diuers changes of countenance might bewray any thing I sayde to him seeming to be in choler Bethinke you shepheard of the hatred of our fathers and beleeue that that which I beare shall not turne to nothing if you euer more importune me with your follies which your young age and my honour pardon for this time I vsed these last words to giue him the lesse courage For it is true that his beauty courage and affection pleased me and that he might make no further answer I turned to talke with Stella who was not farre off He all astonied with this answer withdrew from the company so sad that in few dayes he was scarce to be knowne so solitary that his haunt was in the places most desolate and sauage of all our woods Whereof being aduertised by some of my companions who told me without conceit that I was the cause I began to thinke of his paine and resolued in my minde to search some meanes to giue him satisfaction And because as I told you he forsooke all company I was constrayned that I might meet him to driue my flocke that way where I knew he resorted most And when it fell out twice or thrice to be in vaine at last one day as I was seeking for him me thought I heard his voyce among some trees and I was not deceiued for comming softly towards him I sawe him lye along on the ground and his eies wet teares so bent vpward to heauen that they seemed vnmooueable The sight of him mooued me so to pittie beeing somewhat inclined thereto before that I resolued no longer to leaue him in this paine Therefore after I had considered of it awhile and not willing it might appeare to him that I sought him out I withdrew some good way from the place whereseeming not to heede him I sung so high that my voyce came to his eares As soone as he heard me I might see hee raised vp himselfe in a dumpe and turning his eyes to the place where I was hee stood like one rauished to heare me which when I marked that I might giue him commodity to come neere me I made as though I would sleepe and yet I held mine eyes halfe open to see what it would come to and indeed it failed not of that I purposed for comming softly towards me he came kneeled as close to me as hee could and after hee had long time stayed in this sort when I made shew to be fast asleepe to giue him the more hardines I perceiued that after some sighes hee stoopes downe softly against my mouth and kisses me Then thinking he had taken courage enough I opened mine eyes as if I had beene waked when he touched me and rising vp I sayd to him seeming to bee angry Vnciuill shepheard what hath made thee so vnmannerly to come to disquiet my sleepe in this sort He then al trembling and not raising his knees It is you faire shepheardesse said he that haue constrained me and if I haue offended you must punish your own perfectiōs which are the cause These are alwaies said I the excuses of your malipertnesse but if you holde on to displease mee thus beleeue it shepheard I will not beare it If you call it a displeasure answered he to be loued and adored in good time beginne to study what punishment you will inflict on mee for now I sweare vnto you that I shall displease you in this sort all my life and no rigor of your cruelty nor enmity of our fathers nor any let in the world can diuert mee from this designe But faire Diane I must shorten these pleasing discourses being so contrary to the vnfortunate season wherein I am and must onely tell you that in the end being ouercome I said to him But shepheard what end is your designe like to haue since that they which may frame you to their pleasure disallow it How replyed he presently Frame to their pleasure So farre is it that Alcippe hath power ouer my will that I haue it not my selfe You may dispose of your selfe said I at your owne pleasure but not of the obedience you owe to your father without cōmitting a great fault The obedience answered he which I owe him may not passe that which I can ouer my selfe for this is no faulting not to doe that which one cannot But be it so that I owe him it since of two euils wee are to shun the greatest I choose rather to be failing toward him that is but a man then against your beauty which is diuine Our discourse in the end held on so farre that I must suffer him to be my seruant and because wee were young both the one and the other so that we had not Arte enough to couer our designe Alcippe within a while took notice of it not being willing that this loue should passe further on he resolued with his old friend Cleante to cause him to vndertake a iourney so long that absence might blot out this young impression of Loue. But this distance auayled as little as all the other crafty tricks with which hee serued himselfe since For Celadon though hee were young yet had a resolution to ouercome all difficulties that whereas others others meete their contraries with paine hee tooke them for trials of himselfe and called them the touchstones of his faithfulnesse and for as much as he knew his voyage would be long he desired me to giue him the commodity to bid me adieu I did it faire Diane but if you had seene the affection wherewith hee besought me to loue him the oathes by which he assured me neuer to change and the coniurations by which hee bound mee neuer to loue other without doubt you would iudge that things most impossible might fall out sooner then the losse of this amity In the end not daring to stay longer he said My Astrea for so hee did in priuate call mee I leaue you my brother Licidas from whō I haue not concealed any one of my designes he knows what seruice I haue vowed vnto you promise me if it please you that I may depart with contentment to receiue as comming from mee all these seruices that he shall doe you and that by his presence you renew the memory of Celadon And indeed he had reason to make this request for Licidas during his absence shewed himselfe so curious to obserue what his brother had giuen him in charge that many thought he succeeded in the affection which his brother bare me That was the cause that Alcippe after he had kept him three yeeres out of this Countrey called him back being of opinion that so long a time had defaced the light impression which Loue had made in a soule so young and that growing more wise hee might easily draw Licidas from affecting me But his returne was a strong assurance to me of his faithfulnesse For the chilnesse of the Alpes which he had twice passed thorow could nothing diminish the
all that passed particularly betweene them besides that the case wherein I am makes me vnable to doe it It shall be sufficient in abridging it to tell you that they met in that place and this was the first time when my father had assurance that he was loued of Amarillis and that she counselled him to leaue the Countrey life wherein he was bred because she disdained it as vnworthy a noble courage promising that there should be nothing so strong that might diuert her from her resolution After they were parted Alcippe engraues these verses on a tree in the wood A Sonnet on the constancy of his Loue. FAire Amarillis full of louely graces As she went cropping of the flowres from stalkes Vnder her hand that gathered as she walkes Sprung others suddainely vp in their places Those beauteous locks where Loue did interlacâ— Himselfe heauing them vp with gentle aire If he spyed any of them out of square Right curiously he set them in their place Sâ—rare a sight Lignon stood still to see Offers his waues her Looking-glasse to be And after saies So faire aportraiture When thou art gone my streame may beare away But from my heart there shall not slip for aye The fatall draught of thy face Nymph be sure After she was gone and that he began to feele the displeasures of her absence going often to the same place where he had taken leaue of his shepheardesse he sigheth forth these verses A Sonnet on absence RIuer of Lignon whose eternall streame Through gracious forrests runs watring her breâ—â— Waue vpon waue driuing and tak'st norest Vntill thou entrest to thy fathers realme Seest thou not how Allier snatcheth from thee Thy faire like wrongfull lawes of mighty strong And from