shepheard was the discourse which my father made me often of his fortunes in the which I haue often heard him make mention of Amasis but not of any thing particularly that concerned her though I haue earnestly desired him This desire replies Galathee is very commendable to giue him satisfaction and therefore I will tell you particularly both what Amasis is and what we are Know then gentle shepheard that of antiquitie this Country which at this present is called Forrests was couered with great Lakes of water and that there was nothing but the high mountaynes that you see round about that was vncouered except some points within the middle of the Plaine as the rocke of the wood of Isoure and of mount Verdun so that the Inhabitants abode on the toppes of the mountaines And therefore it is that euen yet the ancient families of this Countrey haue the buildings of their names in the more lofty places and in the high mountaines And for proofe of that I say you may yet on the toppe of Isoure and mount Verdun and about the Castle of Marsellis see great rings of yron in the rocke where the vessels were fastened there begin no likelyhood they could serue for any other vse But it may be about some foureteene or fifteene ages since a certaine Romane who in ten yeeres conquered all the Gaules caused some mountaines to be cut downe by which the water voyded away and not long after the bosome of our Plaines were discouered which seemed so pleasant and fertile that he purposed to haue it inhabited and for this purpose he made all those that liued in the mountaines and within the forrests to descend and willed that the first building that was then made should beare the name of Iulius which he had and because the place was moist and slimy it yeelded great store of trees Some say the place was called Forrests and the people Forresters in stead of Segusiens which they were named before but they are much deceiued For the name of Forrests commeth of Forum which is Feurs a little towne which the Romanes caused to be built and which they named Forum Segusionorum as if they would say The place or the March of the Segusians which properly is but the place where they kept their armies during the time that they gaue order to the neighbour countries See Celadon what they hold for certaine of the Antiquity of this Prouince but there are two opinions contrary to this which I would tell you The Romanes say that from the time that our plaine was yet couerd with water the chaste Goddesse Diana delighted so much in it that she abode in it almost continually for her Driades and Amadriades liued and hunted in this great Wood and high mountaines which inuironed this great quantity of waters and because there were store of fountains she came oftē to bathe her selfe with her Nayades which kept there ordinarily But when the waters were voyded the Nayades were constrained follow them and to go with them into the bosome of the Ocean so that the Goddesse found her selfe at one instant destitute of the halfe part of her Nymphes And this was the cause that not being able with so small a troop to cōtinue her ordinary pastime she chose out some daughters of the chiefe Druides and knights whom she ioyned with the Nymphes that remained to whom she gaue likewise the name of Nymph But it fell out as in the end the abuse peruerts all order that many of them which in their youth had beene bred in the house some among the commodities of a louing mother others among the allurements of sights and seruices of Louers not able to hold out in the trauaile of hunting nor banish out of their memories the honest affections of those that sometimes made suite vnto them would retire to their owne home and marry and some others whom the Goddesse denyed leaue failed in their promises and in their honesty which so much prouoked her that she resolued to forsake that profane countrey as she took it for this vice which she so much abhorred But because she would not punish the vertue of some with the error of others before she went away she ignominiously chased out and for euer banished out of the Countrey all those which had offended made choyce of one to whom she gaue the same Authority which she had ouer all the Countrey and willed that for euer the race of her should haue all the command and then permitted them to marry but with expresse prohibition that the men should neuer succeed Since that time there was neuer any abuse among vs and the lawes haue inuiolably beene obserued But our Druides talke in another manner for they say that our great Princesse Galathee the daughter of the King Celtes wife of the great Hercules and mother of Galathee who gaue name to the Gaules who formerly had beene called Celtes full of loue to her husband followed him whither his courage and vertue carried him among the Monsters and against the Gyants And by fortune at that time the mountaines which separated vs from Auerne and those which bend towards the left hand which they call Cemene and Gebenne serued for a place of retrait to some Gaints which by their force made themselues terrible to all men Hercules being aduertised hereof came and because he loued very tenderly his deare Galathe◠he left her in this country which was next neighbour and wherein she tooke great pleasure what for the game what for the company of the daughters of that country And for that she was Queene of all the Gaules when Hercules had vanquished the Gaints and that the necessity of his affaires compelled him to go other where before their departure to leaue an eternall memory of the delight she tooke in this country she made those ordinances which the Romanes say the Goddesse Diana did But were it Galathee or Diana so it is that by a supernaturall priuiledge we haue beene particularly maintained in our franchises since that of so many peoples which like a torrent were powred out ouer all Gaule there was not one that hath disquieted vs in our repose Euen Alarick◠king of the Visigots when with Aquitaine he had conquered all the Prouinces on this side Loyre hauing knowne our statutes confirmed our priuiledges and without vsurping any authority ouer vs left vs in our ancient franchises It may be you may thinke it strange that I talke to you so particularly of the things which are beyond the capacity of those of my age but you must know that Pimander who was my father hath beene curious to search out the antiquities of this Countrey in such sort that the more vnderstanding Druides discoursed to him ordinarily while he was at his meale and I that almost alwayes was with him remembred that which liked me best And thus I knew that in one continued line Amasis my mother was descended from them whom the goddesse Diana or
