th'Iron doth the Adamant so drawes she him to smart Whilst metamorphisde into teares of woe he knoweth no meane His torments being so cruell as his griefes are too extreame He thinkes no more of his poore sheepe he hath forgotten those No other thought now troubles him but how to end his woes His voyce his crie his gesture sad and his most morunfull speech Are all of Loue and how they Loue for succour may beseech His colour now is chang'd and gate so is his wonted grace Nored nor white as heretofore remaineth in his face Like ashes he lookes pale and leane whilst sorrow drieth his bones Nor hath he strength for to doe aught except to send forth grones Without all hope or comfort he doth draw his loathed life And for his refuge death doth seeke torid him of this strife But death is deafe vnto his call as fieree Sycambra is And therefore thou and th' other too he gainst his will must misse Well may he call but they 'le not come once comfort for to bring But leaue him when he needes them most to liue thus languishing In briefe the heauens death and men with destuies doe conspire Gainst him that he shall burne yet haue no meane to quench this fire Nothing preuailes him to auaile whilst on the other side Sycambra in like predicament as he is doth abide Of thonsand bloodie passions she participateth vext Yet nothing can relieue her whilst she languisheth perplext Armanda iests and her when she doth speake at euery word He skoffes nor fauour he at all to her will once afford He laughes to see her weepe to heare her sigh it makes him smile Nor will so much as one small dram of pittie yeeld the while But growing too too insolent and puffed vp with pride He wills her to depart and die nor cannot her akide Swearing by all the Gods that he will sooner seeke his death Then fancie her as long as he shall draw his vitall breath She seeing her selfe disdained thus doth ban her destinie And after many strange conceits resolueth for to die By some strange kinde of vncoth death she meanes to cure her wound Which Loue as foe had giuen her her sences to confound Without imploring any more sauadge Armandas aide Who neither her nor her kinde sute respected aught or waide So loyall Hero of her life an end would willing make When faire Leander she did see drowned for her sake Ah fretting corsie worse then death with neuer endles smart When cheating Loue impoysoneth the constant loyall heart More cruell then the rest by odds for dying we but range From this life to another while we make a better change Whereas the for lorne Louers life so bitter is and fell As thousand deaths they chuse before they will abide the hell Of all the torments then on th' earth Loue most outragious is Loue that our youths makes wither fast depriuing as of blisse Sycambra therefore now resolu'de to die doth soone entend That so at length her Agonies and senselesse griefes may end A trenchant blade she taketh vp but viewing it so kright And sharpe she straitway lets it fall so much it her doth fright Her heart will not endure her hand should set it to her brest And therefore with such inchauntment to die she doth detest A throtling halter doth displease as much as sword before So rusly to be strangled stiffe her faire necke doth abore She poyson takes but her conceit that drench hath ouerthrowne Which makes her halter poyson sword all three to let alone A gentler kinde of death though strange she hath found out as the Which is t'entombd her selfe aliue torid her of her woe She meanes within a Rocke obscure from other Rockes far wide With thousand Ditches compassed and bushes on each side Fearefull to Sauadge beasts themselues and horrible to men Her selfe there to enclose and there her selfe doth closely pen. Thus lanquisht she most wrethedly no meate she had nor bred But sighes and sobs no drinke at all but teares which fast she shed No meate she would but mone no drinke but dole to end her life Meaning hereby her coarse to spoyle through starning famines knife The skriching night Owles dolefully her wailings did assist And lucklesse Rauens moand her Loue whilst they to her did list Death whom she wisht for oft at hand was still though not so nigh As she desirde and sorrow was with her continually No voyce she vsde but cries no speech but drerie drie laments So heauily she mournes as Rockes for pittie doe relent Yet no man answeres her at all The comfort most she findes Is when false Ecco her last word againe vnto her windes But he that of her miserie is cause and motiue chiefe Is deafe vnto her praiers become nor yeeld will her reliefe More hard then stubborne Rocks then hills more Sauadge and more fierce He will not mollifie his heart no pittie can it pierce His weale it is to see her waile her bale to him is blisse Whilst in a state most pittilesse far worse then death he is O Tygers whelpe monster of men worthy of any blame Too much vnworthy to be lou'd of such a constant dame Ah may that fortune chaunce to thee as to Adonis coy Who of a Goddesse dayning loue a Boore did him destroy And let it hap to thee as to Narcissus peeuish Elfe Who others Loues refusing did in loue fall with himselfe Yet can I not say that the Gods are partiall but most iust The selfe same measure others we doe giue we looke for must So Ladies had Sycambra kinde vnto her Zerphir bene She had not then such tortors felt nor had abid such teene As she did bide still languishing desirous for to die Whilst she to death Armanda like to come to her doth crie Yet hopes she thus she cannot liue and that her times not long Her heart she findes alreadie broke for bearing so great wrong Besides her fainting bodie fraile prognosticates to her By reason nature's growne so weake death is not from her far Much doe the gastly dreames she hath in slumber her affright And fearefull apparitions strange which she beholdes in night Sometimes they to her bring dispare then her with hope they feede With hope in vaine which when she wakes her wounds more fresh make bleed For he that nothing hath to loose needs not to waile his losse Nor needs he feare that Fortunes wheeles swift turning should him crosse Where he is in most pittious plight that viewes his chiefest stay Which should from ruine him support on sudden tooke away Long time Sycambra in this wise most vncoth liued thus Like to the shape of gastly death in case most dolorous Whilst in meane space Famine and Griefe with neuer ceasing cries Her flesh did turne to bones her heart tormenting in strange guise Her colour which before was fresh and daintie as the Rose And that same beautious varnish pure no more now in her showes Like to
because of this small grace I obtained at my Mistris hand beganne to perswade my selfe of things that neither might nor could well be brought to passe A small matter maketh Louers to hope or feare I now tooke vpon mee to make this Dittie following which as sweetely as I could I sung before my Ladie Heare it then though vnworthie it be of your patience LADIE how much doe I respect and loue Your beautie rare which doeth my heart controule When lest that you to anger I should moue I bite my tongue and silent am in soule Ore me you haue still such a hand As none but you may me command I rather chuse a thousnd times to die Without offending your most heauenly face Then like to Dedals sonne fall foolishly And so through rashnes end my youthfull race Borne was I for to be your slane My seruice you alone shall haue If I of you such reuerent regard Haue as to you I dare not tell my griefe Ah then but gesse my Crosses ouer hard By these my teares I bide without reliefe Thinke that as others I doe mourne The fire kept close more hote doeth burne Before to you my cares I will bewray I le perish as your loyall seruant true Death cannot be so grieuous any way As for to be offensiue vnto you So you be not displeasd by me The losse of life no losse shall be A double burning burthen I doe beare My selfe consuming with a two-fold woe First for because I loue and hold you deare And next because I dare not tell you so A pittious paine that to conceale Which most we couet to reueale The Law doth men sometimes compell and make All that they know not to disclose or tell But LOVE all speech away from vs doth take Which is a plague as bad as second Hell We must not for our selues once speake Whilst silence makes our hearts to breake But though my tongue most secretly this ill Doth keepe my pittious eyes yet shew the same Thus whilst I loyall do contiuue still I counted am a coward to my shame Because that I am ouer kinde I am condemn'd of abiect minde To reape for louing true a mortall wound I holde is as a sacred thing diuine And so I rather wish dead to be found Then a deniall should cause ruine mine What neede I then my griefes her show When what I would faire shee doth know I le rather flie to Heauen with swiftest wing Then that mine earnest sute my Dame should grieueâ— To speake too much A Sentence much danger oft doth bring When warie silence nere doth blame receiue Of Gods we learne secret to bee Little to say and much to see Then Dearest since thou art not ignorant Of my hard state rue on my pittious plight Which though in colours forth I do not paint Yet they in conscience merit fauour right Who serueth well A Sentence though he not crauing stand Yet doth his good deserts enough demand After I had sighed forth this amorous Dittie it pleased my Ladie to allow it for passable and currant shee doing mee the honor to sing it her selfe now and then vnto the sweete sound of her daintie Lute But O thrice happie Song to haue bene thought worthie for to liue in the sacred memorie of my Mistrisse and to be warbled forth with her sweet melodious voyce This reuerend and graue Sire was the beginning and first progresse of my chaste Loue which made me so carefull as I could take no rest in somuch as like one ouer-curious I would needs know the euent of the same and therevpon one day I addressed me vnto an Ecco of whom I demanded many things which shee resolued me of suddainly But yet her answere was so fatall and heauie vnto mee as it not a little irketh me to repeate it Neuerthelesse because I will hide nothing of my proceedings from you listen if you please For thus it was ECCO Harke Goddesse of these Woods vnto my neuer ceaslesse cries Who here most blessedly dost liue exempt from vanities Thou Goddesse which through knowledge thine of prudent fore-seeing Fate Doest know our endes and deaths and of our liues the course and state Goddesse of heauenly Nature right to whom Ioue doeth reueale Great secerets of importance and nought from thee doth conceale Thou that of vs according to thy owne will doest dispose Thou which one while doest make vs liue in ioy and then in woes To thee to thee doe I appeale To answere me then come Whose voyce seemes for to flie from out a hollow ghastly Tombe Who shall relieue my woes and breathe into me vit all breath Into my soule ore-chargde with griefe and ouerwhelmde with death ECCO Death In what estat shall Loue which cuts my wings of thoughts ore-glad Finde my poore minde which when it left it left it ouer sad ECCO Ouer-sad What with my heart once strong as steele gainst griefes shall then be done Since hardly it was made to yeeld shall it be ouercome ECCO Ouercome After so many wearie toyles where-through I needs must perish What will my Lady count of this my too too deare bought seruice ECCO Vice But shall I from this wretched state whilst I doe liue be free Or shall I still vnto her will as seruile Bond-slaue bee ECCO Bond-slaue bee Ah say what good at length shall I find in this my cold damage What new come nouell Accident shall set a fire my courage ECCO Courage Shall Rage and Furie then within my bones vnconstant burne And for to quench this flaming fire to me shall none returne ECCO None returne Who is the cause of this my griefe and of mine vsuall paine Since I haue alwaies honoured the great Palladian ECCO Palladian Why sencelesse find I sences mine from Reason thus to mone Who workes this vncoth feare in me Say is it cruell Loue ECCO Cruell Loue. And is it cruell to one that is the authour of my griefe The greatest of Gods that will mongst God be honoured first and chiefe ECCO First and chiefe Shall I then be vnfortunate starre-crossed in my will And without succour succourlesse must I continue still ECCO Continue still Ah Arcas miserable wretch behold now here the life Which thou must lead whilst thou dost liue begirt with sorrow rife Chuse rather death then thus to liue in endlesse miserie By dying all thy griefes doe end they woes and anguish die Seeke in this vncoth Desart sad some kind of gentle death Who 's plungd in paine should nere desire to draw his vitall breath A Sentence One plague's as bad as is some death one death ends torments all Then death not life I le chuse and take of euills what is most small This was the pittilesse answere of cruell Ecco which made me bedeawe my cheekes many times with brinish teares and to wish my selfe to be as lowe vnder the ground as I was high vpon the earth whilest I consumed peecemeale away in most wofull
bills and then on Champions plaine Another whilst alongst corne fields with swiftie pace amaine And in the end wearied with griefe her selfe flings on the ground Resolu'd to die through hunger staru'd since they will not be found So such a part our Shepheard plaide when he did see with eie His Mistris he no where could finde he faints resolu'd to die But weladay before his death he sawe his Flora faire Flora for whom so oft he calde the cause of all his care The coarse of that faire Nymph for whom he thought himselfe forlorus He found a Sauadge beast had all in pieces cruell torne For whilst through madding iealousie she vp and downe did fret In thickest woods as she desirde a Lion there her met Which seazing on her with his pawes did teare her in a trise The goodliest creature that did liue he slewe in furious wise Yet as she died on Nunidor she calde as he might heare For helpe though all in vaine and though as then he was too neere Too neere to her so pittious sound too farre to helpe her tho Which was the reason that the more it did encrease his woe She slaine away the Lion runnes when as from mountaine hie He might perceiue her breathlesse trunke in peeces torne to lie Which when he sawe he thither ranne as if he had bene mad So fast he ranne as running then nor strength nor breath he had Downe falls he sounding for pure griefe vpon the linelesse corse So long as he did seeme indeed as dead without remorse At last though long he once more comes vnto himselfe againe Calling his vitall spirits to him although with grieuous paine Whilst for to vtter these fewe words words grieuous he do 〈◊〉 Words such so pittifull as well both heauen and earth might moue And art thou dead faire natures worke the Mirrour of thy time Art thou disliu'de whom all admirde as sacred and diuine Art thou a prey to enuious Death could Death thee thus annoy Who whilst thou liu'dst my comfort wast my selace and my ioy O Death vniust damnd ennious vnto my chiefest ease Durst thou so much ore insolent my Flora faire displease Woes mee th' art dead and with thee dead are those thine Eyes so bright Thine Eyes which men for to reuiue had power enough and might Ah thouart dead where whilom lodg'd mine hart and inward soule Thou now art dead whose onely lookes the proudest did controule But thou art dead and can I liue to see a sight so sore Is Flora gone and likely i st that liue should Numidore Prodigious Planets me to make ore-liue my Ladie deare Since shee the Essence of my life was whilst I tiued here Heauens most vniust to giue to mee of life so long a scope Since I behold destroyed her in whom was all my hope But yee mine eyes why feare you not so foule a sight to marke And looking on it afterwards become not blinde and darke Most cruelly destned as I was thrice happie had I beene If I had neuer had these eyes and neuer could haue seeâ—â— Thrice happie I if some wilde beast in pieces had me tore So I this murther nere had spide which I so much abhore I was not beautious Nymph no way to be compar'd to thee If so why then should any way Death hinder be to meeâ— Accursed soule of mine and thou mine euer restlesse hart Canst thou abide to breath so long to taste such vncoth smart I am a Man and of more strength then she was why then first Since I could better death endure died I not most accurst Reason it was and conscience that I die before thee should Since as my Faith and dutie was not saue thy life I would Cruell Lyon that hast deuourd my ioy come doe thy will On mee who for to liue on earth count it a haynous ill Come come and from this miserie let him I pray be rid Who doth desire to end his dayes as his poore Flora did Doe vs this pleasure for to kill vs both at once together That dying so thou both maist please as well contenting either Why com'st not cruell then since that for thee I doe attend And stay thy leisure that thou mightst my wretched bodie rend I see thou art no Lyon right but of a Bastard kinde Else sooner mee then Ladie mine ere this time thou wouldst finde A Lyon generous indeed disdaineth for to prey On silly Virgins harmles Maides but lets them goe their way Hee onely seazeth on stout men or such as be his Foes And spoyleth them that chaseth him tearing in pieces those Where forth tyrannize vpon a Nymph a murthers such As neuer like was heard before and is detested much But I perceiue thou dar'st not come yet in despite of thee I le spoyle my selfe that so I may with my deare Mistris bee I le die that I may follow for to serue my Misteris Who seckes his Lady to suruiue of life not worthie is Faire thee the heauens haue reft to make themselues more faire to show Whilst here vpon the earth with vs they nought haue left but woe Faire they haue taken thee away to beautifie more faire Themselues whilst here instead of thee they leaue eternall care Meane time I liue still languishing thy heauy losse to rue Vnworthy to haue bidden thee farewell or once Adieu Yet Flora in despite of Death thou flourish shalt for euer Thy praise shall shew Acanthus like still flowring dying neuer The sweet Cloue Gilliflower and Rose of Spring it shall put downe Thy beautie was more beautifull and of more fresh renowue My daintie Flora being dead shall be such kinde of Flower As she shall be eternall aye and flourish euery hower Death may our liues abridge through Spite bating our youthfull dayes But Vertue it can nere subdue nor subingate her praise But why liue I it may be sayd that I in life remains Who liuing feele the torments of damn'd Ghosts sternall point No no I liue no more my dayes are turn'd to darkest nights Already I am registred amongst the liuelesse Sprighâ—s That I should liue and Flora dead a thing 's impossible To stay bâ—hinde her she being gone I loued her too well Sweet I must satisfaction make to thee for mine offence Although I shame when I doe thinke on my vile negligence Had I bene carefull ouer thee as but my part it was Thou then hadst bene aliue as now to ioy with me alas I did deserue the punishment for thou didst nere â—ffend Ah woe is mee thou not through Foes hast died has through thy Friend For which my â—respasse I resigne my life most millingly Neuer so much desiring life as now I wish to die But yet before I breathe my laft let me obtaine thy grace That I may kisse those Diamon eyes that quondanâ— beautions face Which said the Shepheard taketh vp her liâ—â—â—es so seatered Whilst them embracing floods of teares vpon them swife he shad So much and oft so
did wholly run on thee my bodie aye was thine Thy will as t' were a penalt Lawe to thee did me combine To please thee not my selfe I liu'd nor did I thinke at all That ere my credit had receiu'd a foyle much more a fall Nav more I could haue bene content that thou shouldst tasted haue That sweetest sweet that Louers seeke and still is that they craue But that mine Honor did ore me with greater puissance seaze Then my desire ore senses had as sensuall them to please This selfe-same honor now although some wrongfully haue toucht Because it too much honor'd thee and suffered thee too much Demaunds my bodie offered be to him my fault to purge And for to haue it sacrifiz'de most bloodie doth it vrge And so it shall Floretta then courage take heart at grace And this vile blot of hatefull shame let 's wipe from off our face For though I through this poyson strong of life depriued be Yet my good Fame taxt wrongfully it shall restore to me Adiew my dearest Plaindor but must I my selfe absent From thee and from thy presence needs must I alack be sent I I Ah hellish griefe yet me my heart againe restore That I may liue below this earth with quiet minde the more Ah render me my heart againe which I le in pieces teare Nor for to see the same to die be thou abasht with feare Sweete Plaindor if that ere thou lou'dst Floretta thou mayst vaunt Vouchsafe this one request to her now dying for to graunt Which is me to suruiue that thou as Testis witnesse may How wrongfully some thought too much my Glories pride to slay I call thee for to speake the truth of my chaste Innocence And to the Heauens I doe appeale who knows my true pretence Then Friend if euer in that sight of thine this body haue Bene gratious when it dead shall be prouide for it a graue Close these mine eyes cashirde from light shut fast this mouth so pale And this my Coarse below in ground to burie do not faile Deare this is all I craue of thee since now my course is runne That kindnes is but worth small praise that by the halues is done But how now Plaindor what do'st weepe thou sigh'st amaine me thinke Nay then thy grieuous Martyrdome I soone will ease and stint Le ts dye le ts dye more then high time t' is I were gone from hence And saying so she swalloweth downe that hatefull poysonous drench That done vppon the greeny grasse her selfe she softly throwes And holding of her armes acrosse her prettie mouth doth close When lifting vp her last seene eyes she Plaindor might behold How he his manly brest for griefe did beate with courage bold Whereat she weeps afresh so great a Corsie to her t' is And dying now she striues to giue to him her latest kisse That done she yeeldeth vp the Ghost Ah heauie spectakell But now the dire Catastrophe of this sad tale I le tell When Plaindor saw his Mistres dead with lookes most furious He draweth his sword which gainst himselfe he bends as barbarous And raging like a bedlem mad distraught of wit through wroth Minding himselfe to massacre these words he sigheth forth Floretta ah Floretta speake speake fairest of all Faire Where 's now thy faith that did protest of me to haue such care Where 's now thy oaths and promises They now haue me deceiu'd And my greene youth long fed with hope they haue of ioy bereau'd Cruell Floretta and yet cruell to none except vnto Thy selfe when for anothers fault thy selfe thou didst vndo To bring me to my dismall ende no way couldst thou deuise But for to slaughter thus thy selfe in such a monstrous guise O faire but chaster Coarse by farre what hast thou done or sed To be vntimely fore thy time consorted with the dead And thou pure soule within that Coarse what sinne didst thou commit That thou so soone from that faire Inne away shouldst passe and flit Thine Honor th' ast kept vndefil'd then if you this doe call A fault how then hast thou offended Else hast thou not at all Faire beauties spotlesse Temple thou doest dye for mine effence And I the essence of thy ill to liue seeke to dispence Ah wretched me and which is worse white liuered soppe I am Vnworthie of such calling as to beare thy Seruants name No no I needs must dye my blood pardon for fault shall win And I will satisfaction make for this my cruell sin Yet fore I die I humbly grace and pardon begge of thee Who hast the power that this my soule remaineth thus in me Ah pardon me what i st I say this pardon which I craue Argues my fault more monsterous that worse I sinned haue I see the Murtherer I haue bin of thy fresh flowring youth Thy healths chiefe Homicide and foe vnto thy faith some ruth For me not for thy selfe thou dyest and shall I then be cause To see those eyes mouth clos'd vp which Death vnto them drawes O of all vertue golden meane of loyaltie bright sonne Whome as my Saint I haue ador'd must thou for me be vndone O hell O black dispaire of Starres most spitefull in such wise To incense so many boysterous stormes gainst my small barke to rise Ay me why dy'de I not when first I saw this face of hern Then lyke an exile from all ioy to be exposde and driuen But soft my Toung runs too too fast and words be nought but winde I know not where I am nor am I now in my right minde Yet at the least let me once bid my deerest Dame adieu And let me of her take my leaue Ah speake what will not you No no I am vnworthy I vnworthy of her grace I not deserue that haue destroyd such fauour so suire face And hast thou then the heart to see that beautie be disliu'de The onely cause that thou long since of life wort not depriu'de And canst thou breathe without her sight thou canst not I doe know Vnto Th'Elizian golden fieldes thou needes with her must goe My selfe my young yeares cutting off will rid me of annoy Since such a blacke tempestious storme hath shipwrackt all my ioy I le die I le diâ— but yet what kind of death might I inuent Cruell enough for my vile fact me iustly to torment Since that the fait falst mâ—â—de aliue through me her death hath found To whome more then to all the world I was obligde and bound Diuinest beautie thou through me doest perish and doest die Whose chiefe delight was to restore my nie lost libertie Plaindor thy deaths wound hath thee giuen whilst he forgot himselfe To whome he owed his life and goods and more then all his wealth Ah haplesse man ah louely Nymphe great reason sure thou hast To giue mâ— ore since ouer thee so small care I haue plaâ—'te And misely didst thou gesse that I vnto thy glorious fame Should be small credit rather
bestowe it cheerfully on her For in giuing her that which is thine owne thou shalt deserue as well at her hands as those who are farre mightier then thy selfe vnto whome the heauens haue giuen better meanes to succour their Countryes then they haue vnto thee For euery one is discharged after he hath payd what he doeth owe and hauing performed what he can to the vtmost of his power But it is not a sufficient discharge for the bad debtor An example to say he hath nothing and yet in the meane time can find wealth enough to supplie his own need Change then thy mind take thy iourney with me and I will thinke my selfe fortunate if I may restore thee vnto thy Countrey againe because of the great want she hath of such of her children as are good naturall faithfull and valiant Amongst which number I account thee as one of the chiefe To this speech Arcas was about to replie when the sound of a most pittious voyce ouerdrowned his so that to vnderstand the same he was husht and silent This voyce sighed forth this Sonnet following Accursed wretch and shall my blubbered teares Nere mollifie my Mystris flintie heart O no for these strange heats my bodie beares My teares to fire doe change to breede my smart Shall I no more behold her beautie bright Which wonted was alone me so to please No no for now I liue withouten light Since her I see not cause of my disease In double wise alas I finde my griefe Whilst trebble still surmounteth my disgrace First cause I am a Thrall without reliefe And next for that I see not her faire face Thrise blest the dead far happier then my selfe Death makes an ende of all their martyring paine But I still toyling keepe on sorrowes shelfe Then is my life the worser of the twaine Halfe dead halfe liue I languishing doe lie Vnder the beautious eyes of my proud FAIRF Whilst I more cruell finde my destinie Exilde from her the essence of my care Oh what colde passions in strange vncoth wise Thy wofull absence breeds through woes dispences Since that thy sight made smile my weeping eyes The losse whereof depriues me of my sences DEARE what am I poore I withouten thee But like a coarse quite void of vitall breath Accursed Fate that such a Law should bee To force men liue against their wills on earth Of thousand griefes the least and smallest crosse A Louer louing doth in Loue indure Is worse by ods then is of life the losse Which we by gentle death our friend procure Compar'd vnto the passions which I feele O happie Fate that so would'st ende my life To rid me of my troubles euery deele A Cordiall wore and comfort passing rife What shall I not from these plagues be releasde Neuer before expir'd be my lifes date Of blessings all t is not t is not the least To die whom Heauens whilsts that the liues doth hate O heauens when will you gainst me quiet cease And for a while take truce to doe me spight No no I see with me you 'l haue no peace Yet vertue after stormes doth shew most bright You then doe meane thus still my heart to racke On tenters yours to sound my constancie But to what ende doe you the same alacke When I it know and beare it patiently Then cease yee Gods to grieue me still with plagues Ah whither carrie you my vexed soule But t is no matter shew your vtmost rage Not you my dame alone can it controule As long as she to accept it please in shewe You cannot hau 't nor for you shall it care For dutie lesse to heauens and Gods I owe Then to my lifes sweet death my cruell FAIRE He that sung this was the Shepheard Coridon whome as Arcas wilfull banishment had brought by chance into this Desart and who calling to mind his Loue sung this dolefull Dittie which being ended and perceiuing Philistell Arcas and the old man together he runneth strait vnto them and most ioyfully saluteth them praying them to heare a certaine wofull historie of the truth of which his owne eyes had bin witnesses in this his traualie Wherupon they graunted his request and euery one of them taking their places to sit downe they began to listen vnto him most attentiuely when the Shepheard spake as followeth The Tragicall ende of chast Floretta Although the Almightie through his diuine prouidence hath most prodigally bestowed vpon the soule of man many faire and goodly perfections making him capable to know and vnderstand euery thing Neuerthelesse if there be not some striking motion to awake him or some strange accident to pricke him forward he remaineth oftentimes as senselesse without shewing any effects of his power and might at all For a horse although he be by nature quicke light and full of life yet if he be not spurred forward well he will neither runne orderly nor yet keepe any pace rightly at all Now the sharpest spurres of the soule are Glory and Loue being the first deuisers of his actions and the chiefest causes of all his enterprises A braue Generall or Commaunder of a field egged forward with desire of glory will with the price of his blood amidst thousand of dangers in despite of all hazards venture to shew a proofe and signe of the brauenes of his minde A witnes wherof is Themisticles who was enuious of the glory of Milliades So likewise a Louer will make shew of a thousand proofes of a gallāt spirit deuising all the best meanes he can to bring himselfe in credit with his Mistresse to the ende he may thereby obtaine the sooner his desire And of such inuentious Iupiter is found to be the first inuenter Warre then and Loue are the two most necessarie spurres for the minde although they are sharpe and violent as a comfortable potion though bitter to heale the sickelie body And when by chaunce the spirit of man is toucht vnto the quicke with these two hot spurres together thē is the time whē we shal see the same to discouer all her perfectiōs worthy qualities at the full For when the valiant champions begin once to loue then doe they become most rare and admirable in their actions as well by their valiantnes to get the good will of their Ladies as also because they lesse esteeme of their liues then they haue done heretofore Of which number were Hercules Troylus Achilles infinities of other more And if the Romane writers speake truely we find not any braue caualier without a Ladie or Mistris This being the occasion that I haue vsed this little preamble before I come vnto my historie which is a mixt discourse both of Mars and Venus For you shall vnderstand that a certaine Duke of Banier had not long since a most faire and vertuous daughter but yet most vnfortunate as most commonly the vertuous are because they being enuied for the same alwaies find a number of enemies to conspire and worke
No I would thinke my Fortune to be maruellous good if liuing hardly vpon the rootes and fruite within these woods I might be sure to keepe my Chastitie vntainted and vnpolluted but who can or will assure me of such exceeding fauour Cruell ouer-cruell Sea of thee doe I complaine most of all in that thou hast cast mee vpon thy shore and not drowned me for this doe I complaine of thee more then for the losse of all my friends cast away most cruelly by thine onely meanes alone Why diddest not thou send me to death as thou diddest them and why did I not take the same course following them as they did seeing wee were all embarqued in shippes alike and were to passe all vnto one place and Countrey Well well yet in despite of thee will I seeke to die comforting my selfe with this good in my last miserie that so doing my body shall not be a prey neither to vicious men nor to any deformed monster Nothing doubting at all but that some one pitifull man or other will vouchsafe to burie me after I am dead and that the same earth from which it came will not sticke to accept and receiue it againe into her owne bowels Thus complained the dolefull Iustina dispairing as it were of all succour A Sentence hardly perswading her selfe and scarcely beleeuing that God would euer deliuer her from this wofull estate in which she found her selfe as then to be in But as his power is farre aboue the capacitie of man so doth his succors come quite contrarie vnto the hope and conceit of them and as it were by an extraordinarie kinde of meanes For euen then when the vnfortunate Princesse resolued within her selfe to make her selfe away behold shee might perceiue a young Gentleman to come towards her attended on with two seruants whose custome was to walke oftentimes vnto the Sea side for his disportand pleasure his Castle being seituate and lying hard by the same vpon the toppe of an high hill No sooner had hee cast his eyes vpon the sorrowfull virgin but that he thought presently she was the haplesse remainder of some shipwrack of the Sea and the rather because he saw her enuironed and compassed round about with dead coarses which he perceiuing sodainly began to lament the hard hap of this dispairing Damsell And as the brauest and most generous mindes are soonest subiect to pittie and compassion he resolued to helpe and succour her in what he could Comming neere vnto her he might perceiue her most pittifully to sigh for her disasters holding her head betweene her hands which leaned vpon her lappe and her dropping eyes looking downe very wistly vpon the ground which was the cause shee saw not the Knight vntill he was come right before her But now his presence comming as he did bred a new combat within her thoughts freezing her heart with a nouell feare againe For whereas before she onely doubted the crueltie of some rauenous beast Now seeing so faire and goodly a young Gentleman by her she began to apprehend in her minde the losse of her Honour which neuerthelesse she resolued to maintaine the same vnto the vttermost of her power and to pleade what she could in her owne defence before hee should seaze vpon her as his prey Wherevpon with a good courage shee flingeth her selfe downe at the Noble mans feete and with an assured confidence which through his milde countenance she perswaded her selfe of him began thus to speake If GOD moued at last by mine incessant prayers to be gratious vnto me hath caused thee to come hither to the intent to succour and helpe me I know then thou wilt forbeare to dishonor me But if not and that thou art here arriued to worke my vtter ruine and ouerthrowe Ah then I beseech thee without more adoe cut off and shorten this my loathed life Whatsoeuer thou art An Example I beseech thee remember that the glorie of Alexander the great was greater in that he vanquished his owne will preseruing vntainted and vntoucht the honours of Darius daughters then in conquering Darius himselfe And thinke that the chaste continencie of Scipio brought more renowme and fame vnto him then the defeit and ouerthrowe of Hanniball and that his modest behauiour purchased him more faithfull friendes and seruitours then the triumphing Conquest of that huge Affrica Thus noble Knight to vanquish our enemie is the gift of Fortune and not our own proper force A Sentence but to surmount and ouercome our owne selues is a glorie due vnto our selues alone and to none other Because neither Fortune neither the assistance of our friends haue any interest or part herein for onely from our selues it doth proceed and from none else Whereas contrariwise if thou please but to call vnto thy minde thou shalt soone find what blame dishonor and disgrace the beastly and vicious life of Tarquine of Pacis of Theseus and diuers others brought them vnto who because they durst presume most cruellie to rauish and deflowre illustrious and vertuous Ladies felt the heauy hand of the heauens to inflict most grieuous plagues vpon them So perished Aiax Oillius plagued most iustly for forcing the sacred Prophetesse Cassandra For more fowle was his fault accounted and more was he condemned for abusing this Virgin then proud Pyrrhus was thought cruell in sacrificing the milde Polixena vpon the tombe of his father Achilles I am now thy slaue as Cassandra was his yet I hope I shall not be so hardly vsed as she was by him lest the Gods punish thee as seuerely as they did Aiax I rather perswade my selfe that I haue met with another Alexander for chast continēcie that my hap shal be as fortunate as was that of Slutinas the wife of Darius But if not that I am deceiued in mine expectation yet at the least shew me the fauour that I may succeede Lucretia in her fortune and lend me some weapon or other with which I may open my brest and leaue this my life A Sentence which I haue so much and so long disliked For it is not life but rather death for a modest woman to liue without good name and fame seeing we properly call that life indeed which neuer dyeth at all and that is Honor. Then worthy Lord I commit and commend mine into thy hands it is for this onely that I so much intreat and begge and not for life For so little doe I account thereof as I would thinke it time ill spent and worse imployed to demaund or desire the same at all The Knight hearing this note wondred at her beautie and not a little at her braue minde rare constancie And so much was he amazed at her excellent oration but far more at her vertuous and stout resolution that in steed of hauing her to be his slaue and Captiue he found himselfe to be ouercome as her prisoner and to be wounded with her sweete countenance and pleasing behauiour which
the losse of his Mistris for that was the generall brute that ranne for currant throughout all the Countrey One while he condemned his ouerrash fondnes as wánting aduise and discretion in that through the same he had hazarded vpon the vngentle waues so faire and sweete a Creature as she was Another while he acknowledged and confessed himselfe to be the author of her death and the cause of her destruction Whilest this opinion of his drewe whole floods of teares from his eyes thousands of sighes from his heart and millions of heauie complaints from his soule Two cruell conceits did alwayes afflict him the one was the losse of his Loue the other the constant beliefe that he had bene the occasion of her vtter ouerthrow Commonly we beare with more patience the misfortune which hapneth vntovs A Sentence by the despitefull malice of the angrie Stars then we doe that which through our owne default doth fall vpon vs. For the one we can no way remedie because we cannot resist against the heauens but the other wee imagine we might by some deuise haue preuented if in due time we would with discretion haue looked vnto the same All the Court as well the highest as lowest endeuored what they could to comfort him but he esteemed that as a double griefe to be perswaded to be comforted by anie hauing lost her which was his chiefest comfort In the ende he deuised these dolefull Ditties in which kinde of exercise hee spent most part of his wearisome time This then was the wofull Song which he vsed oftentimes to sigh forth when hee was in his Chamber all alone or walking amidst the vncouth Forrests or when he was retired vnto some priuate place along the solitary Sea-shore Now I haue lost the deare light of mine eyes What should I doe but end my wearie dayes That Louer which with Mistris his doeth die A Sentence Dyeth not Alas but rather liues alwayes So Pyramus and Thysbe did disliue Themselues and liu'd together like two Doues That seruant which his Louer doth suruiue No faithfull Louer by loyaltie prooues So great a losse teares cannot counteruaile The rate hereof at so high price is set Base mindes it fittes for life to weepe and waile That so at length their griefes they may forget Not death it selfe though stung with his sharp sting Their loyall hearts can parted make remaine Th' one dying doth death to the other bring Making but one for to become of twaine As sweet that happie life of Louers was When th' one the other ioyfullie did prooue So seemes it sweete to them from life to passe When they together ende their Life and Loue. Loue doth renew and so like Phoenix shall In the Elizian fieldes below the earth Chaste Amitie not mortall t' is at all As is our fatall ende and flitting breath Ah how can one liue in this world of woe A Sentence When he hath lost the best part of himselfe Who seekes not after Mistris his to goe In Friendships Checquer hath but little wealth Diuorse me then from life yee Destinies To rid me from this labyrinth of noy The FAIREST shall not plaine in righfullwise Of mee since I haue lost her my chiefe ioy Ay mee I see Death no remorse will take On me whilst slowe hee hearkneth to my crie The Heauens our plagues the greater for to make Will not permit Death should approach vs nie Shall I then liue in griefe my selfe to banne Euen in despite and gainst my soules owne will Alas I must for I vnworthy am To bee where bides my Ladie freed from ill Am I not wretched then more then the rest To cause her death for whom I ought t' haue dide Then why should I imagine me so blest As for to looke for comfort at this tide No no I must and I deserue to finde Thousands of crosses ere I ende this life Who ill hath done deserues no vsage kinde A Sentence No gentle death but direfull sorrowes rife My hope is this that after thousand plagues A lingring death shall seaze vpon my Coarse Whilst thousand griefs throughout my vaines shall rage The more to punish him without remorse Then let none comfort or once counsell mee Since this my wound is mortall sans recure A mad man neuer will perswaded be By reason what is best for him t' endure Vnhappy I and trebble curst my state Wherein I liue a death ore desperate Thus wailed this sadde Prince continually and to say truth iust were his waylings and but rightfull his complaints considering how great his loyaltie was and yet if he loued Iustina well our Loue-sick Caualier honored her as much if not more for as he liked her for her beautie so did he as much admire her for her vertue To seeke to obtaine her in hope to carrie away that which many a Louer proposeth as a guerdon for his trauaile and paine which he hath taken hee knewe full well that it was in vaine and against his word and promise and to espouse and marrie her being altogether ignorant of her byrth and estate euery one knowing in what wretched taking he found her vpon the Sea-shore all alone hee durst not both for feare lest hee should doe iniurie vnto his house from whence he descended and also lest he should prouoke the iust displeasure of his best friendes and nighest kindred in attempting so rash an enterprise without their consent Thus was he troubled with many doubtes still running in his head not knowing what way to take or which course to resolue vpon No more then the Pilgrime who being vnskilfull in his iourney A comparison and comming to a foure crosse-path-way knoweth not which of them all rightly to chuse Meane space Loue got the aduantage of him daily yea and in that sort as in the end he became absolute maister of the Fort and chiefe Lord and Conqueror ouer the soule of the poore Gentleman In so much as hee could no longer now conceale this hidden fire any more The burning coale couered with hot cinders is more fresh ardent and full of heate then the fiery flame it selfe Very willing and faine was he to haue bewrayed his sicknesse but he knewe not to whom he being not ignorant that none could ease him of his paine but onely shee who was the cause thereof of whom he looked to reape but small or no comfort at all The day and night was all one with him for hee slept no more when the Moone gaue light then when the Sunne shined his greatest contentment being to be alwayes in the companie of his deere Mistris not remembring how the more he resorted vnto her the more his heart was inthralled and caught in the nettes of Loues pleasing seruitude and bondage The often and dutifull deuoires hee alwayes vsed to doe her seruice his stealing glaunces and pittifull lookes he cast vpon her beautious countenance and his continuall burning sighes comming like smoakie exhalations from his brest were
fault haue I committed that you should enuie at this small rest which I finde whilst I am dying and why doe you malice my fortune when by death I hope to rid my selfe from these so hellish torments Let me I pray you depart hence quietly who deserue not to liue since whilst I liued I could not conquere my selfe If the braue Caualiere suffereth himselfe sometimes to die for very griefe to see himselfe ouercome and if right generous mindes thinke scorne to beg life of the victor chusing rather to die then to liue and carie the marke of a vanquisht person in their face how much more iustly then ought he to consent to his owne death and die willingly who ouer-charged with ordinarie foolish passions hath not bene able to conquere himselfe It is not for me Madame to liue any longer seeing I am not of power to hinder and forbid louing that which is the occasion of my death because I finde my selfe vnworthie to enioy the same Yet if it be a lesse disgrace to be subdued by a vertuous and gallant Captaine of the warres then by a base coward and a dastard of no valour then doe I count it a lesse displeasure vnto me to die for so worthie and rare a Subiect as I doe Iudge then most gratious Ladie and iudge but rightly how sacred and chast how faithfull and firme my loue hath alwaies bene which forceth me rather to die most wretchedly then to discouer it vnto you for feare of offending your more then wonderfull vertue But alas I not onely sacrifice this my life vnto your diuine deitie but thousands more would I offer if I had so many onely to be reconciled vnto you I haue done all that I could before I came vnto this my last remedie to take vpon me this wofull resolution But Souldiers that are beggered and dispaire of all hopefull succours A Comparison are in the ende forced despite of themselues to yeeld So I seeing my selfe voyd of all health and helps to what ende should I longer prolong my dolorous life to lengthen my cares the more And yet if it were possible you might be moued with a solemne protestation of a iust loyall and liuely affection borne towards you or if the misfortune of him who for feare to offend you most willingly abandoneth his life might touch you with some small drop of pittie Ah then Mistris suffer I beseech you this wretched carkasse of mine to be enterred in your presence to the ende that euen vnto his Tombe he may vaunt to haue had your blessed companie who whilst he liued was his onely delight and clearest light grace this my vnfortunate carkasse so much vnfortunate to die so soone without hauing shewed any sufficient proofe of his seruice nor restored you vnto your former happie fortunes But alas what good could it doe at all Seeing as vnworthie to serue you you haue and yet iustly cashired him and refused his vnprofitable seruice Therefore was it fittest for him to die seeing whilst he liued he was found as Non proficiens in the seruice of her vnto whome he was endebted for his life The onely thing I wish for in this world was but once more to see you to the ende I might certitifie you of my minde as now I haue done and to satisfie my weeping eyes who would haue died most vnwillingly if they had not once beheld your sweet selfe before the closing vp of their lids which request since I haue obtained to what purpose should I longer breathe The trauailer reposeth himselfe at the ende of his iorney A Sentence The craftes man giueth ouer hauing made an ende of his worke and euery one seeketh to rest hauing finished what they first tooke in hand So I now the houre-glasse of my life is run out now I haue seene spoken and obtained what I requested so much why should not I repose my selfe as well as others and quietly goe downe into my graue in peace I must sweet Ladie I needs must die and bid you hartily farewell I must die for griefe to want your presence and loose your companie But for a mortall disease no remedie is to be found Pardon me if I speake more boldly then becommeth me and thinke that he that lieth on his death bed hath libertie at that time to deliuer his minde at full Aboue all I here protest vnto you and most humblie by the name of God by your faire vertues by your Princely descent by your sacred honour by your rare beautie I earnestly entreate you to beleeue me that I neuer desired any thing more then the conseruation of your chastitie that I neuer so much wished mine owne good as I haue alwaies sought to maintaine your renowme and glorie Yet before I die let me intreat you sweet Mistris to heare a few verses which the remembrance of you and death together endited in memoriall of your chast amitie for he dieth not at all who dying seeth himselfe Imprinted in the mindes of his best friends most sorrowfull for his departure And hauing so said he called his sad Page vnto him who being commanded by him tooke his Lute in his hand and with an excellent sweet voyce vnto a most dolefull tune sung these verses following before his weeping Mistris O Death which vnto death my griefes doest consecrate For thankes my heart blood I will offer vp to thee Yet dying I account my selfe as miserable That sooner this to thee I had not power to proffer Alas what gaine I longer life for to prolong If I am frighted thus as well by day as night He shipwracke makes not of his rest that gently dies And his daies ending makes an ende of all his griefes O God what doth it boote me to adore my FAIRE Since I vnworthie am to serue so rare a beautie And yet an honour great t is for me to be loyall My hurts their guerdons haue in my fidelitie Then must I die I see and t is the common course Of brauest spirits death gently to endure Better resolue to die then alwaies liue in woe The shipman toyles till he attaines the wished port A due faire beautie which my soule hast rauished A due mine eyes shall nere more see thy brightnes pure I will entombe with this my sad disastred life My heart my teares my coarse in my most faithfull Loue. Ay me I waile too much A minde magnanimous Distils not watrie drops but floods of goarie blood And worser is his fault who doth vnwilling die Then he that from this world doth part with stomack braus Courage then thou my soute leaue this sad sorrowes cell My bodie and goerise with those that liue below Thrice blessed hee that dieth his Mistris will to please Such ende to make not death but Glories vnto him For Countrey Parents Frends their liues let others spend I will bestow mine for my faire and chastest Friend The Page hauing sung this wofull Dittie vnto a passing mournfull