thy bankes their honour beares along To driue thee to inst plaints for remedy Against this Rauisher call to thine ayde Those that for her departure all dismaid Pay teares that thou maist see thy channell swell Dare onely that those eyes and hearts of ours May powre out for thy helpe thousands of showres That shall not drie till thou beest venged well But not being able to liue without sight of her there where he had beene vsed to the good of her view he resolued howsoeuer to depart from thence and while he searched for some occasion he met with one as good as he could wish Some little while before the mother of Amasis died and they made preparation in the great towne of Marsellis to receiue her as their new Lady with much triumph And because the preparations which they made drew for curiosity almost all the Countrey my father so wrought that he had leaue to goe thither And there it was whence the beginning of all his trauailes proceeded He was about his halfe age some Moones more his face faire among those of that Countrey his haire yellowish curled and crisped by nature which hee wore long and briefly Madam such as to whom Loue it may be owed some secret vengeance And see how he was seene of some Lady and so secretly beloued of her that we could neuer yet know her name At the first that he arriued at Marsellis hee was clothed like a shepheard but handsomly enough for his father made much of him and that he might not commit some foolish trick as his manner was in the Hamlet he set two or three shepheards about him to haue a care of him principally one called Cleante a man whose humour pleased his father well so that he loued him as if he had beene his sonne This Cleante had one called Clindor of my fathers age who by nature seemed to haue the same inclination to loue Alcippe Alcippe who on the other side knew his affection loued him aboue any other which was so pleasing to Cleante that he had nothing that he could deny to my father This was the cause that after they had some daies seen how the young Knights who were at the Feast went attired how they armed themselues and fought at the Barriers and hauing shewed his minde to his friend Clindor they both together besought Cleante to giue them meanes that they might shew themselues among the other Knights And how said Cleante to them haue you the courage to equall your selues to them And why not said Alcippe haue I not as much arme and legge as they But you haue not learned the ciuilities of the Towne We haue not learned them said he but they are not so hard that they should put vs out of hope to apprehend them soone enough and me thinks there is not such difference betweene theirs and ours but we may readily change them You haue not said he beene vsed to Armes We haue replied he courage enough to supply that want And how adioyned Cleante would you leaue the Countrey life And what said Alcippe haue the woods to doe with men and what can men learne in conuersing with beasts But answered Cleante this will be no great pleasure to you to see your selues disdained by the glorious Courtiers which wil alwaies reproach you that you are shepheards If it be a shame said Alcippe to be a shepheard we must be such no more if it be no shame the reproach cannot be hurtfull or if they dis-esteeme me for my name I will striue by my actions to make my selfe esteemed In the end Cleante seeing they were resolued to leade other liues then their fathers But well said he my children since you haue taken this resolution I will tell you that though you be taken for shepheards your birth alwayes came froÌ„ the most ancient stock of this Countrey from whence descâ—â—ded as many braue Knights as of any other in Gaule but a consideration contrary to that you haue made them choose this retired life Therefore feare not that you shall be welcome among those knights the principall of which are of the same blood that you are These words serued for no other vse but to enflame them the more for this knowledge bred in them a desire to put their purpose to effect without considering what might come of it whether for the discommodities which that life brings or for the displeasure that the father of Alcippe and his kindred might conceiue Afterword Cleante was at charge to prouide for all things necessary They were both so well borne that quickly they woâ—ne the acquaintance and friendship of the principall and Alcippe gaue himselfe in that sort to Armes that he became to be one of the good Knights of his time During these Feasts which lasted two moneths my father was beheld as I told you of a Lady whose name I could neuer know and because he seldome was wanting in any thing that might make him beloued she was in such sort ouertaken that she inuented a sleight good enough to bring about her intent One day as my father stood in the Temple at the Sacrifices which they made for Amasis an old woman came neere him and fayning to be at her prayers
a party against him Therefore seeing the assured losse of his friend he resolued vpon any danger whatsoeuer to saue him There was at Vsson as I told you a place so strong that it might seeme a folly to any other to vndertake to get him out yet his friendship that found nothing so difficult as to liue without Clindor was such as he made an assault to defeat them which were of Pimanders part So making shew to retire himselfe as discontent he went with twelue other and one day of March presenting themselues at the Port of the Castle in the habite of clownes and carrying vnder their garments short swords and baskets on their armes as men that went to sell I haue heard him say there were three fortresses one within another These resolute Pesants came to the vtmost where few of the Visigots remayned for the most part were gone downe to the base towne to see the market and to prouide themselues of what was necessary for the garrison Being there they offred their wares at so good a price that almost all that were within drew downe to buy Then my father seeing the occasion good and fit laying hold of the necke of him that kept the gate thrust his sword into his body And euery of his companions at the same instant did like him and entring in put the rest to the edge of the sword and suddenly shutting the gate they ranne to the prisons where they found Clindor in a corner and so many others that they iudged being armed sufficient to defeat the rest of the garrison To make short I tell you Madame that though by the allarme the gates of the towne were shut yet they got out without the losse of a man though the Gouernour that in the end was slayne made all the resistance he could Thus you see Clindor saued and Alaricke aduertised that it was my father that had done this enterprise whereof he was so much displeased that he demanded iustice of Amasis and she which would not lose his amitie was willing enough to content him and sent presently to apprehend my father but his friend gaue him such aduertisements that hauing set his battell in order he went out of this Countrey and being incensed against Alaricke more then is credible went to put himselfe to a Nation that but lately was entred into Gaule and who being warrelike seized on both the sides of Rosue and Arar and a good part of the Allobroges and being desirous to enlarge their bounds they made continuall warre on the Visigots Ostrogots and Romanes He was welcome with all those whom he would conduct and being knowne for a man of valour he was presently honoured with diuers charges But some yeeres being passed Gondioch king of this Nation comming to die Gondebaut his sonne succeeded to the Crowne of Bourgonny and desirous to assure his affayres at the beginning made a peace with his neighbours marrying his sonne Sigismund with one of the daughters of Theodoricke king of the Ostrogots and to please Alaricke who was infinitely offended with Alcippe promised him to keepe him no longer with him So that with his leaue he withdrew to another people which on the side of Rhenes was seised of another part of Gaule in despite of the Gaules and of the Romanes But this discourse would be cumbersome to you if