him he began in this sort Sir Knight this habit wherein you see me is not mine owne but Loue who sometimes hath cloathed men like women playes with me in this fort and making me forget in part what I am hath put me into an habit contrary to mine owne for I am not a man but a daughter of one of the best Houses of Brutayne and called Mellandra fallen into your hands by the greatest fortune that euer was conducted by Loue. It is some while since a young man named Lidias came to London flying out of his owne Countrey as I haue heard since for hauing killed his enemy in field They were both of that part of Gaule which they call Normandy but because the dead man was of kindred to the greatest among them he was enforced to flye hiâ— Countrey to auoid the rigour of Iustice Thus being then come to London is the custome of our Nation hee found such courtesie that there was no good House wherein he was not right soone familiar among others hee liued with that priuacie at my fathers as if hee had beene of his household And because hee had a purpose to stay there as long as his returne into his Countrey should be forbidden him he determined to make shew of louing some that he might the better frame himselfe to the humour of them of great Brittany that haue euery one some particular Lady On this resolution he turned I know not whether I may say for good or euill â—ortune his eyes on me were it that he found me more for his delight or more for his commoditie he began to professe himselfe to be my seruant What dissimulations what wooings what oathes were those which he vsed to me I will not trouble you with an ouerlong discourse So it was that after sufficient long wooing for hee continued two yeeres I loued him without dissimulation for that his beautie his courtesie his discretion and valour were ouer-great allurements to ouercome with long suit any soule how barbarous soeuer I blush not then to confesse it to one that hath had triall of Loue nor to say that this beginning then was the end of my quiet Now these things resting in this state and liuing with all the contentment that the party that loues and is assured of the person beloued may haue it fell out that the Franks after they had wonne so many battailes against the Roman Emperours against the Gothes and Gaules turned their Armes against the Normans and reduced them to those termes that because they are their ancient Allies they were constrayned to send to London to demaund succours which according to the allyance made betweene them and those of great Brittaine was graunted them both by the King and by the Estates This newes was suddenly divulged throughout the Realme and we that were of the principall Towne vnderstood it with the first And from that time Lidias began to thinke of his returne assuring himselfe that they of his side hauing neede of his like would easily absolue him of the death of Aronte Notwithstanding because hee had alwayes promised mee not to goe but hee would carry mee with him which the malicious man did to deceiue me and for feare lest I might impeach his departure hee concealed his purpose from mee But as there is no fire so closely couered from which there comes not some smoke so there is nothing so secret but some thing or other will discouer it and so many before I was aware told mee of it As soone as I knew it the first time I saw him I drew him aside Well said I Lidias haue you resolued that I shall not know that you will leaue me Thinke you my amitie so weake that it cannot beare out the strokes of your fortune If your affaires will haue you returne into your Countrey why will not your loue permit mee to goe with you Demaund me of my father I am assured hee will bee pleased with our allyance for I know hee loues you but to leaue mee here alone with your faith forsworne no Lidias beleeue mee doe not commit so great a fault for the Gods will punish you He answered me coldly that he had no thought of returne and that all his affaires were nothing worth to the good of my presence that I committed an offence in doubting and that his actions should constrayne me to confesse as much And yet this periured person within two dayes after went away with the first Troupes that came from great Brittaine and tooke his time so fitly that hee came to the Sea shore the same day that they were to goe and so tooke ship with them We were presently aduertised of his departure Yet had I so strong a fancie that he loued me that I was the last that beleeued it so that there were more then eight dayes after his departure before I could perswade my selfe that one so well borne could be so deceitfull and vnthankfull At last one day following after another without any newes I found I was deceiued and Lidias was gone If then my sorrow were great iudge you Sir Knight since falling sicke I was brought to those termes that my Physitians not knowing my disease despayred of me and forsaking me held me for dead But Loue who would shew his power and is a better Physitian then Esculapius healed me with a strange Antidote And see how hee delights in effects which are contrary to our resolution When I first knew of the flight of Lidias for in truth it may be so called I found my selfe in such sort displeased that after I had a thousand times called Heauen to witnesse of his perfidiousnesse I sware I would neuer loue him as often as hee had sworne to mee that hee would euer loue mee and I may tell you wee were both forsworne For while my hatred was in his greatest fury behold a Vessell that came from Callays to report that the Succours were happily arriued that told vs that Lidias went ouer with an intent to warre among them of great Brittaine but as soone as the Gouernour of the place who was a kinsman to Aronte vnderstood of it hee caused him to bee put in prison as hauing beene alreadie condemned that they accounted him for lost because the Gouernour was of great credit among the Normans that indeede there was one meane to saue him but so hard that there was no man that would hazard it beeing such an one As soone as Lidias saw himselfe arrested hee demaunded how a Knight of such reputation as hee was would reuenge his quarrels by Iustice and not by Armes for it is a custome among the Gaules neuer to runne to Iustice in what offends their Honor but to the Combate and they that doe otherwise are held dishonourable Lipandas which was the name of the Gouernour answered That he slew not Aronte like a man and if he were not condemned by lustice he would maintaine it by Armes but being ashamed to fight with
without any likelihood of hope but that which I haue told you vntill the time that Clidaman was chosen by fortune to serue her then he had almost lost resolution and had it not beene that he knew by me that he should be no better vsed I know not what would haue become of him Yet though this gaue him some comfort the greatnesse of his Riuall gaue him more of iealousie I remember once he gaue me this answer vpon that which I told him that he should not grieue so much for Clidaman Faire Nymph answered he I will freely tell you whence my care proceeds and then iudge if I haue wrong It is long time since I haue prooued that Siluie cannot be mooued neither by fidelity of affection nor by extremity of Loue that it is without doubt that she will neuer bee wounded on that side Notwithstanding as I haue learned of the wise Adamas your vnckle euery person is subiect to one certaine force the stroke whereof they cannot auoyd when ought it is touched And what may I think may be that of this faire if it be not the greatnesse and power and as I feare the fortune not the merits of Clidaman his greatnes and not his affection But indeed herein he hath wrong for neither the loue of Ligdamon nor the greatnesse of Clidaman can euer mooue one glance of good will in Siluie And beleeue not but loue reserues her for an example to others