whether it doth tend Eies of my soule behold and then deplore My wretched state what I was once before And what I am and what must be my end O wofull life O poore afflicted hart Tell me poore soule how canst thou not but faile In Passions of such torments paine and smart With such a thought how dost thou not depart And perish when no succour can preuaile O haplesse louer wretched and forgot Though happy once and happy but of late To day thou diest but yet thy loue cannot To day thy greefes begin their gordian knot To day thy ioy doth end and happy state To day thy woes and sorrowes doe appeere To day thy sadnes and thy paines are knowen To day thy sweete content doth finish heere To day thy dismall death approcheth neere To day thy firmest loue and faith is knowen What doe you now mine eies what doe you rest Let out your flouds whose streames in greefe doe swell For it may be you may within my brest Quench out this burning flame or at the lest Coole this great heate that burnes like Mongibelle But woe is me I striue but all in vaine Against the streame For golden Tagus streames Nor Duerus floud nor Iberus againe Can quench this heate or mitigate the paine How then my teares Alas these are but dreames And in such sort bicause it doth hoffend My hart that burnes like to the smithie flame For it doth more increase and doth extend And more it doth with sparkling flames incend The more that water 's cast vpon the same And now since want of hedgrow faileth me And that I feele increase not want of paine I thinke it best for me to goe and see If I can finde some other hedge or tree To write that there which this cannot containe With the taste of this sorrowfull song I will now leaue of which me thinkes is of great substaunce whether the affection I beare the Shepherde that wrote it makes me thinke so for by the wordes thereof you may vnderstand it was written by Delicius or that then the reading and now the recitall of it whereby the miserable estate of the poore youth was then and now represented vnto me doth make me iudge it to be no lesse I know not Assuring you that then for a little I woulde not haue made an ende to read it out though I had sought it in euery place if the teares which fell so fast from mine eies to see the greefe of so faire and vnfortunate a yoong Shepherd had not let me Tell me no such thing saide Lord Felix for if I thought thou hadst not as well read the other which he saide he went to write in another tree I would intreat thee to recite this once againe but we shall haue time enough if it please the Gods to heare out the rest But what will you say said Crimine if I should tell you that we neuer remembred to seeke out the other Therein I beleeue thee not answered Lord Felix for so smal care should not me thinks befall in women of so great respect and in thee especially who didst loue him with such tender care and affection Not to deceiue thee therefore nor thy imagination saide Crimine know Lord Felix that we sought and found it out O how hast thou reioiced my hart saide Felismena but take heede heereafter Crimine what thou sayest and if wee shall continue friendes I praie thee mocke vs no more in this sort for thou hadst not a little troubled my minde by making mee beleeue that thou hadst not sought it out But state yet saide Doria for I am not of your opinion that she shoulde recite this other song so soone as you woulde haue her Why saide Lord Felix Bicause I woulde first knowe saide Doria if it be such an one as the last for if it be not she did well to leaue of her tale at such a point for it is not the condition of my palate to remaine with an ill taste when it hath once a good one Verie true said Felismena What answerest thou therefore Crimine to this I haue not perhaps the same taste said I that she hath so that it may be that what is sweete to her may seeme bitter to me or contrarie for in tastes there is no small difference But for my selfe I can say that the rest to come pleaseth me no lesse then that which is past Then by this reason said Lord Felix thou maist tel it which I beleeue thou wilt not otherwise choose to do with the condition that Doria alleaged vnto thee Since you haue faire Ladies saide Polydora staide your selues more then I would in questions and answers I will also propound mine Of which I dare lay a wager you will confesse that one of them wil seeme better to you then all the rest And for this I wil not cal any other to be iudges but your selues and in faith not to appeale in any time from the sentence giuen Thou takest much vpon thee said Felismena and more leauing it in the arbitrement of these that be contrarie to thee Nay rather little said Polydora for I know well that for your credits you dare not but pronounce it in my fauour Tell it then to trie said Lord Felix You all take vpon you said Polydora not meanely to be in loue and praysing not without good cause the song and hauing heard Crimine confesse that she could not make an end to read it for pitie she had of Delicius what is the reason that you haue not asked any thing what he did or what Stela felt or what impression it made in her These are questions more woorthe the asking of louers then to bee so precise in demaunding if it were written or not and if shee sawe the other or not It would haue greeued mee being no louer if she had not beene condolent for him who was put in such anxieties and you that affirme it to be so seeme not to be sorrowfull for this passion whereby it seemes you haue no desire to helpe him with so much as a worde Polydora gaue them all great delight with her friendly anger which shee shewed in iest of whom there was not anie that thought not but that she was in good earnest if in the ende she had not laughed Then all with one voice saide that the verdict should passe on her side Euery one holding their peace to see what Crimine would answer to it she began thus to saie Thou hast so highly considered the matter Polydora that if thy demand had come ioyntly with the quesions of these Gentlemen I would to haue satisfied thine with pardon be it spoken haue left theirs vnanswered And truely if loue had not required of Stela a narrow account of the hardnes of her hart then thine also had beene without an answer bicause I thinke you would not giue any credite to my speeches not seeming a possible thing that where all vertues are laid vp pitie
That like a sturdie rocke it standes Against the cruell raues Though fencelesse in the naked sandes Of beating windes and waues And how much more with conquering hand my hart she doth controule By so much doe I adde more heate vnto my burning soule Berardus The woods and mount aines doe not beare Woolues of such crueltie Whose howling threats I feare not theare And yet aiealousie Doth make my hart to quake for feare And yeeld most cowardly I am not able to defend My weake and feeble brest From thousand feares where they pretend To build their strongest nest And with their entrance driue away my hopes my ioy and rest There they commaund and gouerne all And proudly tyrannize And there my soule to endlesse thrall And bodie sacrifice O cruell Loue whom cruell death must needes at last succeede O why with such consuming tortures die I not in deede Taurisus Neere to this Christall fountaine on a day I sawe Diana sitting with her spouse And as by chaunce I crost the woods that way Espied them behinde these hasell bowes Dying with greefe impatience and despite To see which I would not haue seene that sight Nothing he spake but with his clownish hand Did rudely touch and claspe her round about Her tender corpes the smallest in this land Too daintie and fine for such a homely lout And so he sat and did not stir In this vnseemely sort with her But when my iealous eies so basâ—… thing espied With mortall rage I burn'd and cruell enute died Berardus To walke the woods in sweetest moneth of May When winter hides his hoarie head for shame Diana with her husband on a day The glorie of the fairest women came A vaile of Lawne vpon her golden haire With siluer pins enfolded euery where A thousand sportes and pastimes did I see How she found out his minde to recreate And as I lurk'd behinde a Poplar tree How louingly she dallied with her mate Whom I did see reach foorth his hand Vnto her necke as white as swan Wherewith he did vndoe her vaile and loose her shining haire Which sight did kill my hart with feare enwrapped in despaire The Shepherds after they made an end of singing began to gather their flockes togither that went feeding vp and downe the woode And comming towardes the place where Marcelius and Diana were they could not otherwise chuse but see them for they had no handsome shift to hide themselues although they woulde faine haue stept aside At which ioyfull and vnexpected sight they receiued no meane content gladnes And though Berardus was somwhat altered and appalled thereat yet inflamed Taurisus to see the cause of his griefe before his eies kindled more and more his hot desire They curteoufly saluted the Shepherds and requested them not to denie them their companie to the village since good fortune had made them all so happely meete togither Diana whose custome was neuer to be coy nor discurteous was well content to do it So that Taurisus and Berardus praied the other Shepherds that were with them to come after by little and little with their flockes that they had now gathered vp togither towards the village whilest they in companie of Diana and the other Shepherds went on before which they willingly performed Taurisus by the way as he went praied Diana to answere verse for verse to the song that he would sing which she denied him not to doe and so they sung as followeth Taurisus THe cause why that thou dost denie To looke on me sweete foe impart Diana Bicause that doth not please the eie Which doth offend and greeue the hart Taurisus What woman is or euer was That when she looketh could be mou'd Diana She that resolues her life to passe Neither to loue nor to be lou'd Taurisus There is no hart so fierce nor hard That can so much torment a soule Diana Nor Shepherd of so small regard That reason will so much controule Taurisus How falsit out Loue doth not kill Thy crueltie with some remorce Diana Bicause that Loue is but a will And free will doth admit no force Taurisus Bebold what reason now thou hast To remedie my louing smart Diana The very same bindes me as fast To keepe such danger from my hart Taurisus Why dost thou thus torment my minde And to what and thy beautie keepe Diana Bicause thou call'st me still vnkinde And pitilesse when thou dost weepe Taurisus It is bicause thy crueltie In killing me doth neuer end Diana Nay for bicause I meane thereby My hart from sorrowes to defend Taurisus Be bold so foule I am no way As thou dost thinke faire Shepherdesse Diana With this content thee that I say That I beleeue the same no lesse Taurisus What after giuing me such store Of passions dost thou mocke me too Diana If answers thou wilt any more Goe seeke them without more adoo It greatly contented Taurisus that Diana sung with him whereby though hee heard the rigorous answers of his Shepherdesse yet he was so glad in his minde that she deigned to answer him that it made him forget the greefe which by the crueltie of her wordes he might haue otherwise conceiued But nowe timorous Berardus forcing his heauie hart and casting a pittifull eie on Diana not vnlike the sorrowfull Swanne that a little before her death singes sweetely in the cleere and christall brookes lifted vp his faint and fearefull voice which came foorth with great paine out of his panting brest and to the sound of his Baggepipe sung these verses following ENd now my life with daily paines affrighted Since that for all that I haue wept and greeued My teares are not requited And trustie faith not any whit beleeued I am in such a haplesse state of sorrowe That I would be content and so releeue me Vniust rewardes and scornes of her to borrow Onely that she would credit and beleeue me But though my life is thus with woes despited And though to be most constant neuer greeued My paines are not requited And trustie faith not any whit beleeued After that Berardus had ended his song both the Shepherds cast their eies vpon Marcelius and bicause he was vnknowne to them they durst not entreat him to sing But in the end bold Taurisus praied him to tell them his name and if it pleased him to sing them a song wherein they would thinke themselues beholding to him for either curtesie At which words Marcelius looking vpon Diana and making her a signe to touch her instrument without giuing them any other answere with one song pleased them both and satisfied their desire Whereupon fetching out a great sigh he began thus AH such an one I euer was since that My Shepherdesse so cruell I did see That now I knowe not who I am nor what My hap shall be or shall become of mee I knowe right well that if I were a man Greefe had my life consumed long agoe And if a stone I am most certaine then That dropping
two corruptly done with a confusion of verse into Prose and leauing out in many places diuers hard sentences and some leaues in the end of the third Part wherefore they are but blind guides by any to be imitated Well might I haue excused these paines if onely Edward Paston Esquier who heere and there for his owne pleasure as I vnderstand hath aptly turned out of Spanish into English some leaues that liked him best had also made an absolute and complete translation of all the Parts of Diana the which for his trauell in that Countrey and great knowledge in that language accompanied with other learned and good parts in him had of all others that euer yet I heard translate these Bookes prooued the rarest and worthiest to be embraced The faults escaped in the Printing the copie being verie darke and enterlined and I loth to write it out againe I pray you Gentlemen pardon since all the last Terme that it was in the Presse hauing matters of greater consequence in charge I could not intende the correction aduertising you by the way that the greatest faults are at the ende of the Booke set downe the lesse being of no moment purposely omitted Fare ye well and continue me in your woonted loue and fauours Yours in all friendly offices B. Y. THE EPISTLE To the Illustrous and noble Lord Don Iuan de Castella de Villa Noua Baron of Bicorb and Quesa of GEORGE of Montemayor ALthough this custome were not very auncient most noble L. for Authours to dedicate their workes to personages of honour and renowne by whome they were protected and defended notwithstanding your rare and high deserts as well for your noble and ancient house from whence you are descended as also for the resplendant valour and vertue of your person might with greater reason then I can expresse incite me to performe more then this obliged dutie And admit the base stile of the worke and the Authours small woorth in reason ought not so far extend as to dedicate it to your Lordship yet excluded from all other remedies I presumed onely on this that it was somewhat accounted of For precious stones are not so highly valued for the name they haue for they may be false and counterfeite as for his estimate in whose handes they are I humbly beseech your good Lordship to entertaine this booke vnder your Hon. ampare and correction as to the Authour heereof being but a stranger you haue done no lesse since his poore abilitie is not able to serue your Lordship in any other thing whose wished life and noble estate our Lord increase for many yeeres To the same Lord. Moecenas was to Maro of great fame A singular good Lord and louing frend And Alexander did enioy that same Rare wit of Homer death though him did end And so the Villanouas generous name The Lusitan poore Authour doth defend Making a base and wanting wit t' aspire Vnto the clouds and yet a great deale higher Don Gaspar Romani to the Authour If Lady LAVRAS memorie vnstained PETRARC in endlesse verse hath left renowned And if with Laurell HOMER hath beene crowned For writing of the wars the Greekes obtained If Kings t' aduaunce the glorie they haue gained In life time when fierce MARS in battell frowned Procure it should not be in LETHE drowned But after death by historie maintained More iustly then shouldst thou be celebrated O excellent DIANA for the fairest Of all the faire ones that the world hath brought foorth Since all those wits whose pens were estimated To write the best in glorie thou impairest And from them all the Laurell crowne hast sought foorth Don Hieronymo Sant-Perez to George of Montemayor Parnasse O sacred mount and full of glorie The Poets muse delight of their desires Me thinkes thou art too comfortlesse and sorie Compar'd with this whose famous name aspires In deede J am since that the Muses left me And with their gracious Quire from hence descended To mount this Hill whose Greatnes hath bereft me Of all my fame and glorie that is ended Thrise happie his Diana since her flower In top of this High Hill was set so lately That all the world might view it euery hower Where she doth liue most soueraigne and stately In all the world most celebrate and graced Being no lesse excelse then highly placed The Argument of the first Seuen Bookes IN the fieldes of the auncient and principall citie of Leon in Spaine lying along the bankes of the riuer Ezla liued a Shepherdesse called Diana whose beautie was most soueraigne aboue all others in her time She loued and was deerely beloued againe of a Shepherd called Syrenus in whose mutuall loue was as great chastitie and vertue as might be At the same time another Shepherd called Syluanus loued her also more then himselfe but so abhorred of the Shepherdesse that there was not any thing in the world which she hated more But it fell out that as Syrenus was constrained to be out of the kingdom about certaine affaires which could by no means be excused nor left vndone and the Shepherdesse remaining at home very sad for his absence time and Dianas hart with time were chaunged who then was married to another Shepherd called Delius burying him whom she had but of late so greatly loued in vniust obliuion Who after a whole yeere of his absence comming home againe with great affection and desire to see his beloued Shepherdesse knew before he came that she was already married And from hence the first booke begins and in the others following they shall finde diuers histories of accidents that haue truly happened though they goe muffled vnder pastorall names and style The first Booke of Diana of George of Montemayor DOwne from the hils of Leon came forgotten Syrenus whom loue fortune and time did so entreate that by the least greefe that he suffered in his sorrowfull life he looked for no lesse then to loose the same The vnfortunate Shepherd did not now bewaile the harme which her absence did threaten him and the feare of her forgetfulnes did not greatly trouble his minde bicause he sawe all the prophecies of his suspicion so greatly to his preiudice accomplished that now he thought he had no more misfortunes to menace him But the Shepherd comming to those greene and pleasant meades which the great riuer Ezla watreth with his cristalline streames the great felicitie and content came to his wandring thoughtes which sometimes he had enioyed there being then so absolute a Lord of his owne liberty as now subiect to one who had wrongfully enterred him in darke obliuion He went musing of that happie time when in those medowes and on those faire banks he fed his flocks applying then his minde in the onely care and interest he had to feede them well and spending the rest of his howers in the onely delight that he tooke in the sweete smell of those golden flowers at that time especially when cheerefull spring-tyde the merry messenger
man in the world for her sudden death for greefe whereof within a little while after he also died And bicause you may knowe faire Nymphes in what great extremities loue hath put me you must vnderstand that being a woman of that qualitie and disposition as you haue heard I haue bene forced by my cruell destinie to leaue my naturall habit and libertie and the due respect of mine honour to follow him who thinkes perhaps that I doe but leese it by louing him so extremely Behold how bootelesse and vnseemely it is for a woman to be so dextrous in armes as if it were her proper nature and kinde wherewith faire Nymphes I had neuer bene indued but that by meanes thereof I should come to doe you this little seruice against these villaines which I account no lesse then if fortune had begun to satisfie in part some of those infinite wrongs that she hath continually done me The Nymphes were so amazed at her words that they coulde neither aske nor answere any thing to that the faire Shepherdesse tolde them who prosecuting her historie saide My brother and I were brought vp in a Nunnerie where an aunt of ours was Abbesse vntill we had accomplished twelue yeeres of age at what time we were taken from thence againe and my brother was caried to the mightie and inuincible King of Portugall his Court whose noble fame and princely liberalitie was bruted ouer all the world where being growen to yeeres able to manage armes he atchieued as valiant and almost incredible enterprises by them as he suffered vnfortunate disgraces and foiles by loue And with all this he was so highly fauoured of that magnificent King that he would neuer suffer him to depart from his Court Vnfortunate I reserued by my sinister destinies to greater mishaps was caried to a grandmother of mine which place I would I had neuer seene since it was an occasion of such a sorrowfull life as neuer any woman suffered the like And bicause there is not any thing faire Nymphes which I am not forced to tell you as well for the great vertue and desertes which your excellent beauties doe testifie as also for that my minde doth giue me that you shall be no small part and meanes of my comfort knowe that as I was in my grandmothers house and almost seuenteene yeeres olde a certaine yoong Gentleman fell in loue with me who dwelt no further from our house then the length of a garden Terrasse so that he might see me euery sommers night when I walked in the garden When as therefore ingratefull Felix had beheld in that place the vnfortunate Felismena for this is the name of the wofull woman that tels you her mishaps he was extremely enamoured of me or else did cunningly dissemble it I not knowing then whether of these two I might beleeue but am now assured that whosoeuer beleeues lest or nothing at all in these affaires shall be most at ease Many daies Don Felix spent in endeuouring to make me know the paines which he suffered for me and many more did I spende in making the matter strange and that he did not suffer them for my sake And I know not why loue delaied the time so long by forcing me to loue him but onely that when he came indeed he might enter into my hart at once and with greater force and violence When he had therefore by sundrie signes as by Tylt and Tourneyes and by prauncing vp and downe vpon his proude Iennet before my windowes made it manifest that he was in loue with me for at the first I did not so well perceiue it he determined in the end to write a letter vnto me and hauing practised diuers times before with a maide of mine and at length with many gifts and faire promises gotten her good will and furtherance he gaue her the letter to deliuer to me But to see the meanes that Rosina made vnto me for so was she called the dutifull seruices and vnwoonted circumstances before she did deliuer it the others that she sware vnto me and the subtle words and serious protestations she vsed it was a pleasant thing and woorthie the noting To whom neuerthelesse with an angrie countenance I turned againe saying If I had not regard of mine owne estate and what heereafter might be said I would make this shamelesse face of thine be knowne euer after for a marke of an impudent and bolde minion But bicause it is the first time let this suffice that I haue saide and giue thee warning to take heede of the second Me thinkes I see now the craftie wench how she helde her peace dissembling very cunningly the sorrow that she conceiued by my angrie answer for she fained a counterfaite smiling saying Iesus Mistresse I gaue it you bicause you might laugh at it and not to mooue your pacience with it in this sort for if I had any thought that it woulde haue prouoked you to anger I praie God he may shew his wrath as great towards me as euer he did to the daughter of any mother And with this she added many wordes more as she could do well enough to pacifie the fained anger and ill opinion that I conceiued of her and taking her letter with her she departed from me This hauing passed thus I began to imagine what might ensue thereof and loue me thought did put a certaine desire into my minde to see the letter though modestie shame forbad me to aske it of my maide especially for the wordes that had passed betweene vs as you haue heard And so I continued all that day vntill night in varietie of many thoughts But when Rosina came to helpe me to bedde God knowes how desirous I was to haue her entreat me againe to take the letter but she woulde neuer speake vnto me about it nor as it seemed did so much as once thinke thereof Yet to trie if by giuing her some occasion I might preuaile I saide vnto her And is it so Rosina that Don Felix without any regard to mine honour dares write vnto me These are things Mistresse saide she demurely to me againe that are commonly incident to loue wherfore I beseech you pardon me for if I had thought to haue angred you with it I woulde haue first pulled out the bals of mine eies How cold my hart was at that blow God knowes yet did I dissemble the matter and suffer my selfe to remaine that night onely with my desire and with occasion of little sleepe And so it was indeede for that me thought was the longest and most painfull night that euer I passed But when with a slower pace then I desired the wished day was come the discreet subtle Rosina came into my chamber to helpe me to make me readie in dooing whereof of purpose she let the letter closely fall which when I perceiued what is that that fell downe said I let me see it It is nothing Mistresse saide she Come come let me