note wrought so much by his excellent cunning as the soule of the Princesse was rauished with the same so that not being able any longer to withhold her selfe from weeping shee left her sicke Patient in whose eares as she was taking her leaue she softly whispered these fewe but yet sweete speeches Courage true Seruant and liue in hope expecting from me all the helps that may be to recouer your grieuous sicknes which shall be such yea and that in such an ample manner as I will endaunger mine owne life to restore you to yours and will not sticke to loose my selfe so I may saue you Saying so she went her wayes leauing Alfonso to muse on this matter canaussing diuers conceits in his braine By reason of these last words which she vttered he knewe not well how to take them nor how to vnderstand them nor scarcely what to make of them Yet in the meane time he stayed to see what effects would follow vpon the same and looked for some good Fortune to happen Not vnlike vnto the criminall who expecteth some fauour or friendship promised him by the Iudge And now he beginneth some what to comfort himselfe for that hee perceiued some pittie in the remorsefull eyes of his relenting Ladie who being tormented with diuers passions knewe not well what to say what to doe or what to resolue vpon The death of her Friend went neere her his loyall and sincere affection pleaded for some commisseration vnto her Insomuch as the exceeding great paines trauell he had taken in her behalfe the innumerable curtesies infinite kindnesses she had receiued at his hands began to make a breach into her constant brest so as at the last doe what she could she yeelded and became wholly his On the other side the feare and doubt lest she should doe any thing which might be a scandall vnto her Honor or a blemish vnto her inuincible chastitie which she had so long and with so great admiration kept inuiolable vntainted made her giue ouer and retire from her first determination A Similin As wee see a floating vessell in the troubled Sea tossed and tumbled with two contrarie windes neither forward nor backward nor to passe one way nor another Euen so fared the mind of this delicate Virgin who being ouercharged with many conceits and opinions knew not on which to resolue Yet in the ende Loue got the vpper hand For as a flame of fire feazing vpon a drye peece of wood couered with greene Iuie glideth ouerth wart the same and at the last burueth into ashes both the wood and the greene leaues together Euen so Loue entring at the first by her eyes descendeth downe lower and in the end runneth ouer all her bodie which he boldeth and arresteth as his owne goods Iustina then hauing once more resolued what to doe detemined with her selfe to marrie her kinde Hoast but being risen from her bedde a kind of bashfull shame began to breake this enterprise which would neuer permit that a modest Damosell her owne selfe should discouer her owne Loue neither suffer that the proper tongue of the Princesse should be the trompet of her owne shame But LOVE who would in no wise take the foyle and was very readie in aduising her how shee should dispatch this busines which much troubled her gaue her counsell to deliuer her minde in writing vnto her louing Seruant when she should next goe to visite him and so the shame should remaine within the paper which is of too pale a colour to blush Whervpon as she was taking pen in hand she called to minde the place from whence she came the doubt lest the Letter comming to light might be a discredit vnto her which was the cause shee stood in a mummering as it were a long time before she began to write still as fast as she endited she strait-waies crost it out againe with her pen. Loue thinking that bashfulnes could not endite well and bashfulnes thinking that Loues penning was as ill Long stood they disputing about fit termes to serue the purpose but in the end the Princesse emboldened through LOVE set downe her minde in these termes following The Princesse Letter to her Seruant IF this manner of writing be of power to bring thee to life againe then know it is sufficient to take away mine from me For in seeking to reuiue thee I cause mine owme Honor to die But alas can I see thee still languish thus through mine occasion and not participate with thee in thy miseries in the selfe-same fashion Ah would to God wee had exchaunged our Estates for then would I presently desire to die as thou doest wish thee to liue as I do and so should I not be forced to satisfie thy request neither should mine Honor then complaine of mee in that I haue lesse respect of that then of the safegard of one man The feare lest I should haue bene counted the murtherer of thy life caused mee to write this Letter vnto thee Neither had I done any thing at all in thy behalfe but that I haue a most assured hope and confidence that thou recouering by my onely meanes thy former life wilt be a helpe and ayde vnto mee to teach mee how to make away my selfe by death What shall I say more vnto thee thy recouerie is my death and thy life mine ouerthrow and ruine Yet had I rather perish then thou shouldest miscarry any way Liue then and be well except thou wilt kill her whom thou sayest thou louest with such respect Or if thou wilt needes die yet at the least tearme not mee the destroyer of thy life seeing I haue offered health vnto thee I knowe not which I should most desire eyther that thou liue or that thou die If thou liuest I then must needes die And if thou dyest I may no longer liue What good then shall I get by letting thee haue thy life Onely this onely the glorie that I haue preserued thee from death the obligation canceld wherein I was indebted vnto thee and the break-necke fall of that strong opinion thou hast that thou dyest for mee Liue then I intreate thee and when thou shalt be well GOD I beseech him if so it please him open vnto vs some honest and iust meanes to vnite vs together in that sacred band which of two soules maketh but one And this I doe promise thee Fare you well This Letter being written there was a new Councell called to consult whether it should be deliuered or whether committed vnto the mercie of the fire For in accidences of Loue there is found strange contrarieties euery minute of an houre as we see in a little while diuers sorts of windes to arise in the skye Yet in the ende Loue still preuailed and so much perswaded that the Damosell her selfe resolued to goe and visite the poore patient and to deliuer the paper into his owne hands No sooner was she entred the Chamber but that
the Flower which trodden downe within the Medowe greene By bastie foote of trampling steed or plodding Oxe is seene Such one this dying Shephardesse did seeme quite changde and faint Her quondam louely face the teares with blubbring foule did taint Her faire eyes darke and heauie shewd as when the skies we see With thickned storme of winde and raine ore shadowed for to bee Those shooting Glaunces which of late were in her rolling Spheares Controllers in Dan Cupids Court no more as now appeares No more as Diamonds glister they nor Sun-like doe they shine But looke like Phoebus when his place to night he doth resigne And now death which did heretofore long linger comes apace And gently seemes by many signes her offer to embrace Her for head faire whose verie frowne of all did fauour winne Was now become deepe furrowed with sharpe and wrinkled skinne Her sallow visage pale and thin and hunger-staru'd did seeme One of th'in fernall hellish hagges for shape you would her deeme Her brests too pretious Iuerie mounts were fallen lanke and bare Her body that rich shop had lost her wonted pretious ware Her feeble armes and shoulders weake supporters of her coarse Were nought but ioynts of skin and bone withouten strength and force So short and thicke she drew her breath sighing so deepe and sore As one might easilie gesse she was not far off from deaths dore And had not bene but for her teares which on her cheekes she shed You would haue iudgd she had not bene aliue but stonie dead Had she not throbs and sighes sent forth from fainting brest like storme That all her sences had bene past you would haue vowd and sworne Ah too too haplesse Louers chaunce like her no wretches such So Dido dide the Troyan Duke for louing ouer much Enon so for Paris died so Hero for her friend When him she could not saue from death her life did willing end Meane while Zerphir most haplesse wight on whom fortune did frowne This dying Shepheardesse echewhere doth search for vp and downe And as we oftentimes the Hart with furious raging moode Doe see to seeke his mate the Hinde with eger pace in wood Who is retir'd alone for nonce into some priuate way Or running through the forrests wilde wandring perchance a stray He scales the matchlesse mountaine tops the hugie hilles most bold And then he rangeth longst the bankes of streaming waters cold Now through the thickest quickesedge thicke he venters far to gee And now the Caues he visiteth in hollow dales below So Zerphir franticke like doth runne to seeke that beautie which Did long before vnto his paine forespeake him and bewitch One while he wandereth by the Sea the sandie shore along An other while he skales high hills through Loue enforst so strong And then againe most desperately with courage he doth creepe And diueth into'the bottomes lowe of rockie Caues most deepe He scoures the vallies and the plaine through medowes he doth runne Gainst Gods and man he murmureth as one that 's quite vndonne He calls Sycambra still the same Sycambra he doth sound Whilst Ecco pittying him againe Sycambra backe doth bound In th' end so long he searcheth that at last he findes her out When now his voyce was almost lost with hollowing all about A Ghost he findes no lining coarse her haire about her eare Which blustring blasts of froward windes abroad dispearst did beare Her brow did pale and earthly show whose colour naturall Death chased had away as now and ceazed ouer all Her obbone eyes were dull and dimme suncke deepely in her head Ore whom the Fatall sisters three too much tyrannized Her bloodlesse lippes like ashes showde her sweet alluring lip From which a iuyce did come which Loue being ill at ease did sip Those Cherries Roses Rubies which you once might there haue spide Were vanished and in their steed worse colours were descride No fauour was within her face no cheerfulnes of looke For some dead coarse not liuing wight you might her then haue tooke This heauie sight and spectacle did stop his fainting breath And forct his inward powers to be as cold as any earth Withouten mouing he did stand and seemd to be one Of those which fierce Medusa chaung'd into aworthlesse stone But lucklesse she the Touchstone true of Loue to trie all wrongs Who onely to bewaile her griefes exceedingly still longs Perceiu'd him not when first he came appearing to her nigh Whilst with her passions she partakes which makes her peece-meale die Which when the Shepheard throughly vewed awakt from out his sound He wondred that for very woe he died not on that ground He draweth neerer vnto her yet loth to offend the faire And though her fault he blames yet he not to reproach her dare Vpon the sudden backe he startes and from her doth recoyle And then with stealing pace returnes to her another while Nor for his life dares he to speake For where Loue loyall is There no respect nor due regard at any time doth misse He seeth how she doth sigh and sob and how she teares doth shed Apparant signes and witnesses that yet she is not dead This makes him sigh and sob as she and weepe with pittious dirme Yet all this pittious stir could not once moue her looke on him So much the wretch was rauished and earnest in conceit About resignement of her life which sorrow did her threat Whilst she doth leane her aking-head vpon her hand belowe Giuing scalding teares passage into her panting brest to flowe Teares that not quencht but did encrease the flames that burnt her heart Teares that euen to her inward soule did pearce like glauncing dart In th' end the Shepheard cloyd with noy with griefe hardued and bolde In pittious voyce and low to her his mind did thus vnfolde Woe is me Sycambra is it thou I see so miserable And haue I liude so long to view a sight so lamentable I st thou whem death by vncoth Fate and Fortune ouer strange Doth force vntimelesse thus into thy darkesome Tombe torange I st thou which nothing hast but teares and cries to entertaine The sharpe assault of death the which thou couetest ore faine I st thou I see to runne vnto thy end ore desperate By cruell Planets hatefull doome to ill predestinate I st thou Sycambra whom thy Fates and fatall Destinie As iealous of thy praise thy daies to shorten doe agree I st thou that hast that colour faire no more vpon thy face Which as the colour of my griefes in heart I did embrace I st thou that hast no more those flames within thine eyes now dead Through which before with brightest fire my soule was daily fed I st thou that hast no more that shew of more then beantie rare The prison of my libertie the cause of all my care I st thou i st thou whom partiall Gods inforce vnwilling me Of thy departure from this life a witnesse for to be This thou I
know but too too well whose perfect Picture right Is too too liuely portraide forth within mine inward spright T is thou I know but too too well though changd thou art the same I for Sycambra thee will know thou still shalt be my dome T is thou t is thou that diest with sobs and sighes tormented thou Whilst blest thou thinkst thy selfe to leaue a life so deleroâ—â— T is thou that parting from this world this wold is maked left And voyd of pleasure and delight which with thee is bereft Woe is me and must these eyes yet no eyes but streames of brine Liue for to see eclipsed to be so faire a Sun-shine Whose glittring Lampes my chiefest light of yore were wont to bee Without whose glances bright nor day nor morning I could see Alas my God why was I not when that I first was borne Transformd into some stone then thus to be false Cupids scorne Why died I not before the time in loue with thee I fell Since thy plagues vndeserude doe proue my soule a Criminell Why doe I not miscarrie but against my will that liue Through force of this so vmust Laewe the more my soule to grieue Which forceth her to die that doth deserue to liue for are Whilst wretched me who merrit death it will not take away Ah too too partiall lawlesse law of miserable Loue Accursed be that day wherein thou first this life didst proue O Gods dart downe your thunder bolts vpon my hatefull head Plague me not her t is I not she that should be punished This trunke of mine vnprofitable of vitall breath bereane Since that mischieuous Loue doth me in my best loue deceiue Ding downe to hell this coarse of mine this wicked periur'd carse Consuming it to powder small by flashing lightnings force Kill Zerphir kill that by oue death he end may all his wee And with the same rid all his plagues that in him daily growe But fairest Faire must thou needs die O losse inestimable No no thou canst not die for death to kill thee is not able Thy glory mongst both Gods and men shall neuer haue an end Despite of Destny Vertue this from Tombe shall still defend Within the hearts of liuing men shall be thy lasting graue And as another Pallas thou shalt reuerence of them haue Thy soule hath heretofore too rich and royall tired beene Thy beautie eke too sacred and thy Faith too constant seene Then as base seruile Bond-slanes poore tide vnto Vassalage Subiect to be or homage yeeld to deaths ore hastie rage No louely Ladie thou shalt liue and Zerphir he shall die Because he came not as he should to helpe thee speedily Zerphir must die who by his death atrue certificate Shall shew how through the want of thee that be to liue doth hate Zerphir must die because he cannot after thee seruine Nor without thy sweet companie delight to be aliue Zerphir must die because depriude he is of thy sweet face And therefore meanes by selfe same steps the selfe same path to trace Yet my soules ioy if of my griefe if truth that nere did swarue The smallest sparke of fauour left did ere of thee deserue If my deare blood to beautie thine which willing I afford As sacrifice for to be shed merrits of thee one word Ah then looke vpon Zerphir thine these sighes and sobs restaine And fore he dieth vouchsafe to speake to him a word or twaine This is the onely boone I craue to which but condiscend And most contented then below to th' other Ghostsile wend. But I perceiue thou wilt not grant this fute cruell to me I cannot this small grace obtaine I finde it will not be Why then le ts brauely hence depart le ts die her face before And lets before her seeke to gaine the 〈◊〉 Elizian shore So saying he full oft farewell Sycumbra did rehearce Which done his sword he plact against his brest the same to pearce When as Sycambra wakt as t' were from forth her passions sad To see Zerphir arriued there by her was much aâ—rad But more she troubled was when she percou'd how in that place He as one desperate would haue slaine himselfe before her face This forced her pittiously to looke towards him and with her hand To make a signe as though she would grannt what he did demand Beckning to him to throw his blade from him which he ore bolde Had drawne to sley himselfe whilst she her meaning would vnfolde To which the Shepheard willing greede approaching to her nie Longing to heare what she would say resolude with her to die He comforts her he cheareth her he praieth her leaue her mone Whilst she with much adoe these words her last will forth doth grone Zerphir if I haue iniurde thee as needs I must confesse Yet more reuenge then what is light on me thou needs not presse If heretofore my beautie proud hath oft abused thee The heauens to punish that foule fault thou now dost iustly see I feele and that but rightfully the very selfe same griefe That thou endur'st to liue disdaind daining Sanus reliefe I die Zerphir I die in paine because as thou I loue Then with my death contented be since I this penance proue Now I coniure thee if thou feelst the tortors and the plagues Allotted vnto Louers true which neuer cease to rage If thou dost know that sdainfull power of Cupids matchlesse force Which makes vs often count of such as yeeld vs no remorse And such as much doe make of vs as barborous and vngrate To scorne their sutes and for their Loue them to repaie with hate Then Zerphir pardon I beseech since I haue made thee smart Thou seest although not by thy meanes enough reuengde thou art That eye which once did thee contemne with ouer-haughtie scorne Death to requite thy wrongs on it and vpon me hath sworne Sycambra dieth plungd in woe and none doth her deplore Her countenance and complexion both are chaunged ouer sore Her face is blooalesse and heate doth keepe within her vaines Her armes are brawne-falne in her cheekes no colour now remaines She dyeth she dieth desirous more to die then for to liue Onely that thee she could not helpe nor succour she doth grieue Ah Zerphir if to thinke on me no anguish thee t will bring If for thy ouer cruell Dame it moues thee any thing And if that Loue of late so hot be not as yet growne colde But as a valiant conquerour thy heart doth prisoner holde If yet affection thou bearst her who neuer thee affected And that all pittie thou hast not from pittying her reiected Then humblie I doe thee beseech by that rare former Loue That these thy griefes right bottomlesse compassion kinde may mone And that this thy compassion sweet for me may so preuaile As thou to graunt one sute to her vouchsafe not for to faile And this it is I beg of thee that after th'Iron sleepe Of death shall cease vpon my
coarse possession there to keepe When thou my coarse depriued quite of beauties gifts shalt view My chearfull eyes to loose their lights and bid those lights adue When thou doest heere her sigh from forth her soule vntimely crost And when thou shalt Sycambra thine view to giue vp the Ghost Ah then doe this good turne for me doe this for me straitway Vnto my cruell vnkind friend this RING from me conuay Tell him his too too flintie heart and barborous crueltie Hath forct me loyalst maide aliue for him aliue to die Tell him by that quicke lightning fire which from his eyes forth came Which swifter far then whirling darts my gentle heart haue slaine By his rich beautie too too rich for me too poore to enioy Which for my time vntimely brought me vnto endlesse noy And by that heart of his too proud tryumphing ore my glorie That he forget me not but thinke vpon my pittious storie Doe this sweet Zerphir for my sake doe this request for mee T is all before my death to thee I giue as Legasee Nor doe denie me this although in conscience I confesse I not deserue thy smallest grace for my ore cruelnesse Ah Zerphir this denie me not This said she held her peace And presently death fore her came with violence to cease Whilst with a gentle quiet sigh her soule that wearie was Of loathed life most willing vp vnto the heauens did passe Leauing her bodie voyd of life withouten vitall aire Disrobde of beautie spoylde of forme depriude of colour faire Yet happie she to die in such kinde sort as then she dide Since that her griefe vanisht therewith which liuing she did bide Happie to die so as she dide since partiall Loue vniust Disasters hard and vndeserude vpon her still did thrust Like as we see in th' end of day vpon the set of Sunne When Tethis entertaines her spouse the light being well might done A kinde of cloudie sable dampe ariseth to our eyes And with a gloomie curtaine thicke is couered all the skies So as vpon the face of th' earth there nothing doth appeare But darknesse sleepe and heauie care with gastly sighes each where So by degrees this beautious coarse lookt pale and wanne like earth When once the soule had it depriude of his quicke liuing breath Like to a shadow was it of a substance faire before No cheerfull colour was there in that face so faire of yore Withouten sence or motion it remained like a blocke Or as a comly pile of stone carude out of marble Rocke Yet Zirphir doth imbrace it oft and as i ft t were aliue The same with pittious glaunces he to yeeld to him doth striue But kisse her he not dares though she be dead lest he offend The soule of her who whilst she liu'd he lou'd as dearest friend Her as before he doth respect and doth her reuerence Although him no drop of grace she gaue his amorous heate to quench Teares like to flowers he streameth downe yet not one word he speakes Sorrow so much doth seaze on him as tongue from plaining breakes Long was he in this agonie at length he comes his way Taking the Fatall Ring with him his Mistris to obey He hunteth vp and downe to finde Armanda and at last Reuiling him into these tearmes tearmes fit for him he brast Hard hearted cruell Sauadge wretch for thy vnworthy Loue Fairest Sycambra now is dead since thee she could not moue Dead is she for thy sake thou liu'st vnworthy of thy life Thou liu'dst her and her loue to scorne through thy orethwartings rife Take here this Ring she sends to thee as witnesse too too true That she destroyd her selfe for thee though thou her death nought rue The Flower of all fairenes is dead slaine onely for thy sake Whilst thou nor her nor on her Loue wouldst any pittie take More fierce then Tyger beastly more then Lion when as such Relent and shew compassion more then thou hast done by much Why takst thou not this pretious I em thou that doest women kill Which for thee till her dying day she had reserued still Happie to haue so deare a pawne yet curst because thou art The cause the owner kinde thereof was strooke with mortall dart Hold hold rude carle and thinke not but the day shall one day come When as iust plague thou shalt receiue for this by heauens iust dome Armanda hearing him to rage in this wise nought doth say But smiling flings the Ring from him to the woods betakes his way Leauing poore Zerphir almost quite bereft of wit and mad To see what slight regard of her and of her Ring he had And but he feard the quiet Ghost to grieue of his faire Dame He had Armanda for his pride as he deserued slaine This held his hands from slaughtring him he so did her respect The onely reason why to kill that wretch he did neglect The reuerence which vnto her he long before time bare Made him for his so hot reuenge his hastie will to spare As one enraged this carelesse man he looketh after long And by his eyes his minde bewraies he faine would venge this wrong Nor doth he leaue to curse and ban this more then ruthlesse wight Vntill through thicknes of the trees no more he spie him might Wherewith he riseth and turnes backe vnto his Ladies corse Which he embracing oft through griefe to fall in sound doth force Her Ring on finger hers againe he puts nor dareth hee Retaine the same as his owne goods although now dead she bee Fearing Sycambras angrie Ghost once fairest ouer all Should be offended for so doing and him disloyall call This causde him beare himselfe so iust whilst in most mournfull wise These his last wordes he sighed forth mixt with strange dolefull cries And is it thou Sycambra sweet whom now I doe embrace Whom whilst thou liu'dst my chiefest ioy I in this earth did place Is thy faire body fram'd by heauens all others for to foyle Become deaths prey vnworthy death Sycambra sweet should spoyle Are these the eyes whose lights of late did shine like brightest Sunne Now darkned by dire destinie and of their sights vndone Is this faire forhead honour chiefe of Muses vertuous Bereft of beautious feature quite and quite disfigurde thus Is this sweet hony mouth of thine O griefe that makes me banne Dispoylde of all his treasures rich become pale white and wanne Are thy chast Brests the pure ripe fruit of Paradise so faire Which to allure the staiedst witts two daintie Apples bare Dead and shrunke in and thou thy selfe Sycambra tirde with griefe Hast thou thy soule to heauens resignde there for to finde reliefe Thou hast alas nor liu'dst thou more those eyes of thine but late Like Diamonds sparkes now dim doe show as deaths darke Sable gate Nor part nor parcell is of thee from head vnto the foote But yeelds a heauie solemne shew attirde in deadly sute Thy dates expirde dead art thou
steed of reward for doing good turnes and how bitter is the paine which we endure through the malice of those whome wee loue best and of whom we expect the like friendship againe The offence we receiue of our enemie is tollerable because the law permitteth reuenge in that case whereas the law of friendship forbiddeth to reuenge vs on such whom we affect for feare of their displeasures Ah my good God what fault haue I committed against my husband that he should vse mee thus despitefully Haue I as Clitemnestra defiled our Nuptiall bed Haue I as Hellena the Greeke run into the armes of a rauisher of women Or as Semiramis haue I polluted mine honour and chastitie with incestious kind of liuing Oh no I feare no such matter God that seeth the sectets of all hearts knoweth my conscience is free of any such ill What haue I then done Alas I know not Alas for what sinne am I thus seuerely punished But O sweet Lord as thou art diuine in thy miracles and terrible in thy iudgements the exemption of which commeth either soone or at last so I confesse thou now doest punish mee either for some fault of mine that is past or else for the sinnes which my forefathers haue committed against thee And yet this is some comfort vnto me that I am not the first Innocent that hath bene sore afflicted For so was Susanna so was Iob so was Ioseph and so were diuers others farre more godly then my selfe O miserable Dido and yet more happie then I am though thou wert left forsaken by forsworne Eneas for short was thy paines not long was thy griefe and sodaine was thy complaints a gentle death ending with thy life all thy sorrowes and cares together whereas I haue not the selfesame libertie to die as thou hadst an other respect holdeth my hands death being not in my power as it was in thine But now in the meane time what shall I doe whether shall I goe or what shall become of me The Sea will make mee no way to returne from whence I came and the furious rage of my husband will not suffer me to come on land Am I become some Patricide whom the lawes of man depriue of aire of earth and of water O lamentable chaunce of mine pittifull death receiue this my wretched carkasse into thy bosome there to be huried and rather sinke this vessell wherein I now abide before thou carrie me backe vnto that place wherein I haue receiued so great despite and wrong Alas mine eyes what can you see to delight you any longer when he that is most pleasing vnto you debarreth you from his louely presence To whom wilt thou my voyce speake seeing he hath closed thy mouth whose speech before was most agreeable vnto my soule And you my feete whither now will you take your coarse seeing that he who was wont to guide your steps vnto the Lodge of pleasure hath now shut the gate against you Ah gentle death if euer the wailings and lamentings of a most distressed wretch haue euer moued thee to compassion and pittie ah then let me obtaine the same at thy hands Do that which my cruell Husband ere long will put in practise making meas happie as I am now vnfortunate Thrise blessed Portia death came vnto thee to helpe thee at thy need and thou acceptedst of his helpe happie Ariadne for God tooke care of thy life made much of thee and in steed of Theseus accepted of thy companie And O luckie Olimpia though abandoned of Birannos thy forsworne Husband yet a great Prince reuenged thy wrong and tooke thee to wife where thou liuedst afterward in much ioy and delight But alas no man helpeth me none succoureth me neither doth any come to assist me in bewailing my misfortunes Who then hath euer had so strange a mishap as my selfe Ah that the spirit and Quintesence of my griefe could dissolue into teares that it might distill forth from out mine eyes and that I might die like him that hauing his vaines opened in warme water loseth both his life and blood together Or that my sorrowfull heart wearie with ouermuch sighing and sobbing would breake and burst in peeces Might I but die I would not care what kind of death I suffered so that once I were dead for no death be it neuer so monstrous is equall with the least anguish that I sustaine Degenerate knight and voyd of all remorse seeing thou meanest to entertaine all kind of cruelties whatsoeuer that haue bene found in any creature yea cuen worse then the bruite beasts themselues doe vse why doest thou not put in practise the bloodie execution of the same by cutting in twaine my throat as thou hast most irreligious cut in sunder the sacred band of Marriage which should haue bound vs still fast together Thou canst not do me a greater pleasure nor a better satisfaction canst thou make me for so many bad parts as thou hast plaide against me than to make an end of me with that hand which hath so often vowed and sworne in most solemne manner that I onely maintained his Maister aliue But I forget my selfe let God I beseech worke with me as it pleaseth his holie will for iust he is and iust are his iudgements he knoweth the hearts of euerie one and he that is most culpable of vs twaine he will I am assured in the end punish Whilst she was thus bewailing her misfortunes behold newes commeth vnto her that her husband was liuing the Citie to goe forth to the wars through which occasion she might very easilie if she pleased haue accesse and speech vnto him Which when she heard she stood long time doubtfull what to doe for as Loue perswaded her to present her selfe before him so the feare to offend him the iust disdaine for so abusing her with rage iealousie despite did disswade her from the contrarie What should she then doe she both loued feared the presence of her Husband she wonderfully desired to see him yet sore doubted lest in offring to see him she should too much moue and anger him by reason he had giuen commandement she should not as much as once presume to come into his sight But see the sudden changing of mans nature and how God oftentimes putteth men in minde of their owne good and soules health when they are approaching nigh vnto their ends to the intent they vtterly ouerthrow not themselues For Horatio who so mortallie hated his chaste and loyall wife being mounted on horse-backe to encounter with the enemie sodenly began to be touched with a secret aduertisement from God sore longing as then to see her whilst from his soule repenting him for his foule fact his conscience tolde him that the Almightie would punish him for the same as he himselfe thought he deserued no lesse marching thus forward although not with that alacritie of minde nor that braue and stout resolution as he was wont to doe but rather heauily
meane while by reason of that litle space of time I haue to breath thou wilt doe me the fauour to embrace me kindly if it shall please thee to thinke me worthie of such a kindnes this being the last request and latest fauour I shall craue at thy hands Ah let me kisse those faire cheekes which were sometimes mine and those sweet sparkling eyes which had not the blacke foulnes of my fault dimmed them they had still stood me in steed of two glorious Sunnie lights Although I cannot denie but thus to die in thy armes doth much lighten and ease me of my torments I endure within my minde yet had it pleased God to haue but giuen me the grace to haue suruiued but some fewe yeares that I might haue made some amends vnto my faithfull Spouse whom I haue so wickedly abused I then would haue thought my selfe to haue bene the happiest creature vnder the heauens Thinke deare heart that I make no account neither care any thing at all to die but onely for this cause and for that I shall be forced to leaue thee a Widow whom I loue more then my owne soule Iust and great reason hast thou to complaine and find fault with me and farre vnworthie am I that thou shouldest shed these salt teares for my sake For why shouldest thou waile his death who hath bene thy chiefe aduersarie why doest thou sorrow for the losse of thy mortall enemie and lamentest thou the death of him who sought thy vtter ouerthrow Drie vp these teares for I desire them not Leaue these thy sighes for I not merit them and giue ouer these thy bitter wailings for I am no way worthie of them Onely pardon me close vp these my dying eyes when they shall lèaue their wonted light which done if it shall please thee to honour this miserable carkasse of mine with thy presence vnto my Tombe and now and then to thinke on me although thou hast small reason so to doe then then I say shall I be euery way contented and satisfied vnto the full Weepe not I pray thee then for me who descrues no teares at thy hands but rather ill thoughts for otherwise I shall sustaine a double death thy sorrow being nigher setled vnto my heart then my deperture hence can be any way dolefull vnto me So saying the fainting knight kisseth his wife wiping her blubbered eyes and embracing her as straitly as the Iuie doth the wall If the poore Ladie could not answere him it was no great wonder when as those that were but spectators in this heauie sight although they felt not as much as she yet were they mouelesse and much amazed for verie pure pittie In the end the disconsolate Izabella began to recouer her speech answering him in this sort Cruell and hard-harted husband let my pittifull paine my easelesse griefes and my insupportable sorrowes satisfie thee without gaulling me any further with this word pardon vnto her who neuer desired to liue but to doe thee seruice Ah deare Horatio thinkest thou I can liue after thy departure hence and that I can ioy in this world being bereaued of thy companie Whilest thou did dest liue I was thine by the lawes of marriage and when thou art dead I will be thine also resolued to follow thee wheresoeuer thou goest thinking my selfe happie that I am so luckily come as to die with thee Then if I may or thou wouldest haue me to giue any credit vnto thy speeches then in requitall of them all let me againe intreate thee this one thing which is that I may leaue this world with thee But why should I aske leaue of thee when I am at libertie my selfe to dispose of my life as I shall thinke good of and when with ending of one life I may rid my selfe of a lingring death which doth continually haunt me Thankes therefore to thee kind Thethis who didst driue my shippe into this Port where I may passe to heauen with him who was the onely life and maintainer of my life and who being dead I can no longer remaine allue Pittilesse husband to debarre me from my teares whē as I see my countrie depriued of a braue defender of his libertie and find my selfe forsaken of the onely loyall and most louing friend I had here vpon this earth No no I will weepe and shed teares as long as any drop of moysture shall remaine within this bodie for should I not waile for thee for whom then should I reserue these teares Whose losse should I lament but thine and for whom should I take thought or care for but for thine owne sweet selfe who was so neare to mee as thou who so deare as thy selfe and who is to haue interest in mee but my best and sweetest Horatio Then hinder not her from lamenting who liueth onely to shead teares and doe not enure the happines she findeth in that she hath time to bewaile her vnhappie Fortunes How wide is my best Lord from mine intention and meaning and how slenderly doth he conceit of my loue towards him when hee imagineth that although I see him dye yet should not I waile and that his death and destruction should not be the ende and date of my life this beeing the least thing that I can doe for him the least dutie that I doe owe vnto him and the smallest testimony of my great affection which I haue euer borne him Gush forth then my brinish teares and streame downe along my pale cheekes washing away the bloud of my wounded Spouse mingling your selues together as my soule hath alwayes bene with his most perfectly mixed and conioyned the one with the other My dearest Lord if euer thou hast thought well of mee speake neuer more of this word pardon it becommeth me to intreate rather then you I hauing bene shee that hath so often offended you let vs forgiue forget all vnkindnesses whatsoeuer that our soules as most loyall friends may die and liue together in eternall felicitie for euer O how like an Angell replyed Horatio doth my Izabella speake and how pleasing doth shee cause my death to be vnto mee would she but promise to suruiue and liue after my death For sweet Lady it is thy sorrows and not my death that shortens my lifes and I die not for griefe but for sorrow to see thee lament for my cause Wilt thou die and doest not descrue death No it is I that haue offended and therfore merit to be punished for my fault Liue thou happilie still and safely returne thou home into thy Countrey againe where thou shalt not want new husbands who will deserue at thy handes far better then I haue done had I not so much forgot my selfe towards thee as I confesse I haue my ioyes had bene at the highest and I had departed hence the happiest man aliue But now mine houre approcheth I feele death ready to arrest mee with his yron mace my heart fainteth and my soule beginneth to flie from
death sweet death why vnto me doest not such fauour shew As for to end my course my soule and time all with one blow Alas why so long doest permit her for to breath and line Who liueth not whilst languishing she more and more doth grieue O death why thus to nourish life in me doest me despite Who am of all that line on earth the most accursedst wight This bodie which polluted is with worse then worse may be This bodie which vnworthie is the heauens or man to see This bodie spoild of honour rich and cloathed now with shame Although my minde did neuer yet consent vnto the same This bodie which deserues from graue and buriall to be â—ard The mocke of Fortune and the tipe of punishment most hard This bodie which with mine owne hand in peeces I should â—â—â—e This bodie which for to be burnt to ashes 〈◊〉 orthie were Ah cursed bodie hast thou staind thy soule without reâ—ure And guiltlesse of this ill must thou eternall paines 〈◊〉 Hast thou thy credit lost thy honour hast thou blemished Defamde thy Spouse and Traitor bene vnto thy Lord and head Thou shalt be plagued for the same of death thou shalt not misse Yet death 's too good for such a sinne too milde a paine it is Ah then sweet friend why doest it touch why to it comes thou night Alacke forbeare infectious t is it is thine enemie Vnworthie of thine eies it is vnworthie of thy face Nor doth it merit for to haue the least drop of thy grace Vouchsafe not for to touch the same but rather let it perish T is it hath sind and murthered thee the same then doe not cherish But yet before into the hands of wishâ— for death I fall The Gods to witnesse of my truth as records I do call I call the heauens aboue the earth the Seas that stowing shew The spirits of the firmament and them of hell below The Tritons Siluans Satire swift the Nymphs in Groues that walke And damned hags whose gastly shapes strike terror as they talke In briefe whatso hath life or mines all Trees all Rocks and Caues All Fountaines Groues and shadowing Vales from parching heat that same All these as witnesses I call that I am culpable But yet deceiu'd most traiterously and so made miserable All these I call and doe coniure that know the innocent Vnwittingly I faulted haue yet neuer did consent My faith I neuer brake to thee my Spouse I here a vow This heauens yee know for truth for I did thinke that it was thou I thought t was thou as thou wert wont that thou hast hid my face My face that is the cause that thou art in this wofull case Vnwilling though my bodie is tainted yet pure's my minde My bodie which against his will thy shadow false did finde But yet t is faultie and deserues and righly too reward Since it thine ouerthrow hath wrought through Fortune ouer hard Twise then it thee offended hath and double wrought thy wee Alas that double for to die I cannot force it the. The greatest sorrow I sustaine of these my sorrowes all Is that I double cannot die nor twise by dying fall Then why shouldst thou desire sweet hart new friendship to begin With such a bodie as but late doth come from doing sinne Vnworthie t is for thee the earth grosse earth let that it couer A fitting spoyle t is for the same and not for any other Or rather let this carkasse vile be purged pure with fire And th'a shes be disperst abroad through windes as I desire Woe is me borne was I to be thy death and through hard hap By my bad meanes the Parce three haue caught thee in their 〈◊〉 T is I and none but I that kild thee haue my dearest Spouse T is I that death haue brought to thee and that most dangerous Thou diest for my fault O cruell Lawe and most vnciuill He that is guiltlesse bides the paines of her that hath done euill T is I that blood haue drawne from thee t is I thy hart haue split T is I that haue thy louing name amongst the dead soules writ It is not death as thou dost thinke thy life that shortned hath But t is thy Stella haplesse borne to doe thee ill and skath Then to thy selfe I doe appâ—dle if death I not deserue And how much fortune mine accurst from other Fortunes swernt When as in steed of honouring thee dishonoured thee I haue And when I life to thee should giue I bring thee to thy graue When as our sacred Hymen I should reuerence and adore I haue abusde disparaged and scandalisde it fore And lastly when with ioy thou shouldest thy youth with pleasure passe I doe vntimely our thee off and make thee vade like grasse I being then the cause of all this mischiefe and this ill Doest seeme to wonder though I weepe and beauens with sorrow for Haue I not reason to lament to sigh to waile and grone Like vnto Niobe till like to her I turne to stone Since first the skies were fram'd and Sunne to shine at first was seene More wretched woman than my selfe nere was nor ere hath beene O wofull Stella Cloridan O Cloridan my life My life shall expiat my fault to end these sorrowes rife That selfe same sword that wounded thee shall through my bodie ranse Whilst dying both together we will laid be in one Tombe Then pardon me sweet Cloridan for pittie pardon mee Since that through others treacherie I haue offended thee Adien my Lord I loath to liue and not thy selfe enioy And saying so her selfe she strait doth with his sword destroy O brane Virago glorie and renowme of women kinde Fewe like thy selfe thy selfe like fewe didst shew a worthie minde O vertuous Ladie O faire spirit of thy selfe conquerour Ore whose rare constancie nor sword nor death it selfe had power So Lucres dide the Romanes Pearle when by base treacheris She vndefilde defiled was through Tarquin forceablie So Hero dide so Thisbe with the selfesame sword did slay Her selfe when Piramus to seeke she went the haplesse way And now her breathlesse coarse did fall vpon the pouer Swaine Who with that burthen gâ—â— to breath and seeke some life againe As when the night approacheth we behold and view the Suâ—â—â—â— By little and by little steale from hence his race being done His colour lesneth and lookes pale disdaining that still tide Whilst in some corner of the skie his faire face he doth hide So that vermillion colour sweet of Stella but of yore That beautie boue suparlatine as sacred to adore That passing snow white Iuorie that did all thoughts controule By little and by little forth from out her bodie stole Ore that 〈◊〉 louely coarse of hers death sits predominaâ—â— Who for that he came there for Rose and Lillie fresh did wâ—â—t Pale looked now those cherrie lips like ashes they appeare Whilst with aniron sleepe shut vp her eies fast closed were Her
for foode for dogges Pilate for pronouncing an vniust sentence against the Innocent was condemned vnto a most heauie death And in our time and in these our dayes we see Fellons and Theeues most wretchedly perish The law of God permitteth not one neighbour to offend another but that he receiue his reward thereafter for otherwise God should not be iust except he should doe good for good and euill for euill And so did it happen vpon the Traitor Antonio who was repayed with such iniurie as he had done vnto his deare friend but yet with great reason hee hauing violated and infringed the lawes of friendship and Hospitalitie by one of that cursed-crewe which wrought the foresaide villanies and in whome hee reposed greatest confidence and trust So wee see the rauenous Wolues to howle and to bicker one with another the greedinesse in feeding hindering them to knowe themselues although they be all of one companie and so the sent and sweetnesse of the prey maketh Theeues to forget their former kindnesse amongst themselues egging them forward to cut one anothers throate to haue the more gaine And such was miserable Antonio his misfortune who hauing as I saide before gotten a good round summe of money and Iuells together to liue vnknowne with his Mistris not minding to returne any more vnto his owne home where he had committed this wickednes the smell of his Gold began to come into the noses of these murthering Rascalls who when they knew not from whom to steale vsed to robbe and filche one from another It is a very difficult and hard matter to giue ouer any kinde of vice especially if a man take an habit in the same for then the more hee marcheth forward to exercise it the more he is plunged ouer head and eares in it Not vnlike vnto the horned Stagge who the more he seeketh to get out of the Toyle which as a snare was left to intrappe him the more he intangleth and windeth himselfe therein Denis of Siracusa had gotten such a custome to spoyle and robbe the Gods in their Temples that hee thought he had not spent that day well in which he had not pilled some one God or other of his ornaments or shauen the golden beard of some others But hee and his were punished for the same their fortunes beeing to be banished out of their Countrey and to die in great want and beggerie But to come vnto the bolde Theefe of whome I spake before who being deepely in loue with Cynthia and whose fingers itched to be busie with Antonios golde called his copes-mates together vnto whom he told so swoothe a tale and so cunningly perswaded them to set abroach this second Tragedie against Antonio as their teeth being seton edge for the Treasure they quickly condescended vnto him and the rather because it was their ordinarie trade The wicked still heape sinne like Hills on sinne So long till they their Soules doe soyle within And now the Holie one beginneth to raigne downe vengeance vpon the head of periured Antonio who least thought of danger when it was nighest at hand hee not once as much as dreaming of anie mischiefe that hung ouer him his chiefest studie being how to perswade the sorrowfull Cynthia to giue ouer her pensiue mourning and to cast away all care and sadnes And as hee was one day alone in her chamber with her verie busie to comfort her and as earnest to sollicite his olde loue vnto her seeking to winne her good will and sauour Behold vpon the suddaine this notable Rascall with his fellowes breaketh in vpon them who without speaking so much as one word ranne furiously vpon Antonio with their naked swords massacring him as Caesar was in the Senat and that with such impâ—â—â—ositie and outragiousnes as they spoyled one another especiallie the miserable but then most happy and fortunate Cynthia who wonderfullie desirous to die rushing into the middest of their brandishing blades and presenting her naked breast vnto the mercie of the Theeues was in the ende wounded to death amongst them her chaste and purple blood streaming out of her weake and fainting carkasse as from a running Fountaine And yet may we count her fortunate in this her misfortune since she was borne by destinie to be miserable her happe being so good as to die without the losse of her honour and reputation carrying away with her her good name and fame euen vnto the graue Thus was the chaste Iphiginea sacrificed so was the bashfull Polixena put to death and so dyed the vertuous daughter of Iepha with diuers other Virgins who to conserue their Chastitie left both their liues and soules together This murther done there followed another for these Rakehells fearing to be taken for doing the deed and willing to be gone vrged their fellow Theefe to make haste away with them but he was so farre in loue with Cynthia who lay at the point of death as by no meanes he would leaue her which they perceiuing and doubting least if hee should be found there he would bewray and appeach them all thought to make sure worke as nigh as they could and so thrusting him through they trussed vp their bagge and baggage carrying away Antonio his Treasure with them leauing Cynthia readie to giue vp the ghost who though shee were so nigh her ende yet could she speake a little No sooner were these Hell-hounds gone from her but shee beganne to take some small comfort in her minde counting her selfe as blessed to die in this manner hauing a sure confidence that she should see her husband in Heauen the glorie whereof she hoped to enioy because she had so luckily preserued her honour O how sweete a thing is death vnto them who are desirous to die when they see themselues disfranchised and freed from all misfortunes and when they find their miseries with the vpshot of their liues Such was the death of the modest and pudike Cynthia and with such ioy did Thisbie leaue the world to follow her beloued Piramus for death is not of power to vnbinde the hearts of true Louers No no they must follow one another euen into the Elizian fieldes and there tye againe those chaines which death before had broken in sunder And now sweet Cynthia perceiuing her selfe to be alone and readie to render vp her Soule vnto her first Redeemer lifting vp her eyes to heauen began to make this prayer I knowe and acknowledge I confesse and proclaime all abroad that thy speech ô most gratious GOD is both Sacred true and veritable which is that thou assurest succour and aide vnto such of thy distressed seruants as be readie to dispaire for want of helpe So diddest thou relieue that Countrey of Aegipt which was wel-nigh starued with famine through the wisedome of chaste Ioseph Thou diddest assist the Iewes in their great extreamie when the red Sea gaue backe to make them passage drowning their enemies which went about to pursue and follow after them Thou diddest send