purposing to punish her by some vnusuall meanes Now at that time there fel out a great testimony of her beauty or at least of the force she hath to make her beloued It was the day so celebrated which euery yeere we make holy the sixt of the Moone of Iuly and on which Amasis vsed to make that solemne sacrifice as well for the honour of the Feast as for being the day of Galathees brith When they were at Sacrifice there came into the Temple a number of men clad in mourning in the middest of whom was a Knighr so full of Maiesty aboue the rest that he was easily iudged to be their master He was so sad and melancholy that it appeared that he had somewhat in his soule that troubled him His habite blacke infashion of a mantle trayning on the ground which kept the beauty of his proportion from sight but his face vncouered and his head bare the haire where of yellow and crisped shamed the Sun drew the eyes of all men to him He came with a stately pace to the place where Amasis was and after he had kissed her robe he withdrew waiting till the sacrifices were done and by fortune whether good or bad for him I know not he stood right ouer-against Siluie A strange effect of loue He had no sooner set his eyes vpon her but he knew her though he neuer saw her before and to be better assured he demanded of one of his followers who knew vs all his answer was accompanted with a deepe sigh from the stranger and all the while the sacrifice lasted his eye neuer went off her At last the sacrifice being ended Amasis returnes to her Palace where audience being giuen him he spake before them all in this sort Madam though the mourning you see in my garments be much more blacke in my soule yet can it not equall the cause I haue And though my losse be excreme yet thinke I not I am the onely man that haue lost for you are particularly weakned in your faithfull seruants of one which it may be was not the least affectioned nor the most vnprofitable in your seruice This consideration hath made me hope to obtaine of you some reuenge of his death against his murderer But since I entred into this Temple I haue lost all hope iudging that if the desire of reuenge die in me that am the brother of the wronged by much stronger reasou should it shrinke in you Madame in whom the compassion of the dead and the seruice which he vowed you may without more adoe cause some good will to arise Notwithstanding since I see the armes of my brothers murderer prepared already against me not to auoyd such a death but to instruct others I will tell you as briefly as I can the fortune of him whom I lament Though Madame I haue not the honor to be knowne to you yet I assure my self that at the naming of my brother who neuer loued but your seruice you will acknowledge me for your most humble seruant His name was Aristander and we were both the sonnes of that great Cleâ—mire which for your seruice visited so often the Tyber the Rhine the Danuâ—y and for that I was the younger it may be about nine yeers as soone as he saw me able to beare Armes he sent me into the Army of the great Meroue the delight of men and the most pleasing Prince that euer came into Gaule To tell you why my father sent me rather to Meroue then to Thierry King of the Visigots or to that of the Burgonyans it will be hard for me Yet I am of opinion it was that I might not serue a Prince so neere your estates that fortune might make your enemy So it was that my successe was such that Childerick his sonne a Prince warlike and of great hope seeing me neere about his age was pleased more especially to fauour me with his loue then any other When I came first to him it was about the time that great and wise Aetius treated of a peace with Meroue and the Franks for so he called all that followed him to resist that scourge of God Attilla king of the Huns who hauing gathered together from the Desarts of Asia an incredible number of people euen to 500000. fighting men discended like a deluge sacking furiously all the countrys where he passed and though this Aetius Lieutenant generall in Gaule of Valentinian was come with a purpose to make war on Meroue who during the gouernmeÌ„t of Castinus was possest of a part of Gaule yet thought he it better to make him his friend and the Visigots Burgonians like wise rather then to be ouerthrowne by Attilla who lately hauing trauersed in Germany was about the baÌ„ks of Rine where he stayd not long without aduancing himselfe so into Gaule that he besieged the towne of Orleance where the coÌ„ming of Thierry king of the Visigots made him raise his siege take another way but beset by Meroue Aetius with their coÌ„federates in the field of Cathalona he was defeated more by the valiance of the Franks the wisedom of Meroue then all the other force Since Aetius hauing bene killed it may be by the commandement of his master for some discontentment Meroue was receiued at Paris Orleance Sens other neighbour townes for Lord and King and all that people haue since borne him such affection that they wil not only be his but cause theÌ„selues to be called by the name of Franks to please him the
this cause since you appoint me to tell you a part of my life I coniure you by our loue neuer to speake of it and both of them hauing sworne she tooke againe her discourse in this sort The History of Diane IT would be very strange if the discourse which you desire to know of me might not be offensiue to you since faire wise shepheardesses it hath made me endure so much displeasure that I thinke not I shall at this time vse more words in telling it then it hath cost me teares in suffering it And since it pleaseth you that at last I shall renew that grieuous remembrance suffer me to abridge it that I may in some sort lessen the happinesse wherein I am by the memory of passed troubles I assure my selfe that though you neuer sawe Celion and Belinde yet you haue heard they were my father and mother and it may be haue knowne the crosses which they had for the loue of the one to the other which lets mee from telling them though they were presages of those I met with But you must know that after the cares of loue were ended in marriage that they might not remayne ydle suites of law and sundry troubles beganne to grow and so plentifully that wearied with charge of processe to make an accord many among the rest a neighbour of theirs named Phormion trauayled so that their friends were of aduice at last that to end all suits they should giue some promises of future alliance betweene them and because neither the one nor the other as yet had any children as hauing not beene long married they swore by Theurales on the Altar of Belenus that if they both had but one sonne and one daughter they should marry together and ratified this alliance with so many oathes that hee which brake them should be the most periured creature in the world Some time after my father had a sonne which was lost when the Gothes and Ostrogots ransacked this prouince Somewhat after that was I borne but so vnluckily for my selfe that my father neuer sawe me being borne after his death This was the cause that Phormion seeing my father dead and my brother lost for these Barbarians had carryed him away and it may be kill'd him or left him to die for want and that my vnkle Dinamis was gone out with displeasure of this