againe But I beseech you gracious Lady to answer this letter because my Lord Don Felix may also haue some contentment by receiuing this first well emploied seruice at my hands I am content saide Celia but first thou must tell me if Felismena in matters of discretion be wise and well aduised There was neuer any woman saide I againe more wise then she bicause she hath beene long since beaten to it by her great mishaps but she did neuer aduise her selfe well for if she had as she was accounted wise she had neuer come to haue bene so contrarie to her selfe Thou speakest so wisely in all thy answeres saide Celia that there is not any that woulde not take great delight to heare them which are not viands said I for such a daintie taste nor reasons for so ingenious and fine a conceit faire Lady as you haue but boldly affirming that by the same I meane no harme at all There is not any thing saide Celia whereunto thy wit cannot attaine but because thou shalt not spende thy time so ill in praising me as thy Master doth in praying me I will reade thy letter and tell thee what thou shalt say vnto him from me Whereupon vnfolding it she began to read it to herself to whose countenance and gestures in reading of the same which are oftentimes outwarde signes of the inwarde disposition and meaning of the hart I gaue a watchfull eie And when she had read it she said vnto me Tell thy Master that he that can so well by wordes expresse what he meanes cannot choose but meane as well as he saith And comming neerer vnto me she saide softly in mine eare And this for the loue of thee Valerius and not so much for Don Felix thy Master his sake for I see how much thou louest and tenderest his estate And from thence alas saide I to my selfe did all my woes arise Whereupon kissing her hands for the great curtesie and fauour she shewed me I hied me to Don Felix with this answer which was no small ioy to him to heare it and another death to me to report it saying manie times to my selfe when I did either bring him home some ioyfull tydings or carrie letters or tokens to her O thrise vnfortunate Felismena that with thine owne weapons art constrained to wounde thy euer-dying hart and to heape vp fauours for him who made so small account of thine And so did I passe away my life with so many torments of minde that if by the sight of my Don Felix they had not beene tempered it coulde not haue otherwise beene but that I must needes haue lost it More then two monethes togither did Celia hide from me the feruent loue she bare me although not in such sort but that by certaine apparant signes I came to the knowledge thereof which was no small lighting and ease of that griefe which incessantly haunted my wearied spirites For as I thought it a strong occasion and the onely meane to make her vtterly forget Don Felix so likewise I imagined that perhaps it might befall to him as it hath done to many that the force of ingratitude and contempt of his loue might haue vtterly abolished such thoughtes out of his hart But alas it happened not so to my Don Felix for the more he perceiued that his Ladie forgot him the more was his minde troubled with greater cares and greefe which made him leade the most sorowfull life that might be whereof the least part did not fall to my let For remedie of whose sighes and pitious lamentations poore Felismena euen by maine force did get fauours from Celia scoring them vp whensoeuer she sent them by me in the catalogue of my infinite mishaps For if by chaunce he sent her anie thing by any of his other seruants it was so slenderly accepted that he thought it best to send none vnto her but my selfe perceiuing what inconuenience did ensue thereof But God knowes how many teares my messages cost me and so many they were that in Celias presence I ceased not to powre them foorth earnestly beseeching her with praiers and petitions not to entreat him so ill who loued her so much bicause I woulde binde Don Felix to me by the greatest bonde as neuer man in like was bounde to any woman My teares greeued Celia to the hart as well for that I shed them in her presence as also for that she sawe if I meant to loue her I woulde not for requitall of hers to me haue sollicited her with such diligence nor pleaded with such pittie to get fauours for another And thus I liued in the greatest confusion that might be amids a thousand anxieties of minde for I imagined with my selfe that if I made not a shew that I loued her as she did me I did put it in hazard lest Celia for despite of my simplicitie or contempt woulde haue loue Don Felix more then before and by louing him that mine coulde not haue any good successe And if I fained my selfe on the other side to be in loue with her it might haue beene an occasion to haue made her reiect my Lord Don Felix so that with the thought of his loue neglected and with the force of her contempt he might haue lost his content and after that his life the least of which two mischiefes to preuent I woulde haue giuen a thousand liues if I had them Manie daies passed away in this sort wherein I serued him as a thirde betweene both to the great cost of my contentment at the end whereof the successe of his loue went on woorse and woorse bicause the Loue that Celia did beare me was so great that the extreme force of her passion made her leese some part of that compassion she should haue had of her selfe And on a day after that I had caried and recaried many messages and tokens betweene them somtimes faining some my selfe from her vnto him because I could not see him whom I loued so deerly so sad and pensiue with many supplications and earnest praiers I besought Lady Celia with pittie to regard the painfull life that Don Felix passed for her sake and to consider that by not fauouring him she was repugnant to that which she owed to her selfe which thing I entreated bicause I sawe him in such a case that there was no other thing to be expected of him but death by reason of the continuall and great paine which his greeuous thoughts made him feele But she with swelling teares in her eies and with many sighes answered me thus Vnfortunate and accursed Celia that nowe in the end dost know how thou liuest deceiued with a false opiniō of thy great simplicitie vngratefull Valerius and of thy small discretion I did not beleeue till now that thou didst craue fauours of me for thy Master but onely for thy selfe and to enioy my sight all that time that thou diddest spende in suing to me for them But now I see thou dost aske
I sawe thee then againe There 's no compare compare for it denies Nor glorie but thy sweete loue to containe It was not onely this which Arsileus sung that night to the sounde of his Harpe but as Orpheus when he demaunded his Nymph Euridice made the hellish furies gentle with his sweete song suspending for a while the paines of the damned ghostes so did vnfortunate Arsileus not onely amaze and mollifie their harts that were present but wretched Belisaes also who with great boldnes from a high garret windowe was harkening vnto him whose sweete musicke delighted moreouer the heauen the starres and the cleere moone which was then in her force and vigour that in what part soeuer I did then cast mine eies it admonished me me thought and tolde me that I loued him more then mine owne life whereof it was needlesse for any to put me in minde for if I had then beene Lady of all the worlde I had thought my selfe too meane to be woorthie of him And from thence I purposed to hide this affection as little from him as I could All that night I laie imagining by what meanes I might best discouer vnto him my griefe but in such sort that my vertuous name and modestie might not suffer any blemish though death when this was wanting with her appalled feare and danger should not haue hindred mine intent And yet when that should come and when we haue the greatest care to auoid the occasions that might hinder it euen then most of all they present themselues The next day after needs I must go with other countrey maides my kineswomen neighbours to a thicke wood in the mids whereof was a cleere fountaine whither euery other holy day we caried our kine as well for that there was good pasture for them as also for that the fresh hungry euening being come we might take the milke of the next day whereof we made sweete butter fresh cheefe and creame But I and my companie being set round about the fountaine and our kine liyng in the coole shades of the thick and branchie trees of that hedge licking their yong and tender caluelings that lay by them one of my friendes amongst the rest vnacquainted it seemed with that loue that warred within my soule with many requests importuned me vpon paine neuer to receiue any pleasure at her handes to entertaine the time and that companie with some song or other My many excuses with telling her besides that times and occasions were not alwaies one nor alike auailed me very little from performing that which with so great instance she requested of me And therefore to the sound of a Bagpipe whereon one of them most sweetely plaied I began to sing these verses LOue passed by me with his bowe vnarm'd His eies cast downe milde gentle modest gay And carelesse left me then behinde vnharm'd How small a time did I this ioye essaie For presently enuious Fortune saide Staie loue why passest thou so soone awaie Foorthwith the blinde boye turn'd to me and staide Angry to see himselfe so checkt with blame For ther 's no blame where his hot fire is laide Cupid was blinde but well he spide his game So blinded b◠he that he may see none That did so blinde my wit and sence enflame O that I might reuenge my selfe of one That wisheth harme to all and will not free With his consent not one poore hart alone Straight did the traytour arme his bowe and he with poysoned shaft did pierce my carelesse hart Which in his bowe he put and aym'd at me Fortune vnarm'd did take me for his parte Loue neuer plaies nor workes not any feate But on free soules exempted from his darte A hardned hart his arrow brake 〈◊〉 with heate And brake a neuer subiect freedome so That I did yeeld and his content was great O sole free quiet life that I forgo O meadowe seene so oft with freest eies Cursed be Loue his arrowes and his bowe Nowe follow loue and what he doth deuise Come from securitie to greatest care And passe from rest to thousand miseries See now how that a carefull hart doth fare Which lately was without suspect or thought Subiect to be to such a tyrants snare O soule with teares vndone and brought to nought Now learne to suffer since you learn'd to see But what auailes if this my Fortune wrought O wretched eies if with this terme he be Not angry whom you savve vvith free consent Where haue you put and plac'd my libertie O meadovves groues and vvoods of svveete content Which bred so free a hart as I had heere So great an ill vvhy did you not preuent Svvift running brooke and riuer pure and cleere Where once my flocke vvere wont to drinke their fill O euery season of the passing yeere Why haue you put me in a state so ill Since onely I did loue you and these plaines And this most pleasant vale and greenest hill Heere did I mocke a thousand Shepherd swaines Who now will laugh at me when they shall knovv That novv I doe begin to feele their paines They are not ils of Loue that vvound me soe For if they vvere then should I passe them all As thousands vvho haue died in Cupids vvoe Fortune it is that turnes and makes me fall From euery meane occasion path and way Wherby I might but shew my painfull thrall How can the causer of my passion say Helpe them if that their paine he neuer knowes But there 's no loue where reason beareth sway To how much ill is fortune drawing those Whom she makes loue since nothing can restore sea earth nor Sunne moone stars nor any showes Or giue delight vnlesse one loue before And all is thus and wretched thus am I Whom time perswades and hinders more and more Cease now my verse since loue with angrie eie Beholds how soone of him I doe complaine And for my harmes doe craue his remedie Complaine not oft for feare of his disdaine Now hold your peace since I seale vp my wordes And when you see Loues fell and angrie vaine Cease for Loues wroth no remedie affoordes These verses of the Shepherdesse Belisa pleased the Nymphes and Shepherdes no lesse then the sweete and sorrowfull note wherewith she sung them who prosecuting the historie of her mishap said But Arsileus was not farre frō thence when I sung these verses for hauing gone foorth that day a hunting being in the thickest of the woode to passe away the heate of the day it seemed he heard vs and as one that loued musicke well came softly pacing amongst the thickest trees that were neere vnto the fountaine bicause he might from thence the better heare vs. But our musicke being ended he came straight to the fountaine whose sudden sight engendred a forcible passion of ioy and feare in my amazed soule Which was no great maruell bicause an enamoured hart may be as well sursaulted with a sudden ioy as with an vnexpected sorrow
who shewed by his countenance a kinde of fiercenes making them almost afraide that looked on him and that which was written aboue him was this Bernard of Carpio I am The Pagans terror and their smart An honour to the Christian name Since that my handes aduaunc't the same By valour of my stoutest hart Fame iust it is not thou conceale My matchlesse deedes from tender yeeres But nothing if thou wilt reueale To Ronçes-Vales I appeale That sometimes was of the twelue Peeres On the other side stoode a valiant captaine in gilded armour with sixe bendes gueles in the middes of his shielde and on the other side on him many enfolded Auncients and a captiue king in a chaine whose superscription said thus My greatest valours they shall see Which knewe them not whereby againe I onely haue deseru'd to bee Surnamed The great Capitaine And in strangelandes and in our owne I purchased so great a fame That my exploites are held and knowne To be far greater then my name Next to this stout captaine stoode a knight all in siluer armour sowen full of starres and of the other side on him a king with three Fleure de Lyses Or in his shielde Azure before whom he tare certaine papers the superscription aboue him was this I am Fonseca whose braue historie Europe doth knowe and doth so much commend Whose life though ended yet my memorie Enroll'd by liuing fame shall neuer end My souer aigne King I serued and did beare My countrey loue and not in fained showe I neuer did leaue of for seruile feare To keepe that holy lawe which euery where The seruant doth vnto his master owe. In another quadrant of the Obeliske stoode an armed knight his armour sowen full of little golden shieldes who by the valour of his personage seemed to be descended from some noble and high blood casting his eies amongst manie other Lords and knights of his ancient lynage the subscription beneath his feete was this Don Luys of Villanoua I am named And from the great Marquesse of Tranz descended My valour and renowne with praise proclamed In Italie Fraunce Spaine is far extended Bicorb an ancient house my state is framed That fortune to a hart hath now commended So high sans peere and that so much surmonnteth As to commaund a world it smally counteth After they had particularly behelde the paterne and all the knights and valiant champions placed in it they went into a rich hall the feeling whereof was all of yuorie woonderfully wrought and carued the wals of allablaster and many ancient histories so liuely cut out and grauen in them that one would verily haue thought that Lucretia killed her selfe indeede and subtill Medea vndid her webbe in the Iland of Ithaca and that the famous Romaine Lady yeelded to the fatall sister bicause she would not offende her honour with the sight of the horrible monster and that the louing wife of Mauseolus was making great lamentation thinking to what end the sepulcher of her husband was counted for one of the seuen wonders of the world And many other histories and examples of chaste Ladies worthie to be eternized with immortall fame thorow out the whole world bicause it seemed not sufficient ynough for some of them to giue manifest examples by their vnspotted life but for others by their vntimely and cruell death great testimonie of their pure and vndefiled thoughts amongst the which the Spanish Coronella was one who did rather commit her body to consuming flames then suffer her chaste minde to be ouercome with the motion and delight of a dishonest thought After they had viewed all the figures well and the varietie of the histories round about the wals of the hall they went into another square court which for the riches thereof seemed to their iudgements so much to excell all that they had seene as the substance doth the shadowe for all the wals of it were couered ouer with fine golde and the pauements of precious stones Round about this Quadrant stood the figures of many Ladies of Spaine and of other nations and aboue them all the Goddesse Diana curiously cut out of mettall of Corynth with short garmentes like a hunter adorned with much pearle and precious stones of great value who had her bowe in her hande and her golden quiuer hanging downe by her side enuironed rounde about with a troupe of Nymphes fairer then Titan in his cheefest glorie The Shepherdes and the Shepherdesses were so amazed at the sight of these things that they knew not what to say bicause the riches of the house were so infinite the figures so liuely the workmanship of the Quadrant so excellent and the proportion of the Ladies that were retracted there with so great art that they thought it impossible to imagine a more perfect and absolute or a more sumptuous building in the whole world then that was On the one side of the Quadrant stood fower Laurell trees of gold so brauely enameled with greene leaues that in gardens there were none more fresh or liuely and neere to them a little fountaine made all of beaten siluer in the middes whereof was likewise a Nymph of beaten gold which at her faire breastes thorow nybles of Rubies spouted out water cleerer then Cristall and neere to this fountaine did Orpheus the famous musition sit enchaunted with the age that he was in when his Euridice was requested of importunate Aristeus He had on a cote of cloth of siluer interseamed and imbrodered with flowers of seede pearle his sleeues broad about the shoulders and falling very narrow to his elbowes from whence his armes came out naked He had on a paire of hose of cloth of siluer to the knee and made after the olde fashion of Thrace wrought full of little golden Harpes and Citherens his golden bush of haire which hung downe curled and long was tied about with a faire Laurell wreath But when he perceiued the Nymphes comming towardes him he began most sweetely to touch a fine Harpe which he had in his handes with the diuine melodie whereof the strangers were so much rauished that they forgot all that they had seene in respect of this new delight Felismena sate her downe vpon a faire lowe bed in the Quadrant which for the most was couered all ouer with purple damaske finely wrought and fringed with golde and the Nymphes and Shepherdesses about her the Shepherdes leaning vpon the siluer fountaine In this sort therefore they were harkening to worthy Orpheus as if he had bin singing amongst the Cyconians when Cyparisus was turned into a Cypres tree and Atis into a Pine tree Enamoured Orpheus then began to sing so sweetely to the tune of his Harpe that with the heauenly musicke thereof he suspended their amazed senses And turning his sweete face to Felismena he began to sing these verses following Orpheus his song HArke Felismena to the sweetest song Of Orpheus whose loue hath bene so high Suspend thy greefe Seluagia somewhat long Whilst
