In beauty other beauties farre As doth the Moone by night deface The brightnesse of each other Starre Though Filander spake these words high enough yet Daphnis heard but some of them by reason she was farre off but taking it somewhat remote she drew toward him without being seene as softly as she could though he were so intentiue to his imagination that had she beene before him he would not haue perceiued it as he since swore to me Hardly had she got neere him but she might heare him fetch a deepe sigh loud enough and after with a lowe voyce say And why will not my fortune haue me as fit to serue her as she is worthy to be serued and why may not she as well receiue the affections of them that loue her as shee giue them extreme passions Ah Callyre how pernitious to my repose hath your disguising beene and my boldnesse punished with a right iust infliction Daphnis heard Filander very attentiuely and though he spake plaine yet could she not comprehend what he meant abused by the opinion that he was Callyre this was the cause that bending an care more curiously she heard him lifting his voyce somewhat higher say But ouer-bold Filander who shall euer excuse thy fault or what great chastisement shall equall thine error Thou louest this shepheardesse and seest not that how much her beauty commands so much her vertue forbids thee how often haue I warned thee and yet thou wouldest not beleeue me Accuse none other of thine euill but thine owne folly At this word his tongue stayed but his eyes and sighes in stead of it beganne to giue testimony what her passion was whereof he had discouered but a little And to diuert him from his thoughts or rather to continue them more sweetly he rose vp to walke as he vsed and so suddenly that he perceiued Daphnis though to hide her selfe she fled away But he that had seene her to know who it was pursued her to the entry of a very thicke wood where he ouertooke her and thinking she had discouered that which he had so concealed halfe in choler sayd What curiosity Daphnis is this to come and spie me out in the night heere It is answered Daphnis smiling to learne of you by craft that which I should not know otherwise and herein she thought she spake to Callyre not hauing yet discouered that it was Filander Well held on Filander thinking to be discouered what great newes haue you learned All sayd Daphnis that I desired to know Will you then sayd Filander satisfie your selfe with your curiosity As well answered she as you and you are like to finde hurt of your deceit For this keeping about Diane and this great affection which you make shew of to her will bring you in the end but trouble and displeasure O God! cryed Filander Is it possible I should be discouered Ah discreet Daphnis since you know so well the cause of my abode heere you haue in your hands my life and my death but if you will bethinke you of what I am and what offices of amity you haue receiued from me when occasion is presented I will rather beleeue that you wish my good and contentment more then my despayre and ruine Daphnis as yet thought she spake to Callyre and had opinion that this feare was because of Gerestan who would take it euill if hee vnderstood that she did this office to her brother and to assure him sayd You ought to be so farre from doubting that I know of your affayres that if you had informed me I should haue yeelded all the counsell and all the assistance which you could desire of mee But tell mee this dessigne from poynt to poynt that your freenesse may binde me more to your seruice than the mistrust you haue had of me gaue me offence I will O Daphnis sayd he prouided that you promise me not to tell it to Diane vntill I giue consent This is a discourse answered the shepheardesse which we shall make to no good purpose to her her humor heerein being more strange then you are aware of That is my griefe sayd Philander hauing from the beginning knowne that I enterprise a dessigne almost impossible For when my sister and I resolued to change habit shee taking mine and I hers I well fore-sawe that all that would be to mine aduantage was that I might conuerse more freely with her for some few dayes so disguised that she might not know me for Filander How interrupted Daphnis all surprized how for Filander and are not you Callyre The shepheard that thought she had knowne it before was halfe mad to be discouered so foolishly but seeing the fault was past and that he could not call backe the words he had spoken thought it to some purpose to preuent her and sayd You may see Daphnis if you haue cause to be sorry for me and to say that I trust you not since so freely I discouer vnto you the secret of my life For that which I will tell you is of that moment that as soone as any other knowes it there is no more hope of health in me but I will rely and so referre my selfe to your hands that I cannot liue but by you Know then shepheardesse that you see before you Filander in the habit of his sister and that loue in me and compassion in her haue beene the cause of our disguising and after went discoursing vnto her his extreme affection the fauours he had of Amidor and Filidas the inuention