by Hunter he did runne And then againe begins the course that he before had donne When missing of his purpose he laments in pitteous case And cruell to himselfe doth scrath and teare his manly face Euen as Hippollitus the chaste was drawne by his faire haire Through forrests woods and mount aine tops and hurried euery where And at the last his limmes were rent asunder one from one Whilst frighted with sea monsters he from Chariot fell alone So such our Shepheard seemd to be resembling such a wight Whilst streames of blood runne downe alongst his bodie view you might He sighes and sobs within the woods with voice most dolorous Whilst on the name of Ladie his he crieth and cals on thus Ah where art thou my Flora dearâ— alas where maist thou be And why shouldst thou be so vnkind to hide thy face from me What place so happie is to hold thy selfe mine onely ioy Thy beautie now where doth it shine chasing away annoy Light of mine eies say dost thou loue ah yet vnto me speake And be not so vnkind my heart with calling thee to breake Where so thou liu'st blessed is that place thrise blessed aie More willing than in paradise I there would bide and staie Alacke what haue I done to thee thou shouldst be so vnkind To part from me my better part and leaue my soule behind No doubt some God hath gotten thee enioying presence thine Some heauenly power doth honour thee which breedeth sorrow mine For thinkest thou withouten thee I can draw forth this breath Thinkst thou that in thine absence I can liue vpon this earth Then speake my sweet vouchsafe so much as tell me where art thou Where bide those rare perfections and where shine thy vertues now May I not be so happie as to know where thou dost keepe Since for thy losse I cannot chuse eternally but weepe Without thy carefull Numidor tell me where doest thou staie Who euer hath thee lou'd and who will loue thee still for aie Canst thou if him as he doth thee so much and truely loue Grieue him so much vex him so much and ouermuch him moue I knew the time I must confesse when as thou didst sermount For loyall Loue and when of me thou diddest make account I know I know thou loud'st me once that loued me thou hast And that for constant loyaltie our mutuall Loue hath past I know that Loue ore both our hearts tryumpht as Conquerour And that or'e both our soules he had the like and selfesame power I le sweare that once thou louedst me though now thou lou'st me not Though now that fire extinguisht is and thou hast me forgot I know not if as wearie of me thou beginst to range And that thy fickle minde desires else where to soare and change Or whether hauing found a man thou better likst than mee I am reiected and shooke off and quite cassheirde by thee Which if that it be so why then die must poore Numidore And with his death his fortune hard and thy bad minde deplore If it be so he must resigne his life to death and die Rather than liue thus languishing in paine continually If it be so I needs must say though so to say doth griue There is no trust in any one no faith on earth doth liue Needs must I say women are false that constant fewe remaine And that their Sex doth harbor â— ought but false dissembling shame If it be so that Flora false to Shepheard hers hath prou'd Then well I sweare that loyally neuer hath woman lou'd But why alas talke I so vaine too idle is my head Whilst with such franticke raging fits my fantasie is fed What madding humor vexeth me what bedlem iealousie What fond conceit makes me to talke Sans Sens so foolishly Am I so vilely giuen to thinke that Flora will cassbeire Her seruant Numidor whom she before hath lou'd so deare That she to any but to him will true and faithfull proue That she will falsifie her faith orethrowing her first Loue O thought most base to haue of her conceit her to mistrust O traiterous Shepheard worthlesse man O louer most accurst Haue I long heretofore her Loue with Touchstone throughly tride And shall she now with sensure hard withouten cause abide Shall I of infidelitie condemne her and suspect When I haue euer knowne her all bad motions to reiect No no sweet Flora I dare sweare and I doe know too well Thou lou'st thy Numidor nor him for new wilt euer sell No thou dost loue him though some God hath tane thee gainst thy will And keepeth thee perforce although thou neuer meanedst ill I know thou dearely louest him as dearely as thy hart And that his absence makes thee waile and in thee breedeth smart I know my presence thou dost wish and dost lament my losse I know that my not being with thee thou dost count a crosse I doe beleeue assuredly nor otherwise I le thinke Thy loue so sacred nere can die nor euer be extinct Too much thou louedst me too much thou aie of me didst make To leaue me to abandon me and me for to forsake Thou louest me and dost desire with me to be I know But that bad fortune crossed thee the faults thereof to show Then in what place thy sweetest selfe doth soiourne and doth stay And where so ere thy beautie faire her brightnes doth display Where ore thy gratious eie doth glaunce controlling with delight Embellsshing with lulstrious raies the glorie of thy sight Ah there the Gods I doe beseech all happines to raigne Downe on thee fast whilst there thou maist in pleasure safe remaine Whilst I meane while will goe to seeke some wofull vncoth place Some hollow Rocke where I may liue since I can finde no grace For being of thy seemely shape though vndeseru'd depriude I needes must breath my last of force and seeke to be distiude Then happie liue thou liue thou long and neuer maist thou tast Of sorrow such as I haue done to force thy life to wast Thus said the Shepheard and therewith seekes still some hollow Cane Wherein he soone may finde his end which he desires to haue He seekes to finde his death whilst her to finde he nere doth linne As did Apollo Daphna chase whose loue he sought to winne Nor wearied is he Louers nere are wearied when the fire Of Loue doth burne their entrailes hot with coales of strange desire Long trauaile neuer tireth them but still they labour fresh And though they be ore chargde yet take thy courage nerethelesse Then Numidor by Loue borne out both day and night doth seeke For his faire Saint for whom he longs and much desires to meete As one beholds the Lionesse at mouth with froth to fome When she to seeke her little ones stolne from her forth doth runne She neuer staieth but restlesse runnes the forrests all about Nor giues she ore although her bones and backe doe cracke throughout Running sometimes vpon the
Louers out of the mouth of certaine enchaunted Rocks Thus then he began vnto whom an Ecco replied in this sort Hard Rocks Rocks cruell insolent by nature and â—b dure Will you no pittie take on me for torments I endure Is no compassion in you lodg'd can nothing be offorce Yet at the last though long to rew and yeeld me some remorce Ah of my plagues cannot blaine that they may cured be At lest yet daine at my sad cries with voice to answere me Ah speake and say the truth shall I be freed once of this paine Or must I still endure therein and languishing remaine ECCO Languishing re maine Ah say alas must this my paine as thou assurd'st me hast Immortall be continuing still and must it alwates last ECCO Alwaies last What comfort then may succour me who scarcely draw my breath What may my dying soule reuiue which is so nigh to death ECCO Death Shall I then liue in sorrow thus my life away that weares And sighing shall I nothing doe but powre forth watrie teares ECCO Watrie teares But sighing thus i st possible my more than mortall ill Which makes me peanemeale pine away should thus continue still ECCO Still Continuing in my passions thus opprest with torments rife What other things will they take hence will they take hence my life ECCO Life To end my woes in this sad plight an end how might I haue Shall I finde my reliefe by Loue or when I am in graue ECCO In Graue But after millions of these woes being burnt with Loues hot Fewell For to requite my paines how shall I finde my Mistris cruell ECCO Cruell Why then I see no pittie she willford me for my griefe And since t is so I le yeeld my selfe to death without reliefe With one selfe bloodie instrument and with one selfesame blade My wounded corpse shall healed be my soude be well apaide Since onely death and none but death some can comfort giue What should me hinder haplesse that I should longer liue I I will die yea I will die and will a minde imbrace To massacre that wretched state that followeth me in chase Well may you reuerend Sir imagine if this aunswere was pleasing vnto me or delightfull vnto him especially when he heard the Gods of the Forrests to be so contrarie vnto him in all his desires Which was the cause that the poore Shepheard lying groueling vpon the ground and bedeawing the greene grasse with his drerie teares began to moane thus heauily O death wilt thou be still dease vnto my cries and wilt thou neuer heare me I calling so often and so much vpon thee Hast thou not had time enough to rid me of my troubles and wilt thou still thus driue me off with delaies continually Thinkest thou he can liue who pineth away piecemeale whilest he is fettered with worse than Iton manatles in the ioy lesse dungeon of vnmercifull Loue No he cannot for he liueth not at all but rather miserably consumeth away who seeth himselfe not onely depriued of his desire but also is quite debarred of all hope euer to obtaine the same Ah deare Loue if euer thou heretofore hast loued empoysoning thine owne soule with thine owne proper venome and if thy Mother likewise hath often plaid the selfesame part why then doest not thou take pittie vpon those who haue endured the same Martyrdome and since thou knowest their disease by thine owne experience why doest thou so long defer to bring them remedies for the same Well cruell Cupid well I see thou art blind indeed nor hast thou any regard at all to helpe me The better thou art attended on the worse thou shewest thy selfe as one who by nature is borne to doe hurt but not good vnto any Woe is me I liue without hope of any helpe more disconsolate than that Pilot who though he saileth in a thicke and gloomie storme yet doth he hope the same being past to see the Sunne shine againe trusting in the end safely to arriue within the wished Hauen But in my darke tempest and in my stinging corsiues and bitter crosses I see no hope of any signe of comfort to shine or smile vpon me Eternall is my shipwracke and my trauaile is without all end O faire Diana although thou art vnkind vnto me yet doe I take no small pride to call my selfe thy slaue for nothing can come neere thee in beautie neither can I belieue that the heauens theÌ„selues can create a beautie able to paragonise thine Happie is that Bull that is chosen to be offered vp as an oblation or sacrifice vnto the Gods although his blood be there shed and so most fortunate should I account my selfe 〈◊〉 for thy sake I might be thought worthy to finish my daies seeing that for thee I should suffer death and be sactificed by Loue vpon the Altar of thine extreame rigor and fiercenes Thus wailed the Shepheard his eies sending downe whole streames of salt teares which watered his face and cheekes all ouer I seeing this came neerer vnto him and whilest he not perceiuing me I began to marke behold his countenance which I saw quite colourlesse and the very Anatomie of an inward afflicted minde whereby I gathered that he had found no more fauour then I had at his Mistris hands neither that his fortune was any way better then mine This was the reason my second doubt died but not my first which still increased more and more because I sawe she was sued and sought vnto by many although I could not find any to be more in her bookes then I was which God knoweth was little or nothing at all As I was thinking hereupon a suddaine desire came into my minde to returne vnto the place from whence I came and there attend my fairest Saint for me thought still she should be come thither alreadie and that she not finding me there was gone home againe iudging my Loue not to be ouerhot seeing I had so small patience to stay a little for her Being come to mine old place as fast as I could I began there to condemne mine owne follie in that I would not take time whilest I might but rather so foolishly loose so fitan occasion as I had offered vnto me and this new accident ingendred another trouble in me Loue is an Orchard wherein are planted thousands of Trees in which Louers walke gathering continually diuers sorts of fruits of griefe and sorrow and it is a liuely spring of miserie from whence doe flow millions of little Riuers of pensiue care and sad woe Long had I not kept my stand but that one of the Nymphs came by who was one of the play-fellowes of my Ladie of whom I enquired if Diana were comming from the Temple or no. Offentimes the ouer great curiousnes we haue to vnderstand newes bringeth vs much dollor and sadnes As then I found the same to be true for the Nymph told me that Diana would stay all that night in the Temple and
first seeketh to take away that which the Gods themselues are not able to render backe againe whereas the other bereaueth vs but of life onely which is subiect vnto death continually Wretched are those persons that doe ill and yet reape no commoditie thereby for what good commeth vnto the backbiter by speaking ill of anie but onely that in the ende hee himselfe is hated of euery bodie Play not thou this part neither stumble thou into this foule ditch especially doe not blame her whome thou makest a shewe to loue so much But thy speeches discouer sufficiently enough what thy affection is for if thou hadst supposed mee to be such a one I cannot beleue that euer thou couldest haue loued mee because commonly wee ought to hate vice and respect and preferre vertue For such as make the world beleeue that they beare affection vnto foolish women doe not loue them indeed but onely seeke to enioy part of those pleasures as they participate vnto others So as it is impossible that a vertuous and a constant Loue can haue any other foundation then Vertue it selfe Therefore it is but meere follie for thee to make me belieue hereafter through thy fained teares and dissembling speeches that thou louest mee For is it likely that one can loue an other whom hee himselfe blameth and whom hee thinketh worthie of reprehension and shame If thou hast loued mee for my Vertue which thou imaginest I haue now lost for what wilt thou loue me hereafter The cause being taken away the effect dieth and the foundation of a Building being ruinated the house whereon it standeth must needs fall because nothing can be without his cause or subiect If the cause ceaseth in mee which was the motiue of thy Loue then needes thy former affection must cease likewise And therefore I pray thee make me belieue no more that thou bearest any good liking vnto me for I neuer can nor will giue credit vnto thee nor will belieue therein Or if thou did dest loue me then I must needs thinke thou didst it to betray me and so to corrupt mine honor I say therefore that so farre off is thy loue from being Amitie as rather quite contrarie â— esteeme it to be deadly hatred and most furious rage So as these bad conditions being in thee I can haue no occasion to loue thee but rather haue more reason to loath and detest thee as the most mortall aduersary that I haue vnto that thing which is far dearer vnto me then is my dearest life that is my pretious honour Thus said the Chollorike Diana and to confesse but truth she had good reason so to say For there is no guilelesse soule that without being somewhat moued can heare herselfe ill spoken off neither can the most vertuous person that is endure to be falslie slaundered but that he must needs growe a little in Choller As that child who being already forth of the Schoole doore thinking he is alreadie in the fields and that hee is playing amongst his companions abroad looketh very sadly and is wonderfully amazed when vpon the suddaine his Tutor taketh him by the chollar of his doublet and bringeth him againe correcting him with the rodde for his ouerbold and foolish hardines Euen so found I my selfe to be confounded with silent heauines and being wonderfully afflicted with inward anguish and sorrow Great is that Corsie and sharpe which a man feeleth when through ouermuch headdie rashnes he offen deth that thing which hee esteemeth most of all in this world Euen so vnsupportable is that griefe when a man falsly accuseth his friend whose credit he would seeke to preferre before his owne dearest hart blood Ah why then did not the earth open to swallow mee vp and why at that time did not the Sunne obscure it selfe as when he was three daies without appearing abroad disdaining to behold so horrible a crueltie of an vnnaturall father committed by him against his owne young and prettie children These speeches of mine innocent Lady iustly incensed against mee was as a poysoned darte piercing quite through my poore soule A chilly cold ranne through all my bones a deepe despite against my selfe seized vpon my veines and my voyce lay as if iâ— had bene stopped within the pallate of my mouth my colour looked as dead Ashes my tongue remained dumbe and my mouelesse eies were closed bowing downe toward the earth As then no other answere could I giue vnto my Mistris then salt teares trickling downe along my cheekes whilst from my breast as from a Furnace issued forth great store of scalding sighes O how happie had I beene at that time if some one courteous God or other would haue transformed me into some rocke some stone or else into some Tree Neuerthelesse although I spake not all well might she gather that my exceeding griefe was the cause thereof It is an old saide Sawe One mischiefe neuer commeth alone but that it hath an other attending vppon it And so by misfortune it happened vnto mee For my new companion in Loue of whom long since I told you commeth in amongst vs who hauing more witte in his head then I in stead of blaming my Ladie most wrongfullie as I very foolishly had done presented her with these Verses following The heauens for honours theirs thee faire haue made The heauens for my mishap mee kinde haue framde Ioue for his praise infanted Vertue thine Gods heauen and earth reape honour through thy glorie I onely am accurst but victorie T' is to wage Combat with a Deitie I loue that sweet band which enchaines my soule Liuing I burne yet honour I thee flame Loe how rich Beautie can vsurpe ore mâ—e Medusa like my Nature thou dost channge But hee his Time spends not but gaineth honor Who branely fights vnder a Goddesse Banner O happie I when I thy face behold More rare and perfect than was Venus faire When I thine Eyes see shining like two Starres Gazing I die whilst death brings life to mee He happie dieth that his best life doth end In loyall seruice of his beautious friend More happie I my selfe iudge so to die Than Adon liu'd whilst hee the daintie Corpse Of Venus ioyde who wailde his death most sadde Hee blessed was but I celestiall Since Fortune mine with his may well compare And beare away the prize for ouer-Faire Beautious if onely for to see thy stainelesse Feature More happie t' is than Gods by many wayes What should I be wouldst thou to loue mee dame But so great good vnworthie I to haue The Gods would iealous grow that one poore wretch Ingratious fauor boue themselues should stretch Yet in despite of them my ioyfull life Liueth in contemplation of thy Thewes Whilst they like rolling Spheares the Skies adorne Happie that Lambe offered in Sacrifice To burne vpon thy Aultars Grace to gaine Whose Tombe and Ashes winnes vnto him Fame Most gratiously did shee accept of this Present and the rather because shee would anger me
detestable kind of liuing But what is good and well done that quickly is forgotten not any as much as once reporting the same because such as be ill giuen will neuer commend any except it be much against their minde Feare not then to speake so thou speake well for so shalt thou please the best kind of people and displease none but such as are the worst for the fruit of a good tree is more commended then that which is bad Speake then man and say one thing or another otherwise I shall imagine that either disdaine doth shut vp thy voice or else that hatred hindereth thee from speaking As that Souldiour is not a little ioyfull when being readie to haue his head strucken off by the enemie whose prisoner he is he seeth his friends arriued and come to his aide whereby he is rid from all danger Euen so not a little pleasant was I when I hard so sweete a heauenly sound proceeding from so faire an Angell which was of such power as it reuiued all my dying sences in me it banished away all feare from me it put new hope into me and brought my former fresh colour into my cheekes againe Whereupon I did prostrate my selfe in most humble wise before the feete of my Ladie for well did she deserue a greater reuerence at my hands but she not willing I should doe so tooke me vp by the hand by that blessed hand I say which chased all dispaire from me Whereupon I thus returned condigne thankes vnto him Can you most beautious Saint raise and reuiue him who hath deserued so much vengeance at your hands and can you haue pittie vpon his bodie who would not take no compassion vpon your honour No Ladie no rather let him die as one vnworthie to receiue from you the least fauour in the world why should you vouchsafe to looke vpon him with those heauenly eyes of yours not worthie of so great a grace keepe those sweet and chaste glaunces for him who shall deserue them better then my selfe who merrit not to see so much as the vsuall light of the heauen Am I he beautious Nymph that haue so much abused thee if so why then shouldest thou vouchsafe me to approach thy wonderous presence Although thou of thy kind nature shalt forget this foule fault of mine yet shall mine owne plaine nurture and bringing vp teach me not to forgiue the same for mine owne hand shall punish both my tongue and heart the one for speaking ill of thee and the other for conceiuing a sinister opinion against thee Arcas shall neuer surfer Arcas to goe scotfree he hauing so hainously sinned against his sacred Saint Trouble me not then in mine owne busines but let me execute what I haue alreadie determined to doe onely I would entreate this Boone that it would please you to pardon my rash crime before I die for neuer did I willingly offend thee onely I was too too credulous and ouer-light of beliefe Too much credit did I giue vnto that which one of thy companions reported vnto me I thinking simplie thou mightest full well count thy selfe happie to be beloued of so great a God but too sacred is thy vertue too modest thine honour to be ouercome with any power of the Gods Pardon then this foolish conceit of mine which I will wash cleare with the dearest blood I haue I thinking my selfe not a little happie in that I haue had the fortune to see thee before my death and to haue acknowledged before thee my more then grosse ignorance and vaine follie With great contentment shall I die seeing I haue had the leisure to haue bewraied the secrets of my soule shewed how far I was fro doing thee any willing iniurie Besides I beseech thee by thy vnspotted chastitie to thinke that no ancient Loue heretofore is to be compared vnto that which wretched Arcas hath borne thee Neuer could any faithfull affection equall his no more then any beautious feature liuing may be compared vnto thine Then pardon once more I beg of thee thy most wretched slaue that he dying may not die in the disgrace of his Mistris I cannot denie but that I haue erred but yet not so much of my selfe as by reason of another nothing so much grieuing me as that I had so sinister an opinion of thy matchlesse vertue and therefore for this fault onely will I adiudge my selfe to die Happie is he that dieth in thy seruice and for thy sake yea more happie then Piramus that slew himselfe for his deare Thisbes for he cannot finde fault with his death that looseth his life for a rare and worthy Subiect The guiltie person being drawne vnto the place of execution is pardoned of the partie who causeth him to die contenting himselfe with his death as a sufficient sat is faction for the fault he hath committed Euen so let me intreate thee to discharge me a Culpa though not a Pena to the end my death may expiate the horriblenes of the offence and that I may with ioy descend into the Elizian fields amongst those blessed shadowes Graunt me then this my last request otherewise more wretched shall be my death then that of good old Priamus who sawe his owne children massacred before his owne face More would I haue said but that curteous Diana interrupted me in my speech who being more mercifull then Iustice it selfe thus replied No Shepheard no I neuer will yeeld vnto thy request because I will not haue thee die The Gods although they be mightie and immortall yet doe they not demaund of such men as haue offended them to haue their liues in satisfaction of their fault but are contented with some lesser punishment and doest thou thinke that I am more cruell then they If so thou doest me wrong Liue then I say and talke no more of death I pardon thee of thy fault perswading my selfe that it was thy ouer rash beliefe and not thy minde which did commit so grose an ouersight Be merrie then and assure thy selfe that Diana was neuer cruell but rather that she is as courteous as she hath and will be chaste Take heede onely that thou hereafter doe not so offend againe and let the danger from which thou hast now escaped make thee more wise against an other time For sometimes an offence standeth in some good steed when through remembrance of the same it maketh others to be more warie and better aduised As that Shepheard is ioyfull who hath chased away the Wolfe bringing backe againe his sheepe safe and aliue which the deuouring beast was carrying away Euen so was I pleased and satisfied at full with this her kinde counsaile And yet notwithstanding the going away of my faire Diana did somewhat abate the sweetnesse thereof for shee presently left mee eyther because shee would not haue the other Nymphes knowe that she had pardoned mee who were hard at hand or because shee would not as then heare my answere as if she looked
the remainder of his loathed life And that the sooner he might die with care Ioy banishing he entertaines dispaire Hauing this conceit in his head the next morning he commeth vnto the Court where he taketh his leaue in humble wise of the King and that he might haue a colour for his departure and that none might suspect his heauie countenance he maketh them beleeue his mother was at the poynt of death and therefore he being sent for must needs away vnto her Hauing bene with the King he commeth vnto the Queene and to her faire daughter vnto whom he telleth this sad newes looking very sorrowfully and so most humbly taketh his leaue of them but the young Princes gessing shroadly at the truth of the matter and that there was no such thing but onely a meere excuse grieued mightily to heare how she should lose his companie the onely cause wherof she knew her selfe to be for which although she was hartily forie yet knew she no way how to remedie as then the same Meane space Don Iohn most pittifully consumed away as well because he wanted his Mistris as also for that he was neuer likely to see her any more whilest he being retired vnto his melancolike house resolued to die and to giue ouer the world O cruell madnes O furious rage O incomparable mischiefe O miserie none so great as Loue. What worser misfortune can happen vnto a man then for want of reason to suffer himselfe to fall into the mercilesse hands of his murthering foe And what vnhappines be it neuer so great can ouerthrow a man so soone as that which depriueth him of all sense and vnderstanding for the losse of our best friends or chiefest goods are easily to be borne because seldome or neuer they make vs lose our right wits for them but the torments we suffer in Loue are insupportable and not to be endured for it confoundeth our vertue and constancie as was too well seene by Don Iohn who would not take comfort in any thing but onely in death whilest lying thus dangerously sicke of a secret disease of the minde he was so much changed as none could well haue knowne him for his goodly and comely personage was become pale weake and earthly his haire long wilde and feltred his eyes hollow and deepe setled in his head his face heauie and sad his cheekes hollow and leane his lips dead like ashes and dried vp for want of moysture his breasts lanke and without flesh his hands but skinne and boane and his armes brawne fallen and without any force at all to be briefe he resembled rather a dead Anatomie then a liuing creature And although diuers haue bene of an opinion that hardly or neuer any can die for Loue because as they say this amorous sickenes tainteth the soule onely which is not subiect vnto death and not the mortall bodie yet neuerthelesse for all this there is no doubt but that many haue so died and that the soule as a companion of the bodie in the selfesame functions cannot feele any griefe but that the bodie must feele his part thereof and except he be partaker of the same euen as one day both the one and the other shall be partners either of eternall glorie or else of euerlasting fire in that they haue bene companions in this world either of good or else of euill Such a life then was this which our poore Arragonian Gentleman endured a life ordinarie and common vnto such who depriued of all hopefull happines pine away like one that is in a recurelesse consumption for nothing maketh vs to liue but onely ioyfull hope which if it be deferred long it maketh vs languish but much more then will it plague vs if we once growe in dispaire neuer to obtaine the same And therefore there is none so wretched a life as that which weareth away for want of hope and so liued miserable Phedra who seeing her deare Hyppolitus dead for want of hope slew her selfe For as the Poet saith Sweet hope the life of euery one what ere doth cherish And were it not for wisht for hope all men would perish This then was my Maisters resolution which no man could dehort him frō All his house and chambers were painted with blacke our Liueries being tawnie and in the roome where he lay he caused diuers melancholicke and sad sentences to be drawne in great Characters all which were the Infants of dispaire One day he being somewhat better then his vsuall custome was called for pen and Inke and thereupon composed these sad verses following which he would oftentimes sing vnto his Lute My sighes when giue you ore to sigh then forth my paine Mine eyes when haue you done to waile my griefe though all in vaine Was ere seene such strange crueltie where Loyaltie is found Whilst through th' vngratefull for to die remorselesse I am bound I die but in what sort alas my woes so many be As neuer any heretofore hath suffered like to me Happie is he that to his end by one sure stroke doth hie To languish dying is far worse then quickly for to die My teares that in mine eyes doe stand with sihges my griefes doe showe And yet ther 's none that pittieth me whilst worse I still doe growe I cannot cured be and she that 's Author of my griefe To slay my selfe she weapous giues vnto me Sans reliefe Like Captiue am I led away yet can I not behold Her face to whom I prisoner am and who my hart controld He is no valiant Souldiour right nor any Conquerour braue Who to his prisoner dares not showe himselfe when he doth craue But heauens I see conspire gainst me this life I finish must Yet happie he that in his loue diest loyally and iust Sacred for euer Faile shall it neuer This my Monument Since that Loue so true Though none the same rewe Within it is spent But cruell thou too late shalt finde vntimely death of mine My Loue was pure my hart most iust and bare thereof the signe Yet I le not taxe thee for my death thy rigor hard to proue I le say it was my destinie and not thy nere gaind loue But why in vaine seeke I in life to haue a farther scope He happie dieth who in the would hath liued without hope Then le ts dispatch by sweetest end to rid vs of this paine Le ts shun this troublesome sea the port with Ancor ours to gaine His death is blessed Of life disposessed When by a sweet way Ending of his life He shuns care and strife And in rest doth stay This was the melancolicke Musicke which my lucklesse Maister sung vnto his Lute making all those heauie that were hearers of the same O male-contented sorrow thou woundest our soules through sadnes neuer suffering vs to rest quietly thou driest vp the marrow in our bones whereas ioy delighteth and comforteth the heart Through thee and through thy blacke sister dispaire died constant Portia Cato the
vnto the other vertue where I doubt not but I shall be better entertained then I haue bene here vpon the earth Meane space I admonish thee and all such as thou shalt thinke worthie to make acquainted with this matter to detest and aborre this shamelesse Monster and to follow me in my course of life otherwise they shall be afflicted with like punishment as those proud Giants the Titanois were for their more then audatious presumption Hauing made an end of her speech I might perceiue wings to issue out of the sides of this beautious Damozell wherewith I saw her to flie vp towards the element passing through the airie Regious vntill she came vnto the heauenly Court of the Eternall King since which time she neuer descended nor neuer as I doubt will she any more This accident droue me into no small amazement not vnlike him that seeth many strange enchantments done by a Magitian whereupon with more hast then good speed I went to finde my Mistris to declare this aduenture vnto her but the feare she had of the foresaid beast had driuen her from thence so as I found nothing but the corner within which we had hidden our selues But O me vnhappie wretch that reported that which afterward was my vtter ruine and ouerthrow An Example O what euill sometimes this little tongue of ours doth vnto vs for that of Demosthenes ouerthrew the libertie of Greece And therefore thrise wise was that Phylosopher that thought nothing in this world to be worse then the tongue because it not onely bringeth calamitie vnto him that speaketh but also vnto the whole common-wealth besides And therefore well said that old Sage of Greece who affirmed that silence was commendable and without blame whereas speaking was subiect vnto reprehention and reproach The auncient wise men in times past did offer Sacrifice vnto dumb Silence as vnto a sacred Deitie adoring her with great reuerence for many a one haue bene cut short of their liues because of their ouer-rash and bold speech and this found I to be but too true by mine owne experience and vnto my no small griefe Well I not finding my Mistris there went seeking of her vp and downe not making account of any paine so I might once haue a sight of her loue making that labour to seeme but easie and sweet which Louers vndertake when they follow in pursuit their faire and beautious Ladies for the desire which they haue to see them maketh them to thinke it is no trauaile at all and that man thinketh that he rather plaieth then worketh who expecteth some worthie recompence when he hath brought his worke vnto an end This made me to run vp and downe to see if I could finde her whilest being earnest in this busines I might heare a certaine voice comming forth of a thicke quickset wherevpon I staied awhile to harken if it were hers or no but I knew quickly it was not as soone as I hard the Song which was as followeth Withouten scope To haue the hopen My Ladie any more Since cannot bee That I may see To death I le flie therefore Sweet death now come And to me runne Since I to thee doe crie Be thou my friend That I may end These dates of miserie Whilst I doe line I nought but grieue Deprined of all ioy How can that hart Of case haue part When Loue doth him annoy My sorrowes soure My cries each houre My soule doth pinch with paine My heauie moanes My sighes nor groanes Can neuer moue my dame Why then so long Death dost me wrong That yet I am not dead That man doth rest Happie and blest Whose soule from hence is sled No worldly strife No ill so rife Can hurt who is in graus Die he doth not But life hath got That such a good may haue Thus was the Shepheard amorous of my Diana of whome I told you before who reaped no more sweet fruits of his loue nor found any more curtesie at her hands then I had done which was in effect nothing so that we being borne both vnder one Plannet became to become partners and companions in our loue and miserie together He sighed and sobbed as I did he wailed and wept as I vsed to doe and yet neither his sighing nor his teares were any more profitable vnto him then they were vnto me After his Song was finished he began thus afresh to complaine O Cupid how well haue the Gods chosen thee to be the bloodie butcher of their cruelties since they could not bestowe this office vpon any that could discharge the place so well as thou by reason thou art more cruellie giuen then any one that is in heauen aboue or else in hell belowe There is no tortor or torment no Corsie or anquish of what Nature or kinde soeuer that is without hope Loue onely excepted for to miserable Captaines there is some hope of their freedome to poore and beggerly wretches a conceit to become rich againe to sicke persons some comfort to recouer their former health but loue is without all likelihood or beliefe of hope whatsoeuer Who then is more cruell then he who more to be doubted and who so hurtfull and dammageable vnto mankinde and therefore when the Gods meane to punish vs most cruellie then doe they send this cruell executioner vnto vs he being farre worse then the flashing lightning it selfe for that without languishing quickly dispatcheth vs where this after it once beginneth with vs neuer maketh an end driuing vs to linger in a worse then deadly consumption Too well finde I this and feele it to my smart louing in dispaire and yet in such sort as death which is hatefull vnto men and is of force to rid me out of this agonie and insupportable passions is forbidden me I not daring to die for feare to loose the wisht for presence of her who daily killeth me So doth the Marchant allured with profit scowre so often the swelling Seas that in the end both he and his ship with all his Marchandise is swallowed therein And so I loue and yet will not giue ouer that which in the end will drowne me and be the cause of my pittious ouerthrow but as the Gods harden the harts of such men whom they meane to chastise who when it is too late begin to thinke how they might haue aunided the same so the more rigorously to punish me the heauens haue forced me to loue depriuing me of all meanes how to helpe my selfe because they are desirous of my fall O thrise blessed Leander Piramus and Paris in respect of me who for loue left their liues and yet had this good hap that before they died they enioyed their Mistreâ—es companie and were beloued of them where I on the other side am hated and loathed of mine But diuers and of sundrie effects are the shafts of Loue some are of leade and they rather coole and freeze then heate others â—â—hedded with gold which pierce into
beheld so perfect a beautie but farre more blessed if being depriued of her you likewise depriue your selues of all light O royall Recluse that shalt enioy the companie of my Diana Ah why am not I transformed into thee what shall I doe or what shall become of mee whither should I goe or what should I say and what can I hope for that may please me in this world Too long haue I liued since the longer I liue the more my paiâ—e increaseth Dispatch then forlorne and forsaken Shepheard seeing thou art exiled from what thou most of all didst delight in whilst yee mine Eyes who of late serued to contemplate so diuine a countenance shall now stand me in stead to raine downe bitter teares and thou my Tongue who of late wert an instrument to commend such rare and diuine vertues shalt serue me now to lament their losse and bid them all Adien Must I then bid Adieu vnto those golden locks which serued as bands to tye my heart must I bid Adieu to those faire and daintie tresses curling in cirkles and wauing with the winde resembling those of the Paphian Goddesse shall I neuer see you more after you are inclosed within those vnooth walls Must I needs bid Adieu vnto that goodly and spacious Forhead smooth as Gette and free from euerie wrinkle and frowne that For head whereas all Vertue lodgeth the seat of Iustice and receit of all Chastitie Must I needs languish and pine away without seeing you any more Oh vnhappie day of my byrth ô miserable my chaunce and vnfortunate the time wherein I liue Must I needs bid Adieu vnto those thinne and slender Eye-lids the foes of care and enemies vnto griefe descending vault-wise like a fine Arche of Ebonie delightfull to behold but farre more pleasant to touch Is it possible I can liue and not see you I cannot Now woe is mee I cannot needes must yee take my life away my sorrowfull life must you take away with you But chiefly you faire Eyes must I needs bid you Adieu my two glorious Sunnes haue you resolued neuer to shine more and must I needs still liue in darknesse O Saphire Eyes the throne of LOVE the bright lamps of Chastitie the lodges of vertue true mirrours of honest maiestike modestie must I needs beforsaken of you Cruell as you are you first inflamed my hart rauishing the same whilst it consumed with the fire of desire yet thinke not for all this that I will leaue you your glaunces shall be my guides and your lookes the pathes wherein I will trace I can no more lose or leaue you then the Traueller can walke in the thick darke wood without the light of the day O faire Mouth and must I needs bid thee Adieu wo is me shall I neuer see thee more Ah sacred Mouth wherin my soule reposed the happie chaire of my chaste Desires resembling a garden of Musk roses and Cloue gilly-flowers from whence proceeded so many wise and hunnie speeches charming our â—indes as the great Priest of Thracia did the stones and Trees with the sound of his bewitchitching Harpe shall it be said I shall neuer see you more it cannot be Arcas shall neuer be seene to ioy in this world when he is depriued of the heauenly sound of thy Harmonious voyce And yee faire louely Cheekes shall I bid you Adieu Cheeks vermillion without cunning or painting whose naturall Die is the Lillie sweetly mixed with the Damask-rose neuer can I part from you without parting from life all Ah beautious Brests must I needs bid you Adieu where reposed the nine Muses with their sage brother Brests more faire then Summers day and far more white then Mountain snow sweet lobby of vertue it selfe and pleasant prison of my intangled heart Neuer shall I be able to bid you Adieu sooner must my dayes be shortned and my wretched selfe cut off before my time appointed In the meane space liue thou my peerlesse Saint in all happines full of ioy and freed from all annoy liue to be honoured both of Gods and men Adieu for euer and a day the light of my soule life of my minde farewell Adieu my gratious sweet chaste vertuous and religious Mistris Heauens graunt thee all happinesse according vnto thine owne contentment whilst I take my course to die despite of the maleuolent starres that haue so long prolonged my life But yet before my death leaue yee mine Eyes some teares to accompanie in weeping so manie faire and goodly Nymphes who as well as your selfe mourne for the losse of their best Gonernesse and yet it is not for braue and generous mindes to shead teares but rather for base Cowards weake Women and little powling Children Cato when hee died neuer wept at all so wee without lamenting will giue vp the Ghost it shall suffice that the goary droppes of my purple blood shall be in stead of salt teares Too much haue I sighed and sobbed too much haue I wailed and wept and ouermuch haue I lamented and cryed out And yet before my fatall houre approach I will leaue some pittious signes of my griese behinde mee that the world may see after my death how rare and constant my loue hath alwayes bene Herevpon I made an ende of my speech falling downe through very faintnesse all along vpon the grassie ground whilest holding mine armes acrosse as a token of my gricuous cares and lifting vp mine eyes towardes the heauens I began afresh to weepe most bitterly That done I began to apprehend so liuely a passion of exceeding bitter sorrow that the very conceit thereof made mee to sownd and so for a long time I lay as it were berest of all my senses At the last I reuiued and therewithall rose vp when taking my knife I engraued in the Rocke these mournfull Verses following Vnto the soundlesse Vaults of Hell below I le waile noy griefes remedilesse amaine Whilst frightfull Ghosts as pittifull shall shew And Fliâ—tie Rocks remorse take of my paine Yea Death it selfe my bitter paines shall know To witnesse that my life in noy hath laine For Louers true can neuer die indeed Whose loyall hearts a beanenly fire doth feed My Course beeing layd along within my Graue Shall shew his teares his torments and his loue And for his minde did neuer change nor waue Farre brighter then the Sunne the same shall prone By him the picture of his Lady he shall haue Which he being dead afresh shall make him mone Like to the fire in ashes contred Which though at shew no flame yet is not dead LOVE is not tarn'de by Death but still doth liue Although that life doth flit and passe away Then Lady thinke not though by death thou grieue My bodie that thou LOVE canst make decay As long as Fancie â—oth thy beautie driue Into my soule No this will bide for eye Within my heart thy beautie printed is LOVE in my Tombe to harbor will not â—â—isse Thinkst thou
chase againe O how great power hath our desire ouer our Soules that it is of force presently to reuiue our senses to awaken our thoughts to plucke vp our Spirits and to change and alter our countenances The great longing he had to reade that large writing awaked him out of his dreame recalled home his former wits brought him again to be a right man He turned his eyes too and fro busying himsefe about the reading of those lines but little pleasure conceiued he of the same because he could not vnderstand them by reason they were carued in letters of Arabia which made him fret and fume Not vnlike vnto one who seeking to passe ouer a Riuer A Comparison cannot find the lowest and shallow est place through which he might wade most safest so as being in great coller against Nature he burst out into these speeches Ah cruell Stepdame when wilt thou be glutted with the miseries of mortall men At too high a rate doest thou sell that little aduantage and benefit which they haue ouer other liuing creatures To what ende serues it them to be more perfect then beastes if this perfection taketh from them their most desired rest and what profit is it for one to be rich if that treasure of his engendreth trauaile and care which most cruelly weareth away his life Farre happier by ods are the bruite beastes for ignorance taketh away from them the apprehension of misfortunes the thought of riches and the sorrow that is incident vnto this life whereas the minde of man is tossed too and fro not onely with vnquietnes of such things as are present but also for such as are before passed and are yet to come yea and that in such strange wise as man is thought to be still miserable excepting onely in that small time wherein he is freed and released from those mortall cares and knawing Corsiues Alack A Similie alack as with the tree the rinde groweth and sprowteth vp the one not being able to continue without the other so with Man is carefulnes ingendred which as a most vnfortunate euill Angell followeth him in all his actions he taketh in hand Who is he that euer hath bin liuing without the feeling of griefe or sorrow or without the tast of vexation and vnquietnes The mornings houre frameth and plotteth one miserie or other against the euening as the extreame rage of ardent heate maketh a storme or tempest which halleth fire and water together For one tast of pleasure which he enioyeth a thousand desires of death seaze on his spirits to the ende he might quench all his heauie disasters by such a speedie meanes for more happier are senselesse creatures then they whose bodies are onely put to trauaile and not their mindes at all and in respect of the vnfortunate plagues of this life a thrise blessed companion is death who ought to be counted a remedie and helpe rather then any paine or trouble And therefore thrise happie indeede are you most valiant Spirits who of your owne braue courages haue dared to shorten by violence the miseries of your loathed liues thereby to abridge and cut off the multitude of sorrowes belonging vnto the same Vnkinde Nature what gifts doest thou prodigally bestowe vpon man but bitter wailings and salt teares No sooner are we borne but teares come forth with vs following vs in all the course of our liues and not leauing vs vntill our latest death Of earth doest thou frame our bodies and to earth doest thou turne the same againe And yet alas not before thou hast made vs to take the aslay of many miserable calamities Neither hast thou made rightly perfect any one man there being alwaies in his life one fault or another for seldome or neuer find we an excellent and quick Spirit in a well shaped and comely bodie nor an exquisite well made bodie to containe in the same a rare and admirable minde But it is no wonder at all that those who are thy Subiects children and vassals want their perfection when thou thine owne selfe A Similie hast failed and doest come behind of the same Hardly can the people of a cruell king be brought to be gentle and milde and as hardly can men thy creatures attaine to come to be perfect when thou thy selfe on whom they depend art naturally full of defects and wants I pray thee tell me what charges had it bin vnto thee if thou hadst giuen vnto euery one an insight and skill in forraigne languages and why doest thou depriue so many mindes desirous of knowledge in all things for want of vnderstanding strange tongues in which thou giuest a plaine testimome either of thine owne imperfection or else of thy ouermuch crueltie if thou art imperfect then can nothing that is faire excellent or perfect be found amongst vs for of the seedes of thistles can neuer corne spring and if thou be cruell then miserable is the estate of man to be gouerned and subiugated vnder the yoke of such a bloudie and inhumane Stepmother Both which vices I doubt not but abound in thee Certainly thou art imperfect rendring so many bodies emptie and voyd of all perfection as Monsters fashioned without forme And cruell thou art making men more wretched or rather farreworse then rude and sauadge beastes Thus exclaimed the poore Pilgrime mad for anger that he could not vnderstand that strange writing And as a small matter of losse bringeth more dammage vnto him who commeth from going about a farre greater whilst the same is a doing and feeleth the crosse thereof to be more then if the said little mischance had hapned whilst he was in prosperitie So this pettie despite galled the Shepheard more by reason he was as thē plunged in a bottomles pit of discōtentments thē if it had chaunced when he had liued most at ease and pleasure But now as he was laying himselfe downe to make his praiers vnto the morning sleepe to charme and close vp his eyes and trauaile for a while he might perceiue on the sudden a certaine aged man standing hard behind him This good old Father had a long beard as white as snowe his haire of his head was hoarie and graie his forehead wrinkled his face furrowed his eyes sunke in his head his lippes great and blacke his eye-browes thicke as bristles his hands riueled and nothing but skinne and bone his apparell a beares case his feete bare and naked hauing in his right hand a staffe and in his left a booke The complaint of the Shepheard had he heard and he being one that was assisted and holpen by the benefit of Nature in the charmes and enchantments which he vsed was not a little moued to heare her so sharpely blamed Whereupon he resolued to take her cause in hand and as a friendly counseller to pleade in her behalfe insomuch as without once saluting or greeting the discontented Arcas in a friendly manner he thus began to answere him Alas poore silly soule