now I sing that once for loue did die Forget Belisa now thy woefull wrong And to my voice sweete Nymphes your eares apply That lost his eies to beauties blaze then turning And Shepherdes cease a while your amorous mourning I will not speake for God forbid the same Of that most heauie processe of mine ils Nor when I so did sing that I did tame Wilde beastes and birdes and mooued trees and hils Nor when I did suspend th' infernall flame Nor when I sawe Pluto nor that that kils My soule with greefe when I lookt backe to see If that Euridice did follow me But I will sing with pure and sweetest voice Of those perfections and that grace display That wisedome wit and beautie of such choice Of those who doe illustrate Spaine this day Then see her Nymphes whose beautie doth reioice Vs all her great Diana and her gay And goodly traine on whom both Gods and men Cannot ynough imploy their toongs and pen. Lift vp your eies this Lady to beholde That heere is sitting in this highest chaire With scepter neere to her and crowne of golde And angrie fortune by her on the staire This is the star that Spaines light did enfolde Whose absence now her glory doth impaire Her name is Lady Mary that hath beene Of Hungarie Boeme and of Austrie Queene The next that sits to her is Lady Iane Princesse of Portugall and of Castille The Infant and from whom fortune had tane The crowne and scepter by her turning wheele And vnto whom death was so inhumane That in her selfe great wonder she doth feele To see how soone she did stretch forth her hands On her that was the light of Lusitans Behold faire Nymphes that Lady Mary great And soueraigne Infant of her Portugall Whose grace and beautie hath this day a seate Where humane thought could neuer reach at all Behold though cruell for tune there doth threat Her wisedome yet doth count of her but small For time and death and destinie cannot Conquere her goodnes vertues and her lot Those two that are by her on either side Whose beauties Titans brightnesse doe offend Their sleeues of gold their gownes of damaske tide With pearle and where faire Emerauldes depend Their curled golden lockes wauing so wide Vpon their shoulders loose that doe descend Daughters they are of th' Infant Lusitanc Duarta the valiant and great Cristiane Those two great Dutchesses of worthy fame For beauties prize in either of our Spaines Which there you see to life se◠out in frame With grace and features that all others staines Of Sessa and Najare each hath her name Whose companie Diana not disdaines For their exceeding beautie and desartes Discretion wisedome and all other partes Behold a golden Phoenix all alone Arare perfection neuer seene before Wisedome as like was not in any one Beautie and grace where neuer could be more She that puls fortune from her vaunting throne And hath her subiect to her will and lore Great Lady Leonore Manuell hath to name The Lusitane light that doth the world inflame The Lady Luise Carillo that in Spaine Hath made Mendoças blood of such renowne Whose beautie and braue grace hath in a chaine Cupid himselfe for loue of her cast downe She 's waiting still vpon our Goddesse traine For chastitie worthie to weare a crowne Of faire and honest an example heere And of them all a mirrour bright and cleere Rehold a sweete perfection and a rare Of her whom fame her selfe doth greatly feare Behold a passing beautie sans compare Founded in grace and wisedome euery wheare That both with reason binde to loue and care For in her doth the lest part beautie beare Lady Eufrase of Guzman is her name Worthy to be eternized with fame That matchlesse beautie sweete and peregrine Not seene in any but in her alone Which euery wit and soule doth so refine With holy loue as like was neuer none Apparelled with Crimson that doth shine With flowres of gold and pearle that there are sowne The Lady Mary Aragon her name The world doth know and he auen doth knowe the same Her doe you knowe to whome Diane her face Doth turne and points her to vs with her hand Who matcheth her in wisedome and in grace And equall is with others in this land In wit and hath in beautie highest place Apt to conduct and leade a martiall band T' is Lady Isabell Mauriq of Padille Who Mars doth conquer and with wonder fill The Ladies Mary Manuell and Ione Osorius are those two which you doe see Whose grace and beautie as the like not knowne Euen Loue himselfe with loue doth wound and slee And this our Goddesse doth not ioy alone To see two such with her but also wee Since then no toong their worthinesse may praise Reason and fame to heauen the same shall raise And those two sisters of such worthy name Either of them a second neuer had Their grace and beautie fils the world with fame This day their golden beames doth each one glad Me thinkes I see them in their perfect frame To which more beautie nature could not adde The Lady Bettrice Sarmient is one With Castro her faire sister so well knowne That cleerest sunne which heere you see doth shine And heere and there her golden beames doth cast She that doth laugh at louers that doe pine In loue and at the teares that they doe wast And at Loues powre whose countenance diuine Saies more then I though praising her so fast T' is Lady Ione Carate in whom we see Surpasing grace and beauties praise to bee The Lady Anne Osorius that braue dame And Castro next to her possesse their place For peerelesse beautie honoured with fame For goodly giftes for modestie and grace But her hard hap alas was much to blame So cruelly her glory to deface Bicause her fortune equall might not bee Vnto her wisedome beautie and degree That matchlesse beautie that 's adorned so With honestie and grace so soueraine Which was with reason chosen to bestowe Her honour in the Temple of Diana Not conquer'd but still conqu'ring high and lowe Her name O Nymphes is Lady Iuliana Neece to that greatest Duke and Conestable Speake fame of her for I am far vnable Behold the beautie on the other part Of many faire and braue Valencian Dames Whom with my pen but more yet with my hart I will procure to celebrate their names Heere Fount of Helicone vouchsafe thy art And heere Minerua helpe me in these blames To tell what those braue Ladies be whose sight Onely to them all eies and harts inuite See heere fowre blasing stars that brightly shine Of whom Fame brutes their name in euery ground That from three famous kingdomes drawe their line And from Cardonas aneient house come downe On th' one side Dukes most excellent decline And from the other scepter throne and crowne Daughters vnto Sogorbe whose golden fame From Atlas vnto Maurus soundes their name The light of all the world the flowre
sees her must commend her Who them can praise her well and not offend her The Lady Isabell Borâ—… here doth stand Perfect and absolute in euery thing Behold her face her fine and dainty hand Ouer whose head the nightingales doe sing Our age she honours and th' Hiberian land Of grace and vertuâ— she 's the onely spring And those to whom nature did beautie giue She staines as fairest that did euer liue She that her haire hath hanging downe and speed Abroad and tide with golden third behinde And that faire face that hath so often led So many harts to bondage of the minde Her Iuorie necke her ties in beautie bred Faire modest gray not looking out of kinde Her famous name is Lady Iuliana That honours â—…ere the Temple of Diana She whom you there doe see whom nature made So curiously at neuer like before Since that her beautie neuer seem'd to fade Nor that a faire one can desire more Whose great deserts and wit doth still perswade Fame to the world her praises to restore Is called Lady Moncia Fenollit To whom Loue yeelds himselfe and doth submit The song of renowned Orpheus was so pleasant in Felismenas eares and in all theirs that heard it that it held them in such a suspence as if they had passed by no other thing but that which they had before their eies Who now hauing particularly viewed the rich chamber of estate with euery thing in it that was woorth the seeing as all was the Nymphes went foorth by a certaine dore into the great hall and by an other out of the hall into a faire garden the beautie whereof stroke no lesse admiration into their mindes then the strange things which they had seene before for amongst the fruitfull trees and sweete flowers were many sepulchers and tombes erected of diuers Nymphes and Ladies which with great puritie had kept their chastitie due to the Goddesse thereof inniolate and vnstained Some of the tombes were adorned with coronets of knottie Iuie others with chapplets of sweete Myrtles and some with garlands of greene Laurell There were also manie Allabluster fountaines in the garden some of Iaspar marble some of other mettall seated under vines which with artificiall arches and wreathes aloft did spred foorth their branches depressed with clusters of coloured grapes The Mytrhe trees grew in manner of fower walles with embattlements and pinnacles on the tops of them and on the sides aboue them were certaine Terrasses and walkes reared vp whereon as ouer all the garden besides did growe many sweete flowers of sundry colours as white Iesmins Woodbyne and many more delightfull to the insatiable eie In the hiddes of the garden stoode a Ieat-stone vpon fower brazen pillers and in the thids of it a tombe framed out of Iaspar which fower Nymphes that were wrought out of white Allablaster did hold vp with their handes and about it stoode manie Tapers of Virgine waxe burning in massie candlestickes of bright siluer that were made in artificiall manner About this tombe stoode certaine Lordes and Knights some fashioned out of stone and mettall other som out of Iaspar marble and other matter Which figures shewed such great sorrow by their countenances that they filled Felismenas hart and all theirs that were looking on the tombe with no lesse greefe then admiration But viewing it narrowly they sawe in a table of shining golde which at the foote of the sepulchre a dead and pale mattone held betweene her hands this Epitaphe subscribed HEere Lady Katherine entombed lies Of Aragon and Sarmient whose fame Doth mount with praise vnto the loftie skies And sounds from North to South her woorthy name Death kil'd her to reuenge the sacrifice Of those she killed when she was a dame Her body 's heere her soule in heauen with pleasure The world vnwoorthy to possesse such treasure After they had read this Epitaphe they sawe an Eagle of blacke marble with displaied wings on the top of the tombe with a golden table betweene her tallons with those verses in it EVen as O death the Planets should remaine Without Apollo and Diana bright The ground without mankinde and beasts againe The Marriner without the North-starre light The fielde without faire flowers grasse or graine The mornings showe without the dewe of night Vertue and beautie so remaine and die Without the dame that in this tombe doth lie When they had read both these Epitaphs and Belisa had vnderstoode by them what the Nymph was that was buried therein and how much Spaine lost by leesing her calling therewithall to minde the vntimely death of her deere Arsileus she could not but with teares breath out these sorrowfull wordes O death how far am I from thinking that thou maiest comfort me with other womens harmes The small time that the world enioyed the great beautie and wisedome wherewith they tell me this Nymph was endowed doth not a little greeue me bicause as she was not her-selfe in loue so did not any deserue she should be so For had she beene I would then account her for so happie a woman by dying as my selfe vnfortunate by seeing how small reckoning thou makest of me cruell death since taking from me all my good and the onely ioy of my life thou dost not leaue me heere but onely to feele the neuer-ceasing paine of this heauie want O my Arsileus O rare wisedome in such yoong yeeres O the most faithfull louer that euer was and the finest wit that the heauens could euer infuse into so braue an ornament of nature What eies may without inundations of reares behold thy sorrowfull absence And what hard hart suffer thy vntimely and difastrous end O Arsenius Arsenius how smal a time wert thou vnable to endure the violent death of thy vnfortunate sonne hauing more occasion to suffer it then my selfe Why didst thou make me cruell Arsenius participate of two deathes Of both which to preuent the least that did greeue me I would haue giuen a thousand liues Farewell happie Nymphe the light and honour of the royall house of Aragon God giue thy soule eternall glory and deliuer mine from so many woes and afflictions wherinto it is so deepely sunke After that Belisa had spoken these wordes and after they had seene many tombes more very richly erected they went out by a backe dore in the garden into a greene meadowe where they found the sage Ladie Felicia recreating her-selfe alone and walking vp and downe who seeing them comming towards her receiued them all with a ioyfull countenance And whilest it was time to go to supper they went to a pleasant walke in a groue of Sicamours harde by where the Nymphes of the sumptuous temple were woont many times to go and disport themselues where sitting downe in a little plat of greene grasse that was encompassed round about with leauie Sicamours they began to discourse one with another of that which did best please their fancies The Lady Felicia called the Shepheard Syrenus and Felismena to
not my sweetest life loue thee more then mine owne soule I woulde neuer haue made such signes of inwarde greefe for the wounding thoughts which I brought with me whē I came with my selfe all alone I passed away with a better hart but now that I am constrained to go from thee I haue no force to endure them at all And because thou shalt be no longer in suspence of knowing the cause of my sorrow I will tell thee what lately passed And then he told her all the matter not leauing any thing out in the end of his tale with many teares saying thus vnto her So that thy captiue faire Lady is also prisoner to the Gouernour of Alora And the paine of that imprisonment which thou hast cast vpon me and taught my hart to suffer I feele not but the torment and bondage by liuing without thee I account woorse then any death Wherupon thou seest that my sighes are rather arguments of greater loyalty then of any want thereof And with this he began againe to be so pensiue and sad as he was before he had tolde her his greefe But then with a merrie countenance she said vnto him Trouble not thy minde Abyndaraes with these thoughts for I will take the care and remedie of this greefe vpon mee as a thing that toucheth mee most of all and the more since it is not denied any prisoner that hath giuen his worde to returne to prison to satisfie it by sending the ransome that shall be demaunded of him Wherefore set thy selfe downe what summe thou wilt for I haue the keyes of al my fathers treasure which I will put into thy hands leaue it all at thy disposition Rodrigo of Naruaez is a curteous gentleman a good knight and one who gaue thee once thy libertie And as thou hast acquainted him with the trust of these affaires so is he now the more bound to vse greater virtue and gentlenes towardes thee I am sure he will be contented with reason for hauing thee in his power and prison he must perforce set thee at libertie when he hath the value of thy ransome I see well faire Ladie said the Abencerraje againe that the loue which thou dost beare me will not suffer thee to giue me the best counsell for I will neuer commit so foule a fault as this For if I was bound to fulfill my word when I was alone and without thee now that I am thine the bond is greater I will therefore returne to Allora and yeeld my selfe into the Gouernors hands and when I haue done what I am bound to do let Fortune do with me what she will Nay let me rather die saide Xarifa if thou goest to be prisoner then once desire to remaine here at libertie For being thy captiue by duetie I am bound to accompanie thee in this iourney for the extreme loue that I beare thee whereas also the feare of my fathers frownes which I haue purchased by offending him will let me do no lesse The Moore weeping for ioy to heare these words embraced her saying Thou neuer ceasest my deerest soule to heape fauours vpon my happie head do therefore what thou wilt for this is my resolution With this determination they rose before it was day and prouiding some necessarie things for their iourney they went verie secretly towards Allora and when the day began to waxe cleere Xarifa went with her face couered with a maske for feare of being knowen and by reason of the greath aste they made they came in good time to Alora where going directly to the castle knocking at the gate it was opened to them out of hand by the Centrinels who had notice of that was past and what they should do The valiant Gouernor receiued them curteously and Abyndaraes going to the gate and taking his wise by the hand brought her vnto him said Behold Rodrigo of Naruaez if I keepe not well my word and appointed time For promising thee to returne thy prisoner insteed of one I bring thee two for one was enough to ouercome many Behold here my Ladie iudge if I haue not iustly suffered for her sake accept vs now for thine for in thy virtuous and noble minde I repose my whole trust and confidence and into thy hands commit her deere and chiefest honour The Gouernor was verie glad to see them both and said to Xarifa I know not faire Ladie which of you haue conquered each other in loue and curtesie but truely thinke my selfe greatly bound vnto you both Come in therefore and rest you in your owne house the which from henceforth as also the master of it accept for none other After this friendly entertainement they went with him into his dining chamber where after a little while they refreshed themselues bicause they came somewhat wearie The Gouernor asked the Moore how he did for his wounds I thinke said he that what with the way and what with paine they are somewhat rankled which faire Xarifa hearing with an altered an appalled countenance said vnto him Alas how comes this to passe my Lord Haue you any woundes about you and I not knowe them Who escapes saide he from thine needes little to care for any other Truth it is that at our late skirmish in the night I got two little woundes which my troublesome iourney and negligence in curing them hath made somewhat worse but all is but little or nothing It is best saide the Gouernour that you lay you downe and I will send for a Chirurgeon that is heere in the Castell to cure them Following which counsell faire Xarifa caused him to put off his apparell and though she set a good face on the matter bicause she woulde not giue him any occasion to feele her inwarde greefe yet was she altered much and troubled in her minde The Chirurgeon came and searching his wounds saide that they were not dangerous bicause the signe was not in those places when he receiued them and also bicause they were smitten ouerthwart would not be long in healing For with a certaine ointment that he made out of hand the paine of them was somewhat asswaged and in fower daies by meanes of the great care the Chirurgeon had in healing them hee was as sound and whole as euer he was before But one day after dinner was done the Abenceraje saide thus vnto the Gouernour As you are wise Rodrigo of Naruaez so can you not choose but by the manner of our being at Coyn and of our comming hither imagine more then you haue seene which affaires of ours by our owne misfortunes driuen to this desperate though happy euent wherein they nowe are must be I hope by your aduise and helpe brought to some good end This is faire Xarifa of whom I tolde you This is my Lady and my deerely beloued wife In Coyn she woulde not stay for feare of her Father For though he knowes not what hath passed betweene vs yet she feared least this accident
as it strooke the Nymph in a great admiration so likewise in no lesse compassion of his paines but when she vnderstood that vndoubtedly he was Arsileus the ioy that she conceiued thereof was so great that with words she could not tell it and thought her selfe vnable at that present to do any more but with inward sence to surfet on the sweet ioy of such happie newes Behold then what might be expected of comfortlesse Belisa when she should vnderstand of these gladsome tydings The Nymph therfore casting hir eies on Arsileus not without teares of inward gladnes said vnto him I would I had thy ripe wit and fluent toong Arsileus to make thee know what infinite pleasure I conceiue by the good successe that Fortune hath solicited for my Belisa because I might otherwise be deceiued by thinking that so simple a conceit and barren wordes as mine are could declare it I euer thought that the coutinuall griefe of my Belisa should be at length conuerted into great gladnes induced thereunto by the great deserts of her singular beautie wisdome faith that she hath euer kept firme and inuiolate but did euer feare on the other side that Fortune neuer made account to giue it her so amply and in such sorte as I did desire it bicause it is her condition for the most parte to bring her effectes to passe cleane contrarie to their desires that loue well Happie maiest thou call thy selfe Arsileus since thou didst deserue to bee so well beloued in life that couldest not bee forgotten after death And bicause the deferring of such great ioy for a hart that needes it so much may not be too long giue me leaue to goe and carrie so good newes to thy Shepherdesse as those of thy life and of her deceiued minde And depart not from this place vntill I come againe with her whom thou dost so much desire and most deserue to see As I can expect nothing else saide Arsileus from such excellent wisdome and exceeding beautie as thine but all ioy and contentment whatsoeuer euen so faire Nymph bicause thou dost so greatly desire to giue it me thy will be done whereby I hope to gouerne my selfe as well in this as in all things else that shall ensue thereof Whereupon they taking leaue of one another Polydora went to tel Belisa these inopinate newes Arsileus remained still tarying for them vnder the pleasant shadow of those green Sicamours who to entertaine the time with something as they are wont to doe that are attending some ioyfull thing tooke out his Rebecke and to the tune of it began with sweetest voice to sing these verses following NOw Loue and fortune turne to me againe And now each one enforceth and assures A hope that was dismaied dead and vaine And from the harbour of mishaps recures A hart that is consum'd in lurning fire With vnexpected gladnes that adiures My soule to lay aside her mourning tire And senses to prepare a place for ioy Care in obliuion endlesse shall expire For euery greefe of that extreme annoy Which when my torment raign'd my soule alas Did feele the which long absence did destroy Fortune so well appaies that neuer was So great the torment of my passed ill As is the ioy of this same good I passe Returne my hart sur saulted with the fill Of thousand great vnrests and thousand feares Enioy thy good estate if that thou will And wearied eies leaue of your burning teares For soone you shall behold her with delight For whom my spoiles with glorie Cupid beares Senses which seeke my star so cleere and bright By making heere and there your thoughts estray Tell me what will you feele before her sight Hence solitarinesse torments away Felt for her sake and wearied members cast Of all your paine redeem'd this happy day O stay not time but passe with speedie hast And Fortune hinder not her comming now O God betides me yet this greefe at last Come my sweete Shepherdesse the life which thou Perhaps didst thinke was ended long ago At thy commaund is ready still to bow Comes not my Shepherdesse desired so O God what if she 's lost or if she stray Within this wood where trees so thicke doe growe Or if this Nymph that lately went away Perhaps forgot to go and seeke her out No no in her obliuion neuer lay Thou onely art my Shepherdesse about Whose thoughts my soule shall finde her ioy and rest Why comm'st not then to assure it from doubt O see'st thou not the sunne passe to the vvest And if it passe and I behold thee not Then I my vvonted torments vvill request And thou shalt vvaile my hard and heauie lot When Polydora went from Arsileus not far from thence she met with the Shepherdesse Belisa who was going to recreate her selfe in the greene wood in the companie of the two Nymphes Cynthia and Doria who seeing her comming in such haste began to be afraid thinking that she ran away from some thing from the which it behoued them also to flie away But now when she came neerer vnto them the ioy that they perceiued by her milde eies and countenance did warrant them from danger and being come to them she went presently to the Shepherdesse Belisa and imbracing her with great ioy and gladnes saide thus vnto her If thou knewest from whom this imbracement came thou wouldst with greater content faire Shepherdesse receiue it then now thou dost It can come from no part faire Nymph said she where I may more ioyfully accept it then from thine owne selfe since he from whom with the supre most ioy in the world I should entertaine it is not now in the world And I would desire to liue no longer if I were now altogither depriued of the content that this miserable life may at some times affoorde me which onely I account faire Nymph thy friendly and gracious companie This life saide Polydora from henceforth I hope thou shalt enioy with more content then thou canst imagine And bicause thou maist knowe how let vs sit vnder the shade of this greene Sicamour and I will acquaint thee with such matters as shall reuiue thy spirits and decaied soule Belisa and the Nymphes sat them downe taking Polydora in the mids who said to Belisa Tell me faire Shepherdesse how certaine art thou of the death of Arsenius and of Arsileus Belisa vnable to stop the sudden eruption of her violent teares answered So certaine as one that beheld that tragicall spectacle with her owne eies the one shot thorow with an arrowe the other killing himselfe with his owne Faulchion But what wilt thou say to one that will tell thee that these two whom thou didst see dead are aliue and in perfect health Her would I answere saide Belisa that told me this that she had a desire to renew my teares and to bring those to my thoughts againe whose remembrance is my death or that she tooke a delight to sport her selfe with my greefes