losse resolued if he might haue a sonne to pursue the effect of those promises It fell out that some while after his wife lay downe but it was of a daughter and because his wife was old and he feared he should haue no more by her hee made it be giuen out that it was a sonne and vsed so great warinesse that neuer any body heeded it a tricke easie enough because there was no person that would suppose that he would vse such a deceit and vntill a certayne age it is hard by the face to know any thing and the better to deceiue the most crafty he called her Filidas And when she came to age he caused her to vse the exercise fit for young shepheards whereto she was not very vnâ—â—t The dessigne of Phormion was seeing me without father and without vnkle to make himselfe master of my good by this fayned marriage and when Filidaâ— and I should be greater to marry me to one of his nephews which he loued best And indeed he was not deceiued in his former dessigne For Belinde was too religious towards the gods to fayle in that whereto she knew her husband was bound It is true that seeing me taken out of her owne hands for presently after this dissembled marriage I was deliuered into them of Pharmion she tooke so great griefe that not being able to stay longer in this countrey she went to the lake Leman to be mistris of the Vestals and Druydes of Euiens as the old Cleoâ—tin informed her from the Oracle Now behold me in the hands of Phormion who shortly after brought me home to him his nephew to whom he meant to giue me who was named Amidor This was the beginning of my paines because his vnkle let him know that by reason of our young age the marriage of Filidas and me was not so assured but if the one could not like of the other hee could not well breake it yet if it should happen hee wished rather hee should marry me then another that he should make vse of this aduertisement with so much discretion that no man might take notice of it endeuouring in the meane time to winne me to his loue in such sort that I gaue my selfe to him if euer I came to be free This yong shepheard had so good a conceit of this dessigne that as long as this fancie lasted he could not tel how good occasion I had to reioyce my selfe for him About this time Daphnis an honest and wise shepheardesse came from the coast of Furan where she had abode many yeeres and because we were neighbours the conuersation which we had together by chance made vs so good friends that I beganne to be more vexed then of wont for I must confesse that the humor of Filidas was so vnsupportable to me that I could not almost indure it so that the feare which she had that I might come to more knowledge made her so iealous of me that I might not scarce speake to any body Things standing on these termes Phormion on a sudden faâ—leth sicke and the same day was choked with a Catar that he could not speake nor giue any order to his affayres nor mine Filidas at the first was astonished at last seeing her selfe absolute mistris of her selfe and of me resolued to keepe this authority considering that the liberty which the name of a man brings is much more pleasing then the seruitude to which our Sexe is more subiected Besides that shee was not ignorant that when she should discouer her selfe to be a maide she should giue no small cause of talke to all the country These reasons made her continue the name which she had during her fathers life and fearing now more then euer that some one might discouer what she was she held me so strait that I was seldome without her But faire shepheardesses since it pleaseth you to know my young passages you must when you heare them excuse them and withall haue this beliefe of me that I haue had so many and so great troubles for louing that I am no more sensible on that side hauing beene so hardened that loue hath neyther so strong nor so sharpe armes that he can pierâ—â—â—e Alas it is the shepheard Filander of whom I will speake Filander that first could giue me some feeling of loue and who being no more hath carried away all that that might be capable in me Truely interrupted Astrea eyther the loue of Filander hath beene very little or you haue vsed great discretion for that indeed I neuer heard speech of it Which is a rare thing for that the euill
which of all the world you hold most deare which is your chastity Now mistrisse since there remayneth nothing more to my contentment but onely one poynt by the affection which you haue found in Philander I heartily pray you to grant it mee to the end that this happy soule may goe to expect you in the Elisian fieldes with this satisfaction from you He spake this in broken words and with much payne And I that sawe him in this case to giue him all the contentment he could desire answered him Friend the gods haue not raysed in you so good and honest affection to extinguish it so presently and to leaue vs nothing but sorrow I hope they will giue you yet so much life that I shall make you know that I giue not place to you in loue no more then you doe to any other in merit And for proofe of that which I doe say demaund you that onely thing which you would gladly haue of me for there is nothing that I can or will deny you At these last words he tooke me by the hand and laying it to his mouth I kisse sayth he this hand by way of thankes for the grace and fauour you haue done me and then lifting vp his eyes to heauen O God sayd he I desire of you but so much life as may serue for the accomplishment of the promise which Diane comes to make me and then addressing his speech to me with such paine that he could hardly vtter a word he sayd thus vnto me Now fayre Mistrisse heare then what it is I require of you Since I feele not the anguish of death but for you I coniure you by my affection and by your promise that I may carry this contentment out of the world that I may say I am your husband and beleeue me if I doe obtayne it my soule shall most contentedly goe into what place soeuer it must passe hauing so great a testimony of your goodwill I sweare to you fayre shepheardesses that these words strucke me so to the quicke that I knew not how I was able to sustayne my selfe and I thinke for my part it was onely the desire I had to please him that gaue me the courage This was the cause that he had no sooner ended his demaund but I griping his hand sayd Philander I graunt you that you demaund of me and I sweare to you before all the gods and particularly before the deities which are in this place that Diane giues herselfe to you and that she taketh you both in heart and soule for her husband and in speaking these words I kissed him And I sayd he take you my fayre mistris and giue my selfe to you for euer right happy and content to beare the most glorious name of Diane Alas this word of Diane was the last word he vttered for hauing his arme about my necke and drawing me to him to kisse me he dyed breathing his last vpon my lippes How I looked when I beheld him dead you may easily iudge fayre shepheardesses since I so truly loued him I fell groueling vpon him without pulse and without sence and fell into a swowning so that I came to my selfe without my owne knowledge O God! how liueth my heart since I felt this losse and found that to be too true which so oftentimes he had foretold me that I