of Callyre to change habit the resolution to go to her husband attired like a man Briefly all that had passed in this affayre with such demonstration of loue that though at the beginning Daphnis wondred at his hardinesse and at his sisters yet so it was that she lost that wonder when she knew the greatnesse of his affection iudging that they might draw him into more great follies And albeit that if they had called her to thier counsell when they vndertooke the enterprize she would neuer haue aduised them to it yet seeing the effect had sorted to some good she resolued to assist him in all that was possible sparing neyther labour nor care nor art which she iudged fit to imploy and hauing made promise with all assurances of friendship she gaue the best aduice she could which was by little and little to engage me into his loue For sayd she Loue among women is one of those wrongs the words whereof offend more then the blowe It is a worke that none is ashamed to doe prouided the name be hidden So that I hold them the best aduised which cause themselues to be beloued of their shepheards before they speake a word to them of loue So that I oue is a creature that hath nothing rude in it but the name being otherwise so pleasing that there is none offended at it And therefore that Diane may entertayne it it must be without naming it especially without seeing it and
then my age would allow of And that was the cause that when I was come to 18. or 19. yeeres I found my selfe engaged to serue her But for that my humor was not to care much for this vaine-glory which the most part of them which trade in Loue will arrogate to themselues that is to be esteemed constant the good countenance of Carlis tyed mee more then this imaginary duty From thence it came that one of my greatest friends tooke occasion to diuert me from her his name was Hermante and without any heede of mine was become so amorous of Carlis that hee tooke no contentment but to be neere her I who was young neuer perceiued this new affection as I had but two little craft to finde it since the subtillest in that mystery are scarce able to do it Hee was older then I and by consequence wiser so that he knew so well to dissemble that I doe not thinke that any at that time suspected him But that which brought him most discommodity was that the parents of this shepheardesse desired there might be a marriage betweene her and me for that they were of opinion that it would be for her aduantage Whereof Hermante being aduertised especially knowing by the speech of the shepheardesse that indeede shee loued me he thought she would withdraw from me if I began to withdraw from her Hee well found out as I told you that I would change as soone as occasion was offered And after he had considered with himselfe how he might beginne this designe he thought that working in mee an opinion of my greater worth he might maâ—â—me neglect for vncertainty that which was most assured to me Hee brought it about very easily for besides that I beleeued him as my friend this good could not be very deare vnto me which befel me without paine made me beleeue I might compasse any thing of the best if I would bestow the study Hee on the other side knew so well to perswade me that I held for certaine that there was not a shepheardesse in all Carmage that would not more willingly entertaine me then I would make choyce of her Assured by this beleefe I thrust Carlis wholly out of my soule after I had made election of another whom I iudged the worthier and without doubt I deceiued not my selfe for she had beauty enough to winne loue and wisedome to carry it her name was Stilliane esteemed among the fairest and wisest of all the Iland otherwise lofty and such an one as I must haue to put me out of the error wherein I was And see what my presumption was Because she was serued by many and they all lost their time I beganne to woo her the more willingly that the world might take better knowledge of my merit Carlis which truely loued me was astonied at this change not knowing what cause I might haue but she must needes suffer it She did much to recall me and at the first vsed all forts of allurements which she could think of which I tooke no heede of to returne I was in the deepe seas there was no meane to come backe to land so readily But if she tooke displeasure at this separation she was fully reuenged on him that was the cause of the euill for conceiting to my selfe that as soone as I assured Stilliane of my loue shee would more willingly giue her selfe to me at the first time I met her to talke within an assembly which was purposely made dauncing with her I said Faire shepheardesse I know not what your force is nor with what charmes your eyes furnish themselues so it is that Hylas sees himselfe now so much become your seruant that no man can bee more Shee thought I mocked her knowing well the loue that I had borne to Carlis which made her answer smilingly These discourses are they of those that you learne in the schoole of faire Carlis I would haue answered when acording to the order of the dance there were that separated vs and I could not come neere her afterward