not this strange fire which filleth all my vaines My griefe consume my coarse consuming though t is great With care and cries to feede my soule is my desire No hope to heale my wounds within me bide Alas I curse my selfe yet honor I the fire See then how farre Loue drawes me on from Reason wide Thrise happie Nature of each mortall man in this For they in dying of their ils an ende doe gaine But Spirits diuine cannot Diuine their essence is Venus immortall was immortall was her paine What said I No. LOVE cannot die through deaths despire For in the soule he liues and soule can neuer die On earth below no creature is that takes in Loue delight And Ioue himselfe his awfull power hath felt on hie Woe is me in this strange sort I perish languishing I wish for death yet how to perish doe not know Wretched that wight whose burning griefes aie doth him wring Nor can them quench nor die to ridde himselfe from woe But since I to this mischiefe am predestined Nor can death to remorse or pittie nothing moue Of Gods I le craue I may be metamorphosed Into those haplesse Birds that still bewaile their Loue. Thus sung the troubled Nimph Orithia amorous of the foresaid ARCAS who passing on her way sweetly held on her dulcet tune but she being gone the old man once more began to report what he before intended reaccounting this Historie following Most vniust lawe of partiall LOVE The lamentable Tragedie of chast Floretta and kind Plaindor which with thy malice slie Thousands of faults with iustice vaile dost hide malitiously Thou that thy traiterous selfe dost faine to be asacred thing And by a coloured greement thousands vnto death dost bring Most cruell law of loathed LOVE that vnder friendships showe Dost paint thy bloodie Massakers and makst them holy goe Thou that with vaine allurements fond and with faire smiling glose So many faithfull Louers in their fatall tombes dost close Who cuttest off so soone of men on earth the vitall thred Of such as for their loyaltie and faiths are honored Who fiend-like suckst their blood and as if thou still destned were To plague the world the flesh of these poore murthred soules dost teare Hast thou then this faire worthy Brace of constant Louers slaine Whose memorie still flourishing for euer shall remaine Hast thou them stifled through mischance without remorse or ruth Their flowring yeares their daies their yeares in prime of their green youth Ah too too cruell law of thine and happie thrise our life If that it were not subiect to thy ouer-ragings rife But what is he can liue exempt from these thy amorous lawes When euery puissant God what ere this yoke as forced drawes Then who can Loue commaund when Ioue himselfe full oftentime By him hath roughly bin controld although his powers diuine And yet some comfort small it is to vs though little gaine The Gods to haue companions with vs in this our paine Then reade this more then wofull verse beleeue it as your Creede True Herolds of a message such as hearts to heare will bleede Though in this vncoth desart colde LOVES hatefull enemie Death keepeth his abode and court and sleepe doth here abie Where horror doth inhabit still and fat all sisters three Who to vntwist our threed of life most willingly agree Where hundred thousand hugie Rocks sore bruisde with thunders might And torne through long continuance of times iniurious spite Are to this place chiefe ornaments though many a hollow caue And deepelesse ditches soundlesse pitts as glories chiefe it haue Although in steed of corne with thornes brambles it be sowen And with the chillie spring of Isie waters t is ore-flowen Although it be inuironed with monsterous hedges thicke Of blood drawing brambles and although wild beasts abound in it And that the sweelling periurde sea most fearefull to our eyes The same doth compasse round about with fome which thicke doth rise So as no one delight at all though little doth appeare Or seemes that euer Venus sowed her seede immortall here That neuer here for to repose did rest the beautious sunne When he his daily course in course with Maiestie had runne In briefe although this Iland be of gastfull lands the worst Where onely damnd dispaire doth seeke for to abide accurst Yet liude there here not long agoe a louely Shepheard faire Whome cruell Loue did vex and gripe more then with monstrous care A Shepheard sweete in euery point he was and complete right But that too soone his tender yeares cut off were through despite A perfect Shepheard faire he was his mind and valour such As all the rest of Swaines that liude in woods he past by much The spoylâ—â— of 〈◊〉 Beares the rough sharpe skin of tusked Bores Oâ— Lions sell and greedie Woolues hang vp vpon his dores Strange hidious Serpents vgly heads and Griffons Tallent clawes Sharpe poysonous teeth of Dragons huge with their most vgly pawes About the little closing walls of his small house was set As honorable witnesse of his valour more then great Those were his hangings rich and these his pictures set in gold Which intermixt in sundrie sort you still might fresh behold * A Sentence No such braue furniture as is a deadly enemies spoyle ' Whose colour nere is marde with dust nor length of time can foyle ' So is the battered harnesse rich wonne from our vanquisht foe ' Which hung vpon our walls more faire then gold doth make them showe ' For with the same the honour of the owners victorie ' Is there enstald and registred nor can it euer die Thus then this gallant Shepheard faire not little to his fame Adornd his house with sauadge spoyle which he abroad had slaine His armour was his bowe his clubbe his She pheards wreathed hooke For harneis he of musket proofe a leathren brestplate tooke Yet nothing couldore-cme his more then vsuall common power Still from the chase and fighting he returned conquerour Thrise happie fortunate was his first bringing vp and birth Not any gifts more excellent Nature gaue on this earth Valiant he was and strong in limmes well made and trimme withall So faire as euery Shepheardesse in loue with him did fall Blest therefore was he in his first greene youth as he deseru'd Whome honour did accompanie whom fortune alwaies seru'd Thrise happie he in his young yeares till t was his lucklesse sate That dismall Loue his reason and his sense did captiuate For then he lost his wonted force and courage euery waies And of his more then braue exployts the memorable praise He onely studied then alone to nourish his sad griefe To sighthe his secret sorrowes forth and waile without reliefe * An Inuectiue against Loue. O more then cursed caitife Loue thou wisedoms dost annoy Debashest reason sound from minde and valour dost destroy Wise men thou makest worse then fooles and makst them onely fit To hurt themselues whilst obstinate they
strange glittering beauties excellence Then of his ill the sillie wretch had knowledge at that hower Yet to resist or to withstand the same he had no power He felt his captiue heart attacht and roughly raught away And yet for all this would he not make of the same a stay All meanes of helpe he banisht thence and yet he felt the griefe He saw he was as one vndone yet would not seeke reliefe He was in prison yet he did refuse his libertie He found his error yet not once Peccauie would he crie He neuer sought to driue from him this ill iueuitable Though through the same he found himselfe for euer miserable Cruell effects of Loue such Louers as quite senselesse bee Cannot auoid their hurt although with eyes they doe it see So in Florettas beautious eyes Plaindor now captiuate Where he should haue resisted is proud of his lost estate He counts himselfe thrise fortunate that he thus vanquisht is By so diuine a beautie which he vowes his chiefest blisse He this his hurt doth better loue then all his former health His bondage fore his libertie he doth preferre and wealth Ah Louers more then wretched right worse hundred times then hell Is your estates and worse then death were it but death t' were well To th' enemie of your sweet liues your selues you doe deuote Your hang-man you doe honour still who seekes to cut your throte You are not able once to shunne to hate or to detest That which doth make you languish and you tortureth with vnrest You loue what workes your miseries and beautie chiefest sore To peacefull mindes of worthiest men as Goddes you adore Each one excepting Louers wrongd reuengement seekes by lawe Defends himselfe and being hurt vpon his foe doth drawe Each one except the Louer wars against his Enemie makes Hath reason to detest him and against him vantage takes He onely yeelds himselfe as slaue vnto his owne distresse He honoreth his tormentor fierce his prison he doth blesse Who remedie doth seeke for him him he accounts no friend He rather hates him mortally as if he were a fiende But were not Louers obstinate Good counsell vnto Louers did reason rule their minde Thus peruerse still gainst their owne good they would not be vnkinde And thus doth Plaindor now quite change from his first happie state That beautie worshipping which he ought rather for to hate As sensuall beast bereft of sense his heart he offereth free To her who seekes for to abridge his ioyfull libertie As sacred her he doth account and holdes her for a Saint Who is the motiue of his mone and subiect of his plaint With great deuotion dotarde like he vowes to reuerence That which vnto his life doth seeke to offer violence Thus from a man vnto a beast he is transformed right Whilst he doth seeke to gaine by losse and Loue which he should spight Yet onely in this thing his lucke was not ore passing bad Since one to beare him companie he in his sorrow had Floretta felt somewhat the darts of Loue though not so keene Which iustly seem'd diuided right these two young soules betweene A little she did feele the heate of this hot amorous fire Which in the loyall Shepheards heart was kindled through desire His personage and valour now her libertie had wonne And as she him before so now he her had ouercome Her milde behauiour showed the same her colour and her grace And her two eyes which still were sixt vpon his manly face Which rauished with selfe-like Loue like to a mirror true The one the others heauie case beheld and sad did view The stealing glaunces which they both cast forth alike did showe That in one selfesame Sea of Loue their hearts were dround with woe Their vncoth heates their scalding sighes their amorous soundings sweete Foretold that of one selfesame cup they both had drunken deepe Shame onely then withheld their tongues from silence to vntie And feare least one the others sute vnkindly should denie Both knewe they lou'de yet both did doubt least they not loued were They onely thought vpon that Loue which both did willing beare No signes betweene them yet had force although enough were showen To make the truth of both their mindes vnto their soules be knowen Floretta building on her beautie faire thought Plaindor lou'de And that to yeeld himselfe her thrall he casily might be mou'de Her greatest doubt was least he should not constant be nor true But in the ende would giue her o're and cause her so to rue Plaindor againe could not perswade himselfe so blest to be As for to be belou'd of her he thought she nere would gree He not so much as thinke so durst but rather did dispaire Ere to enioy the thing he held so deare and thought so rare He durst not oncedesire't for feare least being the same denide He therefore should the greater griefe in his successe haue tride Yet in the ende this Shepheah poore quite wearied with his paine Tooke heart at grasse though little lif within m did remaine His eyes fixt on the ground full sad his eyelidds closed tho And in his gesture many sighes forct from him too and fro His â—â—â—mbling soule full of pale dread teares trickling downe ore warme His mindâ— tâ—rmented diuersely with many a fierce alarme His blâ—â—â—ing heart prest downe with woe which throbd and sobd through feare And gainst all hope of future good in combat as it were His armes a crosse in wofull wise vnarmed he alone Thus to Floretta in few words his case he doth bemone Diuine and rarest beautie if the Gods haue heretofore Bin as I am of libertie depriude and which is more Lâ—ft their chiefe rest whilst in themselues they bare as open signe Such earthly beautie as did seeme more like themselues diuine Leauing the heauens their darts and fires their fortunes for to proue Disdaining nought as souldiers braue to march in Campe of Loue. If that their soules were scorched with this Archers fire so whot As for their wounds to finde some salue to seeke they shamed not If they as I felt thousand plagues for louing as I doe DEARE then that I endure the like let not be straunge to you Each seekes the steppes of these great Gods to follow and though he Doe somewhat erre in following them yet ought he pardoned be My heart as theirs I wounded finde with darts most mortally Which thou gainst me discharged hast from thy commanding eye The selfe same fire that was in them is seazde vpon my soule From sparkels now t is growen to flames and lord-like doth controule Burnt are my senses all my powers consumed vnto nought My reason is enchaunted sore and I to ruine brought If thee I see I die If not I then doe pine a way Thus by no meanes my sicknes strange I swage can or allay To quench this raging fire I done haue what I can alasse But t will not be although I would I cannot bring
't to passe This onely now remaines for me my life is in thy hand If I shall liue or die the power as now within thee stands By thee alone I hold this life for thee I die as now That hope I haue thou nourishest my feare engendrest thou Sweete then take pittie of this Loue like Caos so confuse And graunt my hearts request who there his aduocate doth chuse Mine i st not any more thine eyes from me the same did take Then being thine doe pittie it and much of it doe make Destroy not what is in thy power but rather it preserue In man great wisedome t is what is his owne for to conserue I craue not that thou me my captiue heart againe restore To liue with so braue conquerour as thou t is happier more My wils if any interest longes to me in the same As much I doubt since it I lost no more I may it claime It still within thy louely bands as prisoner true be bound Nor in my brest his wonted place no more henceforth be found Then since it is thine owne and that an amorous sweete desire To haue respect vnto his health and life doth thee require Vnlesse thou on his fortune hard dost take some kinde remorse In thy chast amities pure heate he needes must die of force Ah then relent be pittifull in fauourable wise And daine for to accept from him this dutious sacrifice For what can I offer more deare to thee then my deere heart Which nere would yeelde to Loue before he felt this bitter smart Which scornd his vtmost force and lawes did vtterly reiect And of his manly stomack stout did showe full many effect Then of so braue a vanquisht Foe ore-come by beautie thine Take pittie and him gently vse in this his captiue time Such gallant souldiers as be tooke in field by chaunce of warre A Similie Be much respected kindly vsde and honoured much they are And whilst as prisoners they remaine and till their ransome come All friendly courtesie to them in louing sort is done Then to my humble heart faire Dame who thee doth honour deere Not cruell be as if thy foe whome thou should'st hate he were Ah gently vse him or without thus suffering him to lie Still languishing giue verdit strait and he shall willing die For if thy grace he may not gaine he cannot liue on earth Whose wounds are deadly happie he if ease he finds by death A Sentence Speake then Floretta faire to me nor by thine answere sower Be thou the cruell cause to force me leaue my life this hower SWEET speake for by their Oracles contented are the Gods To answere men yet greater farre then men they are by ods So said the Shepheard who in feare the summons did attend Offortune good or bad if he should liue or life should end Like to the guiltie criminall who is of hope depriu'd A Comparision Whilst iudgement with great terror he expects to be disliu'd His heart did paint full sore and fast his face for feare did sweat Mistrust did show in his sad eyes feare in his soule was set Disgrace and shame to be denide his bodie gauld throughout Who doth attend for what he longes and languisheth in doubt Thus wandred too and fro his vitall spirits in this state Whilst that his life did seeme to him as ouer desperate Tide was his tongue and now it irke him that he ought had said Wishing that he his secret wound to her had not bewraide So doth a braue and gallant mind by famine forct to beg Repent him after that an almes demanded thus he had But at the last the Shepheardesse dissolu'd these doubts confuse Chearing somewhat the Shepheard by these words which she did vse The time hath bin that Venus though Loues mothers she hath lou'd Whilst selfe same plagues which she inflicts on others she hath prou'd Great Ioue the President and chiefe of all the Gods aboue Did thinke it no disparagement at all to be in loue Both Gods and Goddesse haue lou'd then why should I be blam'd Since but with selfesame spot I am as they haue all bin staind Ioue life hath giuen vnto vs that we should follow him To erre as Gods A Sentence is no offence so praise not blame we winne Then may I without scandall loue as they before haue done So as my loue in chastest path of loyaltie doe come With such loue Plaindor thee I like and hope this loue so strong Shall be of force thy constancie to make endure more long I loue thee yet no power thou hast ore body mine at all If once presume vnmodestly A Sentence ought to request thou shall For no loue is that loue indeed but rather furious rage That seekes our honour with disgrace or infamie t' engage Then I will loue thee yet of me thy selfe nought else assure But my chast faith which I le reserue to thee vnspotted pure Vntill that happie time shall chance to hap to vs at last When we by sacred marriage rights may coupled be more fast And with this Plaindor be content for what more canst require Then of my loue to be assur'd which is thy chiefe desire The loyall wish of Louers true is loue reciprocall For where good meaning is and plaine there none is mockt at all But for to 〈◊〉 for plâ—â—â—ure send alone in sensuall wise Is brutish 〈◊〉 to beâ—stâ—s who show all reason to despise Did I but thinks Shepheard thy Loue not sober were or chast Or that within thy brest blaâ—k thoughts staine to my state were plast That from thy heart all honour thou and credit didst reiect And more of 〈◊〉 mâ—â—t â—nlike then vertue didst respect Assure thy selfe I will â—râ—uâ—ng myself on thee so sore As for thy boldnes thou shouldst diâ— although I dide therefore And I soone pâ—â—ish would my 〈◊〉 for that I was so vaine To loue a friend so small of worth a my chast minde to staine My blood shed by my hands should wash my fault and error baed Since I to maker hoyce of my Loue no better foresight had Floretta nere shall liue to morne by taking such disgrace Floretta sooner flourish shall by death which I le imbrace Then Plaindor liue and thinke thy selfe thrise happie for to be Since of a vertuous Loue thy selfe assured thou dost see Mâ—aâ—â— time looke to thy selfe attending that same blessed day The haruâ—st of our â—hastest Loue when Hymen gather may To die or say ought that vnto discredit mine may turne For which death purging me too late thou then for me shalt mourne He that is wise seekes to be Lord ore his affections And he a conquerour is right that conquers his passions Be thou such one deare friend for who with prudencie doth cope Findes his desires soone riâ—in dare and nourished his hope Thus wisely spake Floretta faire whose golden speech so graue Made Plaindor in his entrailes hot a greater burning haue Her sage discretion
plac't Who thinking they were then alone for so they made account Th' one toying with the other stood as was their vsuall wont And after many louely tricks Loue from their eyes did thrill So many Darts hitting their soules more heate increasing still That Plaindor being ouerchaft with this fierce amorous rage His lippes vpon the cheekes and mouth of his faire Saint did gage Now of himselfe not master he her in his armes doth take And thousand times did kisse her though resistance she did make As hard it is for him that dyeth through thyrst and want of drinke A Similie For to abstaine when he drawes nigh the Cristall riuers brinke So t' is as insupportable for any Louer much To be in presence of the Dame he loues and her not touch When he hath Fortune time and place the leisure and the meane He cannot hold his blood 's so hot his heate is so extreame When he is neere his health his health to haue he needs must seeke When he seeth what he longeth for he needs the same must like 〈◊〉 were he senslesse as a stone and liuelesse as a blocke Like to a lumpe of heauie earth and worse then flintie rocke So Plaindor takes his pleasure then forgetfull of his oth Whilst he her lips with kisses seales respecting nought his troth But weladay those kisses sweet to poyson sower did turne And was the cause that to his death they forc't him for to mourne Floretta chaft apace that he thus on her lips had seasde But Plaindor this her rage at last in sugred-wise appeasde The sneaking Shepheardesse the while withdrawne her selfe now had Out from her hole where she did see what made her welnigh mad And seeing that so many kisses twixt them giuen had bin These Louers lou'd but wantonlie she strait begun to win Away she goeth nor for to see the ende she durst be bold But much astonisht did depart then frosty Ice more cold She is resolu'd to be reueng'd and vexed mightily With sundry passions her hote loue doth turne to crueltie The Loue of these two soules she meanes to taxe with foule repriefe And of the kissing close to cast Floretta in the teeth Her Honor to accuse and of these vertuous Louers twaine To seeke with infamie and with reproch their liues to staine O how disdaine is in her kinde more violent of force And what great dammage hath it brought to men without remorse O how it power hath for to change the hearts of vanquishers And how to alter dearest Friends in minde shee her bestirs Meane time Floretta vnderstands that her Renoum's disgrac't And that her Honor vndeseru'd is wrongfullie defac't Her Fault if chaste loue may be term'd a Fault this woman base One morning fore the Sheapheards all reprocheth to her face Which when Floretta heard she vowes ore-charg'de with furious Ire Against her selfe against her health and life for to conspire No longer will she liue as now reuenged for to bee For Honor hers by Treason stainde as she with griefe doth see So for to purge her selfe of fault An Example not faultie nerethelesse In ancient Time vnto her Fame did die the chaste Lucresse Thus doth Floretta destined too hard with heauy looke Sweare with her selfe vpon her selfe Murther to execute Her daintie hands she aymeth now against her proper corse Her hands which too too hastie were to wrong without remorse Ah how much Honor 's deare vnto a chaste and modest spright Who seeks by vice to slaunder such accursed be that Wight The feare of Death can neuer coole Desire A Sentence that 's resolet To saue his good name by his life if he thereon be set Floretta then changing her former vse from sweetest ioy To vncoth plaint and passions sad surcharged with annoy Bewailing her disaster hard and sighing forth her paine Vnto a sauadge Mountaines toppe gets vp with speed amaine Where sprang a certaine Water strange or rather poyson fell By which strong venim she did meane her woes for to expell This water of such nature was as nothing could it hold It brake Glasse Iron Brasse Leade Steele it was so deadly cold But she that knew the propertie thereof in hoofe of Asse Close did the same conserue and then away from thence did passe And carrying it about her still vntill she Plaindor found She neuer left that done she downe sits by him on the ground Where she withouten shewe of griefe like Cignet that doth sing Before her death these words worth Note did vse thus greeting him Ah Plaindor deare deare may I say if thy Floretta poore Hath giuen thee any proofe of Loue most perfect or most sure If euer of her friendship kinde thou care hadst heretofore As not long since she in thy Loue with pitty thee did store By that same loyall loue of thine she now coniureth thee Permit her Honor to reuenge her on her iniurie Floretta now can liue no more since that she through thy selfe Hath lost her good Fame which she priz'de aboue all worldly wealth Ah Plaindor t' is for euer lost and by like lucklesse Fate Floretta thine now goeth the way her life to ruinate Alas how often told I thee when first thou didst me woe That still mine Honor to preserue thou shouldst respect haue due Mine Honor which Florettas life after the same doth draw And which I iustly forced am to follow now by Law How we do liue here in this world God knoweth is reckning small Nor flourish can our Names A Sentence or deeds immortally at all Vnlesse our Honor mongst our selues doe liue immortallie For that alone keeps vs aliue that we can neuer die But if the selfe same blood as yet remaineth in thy heart Of such so many sauadge beasts by which thou richer art If in the prime of thy best Age and pride of thy youths flower Thou hast not lost thy courage olde through Loues ore-conquering power Then Plaindor I pray heartily nay more beseechen thee To liue when I am dead and that thou wilt suruiuen me And thinke deare Friend I merit not the halfe part of the griefe Which for my death I know that thou wilt take without reliefe For I was but a shadow plaine trans-form'd in body thine Besides fairer then I thee loues whose beautie is diuine Who with affection like to thine in fancie being set The thought of me and memorie shall make thee soone forget So that no sooner Death shall me from my liues chaines dislinke As thou stalt forced be no more on me at all to thinke Meane time since hasty Death doth me of all my hopes depriue To haue for my sore wound a Salue whilst I shall be aliue And that sweet Shepheard I no more shall now of thee haue need I le thee acquaint how much how deare I loued thee indeed Most zealous yet more chast I lou'd such was mine amorous flame My heart was thine and in thy breast mine owne Soule did remaine My thoughts
be so why then am I exempted from this rule Neuer was any euill more violent then mine and yet in the meane time it thus continueth still extreame O deceitfull sentence Alack alack double doe I feele my griefe the one in suffering it the other in liuing to endure it and yet what should let me from murthering of mine owne selfe but euen the selfe-same charge which the Maister gineth vnto his slaue ouer whom he hath command both of life and death The onely Physitions which carefully assist me in my disease are Death and Dispaire Comfortable is the remedie of Death but damnable is the syrup of Dispaire The one hindreth the other not vnlike vnto two contrary windes which hold and keepe in a tottering Ship in the maine Sea it being not able to saile neither of the one side nor of the other Thrice welcome should death be vnto me if naturally and without dispaire it would come on the sodaine to rid me from this trouble So thrice happie dispaire if without death it could chase away this my more then intollerable anguish from mee Betweene these two contrary windes doe I flote not that I will denie but that sometimes the Sunne-shine of my soule hath made mine eyes cleare and bright but yet in such sort hath it bene as the light thereof presently after hath caused my darknesse to shew more gastly fearefull and horrible Ah sweetest Sunne of my soule where doest thou now at this present dart and cast forth thy heauenly bearnes And what happie Countrey is at this houre warmed with the gladsome Luster of thy beautious light In respect of the faire continuing day long and tedious are the nights though short and in Sommer vnto the sickly creature euen so long and â—rksome is my darknes in respect of the cheerfull day of thy oft-wisht for presence Wretch that I am I wander without thee in middest of the horror of a continuall euening whilst black and gloomy shadowes are alwayes before mine eyes O God if our sinnes inflict vpon vs these plagues wherewith wee are tortured yet at the least when wee haue patiently endured them drawe vs from out this heauie yoke The guiltie person condemned to die conceiueth no greater disquietnes in his minde then to thinke of that kinde of punishment which shall take away his life from him Ah then take him away take him away I beseech you out of this world who can doe nothing but cast forth complaints and laments and whose importunate voice pestereth without intercession both heauen and earth calling still to minde the afflictions without number which he is forced ouermuch to beare But I see I must yet languish somewhat longer if so what remedie but compeld content Let me then languish thus and pine away and let mine vsuall sorrowfull tune pursue my dayes euen vnto my very graue to the ende that so bewailing my crosse destinie I may at last giue vp my wearied Ghost But I see deare Father I doe but trouble thee and therefore in respect of thee I will giue ouer this mournefull melodie onely I will recite vnto thee an answere of a certaine false Ecco who not long since decciued my hopefull expectation And thus it was ECCO Great Goddesse of these woods that in these woods art honored right Speake wilt thou lend thine eares to one that is in wofull plight With thy last sweete sound amorous wilt thou my griefe abate Importuning my Fortune hard to mee vnfortunate O Goddesse answere my complaints which I before thee powre And pittie my outragious paine by sweetning of my sowre Comfort me in my torments and my griefes that choketh mee With hope that from this dismall plague I one day may be free To th' ende that I deuoutly may blesse thy thrice blessed Grace Ah then if thou as now within these hollow Rocks hast place Answere my Cryes say which of these two shall I prooue To make an end of all my woes or Death or Loue Ecco LOVE After so many crosses which we force and driue Shall I then die or they being dead shall I suruiue Ecco SVRVIVE But shall I stilithen liue depriued of my pleasure In ponsiuenes thus languishing and in displeasure Ec. PLEASVRE May it be I should be grac't with her who doth excell In all rare showes so base as I can I deserue so well Ec. SO WELL. But in meane space for these my griefes I haue no other scope But death to ende them since I liue without all hope Ec. HOPE Alas dispaire encour treth still my rising hope and truth And ore me this proud power will raigne and rage sans ruth Ec. SANS RVTH If so thrice miserable is the wretched Louers state And mine what can it be but most vnfortunate Ec. FORTVNATE After so many brunts borne which in my soule breedes strife Which shall I call to helpe me then or death or life Ec. LIFE But if I vnder this hard law shall liue most cruelly Who then will pittie me whilst in these panges I lie Ecco Ecco I. If so then still I le hope and O yee Gods I you adiure Not to deceiue my future hopes nor glories mine obscure Ah keepe your promise vnto me and after so much griefe Extinguish quite the furie of my cares which beg reliefe So will I blesse for euermore your Deites most true And mongst the most renowm'd in world sing praises still of you See my good Father the cosoning hope that the Goddes of the Forrests bestowed vpon me or rather to say more truly abused my wretched life O notable false deceitfull Oracles of the Gods as Pirrhus and others may well testifie the same But why should men be condemned for deceiuing one another when they are cosoned by the Gods themselues Long time did I hope well of this mine answere but in the end I found it had deluded my conceit by which my sorrow encreased not a little the more Alacke if it be so that I am altogether vnworthie of this good why then should the Gods thus promise me the same He that hopeth for nothing languisheth but little but hope deferred most mortally afflicteth the soule Besides I haue long since that time found by experience not smally to my cost that the will of the Gods is called backe either by reason of our sinnes or for our vertues sake Because of our sinnes they deface and blot out the good entended vnto vs perceiuing that our faults make vs vnworthy of them and for our vertues they call backe their cruell executioners finding vs to be worthy of grace for that we repent vs. And certainely I belieue they pronounced the best for me but my default afterward made me vnmeete to enioy the benefit of their sentence which they haue now raced out and out quite in peeces continuing still my misfortune against me But I commit all vnto their graue and secret prouidence Meane space heare I pray you the first borne song of my wailing Muse since my first
thought but this his happines because it was hatefull vnto his owne natiue countrie ought rather to haue bin counted vnhappines then any felicitie at all for where the publique good is extended not any man there should seeke his owne particular quiet but rather most cheerfully endure the selfesame torment with which his countrie is afflicted But O how worthy of all praise are such who as resolute Saylors shew like courage and cheere as well in aduersitie as in prosperitie being euery way throughly armed and resolued to abide the very shocke push of fortune not loosing their spirits or stomacks any thing at all at the first arriuall of the same but rather are the more strengthened and animated thereby yeelding through their inuincible patience infinit rich testimonies of a most perfect and obsolute vertue indeed Amongst which number wel may Louers be admitted who being at libertie to kill themselues as infamous and degenerate mindes doe and hauing the selfe same meanes and excuses that they haue yet will not perpetrate nor put in practise so vile and horrible a fact to the ende they may the better shew the fruites of their constancie and perptuall vertue in all places wheresoeuer they shall chaunce to come For as he is not excuseable from blame who because he cannot be good therefore giueth himselfe to what is bad inasmuch as herein it is our parts to force our nature it selfe No more is he to be commended who for that he can no longer bandie with his afflictions and with the painefull labours of this world maketh away his owne selfe because we being the creatures of God are bound to take part of all such sinister accidents as it shall please him to send vpon vs without shaking off the same from vs by destroying our selues which the diuine lawe forbiddeth vs to doe As that of the ciuill prohibiteth Bondslaues to flie from the hands of their Lords and Maisters A Sentence They therefore are more to be commended who suffer and sigh forth their griefes then those who because they want force to resist the violence therof slay themselues For vertue shineth most amidst hard and difficult matters no glory at all harbouring amongst base and abiect spirits What 's that you say answered the old man Tell me I pray you is there any thing more sweet or deerer vnto man then life What can make him more renowmed thē to loose that which he holdeth most dearest to follow vertue and to doe nothing vnworthy of his owne honour And if your speech were true then O yee braue martiall spirits and Captaines of warre most miserable and far from glory are you who for the publique benefit and good amongst thousand battailes haue yeelded forth your blood and soules together What worthy exploytes had men shewed abroad what generous acts what valiant deeds and what workes of Eternitie If they had bin such diligent preseruers of their liues when for feare of loosing the same they should haue left behind them millions of vertuous stratagems being the children of praise Fathers of common-wealths in the enterprising of which they stand in perill of their most pretious liues A great credit is it for a man to giue ouer all desire of riches of greatnesse of all pompe and estate and to depriue himselfe of all delicate and delitious kind of liuing but far greater commendation is it vnto him to abandon all these foresaid pleasures to follow vertue in quest and to giue ouer that which is more neare vnto vs then all these worldly felicities I meane our sweet life for not to be borne at all is the greatest ill fortune that can commonly happen vnto men as to haue life is the sweetest and most comfortablest thing A Sentence that can be imagined That it is happines to be borne and to liue in this world I denie said the Shepheard for how blessed had it bin and far better for many a one neuer to haue tasted of this life at all as by their lucklesse endes hath well appeared Life is good and pleasant to such as know how to vse it well but most miserable vnto others for the ende of euery action doth crowne and make perfect the same and no man is said rightly to be fortunate vntill his death be come What happie good or vertuous ende can such make who haue alwaies liued most vngodly when by being so borne they become most wicked sinners being continually troubled in their conscience which like a worme still gnaweth their soules whereas those that liue well and iustly and whose behauiour is holy and vnspotted make most happie endes I say therefore euery mans birth is not happie but rather that it is oft times more miserable vnto some men then pleasant or fortunate for better were it for such a one neuer to be at all then to be borne and so to loose his soule and glory his name and memorie through his leaude and wretched misdemenor An example The Spartans far wiser then we were of mine aduise who made so light account of life as the least naturall imperfection that their children brought with them into this world was the cause they threw them into their common shore or priuies thereby taking from them their humane essence and their liues How many miserable wretches shall a man find in this world to liue in such extremitie and want as they wish they neuer had bin borne desiring nothing so much as to haue their daies abridged and out off and to lie full low in their quiet graues Therefore to be borne and to liue in this world are not such pretious things as you account them but rather most grieuous and troublesome so as a man comming to loose the same looseth no great matter Vertue being his pledge for so small a losse Neither will I denie the worthy deedes which the vertuous bring to passe they not standing any thing at all in feare to loose their liues and yet the very selfe-same consideration which maketh them esteme so little of their health witnesse sufficiently enough that it is not prized by them at any high rate seeing they are content to exchange it for death If the good Iob before he had suffered what he did had ended his life he then had bene depriued of that prayse which his rare patience purchased vnto him An Example as we finde in the sacred Scriptures And yet quoth the old man what good did all these complaints vnto Iob which he so often repeated in his miseries they not being any thing lessened or asswaged by the same And so to begin where we first left What auaileth the miserable to lament For more is he to be commended that with discretion concealeth his greife and with milde constancie beareth out the same then he that maketh proclamation of it by wailing bewraieth it by sighing and by his condoling maketh it more apparant euery way Not so neither replied the Shepheard but rather it is quite contrarie
A Sentence For is not that sick patient to be noted for vnwise who will not disclose vnto his Phisition the cause of his disease but persisting most obstinately rather to feele the pangs of death then to declare where his griefe is And so hee that manifesteth his sorrowes by lamenting receiueth some kinde of consolation if not present remedie For as the small droppes of water falling by little and little vpon the harde Rocke in time doe make it hollow So likewise the hearts of women be they neuer so stronglie armed with the splints of Steele and Adamant yet in the ende they will waxe tender and soft as the harde Iron is made to bowe by the stroke of the hammer Besides oftentimes the peruerse Iudge doth Iustice rightlie through verie importunitie which by no other meanes he could euer haue bene brought to haue done It is a thing that I haue seene Louers ordinarily put in practise of whom the passions are so violent as they haue not bene able nether to conceale nor to restraine them within themselues when they haue most coueted to doe the same I my selfe haue made tryall of this remedie haue passed this straight ventured this hazard and in conclusion haue found to haue done good of it In witnesse whereof I beseech you once more to giue me the hearing of another of my passionate Sonnets With right good will answered the old man vpon condition that thou wilt promise me afterward to vnwinde the Bothome of thy Loues threed Wherevppon the Shepheard began to sing in this sort Before my selfe I doe disliue heare these my plaints O FAIRE which rauisht hast my sweetest libertie If thou before hast dainde of my religious Loue My loyaltie after my death then honor thou Nor feare that Heauens shall by my death be proud Because ending my dayes extinguisht is my Fire Death onely can cashere mee from this wretched life Where in the sacred Throne of Loue seates my pure Soule Whilst I doe breath whilst hart through 1000. sorrowes sobs It shall be seruile vassaile to thy Deitie And mongst the Ghosts being dead thou shalt my Lady be For in my soule thy Beautie is caractered There do I see thee still and as mine Idol chiefe I le sacrifice to thee great store of cries and teares Ah then plight me thy faith for to accept my vowes As late thou seemdst to rewe at my sad heauie griefs Leaue him to dye to dye who liues withouten life Being far from thine Eyes his chiefe diuinest light For say alas wherein can I stand thee in steed When I am but a shadow in a withered Corse Spent haue I all my teares bewailing thy long absence In loosing thee the Heauens haue reft my vigor quite I nothing am become Most wretched he that thinks To liue depriu'd of that chiefe good his heart doth nourish Then whilst I looke my fatall day of death to see No voyce sounds in mine eares but of laments and cries Mirth is for those are fortunate rot for a soule That feeles more horrors strange then Limbos frightfull Ghosts Then welcome pining Care and sorrow sower to me For with my thoughts dispairing still you best agree Thus haue you heard another of my wofull ditties O happie Arcas if being depriued of so sorrowfull a subiect of lamenting as this is thou couldest enioy the sight of thy faire and deere Diana as heretofore thou hast done Alas that the separation of the soule from a faire body should be far more pleasing then that of two loyall harts most stricklie chained with the strong bond of faithfull loue for with this first dissolution the remembrance of all greife and doller passeth away like a flash of lightening that is sodenly come and gone But alack how long are the sorrowes how wearisome the troubles how vnsupportable the miseries that the separation of his Mistris bringeth vnto the wretched Louers Poore Oenone too well knowest thou this to be true who diddest die for verie heauines because thou wert disioyned and withheld from thy deere Paris Death it selfe is more welcome vnto Louers then the long absence of their Ladies and yet dare they not die because they feare their displeasures which when they goe about to free themselues from this bondage snatcheth the weapon out of their hands whilest the hope which they conceiued once to behold them delayeth from day to day the execution of this cruell arrest of death A Similie being so profitable vnto all Louers That traueller findeth himselfe in great perplexitie and is not a little pensiue and angrie who after he hath iournied all the day long by the comfortable light of the Sunne is constrained to wander in the darke all the night after For as the comming forth out of bad into good is luckie sweete and fortunate so harde and troublesome is the losse of ioy to enter from thence into miserie and as it were into the verie gates of destruction And as mortall mē desist not from offering sacrifice vnto the Gods although they be far off from their sacred presence So my deere and diuine Diana though my fortune hath remoued me far from thy beautious sight yet will I not leaue to dedicate all my writings vnto thee to present my sighes vnto thee and to render thousand pittious oblations of my teares as vnto my chiefe Goddesse whose I whollie am my verses my cries and my complaints shall all be addressed vnto thee O faire Diana in what place soeuer thou now displaiest forth thy radiant beames doe not I besech thee despise the slender vowes of the religious votary who liuing only through thee oweth vnto thee both his labors and his life How wiselie haue the learned set downe that the onely presence of the Diuine Essence bringeth all contentment that may be vnto those blessed spirits that continually behold the same seeing the onely countenance of my Mistris brought my soule to be happie and satisfied mine eyes at full with perfect ioy I now excuse you O yee leane and yet rich couetous churles who content your minds with often gazing vpon your rustie old gold because there is nothing comparable vnto that pleasure which the sight bringeth vnto the soule in respect of that thing which so much delighteth him And who then with reason may blame me to loue so faire a Iewell seeing beautie is found to be a gift come from God made onely to render himselfe the more admirable in the eyes of the world Who can iustlie finde fault with that man that shall loue a thing rare perfect and surpassing in perfection such as are ordinarie and common So likewise who can rightly condemne men for honoring such a one as beautie her selfe yeeldeth a most excellent perfection amongst those that are most perfect of all Then thee O Diana doe I honor thee doe I loue thee do I respect sorrowing alway for the want of thee and whilst my vital blood shall boyle within my veines will I worship thee
speed prepare euery thing readie and fit for so worthie and so Royall a Marriage But cruell fortune in the end did lie in waite Too soone so faire beginning for to ruinate But before he tooke Shipping he would needs bestow this Sonnet vpon his Lady who receiued the same more for feare of offending her Father then for any pleasure she tooke in these his new proceedings And this it was Ladie I parting leaue with thee my soule Carrying with me nought but my captiue corse My captiue corse proud that you him controule Through those faire darts your eyes Loues strongest force Whilst I shall drawe this aierie vitall breath I still will keepe within me this strange fire Which in the fornace of my heart on earth My heart doth trie my hopes to make more higher My soule from death sweete Madame you doe keepe That you may it restore to me againe When at that heauenly harbor we shall meete Where our chast Loues shall querdoned remaine There shall I need it for to make him tast After so many troubles freede from griefe That happie ioy which Louers hearts makes wast Vntill thereof they find the right reliefe Then Soueraigne pray we that some heauenly power May hasten for our good this blessed hower The Prince taking his leaue of his faire Mistris deliuered these verses fairely written vnto her who was neither glad nor sad at his departure as well for that she was not as yet wounded with the golden darts of that little blind God as also because she feared I know not what lucklesse ende would chaunce in this constrained loue vnto her yet neuerthelesse she resolued to follow the aduise of her father making account and that very wisely whatsoeuer should happen yet should not she be blamed nor found to be faultie at all since she did but that she was commaunded by him Now the Danish Prince hauing onely the bare promise of the Duke without being able to get any small graunt at all of his daughter leaueth the Court of Bauier and scowring thorough the Seas with a merrie gale of winde returneth home to Denmarke where the King his Father with all the Nobles of his Realme receiued him with great ioy they all being maruellous desirous to see their young Prince married for the hope they had to see some braue and worthie issue to proceed from so forward and Princely a Gentleman as he was But as great and Noble personages are the occasions either of much good or of much euill according vnto such proceedings as they take in hand euen so marriages oftentimes bring with them either much happie fortune or else exceeding great miserie There is no so happie an encounter A Sentence as is the chast loyall and sacred marriage of two bodies vnited together with one and the selfe-same good will Neither is there any thing so miserable and vnluckie as that marriage where nothing but debate discord discention and all other mischiefes meete together For the hatred of a stranger is in some sort tollerable because it commeth but now and then but that of the husband and the wife is insupportable because it is contrarie vnto the nature of marriage and is continuall and ordinarie This being the reason that in many countries the people reiected and despised marriage yea euen amongst Christians and such as were heretikes was it had in no account they maintaining the communitie of wiues and bringing vp the children so begotten of the common and publicke charge But yet as we must not giue ouer a sicke creature because we perceiue in him an extraordinarie feeblenes and weakenes throughout his bodie euen so although we finde certaine defects in marriage yet ought we not to conclude against it or to condemne it for the same For though we see one corrupt member in a sound body yet must we not commaund to kill the body for the same but rather seeke how to cure it And so should we vse marriage being both sacred and iust which if by chaunce it hath sometimes imperfections we must studie how to helpe them such faults being naturally incident vnto all sorts of creatures But leauing this let vs come vnto this wished for marriage which chanced to be the ouerthrow both of the Prince of Denmarke of the Princes of Bauiers and many others they being in no sort blame-worthie at all And now the Danish young Lord hauing the consent of his Father and all the Nobilitie of his Realme to goe through with this match and all things being in a readines for the entertainement and receiuing of his new Bride he sendeth certaine of his chiefe Barrons to bring her home into his countrie they being furnisht at all points with sixe tall shippes richly set out on euery side not wanting any thing for so honourable a Conuoy No sooner were these Lords are 〈…〉 Duke of Bauiers Court but they were most ioyfully receiued and most Princery 〈…〉 of the Duke and of his daughter though somewhat against her will whose beautie was such and so rare as it seemed most admirable in the eyes of these strangers they not a little commending their Prince for that he hath so well and wisely made his choise After they had bene feasted highly to their contentments the Duke according to his promise appoynting his daughter a Royall ship and endowing her with many pretious Iewells with rich treasure and exceeding sumptuous sutes of Princely apparell deliuered her with her whole Traine vnto the Nobles of Denmarke who embarking her in her owne ship attending on her with all the courtly solemnities that might be whilst she standing vpon the hatches and taking her last farewell of her Father countrie and friends she seemed rather a Goddesse then an earthly creature But O how short of mor◠all worldlings is the glorie Her fortune is vnconstant and their liues but sorie The ships being launced from the shore the Musicke sweetly beganne to sound the skie was cleare the weather faire and the Sea most calme as they began to saile seeming as it were to be rauished with his enchaunting harmonie But what more wauering did you euer find Then Seaish waues what more fierce or vnkind This braue companie found this to be too true not a little vnto their cost for about some two daies after their embarking Eolus opening his hollow caues suffered the blustring windes to come abroad and the Sunne hiding his glorious face gaue place vnto tempestious stormes to couer the whole giring vault of heauen The angrie Seas began to boyle to rise and like a Sauadge wild Bore to set vp his bristles hissing and roaring most terribly as one disposed to plague all such as at that time had too too credulouslie committed themselues vnto his mercie The whistling windes began afresh to bluster to rage and take on and as it were to be mad for very anger The azured skie cleare and bright a little before now receiued downe haile thunder and lightning being all ouer eclipsed with