particularly I should recount all his voyages For from them he was constrained to go to London to the great King Arthur who at the same time as I haue heard him often tell instituted the Order of the Knights of the Round Table From thence he was enforced to go to that Realme which beares the name of Port du Gaulois and in the end being sought for by Alaricke he resolued to passe the Sea and to goe to Bisantium where the Emperour gaue him charge of his Gallies But because the desire of returning into our Countrey is aboue all others my father though very great with these great Emperours yet had nothing neerer his heart then once more to see his owne chimnies smoke where so often he had beene made a wanton and it seemed Fortune gaue him a fit meane when he least looked for it But I haue heard say sometimes by our Druides that Fortune is delighted to turne on the other side when the change is least expected Alaricke came to die Thierry his sonne succeeded him who for that he had many brethren had much to do to maintaine his estate without heeding the hatred of his father And so desirous to giue content to euery man for Bounty and Liberality are the two louers that draw all loues to them at the entrance to his reigne he proclaimed a generall abolition of all offences done in his kingdome See a good beginning to compasse the returne of Alcippe yet might he not returne because Pimander had not forgotten the iniury receiued notwithstanding as the Visigots were the cause of his banishment so Fortune would haue them serue as the instrument of his calling backe Some little time before as I told you Arthur king of great Brittaine had instituted the Knights of the Round Table which was a certaine number of vertuous young men obliged to go seeke aduentures to punish euill doers to do iustice to the oppressed and maintaine the honour of Ladies Now the Visigots of Spaine which then abode in Pampalâ—ne in imitation of that chose out Knights who were to go diuers wayes to shew their force and helpe It fell out that at this time one of the Visigots after he had run thorow many couÌ„tries came to Marsellis where hauing made his defiance accustomed he ouercame many of Pimanders Knights whose heads he cut off and out of extreeme cruelty for proofe of his valour sent them to a Lady whom he serued in Spaine Among others Amarillis lost an vncle who like my father vnwilling to abide the quiet of the country life had followed the mystery of armes and because that while hee was abroad she had beene curious to haue of ordinary some newes of him by meanes of some yong boyes which hee and shee had appointed for it as soon as this mis-hap was come to her knowledge she wrote to him not in mind that he should returne but as acquainting him with her displeasure Loue which is neuer in a good soule without replenishing it with a thousand generous dessignes would not suffer my father to know that Amarillis was offended with any man but presently he takes a resolution to chastise this wrong and so with the leaue of the Emperour came disguised into the house of Cleante who knowing his deliberation attempted many wayes to diuert him but Loue had stronger perswasions then he And in a morning as Pimander was going to the Temple Aloippe presents himselfe before him armed throughout though he had his vizard vp yet was he not knowne for his beard which grew since his departure When Pimander knew his resolution he made much of him for
Among others the yong Ligdamon was one this man fell to Siluie a Nymph indeed amiable enough but not for him who had formerly set his mind otherwhere And certainely it was his good fortune to bee absent then for hee would neuer haue done the fained homage to Siluie that Amasis commanded and that might haply haue wrought him some disgrace for you must know gentle shepheard that he was brought vp very young among vs being not aboue ten yeeres of age when he was placed heere for the rest so faire direct in all his actions that there was not a woman that thought not well of him and aboue all Siluie being very neere his age At the beginning their ordinary conuersation ingendred the amity of a brother to a sister such as their knowledge was capable to receiue By degrees as Ligdamon grew in age so likewise he encreased in affection so that his childhood changing into a state more settled about the age of foureteene or fifteene yeeres he beganne to change his will into desires and by little and little his desires into passions and yet he liued with that discretion that Siluie had neuer knowledge that her selfe caused this desire When he attained to some good vnderstanding and that he knew his euill he iudged within a while what small hope there was of healing not one of Siluies humours being likely to be hid from him So that the ioy and liuelinesse which was in his countenance and all his actions were turned into sadnesse and his sadnesse into so heauy a melancholy that there was no body but might perceiue the alteration Siluie was not one of the last that asked him the cause but she could draw out nothing but broken answers In the end seeing him continue still in this manner of life one day when she beganne to complayne of his small amity and reproching him that she had obliged her to conceale nothing from her she heard that he was no more able to restraine himselfe but that a deepe sigh escaped from him in stead of answer This brought her to be of opinion that loue might be the cause of his euill And see if the poore Ligdamon did not discreetly carry his actions since she was neuer able to imagine her selfe to be the cause I beleeue well that the humour of this Nymph which shrunke not a iot from this purpose might be in part the occasion For hardly do we thinke of a thing estranged from our owne intents But it must be confessed that heerein his wisedome was great and his coldnesse also that it could so wholy couer the heate of his affection She then pressed him more then before that if it be loue she promised him all the assistance and all the good offices that might be hoped for from their amitie The more he did to auoyde it the more she desired to know it in the end not being able to defend it any longer he protested to her it was loue but he had made an oath neuer to name the party For sayd he to loue is a great presumption in me but constrayned by so many beauties it may be excused and to dare name her what excuse can couer the discouery of my rashnesse Is this the friendship presently answered Siluie which you beare me Truly replyed Ligdamon I haue done it and your commandement also which I beseech you set before your eyes and this glasse which will make you see what you desire to know At that word he tooke vp that which hung at her girdle and held it before her eyes Think you how she was surprised incontinently knowing what he would say and she hath since sworne to me that she thought at first it had beene Galathee of whom he would haue spoken In the meane time that he had stood to behold her she stood as rauished to consider his simplicity in choller against him but much more against her selfe seeing well she had drawne this declaration by force from his mouth Notwithstanding her high courage would not suffer her to make any long defence for the lustice of Ligdamon For at an instant she lifts her selfe vp and without speaking to him departs full of despite that any durst presume to loue her arrogant beauty that iudgeth none worthy of it The faithfull Ligdamon stayed but without a soule and as an insensible Statue In the end comming agayne to himselfe he went as well as he could to his lodging out of which he went not some good time because the knowledge which he had of the small loue of Siluie touched him so to the quick that he fell sicke so that there was small hope of life when he resolued to write her such a letter The losse of my life was not of force sufficient to discouer vnto you the rashnesse of your seruant without your expresse commandement yet if you iudge that I must die and hold my peace say also that your eyes must haue had lesse absolute power ouer me For if at the first summons which their