should loue him more after his death then during life for I haue so liuely preserued his remembrance in my soule that me thinketh I haue him alwayes before mine eyes and without ceasing he sayth to me vnlesse I will be vngratefull I must loue him So I doe O good soule and with the most entire affection that I can and if where thou art there be any knowledge of that which is done heere below receiue O deare friend this good will and these teares which I doe offer in testimony that Diane loueth euen to her coffin her dearest Philander The end of the sixt Booke THE SEVENTH BOOKE of Astrea and Celadon AStrea to interrupt the sad thoughts of Diane But faire shepheardesse said hee who was that miserable wretch that was cause of so great misfortune Alas said Diane why would you I should tell you He was an enemy that came not into the world but to be the cause of my euerlasting teares But yet answered Astrea was it neuer knowne what he was They said replyed she some time after that he came out of certaine barbarous countries beyond the Straits I know not whether I can name the right which they call the pillars of Hercules and the cause that brought him so farre for my mischiefe was that he became amorous of a Lady in those countries who commanded him to seeke throughout Europe to know whether there were any other as faire as she and if he met with any Louer that would maintaine the beauty of his Mistrisse hee was bound to fight with him and to send her his head with the picture and name of the Lady Alas I would it had pleased the heauens that I had not bene so ready to flie when he pursued me to kill me that by my death I might haue preuented that of poore Filander At these wordes shee set her selfe on weeping with such abundance of teares that Phillis to diuert her changed the discourse and rising vp first We haue said she fate long enough me thinks it were good to walke awhile At this word they all three rose and went toward that part of their Hamlet for it was well neere dinner time But Leonide who was as I told you harkening lost not one word of these shepheardesses and the more she heard of their newes the more she desired to heare But when shee saw them goe away without speaking a word of Celadon shee was much troubled yet in hope she might staying that day with them discouer somewhat as before she purposed When she saw them gone a little off she rose out of the bush and making a short turne shee set to follow them for she would not haue them thinke shee had ouer-heard them By chance Phillis turning backward as they were going espyed her a far off and shewed her to her companions who stayed but seeing she came towards them to doe her the duty which her condition merited they returned backe and saluted her Leonide full of courtesie after she had returned them their saluation addressing her selfe to Diane sayd Wise Diane I will this day be your ghâ—st prouided that Astrea and Phillis bee of the company for I came this morning from my vncle Adamas with a purpose to passe all this day with you to know if that which I haue heard of your vertue Diane of your beauty Astrea of your merit Phillis answere the report that is divulged of you Diane seeing her companions referred themselues to her answered Great Nymph it were better for vs haply that you had knowledge of vs onely from report since that is very fauourable on our side yet since it
sayd Phillis I haue found him very sad this euening and I cannot tell what hath befalne him but he hath so coniured me to come hithor that I cannot delay it I beseech you to walke â—here-about while we are together for aboue al he desires I should be alone I will do answered Astrea what pleaseth you but take heed it bee not euill thought of to see you talke with him at so vnfit houres especially being alone in this darke place It is for that cause answerd Phillis that I haue put you to the paine to come hither therefore I pray you to walke so neere vs that if any one come on vs hee may thinke that we three are together While they talked thus Diane and Paris preÌ„ssed Hylas to tell them his life to satisfie the commandement of his Mistris and though he made much difficulty yet at last hee began in this sort The History of Hylas YOu will then mine owne faire Mistris and geÌ„ntle Paris that I tell you the aduentures befalne me since I began to loue Thinke not that my refusal was for that I knew not what to say for I haue loued too much to want matter but rather for that I haue too little day to haue the leysure not to tell you all that would be too long but not to begin alone Yet since for obedience I must satisfie your wil I pray you harken to me while I put you in mind that all things are subiect to some superior power which almost enforceth vs to actions which it pleaseth vs and that whereto mine enclines so violeÌ„tly is loue for otherwise it may be you wold woÌ„der to see me so carried that there is no chaine either of duty or obligation that may withhold me And I freely confesse that if euery one must haue some inclination of nature mine is of inconstancy for which I am not to bee blamed since the heauens ordaine mee so Haue this consideration before your eyes while you heare the discourse which I am to make Among the principal Countries that the Rosne in his swift course visits after it hath receiued Arar Isere Durance other riuers he comes dashing vpon the ancient walls of the towne of Arles chiefe of that country and the most peopled and richest of the Romane prouince Neere this faire towne there incamped a great while since as I heard our Druides tell a great Captaine named Cains Marins before the notable victory which he got against the Cimbres Cimmerieux and Celtoseites at the foote of the Alpes who being deuided by the deepe Scitique Ocean with their wiues and children purposing to sacke Rome were so ouerthrowne by this great captaine that there remained not one aliue and if the Romane armes had spared any one the barbarous fury that was in their courage made them turne their owne hands against themselues and in rage kill themselues that they might not liue being vanquished Now the Romane army to assure their allies and friends of their common wealth comming to encampe as I told you neere that towne and according to the custome of that wary nation compassing their campe with trenches it fel out that being nere to Rosne this riuer which is most violeÌ„t and which threatens and beates incessantly his bankes by little and little in time met with these large deepe ditches and with maine strength entring into the chanell which he found already made runs with such fury that makes the ditches stretch out to the sea where hee goes discharging himselfe by this meanes two wayes for the ancient course hath alwayes followed his ordinary way and this new one is growne so great that it equalls the greatest riuers making betweene both a most delectable and forcible Iland and because they were the trenches of Cains Marins the people by corruption of the word call it Carmage of his name and since for that the place is inuironed with these two armes of Rosne and the midland sea they call it the Isle of Camarge I would not haue sayd so much about the originall of this place had it not bene that it was the countrey of my natiuity and where they of whom I am