answered him thus If it be true Danteus that there is any loue in the world I haue borne it thee and as great as thou thy selfe knowest Neuer any of these Shepherds that bring their flockes to seede in the fieldes of Mondego and to drinke in these cleere waters obtained so much as one onely word of me whereby thou mightest haue occasion to complaine of Duarda nor of the loue that she hath euer showen thee Thy teares and burning sighes haue neuer touched any neerer at the hart then me The day mine eies beheld thee not could not see anything that pleased them The bullocks that thou didst keepe were of more account to me and I had a greater care of them then of mine owne And for the most part fearing least the keepers of this delightfull Champaine might hinder their feed I went to the top of this little hill to see if I could espie them whereas I brought mine in place when they could not feed the grasse of these faire riuer bankes without feare of being impounded And I was not afraid to put my selfe in this subiection and danger to put thee in assurance and safetie I know well that of this my subiect and apparant kind of loue thy affiance did arise and of thy affiance that which thou dost Thou did'st marie Andresa whose soule is now in glorie a thing that in times past made me to die for griefe but I prayed to God that I might see my selfe at last reuenged of her and thee and after thy marriage I haue suffered that which thou and others sufficiently knowe And in the end my Fortune hath concluded that thine shall giue me no more paine and care Let me then inioy my libertie and hope not to regaine that with me which by thine owne folly and default thou hast so fondly lost The Shepherdesse hauing made an ende of her sharpe answer and Felismena beginning to arbitrate the matter between them they heard a great noise in the other side of the meadow like to the sounde of blowes and smiting of swordes vpon harneies as if some armed men had fought togither so that all of them with great haste ranne to the place where they heard the noise to see what the matter was And being come somewhat neere they saw in a little Iland which the riuer with a round turning had made three knights fighting against one And although he defended himselfe valiantly by shewing his approoued strength and courage yet the three knights gaue him so much to do that he was faine to helpe himselfe by all the force and pollicie he could They fought on foote for their horses were tied to little trees that grew thereabouts And now by this time the knight that sought all alone and defended himselfe had laide one of them at his feete with a blowe of his good sword which ended his life But the other two that were very strong and valiant redoubled their force and blowes so thicke on him that he looked for no other thing then death The Shepherdesse Filismena seeing the knight in so great danger and if she did not speedily helpe him that he could not escape with life was not afraide to put hers in ieopardy by doing that which in such a case she thought she was bound to performe wherefore putting a sharpe headed arrowe into her bowe shee saide vnto them Keepe out knights for it is not beseeming men that make account of this name and honour to take aduantage of their enimies with so great oddes And ayming at the sight of one of their helmets she burst it with such force that the arrow running into his eies came out of the other side of his head so that he fell downe dead to the ground When the distressed knight sawe two of his enimies dead he ran vpon the third with such force as if he had but then begun the combat but Felismena helped him out of that trouble by putting another arrow into her bow the which transpiercing his armour she left vnder his left pap and so iustly smot his hart that this knight also followed his two companions When the Shepherds and the knight beheld what Felismena had done and how at two shootes she had killed two such valiant knights they were all in great woonder The knight therefore taking off his helmet and comming vnto her saide How am I able faire Shepherdesse to requite so great a benefite and good turne as I haue receiued at thy hands this day but by acknowledging this debt for euer in my gratefull minde When Felismena beheld the knights face and knew him her sences were so troubled that being in such a traunce she could scarce speake but comming to her-selfe againe she answered him Ah my Don Felix this is not the first debt wherein thou art bound vnto me And I cannot beleeue that thou wilt acknowledge this as thou saiest no more then thou hast done greater then this before Beholde to what a time and ende my fortune and thy forgetnesse hath brought me that she that was woont to be serued of thee in the citie with Tilt and Tourneyes and honoured with many other things whereby thou didst deceiue me or I suffered my selfe to be deceiued doth nowe wander vppe and downe exiled from her natiue countrey and libertie for vsing thus thine owne If this brings thee not into the knowledge of that which thou owest me remember how one whole yeere I serued thee as thy page in the Princesse Cesarinas Court and how I was a solicitor against my selfe without discouering my selfe or my thoughts vnto thee but onley to procure thy remedie and to helpe the greefe which thine made thee feele How many times did I get thee fauours from thy mistresse Celia to the great cost of my teares and greefes all which account but small Don Felix in respect of those dangers had they beene vnsufficient wherein I would haue spent my life for redresse of thy paines which thy iniurious loue affoorded thee And vnlesse thou art weary of the great loue that I haue borne thee consider and weigh with thy selfe the strange effects which the force of loue hath caused me to passe I went out of my natiue countrey and came to serue thee to lament the ill that thou did'st suffer to take vpon me the iniuries and disgraces that I receiued therein and to giue thee any content I cared not to lead the most bitter and painefull life that euer woman liued In the habite of a tender and daintie Ladie I loued thee more then thou canst imagine and in the habite of a base page I serued thee a thing more contrarie to my rest and reputation then I meane now to reherse and yet now in the habite of a poore and simple Shepherdesse I came to do thee this small seruice What remaines then more for me to doe but to sacrifice my life to thy louelesse soule if with the same yet I could giue thee more content and if in lieu
so duly And aftervvardes if that the same deceased Body and soule may be in loue increased In life and death and after death so hainous Seluagia shall for euer loue Syluanus Syrenus being very glad for the contentment of their companie and to see them both loue one another with such mutuall and great affection and knowing that it belonged to the dutie of friendship and though he had refused that they woulde entreate him in the end to sing without more ado tooke his Rebecke and sung thus THe Gods graunt you to frolicke in your hall His yeeres that so long time vvith nature striue And that in happie fortune you may liue Free from all kinde of sorrovves great or small And in your loue one haire may neuer fall Of iealousie a plague eid like a sieue Let heauens to temporall 〈◊〉 their fauours giue Fire aire sea earth and nature at your call The rot may neuer touch your soundest stockes Feare of the vvoolfe your shades may not molest And vvily foxe not feare your pretie lambes In plenty may encrease your goodly stockes Tvvo kids may yeerely yeane your fruitfull dams And your faire Evves vvith double tvvinlings blest The Shepherds hauing made an end of their sweete songs rose vp and casting their hairy scrippes on their shoulders staying themselues vpon their knotty sheephooks began to go on their way Who being comen out of that pleasant place into a faire meade to passe the time away and lighten their trauell and length of their way went inuenting and exercising diuers pastorall sports of which they made Seluagia iudge betweene them both sometimes throwing with their slings at some white or marke that they could espie within their reach vpon the side of some hill or tree sometimes trying with great dexteritie the goodnes of their slings to see who coulde giue the greatest cracke with them sometimes striuing who coulde throwe his Sheepehooke farthest sometimes contending to pitch them neerest to some white or Daisie in the way before them and whether of them with the strength of his arme could come nighest to some other marke as farre as they could reach and sometimes striuing who could smite a stone fardest with them In this sort they passed the time and wearines of their way vntill the broade mantell of the darke night beginning to ouerspred those plaines and fieldes made an ende of their sports and warned them to take their rest where they lodged that night The next day in the morning betimes when the prety birdes with their warbling notes filling the aire not yet fully cleere with harmonie foretold the comming of the Vermillion morning they began to make an end of their former iourney And now did the sunne cast downe his beames hotter vpon their heads and with greater heate shewing his forces when the three Shepherds came in sight of their knowne fieldes and plaines so often troden of them before Whereupon they now began to know their wandring flockes and amongst those Dianas sheepe although they were mingled with the flockes of her vnwoorthy husband Delius And so as Syluanus was saying These are the flockes of the vngratefull and disdainfull Shepherdesse Diana and of the Shepherd Delius happie without desert Seluagia saide It is not good to go by and not salute Diana if we finde her there And so they went that way to seeke her out where they had not gone farre but they sawe her standing very sadde and leaning against a great Oke with her elbow vpon her sheepehooke and her cheeke vpon the palme of her hande whereby one might haue iudged the care and sorrow that so much troubled her pensiue minde After a little while as though she was angrie with herselfe for casting her-selfe into so great a greefe she put her hand into her bosome and tooke out a fine little Baggepipe the which putting to her mouth to play on it in that very instant she threwe it to the ground and without more adoe sliding downe along the bodie of the tree sat her downe as if for great feeblenes she had not beene able to staie herselfe on her feete and casting out a sorrowfull sigh and looking vpon her harmlesse Baggepipe she spake these words Accursed Baggepipe consuming fire burne thee for the greefe and anguish that thou hast giuen me I brought thee with me to lighten and asswage my cruell sorrow in which dutie thou hast not onely failed but redoubled it the more Thou shalt not then accompanie me any more for the ill requitall of that loue wherewith I did euer cherish thee Now I am not any more for thee nor thou to serue my turne There shalt thou lie for the parching sunne to open thee making thee as drie as I am comfortlesse and for the raine to rotte thee making thee as moist as my cheekes spunged with continuall teares Ah woe is me how am I deceiued in thinking that the silly and sencelesse Baggepipe is in fault of that which enuious Fortune hath made me feele and in forgetting being so skilfull in other things how more abundantly my fortune surchargeth my soule with paine and troubles then this poore Baggepipe with any fault or iniurie How do I afflict and molest my selfe for a smal cause hauing so many to wearie me withall O God how comes it to passe that the cause of my passed ioy and gladnes is now the occasion of my present sorrow and that those things which before were light and easie are now most greeuous torments and burdens to me Howe soone is pleasure exiled from my poore soule wherein it was woont to make so sweete a soiourne In how short a time haue I lost my deere content whylom my only trustie companion And how easily am I depriued of all ioy and happines which I once so much at will possessed To what end doth it auaile me to be endowed with beauty and wit which with modestie I may chalenge since all do affirme the same in me vnlesse they were sufficient to remooue some part of my greefe But I beseech the soueraigne Gods that I were so farre from beautie and wit as I am at this present from ioy and comfort so that either the first had not brought me to this painfull condition of life or want of the second passed it away without feeling it so sensiblie O Syrenus and Syluanus how are yee now reuenged of me although it be vnknowne to you thou Syluanus of the contempt I did vniustly beare thee thou Syrenus of the ill requitall I gaue thee for thy sincere and earnest loue How neere alas doth the sorrowfull memorie of that ioyfull time come to my minde that did so soone slide out of my hands I would the Gods had beene so pitifull to me at one and selfe-same time to haue ended my daies and those delightfull howers When she had spoken these words she gaue so great a sobbe and such vehement sighes that it seemed she had no more life left to animate her afflicted
After they had agreed vpon these matters they determined to know of Firmius if he woulde remaine in those parts any long time and if it were his will to take vpon him the charge and keeping of their flockes till their returne wherupon they went to him and asked him his name and knowing it would haue knowne from whence he came and what he was But perceiuing these demands did not like him very wel they would not vrge him farther then his own will pleasure but they told him what they had agreed vpon if he thought good to do it He gaue them many thankes for the good opinion and confidence they had in him not knowing what he was saying he was very glad to do it For though he was minded not to stay in that countrey yet to do them any seruice he could he woulde at such time make his abode there during the time they went about their other busines In the end after they had agreed with him they deliuered him their flockes which he kept so well and charily all the time that they were yet at home that they were very glad they had founde out so good a keeper but hee was more that his fortune was so good to haue so fit an occasion to remaine where hee thought he might somtimes enioy Dianas presence with so good an excuse and not of intent to procure the same In these daies though they were but a fewe none durst take in hande to play on their Bagpipes and Rebecks for so sweete were Firmius his songs and so melodious his voice wherewith so greatly he rauished the rest that they thought their time but ill bestowed that was not spent in hearing him They went many times to intreate with Diana for him but she was so froward and disdainefull that their conuersation and speeches with her and her answers to them againe pleased not each other verie well Not her not bicause she was not glad to see those Shepherds and Syrenus especially but bicause it was a great griefe and torment to her minde to haue him before her eies solliciting for another who was sometimes all her ioy and delight hauing yet some few reliques of her former loue she bare him and to see him now so obliuious of all the same Not the Shepherds bicause being so iocond merry they woulde not haue any sad in their companie especially Diana to whom they wished all the good that might be though now in another sort then in times past they did it And the company both of the one and other neither pleased Diana nor themselues bicause that sorrow and solitarines which pleased Diana the Shepherdes eschewed and fled and the delights and ioyfull companie that the Shepherds sought out Diana did vtterly forsake So that if they went to see her it was onely to driue out of her minde if they coulde her great and greeuous thoughts Into the which Seluagia seeing her on a day so plunged to ridde her from them saide So may the Gods be fauourable vnto thee Diana and giue thee that content which thou most desirest if thou wouldst sing and play on thy Bagpipe a little How art thou deceiued Seluagia said Diana by thinking that I should hope for content when I know assuredly there is none at all left for me bicause all the waies whereby it shoulde haue passage into my soule are now stopped vp And this is my greatest greefe that I haue no hope at all neuer to be ridde from my continuall sorrow One onely meane whereon my chiefest hope dependeth is left which is vntimely death And yet fortune being in euery thing so contrary to me hath taken it away also from me since I cannot giue it my selfe without great infamie and shame to remaine me euer after to my name and memorie which shoulde not yet be a hinderance to the performance of it nor I would not care for the same if there were not another matter in the way Thou dost request me to singe and alas I can do nothing but weepe The day that you came home I essaied to do it but demand of my hart if not of my Baggepipe what passed for this remained afflicted and full of greefe and that throwen away in a profounde and painfull passion where yet I thinke it lies beseeching the Soueraigne Gods that as I had strength and a hart to cast my senceles Bagpipe away I had also the power to cast my hart from mee that then and nowe doth feele such excessiue woes So that now hauing forgotten my singing and left my Bagpipe pardon me if herein I cannot pleasure thee Then said Syrenus to Seluagia It is not in Dianas power faire Shepherdesse to do any thing against thy will Nor in her power said Diana to haue any thing fall out to her owne will But since in times past saide Syrenus when the conquering of thee did most of all behooue me thou didst euer carrie away the victorie why then in this wherin I loose nothing nor care to be ouercommed need I pretend to be conquer our I will not enter into disputations with thee and therefore let it be as thou wilt O how manie inward sighes did euerie one of these words and the remembrance of that which was past cost afflicted Diana But for loue of thy selfe said Syrenus to Diana let vs goe and seeke out thy Bagpipe for it is no reason thou shouldest requite it so ill that hath done thee so good seruice And by the way we will goe to our flockes and bring thee acquainted with Firmius of whom I haue told thee sometimes before and if we could intreate him to sing I know thou wouldest take great delight to heare him the one for his great iudgement and wisedome the other bicause he is as sorrowful as thy selfe whereby thou mightest I thinke receiue some comfort and content But if Syrenus had knowen what should afterwards haue befallen vnto him of these praises and of other things which he told of Firmius he would not onely haue left vndone what he did nor spoken at all in the matter but not once haue had a thought thereof Thou hast tolde me so much of this new Shepherd said Diana that I must needes goe see him for there are two things in him thou tellest me befitting my humours so well but especially his melancholie and sadde life wherein I shall best conforme my selfe with him Now were they come in sight of the place where Diana had left her Bagpipe when they saw Firmius singing to the tune of his Rebecke We are come in good time said Syrenus for Firmius is singing and happily I must needes say since so seldome he is wont to do it being continually so full of sad and pensiue thoughts Comming therefore softly and secretly on bicause they would not be seene of him they heard him singing this transuersed Sextiuen IN this greene Meade mine Eies what doe you see The Bagpipe of my Nymph so passing faire Vnlesse my