beauty made me I could not defend my selfe from giuing them my soule how hauing beene so often vrged could I haue refused the acknowledgement of that gift yet if I haue offended in offering my heart to your beauty I am willing for the fault I haue committed in presenting to such merits a thing of so small valew to sacrifice vnto you my life without sorrowing for the losse eyther of the one or of the other sith they be no more pleasing vnto you This letter was brought to Siluie when she was alone in her Chamber It is true that I came in at the same time and indeed well for Ligdamon for behold the humour of this fayre Nymph She had conceiued so great a despite toward him after he had discouered his affection that not only she blotted out the remembrāce of the amity passed but so lost her will that Ligdamon was like a thing indifferent to her So that when she heard that euery one despaired of his recouery she was no more moued at it then if she had neuer seene him I that particularly obserued it could not tell what to iudge of it but that her youth made her easily lose the loue of men absent But when now I saw her refuse that which one deliuered her in his behalfe I knew well that they needed no bad messenger between them This was the cause that I took the letter that she had refused and which the young boy that brought it by his masters commaundement had left on the table She then lesse heedfull then she would haue beene ranne after me and intreated me not to reade it I will see it sayd I and it be but for the deniall you make Then beganne she to blush and said Reade it not good sister binde me to you for it I coniure you by our friendship And what shall that be then answered I if it may suffer you to conceale any thing from me Thinke you that if it allow
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
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
that you may make question of my good will yet if the care I haue had to instruct your youth haue not giuen you sufficient knowledge of it I would you should take notice of it because I desire to do for you You know that my sonne Azahyde who tooke you and brought you to mee hath a daughter whom I loue as my selfe and because I determine to passe the few dayes behinde in quietnesse and tranquillity I haue a purpose tomarry you to her and to giue you so good a part of my wealth that I may liue with you so long as it pleaseth God And thinke not that I haue had this purpose on a sudden for it is long since I prepared for euery thing In the first place I was desirous to know what your humor was euen when you were a childe to iudge if you could frame your selfe to be with me for that in such an age there could be but little art and so might we see as naked all the affections of a soule and finding you such as I wished Azahyde to be I thought good to settle the repose of my last dayes vpon you and for that cause I put you to study knowing well that there is nothing makes a soule more capable of reason than the knowledge of things And during your long absence from me I haue determined to marry my young daughter to you who to please me desires it almost as much as my selfe It is true she would gladly know who and of what place you are And to satisfie her I haue enquired of Azahyde many times in what place he tooke you but he hath alwayes told me that he knew nothing but that it was at the riuer of Rosne of the prouince of Viennois and that you were giuen by one that brought you two dayes iourney for exchange of some armors But it may be you can remember better for you might be about fiue or sixe yeeres of age and when I asked him whether the cloaths which you then wore might not giue some coniecture of what parents you were descended he answered no for that you were then so young that hardly could one iudge by your habit of what condition you were So that my sonne if your memory doe not helpe you herein there is no body can free vs of this paine So the good old Abariel held his peace and taking me by the hand besought me to tell him all that I knew Whereto after all the thankes I could giue him as well for the good opinion he had of me as for the nourture hee had giuen me and for the marriage which hee propounded I made him answere that in truth I was so yong when I was taken that I had no remembrance neither of my parents nor of my condition This is replyed the good old man somewhat combersome yet we will not let to proceed further prouided you like of it not greatly caring to speake with Azahyde but to know your good will And when I had answered him that I were very ingratefull if I did not wholy obey his commandement at that instant causing mee to go aside he sent to seeke out his sonne and to tell him his purpose which before my returne hee knew of by his daughter and the feare of losing the goods which Abariel would giue vs made him so much to dislike it that when his father spake to him of it hee so long reiected it and with such reasons that in the end the good old man not being able to get his consent told him frankely Azahide if you will not giue your daughter to whom I will I wil giue my goods to whom you would not and therefore resolue to agree to Siluander or I will chuse him to be mine heire Azahyde who was very couetous and fearing to lose that good seeing his father in these termes came better to himselfe and besought him to giue him some few dayes space to think of it whereas his father being a good old man easily condescended desiring to do all things with gentlenesse and after told me of it yet he needed not haue done it for I perceiued so much by the eyes and speech of his sonne who began to deale so roughly with me that I could hardly endure it Now during the time that he had taken he commanded his daughter who had a better minde then hee on paine of death for he was a man of blood and murther to make shew to the old man that she was sorry her father would not satisfie his will and that she could not helpe it but with her disobedience that she was ready to marry me secretly and when it was done time might worke her fathers content and this he had in purpose to procure my death The poore wench was much entāgled for on the one side the ordinary threatnings of her father whose mischieuous nature she knew too well egged her on to play this part on the other side the loue which from her childhood shee bare me with held her So it was that her tender yeeres for shee had not passed aboue halfe an age would not let her haue resolution enough to denie and so al trembling she came to vse that speech to the good man who receiued it with that confidence that after hee had kissed her fore-head twice or thrice at last he resolued to put it in practice as she had sayd and enioyned me so peremptorily that notwithstanding all the doubts I had in it I durst not contradict it Now the resolution was taken in such sort that I was to climbe thorow a window into the chamber where I must marry her secretly This Towne is seated on the vtmost bounds of the Allobroges on the side of the Heluecians and it is on the banks of the great lake Leman in such sort that the waues beat vpon the houses and then disgorge themselues into Rosne which passeth thorow the middest of it The meaning of Azabyde was because their lodgings were that way to draw mee vp with a cord halfe the height of the wall and then to let me fall into the lake where being drowned they might neuer heare more newes of mee because that Rosne with his swiftnesse would haue carried me farre off or touching on the hard rocks I might haue beene so bruised that no man could haue knowne me And without doubt his designe had taken effect for I was resolued to obey the good Abariel had it not beene that the day before this was to be done the poore wench that was commanded to shew me good countenance that I might be the more abused moued with compassion and out of horrour to bee the cause of my death could not hold from discouering it to mee all trembling saying to mee a little after You see Siluander in sauing your life I procure mine owne death for I know well Azahyde will neuer pardon me but I had rather dye an innocent then liue guilty of your death After I