descended haue long time dwelt for by reason of the fertility of the place and that it is as it were cut out from the rest of the land there is a number of shepheards that are withdrawne thither which for the abundance of pasturage they call Pasture and my fathers haue alwayes bene held in some consideration among the principall were it for that they were thought good and vertuous men were it for that they had honestly and after their condition acquired the goods of fortune so they left me sufficiently prouided for when they died which was without doubt too soone for me for my father died the day that I was borne and my mother bred me vp with all manner of delicatenesse an only child or rather a marred child endured but till I was twelue yeeres of age Iudge what master of an house I was like to proue among other imperfectious of youth I could not auoyd that of presumption supposing there was not a shepheard in all Camarge which ought not respect me But when I was a little aduanced and that Loue began to mingle with this presumption mee thought all the shepheardesses were in loue with me and that there was not one which receiued not my loue with obligation And that which fortified me in this opinion was that a faire and wise shepheardesse my neighbour called Carlis made me all the honest showes which neighbour-hood might challenge I was so yong as yet that none of the incommodities which loue vses to bring to the louer by his violent transports could reach me that I felt nothing but sweetenesse and on that subiect I remember that some time I went singing these verses A SONNET On the sweetnesse of Loue. VVHen speakes my shepheardesse or rather when she sings Or with her eies sweets glaâ—ce to mine she daz'ling brings Loue seemes to talke in her and with her gracious sounds Rauishes vs by thâ—â—are with charmes our sight confounds Not as you see him when he cruelly torments The hearts that are possest with passions violent But then when like a child full wantonly he moues Plaies on his mothers lap and formes a thousand loues Nor when he sports himselfe with those the Paphean maids Nor when on graces lap himselfe to rest he laid You could see him so pleas'd as neere my shepheardesse But when he burteth so may we him Loue confesse He is so when he playes and makes his place of rest In Carlis bosome sweete as on his mothers brest Though the age wherein I was suffered me not to know that it was Loue yet forbare I not to delight my selfe in the company of that shepheardesse and to vse those deuices wherewith I vnderstood that they whom they call Louers serued their turne so that the long continuance made many thinke that I knew more
presently wished to finde them at their lodging and turning on all hands at last I met them by fortune together A good meeting the next day was the great Feast of Venus and because according to custome the day before the solemnity the young women sing in the Temple the Hymnes which are made in the honour of the Goddesse and they watch there vntill midnight I heard them resolue with the mother of Aymee to passe the night as the others that shee might the better performe her vow Floriante at the secret request of Aymee promised to doe so too And because they stayed there a great liberty I had a designe without any speech of it to goe in likewise fayning to be a wench when it should be darke but knowing that the Druides were themselues at the gate when it waxed darke I purposed to hide my sâ—lfe some good while before And indeede beeing got into a corner little frequented and most dark I tarried there till nine or ten of the clock in the night TheÌ„ the TeÌ„ple was shut vp and there were no more men but my selfe vnlesse there were some that were as curious as I and by that time the Hymnes had long continued I came out of my lurking place And because the Temple was great and there was no light but that which the tapers lighted on the Altar might giue all about I easily fet my selfe among the weaches without their knowledge and as I was searching with mine eyes for that part where Aymee might bee I saw a little candle brought to a young wench who rising vp went with it to the Altar and after diâ— some ceremonies she beganne to sing certaine couplets to which at the end all the company answered I know not whether it were for that the light was dimme for sometimes they will helpe themselues by hiding the imperfection of the painting or that indeed she were faire yet so it was that assoon as I saw her I loued her Let them now tell me that say that loue comes froÌ„ the eyes of the partie beloued that canont be for shee could not see me besides that shee turned not her eyes towards me and hardly could I behold her so well that I might know her another time and that was the cause that I thrust forward by curiosity I crept gently among those shepheardesses that were next her But by mis-hap beeing with greater danger come hard by her shee ended her Hymne and sent backe the taper where it was wont to bee so that the place was so darke that hardly though I might touch her could I see her Notwithstanding the hope that she or some other neere her might beginne againe to sing I stayed there a while But I saw to the contrary that the taper was carried into the other Quire and presently after one of those that were there beganne to sing as my new and vnknowne mistrisse had done The difference that I noted whether in voyce or face was great for she had nothing that came neere her whom I beganne to loue which was the cause that beeing no longer able to command my curiosity I went to a Dame that was some what farre off and counterfeiting the best I could I asked what she was that sung before the last You must be a stranger said she if you know her not It may be I know her answered I if heard her name Who knowes her not said shee by her face demands her name in vaine yet to free you of your paine know she is called Cyrâ—â—â—â— one of the fairest maids that dwell on the banks of Arar and so held in all this countrey so that if you know her not you must be of another world Till then I had so well counterseited my voyce that as the night deceiued their eyes so my voyce beguiled their eareâ— but at that time not remembring where I was after many other thanks I said to her that if in exchange of the paine that she had taken I could yeeld her any seruice I did not thinke any man happier then I was How now said she who are you that talke in this fashion And looking more hee defully on mee shee knew by my habit what I was Whereat all astonied said shee How come you to haue the hardinesse to breake our lawes in this sort Know you not that you cannot pay this fault but with the losse of your life I must tell you true that though I knew there was chastisement ordained yet I did not thinke it was such whereat I was not a little astonied yet alledging vnto her that I was a stranger and knew not their Statutes she tooke pitty on me and said that from the beginning she well perceiued it and that I must know that it was impossible to obtaine pardon for this fault for that the law was so rigorous to free those watches from all the abuses which were wont to bee committed Notwithstanding seeing that I came not of any wicked intent shee would doe what she could to saue me And therefore I was not