sing and bicause thou art such a friend to wailing and sadnes it were not meete thou shouldst sing at my will and pleasure but to leaue it to thine own But yet let vs tune concord with these Shepherds and aske them what thou shalt sing Thou commest too late to agree and concord with vs now said Syrenus but bicause it pleaseth thee so entreat him to expresse by his song the cause of his sorrow and passions Let him sing what thou wilt saide Diana and what hee will bicause thou maist not say that I neuer knew how to consorme my selfe with thee Then did Firmius take his Rebecke and began to sing in manner following SHepherds giue eare and now be still Vnto my passions and their cause And what they be Since that with such an earnest will And such great signes of friendships lawes You aske it me It is not long since I was whole Nor since I did in euery part Sreewill resigne It is not long since in my sole Possession I did knowe my hart And to be mine It is not long since euen and morrow All pleasure that my hart could finde Was in my power It is not long since greefe and sorrow My louing hart began to binde And to deuoure It is not long since companie I did esteeme a ioy indeede Still to frequent Nor long since solitarily I liu'd and that this life did breede My sole content Desirous I wretched to see But thinking not to see so much As then I sawe Loue made me knowe in what degree His valour and braue force did touch Me with his lawe First he did put no more nor lesse Into my hart then he did view That there did want But when my brest in such excesse Of liuely flames to burne I knew Then were so scant My ioies that now did so abate My selfe estranged euery way From former rest That I did knowe that my estate And that my life was euery day In deathes arrest I put my hand into my side To see what was the cause of this Vnwonted vaine Where I did feele that torments hied By endlesse death to preiudice My life vvith paine Bicause I savve that there did vvant My hart wherein I did delight My deerest hart And he that did the same supplant No iurisdiction had of right To play that part The iudge and robber that remaine Within my soule their cause to trie Are there all one And so the giuer of the paine And he that is condemn'd to die Or I or none To die I care not any way Though without why to die I greeue As I doe see But for bicause I heard her say None die for loue for I beleeue None such there bee Then this thou shalt beleeue by mee Too late and without remedie As did in breefe Anaxarete and thou shalt see The little she did satisfie With after greefe The Shepherdes gaue a diligent eare to Firmius song to see if by the same hee would giue some light of the loue that he did beare to Diana but he was so vigilant to the contrarie that though hee reported the cause of his passion yet they could vnderstand no more then they did at the beginning It was needlesse for the three Shepherdes to know Firmius passion by hearing him sing who wished rather that he had manifested it by words that he might not afterwards denie it or to say better confesse it when any such speech shoulde bee offered thereof For whensoeuer they tolde him of it he spake of it so obscurely that hee neither confessed nor denied that he loued her And so to this intent he finely cloaked with Syrenus that Diana by his meanes should demand the cause of his sorrow thinking with himself that for any thing that might ensue being demanded by her he woulde not deny to manifest it vnto her But if he could haue concealed his loue as well by deedes as he did by wordes the Shepherds might haue beene as wise as at the first for euer knowing it But it fell not out so to Diana who vnderstood well by his last verse that all the rest were onely ment of her for it answered to the latter end of her speech when they both talked so secretly togither And so she made great account of Firmius for his wittie and short answer Euery one commended his singing and Diana as well for this and for that which he sung on the Baggepipe as also for that which he had spoken to Syrenus was somewhat enclined to like him thinking verie well of that which he had sung and spoken Considering besides that the trouble which the Shepherd felt being in her presence was no small cooling carde and a sharpe bridle to his toong For this feare which Diana cleerely perceiued was for her sake she soone tooke away bicause Firmius might be more accepted of her if there were at the lest any thing acceptable or pleasant to one that found her-selfe in so miserable an estate as she was But when the song was ended Diana said she would depart bicause she had staied there a great while and would go seeke out her husband Delius who would not willingly haue beene one moment out of her sight and companie Being determined therefore to depart Syrenus entreated her to take her Baggepipe againe with her if so it pleased her bicause none other should vnwoorthely enioy such a sweete Trophee as Firmius had made of it She tooke it bicause she thought thereby to shewe some especiall fauour to Firmius And taking it from the tree she said vnto it God knowes I do not carrie thee as a meane to ease or mittigate my passion and sorrow my intent being cleane contrarie for though I might seeke some fauour and helpe to sustaine them being so many as they are yet will I not aduantage me with any such remedy but I do take thee with me bicause those Shepherds might not haue an occasiō to blame me for discurtesie When she had spoken this she turned to them and asked them when they would depart who told her in the morning for now they had set all things in good order and durst not stay any longer bicause Felicia about that time would looke for their comming whom they had promised to returne assoone as they had set their flockes in good order and in the custodie of some faithfull Shepherdes Their departure greeued Diana not a little though she woulde not manifest so much but saide Since it is then so the Gods be fauourable vnto you and be your guides They thanked her againe and praied her not to sorget to looke to their affaires as they would be carefull for hers and charged her besides to thinke vpon Firmius and his busines and to supply his wants if in their absence he stoode in need of any thing And that the pleasures and fauours that she did him they would esteeme as much as if she had bestowed them on themselues since hee remained there to keepe and
for the great force and desire they haue to weepe It was so said I for I would haue thought they had opened my brest Crimine with a gracious smile who is no lesse in all she doth began to iest a little with me and vnlacing my bodie looking into my brest said Truely thy dreame hath not shewed thee any thing contrary to the truth for it is open and hath beene to receiue into it there all possibilitie of beautie And yet if thou wilt giue me leaue I will tell thee more She had little neede to aske me leaue that tooke it of her-selfe so frankly to tell me what shee did But tell me what thou wilt saide I. Although thy brest said she is open yet hath Delicius his more open to receiue thee in But rather thine saide I to locke vp Parthenius in it That would not greeue me said she if this might be truely affirmed of thee and him but knowest thou what is come into my minde that we spent too short time yesterday in seeking out the rest of the song that was written in the tree Why what remained said I This would I know saide Crimine Dost thou not remember that the last verse of it said that bicause that tree was not able to containe any more he went to write it in some other tree It is true indeed said I. Now hast thou come said Doria to the point which we all desired to know but Stela said on As thou louest thy felse therefore said Crimine let vs goe a little sooner to day and we will seeke out the place where he wrote the rest and to reade againe that which we found yesterday Let it be as thou please said I. And so with this determination we went betimes to the place where we had beene the day before and began againe to read the song that we had read but not without manie teares where by and by not far from thence we found out a great Sicamour whose tender and white barke serued him for paper for this which he wrote in it AH well away how firme and suer ar Torments and paines in each true louers hart For when I thought that I did wander far And changed place this fierce and amorous war And wounding greefe would from my soule depart Yet now in fine by proofe too well I knowe That greefe and sorrowes absence doth not kill As some doe say but makes them more to growe And wit so deerely bought with double woe Is bought I needes must say against my will I goe from place to place and neuer yet My haunting greefe and cares doe goe away I am so diuers in my wandring wit That in one place I neuer rest nor sit Yet still the same are sworne with me to stay My fainting legs my drooping bodie beares From place to place and yet fierce paine sustaines It is so seasoned with my swelling teares That since my Life of late my loue for sweares All comforts that I offer it disdaines My cruell paine wherewith my life is spent I would contemne and would but little make If that my Mistresse would in minde consent That I should beare this ceaselesse punishment Onely for her for her most sweetest sake But that which makes so wide and deepe a tent Of greefe within my hart and makes it die As often as I thinke how she is bent Is that to that she neuer will relent Where remedie nor any helpe doth lie After that loue so strong and firme a fort Had built within my brest vnto his minde Louing a death I rather would support Then now to liue after another sort Or for my selfe in libertie to finde For speedie death I knowe must be my fate With such a life as now I doe endure With mine owne handes to end this hard debate To cruell death I will set ope the gate And in my brest will lodge it most secure Who doubts that if but once she came to knowe My greeuous paines and passions which I feele But that to me some pitie she would showe Though in her brest where pitie yet may growe She had a hart harder then any steele Who doubtes if that she did but knowe the smart Her louer feeles his plaintes and endlesse mone But that she would with milde and gentle hart Pitie his case although she had each part Of it as hard as craggie Dimond stone Orpheus when descended into hell For faire Euridice his wife and past The triple-headed-dog that did not yell Nor barke the Fiends that in Auernum dwell Made not so milde at his sweete sound agast As my tormenting passions and my paine Would mooue the hardest hart to heauinesse And euery hart in all the world againe And not without great reason nor in vaine But that of my most cruell Shepherdesse Ah woe how haue I thus deluded beene How haue I liu'd deceiued in this art Since that so simply I did ouerweene That there could be no difference betweene Her fairest face and her most cruell hart What man betwixt the cope of heauen and hell Is there of wit so simple and so slender That could but thinke or once imagine well That such a hard and cruell hart could dwell In such a daintie bodie and so tender What humane wit O greefe that I doe see it Would euer thinke that crueltie possest Her hart or such a Tygresse hart to be yet Placed in her whose outward shew to me yet Should promise peace and in so milde a brest Who would haue thought it almost was in vaine That from her toong distilling honie drops So fierce an answere should proceede againe And wordes she vtterea with so great disdaine Bittrer to me then gall or wildest hops And that I am deceiued in this ground Of my faire Nymph I ioy with all my hart Bicause I would not thinke there could be found In so great good a thing that should redound To so great ill and to so bad a part It shall be therefore best for me ywisse Not to suspect in her so foule a crime That she is hard or that she cruell is But my mishap that euer went amisse Euen from my birth-day to this very time Bicause my paines should neuer be aboue My ioies and care before my sweete content Should come I am most constant in my loue Sans widowhood like to the turtle doue That losse of her companion doth lament In liuing and in louing too amaine I thinke I goe beyond her euery howre But yet I am not like to her againe In that I did not first a sweete obtaine Before I tasted of a bitter sowre All that my wofull minde should recreate The water that is christall pure and cleere I cannot choose nor otherwise but hate Bicause I would not see so bad a state And such a haplesse body wander heere Like as the snake or adder that doth bite I flie with hastie foote and doe not stay In any place where greene may giue delight For this doth
leese his hew and vigour quite Where hope begins to faile and to decay If musing all alone by chaunce I stay Vpon my greefe that smallest ioy denies And see some spring or fountaine in the way I flie and softly to my selfe I say Let that suffice that runneth fro mine eies And if in taking some poore little pleasure If pleasure in a haplesse state I take And view the greene the countries hope and treasure I flie and say that hope of death must measure My minde with ioy that doth my pleasures make According to my life in great disgrace And miseries euen from my mothers wombe I thinke and as I am in such a case That if I follow death with happie pace Death will not yet vnto my succour come I thinke sometimes alas weake is my might To giue my selfe some comfort and some rest But they doe flie from me by day and night In me poore wretch they can take no delight And so my paines doe double in my brest It wearies me for greefe doth euer range To be so long together in a place Yet my vnwearied greefes doe neuer change Their place but still my seldome ioies in strange And cruell manner from my breâ—… doe chace Heere stay my song and tell the world my smart And let this tree with thee haue neuer end For with me shall my haunting greefe depart For it will neuer leaue my wofull hart Like to a trustic good and faithfull friend Lord Felix as soone as Stela had made an ende of the song turned him to Polydora saying Art thou now satisfied So much said she that for a little I would not sticke to say that it is better then the first But knowest thou what I thinke of it said Syrenus That the first is finer pretier this more sententious witty with this I am pleased and it came finely in when he said very wel that first the ill came to him before any good since without widow-hood he suffered like griefe to the Turtle Doue for he esteemed it but a meane sorrow to be a widower bicause it was a signe of sometime enioying the thing he loued But it seemed a most greeuous thing vnto him not hauing at any time the possession of the thing he loued to be depriued of it Truely said Felismena thou art much beholding to him Stela being so hard vnto him as thou wert to cleere thee of all fault and that none might be laid vpon thee he said Thou wert not cruell onely attributing his disgrace to his ill fortune But in one thing said Doria he shewed his infinite loue more then in any thing else when he said he rested not in any place I might well haue noted something said Syluanus but that I would not hinder so pleasant a discourse Tell on therefore faire Stela as the Gods graunt thee thine owne desires Hauing made an end of reading this that was in the Sicamour said Stela prosecuting her tale neither of vs could speake for a good while Crimine for pitie and I for greefe But afterwards Crimine said Dost thou thinke Stela that I had not reason to helpe thy great need What had become now of Delicius if thy rigour and hardnes had lasted till this time That which is now I answered and if any other thing had happened I would not haue greatly cared Say not so said Crimine for therein thou dost offend thy self After this we went to the accustomed place to the Shepherdes bicause we thought it was no time And being there in their sweete and gracious company my companion said I am euer when I am with you my friendly Shepherds not a little troubled in minde They asked why so Bicause to know you distinctly saide she some outward token and signe must be apparant whereby I may know how to make a difference betweene you whereas otherwise I am as much deceiued and know as little as they that haue frequented your companie lesse then I for if I turne but my head I returne to the selfe same doubt if happily in the meane time you haue chaunged places For the cleering whereof and for the friendship that is betweene vs I pray thee Stela giue one of them a token whereby we may know how to be assured of either of them and not need to be troubled any more with this doubt If thou hast then so great a desire said I what needest thou require this at my hands but that thou maist do it as well as I. Thou knowest now said Crimine that it was first demanded of thee and if it had not beene it might suffice that I request it againe of thee I deny not this said I but assure thee that of this great likenes and deceit which troubles thy minde so much I take great pleasure And it was so indeed for as I loued them in equall sort so my desire was to haue them not onely like in their exteriour shewes but all one in their interiour soules I say as touching my selfe so that I knew it bicause I was then far from knowing the loue that Parthenius did secretly beare me and not onely desired as I said to haue them still like to one another but that in truth they had beene both one It must not euer be to thy liking said Crimine for it must sometimes please mine a little Let it be as thou wilt saide I and choose since it makes so much for thee Good Lord saide Crimine how frowarde art thou Stela Heereaster I will not request thee to doe any thing I will be gone and tarie thou heere if thou wilt if not doe what thou wilt for I knowe not nowe to what ende it will come Staie staie saide I Goe not away and bee not so angrie for all shall bee done to thine owne desire In faith if it were not for these yoong Shepherdes sakes saide Crimine I thinke thou shouldest see me no more heere If then the matter be so said I harke but one worde that I shall say vnto thee and taking her aside I saide vnto her I would not by any meanes in the world giue more fauour to one then to the other by giuing one a signe and the other none lest his wings to whom I giue it growe bigger then the others Thou must therefore either giue me some time to thinke of it or else counsell me how I must doe it The wings to serue thee she answered are now growen in Delicius so that to him onely thou maiest giue thy fauour for as Parthenius will not care for it so much at thy handes so it likes me best that thou giuest him none at all Crimine thought not by speaking these wordes that she did cut me to the very hart but God knowes how much I felt them yet dissembling the matter the best I could I answered Though it likes thee not yet will I giue to Parthenius his difference as well as thy selfe and I was not then in iest
knowe is not vaine The God Hymen not beeing hatefull to mee I coulde perhappes submit my selfe to this onely fault But I beseech the Gods the earth may first swallowe mee vp and Iupiter with his thunderbolt smite me to the mournfull shades of Acheron and perpetuall night before I violate thee O chastitie or breake thy holy bondes The chaste minde that euer I haue borne shall accompanie me to my graue But I know it offends me not by thinking to which of both I shoulde encline if my firme intent should turn to any side which of them both excels the other in disposition feature and beautie to loue the one more for that and forsake the other for this I cannot discerne who are so like that if they themselues beheld one another they could not knowe the one from the other Great is the goodnes of Parthenius for euen to the hazard of his life he offered it for safetie of his friend What wittie and readie answeres for Delicius What wisedome to make my companion helpe his and me not to forsake him and that fierce Gorphorost might not hurt him Parthenius in the end deserued well my loue but yet I thinke he goes not beyond Delicius who needed not the fauour of his brother to helpe him and could no doubt haue done no lesse then he And though he neuer had occasion to shew the sharpnes of his wit his pithie wordes and wittie answeres from the which he was cut off from the very beginning yet how cleerely by all his sweete songs and ditties that he made did he manifest it What verses did he carue in the tree or rather in my hart how modest by refraining not to offend me to speake of that which concerned him most O God and what great reason haue I then to loue him But who beleeues not that Parthenius if he had also loued me would not haue done as much Alas then for me to whether of them shall I incline Must Delicius be despised bicause he loues me and for desiring so much my loue againe Must I consent that he die bicause he desireth to liue with me Must he be guerdoned with vnworthy death for so high a desert of his great loue O haplesse Delicius I would I had neuer seene thee or thou not cast thine eies vpon me Thou well deseruest my loue if I had not vowed chastitie and if my importunate destinies had not threatened me with marriage But must Parthenius be reiected bicause he loues me not as Delicius doth For this he is more woorthie to be admitted into my loue It imports but little that he loue mee not so I loue him that hath so many good parts in him woorthy to be beloued That which most of all forceth me to his loue is that I cannot suffer with patience that Crimine should loue him But whither do I range in these wandring thoughts what need I take such care for them after so many whom I haue despised Why doe I thus torment my selfe Their beautie mooues me not and yet the same might well do it who are but yet boies They themselues mooue me not but their yong and flourishing youth But let them go hence in a good hower now that of mine owne free will I haue counselled them and the rather since marriage is denied mee Let them go and seeke forth some other loues since none that are wise will reiect them But alas for me this leaue is too harde With these last words not able to passe on further though many other things remained still in my minde I held my peace my toong was silent but my hart did still speake And with these and like wordes and praises poore soule without knowing what I did and rude in such affaires I loued without the sence of loue I conceiued the fire without seeing it and nourished a wound in my vaines without feeling it Three or fower daies passed in the which we went not to the Shepherds bicause Crimine came not foorth for seeing herselfe disdained of Parthenius she endeuoured to forget him by her absence which kindled her fire the more So that I would haue beene now glad that Parthenius had loued Crimine in lieu of seeing him and Delicius For the which I many times importuned her that we might go see them by putting her in mind of the hope that Delicius had giuen her but for all this she forced herselfe not to come before him There remained now but two daies to come of the time prefixed for Parthenius departure when not able to endure so long an absence I spake thus vnto her It might not a little reioice me deere sister if we went to see the Shepherds bicause I promised to speake with Parthenius before he went Crimine desiring the same no lesse then I as I imagined answered me saying Thou maiest go good friend although I will not denie that I desire to see mine enimie But this haplesse loue is so cruell that I cannot choose in the end but tell thee the truth that my going this time will auaile me as little I know as other times before Behold thou canst not tell Crimine saide I what Delicius hath done for thee in recompence of the good turne he owes thee for the promise he made thee and if this were not so remember that certaine daies past my selfe hauing lesse occasion and will to go yet onely to content thee I went thither So that thou art bounde now to performe my request when I was then so willing to do thy command Thou hast ouercommed saide she I will nor cannot gainsay thy forcible reasons Whereupon we went to the Shepherds whom when I espied gone aside for on purpose they were talking very earnestly togither I saide to my companion They should now talke of some great matters and it may bee Delicius is talking about thy affaires Nay about thine answered she againe And it was true indeed For both of them were in counsell togither as afterwards we knew it Being come to the Shepherds we found such an alteration in them that it seemed very strange to vs. What will you more but that Delicius seemed to haue changed the loue that he did beare me to bestow it on Crimine when he had greatest reason to loue me Who at the last time when I spake to him got more of me then euer he did before I coulde not by any meanes know the cause of this sudden change Truth it is that as I had perceiued Delicius loue to Crimine to be but colde as that I also held him for such an one who would not change without great occasion and not able to coniecture it by any fault of mine owne I haue suspected and Crimine thinkes no lesse but that Delicius by some waies should know of Parthenius secret loue to me and by sayning that he had forgot mee it was to giue place to his deere friend in my loue Which if it be so as we beleeue