howsoeuer I laboured it so that I was constrained to stay vntill the assembly brake vp And seeing her goe with the formost to withdraw themselues I aduanced my selfe and tooke her by the arme Shee at the first beganne to smile and after said Is it vpon resolution Hylas or commandement that this night you haue enterprized thus on me Why answered I make you this demand Because said she I see so small likelihood of reason in that you do that I can not suspect but from those two occasions It is said I for them both for I am resolued neuer to loue but the faire Stilliane and your beauty commaunds me to loue none other I beleeue answered she that you thinke not that you speake to me or that you know me not and that you may no longer deceiue your selfe know that I am not Carlis and that I call my selfe Stilliane I must be much deceiued answered I to take you instead of Carlis for she is too imperfect to be taken for you or you for her And I know too well for my liberty that you are Stilliane and it were more for my rest that I knew lesse Wee were come as farre as her lodging and yet could I not find whether she liked of it or no. The next morning it was no sooner day but I went to seek out Hermante to tell him what befell me In the euening I found him yet in his bed And seeing me somewhat moued How now fayd he what newes Is the victory obtained without combat Ah my friend answered I I haue found out one I may talke to she disdaines mee she mockes me she sends me at euery word to Carlis to be short she vses me like a Mistris He could not hold from laughter when he had heard all the discourse at length for he expected no lesse But knowing well my changing humour hee feared I would goe backe to Carlis and that she would entertaine me which was the cause that he answered me Did you hope for lesse from heâ— Would you thinke her worthy your loue if not yet knowing in truth that you loue her she should giue her selfe to you How may she giue credite to a few words which you haue vsed hauing heretofore heard so much or that you sweare the contrary to Carlis Vndoubtedly it were a very easie conquest that she should shew herselfe vanquished for so small a fight But said I before I am beloued of her if it be needfull that I tel her what I haue done to Carlis when should this be by your aduice Truely answered Hermante you little know what belongs to Loue you must learne Hylas that when one sayes to a shepheardesse I loue you especially when they make some demonstration she doth not so easily beleeue it for that it is the custome of shepherds well bred to haue it of courtesie and it seemeth their Sexe for the weakenesse of it binds men to serue
that at once haue layd all my hopes in her coffin And if you be in any sort offended pardon Tyrcis the errour which hee hath committed against you that he might not be wanting in that which was due to Cleon. At these words transported with choler I went away so farre besides my selfe that I could hardly finde out my lodging from whence I stirred not of a long time But after wee haue crossed Loue a thousand times yet must we submit our selues and therfore behold me as much to Tyrcis as euer I was I excuse in my selfe the treasons which he had done me and pardon him the wrongs and faynings where with hee offended me naming them in pardoning them not dissemblings nor treasons but violences of loue And I was the easlyer drawne vnto this pardon for the Loue who professeth himselfe a party in this fault went flattring me with a certaine hope to succeed in Cleons place While I was in this thought behold one of my sisters came to tell me that Tyrcis was lost so that he was no more to be seene and no body knew where he was This recharge of griefe surprized me so forcibly that all that I could do was to tel her that this sadnes being ouer-passed he would returne as he went But from that time I resolued to follow him and that I might not be hindered by any I got out so secretly about the beginning of the night that before day I found my selfe farre off If I were astonished at the first seeing my selfe alone in the darke the heauens know it to whom my complaints were directed but Loue which secretly accompanyed me gaue me courage enough to accomplish my purpose So I pursued my voyage following without more adoe the way which my seet met with for I knew not whither Tyrcis went nor my selfe neither So that I was a wandere more than foure moneths hearing no newes of him At last pâ—ssâ—â—â— the mount Dor I met with this shepheardesse said she poynting to Malonthe and with her that shepheard called Thersander sitting vnder the shadow of a Rocke wayting vntill the mid-dayes heate were abated And for that my custome was to demaund newes of Tyrcis of all I met I addressed my selfe to the place where I sawe them and knew that my shepheard by the marks they had giuen me was in those deserts and that he went alwayes bewayling Cleon. Then I told them what I tell you and coniured them to tell me the most certayne newes they could Whereto Mâ—donthe moued with pity answered me with that sweetnes that I iudged her strucken with the same disease that 〈◊〉 was and my opinion was not