to tarry till the mid-night bell rang for then the Druides came to the gate with their torches and looked them all in the face That now the gate of the Temple was shut but she would attempt to open it and then casting a vaile ouer my head which couered me to the hanches she fitted my cloak so vnderneath it that it could not be discerned in the night from a gown and hauing thus dressed mee shee told some of her neighbours who came with her that shee was not well and they all went to require the key of the most ancient of the company and wee going together towards the gate with a little waxe-candle onely which her selfe bare and which she almost couered with her hand fayning as if she would preserue it from the winde we went out of the prease and thus happily I escaped out of this danger through her courtesie and the better to disguise me withall for the desire I had to know to whom I was so much bound I went with the other to her lodging But faire shepheardesse sayd he turning to Diane this discourse is yet but halfe done and me thinkes the Sunne is downe long since will it not be fit to referre the rest to another time when we haue more leisure You haue reason sayd she gentle shepheard one must not spend all his goods at once that which remaines may cause vs make another pleasing iourney besides that Paris who is to passe the riuer cannot stay longer without committing himselfe to the night There is nothing said he faire shepheardesse that can trouble mee when I am neere you I wish answered she there were any thing in me that might please you for your worth and courtesie binde euery one to yeeld you all sorts of seruice Paris would haue replied but Hylas interrupted him when he said I would to God gentle Paris that I were you and that Diane were Phillis and
aside and with his Sword gaue him such a blow vpon one of his pawes that he cut it off whereat the Beast in furie so suddenly came on him that he cast him to the ground but his fortune was such that in falling and the Lyon ramping ouer him he could but hold out his Sword which fell out so luckily to be vnder his belly that he fell downe dead almost as soone as the former In the meane while that Ligdamon was disputing for his life behold a Lady faire among the Normans that cast her selfe on her knees before the Iudges beseeching them to cause the execution to cease vntill she had spoken They that knew her to be of the principall of the Countrey willingly yeelded her that fauour and indeed it was shee for whom Lidias had slaine Aronte her name was Ameryne and then she spake to them in this sort with a modest voyce My Lords Ingratitude is to be punished as Treason because it is a kind of it Therefore seeing Lidias condemned for being on the contrary side I feare I should be counted so if not of you yet of the Gods if I thought not my selfe bound to saue his life that hazarded his to saue my honour This is it for which I present my selfe before you relying on our priuiledges which ordaine That a man condemned to death shall be deliuered when a maid demaunds him for her husband As soone as I knew of your Iudgement I came with all diligence to require it and I could not be here so soone but he hath run the fortune that all men haue seene yet since God hath preserued him so happily for me you are not iustly to deny me All the people that heard this demaund cryed with a ioyfull voyce Grace Grace And though the enemies of Lidias labored the contrary yet was it concluded that the priuiledges of the Countrey should take place But alas Ligdamon came out of this danger but to enter into a greater for being brought before the Iudges they let him know the customes of the Country were such That any man attainted conuicted of any Crime whatsoeuer might be deliuered from the rigours of Iustice if a maid demaunded him for husband so that if he would marry Ameryne he should be restored to his liberty and might liue with her He that knew her not found it hard to answer notwithstanding seeing no other remedy to escape the danger wherein he was he promised it hoping that time would bring out some commoditie to free him out of the Labyrinth Ameryne that had alwayes found Lidias so amorous of her was not a little astonied at this coldnesse yet iudging that the affrightment of the danger wherein hee was had made him thus besides himselfe shee had the more pitty on him and carried him to Lidias mothers house who was she that procured the marriage knowing there was no other remedy to saue her sonnes life besides that shee was not ignorant of the loue betweene them which made her presse the conclusion of the marriage the most that possibly shee could thinking to please her sonne But on the contrary this was to hasten the death of him that could doe no more then he had done Ah my deare Master when I call to mind the last words you spake to me I know not how it is possible for me to liue All things were ready for the marriage and it must be dispatched the next day when the night before he tooke me aside and said Egide my friend didst thou euer see such a fortune as this that they will make me beleeue that I am not my selfe Sir said I me thinkes it is not euill Ameryne is faire and rich all that call themselues her kinsmen are the principall of this Country what would you desire more Ah Egide said he thou speakest for thine owne ease If thou knewest the case wherein I am thou wouldst haue pitty on me But haue care of what I say and aboue all the Obligation that thou owest me and the loue which I haue alwayes found in thee fayle not as soone as to morrow I shall haue done that I am resolued of to beare this Letter to the faire Siluy and relate to her all that thou hast seene and moreouer assure her that I neuer loued any but her and neuer shall At this word he gaue me this Letter which I kept very carefully vntill the next morning when at the houre that he was to goe to the Temple he called me and commanded me to be about him and made me sweare againe to seeke you out with diligence At the same time one came to him to place him in the wedding Chariot where already the faire Ameryne was set with one of her vnckles whom she loued and honoured as her father She was in the midst between Ligdamon and Caristes so her vnckle was named all couered with a yellow vayle and hauing on her head as well as Ligdamon the Garland It is true my Masters was of Sifymber and Amerynes of picked and sweete Aspharagon Before the Chariot went all the family and after only the kinsmen and neerest allies and friends In this Triumph they came to the Temple and were brought to Hymens Altar before which fiue Torches were lighted On the right side of Hymen they had placed Iupiter and Iuâ—o on the left Venus and Diana As for Hymen he was crowned with flowers and sweet Marioram holding in his right hand a Torch and in his left a Vayle of that colour that Amerynes was as also the buskins which hee had on his feet When they entred into the Temple the mother of Lidias and Ameryne lighted their Torches and then the great Druide comming neere directed his speech to my Master and demaunded Lidias will you haue Ameryne for the mother of your Family he stayed somewhile without answer at last he was constrayned to say yes Then the Druide turning to her And you Ameryne will you haue Lidias for father of your Family and shee answering yes then taking their hands and ioyning them together hee said And I in tho behalfe of the great Gods giue you each to other and for earnest you must eat the Condition together and then taking the Wheaten Cake Lidias cut it into pieces and shee laying them together of which according to the custome they both eate There remayned no more of all the Ceremonies but to take the Wine when turning to me hee said Now friend for the most pleasing seruice that euer thou didst me reach me the Cup. I did so alas with a mischiefe ouer diligent As soone as he had it in his hand with a voyce lowd ynough he said O powerfull Gods said he that know who I am venge not my death vpon this faire Lady who taking me for another man more happy then I hath brought me to my death and at this word drunke all that was in the Cup which was contrary to the custome because the husband was to drinke but halfe and