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
was Aymee and could not reach aboue 18. or 20. yeeres and though shee was of Carmague yet shee knew me not because her husband being ielous as ordinarily old men are that haue yong and faire wiues and her mother in law suspitious held her so short that she neuer came into any assembly At the instant that I saw her she pleased me and what purpose soeuer I had to the contrary I must loue her but I then foresaw well I should find some paine being to deceiue the stepmother and the daughter in law Yet not to yeeld to the difficulty I resolu'd to employ all my wits and iudgeing that I was to beginne my enterprise by the mother for shee kept me from comming neere my enemy I thought nothing fitter then to make my selfe known to her and that could not be for that being of one place no ancient amity of our family or some former alliance would make easie the meane to grow familiar with her but the occasion afterwardes taught mee what I had to do I was not deceiued in this opinion for as soone as I told her who I was and that I had fained some bad reason to cloake that I went about which she tooke for good and that I had assured her that that which made mee discouer my selfe to her was but to desire her freely to make vse of me My sonne answered shee I do not wonder that you should shew such good will towards me for your father loued me so well that you should much degenerate if you had not some sparkes of that affection Ah my child thou art the sonne of an honest and the most louing man that was in all Carmague and speaking these words she tooke me by the head and holding me to her brest and sometimes kissing my forehead and her kisses made me remember the harths that yet retaine a gentle heate after the fire is out for my father should haue married her and it may bee he had done her too much seruice for her reputation as I vnderstood afterward but I that little cared for such kindnesses but as they might be profitable for my purpose fayning to receiue them with much obligation thanked her for the loue she had borne my father beseeching her to turne that good will towards the sonne and that since the heauens had made mee heire to the rest of his goods shee would not dis-inherrit me of that which I esteemed most of which was the honor of her good graces and that for my part I would succeed in the seruice which my father had vowed to her as to the best of all his fortunes To bee short faire shepheardesse I knew how to flatter my old woman so that shee loued nothing more then mee and contrary to her custome to gratifie me she commanded her daughter in law to loue me Oh how well had she bene aduised if she had followed her counsell but I neuer found any thing so cold in all her actions so that though I were with her all the day yet had I not the hardinesse to make my purpose appeare by my words till we came neere to Auignion for Stilliane had made me lose much of that opinion which I had of my selfe But besides this she was alwayes at the feete of the old woman who intertained me with the times passed It fell out that this company with which we went as I haue told you and many marchants assembled together made a faire to traffique in the Iland neere Auignion and for as much as we that were not vsed to such voyages found our selues benummed with sitting so long while the boatemen were about their businesse wee set foote on land to walke about and among others the mother of Aymee was of the company As soone as my shepheardesse was in the I le she began to runne along the riuer and to play with the other wenches which were come forth of the boate of that company and I thrust my selfe among them to haue the meane to take time for my purpose while the old woman was walking with other women of her age And by hap Aymee being somewhat separated from her companions gathering floures that grew by the waters side I aduanced my selfe and tooke her by the arme and after wee had gone some while without speech at last as comming from a sound sleep I sayd vnto her I should be ashamed faire shepherdesse to be so long mute so neere you hauing so good cause to speake to you if I had not more to hold my peace and if my silence did not proceed from thence whence my words should arise I know not Hylas said she what cause you haue to hold your peace nor what you may haue to speake and lesse what words or silences you meane Ah faire shepheardesse sayd I the affection which consumes me with a secret fire giues mee such occasion to shew my hurt that hardly can I hold my peace and on the other side that affection makes me feare so to offend her whom I loue in declaring it to her that I dare not speake so that the affection which ought to put words into my mouth is that which denies mee them when I am neere you Me sayd she presently Think you well Hylas of what you say Yes of you replied I and beleeue you not but I haue well thought of what I say before I durst vtter it If I thought these words were true I will speake to you in another sort If you doubt sayd I that these words be true cast your eyes on your perfection and you shall be fully assured And then with a thousand oathes I told her all that I had in my heart Shee without being moued answered me very coldly Hylas accuse not that which is in me for your owne follies for I know well to remedy it so that you shall haue no cause as for the rest since the loue which my mother beares you nor the condition wherein I am cannot turne you from your bad intent beleeue that that which duty cannot worke in you it shall in me and that I will auoide all manner occasions for you to continue that you shall know I am such as I ought to be you see how coldly I speake to you it is not for that I feele not sencibly enough your indiscretion but to let you know that passion transports me not but that reason only makes me speake thus that if I see that this meane will nothing preuaile to alter your dessine I will after run to some more extreme These words deliuered with such coldnesse touched me more to the quicke then I can tell you yet could not this withdraw mee for I knew well that the first skirmishes are ordinarily maintained in this fashion But by chance when Aymee seeing me without words and so astonied turned away without saying more there was one of her companions that seeing me so mated came towards me and blowing her nose passed by twice or thrice with
giue mee more knowledge than these words too well deliuered to proceed from affection For I haue heard say affection cannot be without passion and passion wil not suffer the spirit to haue so free a discourse But when the time shall haue told me as much as you you are to beleeue that I am not of stone nor so voyd of vnderstanding but your merits are knovvne to me and your loue may moue me Till then hope not of me no more than of the rest of my company in generall The Knight would haue kissed her hand for this assurance but because Galathee looked on Knight said she be discreete euery one hath eye on vs if you do thus you vndoe me And at this word she rose and came among vs that were gathering of flowres Behold the first discouery that they had of their good wils which gaue Galathee occasion to meddle in it For perceiuing what had passed in the Garden and hauing of long time a purpose to winne Polemas she would know that night what was done betweene Leonide and him and because she alvvaies made her selfe very familiar with you Neece and had acquainted her with the particulars of her secrets the Nymph durst not altogether deny the truth of this loue-suite It is true that she concealed what concerned her ovvne will and vpon this discourse Galathee would knovv the very words that they had vsed wherein your Neece satisfied her in part and in part dissembled So it was that she said enough to encrease the purpose of Galathee so that from that day she resolued to be beloued of him and vndertooke this worke with that cunning that it was impossible it should fall out othervvise At that meeting shee forbade Leonide to go on in