vpon his bodie it can do no harme but he that in high and loftie houses lodgeth though the thunderclap smite him not may be killed or wounded with the stones timber or some other thing that may fall from thence And may also be burned or choaked with the smoke of the fire that is kindled in the wood all which by experience haue beene often seene But bicause of good will you inuite me to do that which you request me I will go in although I was determined to lay me downe and sleepe if I had found out some fit place for the purpose bicause the thunderclap spareth those they say that are asleepe Thou wilt liue too long said Seluagia since with so many defences thou dost arme thy self Heereof thou maiest be ascertained said the Shepherd for there is not any who desires his life and health more then I do So me thinkes said Seluagia and the cause of it must be that thou art not in loue Naie rather the contrarie said the Shepherd which my song did euen now speake of Dost thou loue then saide Seluagia I loue said he with the greatest blisse and ioy as thou hast euer heard of Not onely heard but seene said Seluegia For they are before thee And this do I say said he And I that said she Leaue of these speeches said Lord Felix and let vs go in And do vs so much pleasure good Shepherd to tell vs by the way if thou beest in loue I am said he Are these loues thine own said Lord Felix They are mine said he none others I say not so said Lord Felix but if they be properly of thee thy selfe I haue not so many good parts said the Shepherd to be enamoured of my selfe and yet there is not any I thinke that loues me as much as I do my selfe But leauing this aside I loue as much as possiblie I may a most faire yoong Shepherdesse Thy loue is not perfect said Lord Felix bicause thou saiest there is none whom thou louest as much as thy selfe Why doth this hinder it said the Shepherd that it is not perfect Why not said Lord Felix Then by this I vnderstand said the Shepherd that there is none that loues in this degree But rather beleeue the contrarie saide Lord Felix for heere thou seest some who woulde gladly hazard their heades for them whom they loue This is an easie thing saide the Shepherd to saie it And easier said Lord Felix to do it I promise you sir saide the Shepherd if death knocked at your dore and if it were in your election to go with it your selfe or to sende your loue that it might be seene what I say But rather that which I affirme saide Lord Felix I thinke it a hard matter saide the Shepherd With these demands and answers they came to the Temple where they rested themselues and feasted that new guest who was well entertained of the sage Felicia bicause she knew him woorthie of it After they had made an end of their great dinner all of them requested him to sing the song that he came singing when he left it off at their sight He saide he was well content and glad if they woulde lende an eare vnto it not for his voice which was not woorth it but for the matter which deserued any good whatsoeuer But requesting that some instrument might play to him bicause his song might be the better set foorth Doria by Felicias command tooke a Harpe and tuning it to the highest note that he would sing the rest being all attentiue to him he began thus LOuers record my memorie and name For one that is more happie then the rest And solemnize my conquest and my fame which I haue got in being onely blest Extoll my glorie to the loftie sunne Which with this famous triumph I haue wonne To be the happiest man that hath beene borne Of all that haue to loue allegeance sworne What louer yet was found vnto this howre Though in his loue most fauour'd he had beene Of greefe that had not tasted yet some sowre And had not felt some paine and sorrowes seene Or who hath with such sweete his loue endured Though of his Mistresse he were most assured And though she loued him with truest hart That felt not yet a little iealous smart Amongst all these I onely am exempted From sorrowes troubles from mishaps and paines With both handes full I liue in ioies contented And more if I did tell yet more remaines Secure I am that in my happy brest Vile iealousie shall neuer build her nest And that I may with greefe be neuer paid A strong and firme foundation I haue laid Nothing in all the world shall breake this chaine If cruell death doth spare me with her dart And yet if loue in sepulcher remaine Death shall not there dissolue it in my hart See then how that most strong it needes must be Since to my will I wrought the same in me And for you may not say that I doe mooue it With blazons harke with reasons I will prooue i Who to himselfe could be so inhumane Vnlesse he were depriued of his wit That swimming in a pleasant Ocean Of ioies would wish for greefe not finding it Such ioies I taste as neuer more I could My loue admits no sadnes though I would For yet admit that I would now procure it My loue is such that it will not endure it I haue good fortune at mine owne commaund Since I haue fauours at mine owne free will My loue to her her loue to me is pawn'd Which fortunes spite and time shall neuer spill But now if ought with greefe my minde may mooue It is to haue Corriuals in my loue But they my ioy and glorie doe augment For more they are the more is my content If any care for these Corriuals dooe These faithfull louers in my brest remaine Then see how that with earnest suites I wooe And seeke them for my Shepherdesse againe And truly if it lay within my power A thousand I would send her euery hower But since I am so rude and but a clowne I cannot set her golden praises downe If that with all the faire one should resort Shewing her vertues and each goodly grace Little should then my homely praise import Hauing the world at her commaund and trace For saying naught her praise she better would Her selfe disclose though I said all I could And how much more since I want skill and art Of her to blazon foorth the meanest part But now behold how far from that aboue I haue estraied my promise and intent My promise was with reasons now to prooue That crosse nor care my ioies could not preuent I know not if by rashnes or aduice It was my thought that did my toong entice For when I thinke to praise my Shepherdesse Then straight my toong doth in her fauour presse It takes no heede and hath but small remorce To whom what where how oft why
thou purpose to destroy me When wilt thou make an end with woundes to noy me Not stretching foorth thy cruell hand to kill me Tell me the cause why dost thou so much will me To visit thee and with such words dost ioy me That to my death I rather would imploy me Then by such present pangs and greefes to spill me Woe to my soule since this doth cause thy sorrow That such a little fauour thou hast done me Little it is in sooth if it be peased With all my teares that neuer yet haue ceased To fall that to my death haue almost woon me They great this small those giue I this I borrow Firmius had scarce done when Faustus asked Diana how she knew that his loue to her was so small Who answered In that hoping to enioy thee inflamed in my loue thou complainest no purpose of a few teares thou hast spilt for my sake as if these were not as incident and requisite for loue as pasture for sheepe and oyle for the lamp To which wordes Faustus taking vp his Rebecke did thus answere her THou dost desire My life as thou dost say To see me in thy loues inflam'd at lest And yet an vncouth meanes thou dost suggest Which is to giue me care from day to day Dost thou not see the fier to decay Waxe cold and quench't within my louing brest With swelling teares which trickle without rest Out of mine eies to see thy hard delay The meade with raine her goodly greene redeemes The oile doth in the lampe the flame maintaine And loue with teares augmented is no lesse But loue the lampe and meadow as it seemes If that too much of these they doe containe Is spent is quench't and drowned in excesse As Faustus had thus made an ende Firmius said for all that I coulde not then heare he tolde me afterwards we are well content Diana that thou delightest thy selfe with our sorrowes since thou wilt take no pleasure in any of our other things if thy sweete voice in lieu of that might sound in our desired eares with some happie song Diana excused herselfe requesting them to pardon her saying she coulde not therein pleasure them since she wanted so much her owne content of minde They endeuouring to comfort her gaue her some hope saying that in the end sorrowes and griefes are not perpetuall and that she should remember that common song that saith Continuall griefe and sorrow neuer wanteth c. Bicause therefore you may see said Diana how ill this saying is vnderstoode tune your Bagpipe with your Rebecke and walking towards our flockes bicause it is now time to gather them vp although I thought not to doe it yet will I sing as well as I can vpon this theame and you shall take the tune of the song as of a woman so much tuned in miseries and mishappes as nothing more Firmius and Faustus made no delay And then Diana like a desperate woman with a mournsull and sorrowfull voice began thus taking for her first verse that which they had alreadie alleaged for her comfort COntinuall greefe and sorrow neuer wanteth Where feeding hope continues not decaying But euermore despaire that greefe recanteth From former course of minde doth cause estraying The glosse Riuers arise and run into the seas And waters without number day by day And yet the same seeme neuer to decay But new doe spring and run and doe increase So endlesse woes arise and multiplie Redoubled one vpon anothers head For one in truth is with another fed Still doe they come and yet they neuer die For since their fertill rootes each moment planteth Continuall greefe and sorrow neuer wanteth Torments of minde and vilest miseries Are sworne to dwell within a haplesse soule And there her ioies and pleasures doe controule As to my selfe my sweete content denies Then let not any Louer thinke to gaine The meanest thing that liues in any hope But liuing so to fall into a scope And wander in a world of greefe and paine For miseries men say continue staying Where feeding hope continue not decaying Who knowes it not Alas I knowe it well That if a wofull soule is hoping still She seldome doth enioy her mind and will But that her hope must euer be her hell So of this hope that flatters me I finde And doe confesse that with the same I liue But still in feare and therefore I would giue It for despaire to ease my doubtfull minde I wish not this false hope my iotes that scanteth But euermore despaire that greefe recanteth If any whit of goodnes euer came By vile despaire it comes to me in prime And it could neuer come in better time Then to be hoping still to haue the same The wisest and most prudent man at last Wanting the good that long he doth attend Which nourished by hope he did suspend Seeing the time that fed his hope is past And all his ioy by hope that is decaying From former course of minde doth cause estraying The Shepherds importuned Diana to proceed in her song or else if it pleased her to take some new matter for it was to be thought that Dianas song pleased them wel but they could not obtaine it at her hands for she rather requested them to sing something whilest they were going towardes their flockes Firmius then remembring that which a little before she had told him that he loued her not so much as he might began thus to tune his voice Faire Shepherdesse Iean no more But faine I would Loue thee more if that I could As this made also for Faustus purpose for the same cause he likewise sung to the same effect And so Firmius and Faustus sung by turnes and answered one another as followeth Firmius OF mine owne selfe I doe complaine And not for louing thee so much But that indeede my power is such That my true loue it doth restraine And onely this doth giue me paine For faine I would Loue her more if that I could Faustus Thou dost deserue who doth not see To be belou'd a great deale more But yet thou shalt not finde such store Of loue in others as in mee For all I haue I giue to thee Yet faine I would Loue thee more if that I could Firmius O trie no other Shepherd swaine And care not other loues to prooue Who though they giue thee all their loue Thou canst not such as mine obtaine And would'st thou haue in loue more gaine O yet I would Loue thee more if that I could Faustus Impossible it is my friend That any one should me excell In loue whose loue I will refell If that with me he will contend My loue no equall hath nor end And yet I would Loue her more if that I could Firmius Behold how loue my soule hath charm'd Since first thy beauties I did see Which is but little yet to mee My freest senses I haue harm'd To loue thee leauing them vnarm'd And yet I would Loue thee more if
it for a speciall fauour at thy hands The Gods keepe thee in their protection Then she opened the letter that Disteus sent to her to the graue style and iudicious conceate whereof I praie you Gentlemen giue an attentiue eare Disteus his letter to Dardanea TO thee the comfort of all mortall men Of all men liuing the most comfortlesse Health if discomfort any such can send If any left doth send with happinesse I wish no ease of all my ceaselesse paine If that a thousand times when I did take In hand to write to thee I left againe My pen as oft when hand and hart did quake I launch't into the maine and broadest seas Knowing no port nor friendly land or coast To saile vnto my shaken barke to ease With raging waues and furious tempests tost For on the one side if I thought to write To make thee knowe my paine which thou hast wrought Thy high desertes on th' other came in sight To beate downe such a far vnwoorthy thought My wearied torments did commaund an I Thy souer aine highnes did for bid a No And that commaund with reason did denie Such woorthinesse and glorie it did showe But after this proud boldnes came in place Perswading me I should doe well before To write to thee But feare did him disgrace And said I should but anger thee the more And therefore now as feare did ouer come Braue boldnes and had throwne it to the ground And now that all my senses waxed numme By feare which did my feeble hope confound Couragiously the God of Loue came in And said vnwoorthy feare packe hence away And come no more for now thou shalt not win I doe commaund Loue doth commaund I say And turning to me in this sort he saide As by commaund nor gently by request The fire when once it is in flames displaide Hides not it selfe but makes it manifest Euen so it is impossible to hide My firie flames from being sometimes knowne And though I would not yet on euery side They issue out that easily they are knowne Since then thy Nymph celestiall must knowe Either too soone or late thy cruell flame Let first thy mouth declare to her thy woe Then to thy hand and pen commend the same I answered God wot with fainting hart To write to her it is my chiefe desire But if she chaunce to frowne at this bold part O God defend my pen should cause her ire Thus Loue at last perceiuing what a faint And hartlesse coward I was in the end He wrote to thee by pitying of my plaint And in my name Loue doth this letter send And now bicause thy minde it may not mooue To anger by receiuing of the same And if thou think'st thy honour I doe prooue Knowe from a God and from no man it came Euen from the God of Loue who is a God Of highest birth whose power doth extend In heauen and earth where he makes his abode Both paying tribute to him without end So that it is the mighty God of Loue That erres if that in writing he doth erre Against Loue therefore all thy anger mooue If this to wrath thy modest minde may stirre Harke well my deerest Mistresse what I say That if this letter breedeth thy offence Be thou reueng'd of Loue which did assay To write and not of me for this pretence But by the way I tell thee as a friend That if with Loue thou dost begin to striue With nature and her lawes thou dost contend For making thee the fairest one aliue For if she haue of purpose giuen thee Beautie and grace and in thy brest hath fram'd The onely patterne of gentilitie That beauties Paragon thou maist be nam'd And to lay vp her riches all in one Of all her treasure she hath now despoild The world and made it poore in leauing none And to make thee the onely one hath toild Hath she not reason then to be offended If by the gemme where she her vtmost tride She would haue seene and knowne how far extended Her passing skill which thou dost seeke to hide Hath she not reason to be angrie when The patterne of her skill and onely one Hides from the world and buries in a den Her treasures which so faine she would haue knowne For sure I knowe if that thou meanest not To loue thou buriest all her partes in thee And dost thou thinke that anything is got By flying Loue and natures best decree And if thou think'st heerein to doe amisse Or hurt thy selfe by louing yet at lest Suffer thy selfe to be belou'd And this Fond error driue out of thy tender brest O suffer of thine owne accord and will For forced thou shalt be to this for euer While thou and I doe liue and shalt be still After thy death and mine and ended neuer Then will me not Dardanea to forsake My perfect loue which now I haue bewraied For more thou dost commaund the lesse I make Account of it and lesse shalt be obaied And thinke thou art not wronged any whit Bicause what thou faire Mistresse dost commaund Is not obaide for heere it is not fit Where life for loue and loue for life is pawn'd Leaue thou if that thou canst the same thou hast Yeelding to nature what so much on thee She hath bestowde and change thy life that 's past And leaue moreouer what thou mean'st to be Then shalt thou see thy most vniust desire Fulfill'd and will perform'd without defect Although thou didst the contrarie require As fearing colours with some vaine suspect But now why should'st thou leaue a perfect being By taking that which more imperfect is As first mens eies the like was neuer seeing The second voide of comfort ioy and blisse So that sweete Mistresse it becomes thee not To anger Loue and Nature to offend For thou art bound whom they haue not forgot Their lawes to loue their essence to defend Since that thy beauties in the world resound And dost in vertue hold the highest place And dost in knowledge and in wit abound In modestie and euery other grace Make them illustrous then by thy requiting Take heede Ingratitude is full of hate Hate to reuenge is euer more inuiting And so reuenge waites at obliuions gate And thinke not that I speake these wordes in iest For to a cruell Goddesse it belongs This vice which all the world doth so detest To punish and torment ingratefull wrongs And Nemesis the angrie is her name Whose vnresisted might who doth not knowe Equall she is and neuer but the same Impartially to deale with friend or foe Alas I would she might not finde in thee So great a fault as none more great then this Since from all other faultes thou shalt be free If but this fault alone thou wilt dismisse But thou maist say why should thy haplesse fare Trouble my minde or thy good please my will Or what haue I to doe to take such care Whether thy fortune fallout good or ill To
to seeke him at his owne house where finding the doore open knewe he was not come and therefore staied for him there vntill he came But when he had awaited there a good while in vaine he suspected he had taken some of his friends houses and therefore went home againe to his sisters lodging vowing to be well reuenged of Disteus though he would faine haue that night satisfied his vnruly anger which was not a little augmented when hee founde neither Dardanea nor Palna maruelling verie much to see howe quiet all his sisters seruants were and howe strange they made it all when Sagastes demaunded the matter of them Disteus that was going home to his house when hee sawe a farre off a great number of people before his doore it made him thinke as it was true indeed that Sagastes was waiting for him whereupon he went to my house whereby he made me knowe what great affiance he had in my friendship which I accounted no small credit vnto me I doubt not Gentlemen but any that hath beene attentiue to my tale will aske me how Sagastes came first to his enemies house since Disteus went before out of the mans house which he was constrayned to take for refuge Wherevnto it may be easily answered that Disteus going as you know almost naked and therefore leauing the open and common streetes to goe about by lanes and secret places came later then Sagastes But when Disteus vnlooked for came into my house without calling but shutting the doore after him least any had followed him he came into my study And his hap was so good that he found me al alone I did not a little woonder to see him in such sort and therefore demaunded the cause of his comming in such a manner Who answered me that he had no time for so large a report but prayed me to giue him some apparell and a horse and what else was needfull for him which I onely denied him not but also preparing my selfe to beare him company he would in no wise let me for he meant to conceale vntill he could no longer his secret loue and affection from me He therefore being apparelled and furnished with the best offensiue and defensiue weapons he could choose out went to helpe Dardanea least her harebraine brother in his furie might haue laide violent hands vpon her or else to die in the quarrell before she should suffer any harme at all Going therefore about this matter he met with Placindus that was comming to seeke him out by his Aunts commaundement whom he asked if he knew any thing Placindus told him how he should finde Dardanea and Palna in his house and that he should goe thither quickly bicause Dardanea was the most sorrowfullest woman in the world for his danger Disteus went thither out of hand but knowing that place to be nothing so conuenient and secret as their present necessitie required bicause by missing Palna Sagastes would out of hand come thither he brought them to my house willing Placindus to lye still and take his rest bicause he might thereby make them beleeue that he knew nothing of the matter All three might come secretly to my house bicause as siths that was not farre from Placindus lodging so were they both out of the concurse of people and walke of neighbours and also bicause Sagastes was gone to the King to complaine of the iniurie that Disteus had done him whom he requested to commaund a search to be made in all suspected houses that were thought most fit to harbour him and Dardanea and Palna The King not only granted hereunto for as you know he desired to haue the least occasion whereby he might throw downe Disteus partie to pleasure Sagastes but tooke this matter vpon him as his owne and sware to behead Disteus and as many as were culpable and euerie one that afterwards helpt him And therefore to fauour him the more made Sagastes himselfe iudge in his owne cause bicause he might take the greater reuenge at his own pleasure Who when he saw so good a means for his desire without more ado beset Disteus house with a priuy watch hauing first searched it all thorow where missing him he went straight to seeke out his sister They emploied all diligence and labour they thought needfull to bring their purpose to effect but my house they ouerslipt bicause as it was not pliable enough to Disteus his partie nor I my selfe held for his friend so was I free from all suspicion that I kept him But when they could not finde him he commaunded a proclamation to be made that euery one vpon paine of his head that harboured them or knew where they were should bring them foorth and afterwards apprehended Anfilardus and Placindus and as many as they suspected could tel of them threatning them to cruel torments yea and putting some in practise though all in vaine to their purpose It could not choose but kill Disteus his hart to see the ruine of his house and the imprisonment of his friends and familie who did neuerthelesse comfort himselfe not a little bicause it was for his Lady and Mistresse sake whom he had nowe in happie possession the which thing he forgot not by many sweete and louing words to manifest vnto her who could not for all this be comforted though she made him not priuie to her inward greefe when she thought of the vniust and ill name a thing that greeued her more then death that was spred abroad of that which she esteemed more then life and when she entred into consideration and feare of the imminent danger wherein her beloued husband was by meanes of the great searching and awaites that Sagastes had laide in all places to finde them out Wherefore taking him aside she saide thus vnto him I know well my Lord that my Fortune would not leaue me without some sorrowfull occurrent in so sweete an estate nor to doe lesse with me then euer turne most bitterly against the pretence of my content It greeues me to see thee take and taste some part of my sorrow wherein yet I do comfort my selfe againe that I shall not be the last in offring vp my life for the least danger for thy sake since I was the first in sacrificing my soule to thy will obtesting almightie God that as I had no force with my feeble iudgment to gainsay thy desire I had also sufficient valour with my life to deliuer thee from these most wrongfull turmoyles I see thee heere in great extremities for mine owne I account but small and therefore my opinion concurring with my desire is that since for many daies we are neither safe heere nor in any other part of the kingdome are like to be no lesse thou wouldst resolue to conuey vs into any place where wee might in more safety ouer passe this cruell storme of Fortune assuring thee my deere Lord that if I sawe thee free from danger I would not take care for the rest