better their country in stead of Gaul take the name of Frannce While I was entred into armes among the Franks the Gauls the Romans the Burgonians the Visigots and the Huns my brother was among them of loue armes so much the more offensiue for that they turne all their blowes vpon the heart his disaster was such if now I may bee suffered to cal itso that being bred vp by Clidaman he saw the faire Siluie but seeing her hee saw his death also not hauing liued since that but as drawing towards his tombe t◠tell you the cause I cannot for being with Childerick I knew nothing but that my brother was in extremity though I found al the cōtentments that might be as being regarded of my Master beloued of my companions cherished and honored generally of all for a certaine good opinion they conceiue of me for affaires that fell out which it may be got me with them more authority credit then my age and capacity might merit I could not knowing the sicknesse of my brother stay longer time with Childerick but taking leaue of him promising him to returne very shortly I came backe with the haste that my loue required As soone as I was come many ranne to tell him that Guymantes was come for so they call me His loue gaue him strength enough to lift vp himselfe in his bed he imbraced me with the most intire affection that one brother could do to another It would serue but to trouble you and wound my selfe afresh to recount vnto you the things which our amity wrought betweene vs. So it was that either 2. or 3. daies after my brother was brought to that extremity that he could hardly draw his breath and yet that cruell loue inclined him more to sighing then to the necessity hee had of breathing and in all his raging fits we could heare nothing but the name of Siluie I to whom the displeasure of his death was so violent that I could hardly dissemble wished so much euill to this vnknowne Siluie that I could not hold from cnrsing her which when my brother heard and his affection as yet greater then his disease hee enforced himselfe to speake this Brother if you will not bee my greatest enemy for beare I beseech you these imprecations which cannot but displease mee much more then my disease I had much rather not bee at all then that they should take effect and being vnprofitable what will it auaile you vnlesse it be to witnesse to me how much you hate that which I loue I know well my losse will trouble you and therein I haue more feeling of our separation then of my end But since euery man is borne to dye why with me do you not thanke the heauens which haue chosen me the fairest death and the most faire murderer that euer man had The extremity of my affection and the extremity of the vertue of Siluie are the armes by which her beauty is serued to put me into my griefe and why do you bewaile me wish euill to her to whom I wish more good then to my soule I thinke hee would haue said more but his strength failed and I more wet with teares of pitty then when against Attila I was all on a sweat vnder my armor and my armes sprinkled with bloud all ouer me Brother she that takes you from yours is the most vniust that euer was and if she be faire the gods haue done the iniustice in her for either they should haue changed her face or her heart Then Aristander hauing gotten a little more strength replied to me For Gods sake Guymantes blaspheme no more in this sort beleeue that Siluie hath an heart answerable to her face that as the one is full of beauty so the other is of vertue that if for louing her I die doe not you wonder because that if the eye cannot without dazeling abide the beames of one Sun without cloudy how may not my soule remaine dazeled at the beames of so many Suns which glister in this faire that if I haue scarce tasted such diuinities without death I may haue the contentment of him that dies to see Iupiter in his diuinity I would tell you that as her death giues witnesse that no other had euer seene so much of diuinity as shee so that no man euer loued so much of beauty nor so much of vertue as I. Now I that came from an exercise that made mee beleeue there was no loue forced but voluntary with which men go on flattering themselues in idlenesse said to him Is it possible that one sole beauty should be the cause of your death My brother answered he I am in such extremity that I thinke I cannot answere your demands but said he on taking me by the hand for brotherly loue and for our particular which binds vs yet faster I adiure you to promise me one gift I did so Then he said on Beare as from me this kisse to Siluy and then he kissed my hand and obserue that which you finde of my last will and when you see this Nympho you shall know that which you demand of me At this word with a blast his soule flew vp his body lay cold in my armes The affliction that I felt in this losse as it cannot be imagined but by him that hath beene in it so it cannot be conceiued but by the heart that suffered it and hardly can the word reach that which the thought may not attaine so that without longer abode in bewailing this disaster I wil say Madam that as soone as my dolours would suffer me I haue set my selfe on the way as well to render you the homage which I owe you and to demand iustice of you for the death of Aristander as to fulfill my promise which I made him against his homicide and to present that which by his last will he left in writing to the end that I may call my selfe as iust an obseruer of my word as his affection hath beene inuiolable But at the instant when I was presented before you and that I meant to open my mouth against this murderer I haue found my brothers words so true that not only I excuse his death but desire and require the like This shall bee then Madam with your permission which I will performe and then making a great reuerence to Amasis he chose from among vs Siluie and resting one knee on the ground he said Faire murtherer though on this faire brest there fall but one teare of pitty at the newes of the death of the person which was so much yours you cease not to haue entire honourable victory yet if you iudge that to so many flames which you haue lighted in him so small a drop shall not bee a great asswagement receiue at least the burning kisse which hee bequeaths you when presently his soule turned into this kisse which he set in this faire hand rich indeed with the