that affection and after told her that she should cut off all the rootes because she knevv well that Polemas had another dessigne and that this would serue but to delude her Besides that if Amasis came to knovvledge of it she would be offended Leonide who at that time had no more malice than a childe tooke the words of the Nymph as from her Mistrisse without searching into the cause which made her say so and so remained some dayes estranged from Polemas who knevv not from whence it might grovve At the first this made him more earnest in his suite For it is the ordinary custome of yong spirits to desire with more eagernesse that which is hard to come by and indeed he went on in that sort that Leonide had much enough to doe to dissemble the good will she bore him and at last knew so little how to doe it that Polemas perceiued he was beloued But see what Loue had appointed This young louer after he had three or foure moneths continued this suite with the more violence as he had the lesse assurance of the good will he desired as soone almost as hee was certaine lost his violence by little and little loued so coldly that as Fortune and Loue when they beginne to decline fall at once the Nymph perceiued not that shee alone went on in this affection It is true that Galathee who came on was in part the cause For hauing a dessigne on Polemas she vsed such craft and sped so well what by her authority and what with time that one might say shee robbed her insensibly for that when Leonide handled him roughly Galathee fauoured him and when the other fled from his company she drew him to hers And this continued so long and so openly that Polemas beganne to turne his eyes towards Galathee and shortly after the heart followed For seeing himselfe fauoured by a greater than her that neglected him hee blamed himselfe for suffering it without sence and minded to embrace the fortune which came smiling on him But O wise Adamas you may see what a gracious encounter this was and how it pleased Loue to play with their hearts It is some while since by the ordinance of Clidaman Agis was allotted seruant vnto your Neece and as you know by the election of Fortune Now though this young Knight was not giuen to Leonide out of his owne choyce yet he agreed to the gift and approoued it by the seruices which he afterward did performe and that she misliked not was shewed by her actions But when Polemas beganne to serue her Agis as a couetous man that hath his eyes alwayes on his treasure tooke notice of the growing loue of this new Louer and sometimes complayned to her of it but the coldnesse of her answers instead of extinguishing his iealousies onely by little and little deaded his loue for considering what small assurance he had in his soule he laboured to get a better resolution then formerly he had had and so that he might not see another triumph ouer him he chose rather to withdraw farre off A receit that I haue heard say is the best that a soule infected with this euill can haue to free it selfe for as loue at the beginning is brought forth by the eyes so it seemeth that the contrary should be for want of sight which can be in nothing more then absence where the forgetfull couered as with ashes the ouer-liuely representations of the thing beloued And indeed Agis happily attained his purpose for he was hardly gone but loue likewise parted from his soule lodging in the place of it the neglect of this flitter So that Leonide purposing by this new plot to winne Polemas lost him that already was intirely hers But the confusions of Loue ended not heere for he would that Polemas likewise for his part should haue sence of that which hee made the Nymph to feele Almost about the same time the affection of Lindamor tooke birth and it fell out that as Leonide had disdained Agis for Polemas and Polemas Leonide for Galathee so Galathee disdained Polemas for Lindamor To tell the follies of them all would be an hard piece of worke So it was that Polemas seeing himselfe payed in the same money in which hee payd your Neece yet could not lose not hope nor loue but contrariwise searched al sorts of plotting to enter again into her fauor but all in vaine It is true that as he could get nothing more to his owne benefit yet hee hath so wrought that he who was the cause of his euill is not come to bee possessor of his good for whether it were by his cunning practices or by the will of the gods that a certaine deuout Druyde hath imparted to him since that time Lindamor is no more beloued and it seemeth Loue hath a purpose not to suffer the heart of Galathee to be at rest the memorie of the one being no sooner defaced in her soule but another takes place And now behold vs at this houre reduced to the loue of a shepherd who for a shepheard in his quality may deserue well but not to be the seruant of Galathee and yet is she so passionate that if her euill hold on I
promised you continue likewise yours with the same honesty that your vertue promises me otherwise hence forth I breake all familiarity with you and protest neuer to loue you I may as the custome of them that are beloued is abuse you but I vse it not because I freely wish you should know that if you liue otherwise then you ought you are neuer to haue hope in my amity She added yet other words which so astonied Celion that he knew not what to answere Only he cast himselfe on his knees and without other discourse with this submission demanded pardon and then protested to her that his amity proceeded from her and that she might rule it as that which she had bred If you vse your selfe thus replied then Bellinde you shall bind me to loue you otherwise you shall constraine me to the contrary Faire shepheardesse replied he my affection is borne and such as it is it must liue for it cannot die but with mee so that I cannot well remedy it but by time yet to promise you that I will study to make such as you command I sweare it vnto you and in the meane time I desire neuer to be honored with your good fauour if in all my life you knew any action that for the quality of my affection may displease you At last the shepheard consented to bee beloued on condition shee might know nothing in him which might offend her honesty So these louers began an amity which lasted very long with such satisfaction to them both that they had cause to reioyce therein for their fortune Sometimes if the yong shepheard were letted hee sent his brother Diamis to her who vnder the colour of some fruite brought her letters from his brother She often returned answere with such good will that hee had cause to be contented and this affection was carried with that prudence that few perceiued it Amaranthe though she were ordinarily with them was ignorant of it had it not bene that by hap she found a letter which her companions had lost and see I beseech you what the effect was and how dangerous a thing it is for a yong soule to come neere these fires Vntill this time the shepheardesse had not not only the lesst feeling of loue but not a thought to be beloued and as soone as shee saw this letter were it for that she bare some enuy to her companion whom shee esteeâ—â—d not to be the fairer yet she saw her often wooed by this honest shepheard were it for that she was of an age which is proper to such burning that they can no sooner come neere the fire but they feele it were it for that this letter had so liuely heates that she had noyce to resist them So it was that she tooke a certaine desire not to loue for loue it may be would not attache her at the first in extremity but to be loued serued of some shepheard of worth and in this point shee read the letter oftentimes which was thus Celions letter to Bellinde FAire shepheardesse if your eyes were as full of variety as they are to cause loue the sweetnes which they promise at the first would make me adore them with as much of coÌ„tentment as they haue produced in me of vaine hope But so far are they from performance of their deceitfull promises that they will not so much as confesse them and are so wide from healing my hurt that they will not call themselues authors Yet can they