be knowne for feare least being discourered she should be conueied vnto the Prince of Danes and so by that meanes forced to leaue the companie of the Spanish Knight whome now she dearely loued although she somewhat dissembled the same most earnestly desired him not to bewray what she was vnto any man vntill she should finde a fit time to be knowne Which he most willingly promised giuing her more honour from that time forward and vsing her with greater respect then he had done before verie much discondemning his owne iudgement in that he could not perceiue this Ladie to be noblie discended seeing so many rich proofes and apparant signes of the same as her courtly demeanure her rare vertue her stately Maiestie her learned discourse and excellent beautie gaue forth sufficient testimonie which euery one did admire at Meane time these vertuous Louers twaine did burne in oneselfe fire And languishing did pine away for want of their desire But alas no remedie could be found to ease their passiōs for the gentleman knowing the Princes descent to be so great and worthie durst not as much as once presume to thinke she would vouchsafe to accept him for her husband chusing rather to die a thousand times then to be very troublesome vnto her or to receiue so bitter a pill from her as a sharpe repulse which he knew he should neuer be able to disiest but onely by death This conceit bred such a melancolie apprehension in him as by little and little he began to languish away his blood was dried vp his colour gone and his strength decaied so as he seemed rather a dead coarse readie to be laid in his graue then a man likelie to liue This sudden accident troubled euery one all lamenting the misfortune of this gentle Knight especiallie wofull Iustina who knew her selfe to be the onely cause of this sorrow and which was worse knew no meanes how to remedie the same without disparagement vnto her credit yet in the ende she resolued with her selfe if otherwise then well should happen vnto Alphonso to die for his sake so dearely did she loue him who now was growne to be in such a pittifull taking as he could neither rest sleepe eate nor drinke so as he was forced although sore against his will to keepe his loathed bed where he thought neuer to haue seene his Mistris more A strange thing Louers resemble the Basiliske who desireth to see that within a cristall glasse which is the cause of his owne death So these poore wretches couet nothing so much as the presence of that thing which doth shorten their liues soonest thinking themselues most miserable when they are depriued of the same They account no time happie but when they feele death and nothing is more agreeable vnto them then that Subiect which taketh away their life from them Verilie if the law doth most iustly condemne such for wilfull murtherers as destroy and make away themselues then ought Louers to be placed amongst the ranke of these her selfe-wild murtherers for their onely follie hastneth the ende of their liues making them to die before their time This poore knight lieth grieuously sicke without hope of recouerie and Iustina resolueth for companie to take the like course she thinking it to be no reason that she should liue ioyfully when her friend should be dead through her onely occasion O how bitterly did she curse her cruell fortune seeing her selfe inuironed with two such violent extremities either to permit him to die whom she loued more then her selfe or else to suffer her honour to be crazed which she loathed more then death In the ende she resolued rather to ende her daies then to scandalise her good fame with soule reproach and to leaue the bodies both of her selfe and her friend breathlesse then to deface her chastitie which she preferred before all things else in the world Hauing set vp her rest thus she goeth to visit her sickly friend who seeing her come began to open his eyes to mooue his bodie and to change his colour and countenance which soden alteration she presently perceiued by reason she knew better then any other the cause of his sicknes comming to his bed side she sits her downe by him and taking him by the hand with a soft and pittious voice she began thus to speake vnto him What cheare sweet Gouernor and how fare you what will you with this your sicknes make so many of your good friends ill who so much loue you and desire your welfare If you will not liue for your owne sake at the least yet seeke to recouer for theirs for what pleasure or delight can they take seeing you brought into this low estate in which now you are fallen We ought more to respect the good of our friends then our selues because we are borne for them your vertues your youth and your valour are to be profitable vnto your countrie kindred and friends neither can they as yet well spare them that death should enioy them Liue my good Lord liue and let not your priuate losse be a generall hinderance vnto all your countrie For vnhappie is that man who standeth in steed of a fire to burn his owne proper realme You that haue so often discomfited your enemies wonne so many braue victories and subdued and brought vnder so many valiant aduersaries will you suffer your selfe to be ouercome with a little sickenes which you may if you so please easilie driue away from you Courage man courage and like a good Physition heale your selfe be not the occasion lest for want of helping your selfe it be thought that you haue bene a wilful murtherer of your owne bodie A Sentence For he may well be tearmed a murtherer of his owne life who shunneth the meanes for to conserue the same and who entertaineth for his friends the executioners thereof Comfort your selfe thē I beseech you and with your recouerie make your friends recouer their former ioy againe banishing away all their sorrow with your abandoned sicknes And as for my selfe I offer vnto you all honest seruices as farre as honour permits to helpe you vnto your health againe which I esteeme as dearely of as mine owne life for the many courtesies I haue receiued most gratiously of you which I know and acknowledge so worthie of recompence as if I thought my life might buy and redeeme yours I would thinke my selfe most fortunate to haue it bestowed vpon so rare and worthie a Subiect The poore Gentleman beholding his cruell mistresse the onely pretious Balme for his sicknes with a heauie eye who neuerthelesse Thrise happie thought himselfe to see that beautious face Although she had brought him into so pittious a case Clasping her faire white hand hard within his forcing the very walles themselues to yearne and grieue at his pittious languishing with a hollow voice interrupted with many sobs and sighes perceiuing death to approach he faintly replied thus Ah my sweet Charge what
two Knights presented themselues before the Iudges who gaue them their oath vpon the holy Bible that they entered into this combat vpon a iust cause that done they vewed their armour and weapons and lastly conducted them vnto the listes making proclamation that vpon paine of life no person whatsoeuer should as much as once presume either by shew or signe looke or countenance word or deed to fauour either the the one or the other but to let their valour fortune trie who shall be conquerour A Comparison As two young Bucks burning in loue of a faire Doe take delight to trie their strength before her and being both furious pierce through their bodies and heads with their sharpe and rough hornes Euen so these two gallant Champions longing to encounter and either of them desirous to enioy that pretious prize which armeth the one against the other being in place where they may trie the vtmost of their force most furiously discharge one against the other and as two terrible Thunder-claps meeting together in a cloud breake at the cracke fall both downe vpon the earth So these two Knights at the first shecke and meeting tumble both downe vpon the ground but their launces being broken they draw forth their swords beginning to charge themselues a fresh As did Achilles once and Hector valiant stout When fore the walles of stately Troy they fought it out The Dane animated more with furie then with force laid on load without ceasing flinging forth his fire so furiously as if his strength had not failed more then his courage A Similie Alphonso had bene vanquisht but a great fire of strawe is quickly extinguished In like manner the blowes that despite and rage giueth are assoone ended Meane-while our Spaniard fought coldly but yet with great aduisement neuer striking but to the purpose so still kept himselfe in breath with great aduantage The Prince redoubling his strokes supposing his foe was growen feeble both in force courage laid on loade hurting him vpon the left arme This wound from which the blood issued apace the remembrance of her who was the cause of this warre the presence of the King and the flower of Chiualrie of all his countrie did stirre vp the Spaniard so much as now he would combat no more soberly and with discretion but as a desperate Souldiour against his deadly enemie letting driue at him so lustily with such quicknes and such dexteritie as the Dane found he was not a little deceiued in him But as he was chasing of him thus by chaunce Alphonsoes sword fell out of his hand he hauing nothing now but his dagger to defend himselfe withall which was the reason euery one thought as then that he was but a dead man his enemie promising vnto himselfe the victorie the desire of which made him pursue the Spaniard hotly who knew not which way to furnish himselfe of a Target nor how to warrantise his honour and his life but onely by running in vpon the Dane and so by maine force to get him downe which deuise of his the other fearing looked more warily vnto himselfe lest he should get within him whilst in the meane time he gaue him many a sore wound which he could not well escape because he wanted his weapon In the ende such was the good fortune of the Spaniard that the Dane thinking to runne full but at him with all his force which the other auoyded by mouing his body from that place lightly his sword also slipt out of his hand so as they were now weapond alike when comming to handie gripes and to grappell together Alphonso proued to be the stronger of the twaine flinging his enemie downe and giuing him so terrible a knocke withall as both speech and senses failed him That done he vnbuckled his head-peece and setting his poniard to his bare throat willeth him henceforward to renounce all such claime as he before had laid vnto his Ladie and wife and to acknowledge himselfe to be vanquisht or else he should die presently But the Prince choosing rather death than shame and vtter destruction then the depriuation of his Mistris disdained to answere him looking still when the other would stabbe him quite through which neuerthelesse as a right Noble minde he would not but leauing the Dane wallowing in his owne blood and sore bruised with his fall he commeth vnto the Iudges demaunding of them if he had done sufficient to be counted the vanguisher and to haue obtained the glory of the victorie or no. Who much commending him for his clemencie in that he had so cutreously pardoned his aduersarie told him he had performed his duetie euery way that done he was conducted vnto the place where the King sat who highly praised him for his valour and greatly honouring him for his vertue gaue him leaue to depart his Royall presence From thence he rode vnto the Court accōpanied with thousands of braue Knights where with great ioy the faire Ladies as the custome was disarmed him whilst the Chirurgians prouided for the dressing of his wounds that done he was had vnto his lodging keeping his bed vntill such time as he recouered whilst in the meane space he was euery day visited by all the Barrons and great Lords of the Realme who did congratulate with him for so famous a victorie Not long after the Danish Prince was carried out of the field sore wounded and wel nigh dead for griefe and shame cursing his bad fortune that he had not bene kild out right who although he was highly beholding vnto Alphonso for his life yet did he most tratierously conspire in his minde to murther him one way or other suffering himselfe rather to be transported with base reuenge then with sage reason or with honestie of the cause So Paris dastard-like surp isde with feruile feare Sware stout Achilles death to whom he hate did beare But the gallant Spaniard that ment nothing but well neuer suspected any such treacherie but rather that he had surely bound the Prince his enemie vnto him in good will seeing he had shewed him so great a kindnes as to gratifie him with his life A Sentence For so the right valiant man indeed iudgeth by his selfe that others are valiant like vnto him and he that is honest thinketh other men to beare as honest a minde as himselfe doth But all creatures are not framed of one kind of mettall or condition their passions and desires in louing being contrarie and diuers Nature greatly delighting and making proofe of her mightines and power by this diuersitie of humours Alphonso being recouered of his late wounds and very much longing to see his faire wife determined to take his iourney homewards of which his minde the malicious Dane hauing an inckling he taketh his leaue of the King in most dutifull manner making a shew as if he would take his iourney towards Denmarke riding a day or two onwards on his way and then turneth backe
poasting towards Alphonsos Castle where he and his companie being disguised lay in waite for the Spaniard not daring for his life to set vpon him nigh the Kings Court lest his villanre should be descried and he well punished for the same About some sixe daies after he was gone Alphonso leaueth the Court highly commended and much praised of euery one little suspecting any treason with a small traine following him when being now within two leagues of his Castle behold the vngratefull Dane and his attendants to come out of a little wood well armed at all points and to rush sodeÌ„ly vpon Alphonso who being of an excelleÌ„t spirit courage carried himselfe so brauely as before he caught his deaths wound the Prince was turned off from his horse starke dead vpon the ground by him who being the first that set vpon him But in the ende What can the valiant Hercules gainst oremuch force preuaile Couragious mindes will sooner die then yeeld themselues or quaile So our worthie Spaniard had rather be killed manfully then saue his life by base and ignoble flying away But after he had fought a long time hauing giuen vnto many their death wounds and receiuing many himselfe his enemies still hemming him in round about setting vpoÌ„ him with a fresh assault at the last he falleth downe dead from his horse which the villaines perceiuing and doubting lest they should be followed by the countrie they tooke vp the dead course of their Prince in hast lamenting this hard aduenture and setting spurres to their horse away they flew as fast as the winde being neuer heard of after Behold here one of Loues feâ—sts of a contrarie fashion vnto other bankets For his first dishes presented at the table are pleasant sweet and delightsome but his last course is bitter cruell wofull bloodie and full of murther His chiefest companion is quarrelling Mars neither doth he euer march without hauing with him either Rage Furie or Follie. Meane space some of Alphonsos men who as crauens retired apart when the skirmish was at the hottest seeing their enemies fled came backe againe where all the broile had bin longing to know how their Maister had sped whom they found with a thousand wounds well nigh bleeding through euery part of his bodie and lying amongst the thickest of his enemies which were slaine by his owne hand whereat they making most pittious mone began to search if there were yet any one sparke of life in in him or no At the last they hauing done their best indeuour to recouer him he began to come a little vnto himselfe againe when scarce being able to open his eyes dimd and damd vp with death his soule readie to flit from hence vnto a better world with a hollow voice he thratled forth these few words My dearest friends let me intreat you to shew me this fauour it being the last which I will euer hope or looke for at your hands to conuey this my martyred body vnto my faithfull spouse to the ende I may be so happie as once to see her and to bid her farewell More would I say but I am so faint I cannot His sorrowfull seruants yerning for very griefe and dissoluing themselues into salt teares cursing now though too late their cowardly running away carried his dying carkasse faire and softly towards his house To Cleopatra so Marke Anthònies dead coarse Was brought which she drew vp to her with wofull force O what a spectacle what a tragicke present and what a bitter encounter was this for miserable Iustina to meete withall who not long before had heard how happily and how valiantly her kind husband had conquered his enemie in the sight of all Spaine which good newes had filled all her spirits with an exceeding kind of pleasing ioy and comfort But alas what a change and alteration was this from the first matter Ah how much more is that misfortune liuely toucheth vs to the quicke which when we least thinke of it surprizeth vs altogether vnexpected we passing our time in iollitie and pleasure then such as we are prouided for when it commeth it being long since we looked for the same and therefore the better prepared to beare the burthen thereof Meane time the poore Ladie must needs tast this bitter potion beare as well as shee can this terrible clap of dismall thunder No sooner had she a sight of this dying coarse which she thought to be starke dead But that she tooke on as one distraught and quite out of their wits O faire haire before daintily curled how cruelly were you then torne But farre fairer face how wert thou bescratched and thou beautious brest how wert thou be bloodied So great was her anquish as she fell downe in a sowne vpon that bodie whom she so dearely loued embracing the same most tenderly it being that which she more accounted of then of any thing else in the world Thrise happie had she bin and not a little beholding vnto death if at that houre he had bereft her of life but her fortune was not so good for she was compelled to liue the longer because her paine should be the greater And now she being come vnto her selfe againe although it was a woful mirrour to behold his pale bloodlesse face his mangled flesh all to be sprinkled washed in his owne gore yet did she not sticke to kisse his wan and cold lips a thousand times and more whilst her teares serued her in steed of water to make cleane his wounds to wash away the blood and to solemnize his drerie Funerall with the same Carelesse of her health she lay long time vpon the wet ground whilst she held the coarse as pittifully in her lap as the kind nurse doth her little Infant in her armes neither did she remoue her sweet mouth from his but kept it still close thereon desirous to die as he had done Out alas alas cried she where am I who am I what do I see is it possible that I should yet breath hauing lost the onely life of my soule And you mine eyes are you so cruell vnto my health that you will abide to behold that which will force you to be more miserable and yet mine eyes my wofull eyes it is no shame to behold your best benefactor looke then on him your fill although pittilesse death hath closed vp his sight with an eternall sleepe But thou art dead for me my deare husband for my cause hast thou lost thy life and for no other O wretched iourney and most vnhappie that euer thou tookest in hand yet was it not death that slew thee No no death durst But it was I and euen I t' was I and none but I and I alone whome thou diddest thinke to be thy louing wife Ah sweete sweet Husband shall I be guiltie of this fault by murthering of my selfe which I haue committed against thee No no for my death cannot counteruaile thine Shall it be said that
soule if it were possible Why afflicting thy selfe thus doest thou adde more miserie vnto my paine If euer I haue merited anie thing at thy handes then I coniure thee by that most faithfull amitie I haue borne thee whilest I liued forbeare to lament or grieue any more And suffer I pray poore Alphonso to die quietly who accounteth himselfe most fortunate in that he seeth he dieth in thy good grace and fauour Most fortunare doeth he die hauing bene brought to his ende by base treason and not through braue valour hauing before reuenged himselfe of thy mortall enemie my deere and louely Ladie Now if I shall finde that thou seemest to enuie at my glorie shall I not then haue reason to complaine of thee to accuse thy friendship to thinke hardlie of thy promise and lastly to condemne thy most loyall Loue Alas Iustina wilt thou make mee so miserable as I shall heare my selfe to be the cause of thy death now I am dying Ah doe not that iniurie or wrong vnto him who hath loued thee dearer then the apples of his owne eyes How deerely and at what a high price doest thou sell to mee this last pleasure which I finde in dying before thy presence Diddest thou thinke Iustina when thou marriedst mee that thou hadst wedded some God or other that was immortall Deare heart Death is common and naturall to all men without sparing of any A Sentence we must all die at one time or another and if my dayes were shortned sooner then thou wishest what remedie canst thou finde against the will of the Heauens Then content thy selfe with my death without making me die againe through the vnpleasant report of thy ouerthrow Liue then liue long and happily to the end I may die the more pleasingly And here I most earnestly pray desire and adiure thee by our former mutuall loue by all our chast pleasures by our sacred band of wedlock and by the selfe-same affection which maketh thee so heauie and ioylesse for mine occasion seeke not to offer any violence vnto thy faire selfe after I am dead Speake my sweet Charge wilt thou giue me thy word as thou hast held me deare to hold this promise with me Ay mee I see thou disdainest to answere me as vnwilling to yeelde vnto this my last request Oh most disconsolate and comfortles my death And wilt thou then mine onely ioy refuse to graunt me this my last boone which I so earnestly begge of you Thou that for my sake art willing to leaue this world and who of late didst please to offer it vnto me to saue my life Be not so vnkinde now nor offer me this iniurie to refuse me in this point otherwise I protest I will curse my byrth my cruell Fortune and the froward Heauens themselues Speake then sweet Spouse for till then I forbid thee to touch my dying face and lippes Ah speake yet at length and I beseech thee be content with the hellish paines which I endure to leese thy companie without aggreuating any more my more then endlesse torments Ah cruell Husband replyed the pensiue Princesse what offence haue I done thee what iniurie haue I committed against thee and how haue I wronged the bands of our sacred marriage that thou shouldest forbid me thy presence Where is now the time in which thou hast so much desired to haue me about thee Where are those wonderfull caresses those sweet embraces and those affectionate kindnesses vsed vnto mee of late that thou shouldest now thus reiect condemne and disdaine me If I am vnworthy of thee then why diddest thou accept of me as thy companion and friend And if I haue not merited to follow thee then why hast thou ioyned my soule so strictly vnto thine Thinkest thou I would be thine liuing and would not be the same vnto thee after thou wert dead My deare Lord remember that since I first was wedded vnto thee I haue alwayes fulfilled thy commandement and that I serued and obeyed thee and thy will in all things In leiu of which perfect obedience graunt mee once what I shall desire of thee But if thou wilt not not onely be content to leaue mee a most wretched Creature after thy departure but also to make me more miserable wilt not permit me to follow thee then to render a new proofe of my great affection towards thee for the great good will I haue alwayes had to be dutifull vnto thee and to satisfie thy dying Spirit at this houre Behold I here vow not to lay any violent hands vpon my person but to attend with patience vntill it shall please the Destinies to call mee vnto thee from hence Then my kinde Loue answered the Knight let me embrace thee once againe cheerfully and let me kisse thee once more since thou art so pleasing vnto me O how much doe I acknowledge my selfe beholding vnto thee how blessed doest thou make my death and how willingly doe I depart from out this world And seeing thou hast made me this faithfull promise I most humblie beseech thee to haue alwayes in remembrance poore Alfonso thy loyall Husband Heauens graunt that if thou hast a minde to take a second choyce that thou mayest happen vpon such a one as may loue thee no worse then I haue done I feele my speech beginneth to faile me and death knocketh at my hearts doore to enter in Farewell my faire sweete louing kinde chaste and loyall wife Adieu my heart and life close vp these mine eyes and this my mouth which once was thine and cause my bodie to be carryed vnto his last home whilest I receiue for vowes thy plaintes thy teares for oblations and thy Faith for friendlie assurance That little land and wealth I haue I wholly bequeath vnto thee I will that all my goods whatsoeuer be thine although I doubt not but that thy vertues are able to purchase thee more great and precious riches Onely bestow a little peece of ground vpon his bodie who whilest he liued was vnworthy to enioy so gratious a Princesse as thy worthie selfe Farewell my good Friends and faithfull Seruants whom I desire and commaund to honour and make account of my deere Ladie and wife as you would of mine owne selfe if I were liuing whom I know will not be vnmindfull of you for your good seruices done vnto mee And cease you your womanish teares for not with effeminate teares but with shrill Trumpets and warlike Drummes the coarses of braue Souldiers are vsed to be conducted vnto their graues Once more farewell my sweete Princesse Remember what thou hast promised vnto mee and LORD receiue my soule into thy heauenlie King Alas this word Kingdome hee could not throughly pronounce Death with one stroke cutting off his voyce and his life both together at once But why hold I you so long with this Tragicall discourse or what should I report vnto you the vnspeakeable sorrowes of dispairing Iustina when shee saw her noble husband giue vp the last
gaspe in her armes I will now be briefe After the Princesse found Alfonso dead she remembred her plighted vowe vnto him and therefore sought neither venim sword nor ame other extremitie to ende her dayes but hauing sweetely embalmed his carkasse and placing it in a monument of Christall because she might the better behold it she neuer departed from the same vntill that after a certaine time what with hunger sorrow griefe she finished her wearie and loathed life Her fasting and weeping had so chaunged her as her neerest seruants and acquaintance scarce knew her Now had shee no more that sweete face for the beautie of which so many Princes had so often combatted and fought nor were her eyes such as had rauished so manie soules neither was her haire that passing golden haire whose tresses had serued for nets to catch and intrap the Courtliest and greatest hearts that liued And to be briefe she was no more that faire and louely Iustina who indeed had no need of such comely fauour when her onely desire was to die Her face and cheekes were now become pale and yeallow her eyes darke and sunke deepe into her head her haire fowle vnkempt and almost all torne off her breasts drie and leane her armes shrunke and brawnfallen her handes without flesh or whitenesse and finally shee resembled the very portraiture of a Ghost or rather of Death it selfe In this miserie did shee liue some fewe moneths when at the last perceiuing the date of her life to be expired she came vnto the Tombe where taking the embalmed carkasse vp and embracing it in her armes she vsed these pittifull speeches vnto it as followeth O sole remainder of all my good Fortunes O onely chiefe treasure of all my goods O sole pawne furuiuing of my true Loue the onely comfort I haue in these my languishing griefes and the goodly bodie which sometimes reuiued the faire soule inhabiting therein which now liueth in eternall glorie for euer To thee I appeale as the onely thing which I most loue honor and praise praying thee to assist me at mine ende and to beare witnesse with me that I haue kept promise most faithfullie As thou when thou diddest die wert willing that I should not malice or annoy thee at thy death So let not mine I pray thee be any way displeasing vnto thee All whatsoeuer thou diddest craue did I yeeld and accord vnto then blame me not if hauing performed what I protested I come vnto the Heauens to finde thee In thy life time I haue liued for feare to displease but now thou liuest no longer faire and beautifull Coarse and that I haue taken order for thy buryall what thinkest thou should keepe me heere any longer It is reasonable I should die seeing I can now no longer liue and that I goe to make a search for thee most chast soule in what place soeuer thou art Die then sorrowfull Iustina and leauing of to lament change these thy reares thy miseries and cares into this eternall repose where resteth thy husband quietly I haue liued but too too long and my miserable life hath bin too irkesome vnto me It is now more then high time to make an ende thereof and making an ende of my selfe to remoue my selfe vnto him who whilst he liued had commaund ouer my soule Thrise blessed Instina to be quit and rid of these vnspeakable torments to liue in euerlasting quietnes which is the onely hope of the miserable Let vs goe then let vs goe I humbly beseech that great God who as a iust Iudge of the innocencie of our hearts knoweth the secrets of our thoughts to open that sacred gate vnto me which he hath promised vnto his faithfull children This said she kissed the dead coarse of her husband againe giuing charge vnto her Gentlewoman to enterre and burie her body hard by his side that done she layeth her selfe along by the same which she still embraceth and hauing dressed her head and apparelled her selfe for the same purpose she rendied vp her spirit A spirit right meritorious and worthie of eternall glorie Her body according vnto her last will was buried in the selfe same sepulcre which she had caused to be made for her husband before Herewith Coribant held his peace being hindred to speake any more by reason of his teares teares which berest the others of their voyces who without being able to discourse any more one with another for that time departed euery one to their senerall homes so to passe away the darke and gloomie night As they were walking faire and softly onwardsvpon their way Arcas heard one sing this song following Loue fare thouwell liue will I now Quiet amongst the green-wood bow Ill betide him that loue seekes He shall liue but with leane cheekes He that fondly falles in Ioue A slaue still to griefe shall prooue Loue fare thou well liue will I now Quiet amongst the greene-wood bow What an Asse and foole is hee That may serue and will goe free In worlds not a wench so faire But I for my life more care Loue fare thou well liue will I now Quiet amongst the c. I like not these Dames so smooth As would haue men court and lous For as constant I them finde As the Sea is or the winde Loue fare thou well liue c. Once I lou'd one that was kinde But she did what pleasde her minde Better t is nere to be borne Then liue as anothers scorne Loue fare thou well liue well c. Then Loue thee I doe defie I hate thy bad dealing I He is a foole that liues in paine A toy so small for to gaine Loue fare thou well liue will I now Quiet amongst the greene-woodbow After the Shepheard had made an ende of this merrie Sonnet another came vnto them demaunding if some of the companie could expound his Riddle which he proposed in this manner Nor life nor vertue haue I lest I die I borrow of my buried trunke chiefe strength Though I am dead ore time yet triumph I Ore time that cuerie thing consumes at length What 's dead disdained is yet all affoord Me honour and their chiefe preseruers name All men may rightly call me their best Lord Since they Sans me the world cannot maintaine Yet though so much good doth from me proceed These thanklesse worldlings doe not sticke at all To cut me off in Summer with great speed And beate me into little powder small Yet had I rather cruelly thus perish Then liue a longer space for many time The season doth but badly oft me chearish Offering great hurt and wrong to vertue mine This Riddle was interpreted to be corne which being sowne in the earth and seeming dead casteth forth a greene blade and in time groweth to be ripe in despite of all stormes and foule weather whatsoeuer It nourisheth mankind and therefore is honoured of them as a father not forbearing for all that to reape him in Haruest to thresh and grinde
the Elect and chosen of God yet let vs behaue our selues so as we may be of the same meaning by these his words that if we list we may saue our selues Then ought I to fret and fume against the starres or murmure and repine against the Heauens themselues No God forbid since my faults and not they haue bene the authors of mine owne misfortunes Had I not sinned I had not felt the least touch of these troubles that thus torment mee I had not bene so wretched as to haue bene despoiled of that little mercie grace which I had of the Almightie I had not bene driuen from mine owne house banished from my Countrie exiled from the presence of my dearest friēds nor scourged with the sharp whip of extreme want and pouertie Neither had this my predestinated disaster which still followeth me vnto mine vndoing bene able to haue crost mee in all my designes as it doeth euen at this houre and will doe continually For alas how little would I esteeme of my losses and of mine exile since he cannot be termed a Bandite who is welcome amongst the wiser sort and who yet hath some friendes left him were it not for this my hard Destinie which as a ghastly Furie doeth still haunt and follow mee But I see I see as in a glasse my miserie to be such as it will neuer be separated from mee and I perceiue but too well that Destinies may be foreseeue but neuer can be preuented As the Shepheard was thus pittifully lamenting vnto himselfe behold hee might perceiue two terrible roaring Lyons to come directly towards the Caue wherein he had gotten himselfe it being the ordinary denne wherein they vsed to harbour which when hee saw he quickly started vp drawing forth his sword with intention to defend himselfe to make them buy his flesh dearely but they without so much as once offering to hurt him gently passed by him moued as I gesse with his more then wofull misery They being gone he came forth from his melancholike Cell and as he was walking thus alone the dolefull Nymph Orythia his old yet loyall Louer met him by chance who was comen euen into this wildernes to finde him out After she had saluted him shee intreated him to sit downe vpon a greene banke couered ouer with shadowing Cipresse and to heare a certaine Sonnet which shee had made in remembrance of him The Shepheard seeing no other remedie sitteth him downe promising the Nymph attentiucly to giue eare vnto her Dittie which shee most pitifully sung after this manner following Cruell mishap the Butcher of my life All thee except is mortall heere below Men are deaths foes with him are at strife And death is that which I doe couet so My tongue speaks what with hart agreeth best Death and laments is of my speech the sourse Ah iudge then if that I haue any rest Louing of euils all the very worse If damned soules without en ende alwaies Sharp plagues endure Alas I feele like paine A monstrous ill it is all his lifes daies To beare the brunt of ghosts in Limbo slaine And yet the damnd suffer for their offence Whilst I for doing good indure these woes The guiltie to complaine of ill wants sonse Wrongly to suffer patience makes to lose May not my plaints most iustly counted be In right the Heauens of crueltie t' accuse What good ere found I O yee Gods to mee Vniust yee slay vs yet to heare vs yee refuse Without enfeele of pleasure or of ioy With anguish you our vitall spirits fill Enforcing vs to entertaine annoy So what 's good leaues vs whilst we take the ill Thus gainst your fierce and more then sharpe Alarms Wee sickly soules too weake must harden strong Our selues and for to helpe vs in our harmes Wee hope in vaine the more our selues to wrong Alack Cowards that flie and followed are orefast Small leisure haue or none their Armour off to cast The Nymph hauing ended this her mournfull Musicke with a deepe sigh fet from the bottome of her heart began thus to wooe the Shepheard O how iustly doe the powers aboue afflict thee seeing thou so cruellie doest torment others Is it not most meete and reasonable that as we sowe so we should reape and as we haue measured vnto others so wee should looke for the like measure againe LOVE maketh thee die without depriuing thee of life whilst thou forcest the selfe-same Loue without killing me to torment me most cruelly Ay mee what strange kinde of Frenzie doeth trouble thy soule Thou refusest the friendship of one that is immortall to seek after the loue of a worldlie beautie which is subiect vnto death fortune and chaunge wherein thou doest shewe a sufficient signe of the error of men who follow that that flieth from them leauing the best and accepting of the worst And if they committing so grosse an absurditie feele themselues to be plunged in the gulfe of most bottomles griefes by the Heauens A Sentence should they therefore complaine lament He that hath wounded himselfe can accuse none for his hurts but his own selfe and the prodigal child that hath through his foolishnes consumed all his wealth may blame or thank no bodie but his owne meere follie Why doest thou not accept of that present which willingly offereth it selfe vnto thee why doest thou endure so many miseries to obtaine that which thou wilt neuer be able to purchase Is not hee vnwise that whilst the storme lasteth leaueth the drie house in which he was in to runne to seeke another farther off and in the meane time is subiect vnto the bitternes of the Tempest And is not he a foole who leaueth a thing certaine and present to take what is vncertaine and doubtfull Well may hee bee counted to murther himselfe that refuseth what is profitable vnto him whilest he vainely seeketh and yet to no purpose what he is likely neuer come by Loue then sweet Shepheard loue her that dearely liketh thee No small punishment doe they deserue A Sentece who hate such as loue fancie them in as much as friēdship being not forced but rather comming of his owne accord deserueth a recompence no lesse then that gift which departeth from a franke and liberall free minde doeth merit thankes because it is not forced any way Then I say doest thou not loue her who esteemeth of thee more then of her owne selfe whilst thou more sauadge and fierce then the cruell Tygers who loue their matches doest refuse the amitie of thine equall euery way that sacred amitie so much accounted of both by Gods and men Ah change thy selfe-will and stubborne minde hard hearted swaine as thou art and call to remembrance what dangers I haue passed what hazards I haue trauersed and how many countryes I haue runne through to find thee out resoluing with my selfe neuer to leaue him who hath my heart and carrieth the same within his brest alwayes But
with thee and is not this thinkest thou the still Cell where heauie sleepe remaineth and the dreadfull lodge of the fuskie daughters of blacke Night Hither did Iuno come to finde out drousie Slomber shee as then abiding here when she wrought so cunningly that she cast Iupiter into a dead sleepe whilst she in the meane while fauoured the Grecians in battaile who before that time had bene forsaken both by her Brother and her Husband Heere did Pluto hide his deare beloued Proserpina before he conueyed her into Hell And heere Aeneas vnderstood the Oracle of Sibilla which was his sufficient warrant to descend downe vnto the pitchie kingdome of the youngest sonne of Saturne If this place be agreeable vnto thy mind then onwards with that which I haue so earnestly vrged thee to bewray faile not to perform as much as thou hast promised vnto him who will shew what testimonies possible may be of a gratefull mind towards thee With all my hart replyed kinde Arcas for it is no losse nor trauaile to seeke to discharge and satisfie such as wee are bound or beholding vnto there being no remedie but we must needes one way or other cleare with them who are our Creditors and vnto whom we are obliged Let vs then sit downe reuerend Father giue mee leaue to take breath for a while to the ende I may call to minde and knit vp the broken threed of this my last discourse with you For already haue I told you if you haue not forgotten the same how Loue against reason and iudgement had quenched the affection I bare to Iulietta mine enforcing me in steede of the other to affect my Diana as the Smyth maketh his coales more hotter by flinging water vpon them And to say truth what is hee that could not haue bene ouertaken by her faire feature For if there had bene exception taken against the beautie of the Goddesse of beautie as did Pallas and Iuno no doubt the Phrygian Shepheard had yeelded the prize vnto her and had not needed to haue trauersed the Seas to bring away Heliene because she was lesse faire then shee By her onely Zerxis had bene able to haue drawne the counterfait of Iuno through which hee thought to make himselfe to become admirable and diuine without drawing together so manie faire women of Crotona as hee did to borrow from euery one of them such beautie as they had This then so much inflamed my heart at euery word shee spake in her daunce seemed a swift dart which thwirled into my soule euery step she moued in the measures An Example proued a firebrand to burne my heart withall Whilst shee minding her dauncing neuer marked me nor once so much as cast her sight vpon mee except it were by great chaunce Great personages hauing their mindes busied about matters of importance seldome or neuer wouchsafe to looke or to behold miserable persons which are altogether vnprofitable vnto them Meane space Loue lying in waite let not the least of her looks fall vnto the ground but that with the same he pierced and through pierced my soule as a young childe giueth a thousand pricks vpon a peece of paper in which hee would set out the shewe or resemblance of some figure or shape What should I say I forgot euery thing onely to thinke vpon her and to marke if peraduenture she did cast her eyes vpon me and like a foole as I was I flattered my selfe made my conceit belieue that she perceiued my meaning and that she would take some pittie of my disease construing and interpreting all her gestures and glaunces vnto mine owne aduantage not vnlike that fond Captaine that dreameth he hath vanquished his enemies giuing the spoyle away before he hath wonne the field But O how much was I deceiued I when the daunce was ended seeing her A Similie where I stood to goe on the other side where I stood retiring as it were her selfe fat from me Yet was I so foolish for all that that I thought she vsed this pollicie to the ende she might bleare the eyes of the rest and conceale the great good will shee bare me as if she had had a great care of me when as God knoweth she was far off from the same Thus Desire causeth Louers to interprete euerie thing to the best and for their owne conceits imagining that they cannot loue but that they must needes be loued againe But Phedra loued the chast Hippolitus yet was not shee beloued againe An example Apollo loued Daphne yet found no requitall at her handes and Myrrha doted vppon her owne Father yet could neuer obtaine what she so much requested Notwithstanding all this Loue grewe so extreamely within me as he beganne to make me couragious and bolde as that Captain which taketh into his grace his enemie whom he hath ouercom putteth newe life and valour in him So I would not giue ouer nor play the coward in this extreame perill but as a second Theseus began to deuise how I might draw my selfe out of this intricate Labyrinth wherevpon plucking vp my heart and setting a good face vpon the matter I aduentured to approach and to come nigh my faire mistrisse O diuine force of LOVE how great his puissance is Being a farre off from her I was hardie and bolde I made reckoning that I had gotten her I deuised sundry sorts of speeches which I meant to deliuer vnto her and began to grow proud in my gesture wordes and countenance But no sooner came I neere vnto her but that I was another kinde of man quite changed and altered hauing in steed of my former brauados and bragging conceits feare and respect awfull dutie and graue reuerence entred into my minde all which tooke possession of my heart so that I was as timerous as could be not knowing what to doe So Casar staied a long time doubting about the passage of Rubicon although before he was throughly determined to wade through it An Example I then might haue bene compared vnto that miserable creature who calleth for death prayeth and most earnestly vrgeth death to come and to carrie him away With a good will faith death behold me here ready but when the poore wretch seeth him he is astonied amazed and terrified wishing rather his roome then his companie So soemed it that death had feazed vpon me I being so confounded vpon the suddaine that I knewe not whether I had anie hart life or sence within me or no. The Foole perceiueth not his owne follie which the wiser sort take notice of because they are wise A Sentence So I being taken with this new desire which had blinded as well the eyes of my bodie as of my minde tooke no knowledge of my foolish carriage onely being rauished with the faire contemplation of my sacred Goddesse I neuer thought of any thing but how to stare her still in the sweete face O how hard are the entraces in to Loue where
faire and diuine throughout the world But as mortall men deserue norecompence from the heauens vntill they haue by thousand good proofes testified the faithfull and dutifull seruice towards them So I will not presume to importune you to affect me at all much more to yeeld me any guerdon for my paines vntill that by infinites of dutious deuoyres I shew myselfe insome part worthy of your gratious seruice which hath bound me so firmely vnto your peerlesse beautie Mine onely request vnto you is that it would please you to haue me in your louely remembrance and not to entertaine any other as your loyall seruant before you shall haue iust occasion to discard and giue me ouer For as no doubt it will be little pleasing vnto you hereafter to repent you that ye haue made a worse choyse than of my selfe so will it be farre more bitter vnto me than a most desperate death to be discharged from seruing her whom I loue more then mine owne heart and cherish more then mine owne life yea then mine owne soule which is now wholy yours seeing that he that is owner of the same is the inuiolable slaue vnto your incomparable beauties DON HORATIO Izabella for so was her name not acquainted with the humour of Loue as she iested at his amorous passion so did she scoffe at his Letter making no account either of the one or the other But as Cremona and Mantua were giuen by Augustus the Emperour as a spoyle vnto his men at Arius and Souldiers because they had taken part against him holding with his enemie the inhabitants thereof being driuen from thence and hardly entreated and as such Subiects of that Prince are worse vsed and with farre more rigour and crueltie who proue Rebles vnto him then those which haue bene alwaies faithfull and true Euen so such proud audatious and disdainfull harts who at the first make no account of Loue and refuse his yoke most stubbornly are more fiercely plagued after they are once taken downe and conquered then those who betimes submit themselues vnto this seruitude accustoming themselues by little and little to support and beare this bondage patiently of which Sabella may be a sufficient witnesse as ere long you shall heare Horatio was then forgotten as the Infant that hath forgotten his lesson which was taught him and his Letter torne in peeces which afterwards the proud Virgin bought at a high rate Meane space as two Riuers which mingle themselues together A comparison enuiron a whole countrie and became a little Sea And as the fire being blowne with two paire of Bellowes kindleth more then when it hath but one So Don Horatio pricked forward by valour and Loue began to doe incredible matters against the Infidels of Affrica So that he became to be famous in euery mans mouth there being no talke but onely of his worthie and valiant exployts Izebella hearing him to be thus praised marking how the King himselfe with all his chiefe Martialists did highly commend him began by little and little to grow gentle and milde As the hard Diamond becommeth soft put into the blood of a Goat and that great Masse and lumpe of crueltie of hers beganne to waxe more kinde and to breake in sunder as the Snow falne thicke vpon the top of a hill at the shining of the Sunne melteth and droppeth away to nothing in small time But yet these light motions were not sufficient nor strong enough for Loue whereon he might build a firme foundation he knowing the presence and the speech of the braue Portingall Knight would doe more good then all these which were no other then castles built in the aire or conceits framed by an idle head they passing away as the clouds do poste from one to another in the firmament Not long after newes was brought vnto the Court for certaine that Horatio had wonne a notable victorie of the King of Fesse kild many of his enemies and gotten a notable rich bootie and spoyle amongst which was taken prisoner a maruailous faire Ladie sister vnto the Barbarian King married vnto the Lieftenant of that countrie Izabella who cared not much whether she lost Horatio or no before these newes because she made no great account of him began now to doubt that this captiue Dame would take her conquerour prisoner robbing her of that which she refused to take for her owne so as now she began to wish for to haue him playing as young childrē doe who after they haue resused some certaine thing begin to grieue mightily when they see the same giuen vnto others and this was the cause she now began to wake and looke about her Diuers strange and prodigious are the effects of Loue which maketh me thinke that Force onely not Venus was his mother and that Dispaire first begot him for he doth nothing but violently not vnlike vnto the thunder-bolt which neuer tumbleth downe vpon the ground but it breaketh one thing or another But now Horatio laden with fame with spoyles and with prisoners returneth home to Portingall vpon whome euerie one casteth his eye whom euerie man doth highly commend and vnto whome all degrees whatsoeuer doe vse much dutious respect and humble reuerence The King himselfe doth him great grace entertaining him with high commendations giuing him many kind thanks for his so valorous honourable carriage against his enemies yet notwithstanding all these fauours he rather chose to haue had one amorous glaunce from his Mistris then all these Royall curtesies He seeth himselfe honoured by the King made much of by the Nobles respected by the inferiour sort and to be accounted of and commended by euery bodie Nothing wanteth for the perfection of his glorie He cannot wish for more then he hath nor desire more then is alreadie attributed vnto him yet neuerthelesse he maketh no account of all these his good fortunes no more then that man doth who enioy a most pretious and inestimable Iewell disdaineth and refuseth other little rich stones although they be much valued and accounted of by other The onely presence of his Ladie was that which pleased his minde and the least sweet looke cast from her smiling countenance bred more contentment in him then all the honours and entertainments whatsoeuer Euerie man hath a particular affectection that gouerneth him and some one thing which he esteemeth more then all the rest to enioy which he accounteth his chiefe glorie pride and contentment in this world despising all whatsoeuer else might happen by any other meanes vnto him Some delight in greedie couetousnes some in renowmed Chiualrie some in aspiring ambition and the most part in hote and furious Loue. Nothing pleaseth these kind of men but onely what is affected through these things not esteeming ought to be good or allowable which commeth any other way although it be profitable praise-worthie and faire And this was our Portingall Knighs conceit who now was growne into such credit in the court with the
still in such base and abiect seruitude and bondage These speeches did the cunning Curtezan vse sepatheticallie sending forth so manie sighes and teares to accompanie the same that as I gesse the rightfull God to reuenge poore Izabellas wrongs did so much animate the strength and courage of the Moore her husband that as one desperate with rage and iealousie hee most furiouslie runneth with all his Troupes vpon the Portugall Armie whome as a Thunder or Lightning hee ouerturneth so that the Christians doe what they could were ouerthrowne and had the worse Which when Horatio percelued he as a wise and politike Capitaine beganne with aduantage to retire vntill such time as the foresaid diuellish Moore came where hee was who with his wife set vpon him where Horatio slue them both whilst in this conflict ouer pressed with numbers of Souldiers hee was strucken downe and thrust through with a Iaueline where he lost both force and life together So died the companions of Machabeus An example being slaine by the fword who were found charged with Thefts and Robberies So by the decree of God those chiefe men and heads ouer the people of the lewes were hanged vp because they caused the other to commit Idolatrie and leaue their Creator So was the periurde Zedechias forced to die in prison hauing his eves pulled our and his children slaine before his face And so perished Ioconias and diuers others iustlie punished by the holie one of Israel For Iustice diuine neuer giueth ouer from doing right And if it be slowe in comming yet doth the crueltie of the punishment make amends for the deferring of the same Meane time the Portingales gathered themselues againe into battaile array and followed their enemies with so hote a pursuite as they at the last recouered and brought backe againe the bodie of their Capitaine ouer which the Moores meant to haue triumphed So for the bodie of Achilles deere friend slaine The Greekes and Troyans hand to hand doe fight amaine Hardly did these Infidels let the bodie goe skirmishing oftentimes with their foes for the same yet neuerthelesse in despite of them all the Portingales gote it away and brought it with them which as yet breathed and had some little life within it But sorrowfull newes were these vnto heauy Izabella who hoped that at the ioyfull returne of her husband all should be well as shee her selfe could wish But man purposeth and God disposeth man hopeth of one thing but God doth quite contrarie to that which he supposeth So Senacherib thinking to conquer was himselfe conquered and the Iewes who thought themselues to be quite ouerthrowne came in the end to be victors So proud Goliah was slaine contratie vnto his owne conceit and to the opinion of all men So Amon was hanged neuer any thinking he should haue died such a shamefull death And Mardocheus who was condemned to be slaine was honoured deliuered And so it fell out with this vncomfortable Ladie who hoping to see her husband to come home well and safe vnto her and to repent him of his former follies found him to be slaughtered and dead without life or soule O cruell mutation change truth it is that she before had heard by certaine of her husbands Souldiours that had escaped out of the field that the Portugalls had lost the day but yet knew she nothing of his death And yet euen then a cold feare ran all about her heart whilest she sore suspecting the worst prophesied within her selfe that it was true and that she had lost her husband and not not long after her doubt was confirmed but with too too true a proofe when the rest of his band brought his coarse into the citie vnto her where she was and when so denly at the sight thereof she sounded it being long before they could get life in her againe whilest in the meane space Horatios mangled carkasse was laid in a bed God giuing him so much time of repentance as he craued mercie of him and of all the world for his bad life whilest all that small time as he so lamēted his sinnes his faithfull Souldiours with sad teares wonderfully lamented the losse of so noble a Generall vnder whom they had alwaies remained vanquishers So Greckes did waile Achilles death of great renowne So Troyans Hector moande chiefe Fortresse of their towne Great Machabeus one of the Nine WORTHIES was neuer more lamented amongst his men of warre than he was amongst the Portugalls whom he had so often brought home victorious ladē with forraigne spoyles into their countrie Who then perceiuing himselfe to drawe nigh vnto his end desired to talke with his wife that he might take his latest leaue of her But now what is he that can lend mea Sea of Inke to set downe the grieuous passions and the insupportable sorrowes of his pittifull wife Where shall I find a pen of Iron to paint forth her lamentable speeches And what paper is sufficient to receiue in writing the number of her more then sad and heauie complaints To hers was the woes of Niobe nothing at all Nothing the griefes of Hecuba nothing those of Portia nor those of chast Lucretia compared vnto hers With much adoe was she brought vnto the bed for goe she could not for very faintnes weakenes where her repētant husband was giuing vp the Ghost who so soone as he beheld her O griefe O loue O pittie O heauie spectacle that it was to see this heauie meeting such as like was neuer seene before the poore dying soule beginning in his death to affect and loue her more entirely then euer he had hated her before whilest thrusting forth his dying armes with seeble force to embrace her and laying his cold lips vpon hers with a hollow faultring voyce he began thus to speake as well as he could O fortunate day in which poore Horatio dieth reposing himselfe at ease in the bosome of his Izabella O my chaste and sweet Ladie must I needs die leauing after my death so foule a fault as thou shalt haue cause to complaine of me as the authour of all thy griefes whatsoeuer No way am I able to make thee any reasonable satisfaction neither know I how sufficiently to make amends for so hainous and so detestable an offence as I haue committed against thee which the iust God hath reuenged vpon me for thy sake and according as I deserued But sweet wife if as yet there remaineth any one small sparke of that rare and loyall Loue thou hast heretofore borne me and if iust griefe and rightfull disdaine hath not quenched it all and quite put it out then by the selfesame affection and fancie I pray desire and beseech thee most humbly to pardon me this once and not to be the cause that miserable Horatio should goe into his graue with great anguish and exceeding bitternes of his soule This pardon as I hope for of thee so doe I expect it at thy hands crauing in the
