of all the rest said Parisiles I would aske how being without you might heare these speeches betweene them within From hencefoorth answered Placindus you must vnderstand that we tolde one another all the matters that passed and with this aduertisement I will proceed In the end I came in where Disteus and Anfilardus were and doing my dutie began thus to speake Your nurse Palna with her remembred dutie to you my Lord doth most humblie beseech you to reade this letter which she sends you Disteus tooke the letter and dissembling his greefe as Anfilardus had counselled him said If thine Aunt doth write to me to the ende to excuse herselfe she needed not haue taken these paines for she might haue done heerein according to her owne minde as in that which shall like me best I will do to mine own will and pleasure Thou shalt tell her that I will reade it wherein if there be anie thing for me to do for her I will heereafter bethinke me of it I not perceiuing this kinde of dissimulation maruelled not a little to see how soone he had shaken off the loue that he bare to mine aunt Truth it is that as I was then ignorant of that which afterwards succeeded so I esteemed his coye answere for a point of wisedome and was no lesse ashamed at that she had done With this answer I went my waies and they remained all alone Anfilardus praised not a little his fained answere commended his wisedome in that he would not call her mother as he was wont to do nor name her by her owne name in token of contempt But Disteus opening the letter saw it said thus Palnas letter to Disteus PAlna thy mother from thy milke and from the loue of her inward soule to thee her louing Sonne Disteus sendeth greeting Bicause as I know thou wouldest condemne me for a verie foole if I went about to shew that I had iust cause to forsake thee that wert mine onely comfort and to whom I am so much bound so will I not excuse my selfe heerein which if I should do and say that I am not worthie of reprehension I might then seeme in a manner to charge thee therewith since something must be attributed to so great a chaunge But if any fault be committed I am content that it be onely imputed to me for it shall greeue me lesse that the whole world should condemne me for it then that any should suspect the least defect in thee that might be Wherefore let this onely serue to entreate thee by the amorous milke that thou hast sucked out of my breast to haue so much patience vntill the successe shall manifest the cause hereof which to the end I will passe with the ill opinion that the world hath on me for leauing thee to an effect that shall result to thy profit whereby thou shalt affirme thy selfe satisfied and me acquited with thee at the least whereas for the rest it shall not greatly skill I know well thou wilt obiect say That if there were any hidden thing whereby I might haue procured thy content I had no reason to conceale it from thee I answer bicause I knew thou wouldest by no meanes giue me leaue to depart I would not tell thee of my purpose vntill seeing the good successe of it thou mightest know my great loue to thee since without making thee priuie I haue enterprized so great and difficult a matter And now bicause I haue spoken more then I thought I will conclude with this That I am in good health and not a little glad that my good
disprooues And can as lesse diminish our estates Since they themselues haue writ as ill of men Beleeue not then their lying toongs and pen. Yet this doth cause some small and little change And alteration in our great desarts For they must needes and sure it is not strange Considering their vile malicious harts In what soeuer they doe write or say To speake the woorst of women that they may But yet among these Authors thou shalt finde Most famous women and most excellent Peruse their works but with indifferent minde And thou shalt see what numbers they present Of good and honest Dames before thine eies Of louing faithfull holy chaste and wise They doe adorne the world with goodly graces And with their vertues giue it golden light The shining beautie of their sweetest faces Doth fill each hart and eie with great delight They bring all comforts gladnes peace and ioy And driue away all sorrowes and annoy By them false men of bad and wicked mindes You get great honour glorie and renowne And for their sakes inuenting sundry kindes Of verses get sometimes the Laurell crowne And for their loue in Martiall feates againe To golden praise and fame you doe attaine You therefore that imploy your wits and time In searching out the course of others liues If that you finde some woman toucht with crime Amongst so many widowes maides and wiues Condemne not all for one poore soules offence But rather hold your iudgements in suspence And if so many Dames so chaste and faire Cannot subdue your proud and hautie harts Behold but one whose vertues are so rare To whom the heauens so many goods imparts That onely she possesseth in her brest As many giftes nay more then all the rest The brauest men and most heroicall And