false for I knew since the long history of her griefes by which I found that Loue strikes as well in the Court as in our woods and for that our fortunes had some sympathy betwixt them she desired me to tarry and end our iourny together since we both made one kind of search I that was alone receiued with open armes this commodity and from that time we parted not asunder But what serues this discourse to my purpose since I will onely relate to you what concernes Tyrcis and me Gentle shepheard this shall be enough to say to you that after we had stayed more then three moneths in that country at last we knew he was come hither where we no sooner arriued but that I met him and so vnseasonably for him that he stood as amazed At the first he receiued me with a countenance good enough but at last knowing the occasion of my voyage he declared to me all at length the extreme affection he bare vnto Cleon and that it was not in his power to loue me Loue if there be any iustice in thee I demaund of thee and not of this ingratefull some acknowledgement of so much trauell passed So ended Laonice and seeming she had no more to say wiping her eyes she turned them pittifully to Siluander as asking fauour in the iustice of her cause Then Tyrcis spake in this sort Wise shepheard though the history of my misfortunes be such as this shepheardesse hath told you yet is the story of my griefes much more pittifull wherewith yet I will entertayne you no longer for feare of troubling you and the company onely I will adde to that which she hath sayd that not being able to endure her ordinary complaints by common consent we went to the Oracle to know what he would ordayne of vs and we had such an answer by the mouth of Arontyne ORACLE On Lignons bankes which glideth peaceably Louer thou shalt a curious shepheard see That first enquires the ill that tortreth thee Beleeue him Heauen appoynts him Iudge to be And though we haue beene long heere yet are you the first that asked of the state of our fortunes therefore it is that we cast our selues into your armes and we desire you to set downe what you will haue vs do And for that nothing may be done but according to the will of God the old woman who gaue vs the Oracle told vs that hauing met with you wee were to cast Lots who should maintayne the cause both of the one and other and for this effect all they whom we met should put a gage betweene your hands in a hat The first that drawes shall bee hee that speakes for Laonice and the last of all for me At these words he desired them all to be willing to it whereto euery one consented By fortune that of Hylas was the first and that of Phillis the last Whereat Hylas smiling Heretofore said hee when I was seruant to Laonice I should hardly haue had the minde to perswade Tircis to loue her but now that I am for Mâ—donthe I willingly obey to that the god commands Shepheard answered Leonide you are to vnderstand by the way what the prouidence of this diuinity is since to mooue each one to change of affection it hath giuen the charge to inconstant Hylas as to him that by vse well knowes the meanes and to continue a faithful loue it hath giuen the perswasion to a shepheardesse constant in all her actions and to iudge of them both it hath chosen a person that cannot be partiall for Siluander is neither constant nor inconstant since he neuer loued any Then Siluander taking the word Since therefore you will O Tircis and you Laonice that I be Iudge of your difference sweare both of you betweene my hands that you will inuiolably obserue it otherwise it will bee but more to displease the gods and for vs to take paine to no purpose Which they did and then Hylas began thus The Oration of Hylas for Laonice IF I were to maintaine the cause of Laonice before a person vnnaturall I would feare it may be lest the want of my capacity might lessen in some sort the iustice which is in it but since it is before you gentle shepheard that haue the heart of a man I meane which know what the
I haue of Carlis You say you do loue me If a more credible person than you should tell me so it may be I might beleeue him for I know well I deserue it But I that neuer lied assure you that I loue you not at all and therefore doubt not of it so should I seeme to haue small iudgement to loue an humour so contemptible If you finde these words somewhat tâ—o rude remember Hylas I am constrayned to the end you may not perswade your selfe that you are beloued of me Carlis is witnesse to me of the condition of Hylas and Hylas shal be of mine if at least he will at any time say true If this answer please you giue thankes to the prayer of Hermante if it displease remember you accuse none but your selfe Hermante had not seene this Letter when he deliuered it me and yet he had an opinion there was much coldnesse in it yet did not hee thinke shee should haue made it so strange neyther was he so much astonied as my selfe for I stoode like a man bereaued of his wits letting the Letter fall on the ground and after being come to my selfe I pulled downe my hat ouer mine eares cast mine eyes downe on the earth crossed mine armes ouer my brest and a great pace without