vnto his il-willers in as much as his obligation is like to be forfaited the summe neuer likely to be paide when hee shall receiue so great a benefite of his enemie who is least bound to doe the same good vnto him of all others Thus saide the sorrowfull Arcas who hauing ended his discourse was chosen as ludge betweene the old man and the Knight about their first Argument But when he vnderstood how these Pirats of the Seas changed so lately into Trees and bruit beasts and would haue offered violence vnto the faire Shepheardesse hee then gaue his Censure that they were worthily punished confirming this his Decree to stand as authenticall in the presence of the Shepheardesse her selfe whom hee presently knewe to be loucly Delia who was not a little comforted and reuiued when shee so happily found Arcas and other her olde acquaintance in this place Euen as banished persons cheare themselues in their exile beeing maruellouslie ioyfull when in a straunge land they met one with another Wherevppon the Shepheard demaunded of her the cause of her comming into this vncoth Desart and by what chaunce shee came thither As also the reason why these cruell lawlesse persons did pursue her with their naked swordes in such a straunge manner And therewithall they sat downe vpon a greene banke placing the Nymphe in the middest of them who began to tell this sad Tale following Not long since there was a certaine Noble man of an Island Delia the Shepherdesse reporteth a strange history who became amorous of a goodly Maid she being the onely child he had This Damosell had vowed her selfe vnto the seruice of the Goodesse Iuno Which her Father not knowing of pursued her the more eagerly she still denying and flying from him as much as she could calling vpon her Mistris to assist and helpe her One day amongst others hee found her at such an aduantage as he attempted by force to rauish her which shamefull deed was repugnant against all reason honor and honestie The Virgin not knowing what to doe resisted and cried out imploring for the aide of Iuno who seeing such vnnaturall vsage of a Father vnto his owne Child delayed no longer to helpe her For as the lustfull Lord thought to haue embraced his daughter and to haue had his pleasure of her in steed of holding a liuing bodie in his armes he found a cold and senslesse image of white Marble The Goddesse Iuno hauing chaunged her faithfull seruant into this liuelesseforme to preserue her chastitie vndefiled The Father wonderfully amazed at this matter but more sadde and heauie was he as well for the losse of his onely childe whom he loued as his owne soule as also to see that he was depriued from enioying of that contentment which hee hoped of was readie in a manner to kill himselfe for verie meere griefe and vexation when vppon the suddaine he found out that the Maid had vowed herselfe vnto Iuno and that that Goddesse to the ende to frustrate him of his will had turned her into this colde forme of Marble Which when he knew madde for rage and griefe against Iuno it being not the dutie of any creature to murmure or bandie against the Celestiall powers he runneth vnto the Altar plucking downe her Image and breaking it in a thousand pieces The Goddesse being iustly moued with this outrage prouoked her husband Iupiter likewise against him who tooke this iniurie done vnto his wife in as hainous a manner as if it had bene done vnto himselfe and therefore to reuenge the same he sent an infectious pestilence into this Iland of which all the land in a manner died The cruell Lord being the first man that was punished with the same whilst those fewe that remained aliue fledde presently out of that Countrey shifting as well as they could to saue themselues and came to inhabit in a certaine barren and fruitlesse foyle not farre off from their owne But after they had some fewe yeares bene tired with their banishment and as wearie of this hungrie and vnpleasant place where they did bide desiring and longing to see the smoake of their olde Chimneys they ventured to returne back againe into their owne Countrey where no sooner were they setled but the same pestilent disease beganne afresh to seaze vpon them taking them away as fast as euer it had done before Wherevpon they sent vnto the Oracle of Apollo to know how they might be freed of this plague who returned them answer that to appease the wrath of Iuno they must sacrifice a young Virgin vnto her shee being euery way as faire in beautie as that Virgin was which Iuno had chaunged into a picture of Marble They heating this began to bethinke themselues what they should doe in this case for their Iland brought forth no such comely creatures and therefore they determined to scoure all the Coasts neere about to see if they could finde anie such Now after the damnable Fiend Discord with her breath like brimstone her wings like a Dragon and her pawes all of fire had driuen that gratious and goodly companie out of the sweet Groues of Arcadia euery one highing him vnto his owne home after the death of that valiant Lord Phillis so much bewailed and lamented of euery one I alone amongst the rest resolued with my selfe not to stirre one foote from thence but to take my Fortune patiently as it should happen not vnlike vnto a Lamb that is reserued for Sacrifice In the meane time Report had blasted abroad the beautious faces of all our Shepheardesses which sometime were biding in this happie Desart carrying the same tyed vnto his wings brought it vnto the eares of the men of this cruell Hand who no sooner heard it but that they took shippe minding to take one of the fairest Maidens there and to sacrifice her vnto the Goddesse of Riches Comming then a shore vpon our Iland and not finding any more to please their fancie then my poore selfe they tooke me perforce and brought me prisoner into their ship hoping that I should be a remedie to mittigate the anger of the Goddesse and not because I was saire enough for their purpose But such as desire any thing are contented with little Like vnto right Gamesters who rather then they will be excluded from play will play at small stakes and holde the candle vnto the rest So they imagined any beautie were it neuer so simple would serue well enough for their turne and purpose I seeing my selfe thus taken like vnto a sillie Partridge seazed vpon by the gryping Faulconer and sore doubting what the other Virgin feared lifting vp my deawy eyes vnto the heauens I made mine humble and hartie prayer vnto the Almightie to assist me in this extremitie and to deliuer me out of the hands of these monsters whom I doubted sore because of mine honor And no sooner had I made intercession vnto him but hee as a most mercifull Father heard my prayers gaue eare
excepting such a Day When they are sure their Mistresses that they enioyen may Their beautious presence is their Sunne it is their brightest Sunne Their absence is their darkest Night through which they are vndone The earthly glorie of the bodie is the Sunne and Light But of our mindes the cleare day is faire beautie shining bright And this they reuerently adore The Essence of the soule Is farre more excellent then that of bodie sans controle Beautie attendeth on the soule the Sunne on bodie waites The Sunne for worth to beautie then must yeeld in all conceit This makes the Swaine most earnestly to listen with his eare If he the rising of his Starre can see for to oppeare The smallest blast of winde or leafe that bloweth in any wise The Shepheard hearts and at the noyse thereof strait vp doth rise He look th wist I round about and thinkes her for to see Her that doth force him vnto Loue a seruite slaue to bee Now doth he thinke that forth her house she is comming vnto him And now he iudgeth in his minde she is hard at hand agin He counteth how sarre off she is then vp he starts on feete And forward runnes to see if he her on the way can meete But now lest by some odde by-way she comes he feares againe And then he pensiue sit him downe recounting of his paine At last though long it be she comes more louely then the Morne When rising an her glorious pride shee Thetis couch doth scorne Softly she comes with Snaile-like pace and to her selfe doth speake Whilst feare for losse of her good name makes her looke pale and bleake And as she is comming in her walke in midst of thickest wood She more then often stayeth her steppes and doubting so she stood Halfe ready to turne backe to breake her promise that was past For honor which full deare she held such doubts did make her cast But Loue then on the other side and beautie of the Swaine A thousand new desires afresh did breathe in her againe He tâ—lleth her she is bound to keepe the Oathe she made of yore Although that no account is made what eger Louers swore For LOVE himselfe doth mocke and iest to see how Louers sweare Louers but none else doe dispence with Oaths withouten feare In th' end the Nymph arriueth at th' appointed Christall spring Where pensiue Cloridan doth walke his thoughts still cannesing Sometimes he lay vpon the ground with Flowers bedyapred Where Stella but the day before herselfe with sleepe had fâ—d One while he rose and then to lay him downe you might him finde Now this he did now that for Louers troubled are in minde Thus being out of hope he spies the sight that likes him most Which make new ioy in euery part throughout his Coarse to cost Quickly he runnes to her her hands to kisse he soone is prest Whilst with a thousand sorts of Flowers he beautifieth her brest She seeing these two forward prancks her face with blushing didâ— Whilst in her selfe for this she heares how honor doth her chide Aduising her to reprehend him and his leande demeanor And that before she yeeld she should resigne her liues sweete Tenor. But Cupid makes her change her minde The Shepheards beautie faire Mikes her ore-bold and from her minde abandoneth all care She is resolude to vse him kinde nor with him to finde fault But him embraceth in sweete wise who her in acmes had caught Now all respect of honor and all feare of future shame By power of Loue were banished who her had ouercome Loue onely is her chiefest choyse her honor and her pleasure The Shepheards will her readie wish her ioy and her chiefe treasure But in the end to couer this their ouer-amorous rage Betweene themselues they plight their faith and promise Mariage The witnesses were Loue the Spring and many colloured Flower And thousand pretie chirping Birds there present at that hower All which with cheerfull warbling Note Hymen Hymen sing And with the ECCHO of the same the woods made for to ring Whilst in meane time our Louers twaine within a bottome low Of a close valley where no light scarce in the day did showe Did reape the long de for fruits of Loue both equall in desire Which readie was to burne their harts with more then vncoth fire That done on many Beechen Trees and Rocks and many a Caue They enter last their names together and finely them did graue Loue knots they make on euery twig and Garlands passing gay They hang thereon whilst pleasantly they passe the time away Thus for a while their hap was blest and sweet their destinie Their mariage sweeter and this held a tweluemonth very nigh Nor at this space they thought as much as once of time to come The present time was onely that which in their minds did runne Poore soules they iudge the heauens had not power to doe them ill Thinking this hunnie Moone with them thus would continue still But all things that are mortall here doe change as doth the time Pleasure none sooner 's come then gone scarce leauing any signe Loue as a Feather's quickly lost are wauering and light As sodenly as in our brest conceiu'd t is through delight A small thing spoyles and hinders it The twinkling of an eie The ioyes of any Louer soone can make to vade and die Witnesse these twaine whom Cupid thought liu'd pleasantly ore long Gainst whom th' enuious heauens sore conspirde to doe them wrong Through which the partiall Planets wrought their ouerthrow to bee And with a generall consent did of their death decree For still the far all destinies by Gods aye ordered Whilst by their sharpe Edicts gainst men they cut their liues not thred Like Potters they doe play with men who if they please their Pot They breake which they doe make and if they list they breake it not But now to let this passe one day faire Stella did arriue Burning with amorous paine vnto the wonted fountaine blithe And there expecting Cloridan her friend she doth repose Who was as yet for early t' was from out his bed scarce rose Looking for him who did not come she watcht and staid so long That at the last on greeuish turffe she fell in slumber strong Meane time the lucklesse Aridon in extreame Loue that fride Who so much more the flame for to encrease within him tride By how much Cloridan he saw expelling care and Dole To haue the hap to quench his fire in pleasures fountaine coole Dogs her as she doth goe from home resoluing in his hart To die or else by violence to ease him of his smart The friendship of his friend which he did hold most deare of late Regard to offend the honour of his dame who him did hate Faire honestie nor conscience all these his hot desire Bridle could not but furious he would to his will aspire Whilst thus he thinkes behold he comes whereas most pleasingly Yeelding
as t were her selfe he finds his cruell enemie Which when he saw Reason and Faith as franticke he neglects And as one void of sense from him each good thought he reiects As on the fearefull Hunts-man pale the wounded Lionesse Bleeding apace with egerforce for to reuenge doth presse So this same Sauadge Louer hot this Ladie rauisheth Whilst she vnhappie lieth a sleepe as one withouten breath He doth abuse her whilst to wake she doth as t were begin Yet she in such dead slumber was as ope her eies not bin With sleepe as then she was opprest with sleepe most miserable That euer after made her life and fortune lamentable Still Aridon she kisseth and most kindly doth embrace For she God wot dreamd Cloridan had bene there in that place Whilst in meane time but in ill houre doth Cloridon arriue And viewes that sight which for to see his soule doth him distiue He seeth how Aridon in spite of him doth him misvse Who is his Spouse betroth't and whom none but himselfe should vse He seeth how Stella being deceiu'd his face doth sweetly kisse Whilst through her eyes as yet not ope mistooke she fowly is Like as the Traueller in strait and narrow way doth spie A hissing Serpent for to come towards him on him to flie Or as with crie most horrible his passage to defend A hideous Dragon makes to him and rollings forth doth send Whilst trembling through pale chilly feare ready to giue vp Ghost He backward turnes nor dares he passe whereas he wisheth most So Cloridon with wofull griefe with frantike Iealousie With rage mixt with despitefulnes and burning frenesie Is vexed so in inward soule that he in desperate wise With sorrow madde now here now there rowles vp and downe his eyes Shame and sadde griefe so seaze on him as he flings thence away Nor can he bide in that bad place there longer for to stay Stamping and cursing vp and downe he runnes about the ground Seeking himselfe through vncoth meanes of life for to confound Resolude he is to die sith that his Dame he held so chaste Another loues not him whereby her selfe she hath defaste But now when gracelesse Aridon the Nymph had thus deceiu'de He flieth away so fast as he of her is not pâ—rceiu'de Which made her soone to ope her eyes when by her seeing none Frighted she leapeth vp and stands as still as any stone In pittious wise shee lookes about her selfe so for to ease Yet nothing could she see but what her sight did more displease Her dearely loued Cloridon on whom she oft doth call She cannot spie for to appeare or answere her at all One while she thinkes he hides himselfe that for him she should seeke Another while that he is gone to hunt where he doth leeke And then againe poore soule she thinks that she hath bene deceiu'de And that the same she could not see through sleepe of sight bereu'de She thinks if he who was with her had bene her Cloridon He would not her haue left so soone nor so soone from her gone Thus troubled in her minde with feare she sits her downe alone Whilst of her louely Shepheard she doth stay the comming home Each houre a yeare seemes to her and his staying ouer-long Makes her to doubt all is not well and that somewhat is wrong She weepes and wailes she taketh on and screecheth out full sore But had she knowne his hard estate she would hane wailed more This gaules her still yet Cloridon comes not all that same day The cause that thousand torments doe her tender hart assay Wofull she sits like Niobe teares streaming from her runne Whilst of her vtter ouerthrow she doth presage to come The euening come she home retires yet all the night no winke She sleepeth onely of her Swaine of him she still doth thinke That which had past the day before encreaseth more her woes This runnes still in her minde nor what to say thereof she knowes Feare so doth trouble her as scarce the day appeard in sight And that Aurora had expeld the darknesse of the night But vp she gets and euery where seeketh her Swaine to finde As is the youthfull Hart sought out by his beloued Hinde Her husband Cloridon she seekes and searcheth all about She looketh for him in the woods and thickets all throughout A thousand times she too and fro vnto the Spring doth runne To see if he by chaunce as was his wont were thither come But when she doth not finde him there she then misdoubts the worst Of some mischaunce that hapned is and counts her selfe accurst Yet for all this she giues not ore although shee 's in dispaire She trotttëth still she searcheth still and prieth here and there The name of Cloridan she oft repeateth and doth call Yet none except the ECCO shrill doth answere her at all Ah what sharp griefs and passions sad to vexe her did she proone Before that she her Cloridan found well-nigh dead through loue Who wearie for to languish as sorrowes seruile slaue With his owne sword a mortall wound within his body gaue After he had a thousand times blamde his disloyall Dame Accursed Loue as most vniust hating his amorous flame Within the bottome of a Rocke beset with gloomy wood Sprawling he lay along in midst of his warme purple blood And yet his breath was not quite gone though froÌ„ his deadly word Through floods of goare that streamde from thence his scalding sighes were drownd Death him consumde griefe for loue him kilde thus twise he dide His paines aboue all possions were that did such pangs abide From his sadeyes the limbecks wet of sorrow did distill Such store of teares as all the place with water they did fill His heauie grones his endlesse sighes that came his teares betwixt His luke-warme blood that with the moysture of his eyes was mixt Of his laments most dolorous the onely witnesse were And those hard Rocks which curteous then retolde what they did heare Bus now that haplesse Stella many times prooued had And that she Gloridan did finde in this estate so bad She straight-waies sownding falls on him and liuelesse so was seene As the poore Shepheard thought forthwith that quite dead she had bene Which when he saw although nigh dead as then was his faire Corse And that in him through want of blood remaind small strength or force Though death had now within his power his sense already brought And that he iustly angrie was gainst Stella as he thought Thinking but wrongfully alas that she had done him wrong And though he felt his weakenesse such as liue he could not long Yet at the lâ—st Loue vanquisht him and pittie him ore-came Now gins he loue that beautie which before he did disdaine Remorse of Conscience toucheth him and tells him in his minde Which he repents that he hath vsde his Ladie too vnkinde Although his thought that she herselfe abusde hath doth him tell Yet neuerthelesse he honoreth her
and now he loues her well Which is the cause with armes though weake he seckes to make a shift And trieth if her sore languishing he from the ground can lift He openeth her faire eyes and forc't through Cupids proud command He kisseth them ten thousand times whilst senslesse she doth stand O God how rich and puissant is Loue and of what great power All former iniuries to make him cancell at this hower Desire for to reuenge his wrongs as Louers wont to vse He now abhors with such bad meanes himselfe hee 'le not abuse Hee 'le rather die then offer wrong to his disloy all Dame Minding in death to honon her and to conceale the same Softly he rubs her liuelesse face oft kissing her faire lippes And being deadly sicke from them dead almost life he sippes Her fore-head he doth water with his brinish teares that flowe Her fore-head father of his griefe and motlue of his woe Thus whilst he ouer her doth mourne Stella gins to reuiue Wondring that Cloridon she sees againe to be aliue Who feeling now his senses faile and life to fleete full fast With hallow poyce and throtling throate he spake these speeches last Ah Stella I st thou whom I haue lou'de then mine eyes more deare I st thou that dost before me in this pittions plight appeare I st thou ingratefull cruell wench whom I doe see here lye Hard by my side whilst for thy sake I doe vniustly die I st that bright Diamond eye of thine that wounded hath my hart 〈◊〉 That eye that gainst all reason makes me renerence my smart I st that faire Forehead yet forsworâ—e and those gold haires of thine That haue bene enemies to me and to all good of mine Ah Stella what hast done thy faith alas why didst thou breake So dearely prised on my side through yeelding ouer-weake Why hast shou falsly lefs thy Spouse thy loyall Cloridon And entertained in his stead on suddaine Aridon Since at the first thou willing me and vnconsty giued tooke No reason t' is that now sans cause I should be thus forseeke Thou hauing then abused me to tell how I abhorre Hast thou the face and darest thou to come my face before Alas should I permit thee Or should I now banish theâ— As periurde wretch whom I doe finde mine ouerthrow to bee LOVE and the Heauens for witnesses against thee doâ— I craueâ— If whilst I liu'd I any way myselfe abused haue My faith and vowe plighted to thee I alwayes haue conserâ—de My loyaltie thou prâ—oued hast of thee it well desornde Not any but thine onely selfe alone I loued still And now I die O spite to hate thee I haue not the will Yet hast thou falsified thy Faith and gone from thy first word Whilst for true loue false fained loue to me thou dost afford But haue I so ill merited and Aridon so well That thou shouldst entertaine him and me thou shouldst expell Ah I haue seene that with mine eyes in such vndâ—cent sort As cause that they haue seene too much they now are All-amort I haue thee seene kisse Aridon false Aridon vniust Whilst to caresse him as thou didst my hart in twaine did burst Disloyally through periurie thy Faith thou broken hast Thine Honor lyeth in the dust and thy good Name is past Thy glorie through inconstancie hath caught her deadly wound Thy credit stained is nor more it can be healed sound Who euer would imagine once or euer would haue thought That one so faire a beautie would so fowle a deed haue wrought Who euer would haue had suspect an eye so full of loue â—â—full of infidelitie vnconstantly would proue Ah say discurteous too vnkinde why hast thou me deceiu'd This thy false show of Amitie hath me of life bereau'd For not my death t' is I lament nor much of that I waide If thou hadst not my meaning chast and honest minde betraide Had I not found thee mutable vnconstant wauering bad Not lingered nor languished in life I so much had This mischiefe that thou false art found and double in thy hart Doth gaull my soule worse thousand times then deaths most keenest dart But yet although thou hast to me this iniurie procur'de Although thy loue to me is found immodest and periur'd Yet now I die I loue thee still though I t' is am abusde My death yet shall disponce with thee and thou shalt be excusde Loue that at first me vnto thee in bands most strict did binde Commands me on alleageance mine with thee no fault to finde â—hen iudge of I did honour thee whilst I did liue on earth Sence dying now I doe the same and will doe after death And since it is thy will sweet soule that I shall leaue this place Why doth such outrage offer now vnto thy beautious face If the thy will that I shall die and that to haue me dead Me and thy selfe in subtill wise thou hast dishonoured Why sobst and sighest why with fist doest beate thy tender brest To see as thou desir'st that I be freed from this vnrest Ah leaue to shed teares thus for me now good thy selfe appease To see this sight torments me more and more doth me disease Weepe not for me vnworthie I that thou for me shouldst waile Since those thine eies once my chiefe blisse are now become my baile Nor seeme thou thus to grieue for him or aught for him to 〈◊〉 Who not thy loue deseruing dieth because he was forlorne No no dissembling wretch thou doest not weepe for death of mine â—et fore I part let me once kisse those daintie lips of thine Let me dying but kisse those eies although I not deserue Which for to light me to my Tombe in steed of tâ—â—ch shall â—erne What wilt thou not grace me so much this fauour wilt not graâ—â—â— To haue obtaind so much at my last gaspe shall I not vaunt Dost thou denie to suffer me to tast of that sweet good Which heretofore I oft haue had within this darkesome word When our sacred mariage rights consummated with oth Vowing one to the other faith and to be constant both Why doest refuse me cruell since I die through heauie griefe Whilst dying thou 'lt not to my paine ad debut some small reliefe Stella this hearing next in soule perplexed with strange paine Once more vpon her faithfull Swaine doth fall on sound againe She falleth downe vpon his brest her bodie senselesse is When fainting Cloridan begins afresh her for to kisse And now what 's true he doubts and thinkes he was deâ—eined right Cursing his follie ouerbold and hating his best sighs He cannot thinke that Stella was with any one vntrue When he doth see how pitiously he taketh on anewe So oft to fall in Traunse so oft such Corsiues to endure Which makes him curse his tongue such woes that to her did prâ—sâ—â—â—â— But in the end she to her selfe againe comes when with cries And pittious plaints she breaketh forth thus in lamenting wise O
iudge but by coniectures and by auncient experience of things that haue hapâ—â—d before they being the fathers of lies And therefore wonderfully glad to deâ—â—â— and decerne munkinde because they haue sworne their vtter ouerthrow ruine And yet a braue and resolute spirit ought rather to hope well then to feare ill For hope no wisheth comforteth whereas feare afflicteth and tormenteth both soule and bodie Of one thing I may count my selfe happie which is that it seemeth the Gods of these woods haue a care of my Fortunes that they will assist me in what they may We ought not to refuse the aide of anie person be hee neuer so feeble and weake becausone may dot some one good or other vnto vs As we may finde vertue in the least Planenr Hear be that groweth But alack what hope may I lodge in my soule and how is it possible that the Prophesies of the Gods of these woods should prooue to be true If my peerlesse Iulietta who is farre off from mee neuer feeleth the piercing dartes of outagâ—ous Loue LOVE scarce setled in any is easily quenched againe especially when the meanes that should nourish his heate faileth and waxeth very colde for millions of contrarie conceits and imaginations is intermixed in the same which doth quickly drowne and quench it My Ladie is sarre remote from mee and therefore remembreth not me For as yet was I neuer registred in the role of her memorie And say there should be some small draught of mee therein yet would this cruell absence quickly deface it For the bare shadowe of a Counterfeit which the Painter leaueth without his right colours vnperfect can neither be faire or esteemed of any price Clytemnestra forgot her husband when he was absent Hellena her Spouse with diuers other women all which through the separation of place and absence of their friends forgot themselues so much as they not once thought of their ancient Louers For one Hyperâ—estra that remembred her husband fortie nine of her Sisters cut their husbands throats And amongst ten thousand women scarce you shall finde one that preserueth the memorie and fauour of her loyall friend ingrauen in her soule Heauens graunt I may not haue iust cause to complaine of this Accident but that returning back vnto my diuine Iulietta I may finde her hart to be gentle and tender towards me her rigour to be abated and her selfe more milde and affable vnto mee then she was wont to be Otherwise I shall thinke my selfe most vnhappie that the flowing waues of the surging Seas had not with my insupportable flames quenched and drowned both my loue and my life together For more fearefull is the frowning countenance of a Ladie vnto her sworne Seruant then the horrible face of the three fatall Sisters vnto a sicke man for the one maketh him languish burning in a lingring fire of thousand deaths whereas the other in a small space doth ridde him both of life and paine Thus saide the Knight not a little ioyfull of the answere which the late ECCO gaue vnto him But fond is that man that beleeueth in things that are to come seeing they are in the hands of the Almightie who can change them making them to take a quite contrie course as shall best please him And yet may man onely bring his Estate to be eyther Fortunate or misetable Fortunate in being penitent for his defaults appeasing the wrath of God through his true repentance who being mercifull vnto him sendeth him Celestiall Manda downe from heauen And miserable in prouoking his heanie anger against him whereby hee withdraweth his grace without giuing him that good which hee promised him and which he hoped for because heirs vnworthy of the same For the Children of Israel were depriued of the Holy Land although God had premised it vnto them before by reason of their sinnes their wickednesse opposing it selfe against his diuine force and helpe and his heauenlie bountie beeing turned from them in that they did so grieuously offend him Let no person therefore assure himselfe through others reports to taste of happinesse or to feele of vnhappinesse heereaster to comes but rather dispose himselfe to liue well and godlie to the end hee may enioy a blessed life without feeling anie form of cuill But leauing this discourse wee will come to Philistell who went away much conceneed beeing guided by a good Hope which because it had wings fled quicklie from him So manie are the humours that Hope is bound to content as it is impossible for her to stay long in anie one place they thinking to haue a great pleasure by enioying of her when indeed it is the greatest plague that can be For hee that is possessed with her but one noure is punished at the least ten dayes after for the same By reason the apprehension of anie bad newes is so cruell as it drowneth and killeth all hope of contentment to come hereafter Enery one feeling the chaunces of griefe sarre more sharpe and bitter then the Accidents or occurrences of ioy can be sweete or comfortable any way But as hee was thus iocund walking homewards hee might heare a Shepheard to sing this Sing the sound whereof suddinly made him stay as the voyce of the Ryder doth the horse vpon which he is seated And the rather did hee listen vnto it because hee was desirous of nouelties which naturallie pleaseth our sences whilst staying his walke betweene the seuerall passions of griese and delight he might heare this pittious Dittie following What should I waile thus weepe and make those outcries If my misfortunes where themselues they should drowne Burne their most hote selues hotter farre then burneth Thicke smoaking Aetna Thrise wofull Louer enerlasting wretched Who still doth lauguish heavily sans comfort And nener hopecan but to liue in sorrow Vntill his life end Farre better were it neuer for to be borne Then to be alwayes cru Ily afflicted With such a plague as hourely more and more doth Growe and increase still What crosse a man is subiect to by D stini Withouten hope is sure nere to be holpen Nor doth it leaue him till that hee be forced For to leaue lifes terme Then prithee sweet death come away and and me Come and abridge the number of my bad daies Nor caust thou blam'd be for to kill a bodie Wanting a line soule Thon that cuttest off so many of our crosses Courteous come come dispatch me quickly He cannot liue but in exceeding anguish That his owne life hates There is not anything but hath his ending And what is mortall hath not here long biding once But yet my wounds growe more and more nor death Seekes for to change them None will so much as pittie on me take now Nor on my fancie too too dearely purchast All saning sorrowes in the lash doc leaue me I being at worst Thus without dying doe I vade and perish Thus flow sower salt teares from mine eies for euer Whilst thut the heanens
scoffe at these my crosset And my faire euill But if 〈◊〉 tall Cupid be and mightie Able to vanquish men and soneraigne Gods too Why then my soule now heales he not He cannot Onely my Loue can But she ore cruell too too much deceiues me Not from her as yet any succour find I Balnâ—e for my sore she yeelded not vnto me But my decay seekes Yet t is my hope that Cupid at the last will Venge on her my death for her oner proud hart Ofe such deceitfull dames as she hane loned Yet neuer are lou'd Loue often striketh as he passeth by blind And hurts the best as well as basest persons Venus is witnesse Mirrha so and Dido Who slewe her owne selfe And yet before thus Mistris mine should plagu'd be I pray yee Gods all let my soule from hence flit Fore I endure to see that any ill should Vnto her happeu Too well to wisâ— them ill her eies I doe loue And too too carefull am I of her welfare I onely studie how I best might please her Though to mine owne paine He that indeed loues rather had he hazard For to die desprate thousand times and thousand Than for to veiw his Ladie line in anguish Making her end so Philestell knew by the voice that it was the Shepheard Coribant who being set leded from his hard harted Dame was walking all alone solitarilie sighing forth this Song which was in a manner no sooner ended but that he might perceiue a faire Nymph to approach towards him who hauing a warbling Lute in her hand sitteth downe by the side of the foresaid sorrowfull Shepheard singing most sweetly these verses following Trust now no more Yee mortals poore The Gods aboue Their wonted grace From you they chase Nor you they loue They doe despise Our sighes and cries And ue them iest All pittie milde They haue exilde From out their brest Their Altars proud No hope doth shroud Of good to come And when we pray As deafe they stay Seeming right dumme Then sillie Swaine And Shepheard plaine Else where goe crane Fonds he that mones To stocks and stones Himselfe to same Elsewhere declare Thy wofull care And leaue the skies Thy wofull plaints Thy hart that taints They des despise The heauens looke red With rage are spred And borrour too T is they is griefe Without reliefe That vs undeo He is a soe That thinketh not That from that place Through destinie Most wretchedly Comes our assgrace Then better t is For death to wish And end our daies Then still in strife Lead such a life So plagude alwaies For death 's our friend When he doth end Our bitter smart And through the same Doth rid our paine With hickrome dart This Nymph was Orithia amorots of Areas who after she had sent forth many scalding sighs spake thus vnto the Shepheard Whut hope remaineth for that vassasse who haue taken vp armes against his lawfull Prince and done him thousands of dammages in spoyling of his countrie to looke for succour at his hands when he shall fall into miserie The law of Iustice permits to oppose force to force to suffer wrong against iniurie and to repulse violence with all the furie that thay be Neither is he blame-worthie who rightly punisheth such iniuries as he hath wrongfull receiued Inasmuch as Iustice commandeth that he that doeth ill must receiue reward according vnto the same It is a hard matter to obtaine succour from our enemie although Coriolanus had that good fortune and that sumous Aihenian Themistocles long before him for the remembrance of the iniuries that are past and those outrages which we haue receiued doth bandie and set it selfe against the good will which perhaps we might finde in our need And surely they had neede to be borne vnder a most fortunate Plannet to be most excellent and worthie men of desert that dare venture to lend their helping hand vnto their aduersaries being in a maner halfe dead yet Caesar did it although too late it repented him thereof for he through sauing of Brutus and Cassius lost through their vngratefull hands both the Empire and his life Malicious hatred being once deeplie rooted in the brest is a poyson so violent and strong as it can hardly but with great paine be driuen out of the hart of man yea doe the best you can for your life yet will there some small sparleles thereof still remaine couoâ—t as we see we cannot emptie a well neuer so cleare and cleane but that some fewe drops will alwaies rise to be seene there Besides these little sparkles will carch hold on fire vpon the first and least occasion that may be making oftentimes a greater flame then there was before If then disdaine hindereth our enemie from doing good vnto vs what hope may poore wilde worldlings haue to find reliefe from the heauens the worst aduersarie they haue For if the faults and iniuries or the wrongs and abuses that one offereth vnto another maketh them to be at deadly hate what friendship may we looke for from the heauens whom we so often haue so grieuously offended It is an ordinarie course here amongst vs to transgresse the commandements giuen vnto vs from aboue to tread vnder our feete their ordinances and to iest and scoffe at their might and power which if it be so are they then bound to assist vs when we are in want He that will seeke to obtaine the good will of any man of worth seeketh how to obey and please him in what he can studying to applie his will vnto his minde and to condescend vnto whatsoeuer the other shall command For of the agreement in manners is friendship engendred whereas we take a quire contrarie fashion shewing all the signes and tokens we can of ill will vnto the heauens whereby they haue reason the more to detest vs. But you perhaps will replie and say that the heauens are puissantand Diuine and therfore if they please they many helpe vs. But to this I answere that therfore we are the more to be blamed because that fault that one committeth against a great Monarch or King is more seuerely to be chastised then that of a poore priuate person and he is more to be punished that doth iniurie vnto a wise graue and vpright man than if he had done it vnto one that was wicked cruell and vniust The powers aboue then being puissant may make our fault to be the more hainous in that we dare presume to offend them and they being Diuine our finnes are lesse subiect to pardon because we seeke to iniure them who are so sacred and iust But of all such miserable wretches as appeale vnto the aide of the heauens I know none whom they are lesse bound to helpe then such as we call Louers For their vnfortunatenes commeth not from aboue they are not the cause thereof neither are they these which powre downe vpon their heads this cuill as oftentimes they doe warre Famine Pestilence these
euery word she spake was as a stabbe of a Poinard giuen him at the hart He feareth to speake what might make his wound worse and doubteth as much least he should displease the Ladie who as he thought might perhaps enquire the cause thereof because she would heale it The fit opportunitie he had made him to think that it were best for him now to lay open his minde or else neuer thinking that when he would he should not finde so apt a time againe and now againe a new toy taketh him in the head perswading him to remit and referre this busines vntill another day but then by and by he condemneth himselfe as vnwise that hauing spent so much time to finde this commoditie and now at the last hauing gotten it he goeth about to leaue it In the end being vrged still by the Gentlewoman to resolue her of her doubt and seeing that he could not well be rid of her vnlesse he did satisfie her in what she demaunded he determined whatsoeuer should come of it to breake this Ice and to bewray his Loue vnto her whereupon with a sad countenance and often faultring in his voice he thus began Faire Mistris I was in good hope that my often sighing with my heauie and perplexed countenance had bene sufficient to haue bewrayed the sorrow that galleth my heart without of hauing had any neede to pleade for pittie vnto you with my mournfull tongue But seeing it pleaseth you that my speech shall deliuer what my heart gaue my troubled countenance in charge I thinke it but reason so to doe it being the command of her who is the cause of this my wofull martyrdome I know I doe but sow my seede vpon the salt sea shore and that I lay my nets although in vaine to catch the windes and yet had I rather to depriue my selfe of all comfort and ioy then displease you and send you away iustly incensed against me He that hath deuoted himselfe vnto the seruice of any woman will shew all dutifull respect that may be vnto her will haue great regard that he offend her not will rather endure any punishment in his owne person than moue her whom he vowed to adore with all reuerence Seeing then you haue so earnestly commaunded me to open vnto you the very secrets of my soule and the first causes and originall of all my trouble I will condescend vnto you and most faithfully deliuer the same without keeping backe any thing from you at all Knowe then sweet Ladie that your diamond eies haue bene the torches that hath first lightned this fire your beauties haue bene the Fewell and your courtly behauiour the bellowes to kindle the same You onely haue made the wound and if you list may heale it and from no other but from your selfe am I to seeke comfort for the wounds of Loue are healed by the selfesame dart that made them as the Scorpion doth who is of power to helpe such whom he before hath stung Iudge then I beseech you in what a pittifull plight I am and what great cause I haue to curse and bewaile my hard disaster For what hope to recouer my selfe of this daungerous disease haue I and how is it possible for me to obtaine that for which so much I wish Alas I know not I and yet Mirrha ioyned her desire although it were incestious with her owne Father And Passiphae Queene of Candio had her pleasure of a Bull quenching by that meanes her vnhonest heate But I poore wretched Caitiffe how may I purchase that which so faine I would except your fauourable grace take compassion vpon me in vouchsafing vnto my deadly sore that comfortable remedie lying in your hands which onely is offorce to make me well Then what should I vse so many words or trouble you with so tedious a discourse Onely this I will say that I hate mine owne selfe because I would loue you assuring your selfe that my life shall as soone be conuerted into ashes as my soule is likely to be burned through the fire of Loue vnlesse you cast this necessarie water vpon it to quench the heate thereof putting my dying heart in securitie of some good hope to come I am bold deare Mistris to be thus plaine with you because I am resolute and haue set vp my rest to chuse one of these two waies either that of death as soone as you shall pronounce the sentence of deniall vnto me or that of life if I shall finde you readie and milde to ease me of my paine Thinke then as you please of this my speech and censure of me as you shall best like here I stand before the barre of your beautie expecting either life or death the one being as agreeable vnto me as the other and although I must needs tell you that it shall be farre greater glorie for you to saue me than to cut me off before my time Antonio hauing deliuered his minde in this desperate kinde of manner made the Gentlewoman so amazed to heare such an occasion vnexpected from him as she scarce knew where she was Her speech was gone pale earthly was her sight A stone not liuing creature seemd she right But being come vnto her selfe againe she began to curse within her selfe her foolish ouer hardines in that she was so earnest and inquisitiue to know of him the reason of his discontentments when it concerned her nothing at all doubting least if any disgrace should happen about the same all the blame should be laide vpon her How to replie vpon the sudden she knew not and whilst she was musing what she might doe she began to hate him deadly wishing vengeance to light vpon him for presuming to court her with such shamelesse impudencie Now whilst she stood thus bethinking her selfe of the matter Antonio straitway imagined it was for his good that she delaied so long to aunswere him but he found the contrarie too soone for in the meane time she remembred her owne honour and chastitie and the great friendship her husband had shewed though vndeseruedly vnto this traiterous friend of his which so incenst her with iust rage and choller as she began to take vp my Gentleman in this sort How now sir what is this you say dreame you or are you well in your right wits What signe or likelishood of vice or dishonestie haue you seene in me that you should thus proudly sollicite and importune me to dishonour my selfé and my kinde husband who loueth you farre dearer then his owne selfe was there euer any so bold to attempt an enterprise so difficult and hard as this is which thou goest about without he had bene assured before by some gesse or other that he might bring the same to passe I thinke none but thy selfe But tell me I pray you Antonio what notice or testimonie of lightnes haue I giuen vnto the world at any time that you should dare thus immodestly to accost me Goe to your Minions and
heare any tidings either of that treacherous villaine or of his wife In the end he lighteth vpon a great thicke gloomie Forrest through which as he rode he found a dead carkasse of a man and a woman lying by him being in little better case then he was But leauing Leander and his companions seeking their aduenture we will come vnto wofull Cynthia his wife and when fit time shall serue we will discouer who was that creature dead and who that woman being almost in as bad a taking as he vpon whom Loander so strongly hapned Cynthia being carried away from her husband so sodenly and by such barbarous treacherie was for a great while as one in a traunce hardly comming vnto her selfe againe And certainlie I thinke that if women were subiect by nature to die for sorrow then no doubt but she had died for neuer was there woman in this world more sad or heauie than she was no not Niobe Hecuba Oenone Porcia Cornelia nor any other Ladie were she neuer so ouerwhelmed with miseries But this kinde of death seldome or neuer is incident vnto the Female kinde as that of sodaine ioy is Long lay she in this Extasie or sound and long was she before she recouered her right sences againe and so much was she astonisht in her minde with the same as the passage of her speech was kept close and shut from her yet at the last her vitall spirits recouered force within her and her tongue had libertie to speake But alas she could not as much as pronounce one word neither was she able once to open her mouth so wofully did she weepe and so pittâ—fully did she sob and sigh Diuers sorts of colours and that in great number must a cunning Painter haue to draw a faire and great Picture Euen so thousands of teares and millions of sighes had this wretched Gentlewoman need of if she meant liuely to set forth and bewaile her Disaster at the fall For neuer was any Ladies sorrowes to be compared vnto hers Hellena was rauished but with her owne consent Neither did her rauishment bereaue her husbands life as hers did Penelope was dailie and hourely sollicited and importuned by a number of tedious and impudent suters but yet she was suffered to liue chastly and to attend the returne of her Vlisses Hecuba after shee had seene her husband murthered and all her sonnes slaine was led away as a captiue or slaue into Greece and yet had shee more reason to haue borne with patience these her misfortunes though in a higher degree of miserie rather then Cynthia in hers For Hecubas mischaunces proceeded from her enemies to whom the law of Nations giueth leaue to doe what mischiefe they can whereas haplesse Cymhias vnhappines came from him whome she esteemed as the dearest and most faithfull friend her Husband had Lucrctia for losse of chastitie slewe her owne selfe but her death was the death of her aduersarie and the life and libertie of all her Romane Citizens And theresore no woman can be said to haue bene more wretched then hopelesse Cynthia for she saw her Leander murthered as she thought whilst she remained as prisoner in the power of him that was his bloodie Butcher looking euerie houre to be forced of her honour and good name Infinit were the occasions that she had to complaine and the reasons without number that compelled her to exclaime against the most partiall Destinies For what could she loose more pretious and deare then her sweet Spouse whom she esteemed more then her honor and her owne life Needs therefore must her complaints be greeuous and her lamentings heauie and bitter as one that dispaired of all comfort to come Ah woe is me cried shee out why was I borne and why did my mother bring me into this world since there is no person liuing so vnfortunate as I am for I doe not count those miserable who haue liberty to shorten their owne dayes by death but onely such as faine would die and yet cannot Is it possible that one should be borne vnder so hard a Planet as not to be able to die when most fainest he would O how great is that euill when it forceth vs to require ayde of the Fatall sisters to ridde vs of the same whom men detest and loath as their mortall enemies And yet can none but they relieue and ease such wretched creatures The healthie man whilst he is well loatheth and abhorreth to take or taste anie potion or medicine but when he is sicke he is glad and faine to swallowe it downe be it neuer so bitter and sower So we whilst we liue merilie and at harts ease we contemne death but when our griefes are so great as wee are not able to endure them then we account our selues as happie to haue him O God is it possible for me to be able in words to deliuer my losses for my sighes to deplore them for mine eyes to bewaile them or for my heart to be of force to endure them If the losse of paltrie goods maketh men outragious in their passions and if the death of our kinsfolks or friends be sufficient to engender afflictions in vs how much more then haue I cause of insupportable sorrowes Alas I haue lost my kinde husband but am I able to say so and not my soule to flie forth of this miserable bodie or is my condition so miserable that I may say I haue lost him indeed No no I will neuer belieue it rather will I die then perswade my selfe of any such vnwelcome matter vnto me But say I die yet haue I lost him yea I haue lost him and onely through mine occation I haue bene the homicide of my husband and I alone haue slaine him but why then alacke doeth not the rigour of the Lawe passe vpon mee which condemneth such murtherers vnto death Was it not enough for mee to be brought into the most wretchedst estate of all others to be depriued of my deare Leander but that I must be the cause of his vtter ouerthrow also Damned and accursed Beautie how wise was that young Romane Gentleman Spurius who most cruelly mangled and defaced his louely face because hee would haue none to like him And so thrice happie had I bene if I had spoyled and made foule this my wicked countenance which was the first motiue of all these euils and mischiefes following O faire soule of my deare Spouse and Bedfellow great reason hast thou now to complaine of mee iust are thy accusations and most right thy greeuances against me yet since the Gods are appeased with the sacrifices of men I hope that my life shall be a sufficient satisfaction for the offence I haue done vnto thee Thou liuest in the heauens where nothing is hid from thee and seeing thou knowest all things thou needest not to doubt of mine innocencie herein But what is this vnto thee seeing now thou liuest no more and that thou art cut off before thy