hardly deny it if they consider well who she is hauing no likelihood that any other beauty then theirs could do so much And yet as if you had a purpose to equall your cruelty to your beauty you haue ordained that the affection which you haue caused to be borne shall cruelly die in me O God was there euer a more vnpittifull mother But I who held more deare that which comes from you then my life being vnable to suffer so great an iniustice am resolued to carry this affection with me into the graue hoping that the beauens moued at last with my patience will bind you at sometimes to be as pittifull as you are deare and cruâ—ll to me for the present Amaranthe read this letter ouer diuers times and without heed taking dranke vp the sweete poyson of loue no otherwise then one weary suffers himselfe by little to fall asleepe If her thought set before her eies the face of the shepheard oh how full of beauty found she it to be if his behauiour how pleasing did it seeme if his spirit how admirable did she iudge it briefely she saw him so perfect that she thought her companion happy to be beloued of him Then taking againe the letter she read it ouer but not without much pawsing on the subiects that touched her most at the heart And when she came to the end and that shee sawe the reproach of cruell she flattered her desires which lately borne call for foeble hopes as their Nurces with opinion that Bellinde as yet loued him not and so she might more easily winne him But the poore soule heeded not that this was the first letter that he had written to her and that since many things might be changed The amity which shee bare to Bellinde sometimes drew her backe but presently Loue ouertopped that amity At last the conclusion was that she writ such a Letter to Celion Amaranthes Letter to Celion YOur perfections may excuse my errour and your courtesie receiue the amity which I offer you I wish euill to my selfe if I loue any thing more than you But for your merit I make my glory whence would proceed my shame for any other If you refuse what I present you it must be for want of spirit or courage From which of these two it is it shal be as dishonourable to you as to me to be refused Shee gaue this letter her selfe to Celion who not able to imagine what she would as soone as hee was in a priuate place he read it but with no lesse astonishment than disdaine and had he not knowne her to be infinitely beloued of his mistris hee would not haue vouchsafed her an answer yet fearing it might offend her he sent this answere by his brother Celions answer to Amaranthe I Know not what there is in me to moue you to loue me yet I account my selfe as happy that such a shepheardesse will dayne to regarde me as I am vnfortunate in not being able to receiue such a fortune I would it pleased my destiny that I could as freely giue my selfe to you as I am wanting in power Faire Amaranthe I should thinke my selfe the happiest that liueth to line in your seruice but being no longer at mine owne disposition accuse not if it please you neither my spirit nor my courage of that whereto necessity compells me It shall alwayes be much to my contentment to be in your good grace but yet more grieuous to you to note at
the memory of your faithfull seruant from you but that it continually flyes back to the most happie abode where while I am so farre distant from you I leaue all my glory so that not being able to deny my affection the curiositie to know how my Lady doth after I haue a thousand times kissed your Robe I present you with all the good fortunes wherewith Arms are pleased to fauour me and offer them at your feet as to the Diuinitiâ— to which I acknowledge them If you receiue them for yours Renowne will giue them you in my behalfe which promises me as well as your selfe the honour of your good graces to your most humble seruant I care not then said Galathee neyther for him nor his victories he shall bind me more to forget me For Gods sake said Leonide Madame say not so if you knew how well he is esteemed both by Meroue and Childerick I cannot beleeue being borne as you are but you will make more of him then of a Shepheard I say a Shepheard that loues you not and whom you see sighing before you for the affection of a Shepheardesse You may thinke that all that I speake is out of cunning It is true presently answered Galathee Well Madame answered Leonide you may beleeue what pleaseth you but I sweare vnto you by all that may be most fearefull to the periured That in this iourney by great chance I saw that Impostor Clemanthe and that cunning Polymas talking of what happened to you and discouering betweene them all the tricks they had vsed Leonide added Galathee you lose time I am resolued what I will doe talke no more to me of it I will doe Madame what you command said she but suffer me to say one word What doe you meane to doe with this Shepheard I will haue him loue me said she Wherein replyed Leonide purpose you that this amitie shall be concluded You are ouer-busie said Galathee to wish me to know the things to come only let him loue me and then we will see what we haue to doe Yet continued Leonide though one know not what will happen yet in all our designes wee must haue some Butt whereto wee may ayme I thinke in all said Galathee except those of loue and for my part I will haue no other designe but that he loue me Then replyed Leonide it must be so for there is no likelyhood that you will marry him and not marrying him what will become of that honour which you haue preserued to your selfe for it cannot be that this new loue can blind you so but that you will find the wrong you doe to your selfe to wish for your louer the man whom you would not marry And you said she Leonide that are so scrupulous tell me true are you enuious that I should marry him I Madame answered she I hold him to be too meane a thing and I humbly beseech you not to thinke me of so small courage that I will dayne to cast mine eye on him And if euer there were any man that had the power to giue me feeling of loue I freely protest to you the respect which I haue borne you hath made me withdraw When was that added Galathee Then said shee when you commanded me Madame to make no more of Polemas O what grace you haue cryed Galathee by your faith did you neuer loue Celadon I will sweare vnto you by the faith I owe to you Madame answered she that I neuer loued Celadon otherwise then as if he had beene my brother And in that she lyed not for after the shepheard spake so plainely to her at the last time she found out the wrong she did to her selfe and so resolued to change the loue into amitie Well Leonide said the Nymph let vs leaue this discourse and that likewise of Lindamor for the Dye is cast And what answer said she will you make to Lindamor I will make him said she no other but by silence And what thinke you said she will become of him when the man hee sent returnes without Letters Let what may said Galathee become of him for for my part neyther his resolution nor any others shall euer be cause for me to make my selfe miserable Is it not then necessarie answered Leonide that Flurial goe backe No said she Leonide then told her coldly that there was a young man that would speake with Siluy and that shee beleeued hee was come from Ligdamon and he would not tell his message but onely to Siluy her selfe We must answered the Nymph send him where shee is wee must not thinke much to draw the Curtaynes of the Bed where Celadon lyes for I assure my selfe hee will be glad to heare what Ligdamon hath written for me thinkes you haue alreadie told him all their loues It is true answered Leonide but Siluy is so disdainefull and so loftie that without doubt she would be offended that the messenger should speake to her especially before Celadon Wee must said shee take her on the suddaine Onely goe before and will the shepheard not to speake a word and draw the Curtaynes and I will bring him in So parted these Nymphs And Galathee knowing the young man as hauing often seene him with Ligdamon demaunded whence hee came and what newes hee brought from his Master I come Madame said hee from