those that are most perfect in conceate I see this Lady far excell them all With her diuine perfections and so great Which Orpheus did sing vpon a day As on his harpe most sweetely he did play Saying That in that happy land where white And chalkie cliffes are steept in Brittish seas A morning star should rise exceeding bright Whose birth will siluer Cynthia much displease In that her golden light and beauties gleames Shall far surpasse her brothers borrowed beames And such a Lady shall she be indeede That she shall ioy each hart with happy chaunce Her woorthy house wherein she shall succeede With titles of great praise she shall aduaunce And make the same more glorious and more knowne Then euer did the Affrican his owne Make triumphes then for birth of such a dame And let each hart be glad that hath beene sorie Retoice Meridian springs from whence she came You linage her she honours you with glorie Her name from East to West from North to South Is well esteem'd and knowne in euery mouth Come then you Nymphes resigne to her your powers Faire Nymphes that follow Cynthia in her chace Come waite on her and strowe the ground with flowers And sing in honour of her matchlesse grace And Muses nine that dwell in mount Parnasse Let verse nor song without her praises passe Thou dar'st not Rome in seeing her presume With Brutus stately Iland to compare But sooner wilt thy selfe with greefe consume To see how far she doth excell those faire Ladies of Rome renowned in their daies In cuery thing wherein they got most praise In bountie Porcia she shall much exceede In wisedome passe Cornelia Pompeies wife In honour Liuia so haue her stars decreed And chaste Sulpitia in modestie of life Her beautie and the vertues in her brest Eugeria staines and conquers all the rest This is the Thought that honours my desire This is my Parnasse and Aonian spring This is the Muse that giues me holy fire This is the Phoenix with her golden wing This is the star and power of such might That giues me glorie spirit plume and light Petrarke had left his Laura all alone Folchet Aldagias praise with loftie stile Guilliaum the Countesse of Rossiglion Raymbald his Lady Morie Verdefueille To grace his verse he would be sides refuse The Countesse of Vrgiel for his Muse Anacreon Euripile defied And Americ Gentile Gascoignes light Raymbald the Lordof Vacchieres denied Of Monferrato Beatrice to delight With sweetest verse to win her noble grace Sister vnto the Marquis Boniface Arnoldo Daniel had as much repented Bouilles praise his Lady long agon Bernard had neuer with his verse contented The faire Vicountesse of Ventideon Though these were Dames of beautie and renowne Gracing each Poet with a Laurell crowne If they had seene this Lady in their time Who all their giftes and beauties doth possesse They had strain'd foorth inuention verse and rime To celebrate so high a Patronesse On her their thoughts and pens they had imployed Happy so rare a Muse to haue enioyed This did Orpheus sing with sweetest verse And Eccho answered to his siluer voice And euery time he did the same rehearse The land and sea did presently reioice To heare the ioyfull newes of such an one By whom their honour should be so much knowne Now then from this day foorth and euermore Let wicked men their false opinions leaue And though there were not as there is such store Of woorthy Dames as vainly they conceiue This onely one with honour shall recall And amplifie the glorte of vs all The praise and defence of women and the braue grace and sweet note wherewith Belisa sung it pleased and delighted them all passing well Wherefore Don Felix acknowledging himselfe ouercommed Belisa was well content and Arsileus her husband not a little proude All the men there consessed all to be true that was said in the song and sung in the fauour of women and all that to be false that was said and sung in the dispraise and disgrace of men and especially those verses which inluriously inuayed against their falshood deceits and dislembled paines in loue with affirmation rather of their firmer faith and truer torments then they outwardly expressed That which most of all pleased Arsileus was the answere of Florisia to Melibeus bicause it was no lesse pithie then pleasant and also bicause he had sometimes heard Belisa sing a song vpon that matter which delighted him very much Wherefore he praied her to reioice so noble and merie companie as that was by singing it once againe Who bicause she could not denie her deere Arsileus although she was somewhat wearie with her last song to the same tune did sing it and this it was POore Melibee of loue and hope forgot Told to Florisia greefes that he hadpast She answered him I vnderstand thee not And lesse beleeue thee Shepherd what thou saiest He saith Mypeerelesse Shepherdesse Behold the paine wherewith I die Which I endure with willingnesse And seeke that greefe which I would flie My hot desires doe burne and die I wot Hope is my life but feare the same doth waste She answered him I vnderstand thee not And lesse beleeue thee Shepherd