time appointed But I will presentlie follow thee neither had I stayed so long as I do but that I am preuented much against my will For with what weapon should I pierce this my fainting brest or what kinde of death were I best to die of and in what manner will these mine enemies giue me leaue to slaughter my selfe Alas they will not doe me so great a fauour and too too narrowlie doe they watch mee that I can not hurt my selfe Thrice happie wert thou miserable king Perceus in comparison of mee since thy Conquerour Paulus Aemilius gaue thee libertie to make away thy selfe so to ridde thee from thy seruile bondage But I haue lost my Husband Porcia would not suruiue hers No more would Cornelia Cleopatra and diuers others all which made away themselues to followe their husbands and shall I not be as willing as they were in this case and as ready to take the same course to follow death that I may liue with my deare Leander for euer Yes yes I will be as forward as the best and I will deuise some way or other to ridde my selfe out of this loathed life which cannot liue without his soule who was my frendly husband Besides the longer I liue the greater feare I am still in to loose my chaste honor which although God hath yet preserued yet doubt I sore I shall not long continue so but be forced by them vnlesse I escape away from them by some miracle from aboue But say I should be so fortunate as to be freed from out the handes of this Tyger who holdeth me as his slaue without anie violence offered vnto my chastitie yet who would belieue the same seeing he hath attempted so desperate and villainous an exploit forgetting all religion and friendship onely to haue mee in his possession and considering the strange and extreame affection that he hath made a shewe vnto the open world to haue borne mee A graue and wise woman must not onely be free from blame it selfe but as well must be cleane from all suspition of the same For what maketh her to looke without blushing but her vpright carriage and her good name alwayes vntainted which being once defiled resembleth a barren Tree that is without fruit or hath bene blasted with Lightnining or Thunder neuer looking afterwards greene againe Filthie and base is the most excellentest beautie of any woman if once her modest life be corrupted Venus was faire but yet of no account because of her immodest desires Hellen was beautifull but too much defamed because of her luxurious life and so were Thais Flora and Laxis louely to behold but yet accounted of as common because of their shamelesse and too too wanton behauiour In what a pecke of troubles then am I in looking still euery moment when I shall be froced to make shipwracke of my chastitie for the defence of which I haue oftentimes hazarded my life But I appeale vnto the Almightie who shall be my iudge if I be forced how much my soule abhorreth this vice for though my bodie be defiled yet shall my minde neuer be I being fullie resolute to wash the same cleare with the dearest blood I haue assoone as any opportunitie shall serue me to put it in practise Mine onely hope is that when I shall haue most need God will vouchsafe to giue me a sweete taste of those comfortable words of his who hath promised to succour and helpe those which be his faithfull true seruants in their greatest extremities and when they least looke for any such aide or assistance from him Thus wailed the distressed Cynthia dispairing of all meanes how to relieue her selfe in her wretchednes suffering her selfe to be carried away with the violence of her crosse as the Shippe is tossed too and fro vpon the Sea in a Tempest But our heauenly FATHER aboue kept safe and vntainted her Honour and so by that way receiued againe into his mercie her chaste and pure soule which hee before had lent her It is in our aduersitie that wee finde the admirable succours of GOD so profitable vnto vs for in prosperitie wee cannot rightly taste them No more then the Drunkard being ouercome with too much liquor can iudge of good wine whilst wee being rocked a sleepe in the cradle of sensualitie despise his mercies as Porklings and hogges doe Malt and Acorns when their bellies is full of them but being once pinched with hunger runne vp and downe for them as they were madde So wee whilst we liue in pleasure cannot rightly know how sweete the fauours and kindnesse of God is because we are glutted with worldly delights But when wee are once afflicted with miserie wee then finde the comfortablenesse of the same and can quickly iudge how necessarie it is vnto vs for our good and welfare And this Cynthia found although after a straunge fashion For those vngodlie Theeues which wicked Antonio had hired to be his bloodie executioners in this his villainous Teagedie not daring for feare of being tortured with plagues to stay in the Countrey after they had committed this detestable outrage followed him as fast as they could Amongst which there was one more bolde then the rest who marking the fauour and comelinesse of Cynthia although as then she looked pale and leane for verie anguish and griefe grewe to be amorous of her determining with himselfe to haue his pleasure of her although he paide neuer so dearely for it Thus was the poore Gentlewoman come out of Gods blessing into a warme Sunne and fallen from a plaine Ague into a hote burning Feuer and yet this misfortune turned in the end vnto her good Thus Heauens make proue that profitable oft Which mortall men account of as of nought The hand of the Lord is mightie and strong who rewardeth sinne according vnto his desert not winking thereat at any time but either soone or late punish the offence that is committed For as we haue vsed others so shall wee our selues be vsed and such measure as we giue vnto strangers such measure shal be meated vnto vs againe The murtherer most commonly dieth by the sword The high-way Theefe is robbed and spoyled the Adulterer shall be dishonored and shamed and the cruell man shall find no mercie of them into whose power he is fallen If wee well remember this lesson we shall find it to be most true confirmed as well by the words of the euerliuing SONNE OF GOD as by a number of ancient examples in the Sacred scriptures Dauid for defiling the bed of Vrias saw ciuill discord and discention amongst his owne children he himselfe after he had seene his daughter Thamar defloured and his sonne Ammon slaine being chased vp and downe by his owne childe and reuiled and railed at by a base and abiect Peasant of the Countrey Iezabell for hauing shed the blood of the Prophet died a shamefull death she being flung from out a high window in her owne Pallace vpon the ground to serue
the foresaid people most miraculously Manna from heauen when they were almost dead for very hunger Thou diddest make cleare water to flowe from the hard and frozen Rocke to staunch their drinesse and thou Lord didst free them from the power of Senacherib by thy holie Angell Thou diddest deliuer Daniel from out the Lyons denne and the modest Susanna out of the bloodie hands of the two olde Palliards the Elders And so sweete Sauiour hast thou protected mine honour which without thee had bene ouerthrowne vtterlie Thrice happie I that through thy sacred guiding of me haue escaped this misfortune but far more blessed in that I shall leaue this world in this bad and wretched time where nothing doth raigne and dominiere but vice Treason and violence I most humblie thanke thee most mercifull Father for so great a benefite bestowed vpon me For what could happen more acceptable vnto me then to follow my deare Husband into heauen thereto continue with him and to enioy euerlasting glorie with thy Saintes Let vs die willingly then Cynthia with a braue minde and constant resolution leauing a rich testimony of our loyall loue and affection vnto the posteritie that shall come hereafter And although a faithfull Christian ought not as hee is dying either to desire or to wish anie vengeance for to light vpon his aduersaries and enemies yet must I needs confesse that it is a great solace and contentment vnto mee to die in the middest of such as were foes vnto my Leander land mine honour and the rather because they are dead as well as I to make satisfaction for their faults O GOD how sacred are thy decrees how iust thy iudgements and how rightfull thy proceedings Thou hast not permitted the murtherers of my Husband to liue long after they had done so horrible a deed and contrarie to all expectation thou hast defended mee from their most furious and vnchast lust and therefore I will take this my crosse most patiently and will be contented to die as willinglie as when I was first ioyned by the holie Church vnto my deare Husband in sacred marriage bandes most religiously And yet my Soueraigne Sauiour I greatly feare thy Iustice the number of my faults weighing farre more heauie then my good deeds but thou canst if thou so please deface them all Thou art the God of all mercie and art mercifull vnto all men for the consolation and saluation of whome thou thy selfe of thy great compassion hast bene willing to die O then let this innocent blood of mine shed by the aduersaries of thy glorie be sufficient to wash my sinnes away through thy grace and let my modest and stainelesse minde be as a fire to consume the number of mine offences O yee mine eyes the Authors of my disasters cruell and proud eyes first motiues of these our common miseries calamities soone shall you loose your wanton lights and soone shall you be closed vp with an yron sleepe of death for euer But ô gentle Death when commest thou come I beseech thee come away vnto mee who art so courteous so apte so fit and so profitable for my sorrowes Often haue I desired thee a thousand times haue I called for thee and with thousands of intreaties and prayers perswaded thee to come to assist mee and now thou art come I salute thee and thanke thee entertaining thee as one who can saue mee from a great losse thou being able to withdraw me from shipwracke and of power sufficient to bring me safely into the Hauen where I long so much to be O how foolish is that Marriner who being miraculouslie arriued in the Port will backe againe into the Sea whilst the storme playeth his part and not stay vntill the weather be cleare and calme Euen so how madde were I if hauing cast Anker at the Hauen of my well-fare I should now begin to wish to liue once more returning backe into this miserable life in which we encounter so many dangerous Rocks and perilous stumbling blocks as we can neuer be quiet Then let vs die what say I die Nay rather let vs liue for hee onely liueth happily that changeth this fraile and transitorie life after an immortall and an euerlasting estate That Farmer may be saide to be right fortunate who leaueth his Farme which hee holdeth of his Lord to enioy a faire Mannor in Fee simple to him his heires for euer This was the cause that so manie holie and graue persons haue wished for death thinking that being dissolued from life they should become farre better by this alteratation and change Elias liuing in the wildernes did often couet it Old Symeon demanded it and Saint Andrew refused to liue to make his choyce of death Who then can hinder mee but that I should desire it imitating so many worthy personages No it is that I onely require and looke for For the griefe thereof is lesse then the least paine we feele when we are aliue That debtor that is still vexed haunted and abused by his Creditor because hee should pay what he oweth is he not happie when he hath made euen with all men that he may after liue in quiet If so why then farre more blessed are they who pay their due vnto Nature vnto whome they are indebted and who by tendering the same vnto her which they must once doe are quited and freed from all worldly calamities afterwards to come My onely desire is to see and stand before the presence of my most gracious Lord and GOD and to behold the face of my louing Husband wayting and attending vpon him Dispose thee then once more Cynthia to goe this pleasant voiage resoluing to giue ouer this mortall life to enioy an immortall felicitie Lord then receiue my soule and deliuer it out of the hands of mine ancient and sworne enemie the diuel So said the dolorous or rather ioyfull Cynthia who hauing laide her selfe downe in a comely manner expecting euery minute when she should die tooke thought for nothing but how she might be buried orderly But God tooke order for that matter For no sooner had she made an end of her Praier but Leander by chaunce came that way who perceiuing farre of these dead bodies and desirous to know what they were set spurs to his horse to ride towards them and when being come neare them by little and little he found what he so much sought for As the young amorous Bull seeing a farre of a young Haifer to brouse vpon the bankes of a cleare Riuer approacheth neerer neerer to know the better if it be his Loue or no and as he marcheth forward holdeth vp his head for ioy because he findeth her by certaine markes to be the same So Leander euery step he goeth reioyceth greatly in his minde as assuring himselfe that he hath now found that which with so great labour he had made search for But as that Marchant is not throughly ioyfull who after he hath made a long and dangerous
can no longer liue and had it not bene for your presence I had bene dead long since the same hauing bene the occasion that the thread of my life was drawne forth so long as it hath bene For thee haue I liued euen vntill this houre but alas what talke I of liuing when all my sences faile me when my voice is going away and my heart beginneth to be colde within me What should I say more but that thou liue happily after my decease banishing away these sighes and drying vp thy too too drerie eies And this sweet husband I require and desire thee nay more I coniure thee as thou louest me to lament no more what cannot be recouered Once more adue sweet Leander I goe before to prepare a place for thee in the heauens and so farewell deare husband Come come embrace and kisse me to the end that my soule comming forth of bodie may make his passage into thine which whilest I liued was his earthly Paradise The sad knight hearing her say so embraceth her anew holding her closely in his armes whilest death approaching vnto her seazed vpon her closing vp her beautious eies and leauing her sencelesse coarse as cold as any stone which when Leander perceiued he sought all the meanes he could to bring her vnto life againe although it could not be And as the wilde Beare from whom her whelpes be stolen searcheth vp and downe for them leauing no place vnlooked and yet doe what she can she cannot finde them So Leander leaueth no part of his wiues bodie vntouched to see if he could finde any one sparke of life in her but all in vaine for death had alreadie extended his heauie hand ouer her As the Damaske Rose being once withered hath not one greene lease about it but such as be drie and fallen from their naturall colour Euen so was her bodie without force or mouing lying along without any motion or sence at all And yet although she were dead she laie as louely as if she had but bene in a smiling sleepe No maruaile then if whilest she were liuing she was so gratious with All when being dead she was able to make men fall in loue with her for the cruell destinies were not of power to take from her the propotion of her beautious visage but onely the rare vermillion colour of the same But now how is it possible for me to describe at large the true sorrow wherewith her kind husband was possest by reason of her losse It is a taske too great for me to take in hand and therefore I will giue it ouer neither meane I to set downe with what great pompe and exceeding charges her funerall obsequise were most solemnely performed Onely I will speake a word or two of his end which was that after her death he neuer ioyed so much as one smal houre nor liued any long time after her His chiefest delight was to thinke on death his diet he fed on was sighs teares sobs and lamentings Besides he caused all his Castle to be painted with blacke mixing here and there white teares amongst the same neither did he nor any of his followers weare other than mourning apparell as long as he liued And to conclude so vehement was his passions in his sorrow that they brought him into a recurelesse consumption wherein he continued not aboue three months but that he died hauing giuen order before to be buried in the same Monument that he erected for his constant Cynthia This Tragedie was so pittifully deliuered by the well spoken Nymph Orythia as she forced all her Auditors to shed salt teares especially when she made a conclusion of the same when they perceiuing that the Sunne was downe began euery one of them to withdraw themselues vnto their proper Lodgings but she staied them a while meaning to reuiue their dulled spirits after the hearing of so dolefull an Historie with this Song following Blest is he that nere did proue False in Faith in all his Loue. Loue without fidelitie Is a plague that makes vs die Without Faith one sues in vaine Loue of beautie faire to gaine Blest is he that nere did proue False in faith in all his Loue. Beautie soone away posse will Sacred Faith continueth still Th'ones diuine and nere deceiues Th' other oft our hearts bereaues Blest is he that nere did proue False in Faith in all his Loue. Without Faith Loue could not be For through Faith aie liueth he Who a Louer 's and not true Louers name to him 's not due Blest is he that nere did proue False in Faith in all his Loue. Oh how sweet a thing it is Two to loue and faith not misse T is two soules in one to bind Whilst daies turned to nights they find Blest is he that nere did proue False in Faith in all his Loue. No sooner had the Nymph made an end of her delightfull Song but that they might perceiue a strange Shepheard hard by them who after he had saluted them desired them to resolue him of this Riddle following Though light as Feather yet a burthen great I beare And liue within the lappe of my chiefe enemie One while I shake and nod as if a sleepe I were Another white as swift as flight away goe I. Light though I am I often heauie armed men Carrie and am their faithfull friend and saue their wealth Yet with my selfe I cast away them now and then And many times through swiftnes mine I saue my selfe But after I in many a place haue serud their turne And old become they throw me strait into the fire Whilst I of cold growe hot and in the flame doe burne To serue these men loe here you see my goodly hire For all my labour done to them in pieces they me spoile And hauing done thē seruice good I am nought worth vile The learned old man studied not long about this darke Enigma which he expounded in this sort These verses said he doe signifie a ship which being made of wood and light as sailing carrieth away people within her she remaining alwaies in the water which is her mortall enemie because it rotteth her One while it lieth still and rideth at Ancor as one idle and a sleepe and an other while it maketh profitable voiages scowring the huge Seas She is a guide and an assistance oftentimes vnto Souldiers whilest they encounter and fight with the enemies vpon the top of the Hatches thereof notwithstanding now and than she drowneth these which she carrieth and her selfe also Sometimes she escapeth alone when being afterward emploied of her wares and commodities and now growne old and rotten they breake her in pieces which they fling into the fire it being burned there although by nature the wood thereof is cold and being in the fire it complaineth of men who pay her with burning her for requitall of so many good seruices done by her vnto them The old man hauing deliuered this exposition satisfied the
an other mans vice but on the contrarie our neighbours error must serue vs in steed of a darke night wherein during the same to kindle our owne vertue must shine bright instructing our selues by his famous example as the ancient Spartaines caused their slaues to be made drunke to the end that their children might hate wine by the brutish and dishonest actions they sawe these base creatures commit being possessed with this liquor It is a foolish conclusion to say that if my neighbour be a foole I must therefore become insensate and set fire on my owne house because I see my neighbours on a burning flame It is rather requisite that an other mans doing be beneficiall vnto vs and that the vice of our neighbour reforme our owne and not make vs to offend like himselfe For vertue would be imitated and vice auoided To maintaine that no man can be constant and resist Loue were to erre grosely For Alexander amidst his great victories delights and conquests performed it Demosthenes refused the Loue of Lais louing ten crownes better then the enioyance of her This wise and graue Philosopher I say whom she could neuer set on fire either by her wanton enticements amorous lookes or her beautie so renowmed so that she thought him an insensible stone and not a man You should in this doe iniurie to modest Scipio who being conquerour of all Affricke religiously abstained from the loue of a woman And a thousand others haue liued free from this misfortune which you may not rightly place in the number of offenders For their fault obscure not the excellent glorie of the vertuoâ—â— and drawe not from their offence matter of opprobrietie against the wise It will be greater honour vnto you to see wise men in name offend and your selfe free from fault then if you erred after the example of some simple creatures Oh Shepheard replied Arcas I denie the foundation of your argument for I will not confesse that it is a fault or crime to loue and iudge Louers no lesse wise then those that haue not loued at all for he may iustly be said to be peruerse and an offender whose offence procureth publike dammage but so farre of is a Louer from preiudicing men that quite contrarie he profiteth them greatly The Louer like the prodigall man iniureth none but himselfe he onely beareth he onely endureth he onely suffereth but from his torment ariseth mortall glorie to the subiect he loueth for was there euer Ladie faithfully by her seruant beloued that did not both honour and sing forth according to the abilitie of his inuention her excellent and rare vertues What can mortall men desire more deare and precious then to see themselues honoured and made immortall to future ages the which Louers fauoured by the Muses may make their Ladies and Mistresses That great King of Macedon thought he not Achilles happie to haue bene set forth and commended by Homor and all great personages haue they not desired the like honour Not to be moued with the passion of glorie is to be brutish and without feeling or not to be stirred vp with a desire to make ones name liuing after death is a signe of a base and boorish minde They to whom the heauens haue not imitated either Art or Learning to attaine to this glorie by writing seeke after it in buildings or other rare workes of great charge and expence which continue for some time but not so long as bookes But it is certaine that the Muses hauing taken Loue in a snare of flowers would say nothing else but crowne this God with greene garlands acknowledging that they should be nothing without him who giueth them vttrance power breath to set forth their verses in despite of time it selfe For neither the greatnes of gifts nor of feare nor the hope of rewards nor threatnings could neuer make a learned Poet write well of any one if he doe not loue and affect him but on the contrarie onely Loue will make him speake better of those whom he shall loue simply without hope of reward then of those whom he loueth not and yet expecteth from them some recompence Questionlesse without Loue many excellent bookes which are made in the honour of men would be yet to doe a thousand other noble Acts which now through him be apparant to the eies of men Commendable therefore are Louers and more then any other sort of men at least they loose not time nor consume it not in doing nothing Oh Godhead replied Coribant but on the contrarie a thousand euils haue proceeded from Loue The ruine of Troy may verifie this and a thousand other testimonies I but quite otherwise replied Arcas Loue stood the Troyans in steed for he sent them the meane to kill Achilles reuenging the death of their Princes he being dead they in such a sort weakened the enemies Campe that without Treason Troy had neuer bene subiect to the Greekes But what hath Loue to doe with the Treason of men as long as he is not the cause thereof And yet the selfelame Loue replied Coribant was it not the cause of the death of modest Hipâ—olitus who was pittifully slaine by the vniust dealings of his wicked Stepmother Nay rather quice contrarie aunswered Arcas he was the occasion that he was made immortall he being raised from death vnto life againe by the cunning of that learned Esculapius who could neuer haue done him so great a good turne vnlesse he had first tasted of death through Loue. But what say you then quoth Coribant vnto Loue which forced Tarquin to offer violence vnto the castitie of Lucres being the cause of so great a mischiefe It was an occasion replied Arcas rather of a maruellous good turne by reason it was the cause of libertie of the Romances with the vtter ruine ouerthrow of their TyraÌ„ts and Lucretia dying in that order as she did was she not most fortunate and happie For doth not such a one die happily who as Codrus by his death preserueth his countrie making the same through his losse to be fortunate afterward And yet the verie same Loue said Coribant was the Author of the cruell perishing of Piramus and Thisby they hauing but a sorie guerdon for their so constant affection which the one bare vnto the other Is he not then bloodie minded and cruell No truely replied Arcas for what more sweet and pleasing kinde of death could they suffer than they did And had it not bene a thousand times better that one of them should die with the other thaÌ„ to be separated diuided seeing the Louer that loseth his Mistris or that Ladie that hath lost her seruant liue not at all but rather languish And yet still the same Loue was it said Coribant which vrged the daughters of Minos to betray their aged Father giuing instructions vnto Theseus how to slay the monster and to get out of the Labyrinth when he had done Why and the same Loue answered
Areas was the occasion of a greater benefit in deliuering Athens from such a seruile bondage as forced them to offer their prettie little children vnto the greedie lawes of that deuouring Monster To conclude much honour great glorie and infinite good hath proceeded through Loue in so much as he that hath neuer loued deserueth not the name of a man As the Shepheard had made an end of his speech the faire Nymph Orythia arriued who hauing her Lute in her hand sung in a most dulcet tune these Heroicall verses following What shall my Fortune neuer mend in which I doe languish Yet O yee Gods let me die for line without heart can I not now Cruell he that my soule commaunds doth mocke at my hard haps Curst be the flame that euery thing doth burne sane our anguish Ah shall I neuer see my life nor my Loue to be ended Neuer for these skies are cruell vnto my plainings And they doe seeme to be deafe when with my cries I doe mone them More that I liue I plague my selfe and am mine owne Hangman Cruell alone is that griefe that no remedie findeth But for to suffer without hope if destinie mine were Why was I brought into this world and why was I borne then Better nere to be than alwaies so to be tortred Woe to me hope haue I none that ere my paine will be swaged Yet no griefe there is to be found but findeth his easing Excepe such as ouer desperate onely by Loue comes Then since I needes must langnish thus content will I hold me For at last my comforts this although that I perish Yet from all these cares and troubles soone shall I rid me That man neuer feares when death doth venter vpon him When to loose this wretched life he rides in a Hauen Free from the Tempests of this world to liue euerlasting After the Nymph had with many scalding sighes deliuered these verses she thus bespake the Shepheard Arcas What time wilt thou limit vnto my sorrowes and when wilt thou make an end of tormenting me as thou doest If pittie cannot induce thee to succour me at least let these mine earnest praiers moue thee Why takest thou delight thus to be importuned and why is it a pleasure vnto thee thus to be sued vnto Ah wy doest thou not restore my heart vnto his former health and why deuiest thou to helpe him who is so much affected to doe thee seruice Cruell is that Lord that maketh his faithfull seruant to serue him still and yet yeeldeth him no recompence for his paine vniust is he and hatefull both to God and man For what vice more horrible can there be than barbarous ingratitude Ah wash from thy soule that foule fault and suffer not thy selfe any more to be reproached in that thou art hard-harted and bitter against her who onely deuoteth her selfe vnto thee After the Criminall hath his fatall sentence pronounced he is put to death presently without making him languish any more in prolonging his miserie Fuen so let me intreate thee to dispatch and giue thy verdit of life or death against me without delighting thy selfe any longer in my Disasters The fire put into the mouth of a Cannon forceth the pouder to flie out suddenly which turneth into a flame Euen so I am not able longer to endure without my griefe burst forth of my soule or that I giue vp the ghost and die But what talke I of death when it is denied vnto me No no had I but had the benefit of the same thou cruell man hadst neuer heard so many praiers come from me neuer had I made so many vowes vnto thee neither had I moued thee so often vnto compassion as I haue done for with some desperate instrument or other I had finished both my life and griefe long ere this and both at one time But alas I being immortall must endure this anguish whilest being able to helpe others I cannot heale mine owne festring wounds Not vnlike the Physition who dieth after he hath conserued the liues of other not hauing the skill to preserue his owne Were some God the cause of these my plaints and that by reason of some one Deitie or other this mischaunce had hapned vnto me I were not worthie of some excuse amongst mine equals But when I call to minde how I haue suffered my selfe to be vanquisht by a simple Shepheard and yet am not able to perswade him to haue remorse vpon me I needs must confesse I am worthie to be blamed and that rightly But alas I know not wel what I say for my Ladie the Goddesse Diana loueth a Shephcard as well as I and vnder this weede oftentimes lodgeth vertue learning and beautie Neuer was any more beautifull than Adonis none more faire than Narcissus and none more liuely than Paris when he was a Shepheard neither was there euer a Nymph more amiable than Enone the Shepheardesse Angelica the peerlesse Paragon of all beautie left many great Princes and valiant Paladines all which were suters vnto her for her Loue and accepted a poore common Souldier for her sweet heart and Loue. Loue respecteth not riches onely he hath an eie vnto the perfection of the person that is loued Then sweet Shepheard fancie me and giue me some sure proofe of thy affection towards me without putting me any more to further troubles So said the pensiue Nymph when Arcas being rauished with the contemplation of his faire Mistris as if he had bene speaking vnto her and as if Orythia had bene farre from him Began to speake thus O sacred Diana haue I not as yet giuen thee sufficient testimonie of my zealous good will towards thee considering my long and many sorrowes but wilt thou still see more and yet neuer yeeld me any recompence for the same Alas the Goldsmith trieth gold but once if it will indure the fire which he vseth to make so me excellent piece of worke withall and the Eagle is contented to carrie his little ones but once against the Sunnie Beames which if they are able to abide he suffereth them to liue making account they are his owne Why then deare Mistris art not thou content with these many proofes of my faithfull Amitie without demaunding still new at my hands If it be because I am too base a creature to be beloued and that thou thinkest me not worthie of so high a fauour Ah then I beseech thee remember Iupiter who disdained not the Loue of Europe or of Semele although they were mortall women nor Thetis who although a Goddesse yet vouchsafed to espouse Penelus an earthly man and sacred Apollo who vouchsafed to affect the Troyan Cassandra yea remember the Goddesse of all beautie who was willing to accept the Loue of Anchises to beare a child by him which was called the wandring Prince Aeneas And therefore be not angrie although I dare to loue thee for I feare not that the torment of Ixion shall euer punish me because I
when mongst the woods as yet Loue was not knowne In that same happie golden world when none through Loue did grone Wren Shepheards free from Cupids darts as carelesse did remaine And for to languish were not forc't through too much amorous paine But rather not so much as once thinking of this proud Loue ' Voide from all ill themselues sought still merrie to make and proue Whilst want only amongst themselnes in ioy they spent the day And pleasantly to their contents the time did passe away Freed from those cares that Louers haunt and brings them to their graue Making them pale and wearie fore their youths they passed haue Then was no wailing there nor eies that teares doe shed apace Nor that they grieued were could you perceiue ought by their face Cleerd from all plaints releast from sighes not knowing what ment care They did despise and eke contemne the Cyprian Goddesse faire Her cruell Sonne the very Syre and father of all vice Of them Oblations neuer had nor any Sacrifice The mighty power of Cupid blinde as then they did not know Nor what did meane his fire-brands his Arrowes and his Bow Withouten troubling with this Loue their neuer troubled braine A kinde of ordinary kindnesse did mongst them remaine In merry laughter and in sport they spent the soone gone yeare Their chiefest pleasures thousand songs and Madrigals then were Which they sigh'd forth with comely grace whilst beut the flowing banke Of some cleare riuer all the Crue of them themselues encampe One while they daunced hand in hand within the Meadowes greene Another while bout foote of Rocke for cooltnesse they were seene As then plaintes were not their repasts nor tcares as drinke to vse As Louers wont who what is ill still for themselues they chuse Consuming sorrow did not gnawe nor gripe them at the hart Nor was their chiefe reliefe of Death the penetrable dart But rather without carke and care without malice or strife As happie soules in all content they wore away their life No palenes was within their cheekes no hollownesse in eye Which frighted with a suddaine feare most pittious you might spie Nor could you once perceiue as much as signe of heauie chance In their well featur de faces all and louely count enance Ah trebble blessed such For he cannot be said to liue Who for Death wisheth that his woes no more might make him grient In steed of pastimes to be blithe they sounded their shill Crowde And with a hundred Songs they fild the Groues with noyses lowde Whilst their soft instruments apace according to their vse Oftimes well tun'de and then vntun'de as they themselues did chuse A thousand Brawles and Pastorall Odes they sung in plainest sort Whereby the more they did increase their merriment and sport In coole of day to daunce about you might en them espie And when the heate was great in midst of shadowing Groues to lie There would they many an olde wiues tale and iesting Fables tell Whilst some of them to blowe a fresh thir Bagpipes fell Now vnder cooly Trees they would friendly make their repast Feeding on bread and Mornings milke for to delight their taste And dipping in the water cleare their Hattes they that did drinke Which better farre then any wine though daintiest they did thinke But weladay the nature of this sauadge inhumane LOVE Did alter this sweete course of life and worser made them proue He chang'de their pastimes into playes and spoyled so their sense As weakening courage theirs hee forc't them stand without defence As we doe see amaz'd to stand the gentle harmles Sheepe And that in running here and there no order they doe keepe When as at vnawares the Wolfe wtih reuenous mouth them takes And of them as him liketh best a bloody slaughter makes Or as we vieu the Shepheards from the fields in haste to runne One here one there least that by death they should be ouercome When Iupiter to threat the earth with which he seemeth wroth From heauen he in angrie wise his Thunder sendeth forth Making a thousand flashie Lights the children of dread Feare Vnto their frighted eyes and on their bloodlesse cheeks appeare Whiist furie of the Thunders hard with such a suddaine cracke As one would thinke it were hard by and euen at his backe Euen so did LOVE these Shepheards fray trouble to them wrought Consumde their liues and chiefest glee and to their end them brought And thus it was Nature had framde one Shepheardesse mongst rest More perfect then the other all and fairer then the best Young was she in experience and in age for but as then She passed had of yeares some fine and ioyning to them ten Yet stature hers so comely was and full of Matestie As for a second Venus her they did of right descrie Her hatre farre brighter then pure gold in knottes was tyed fine Empaling round her head most rich of Princely Crowne the signe Whilst those her tresses amorous did genttly moue with winde As we the calmy waues in Sea to role and rise doe finde Her Forhead heauens sweet mount was smoothe by Nature framed faire No Art though exquisite could mend the same it was so rare No wriâ—ckle was there to be seene no frowning in that place That truely got by Beautie was Beautie gaue it such grace Her Eyelid lids of Ebony inclosed there within Which Gods and Men amazed made and euery hart did win Her sparkling eyes two starres did shew then Lightning far more bright More cleare then glorious Sunne when he doth shew his chiefest light Eyes which who so presum'd to dare their lookes for to behold They soone were strucken blinde as t' were for being ouerbold Eyes where as LOVE in all his pride did seeme for to repose And through the sparklings of the which lies chiefest honors rose Eyes which as sacred and diuine all did adore and feare Although to euery one their full and ouerthrow they were Her Checkes that checkt greatst Potentates which Beautie beautifide Of ruddie Rose and Lillie white the equall combat tryde Her Checkes vermillion colloured by Nature not through Art The perfect Type of louelinesse to each one did impart Her witching lippe was Curr all white like to a Gillsflower Which â—atred was in pearly deaw most supple euery hower And as her Lippes so was her Mouth her mouth like Orakell From which a speech forth came that did Pallas though wise excell Her Lippes inuiting to sweet sport did grace her dimpled chinne Whose sight was such as was enough in thought to make vs sinne Her snowy Throat was seemely plac'te so was her sweatlesse Neck Which whitest Marble of the Alps and Porphery did check Her matchlisse Throat so delicate her daintie Skinne so cleare As through the same what so she dranke the coulour did appeare Her beautous Breasts LOVES lobbie right right way to Paradice Where grewe those golden Apples rare vnvalued for their prcie Two Mountaines there were plac'te from
whence on amorous sweet fire Did send forth sighes children of Care begotten through Desire Her slender Middle like a Spanne did shewe her waste so small Which who so lookt on as he lookt he languisht therewithall Next was that place Alas that of that Place I may not showe Vnworthie we such Mysteries and such rare sights to knowe Her hands were white as Whale his bone so matchelesse was her foote The first whereof were Arrowes which Dan Dupid vsde to shoote Then such this wonderous Beautie was of this faire Shepheardesse Who many a Shepheards hart did chaxm wroght them much distresse Her name was FLORA FAIRE surnam'd well worthy of that name And worthie was that name of her so glorious was her Fame Her exercise and vse as then was bout the Fields to walke And chiefest pleasure which she tooke in shadowy Groues to stalke Whilst as her harmlesse flocke did feede about them she did sing Full merilie some pleasant Round which made the woods to ring For spitefull LOVE as yet had not his malice gainst her bent Nor had he yet through his deuise spoylde this worke excellent Free was shee from a Louers life from amorous annoy With libertie most pleasantly her youth she did enioy But soone this humor for to change she gainst her will was forc't Compeld to Loue from her hearts ease poore soule she was diuorc't For by her dwelt a goodly Swaine that did increase her care A valiant Shepheard gallant and louely as she was faire Borne on the selfe-same day that she into this world was borne And subiect by the selfe-same chaunce vnto this fatall storme Hight NV MIDOR he cleaped was both affable and kinde So courteous and so debonnaire as like you could not finde In feature shape and comelinesse Adonis he did passe And if hee did not him exceed his equall sure he was Each morning when the breake of day began for to appeare He vsed to accompanie his FLORA loued deare Vnto the Meadowes with her Flocke and there with her would chat In friendly wise as they did walke of this and then of that And afterwards they both would set them downe or in some shade Of some thicke Pinetree or by Foord which trickling murmure made There would he cate of vittailes hers and she on his would feed Whilst what they had emongst themselues as common they decreed When any sport commenced was mongst Shephear as she was found The first that led the Daunce with him and he began the Round No sooner was it night but they together home did goe And in franke manner one of th' other Gifts vsde to bestowe These pretie sports were but a light as t' were more strong to tie And to begin to binde them in more perfect Amitie And yet this plaine and simple kinde of Courting though plaine stuffe To set their harmlesse harts on fire too much t' was and enough Since LOVE we see engendred is only by looks and speach And so continueth through the same beyond all humane reach This was the cause that manie woes they did endure Of Friends they loyall Louers did become most firme and sure As both their Birth-dayes were but one so was their Loues but one Equall they in affection were and loue they did alone One minde there was betweene them both two bodies but one soule One Conquerour both of their harts and fancies did controle What one did wish the other would alike was their Desire If th' one did burne through heate the other did feele as great a fire If th' one did send forth pittious plaints with many a drery teare The other for to waile with sighes and sobbes did not forbeare No loue like hers so passionate so loy all ere hath bene Anchises loue with Venus faire so constant was not seene Nor Pyramus may I compare vnto these Louers true Although so deare his Dame hee lou'd as that himselfe he slue In euery Rocke and Tree they did ingraue the houre and day In which LOVE cunningly had wrought to bring them to his bay In midst of Groues and thickie Woods cut in the tender kindâ— Of Okes and Elmes these Louers names engrauen you might finde Whilst as they romed here and there a thousand Songs they sung To make them to forget their paine fierce LOVE them so had stung The louely Shepheard Sonnets made in honor of his Dame And in her presence sung them oft presenting her the same Which she accepted gratiousty whilst with hote sighes from hart She shewde how he grieu'd not alone but that she bare a part And thus long time both comfortlesse did comfort one another Long time this secret Fare hid close in bosome they did smother Whilst in some sort the heauens did seeme their actions to allow And LOVE made show as good what so they did for to avow Bin weladay what mortall thing can euer lasting bee When they themselues must once decay and vnto ruine gree When Fortune enuicus of our good such interest hath and power That he can alter our delights and pleasures in an hower No maruell then though that sweet life of these two Louers in aine He topsie turme turned quite for pleasure bringing paine As you behold a stately Oke in growth surpassing prowde Vnder whose shade of late the Plants were glad themselues to shrowde Whose cooly leaues and braunches greene greatst Conquerors doth scorne Vpon their helmets and their Crests most brauely to haue borne Vpon the suddaine through mischance with Thunder sirucke as the Whilst blasted with the Laghtning flash his head doth lye fall low His scorchea leaues look black and swarth his verdure all is gone The Tree it selfe shewing like a Truncke a Blocke or barea stone No sappe or iuyce remaines therein but dead it seemes to bee Nor former glorie of his greene you anie more can see Euen so by malice most vniust through Fortune full of strife Of these two Louers happie-once did end the pleasant life The iealous heauens repining that they thus should liue on earth Exempt from canes Death sent to them to stop their vitall breath Death did they send as messenger to sommon them from hence And for to bring the same about they wrought a false pretence This which we LOVE call which two harts makes one in loyall wise The same vow'ae to the other oft makes deadlyest Enemies Of cold and freezing iealousie the Author first be is Whose sweetnes sowrest miserie to follow doth not misse Nor euer hath there any thing as yet in him bene found But what with griefe and wretchednes thicke swarming doth abound His preasures like are vnto spoyles or like an Aprill showre Which is no sooner come then goue nor any while doth dure That this is too too true I vouch Aenone she it prou'd And dolefidl Dido who did die because one-much she lou'd Achilles felt his furie fierce when he Polixena Did sue to haue whose witching-face was cause of his decay Then of these faithfull Louers twaine
me than is this thy offence Command me louing thee with thee and with thy fault dispence Iudge then of this strange crueltie that it should me constraine To loue and honour him who is the Author of my baine So we the feeble sicke man see through senselesse fond desire What is th' occasion of his death to couet and require So I arrested by proud Loue am forst iniuriously Alack the while to honour thee who laughst to see me die Thee must I like and follow still despite of my poore hart Although void of all honestie and friendly Loue thou art Still for thy sake I languish must in death with great disease Yet I my selfe count happie since I doe it thee to please The Gods forget as I forgiue thee from mine inward soule And neuer may they for my death as faultie thee controule As willingly I thee forgiue as to my death I goe For being dead thou then too late my constancie shalt knowe Well maist thou haue a fairer friend but faithfuller was neuer Who as she seru'd thee whilst she liu'd in death shee 'le loue thee euer But thou great Cupid rightfull Iudge reuenge my cause aboue On her who traiterously hath stolne from me my heart and loue Plague her that makes me pine away example let her bee To Louers all how they take heede to vse such treacherie Plague her that hath my Louer stolen my louely NVMIDOR And let her feele like punishment as I haue felt ore sore Ah let her not who loyall Faith so shamefully doth soile Raise Trophees of my ouerthrow nor triumph in my spoile Thus Flora prated and sigh't thus wailde the heauie Shepheardesse Was neuer Nymph or Maiden borne that felt such deepe distresse In wailing and in weeping she did spend the day and night And the remainder of her life in sorrow sans delight And now she wearie is of life life doth her vex and grieue A greater Corsie hath she not than that she thus doth liue She doth resolue to die forthwith and yet she faine would chuse The gentlest and the easiest way her soule from corpse to loose For to dispatch her selfe with sword it was too fierce and fell The fire displeased her and the rope to her was horrible To fling her selfe downe from some Rocks high top she had desire But being there the height thereof did make her to retire Vpon the Seaish banke she stood minding therein to lep But raging waues did her afright from drowning they her kept As we behold amaz'd to stand the doubtfull traueller Not knowing which way for to take by reason of great feare Vnskilfull which path for to trace beset most dangerously Which he alreadie seemeth in his minde to view with eie On euery side with Theeus who all the passages about Haue laid so as he knoweth not how from thence to get him out So Flora doubtfull and yet full of corsiues and of paine Knoweth not what death were best to chuse though she would die full faine She musing lookes now here now there she runneth euery houre About the woods and wisheth that some beast might her deuour O that we should ill wish our selues oftentimes we wishing woe Vnto our selues it lights on vs poore Flora found it so No wisedome t is the Gods to punish vs to put in minde Too soone they can if so they please to plague vs iust cause finde Meane time Loue at this Shepheardesse doth smile and at her griefe Who more she doth her woes bewaile the more she wants reliefe His glorie he embellisheth by reason of her care And his victorious Chariot with the same doth make more faire But leauing her still languishing we will againe returne To Numidor who missing her doth waile as fast and mourne He seekes and searcheth euery where for Flora he doth call But yet no voice but Ecco shrill doth answere him at all Ecco doth onely answere him with wast and fruitlesse sound He heares her name but Floras selfe can no where yet be found Like as the Hart that louing Deare when he his prettie Hinde Runnes round about in euery place with flying pace to finde Now seeketh her amongst the Rocks and then the woods among Then in the Forrests there by Foords and Riuers all along And finding still to misse her then seekes in some hollow Caue To see if there her companie as fortunate he may haue And wearie now with seeking her he downe lieth in some place Sighing full sore for want of her whom he longs to embrace So doth our Shepheard who was now with seeking her being tirde Wailes his hard hap not her to finde whom he so much desirde So much he wailes as hardest Rocks grieue that so much he seekes And pittious Ecco when he sighes in recompence now weepes Each thing seemd to their power as though they succour to him brought Onely did Flora want alas for whom so much he sought Flora for whom he sought whom yet he could not once entreate That she vouchsafe would to his cries to answere and to speake Flora who power had ouer him him to commaund alone Whose death and life lay in her hands for her thus did he mone And now into his troubled braine did many fancies come One while he thinkes some God of woods with her away is runne Or that some other Satire ruffe hath drawne her to some cane And there against her will doth minde his will on her to haue Another while he doubteth sore lest in this vncoth wood Some sauadge beast hath seazde on her and spilt her harmlesse blood Or else he feares she him will haue no more vnto her mate But rather meanes some Louer now into her grace to take Thus doth he languish comfortlesse to see his hard estate And in a manner doth begin to grow as desperate What hopefull is that he reiects no ioy he entertaines But as a man carelesse of helpe he wretchedly remaines As is a guiltie person brought before the Iudge seuere Conuicted fore him for his fault which proued is most cleare His conscience telling him of his offence and his amisse And for to proue the same before him his sharpe witnesse is Which when he findeth shame and griefe doth so his sinnes confound As he his life not to respect nor to regard is found So wofull full of heauie care this haplesse Shepheard was And so he Flora had not lost for life he did not passe But hauing lost her he did thinke his heart and soule was gone And therefore comforted he would not he of any one Yet he no sooner breath had tooke but that he nerethelesse For all his toyling gan to seeke and search for her afresh He prieth into euery bush through groues he looketh all Andrunnes so fast as oftentimes through hast he downe doth fall Trough brambles sharpe through bushes and through hedges he doth passe Through thicke and thinne and all to finde his long sought dearest I asse Like to the Deare that chased is