a little greeue you to see Syrenus matched with such dangerous corriuals as these two Shepherds are Syluanus and Seluagia though Delius death did a little greeue them forgot not most humbly to thanke Felicia not onely for her good will and friendlie aduise but also for the approoued affection and desire she had to helpe their beloued friend Syrenus And thereupon said vnto her We cannot but obey your command good Lady although we would be faine heere when Coryneus and his companie comes Well well answered Felicia this Shepherd is not so nigh nor cannot come back so soon nor you so far off but that you may be certified when they are to come Since it is then so said Lord Felix with your leaue good Lady I will take Felismena with me and accompanie these Shepherds in whose amorous strife and riualitie which you but euen nowe spake of I shall take no small pleasure and delight The same affirmed Martandrus Placindus Danteus and Duarda with one voice If it please you so said Felicia on Gods name let it be but it behooues you Gentlemen and thee faire Felismena no lesse least the bashfull Shepherds estrange themselues from your companie to borrowe for a while their pastorall habite and condition the which being no sooner agreed vpon but put in practise they went to Syluanus charging him to carie all in remembrance that passed betweene the corriuals the better to report it afterwards when they should meete all togither Whosoeuer therefore is desirous to see the funerall of Delius the riualitie of Syrenus Firmius and Faustus and be at all their meetings and takes any pleasure to know who Stela is and woulde faine knowe what her troubles and those of Crimine Delicius and Parthenius haue beene and to what ende they came as also the loue of Agenestor prince of Eolia and of Lustea daughter to Disteus and Dardanea let him attende me in the third part of this worke which shall come to light out of hande La vita il fin e'l di loda la sora THE FIRST PART OF ENAMOVRED DIANA made by Gaspar Gil Polo To the most noble and vertuous Lady Don̄a Maria de Austria y fuentes IF you were my singular good Lady that heauenly muse and diuine fire from whence this little creature hath borrowed life and light being most happie that it was borne vnder such a constellation whose beames and influence haue guided and indued it with those perfections which now it presumeth by vertues thereof to possesse Reason and dutie then it were to offer vp vnto your woorthines all the seruice it may and humbly to craue of the same That since now it commeth abroad to euery ones view it may in the forhead carie the imprinted golden character and warrant of your noble and renowned name wherewith being protected it feareth not any malignant spirit that may bite it And little though this be which my zealous and dutifull affection which I haue euer borne to you and your honorable house from whence many gallant personages and rare and learned wits haue sprung out can present to such great bountie and vertue the which nature hauing placed in a most beautifull and christalline figure in euery part spread foorth their beames with loue and admiration Yet respecting the minde of him that offers it and the good will wherewith like bookes haue beene receiued by Kings and great Lordes I hope faire Lady you will not condemne me of too much presumption by dedicating this vnto your high patrocinie when as the affiance which I haue in your gentle Graces noble minde and sweete perfections inforceth me heereunto the which duly to be recommended and recounted require a finer wit and fitter place Which if at any time heereafter my happy fortune shall grant me in nothing else so iustly it shal be imploied then in the deserued praise and seruice of your Ladiship whose illustrous person and house our Lord defend and prosper many yeeres with increase of all happinesse From VALENCIA the ninth of Februarie 1564. The first Booke of Enamoured DIANA AFter that appassionate Syrenus by the vertue of the mightie liquor which sage Felicia had giuen him was now deliuered out of Cupids handes Loue working after his accustomed maner wounded anewe the hart of carelesse Diana reuiuing in her brest forgotten loues bicause she should be captiue to one that was free and liue tormented for the loue of one who from the same was most exempted her greefe being thereby the more augmented when it occurred to her thoughts that the small regard that in times past she had of Syrenus was now an occasion of his forgetfulnes of that great contempt that he did beare her She was not only with these griefs but with many more so fiercely assaulted that neither the holy bonde of matrimonie nor the reynes of seemely shame and modestie were able to staie or mitigate the furie of her immoderate loue nor remedie the sharpnes of her cruell torments vntill with lamentable complaints and pitifull teares she mollified the hardest rockes and sauage beasts Wherefore being by chance on a sommers day at the fountaine of the Sicamours about that time when the Sunne was eleuated to the Meridian point and there calling to minde the great content that in that very place she had many times receiued of her beloued Syrenus and counting her passed delights with her present greefes and knowing that the beginning of her sorrowes and the fault was onely in herselfe she conceiued thereof such greefe and anguish of minde and was with such dangerous affrightes sursaulted that euen then she thought desired death would haue made an end of all her troubles But after she had recouered some small vigour yet the force of her passion the violence wherewith loue reigned in her brest was neuerthelesse so great that it compelled her to publish her torments to the simple birdes which from the greene boughes were listening to her and to the branchie trees that seemed to take compassion of her greefe and to the cleere fountaine that with the solemne murmur of the Christalline waters accorded with the notes of her dolefull song And so to the sound of a sweete Baggepipe which commonly she caried about her she began to sing these verses following LOng haue I felt a silent paine of sorrow Cruell by that my senses it importunes To such extremes that I am forc't to borrow This last releefe against my heauie fortunes To publish them vnto the windes that stay them Thorow out the world with pitie to conuay them Then gentle Aire performe this due of pitie Let euery region know my greeuous anguish Breath out my paines and tell in euery citie The life of her that in Loues want doth languish Forgotten of a Shepherd that disdaines her Who once did die euen for like loue that paines her O that this ill death to my vitall powers Hardly maint ain'd amids these cruell fashions Springs of my late obliuion and those howers
may be called which willingly long since I would haue changed for death Know therefore faire Shepherdesse that my name is Marcelius and my estate far different from that which my habite doth testifie for I was borne in Soldina the chiefest citie in Vandalia of parents for birth and bloud renowned and in all wealth and power abounding In my tender yeeres I was caried to the king of Portugalles court and trained vp there where not onely of all the chiefest Lords and Knights I was beloued but especially of the king himselfe insomuch that I had neuer his good will and leaue to depart from thence vntill at the last he committed to my gouernment a charge of certaine men of warre which he had in the coast of Africa There was I a long time captaine of the townes and fortresses that the king had on the sea side remaining with my chiefest garrison in Ceuta where the originall of all my hard haps was first commenced For in that towne to my great harme dwelled a noble and renowned Knight called Eugerius who had also a charge by the King and gouernment of the same towne whom God besides that he had adorned and inriched him with the gifts of nature and Fortune had blessed with a Sonne called Polydorus valiant without compare and with two daughters called Alcida and Clenarda women of most rare and excellent beautie Clenarda was verie skilfull in drawing of her bow and in shooting but Alcida which was the eldest endowed with incomparable beautie whose vertues so inflamed my hart with burning loue that they haue caused me to leade this desperate kinde of life which I now passe away wishing for death which euerie day I call vpon and attend Her father was so tender and charie ouer her that few times he suffered her to be out of his sight which thing was no small impediment to the opening of my griefe and great loue I bare her except sometimes when it was my fortune to see her by an appassionate eie and many sighes maugre my will came forciblie out of my brest I signified my paines vnto her At one time among the rest I wanted not opportunitie to write a letter vnto her which fit occasion by fauourable fortune granted me I omitted not but wrote to her this letter following Marcelius his letter to Alcida THat maiestie so princely graue and sweete That modest blush that gentle seemely grace Those lookes so chaste and hauiour so discreete Those golden vertues that thou dost imbrace Besides thy beautie which the world resoundes With famous name from heauen that brought their race In such a narrow streight with bleeding woundes Haue set my hart Alcida heauenly faire That euery thing my woonted rest confoundes For that which breedes my loue is my despaire And so restraines my soule that faine it would Say nought although it cost my vitall aire What man of flint that euer did behold The burning beames that thy faire eies doe cast But waxed dumbe and died with mortall cold Who euer sawe those beauties rare and chaste More perfect then the starrie skie aboue Or any liuing now or gone or past That presently felt not a feruent loue The cause whereof his senses so would vse As not to let him speake for his behoue So much I passe by silence that I muse That sad complaintes my hart doe neuer kill Nor breake my brest with anguish so confuse My ioies are none my woes continue still My paine is firme and all my hope is vaine I liue alas and die in greeuous ill And take reuenge vpon my selfe againe That which I most eschew doth take me straight And what I most desire I lest obtaine For that that lest behooues me I awaite Not comfort for my greefe that neuer endes Ioying in paine wherewith my soule I fraight Yet my delight and life so far extendes As thought of that great distance doth abide That twixt thy beautie grace and me dependes For in my soule I doe conceiue a pride That I haue put it in so high a place Where constancie and hope my hart doe guide But yet thy gentle and sweete Angels face Against my soule such mortall war doe threate That thousand liues dare not abide the chace To feare me yet the passage's not so great Nor way so steepe nor craggie that shall stay My forward steps with aanger or deceate I follow then my ruine and decay The path of paine and seeke not to decline From greeuous plaints that force me euery day Yet endlesse ioy my heauie hart doth shrine And glads my life by wished paine opprest That glories strangely in these greefes of mine Paine 's my delight my plaints my sport and iest My sighes sweete soundes my death my glory makes My woundes my health my flames my happy rest Nothing I see which stirs not and awakes My furious torment and her endlesse wheele But happy fortune by the same it takes These ils sweete Mistresse for thy sake I feele And in these passions liue and die tormented With equall paine and suffrance well contented Let then a man despairing of releefe Who to thy loue his doubtfull life assignes Mooue thee to some compassion of his greefe By reading of these hart-breake written lines Since that he craues no helpe for all his mone But onely that his torment may be knowne This was the letter I wrote vnto her the penning whereof had it beene as fine as the purpose fortunate I would not haue changed my skil in posie for famous Homers It came to Alcidas hands in whose hart when finally she knew the summe of my griefe though at the first the contents of my letter with my too great presumption did somewhat offend her it made deeper impressions then I imagined or hoped for Then I began to manifest my selfe for her open Louer by making manie braue Iustes and encounters at Tilt and Tourney running of wilde Buls and juego de Cannas by celebrating for her sweete sake and seruice Moresco sportes on horsebacke in the day time and maskes and stately dances in the night causing consorts of sundrie musicke to delight her and making verses impresas and Anagrammes of her loue and name and many other gallant shewes and inuentions more for the space of two whole yeeres togither At the ende whereof Eugerius thought me woorthie to be his sonne in law and by the request of some great Lords in those parts offered me his faire daughter Alcida for wife We concluded that the espousall rites should bee solemnized in the citie of Lysbone bicause the king of Portugall might with his presence honour them and therefore dispatching a Poste with all haste by him we certified the king of this marriage and requested his maiestie to giue vs leaue hauing commended our charges and affaires to persons of trust to celebrate it there Whereupon the report of this solemne day was published thorow all the citie and places farre and neere which caused so generall a ioy as was due
die for loue of thee And I doe ioy to see the same Although thou laughest at my paine Which laughter is to me no gaine And so when that in me I finde The greeuous ill which makes me die I thinke when that comes to my minde No remedie thou wilt apply Bicause to see thou ici'st thy fill How much my comforts thou dost kill A remedie thou dost disdaine And then my soule with hope to feede I see it is as much in vaine When as it is by loue decreede To haue my life lie in thy hand And death in thy desire to stand I sawe thy shining beauties beames Faire Shepherdesse vpon a day Neere to great Duerus Christall streames Making the fields so fresh and gay And goodly banks to ioy and flourish The which thy beauties feedes nourish And there I sawe thee leane and stand Among those banks not long agoe Vpon thy sheepehooke with thy hand With naked necke as white as snowe And to thine elbowe seeming greeued With naked arme that was vnsleeued Where if there had beene any one That well had viewed euery part Admit he were as hard as stone And had not lou'd thee from his hart Reason would moue me then to say That he his folly did bewray And therefore thus when I had knowne Thy goodly giftes and beautie rare From thinking of them one by one No time nor rest I did not spare Thus I began loues force to trie And in his torments thus to die But if against me thou dost moue Saying It is to me a shame Being an old man thus to loue So yoong amaide and so to blame O giue me no aduice at all But remedies for which I call For I will neuer thinke this part Of mine hath made so great acrime By louing thee with all my hart As bauing lost so long a time Before I euer came to knowe Thy beauties which adorne thee so Alas I knowe that I am olde And that my prime long since did fall Which now I wish I had not tolde But that which greeues me most of all Is that my louing paine appeeres Not equall with so many yeeres Bicause since first I came into This life I would in all that space Haue loued thee as now I doe Since first I sawe thy sweetest face And as I must with Cupids powre Vnto my last and dying howre And let it not thy minde dismay To see my haire so gray and white For it is ill to take away The place from any that of right Belongs to him in any reason Though it comes out of time and season And though my valour not my hart And force not will thou dost exceede It is not yet so iust a part That any man should leese his meede For being old or be vnpaide Bicause a souldier now decaide The buildings newer that they are And lately built in any sort By no proportion may compare For statelines and princely port The which antiquitie doth showe With those of Rome built long agoe And so in things of woorthines Of prime or goodnes any way Of profit ioy or happines Commonly vnto this day They say and yet do say most true That th' old is better then the new Loue wise in that he went about Till now gaue me no sense of paine Bicause he sawe it did fall out That for the most part did remaine In aged men and like to mee More firmnesse as we daily see To loue thee more then I can tell I am resolued till I die And in my firmnesse doe excell Of all loues torments which I trie But olde againe and not to prooue In all my life the sweete of loue Yoong youthes that most of all doe faine Themselues to burne in Cupids heate Are false and double but to traine Beleeuing women to deceate For when they say That they doe die Then doe they liue most merily And so their false and changing loue And paines alledged in the same And all the torments which they prooue Is but their pastime sport and game It is their iest and common fashion It is no will nor any passion Besides Ismenia doe not feare That I am like to one of those Yoong louers that doe euery wheare Their fauours openly disclose For sooner they receiue not one But straight to many it is knowne For though I doe receiue at lest Three hundred fauours one by one Yet in my loue I doe protest To be as much a very stone In hiding fauours which I gaine As that I am in suffring paine But yet as far as I can see Resolued as thou art in minde To kill me with thy crueltie Suer I am that I shall finde Much to endure to be reueal'd Little ynough to be conceal'd For now ingratefull Shepherdesse The greatest fauour which I misse And faine the same would heere possesse Of all the rest is onely this To die bicause I would no more Complaine against thee as before Time onely will I thee accuse O time that art so great a friend To greefes and makest her refuse My loue who loues her without end For he that hath most part in thee Is little woorth in loue we see Alas that euer I did loue Too late a thing so passing faire And reason therefore that I prooue To die for her in deepe despaire Since when her birth day did appeere I was not borne that very yeere If I had beene faire She pherdesse With thee when I was in my prime As now thou art then more or lesse I had not wanted any time Delights and pastimes to present thee Nor thy sweete fauours to content mee For as for playing on a Pipe Or Rebecke with most sweetest sound To touch with many a daintie stripe And dauncing best in all the towne Amongst the youthes to win the prise All in my fauour did arise And therefore maruell not a whit If that in song I doe excell Famous Amphion as vnfit Compar'd with me to beare the bell Since that my singing hath surmounted Better then he was euer counted Of fields that goodly graine doe beare I plowe more acres then the rest And all my mountaines euery where And plaines that are for pastures best With flocks of sheepe and goates I cumber Mark't with my mark that haue no nūber But now what bootes my present store O cruell hap for my delight Or that that hath beene heeretofore Since now it is forgotten quite Nay which is more scorn'd and despis'd And vnto cruell death deuis'd Then sweetest foe let this auaile To make thy hardest hart relent Strike downe of pride thy puffed saile When to thine eies age shall present That in the same thy braue perfection Shall vade and be in times subiection O Shepherdesse thou art more hard Then sturdy rocke consum'd in time But yet perhaps for thy reward When thou hast lost thy golden prime Then freedomes want shall be thy paine Wherewith thou dost me now disdaine Wherefore let Loue take such de spite Reuenging one