speaking began to walke about the chamber Hermante stood immoueable in the middest not so much as casting his eyes towards me We stayed some time in this manner not speaking at last in an instant striking one hand against the other and making a leape in the middest of the chamber At her peril said I aloude let her seeke who will loue her that she may know if there want in Carmaine shepheardesses more faire than she and who wil be wel pleased that Hylas would serue them And then turning to him O what a foole is Stilliane said I if she thinke I will loue by force and I shall haue but little courage if I euer trouble my selfe for her and why thinkes shee her selfe better than another It is true she deserues one should suffer some paine for her I assure my selfe Hermante she resolued it while you talked with her and that could not be without making at least her eyes narrow without biting her lip and without rubbing one hand on another to make them white I scoffe at her fancies and her selfe too if she thinke I take more care for her than I doe for the greatest stranger in Gaule She knowes not how to reproch me but with my Carlis True it is I loue her and in despite of her I will loue her still and I make no question but she shall soone enough finde her want of wisedome but she must neuer hope that Hylas can loue her I spake such like words at which I saw Hermante change colour but I was then ignorant of the cause since I haue iudged it was for the feare he had that I might come againe into the good graces of his Mistris Yet made he no other shew but that he strained himselfe to laugh and told mee it would make them much amazed when they should see that change if I tooke that resolution as readily would I execute it and in that disseine I went to finde out Carlis of whom I asked a thousand pardons for the Letter which I had written to her assuring her that it was not want but transport of affection She that was angry with me as one may well thinke after she had heard me quietly at last answered me thus Hylas if the assurances you make to me of your good will be true I am satisfied if they be false thinke not that euer you can remoue the amity which for euer you haue broken for your humour is very dangerous She would haue sayd on when Stilliane to shew her the Letter I had written to her comming to visit her interrupted vs when she saw me by Carlis Wake I or dreame I sayd she all astonied Is this Hylas that I see or is it some fancy Carlis wel pleased with this meeting It is Hylas indeede companion sayd she deceiue not your selfe and if it please you to come neere you shall heare the sweete words with which he cries me mercy and how he vnsayes all that which he had written to me submitting himselfe to such punishment as shall please mee His chasticement answered Stilliane ought to be no other than to make him continue the affection he beares me To you said Carlis so farre is it that hee sware when you entred in that hee loued none but mee And since when added Stilliane I know well at the least that I haue a good writing that Hermante an howre since brought me in his behalfe and that you may not doubt of that I say reade this paper and you shall see if I lie O God what became of me at these words I sweare vnto you faire shepheardesse that I was not able to open my mouth for my defence And that which ruined me for euer was that by mis-hap many other shepheardesses came in at the same time to whom they told this tale so much to my disaduantage that I could not possibly tarry there any longer but without speaking a word vnto them I came to tell Hermante my misaduenture who had like to haue dyed with laughter as indeed the matter deserued This bruite so spred ouer all Carmague that I durst not talke to any one shepheardesse that cast it not in my teeth whereat I conceiued such shame that I resolued to goe out of the I le for some time You may see if when I was young I tooke such thought to be called inconstant I ought not at this houre to giue backe a step See what it is sayd Paris one must be an apprentice before he be a master It is true answered Hylas and the worst is wee must often pay for our apprentiship But to come to our discourse being no longer able to endure the ordinary warre which euery one made on me the most secretly I could possibly I gaue order for my businesse and referred the whole care to Hermante and after I put my selfe into a great vessell that lanched out with many others I had then no other purpose but to trauell and passe away the time grieuing no more for Carlis nor Stilliane than if I had neuer seene them for I had so lost their remembrance when I lost their sight that I had not the least sorrow But see how hard it is to crosse the naturall disposition I had no sooner set my foote into the Barke but I sawe a new subiect of Loue. There was among many other passengers an old woman which went to Lyons to render her vowes in the Temple of Venus which shee had made for her sonne and carried with her her daughter in law for the same cause and who with good cause might beare the name of faire for she was no lesse then Stilliane and much more then Carlis her name