the Armie of Mâ—roue and as for newes from my Master I must not tell them but to Siluy Truly said the Nymph you are very secret and thinke you I will suffer you to say any thing vnto my Nymphs which I shall not know Madame said hee it shall be before you if it please you for I haue that commaundement and principally before Leonide Come then said the Nymph and so shee brought him into the Chamber of Celadon where alreadie Leonide had giuen the order as she had appointed without saying any thing to Siluy who at the first was astonied but afterward seeing Galathee enter with this young man shee iudged that it was to keepe the shepheard from being seene The amazement shee found was great when shee saw Egide that was the young mans Name whome shee knew presently for though shee had no loue for Ligdamon yet shee could not exempt her selfe from all kind of good will shee iudged rightly that hee would tell her some newes but shee would not aske him But Galathee turning to the young man said See where Siluy is you haue no more to doe but to goe through with your Message since you desire that Leonide and I should be by Madame said Egide turning to Siluy my Master the most faithfull seruant that your merits euer wonne you hath commaunded me to let you know what his fortune hath beene wishing no other thing from Heauen as a recompence of his fidelitie but that one sparke of pittie may touch you since none of loue could come neere the yee of your heart How now said Galathee interrupting his speech it seemes hee hath made his
to be desirous to know what maketh him so abashed that if you consider the astonishment which is painted in his face you would iudge he had some great cause Mandrake had made him see in a dreame Maradon a young shepheard that taking an arrow from Cupid opend the bosome of Fortune and tooke out her heart He that following the ordinary course of louers was yet in doubt and as soone as it was day ranne to this fountaine to see if his mistresse loued him I beseech you consider his abashment for if you compare the visages of the other Tables to this you shall see the same draughts though the trouble wherein hee is paint the chaunge much Of those two Figures which you doe see in the Fountaine the one as you may plainely know is of the Shepheardesse Fortune and the other you may see is of the Shepheard Moradon whom the Magician made to bee represented rather then another because he knew he had a long time bin a seruant of the shepheardesse and though she vouchsafed not to regard him yet loue which easily beleeues the thing it feares presently perswaded the contrary to Damon beleefe that made him resolue to dy Marke I pray you how this water seems to tremble this is for that the Painter would represent the effect of the teares of the shepheard which fell into it But let vs passe to the second action See how the continuation of this Caue is made and how truly this seems to be more declining This dead man that you see on the ground is the poore Damon who in dispaire thrust his speare through his body The action which he doth is very naturall You may see one leg stretched out the other drawne vp as with paine one arme layd vnder the body as hauing bin surprised by the suddennesse of the fall and not hauing force to come againe to himselfe and the other languishing along the body yet he holds gently the speare in his hand his head hanging towards his right shoulder his eyes halfe shut and halfe turned vp and he that sees him in such a case may well iudge him to be a man in the trances of death his mouth somewhat opened the teeth in some places discouered a little and the passages of his nose shrunke vp all signes of a late dead man Also he hath not figured him as wholly dead but betweene death and life if there be any separation betweene them See here the speare well represented you may see the breadth of the Iron halfe hidden in the wound the staffe on the one side bloody on the other of the colour it was before But how great hath the Painters diligence bene he hath not forgot the nayles which go as weeping towards the end for the nearer the shaft as well the as wood the more they were staynd with blood It is true that through the blood you might know them Now let vs consider the spurting out of the blood issuing out of the wound Me thinkes it is like a fountaine which being led by long channels from some higher place when it hath bene restrained as they open it skips in fury this way and that way for see these streames of blood how well they are represented consider the boyling which seemes to raise it selfe to bubbles I thinke nature cannot represent any thing more truely The sixt Table NOw for the sixt and last Table which contaynes foure actions of the Shepheardesse Fortune The first is a Dreame which Mandrake made her haue The other how shee went to the Fountayne to cleare her doubt The third how shee complaynes of the inconstancie of her Shepheard and the last how shee dyes which is the conclusion of this Tragedie Now let vs see all things particularly See the rising of the Sunne note the length of the shadowes and how on the one side the Heauen is yet lesse cleare See these clouds which are halfe ayre as it seemeth which by little and little flye lifting vp these little birds which seeme to sing as they mount and are of those kinde of Larkes that rise from the deaw in the new Sunne These ill-formed birds which with vncertaine flight goe to hide themselues are of those Owles that auoid the Sunne whereof the Mountaine couers a good part and the other shines to cleare that one cannot iudge that it was other thing then a great and confused brightnesse Let vs goe forward Behold the shepheardesse Fortune asleepe shee is in bed where the Sunne that enters by the window open by negligence discouers halfe her brest She hath one arme carelesly stretched along the side of the bedstead her hand a little hanging from the boulster the other hand stretched along her thigh without the bed and for that her smocke sleeues is by chance thrust vp you may see it aboue the Elbowe there being nothing that hides any of the armes beautie See about her the diuels of Morpheus wherewith Mandrake serues herselfe to giue her a will to go to the fountaines of the truth of Loue. See on this side what she casteth vp for hauing dreamed that her shepheard was dead and taking his death for the losse of his amitie she came to know the truth Beholde how the sorrowfull visage by the sweetnesse of it mooues pittie and makes vs take part in her displeasure because shee no sooner casts her veiwe into the water but she perceiues Damon But alas hard by him the shepheardesse Melide a faire shepheardesse indeed and which was not without suspition of louing Damen yet vnbeloued of him Deceiued with this falsehood see how shee is retyred into the inwarrd parts of the Denne and commeth vnawares to lament her displeasure in the same place where Damon was almost dead Behold her set against the rocke her armes acrosse her brest which choller and griefe made her discouer in tearing that which was vppon it It seemeth that shee sighes and her brest pants her face and eyes lifting vp and asking vengeance from heauen for the perfidiousnesse which shee thought was in Damon And because the transport of her euill made her lift vppe her voyce in her complaynt Damon whom you see by her though hee were euen at the last of all his life hearing the laments of his fayre Shepheardesse and knowing the voyce hee then enforced himselfe to call her Shee which heard these dying words suddenly turning her head went to him But O God what a sight was this She quite forgot seeing him in this case and the occasion shee had to complayne of him shee demaunded who had dealt so fouly with him It is sayde hee the change of my fortune it is the inconstancie of your soule which hath deceiued mee with such demonstrations of goodwill Briefely it is the happinesse of Macadon whom the Fountaine from whence you came shewed mee to bee by you And doe you thinke it reasonable that hee should liue hauing lost your loue that liued not but to bee beloued of you Fortune hearing