so much vnkinde That when all hopes forsake thee quite And comforts for thy troubled minde Then he may giue thee store of greefe And make despaire thy best releefe These and many other letters and songs he sent me the which if they had wrought their effect so much as my delight he might then perhaps in his owne conceit haue thought himselfe a happie man and I haue beene by this time an ill married wife But there was not any thing able to blot Montanus image out of my hart who apparantly also satisfied my will with like words and deeds We passed our liues away certaine yeeres in this ioy vntill we thought with holy marriage to accomplish our happie daies and rest And though Montanus would haue tolde his Father of it before to haue shewed the dutie of a good sonne yet he would not do it when I told him how hardly his Father would thinke of it by reason of the doting desire that he had to marrie me himselfe Hauing therefore greater respect to the contentment of his owne life then to the dutie he owed his Father without making him priuie we performed our vnluckie marriage Which was done by the consent of my Father in whose house there were great feastes made in solemnitie of it besides other pastimes as dancing plaies such great sports that the noise of them was bruted in all the countrey towns about Whereupon the louing old man vnderstanding his own son had deceiued him of his loue he became so incensed against vs both that he hated vs like death therfore would neuer after that see vs if he could otherwise choose On the other side there was a certaine Shepherdesse of that towne called Felisarda that died almost for the loue of Montanus whom in regard of his great loue to me and of her bad conditions and declining age he could neuer abide When she perceiued that Montanus had married me she had almost hanged her selfe for griefe so that by our vnfortunate marriage we got vs two mortall enimies The wretched old dotard because he would disinherit his sonne purposed to marrie a yoong and faire wench to haue had children by her But though he was rich yet did not any Shepherdesse of our towne loue him Felisarda onely excepted who bicause she thought by these meanes to enioy the dishonest loue of Montanus the which she bare yet fresh in memorie married with old Filenus And being now his wife she practised diuers waies to winne Montanus to her loue and especially by meanes of a maide she had called Sylueria sending him word that if he would condiscend to her will she would make an attonement betweene his Father and him offering him besides many great rewards gifts But she could neuer corrupt his minde nor peruert his chaste intent Seeing her selfe therefore so much contemned she began to beare such mortal hatred to Montanus that by and by she instigated his Father against him and not content with this wrought more ouer this vile piece of treacherie against him For she in such sort ouercame Syluerias minde with flatterie gifts good cheere and other fauours that she was content to do whatsoeuer she commanunded although it had beene to the preiudice of Montanus whom sometimes she respected greatly for that she had beene a long time seruant in his Fathers house Both of them agreede secretly togither vpon that they had to doe and vpon the hower of putting it in practise Whereupon Sylueria went out of her towne and comming to a forrest neere to the riuer Duerus where Montanus was feeding his sheepe she came to talke with him secretly as though she had beene troubled much in minde about the weightiest matter in the world saying Ah Montanus how wise wert thou in despising thy wicked Stepdames loue though I my selfe by her importunate request did what I could to bring thee to it But since I know what hath passed she shall neuer make me any more the messenger of her dishonest lusts I haue seene and know certaine things by her which touch thy Fathers credit and thine too neere and such that if thou knewest them though thy Father is so cruell to thee in such a case thou would'st not care to leese thy life for safegard of his honour I tell thee no more but this bicause I know thee to be so wise and discreete that I neede make no longer discourse vnto thee Montanus was amazed at these wordes suspecting by and by some dishonest tricke of his Stepmother But bicause he would be thorowly informed of the matter he prayed Sylueria to tell him all that she knew concerning that matter The more she was entreated the more she denied making it verie daintie and no lesse dangerous to discouer so secret a thing but in the end satisfying his request and her owne desire she told him a notable and cunning lye saying Bicause it is a thing that so greatly toucheth thy credit Filenus my Masters good name I will therefore tell thee truely what I know hoping that thou wilt tell none in the worlde that this secret treacherie was discouered by me Thou must therefore knowe that Felisarda thy stepmother is working a great disgrace against thy father with a certaine Shepherd whose name I will not tell thee bicause thou maiest heereafter knowe him if thou wilt for if thou wilt come this night and follow me where I will leade thee thou shalt finde the adulterer and the trayteresse togither in Filenus house for so they haue appointed bicause Filenus lieth this night at a Farme he hath by reason of some busines there cannot come home again before to morrow at noone Wherfore look wel about thee at eleuen of the clocke at night come to mee for I will bring thee in where thou maiest doe that which may turne to thine own credit thy fathers honor perhaps greatly to thine owne profit by obtaying pardon at thy fathers hands This tale Sylueria told so smoothly and with such cunning dissimulation that Montanus was resolued to put himselfe in the greatest danger to be reuenged of him who shoulde offer any dishonour to his father And so the vile and wicked Sylueria very glad that this deceit which Felisarda hatched had so good successe went home againe where she tolde Felisarda her Mistresse what was agreed on betweene Montanus and her Nowe had the darke night ouerspred the earth with her blacke mantell when Montanus being come to the village tooke a dagger with him which his vncle Palemon the Shepherd had giuen him and iust at eleuen of the clocke went to Filenus his fathers house where Sylueria was staying for him as she had appointed O wicked treason the like neuer seene nor heard of before Oh trayterous wickednes such as was neuer thought of before She tooke him by the hand and going very softly vp a paire of staires ledde him to the chamber doore where Filenus his father and Felisarda his stepdame were a bedde
his malladie Delius mother came thither with a heauie hart in great haste and found her sonne tormented with a burning feauer With much sorrow she lamented his case and did importune him to know the cause of his griefe but no other answer would he giue her but sob sigh and weepe The louing mother powring forth many a bitter teare said vnto him Oh my deere Son what an vnfortunate chance is this Hide not the secrets of thy hart from me behold I am thy mother and perhaps I knowe some part of them alreadie Thy wife told me last night that at the fountaine of the Sicamours thou didst forsake her running after I knowe not what vnknowne Shepherdesse tell me if thy greefe doth grow thereby and be not afraid nor ashamed to impart it to me for ill may that malladie be cured the cause and beginning whereof is vnknowne Oh sorrowfull Diana thou didst this day go to Felicias temple to learn some newes of thy husband and he was neerer to thy towne and weaker then thou wert aware of When Delius heard his mother speake these words he answered not a worde but gaue a great sigh and then redoubled his painefull agonie For before he complained onely of Loue but at these wordes with loue and iealousie he was most greeuouslie molested For when he remembred that thou Syrenus wert here in Felicias pallace and hearing that Diana was come hither fearing least her olde and mortified loue might be rekindled againe in her he fell into such a frantike madnes that being assaulted with two most fierce and cruell torments he ended his life in a furious traunce vnto the greatest greefe of his sorrowfull mother kinsefolkes and lamenting friends In very truth I could not chuse but be sorrowfull for his death knowing my selfe to be the chiefest cause of it but I coulde haue done no lesse for safegard of mine owne content and honor Onely one thing greeued me not a little that not contenting him with any comfortable deede I gaue him not at the least some gentle words whereby he might not then perhaps haue come to so sudden a death In the ende I came hither leauing the poore soule dead and his kinsfolkes weeping for him not knowing the cause of his death Thus haue I digressed yet to the purpose to make thee knowe what harme a cruell disdaine and forgetfulnes procureth and also bicause thou shouldest vnderstand of Dianas widowhood and consider with thy selfe if now it were good for thee to change thine intent since she hath changed her condition and estate But I maruell much that Diana departing from her towne yesterday as Delius mother saide to come to this place is not yet heere Syrenus gaue attentiue eare to Alcidas words and when hee heard of Delius death his hart began somewhat to alter and change There did the secret power also of sage Felicia worke extraordinary effects and though she was not present there yet with her herbes and wordes which were of great vertue and by many other supernaturall meanes she brought to passe that Syrenus began now againe to renewe his old loue to Diana which was no great maruell considering that by the influence of his celestiall constellation he was so much enclined to it that it seemed Syrenus was not borne but onely for Diana nor Diana but for Syrenus The prouident and most wise Ladie Felicia was now in her magnificent and rich pallace enuironed about with her chaste Nymphes working with soueraigne and secret verses the remedies and content of all these Louers And as she sawe by her diuine wisedome that by this time Montanus and Alcida being by their imaginations deceiued had now acknowledged their errours and that hard harted Syrenus had mollified his obstinate and rigorous disposition she thought it now high time vtterly to confound olde errours and to ease the long trauels and troubles of her guestes by exchanging them into ioyfull and vnexpected happines Going therefore out of her sumptuous pallace attended on by Dorida Cynthia Polydora and manie other goodly Nymphes she came to the delightfull garden where the Lordes Ladies Shepherds and Shepherdesses were The first that she saw there were Marcelius Don Felix Felismena Syluanus Seluagia Diana and Ismenia sitting in one of the corners of that little square meadow neere vnto the great gate as is aforesaide When they sawe the reuerend Lady comming towards them they all rose vp and kissed those hands in which they had placed their cheefest hope and remedies She courteously saluted them againe making a signe vnto them that they shoulde all follow her which most willingly they did Felicia attended on by this amorous traine crossing euery part of this great and pleasant garden came at the last to the other part of it to the fountaine where Eugerius Polydorus Alcida Clenarda Syrenus Arsileus Belisa Montanus were They all rose vp in honor of the sage Matron And when Alcida espied Marcelius Syrenus Diana and Montanus Ismenta they were all astonished at the sight one of another and verily thought they were in a dreame standing like enchaunted persons and not beleeuing their owne eies The wise Ladie commanding them all to sit downe againe and shewing by her countenance that she was to entreat of important affaires sat her downe in the middes of them all in a chaire of Iuorie grauen with gold and precious stones and spake in this sort Nowe is the hower come renowned and faire assemblie wherein with my hands I meane to giue you all your long desired and happie contentment for by diuers strange meanes and vntroden waies I haue made you come to my Palace for no other intent and purpose Since you are heere therefore altogither wel met where the matters and meanes of your happie loue and life to come must be determined my desire is that you would follow my will and obey my commands herein Thou art Alcida by the true testimonie and report of thy sister Clenarda cleerelie deliuered from the suspicion of thy deceiued imagination And I knew well enough that after thou hadst forsaken that cruell disdaine the absence of thy Marcelius did not a little greeue thee Come hither therefore and offer thy selfe vnto him for this absence shall not be long which hath rather beene so short that at that time when thou complainedst to me of it Marcelius was in my pallace Nowe thou hast him heere before thee as firme and stedfast in his first loue that if it pleased thee and thy Father brother and sister he would thinke himselfe the happiest man aliue to solemnize this desired marriage long since betrothed The which besides that it must needes cause great ioy and gladnes being betweene such principall and noble personages shall make it more perfect and absolute by reason of Felismena his sisters presence whom Marcelius after many yeeres past hath happely found out in my Palace Thou Montanus by Sylueria herselfe that betraied thee art rid from thy erronious opinion After which time thou
sonne Polydorus bicause they would not be depriued of that merrie song which they expected at Belisas handes said vnto her The praise faire Shepherdesse and defence of women is iustly due vnto them and no lesse delightfull to vs to heare it with thy delicate voice repeated It pleaseth me well said Belisa if it like you for there are many sharpe and stinging inuectiues if I could remember all the verses in it but yet I will begin to recite them bicause I hope that in singing them one will reduce another to my minde Then Arsileus seeing that Belisa was preparing herselfe to sing began to tune his Rebecke at the sound whereof she sung the song that she heard Florisia in times past sing which was this Florisias Song FLie storming verse out of my raging brest With furious anger malice and despite Indigned spirits once at my request Powre foorth your wrath and pen prepare to write With scornefull stinging and inuectiue stile Against a people brutish base and vile Avile peruerse and monstrous kinde of men Who make it but their pastime and their game With bar barous mouth and with vnciuill pen To slaunder those who lest deserue the same Women Imeane a work manship diuine Angels in shape and Goddesses in minde Thou wicked man that dost presume too hie Of thy perfections but without desart False man I say accustomed to lie What euill canst thou thinke within thy hart Or speake of her whose goodnes more or lesse Doth fill the world so full of happinesse But onely this that woman was the cause Though not alone of one exceeding ill In bringing foorth constrained by natures lawes A man whose mischiefes all the world doth fill Who after that he is conceiu'd and borne Against his mother proudly liftes his horne Whom if she had not borne poore silly dame With fewer greefes her life she might haue lead For then he should not slaunder thus her name And such a crowe she should not then haue bred That being hatch'd her dam would thus despise And daily labour to plucke out her eies What man in all the world did euer knowe Although the tendrest father he had beene Those cares and greefes that sorrow and that woe Which wiues haue for their husbands felt and seene And how the louing mother for her sonne With sorrow hath beene oftentimes vndone Behold with what affection and what ioy What gentlenes and what intensiue loue The mother dothintreate her little boy Which after doth a Traitour to her prooue Requiting ill her paines and loue so kinde With powring sorrowes still into her minde What iealous feares what fearefull iealousies Doe haunt the mother for her cruell sonne What paine when that in any paine he lies What greefe when that with greefe he is vndone What perfect gladnes and what sweete content When that he is to any goodnes bent Alas how pensiue and how sad they ar If that their husbands suffer any paine What sorrow when they trauell somewhat far What moane when that they come not soone againe A thousand greefes to heare their losse of wealth Ten thousand deathes to heare their want of health But men that are so full of false deceate Our daily sorrowes neuer doe requite Or thinke of them though they be neuer so great But rather such their malice and despite Is that our louing cares both great and small Vniust suspects and iealousies doe call The cause of which surmise is onely this That as these wicked and detested men Of custome are enclined to stray amisse And in false loue their wits and wealth to spend Do thinke it now a burden to their liues To be belou'd so truely of their wiues Then since in louing them we euer finde Our selues a payde with hatefull scorne and blame I thinke it best for easing of our minde Quite to forget their nature sexe and name Or else to leaue our ioies in looking on them Or if we looke not once to thinke vpon them But yet it is a pretie iest to see Some kind of men whose madnes is so great That if the woman will not wholly bee At their desires then in a franticke heat They call her Tygresse cruell and vnkinde And trasteresse vnto a louing minde Then shalt thou see these men vnseemely call The modest women whom they would haue naught Coy and disdainfull to conuerse withall And her that 's chaste vnmanner'd and vntaught Those that be wise and sober full of pride And cruell those whose honesties are tride I would to God that those dishonored names Did fit them all as well as all the rest Then none of them should bide so many shames Nor be deceiu'd by men that loue them lest For being cruell proude and rusticall They would not loue nay could not loue at all For if the thing which they so faine would haue By any meanes they cannot once obtaine Then do they wish for death or for their graue But yet the same no sooner they attaine But make it but a sport and merie game And straight forget that ere they lou'd the same They faine themselues most sorrowfull and sad And wearied with a long and painfull life They still do tell the paines that they haue had And other lyes which are with them so rise They call themselues vnhappie poore and blinde Confounded slaues yet all but words of winde O how they can make Oceans of their eies And terme their flames their torments and their paines And breath out sighes like vapours in the skies And belch out sobs like Aetnas burning vaines In many things the greatnes of their minde They shew contemning base and doubtfull feare As those whose tender loue hath beene so kinde Vnto their husbands when they liuing were That all their moanes and sorrowes for their death They ended soone by stopping of their breath And if for vertue and his chaste intent Hippolytus deserued any praise On th' other side behold that excellent And noble Roman Matrone in her daies With stabbing dagger giuing vp the ghost I meane faire Lucrece for her honour lost It was no doubt great valour in the youth As neuer like hath beene in all the rest Who vowing to his father faith and truth Deni'd his stepdames foule and fond request All which admit Hippolytus is but one But thousands of Lucrecias haue beene knowne Giftes haue we more our beauties set aside For in good letters famous haue we bin And now to prooue our iudgements often tride And sharpnes of our finest wits therein Let Sappho and Corynna well suffice Who when they liu'd for learning got the prise And learned men doetherefore banish vs Their schooles and places where they do dispute For feare if we should argue and discusse With praise we should their arguments confute Too proud therefore they would not by their will That women should excell them in their skill And if some authors scorned in their loues Haue written ill of women in their hate Not this our credits any whit
what thou saiest He saith The pale and pinching care Hath beene so pleasant to my minde That how much more fals to my share The more I doe desire to finde I craue no guerdon for my painefull lot But as I loue to be belou'd as fast She answered him I vnderstand thee not And lesse beleeue thee Shepherd what thou saiest He saith My death should now redresse My paines but for the greeuous ill Which I should feele faire Shepherdesse In leauing of to see thee still But if I see thee sad a harder knot Of greefes I feele and greater death doe tast She answered him I vnderstand thee not And lesse beleeue thee Shepherd what thou saiest He saith In seeing thee I die And when I see thee not I paine In seeking thee for feare I flie I haue to finde thee out againe As old Proteus was woont to change his cote Figure and shape which long time did not last She answered him I vnderstand thee not And lesse beleeue thee Shepherd what thou saiest He saith I doe pretend to craue No more good then my soule can get Bicause with that small hope I haue Me thinkes I doe offend thee yet For suffring for thy sake the smallest iot Of wounding greefe a thousand ioies I tast She answered him I vnderstand thee not And lesse beleeue thee Shepherd what thou saiest Whilest Belisa was singing both her songs Felicia commaunded a Nymphe to ouersee and set in order a gallant sport and pastime which was prepared before and which should presently insue which she so well executed that euen then when the Shepherdesse had ended her song they heard a great noise and hurly burly in the riuer hard by as it were the beating of oares in the water Whereupon all of them went towards it and being come to the riuer side they saw twelue little ships comming in two seuerall nauies from the riuer beneath brauely depainted with diuers colours and verie richly set forth Sixe of them bore sailes of white and crimosin damaske and their displayed flags in the tops streamers in their poupes of the same colours And the other sixe their sailes flagges and streamers of murrey sattin with yellow shrouds and tackling to the same Their oares were brauely gilt all ouer and they came decked strowed and adorned with many sweete flowers and garlands of Roses In euerie one of them were sixe Nymphes apeece apparelled with short moresco gownes they of the one fleete with crimosin veluet laid on with siluer lace and fringe and they of the other of murrey veluet embrodered with curious workemanship of gold hauing on their armes a sleeue of golde and siluer made fit vnto them and carrying their targets on their armes after the manner of the valiant Amazones They that rowed these fiue ships were certaine Sauages crowned with garlands of Roses and bound to their seats with chaines of siluer There arose amongst them a great noise of drums trumpets shagbotes cornets and of many other sorts of musicke at sound of which two and two togigither with a maruellous sweete concent keeping iust time and measure entered into the riuer which caused great woonder in them that looked on After this they parted themselues into two nauies and out of both of them one ship apeece of defiance and answere came out the rest remayning beholders on either side In each of these two ships came a Sauage apparelled with the colours of his owne side standing bolt vpright in the forecastle carrying on his left arme a shield which couered him from top to toe and in his right hand a launce painted with the selfe same colours They both at one time hoysted saile and with force of oares ran one against the other with great furie The Nymphes and Sauages and they that fauoured each partie made great shootes and cries to encourage their sides They that rowed emploied all their force the one side and the other striuing to saile with greater violence and to make the stronger encounter And the Sauages being welny met togither and armed with their targets and launces it was the greatest delight in the world to see how they were encouraged to this encounter and how they sped in it For they stoode not so surely nor had not so great dexteritie in their fight but that with the great violence that the ships met one another and with the pushes that they gaue with their launces vpon their targets they were not able to stande on their feete sometimes falling downe vpon the hatches and sometimes into the riuer Wherewith the laughter of them on the shoare encreased and the reioycing and triumphes of them whose side had done best and the musicke to encourage them on both sides The iusters when they fell into the water went swimming vp and downe vntill being helped by the Nymphes on whose side they fought they made a fresh encounter and falling into the water againe redoubled the laughing of the beholders and the sport with exceeding glee and meriment In the end the ship with white and crimosin sailes came on so fast and with such force and her champion so steadie in his place that he stoode still on foote bearing downe his aduersarie before him into the riuer Which when the Nymphes of his squadron perceiued made such triumphe with hallowing and ringing such a strange peale of musicke that the other side was halfe abashed and dasht from any farther enterprise But especially one proude and stoute Sauage amongst the rest who being somwhat ashamed and angrie at their foile said Is it possible that there is any in our company of so small courage and strength that is not able to abide so feeble and light blowes Vnlocke this chaine from my legs and let him that hath prooued himselfe so weake a iuster row in my place and you shall see how I will make you conquerours and confound our enemies in their owne foolish triumph He had no sooner saide the word but deliuered from his chaine by a Nymphe with a braue courage he tooke his launce and target and manfully stood vpright in the prow of the ship Then the Sauages with valiant mindes began to row on both sides and the Nymphes to make loude voices in the aire The contrarie ship came with the same force as before but her Sauage had little need to set his staffe in rest to get the victorie for the champion that had braued it so much before they met with the great force and haste that the ship carryed him could not possibly keepe himselfe on foote but that with shield and speare he fell into the water giuing a manifest and cleere example That the proudest and most presumptuous fall most often into greatest disgraces The Nymphes tooke him vp againe who went swimming vp and downe although he little deserued it But the fiue other ships spoken of before remaining aside by themselues seeing their captaine ouercommed what with choler shame and desire to regaine the victorie and their lost