secret ceremonies were forbidden to be solemnized by men whilst she in the meane space carried away my hart with her to stand her in steed of a sacrifice which she might offer vnto her Goddesse Long did I expect her comming back againe and grieuous was it vnto me to stay so long her returne but there was no other remedie wherefore I laid me downe vnder a broade Beech Tree where if I had heard neuer so small a noyse I presently started vp thinking I should haue beheld the sweet face and comely countenance of my glorious Sunne If but a small leafe had moued I thought straightwayes she was come Then would I count in my minde how many paces it was from that place vnto the Temple and me thought that now she was comming from thence that by my account she was so farre onward of the way and and yet I was deceiued in my conceit For I reckoned as they say without mine Hoast One while I doubted least she had altered her iourney and that she determined to walke some other way Another while I feared least she stayed the longer because she was loth to come where I was O most weetched is the condition and estate of Louers from whome doubtfull feare and fearefull doubt can neuer be abandoned Although men owe reuerence vnto the Gods and that they ought to respect that Seruice as they should their owne proper liues Yet neuerthelesse I could as then haue bene very well contented that Diaxa had bene spared from doing that Sacrifice O miserable lawe of LOVE which spoyleth all other and which so that itselfe may restaliue and goe for currant careth not although all other considerations be made voyde and disanulled how iust soeuer they be The Louer so hee may enioy what he coueteth he forgetteth all that is to come not so much as once thinking of the dutie which is due vnto the Gods nor regarding the feare of men nor respecting sacred Religion at all Great is the Furie no doubt that haunteth them else would not amorous Phoedra haue sought the death of innocent Hyppolitus neither the wife of Putiphar gone about to haue made the vertuous Ioseph endure so great miserie Now whilst I expected her whom I could not see I might heare not farre from mee a certaine voyce singing this Dittie following Lucklesse and luckie both at once am I With feare and hope I trembled as a Reed Lucklesse by Beautie thine by Destinie Luckie because I am thy slaue indeed For then thy face there nothing is more faire Then thy sweet Eyes nought more diuine or rare One while I hope another while I feare Nor can there any thing my fancie please It greeues me for to see the heauens though cleare So much I doubt thy fauour to displease Then thy faire face there nothing is more faire Then thy sweet Eyes nought more diuine or rare Then sweet sower Foe vonchsafe me for to loue Or once for all abridge my time of life Nor suffer me such torments more to prâ—â—â— Since I must die lest thou appease this strife For then thy face there nothing is more faire Than thy sweet Eyes nought more diuine or rare Although thine Eyes my paines encreaseth more Yet more I see them more I them admire Thy beautious feature I so much adore As for to die for it I still desire For then thy Face there nothing is more faire Then thy sweet Eyes nought more diuine or rare For louing thee my greefes I happie deeme Though cruell and vnsuffrable they bee Whilst at the same as enuioue I doe seeme Though for thy sake how I still die I see Then thy faire face there nothing is more faire Than thy sweet eies nought more diuine and rare Then whether death my life shall take away Or whether I shall laid be in my graue Yet will I loue and honour thee for aie Both dead and liue my seruice thou shalt haue For then thy face there nothing is more faire Than thy sweet eies nought more diuine or rare This Song was dolefull enough and yet more dolorous was the voice of him that sung it which was small remedie vnto my sorrowes but rather a fresh beginning vnto them whilst I lanquished being oppressed with a double martyr and my griefe encreased more and more the first was because I loued and the other was because I perceiued that I was seconded in my louing So violent was the affection which I bare vnto my Ladie as it began to breed in me a certaine kind of iealousie I beginning to imagine that this other my companion in Loue because he was better liked of then I was might be as an ouerthwart barre to crosse my happie successe making Diana more hard-harted vnto me then she would haue bene if she had had no more Sutors then my selfe onely This second wound gauled me more than the first I maruailing much how it was possible for me to resist so sharpe an assault This was the cause I could not take any rest quietly my minde still running that I was not so much fauoured nor affected as this new commer was Not vnlike vnto him who lying in a wood cannot sleepe all that night long as well because he feareth the rauenous teeth of the wild beastes as also the cruell spoyling of fierce and murthering theeues Neuerthelesse I began to comfort me at the last thinking that if this new come guest had bene so well entertained by my Saint he would not then haue lamented so much as he did for one cheerfull looke one louely glaunce or one pleasant word proceeding from his Mistris is enough to make a Louer reuiue againe although he were before at deaths doore This then was the reason that for a while I was pacified and contented but then by and by I began to doubt againe remembring that it was an ordinarie course of Louers to complaine without cause whether it is because still they haue one thing or another in their heads that maketh the alwaies feare the worse or whether it be for that they take a kind of pleasure in complaining and lamenting after they haue glutted themselues with delight no otherwise than such as being extreame and hot fling themselues into cold water or as vnto staruen and famisht men victuals and food are most sweet and delectable This was the perplexitie in which I was in I being so troubled in my minde as I was halfe out of my wits yet in the end I resolued to drawe neere vnto this Shepheard to behold him wistly hoping that when I had throughly marked his contenance I might quickly coniecture of his disgrace or contentment and whether he were in fauour with my Mistris or no. Whereupon I stole faire and softly vnto him as with slowe and secret pace Mirrha approached the bed of her father when being hard by him who lay along at the foote of a shadowing Rocke I might here him demaund his fortune of God Pan who vsed to aunswere
that Phoebus being amorous of her had intreated his Sister Phoebe that she might remaine there vntill the next day to the end he might enioy her company This vnwelcome newes vtterly ouerthrew me I seeing my selfe to be bearded with such a companion in my Loue as no doubt would put my nose out of ioynt and chase away that small hope that I had before to creepe into some little credit with her Although some might thinke that I had had great reason to haue reioyced that I had so great a God vnto my Riuall in my Loue yet neuerthelesse I bare so proud a nunde as like another Marsius I could willingly haue hazarded my skinne against him so I might haue hindered him from enioying my Ladie But they that are bound must needs obey the weakest must vnto the wall and such as are inferiours must yeeld vnto the will of their superiours and betters This speech of the foresaid Virgin made me almost besides my selfe for I iudged and not without reason that so faire a dame after she had enioyed the Amitie of so mightre a God would neuer vouchsafe to stoo pe so low as daigne to thinke vpon a silly Shepheard and this was the cause I counted my selfe as vtterly vndone and with this heauie resolution I withdrew my selfe vnto my poore cottage where I gaue my selfe ouer to weepe and waile at my pleasure But whether it were that the Nymph had false intelligence or whether she ment to be merrie with me or no I know not for my Diana staied not that night in the Temple but presently after I was gone returned vnto the selfesame place where I so long had expected her coming which when I vnderstood I was more vexed grieued then I had bene before thinking my selfe to be forsaken of all good fortune and thereupon as one mad for very anger I tore my hâ—ire most grieuously bit my fingers for despite and cursed my selfe more then ten thousand times thinking that this iust punishment was lighted vpon me in that I presumed to imagine that my Ladie who was the very tipe and patterne of all chastitie would be so vaine as to consent vnto such a monstrous immodest motion although neuer so great a God had required her for the greatnes of Princes doth not diminish the offence of a woman that yeeldeth herselfe vnto them but rather if she be wise she ought to close her eies against such puisant Royalnes remembring that her honour is as well rauished by a great potentate as by a meane person and one of lowe estate meane time whilest I was absent the other Shepheard my companion in lowe estate meane time whilest I was absent the other Shepheard my companion in loue amorous of Diana lost neither time nor place but finding a fit occasion he ventureth to approach her presence vsing this short speech vnto her presenting her with these two Sonnets following Receiue gratious and louely Nymph receiue after the custome of the Gods this leane and bare present which as a Sacrifice I offer vnto thy rich beaurie excuse the weaknes and vnworthines thereof esteeming as much of the loyall good will of the giuer as if he had bene able to haue bestowed a farre more pretious treasure vpon thee she hearing him say so with a smiling grace tooke the paper which when she had vnsolded she read aloud as followeth The first Sonnet Thy beautie t is which cause immert all it deth showe So many proud harts it doth curb and bring downe lowe It is thy dauntlesse spirit that all as wonderous deeme Which thy faire face and Theâ—es more fairer maketh seeme Ah doe not suffer then are cruellte appeare Whilst they their honours due due vnto them doe heare Sacred he is held with Gods and sweet to Louers such Who faithfully doth thee adore and reuerence so much Faire honour neuer doe this mischiefe foule permit But let milde pittie in the looke of this mine enemis sit In my sweet enemies eies where writ is beauties storie And let not Surquedrie eclips with hate such seld seens glorie At lest yet come to me so if the worst doe come I shall haue honour though by death I be vndone Whilst she the beauens shall see her sharpely to rebuke And mestfull mourne that she such wrong course gainst me tooke The second Sonnet I liue no more or if as yet I liue T is thee to please thou enemie to my life No greater ill then nourish what doth grieue Maintaining quenehlesse fire to burne vs rife What hates me I most greedily desire What helpe me may that helpe to me deniese Alas of whom then shall I aide require A happie Louer 's he bewaild that dies Cruell mishap to force vs for to lone What vs doth follow with a deadly hate And that as sacred to account and prone Which spoyles and shortneth our chiefe quiet state Thrise trebble blest that neuer knoweth this ill For better t is disloyall to be thought Then for a dismall Ladie suffer still Who better lost is then for to be sought The faire Nymph most gratiously accepted these verses But I who had no other way to growe in fauour with her but onely by this selfesame meanes perceiuing that I was seconded by another who tooke the selfesame course and perhaps with better successe then I had therein was not a little sad fearing least I should be hindered very much through the same yet was I not sorie that many did haroldise the praises of my Ladie neither was I enuious at all that she was so much commended for a constant Louer indeed will alwaies preferre the honour and credit of his Mistris before his owne or all the pleasures which he hepeth to enioy of her because that Loue that onely expecteth pleasure is no true Loue but rather a filthy desire of Lucre and gaine whereas right Loue indeed esteemeth more of the honour renowme of his Ladie then of his owne particular commoditie and profit For that Louer cannot iustly say he hath done any worthy thing in the behalfe of his sweet Saint who aimeth at his owne contentment alone studying out how to benefit himselfe But he may be said to haue made a proofe of faithfull Amitie indeed who hath laboured not for his owne good but for his Ladies whose reputation good name and same is more deare vnto him then his owne proper life This then was the cause that I was not sorrie although my Diana had neuer so many worthy Poets at her command onely I was exceedingly afraid lest she should therefore make the lesse account of me when she had others that could doe as well as much as my selfe and yet neuerthelesse I protest I speake not this to flatter my selfe she shewed not so good a countenance vnto this fresh water Souldiour in the campe of Cupid as she did vnto me For these were the speeches she vsed vnto him after she had red his Sonnets Certainely sweet is that verse and
solitarily as melancolicke person in a wildernes and neuer more to moue me in this matter God knoweth how often afterward I cursed my tongue and wished ill vnto my mouth for the same for I will confesse the truth that euen then and before that time as euer since I haue done I loued thee most dearely Full little did I thinke but that I should haue heard from thee againe ere long when thou presently diddest retire thy selfe from my presence so that although I knew thou louedst me and that I was willing to shew thee any honourable courtesie yet could I not as faine I would by reason I knew not how to send conueniently vnto thee whilest thou in the meane time wert almost dead for griefe and I little better because thou haddest forsaken me so suddenly Now whilest we both liued thus in great discontentment the Prince of Lyons as ill fortune would came hither vnto my fathers Court and would needs force me to be his wife But I who had vowed in my minde neuer to haue any other vnto my husband then thine owne sweet selfe entreated thee to trie the combat with him in my behalfe not thinking that thou haddest bene halfe so weake as I perceiued afterward thou wert At the length it was thy good fortune to be victor of the field whereof I was not a little glad I determining with my selfe whatsoeuer should haue hapned to haue bene married vnto thee But woe is me I now perceiue death must cause vs to part in this world although we will meete both together in another And now seeing at this verie instant I am forced to behold thee drawing thy latest breath and that thine eyes are readie to be closed vp with an euerlasting sleepe thinkest thou that I either can or will allay the heate of my griefes or that I will reuoke my first word which was to take part of such fortune as should be allotted vnto thee Doest thou thinke I am so cruell so hard harted or so much voyd of remorse and pittie that thou dying before me onely for my cause and in my quarrell I would not so much as lament and bewaile thy death Ah my vnkind friend great wrong is this thou doest vnto me No no one and the selfesame Tombe shall enclose both cur bodies together and that which Loue would not permit to be thine whilest thou liuedst gentle death shall put thee in possession thereof without any trouble at all Thy commandement in this point shall be of no force with me thy prayers to no purpose neither thy entreating of any power at all with me but in any thing else doe but bid me and I will strait obey thee onely in this I must denie thee for assuredly I will die rather then liue to thinke that thou wert ouerthrowne through me and that I should liue continually to sigh and cry out saying Alas where is now my worthie Knight Can mine eyes shine and giue light when thine are dead and gon Can I endure to see thee caried vnto thy graue I not be buried in the earth And can I abide to liue to say Behold yonder my sweet friends Tombe and not be enclosed therein my selfe Neuer demand so vniust a request at my hands neither be so hard harted vnto me as to wish me to suruiue thee to the end I may be the more miserable But perhaps thou thinkest because I haue bene cruell vnto thee therefore thou maiest repay me with the like recompence againe To which I thus answere First the heauens know how much it was against my will and haddest thou not bene too farewell and timerous thou haddest saued both thine owne life and mine also Besides I challenge the pardon which euen now thou diddest graunt vnto me for this mine offence and therefore sweet friend be content and pleased for with thee will I die whilest our coarses shall lie one by another in one selfe Vault which when they were liuing was not permitted vnto vs and for this I hope mine honour cannot be called in question seeing all ages haue allowed young Ladies to loue honestie braue and valiant Knights and such was my loue and not otherwise as God himselfe can witnes Who then can iustly taxe mine honour None my deare Knight none and seeing it is so receiue this last kisse from the most wofull woman liuing receiue her heauie plaints and her lamenting grones and doe not oppose thy selfe against that small remainder of contentment which is behind for her in dying with thee which she will take as a requitall for so many miseries which haue bene afflicted vpon her Needes must I tell thee that I doe enuie at that glorie thou hast to die before me but long shall it not be for I will follow thee as fast as may be meane while and when thou shalt be in the heauens remember I pray thee thy deare and faithfull Maria. More would she haue spoken but that her heart was so ouerpressed with griefe as she fell downe dead vpon my dying Maister who seeing so pittifull a spectacle knew not what to doe for helpe her any way he could not so extreame and faint he was At the last she came vnto her selfe when with a lowe and fumbling voice he spake these fewe words the last as euer he pronounced vnto her My gratious Ladie now I beseech thee harbor no such vnkinde conceit within thee more good maiest thou doe vnto me with thy honourable speeches whilest thou art liuing then when thou shalt be dead or if thou shouldest die with me No sweet Princes no liue yea liue still and happily seeing nothing fairer then thy selfe can liue For else what discredit would it be vnto me if it should be obiected against me that I had darkned and extinguisht the brightest Sonne of this world let not so foule a blot staine my memorie after I shall be departed from hence aliue seeke not to shorten thy time before the will of God cutting off thy selfe before he doth appoint thee and disposing of thy bodie not according vnto his but thine owne pleasure An doe not so for so you may not doe Mortall creatures must be ruled by the diuine ordinance aboue and expect their leisure not doing any thing but as they shall appoint them Liue then I say once more and close these my dying eyes which whilest they liued were thine this Boone if thou shalt graunt me I then shall thinke my selfe happie but if not then shall I account my selfe as most miserable And now I feele that welcome death doth approach towards me through which all my cares and troubles end I my time is now come my sences faile and my tongue beginneth to be speechlesse No more haue I now to say to thee my deare Princes but onely to recommend my memorie and thine owne life vnto thee of which two things I desire thee as euer thou louedst me to haue an especiall regard Farewell I can no longer speake farewell the beautie
of this world farewell the faire Sunne of my soule farewell my ioy and onely comfort and if euer thou thoughtest me worthy of any fauour embrace me once before I die And thou sweet Iesu mine onely Sauiour haue mercie vpon me Scarce were these words forth of his mouth when the most disconsolate Ladie embracing her breathlesse Knight laied her mouth so close vnto his as his soule seemed to part out of his corpse into hers which with a sweet yet scalding sigh she drew in her owne And now he being without life and cold as any stone the Princes knew not what to doe faine would she haue murthered her selfe but that she had no weapon wherewithall to doe the deed besides she durst not stay alone in the chamber least she might perhaps be espied by one or other and yet againe she was most loth of all to leaue the coarse of her kinde friend so soone But in the end reason tooke place which perswaded her to conuey her selfe as secretly from thence as when she came thither which she did so cunningly through helpe of her old trustie and assured Page as she was not perceiued by any vntill such time as she recouered her owne lodging where after she had bene setled a while she locked the doore vnto her and so laying her selfe vpon her bed after she had for a certaine space wailed and lamented for the death of my Maister she held her breath so long within her bodie and closed her mouth so hard as at the length she stifled her selfe for want of taking winde and so was found dead not any doubting of any such matter nor any knowing what the cause should be of her death but onely my selfe and her foresaid trustie Page No sooner was she found thus dead and the bruite thereof noysed abroad but there was a generall lamentation and crying out throughout all the court not vnlike that which was heard in Troy the same night the Citie was set on fire vpon the suddaine by the subtill Greekes What great moane the King and the Queene made for their daughter the young Princes and how grieuously the friends of Don Iohn tooke the death of him being held to be one of the most valiants and brauest Knights of Spaine I hope I need not to report vnto you It shall suffice their Funerall obsequies were performed and set out in the most sumptuous and costliest manner that could be deuised which being past and done I tooke my leaue of that countrie minding to trie my fortune in some other place and so taking with me some fewe Iewels and certaine gold which my late Maister had bestowed vpon me I went my waies when as I trauailed on my iournie some of the foresaid Prince of Lions men by ill fortune met with me who knowing me to be a follower of Don Iohn that had ouerthrowne him in combat laid violent hands vpon me meaning to carrie me with them by sea into their countrie and there to put me vnto some cruell kinde of death But God knowing me to be innocent tooke compassion vpon me so as after I was shipped with them a suddaine Tempest arose in which our vessell was sunke all the passengers within her drowned and I onely escaped and was saued This reuerend sir was the wofull Tragedie which Fortunio reported vnto me of his hard aduentures But it now beginneth to waxe darke let vs be gon then said the old man and to morrow againe thou shalt begin where thou hast now left Agreed quoth Arcas and therewithall walked along with him to bring him on his way towards his lodging which as they were going they might see this riddle to be ingrauen within the barke of an auncient old Elme My fortun 's strange the whâ—le world holds me deare And though I nothing am of nothing made Yet I so spotlesse shew so faire and cleare As noblest states of me are well apaid What ere passeth by me I see the same Yet I no eyes haue and am formed so As smallest force doth bring to me my bane Breaking me peece-meale with a little blow My propertie most true is what doth breath I liuely that present in face and beautie And which is more I creature nere deceiue Great personages to me bowe as t' were of dutie Yet I them faithfull serue whilst loth they are To leaue me so well they my companie Doe like Say then who rightly can me barre From honour such as all giue vnto mee What thinke you of this Riddle said the olde man vnto Areas and how would you expound the same Marrie thus answered the Shepheard This Enigma signifieth nothing else but a right christall Mirrour which is a â—â—ettall of little or none account and is little or nothing accounted of in that they are common and subiect to breaking with euery small little fillip or touch of hand And yet neuerthelesse they are set by in euery place of the world especially by the better and nobler sort who lightly neuer passe by any of them but they looke and behold themselues in the same Not any one goeth by them but if he please he may view and discerne his owne liuely shape whilest the looking glasse it selfe seeth euery thing that passeth before it although it haue no eyes at all So brittle is it of Nature that as I said before it breaketh with any light fall all in peeces It sheweth the true counterfait of euery one that looketh in the same dwithout eceiuing any which is the reason they are in no small request amongst great states especially faire Ladies and Gentlewomen who therefore prise them very highly Well hast thou said quoth the old Magitian and thou hast hit the very naile vpon the head I commending thy sharpe conceit for the exposition thereof But now let vs be walking vnto our lodgings seeing the skie beginneth to waxe darke and the Sunne is readie to repose himselfe vpon his wet and deway coach And herewithall they departed euery one vnto their seuerall houses where we will leaue them vntill the next morning yet not leauing to conceale from your conceits an Ode which a certaine Nymph sung vnto them as they were going homewards And this it was Since that Loue is worse then death And suruies when coarse wants breath I will chase away the same Leust I vext be with that paine For she is fond that liues by Loue And many plagues is like to prone What would euery one report If I liue should in such sort Hope in vaine and to no end Marre myselfe rather then mend Since she is fond that liues by loue And many plagues is like to proue Yet I here protest though I Meane to leaue Loues crueltie Yet I Cupid honour still Whilst he worketh me none ill For she is fond that liues by loue And many plagues c. I confesse ther 's passions sweete In Loue for true Louers meete Such as doth them gently warme And their harts most sweetly charme Though she is fond
of the fruites that haue come vnto vs through the same Neuer hath any man visiblie viewed the admirable coniunction of thy Deitie A Sentence with humanitie and yet neuerthelesse wee ought to belieue it because of the profite that it hath brought vnto vs which is the Saluation and soules health of vs all Then if thy workes be so diuine so religious and so farre surpassing the naturall conceits of man it is no maruell although thou after thine owne imitation and likenesse desirest that that which man doeth should likewise be perfect hee being of thy making to the end he may be found worthy of thy heauenly Kingdome Thou hast charged thine Apostles most strictly to be perfect as thy Father who liueth in heauen and although they can neuer attaine vnto that good so much desired yet at the least thy will is that they make an assay and proofe thereof seeking as much as in them lyeth to doe vnto the vtmost of their power Neither doeth this perfection of which I speake consist in any thing so much as in thy works For by the worke the cunning and skill of the workman is found as by the sweetnes and daintinesse of the verse the learning and deepe conceit of the Poet is knowne And euen so those that will passe for maisters in any Art or Handicraft whatsoeuer giue testimonie of their skill by some rare piece of worke deuised by them which is accounted the excellencie of their cunning whereby wee may perceiue either their sufficiencie or their follie their deepe knowledge or grosse errours therein So that we find the perfection of eternall IEHOVAH in nothing so much as by his works which are euery way right sacred and most excellent Our Sauiour himselfe commaunding vs that wee should not seeke to endeuour to approach vnto his perfectnes in anie thing so much as by doing such excellent and heauenly deeds as hee hath done before vs. The Prentice that endeuoreth to learne some exquisite kinde of Trade or Occupation of his cunning Maister is he not properly said to imitate him as long as he is working some piece of worke that commeth nigh vnto that of his Maisters If so why then by this perfection is vnderstood as well good works as Faith For it is an easie matter to be brought to belieue And had Christ meant onely of Faith by those words his doctrine then had bene superfluous and to small purpose For without Faith his Disciples vnto whome he spake could not haue bene his followers because euerie Infidell is already damned and they all abounded in Faith seeing that through the same they shewed so many rare miracles but not such good works as the Sonne of God commanded them which approched and drew neere vnto the perfection of such as his heauenly Father had done before That great Apostle of his Saint Paul said he not afterwards vnto his Companions Be yee my followers as I am the follower of Iesus Christ and this hee meant not alone by Faith but as well by good workes also For that godly Disciple did somewhat more then belieue giuing testimony of millions of admirable good deeds as when he raised some from death to life healed other some of their infirmities Preached and wrote manie comfortable Epistles and ministred reliefe vnto the poore whome hee calleth Saintes Yea hee did more then this for hee laboured with his owne hands to get and purchase his owne liuing If then we will imitate this man of God we must doe as hee did who was not onely contented to belieue but also hath giuen vs great proofes of many godlie workes and worthy Actions meriting no little glorie and praise This word Follower is properlie spoken of him that attempteth to doe what his Maister hath done before as a young Scholler that composeth an oration after the imitation of Cicero the father of eloquence although he cannot frame it so exquisitely nor so eloquently as his Author hath done yet doth he studie to doe it as well as he can striuing to come as nigh vnto his Phrase as possible he may And so must wee doe labouring trauelling and doing what good wee are able to giue testimonies of our selues that wee are followers of his Sonne and of his Apostles For our Sauiour him selfe liuing heere vppon the earth amongst vs did not belieue onely but did most religious workes also so as if wee will follow his Commandement wee must imitate him not in his Faith alone but as well in his good deeds as the Apostles haue done before vs who were dutifull and iust doing as their Maister did thousands of good deeds vnto the reliefe and comfort of the soules and bodies of manie a one Faith then cannot be sufficient for our saluation without good works For were it good Iustice that such a one as had done millions of of cruelties cutting the throtes of the godlie and robbing spoyling and tytannizing vpon the Common-wealth both by sword and fire should be saued because as a Christian hee belieueth that there is a God Why so to doe were to make God to be without Iustice and so consequently to take it from him For take away the properties of the subiect you take away the subiect it selfe dismember a man and you seuer his bodie from him Euen so depriue God Iustice and you denie him to be GOD for he can be no God without Iustice That man who because hee shall tearme himselfe the neere seruant and follower of his Prince shall vpon that securitie exercise manie massacres notable murthers and egregious villanies shall not escape but for all that be punished by the Iudge because as we hope we are to receiue good for doing good and not if we doe what is bad and forbidden Now if the recompence for doing good deedes and the punishment for committing euill Actions are both taken away to what ende then should wee talke of Iustice and Iustice being cashierde and banished from hence vpon which the veriy Lawe it selfe is founded all Religion and Faith all humane societie and Commonwealths must needs be ruinated and quite ouerthrowne for euer Should euery one be permitted to execute wickednes without daunger to answere for the same What then should wee doe with Iustice for then euerie one would giue himselfe vnto euill and badnesse seeing it is more sweet and fuller of profite then goodnesse and the rather because that men are more prone by nature to put in practise the same Besides if the guerdon and reward of well dooing were taken away who would endure any paine or labour toyling and turmoyling his bodie and sweating day and night when hee shall finde his trauaile to be without recompence and that his merit shall be no more nor better then his which hath done wickedly But let vs rather say that there is a reward for doing good of the good and a punishment for the vngodly by such as are wicked For are there not Christians that shal be damned No doubt
had receiued their owne liues of him before who might if he so had pleased haue put them both to death So sweet was the pardon my Ladie gaue me which quite changed my minde restored mee to life and draue away all desire of death from me Straunge and extraordinarie are the meanes by which the Heauens lend ayde and assistance vnto miserable men especially when they least expect any such succour to be at hand Thousands of daungers did constant Marius escape and in the ende came to be chiefe Ruler in Rome The Heauens are so curteous as hardlie will they suffer that anie man be ouerthrowne or vndone and fewe haue there bene that haue offered to lay violent handes vpon themselues which they haue not saued Being as then both iocund and merrie I feasted and made much of poore Fortunio within my little Cabbin who vppon a day sitting at the Table with mee began thus to talke Certainely I will neuer maruell more to see thy face portrayed forth with griefe seeing thou louest so faire a Ladie For farre more daungerous and difficult is his Trauaile who aduentureth beyond the Seas to finde such curious marchandizes as be precious and rare then the paines an other taketh who is contented with such things as his owne Countrey affordeth No more can thy enterprise be other then heauie and full of perill thou louing no ordinarie Beautie but such a one as is most peerlesse and admirable And therefore is thy minde more haughtier then other Louers who followe faces lesse faire then thine by oddes But yet let this be thy comfort that the more thou doest hazard thy selfe in this so dangerous an Attempt the more glorious shall the victorie be when thou shalt obtaine the same For not matters of small importance but such as be hard and vnlikely to be atchieued deserue honour Vertue oftentimes making her selfe knowne amongst foule Vices as the Sunne doth in middest of the starres But I pray thee tell mee who set thee in hand with this second Taske and what gentle God heated thee with this other flame seeing thou so long time didst vowe seruice vnto the diuine Iulietta who when shee shall know hereof will condemne thee for chaunging and account thee as one fickle and vnconstant Ah Fortunio replyed I none can iustlie conceiue such finister opinion of mee For doest not thou knowe that my Loues were neuer other then honest and commendable I neuer loued the Bodie of anie woman so much as I did her soule It was the beautie of the minde and not the perfection of her personage that I esteemed and therefore doest not thou call to membrie that onely sighes haue bene the fruites of my loues He cannot be tearmed a Thiefe or Robber that liketh and seeketh for all such qualities as Vertue maketh amiable in anie subiect where they are found Neither will the wise be angrie or offended at all that their equalls are accounted of and that their perfections are honoured and blazed abroade as well as their owne bee Long since the auncient Sages of Sparta neuer fell out amongst themselues nor were iealous the one of the other if many of them had cast their affection vpon one goodly childe or other because they all striuing to exceede one an other in good will endeuoured within themselues to bring vp the same youth to be as perfect as might bee How then can my famous Iulietta condemne mee or once thinke ill of mee if I hauing heeretofore exalted carrolized and blazoned abroad her rare Thewes doe now take Truce with my Penne to the ende I might the more casilie bestowe a little time in displaying by my writings the excellent gifts of an other Ladie who doth participate with her Vertues The loue that a kinde Father beareth vnto one of his Children doth not hinder him but that hee may make much of the rest And the white colour that one esteemeth of in his owne conceit is no such let but that hee may as well like what is sable and blacke This word Vnconstant or Wanering is meant by such sensuall and voluptuous Louers as seeke and hunt after pleasure onely delighting also in chaunge and neuer making account of Vertue as I doe For of what Inconstancie can the faire and learned Iulietta taxe me if without hauing broken my word vnto her I honour her as much as euer I did before Whereas cruell should that honour be vnto mee and hardly should shee deale with mee if she should forbid me to reuerence and esteeme of an other Ladie who deserueth the same dutious respect as shee doeth As a iealous Husband is cruell and vnkinde vnto his chaste wife if he shall prohibite and hinder her to loue such qualities as are commendable and praise-worthie Honest Affection is not like vnto foolish Loue for the one beareth and endureth many things with patience it being possible for one man to loue manie vertuous sparits without reproach and all at one time where the foolish Louer cannot loue ante more then one fond woman at once except hee be counted a Cozoner and forsworne He cannot be iudged to be wise and of discretion who for his owne respect will seeke to hinder in what hee may that such things as are vertuous and commendable should not be liked nor accounted of But such a one is not of himselfe worthie of anie Loue at all For to oppose ones selfe against the honour which is giuen vnto Vertue is to be her mortall enemiet Vertue being worthie to be reuerenced and prised in what manner soeuer she is found as a rich Ring is to be accounted of vpon what finger soeuer it is put Poore was Homer and yet his Learning brought him to be respected hee hauing had bestowed vpon him thousands of Honors worthie of eternall glorie yet if hee should haue sought to haue swallowed vp all these great Fauours done vnto him and haue studied by all the meanes hee could to crosse others that deserued well seeking to keepe them backe from such dignities as were awarded vnto them hee not onely should haue bene counted both grosse and ignorant but also spitefull malicious and ill giuen And so would the world repute of the matchlesse Iulietta if shee should stomacke and take in ill part that her equalls should haue such praise as they but worthilie merite For although now I loue Diana yet doe I not anie way giue ouer to like Iulietta But the Schoole-maister sometimes giueth ouer teaching graunting leaue vnto his Scholler to goe play not suffering him alwayes to stand poaring vpon his booke Euen so I most humble must intreat her to permit mee for a while to sound forth the praises of Diana abroad as I haue alreadie done hers But now repose thy selfe Fortunio and take thy quiet rest for I perceiue thou art as yet wearie of thy great trauaile and labour and we will hereafter finde a more conuenient leisure to talke of these our olde matters Wherevpon the poore soule tooke mee at my
sadde and heauie who hauing gotten verie nigh vnto the Hauen and beginning to cast Anker perceiueth himselfe to be carried backe againe into the maine Sea by a suddaine storme his Shippe being ready to runne vpon euery Rocke and so to sinke and drowne Euen so it was my lucke to perish euen in the Hauens mouth and beeing escaped of a sicknes then to die vpon the sudden And thus you see how iust my complaints were For more cruell are those dartes which vnlooked for pierce vs then those that wee knowe of and more sharpe is the paine that commeth vpon the suddaine then when we did before expect it Being then fallen into this suddaine mischaunce I knewe not what order to take nor what resolution to resolue vpon but only such as desperate wretches vse which was to make away my selfe and to haue recourse vnto the selfe-same death which I had heretofore chosen whereby I might rid me of my torments And now I was entring into that great and beaten path of desperate caytifs hoping by this means to bring an end to all my troubles which dangerous course I had quickly taken had not the curreous heauens bene more pittifull vnto mee then I was vnto my selfe making vaine and frustrate my former intention and meaning O how hard is it sometimes for a man to die and sometimes againe how easilie may he dispatch himselfe The wise man saith that mans life is as brittle as glasse that is quickly broken and yet notwithstanding many liue longer then they would wishing to die although they cannot For such as goe merrilie vnto their deaths because they hope their miseries shall end with their liues lament not at all for the losse thereof but rather thinke they haue a happie turne As the sicke Patient that couragiously swalloweth downe his bitter Pills which if hee were well and in health were neuer able to doe it Being throughly resolute what to doe I now gaue ouer weeping and sighing onelie I accused my Destinies making mee one while fortunate and then againe miserable Whilst in the meane space I did a little complaine of my Mistrisse but yet with such respect and in such a reuerend manner as she could take no exceptions against me at all This done I went to die for her and yet durst I not terme her to be the occasion of my death Not vnlike vnto these holie and deuout persons who although they be plagued with all sortes of miseries neither dare nor will venture to call the Gods the Authours of their wretchednes Me thought I was but too fortnnate to die for so worthie a subiect and that I was ouer-bountifully recompenced for all my troubles to haue that glory as to haue seene my cruell Saint for whom I dyed O faithfull and loyall LOVE that will not permit what paines soeuer I endured that I should not complaine of mine enemie So Pyramus dying for his Thisbes sake thought not himselfe vnfortunate neither accused her for his death And so was I as willing to followe the same course as that braue Caualier of Rome was who boldly leaped into the swallowing Gulfe or like his Countrey-man that with as great courage thrust his fist into the fire A matter that is alreadie well determined of be it neuer so hard is halfe dispatched at the first And there is nothing that looseth more time then vncertaine resolution I had now got vp vpon the toppe of the same Rocke where I was before minding to finish my loathed life and was readie with a braue manly heart to fling my selfe downe headlong into the bottome of the Sea thinking to make my selfe a Citizen of the kingdome of Thetis when the Nymph Orythia who still haunted mee but in vaine for my Loue caught hold of mee by the arme hindering mee from drowning my selfe in those salt Ocean waues As that Traueller is astonisht who seeth the Skies to chaunge and skowle whilst the Clowdes looke darke and bigge with raine euen so was I amazed when I saw my selfe so strangely preuented of my purpose I knewe not whether I should take this which shee had done in good part or in ill shee hauing disturbed mee in my desperate Action Wherevpon I looked vpon her and sighing as one that had bene awaked out of a dead sleepe at what time he dreamed of some pleasant matter spake thus vnto her What is the reason cruell as thou art what is the reason I say that thou shouldest thus oppose thy selfe against my good What iniurie hast thou receiued at my hands that thou shouldest thus bee a let and obstacle vnto the ending of my miscries and wherefore shouldest thou beare so spitefull a disdaine to see mee ridde of all my griefes and troubles Hard is my happe aboue all others that when I am readie and willing to die to auoyd these my more then insupportable torments I am still crossed and barred in this my chiefest desire Alacke Alacke how vnlikely is it that I shall finde comfort whilst I liue when being at the very point to die I cannot finde helpe to dispatch my selfe Goe goe hard-harted as thou art withdraw thy selfe from mee the chiefest foe I haue vnto my rest and let it suffice thee that my plagues abound too much alreadie without thine aide to make my woundes more mortall and deadly then they were before The Nymph hearing me say so replyed thus Shepheard Shepheard if in the olde world there haue bene anie that for casting away themselues haue deserued fame although they were farre vnworthie thereof yet was it for some great occasion and by reason of some laudable subject and not for a vaine and trifeling matter as thine is And yet I will tell thee one thing that so farre off is that man that murthereth himselfe from true glorie to challenge vnto himselfe the name of Constant as quite contrarie to thy conceit he rather deserueth shame and infamie For he that is constant endureth aduersitie with the same countenance as he did prosperitie without being moued or passionated one iotte at all as that worthie Romane Marius was Such as hauing not this resolute vertue of Constancie and because they want true courage of the minde A Sentence to resist these worldly afflictions seeke straitwayes how to ridde themselues of their liues deserue no praise or commendations at all but ought to be accounted as most abiect and white-liuered Cowards Doeth he merite to taste of pleasure that neuer suffered paine to be a commander who neuer did obey or to be partaker of honour who neuer did hazard himselfe to winne the same I thinke not Euen so such men deserue no grace nor fauour of the Gods at all who cannot patiently beare out such tribulations as are sent them from aboue by reason of their sinnes A Seatence and therefore thinking to escape them goe about to murther themselues Tell mee I pray thee shall the Gouernour of that Cittie be excused from blame who whilst the Cittizens thereof prospered and
all things went well with them is content to continue and rule amongst them But no sooner doth he see Fortune to turne her smiling face from them then hee giueth them the slippe putting them to shift as well as they can for themselues Cato is rather condemned then commended for killing himselfe at what time his Countrey had most need of him Neither can hee be rightly tearmed magnanimous hauing chosen so easie a death to auoyd a farre greater euill of which he seemed to acknowledge and confesse to be vanquisht and ouercome seeing he durst not stay to make proofe An Example and encounter with the same And yet is hee worthie of farre more praise then thou art For he had a better colour to shadow his death then thou hast whom soolish LOVE hath thus ouerthrowne Such cannot be called valiant and resolute who for feare of suffering a greater euill cunninglie chuse the lesse yeelding themselues vnto an easier punishment to auoid a farre more cruell As Sceuola cannot be saide to haue a right braue minde although he burnt his arme escaping by that meanes Death which otherwise hee could not eschue A Seatence being a farre greater torment then the firing of his fist Againe say that a man had all the occasions in the world whereby he might seeme to haue reason to massacre himselfe and that it were impossible for him to support and endure the anguish and agonies of his euer encreasing sorrowes yet ought he still to expect and looke for grace and fauour from the heauens who after they haue powred downe vpon vs raigne and stormes send vs most faire and comfortable weather There is none so wretched but that at one time or another tasteth of the goodnes of the Gods and though it be not by and by yet commeth it ere it be long so that we ought alwaies rather to hope the best then to feare the worst for death is the last refuge of mortallmen which neuertheles they ought not to entertaine without leaue of the superiour power A Searence the Lawe for bidding such to be capable of Christian buriall but hauing a stake knockt into their bowels to be laid in the cōmon high waies who as Iudas shall lay violent hands vpon themselues proclaiming them abroad to be worse then murtherers and homicides and making them infamous for euer Take heede then that thou fall not into this labvrinth of shame For if one must needs die he must haue a great care of the preseruation of his honour and so to order the matter that after his death his memorie be not fouly sported with some blacke fault for then is the time when he is out of the world that a man is talked of either well or ill if well then euery one lamenteth his absence and losse declaring how necessarie and profitable he was vnto his countrie If ill then doe they speake the worst they can of him because they now feare him no more knowing that dead men cannot bite at all It is to small purpose A Sentence although we haue carried our selues vprightly all our life-time if the Catastrophe and end thereof be vnhonest and wicked For the end doth make perfect the worke and the goodliest building that is is nothing worth if the foundation thereof be not firme and sure Liue so whilest thou staiest in this world as when thou shalt be dead none may be able to lay reproach vnto thee Doe so I pray thee for it would be a double death vnto me although I cannot die my selfe if I suruiuing thee should heare thee ill spoken of whom I haue alwaies so dearely loued And to giue thee a most certaine and kind taste how much I account of thee now thou art in this wofull perplexitie although thy loue is the thing I most desire and that my chiefest happines consisteth in seeing thee without a Mistris yet to the end I may doe thee good I am content to hurt mine owne selfe esteeming my selfe happie in that I may redeeme thy life with the losse of mine owne chiefest pleasure promising thee to entreate thy hard-harted Diana in thy behalfe to plead vnto her for thee to succour thee to the vttermost of my power in thy loue which is the tormentor of my rest and quietnes O great proofe of a most perfect amitie in a Nymph O rich witnesse testimonie of her feruent affection certaine was the assurance of her loyall friendship towards me most beautifull was that vertue in her most chaste was her desire and as commendable was her willingnes therein he is highly to be prised and set by that dieth for his friend A Sentence yet that man is farre more worthy of praise who resigneth all the interest he hath in that thing which may make him most happie to pleasure another therwithall whilest he in the meane time for want therof liueth in perpetual miserie especially if it be in the affaires of Loue which are so nice and so full of iealousie as the Louer thinketh he looseth nothing although he loose his life and libertie so he be not cousoned of his Ladies fauour Meane space poore Orythia is content so she may helpe mee to ouerthrowe her selfe being resolute to be most wretched for euer to the end shee may ridde me from all my griefes and sorrowes whilst I stand admiring her right generous minde amazed at her constancie highlie prising her affection and wonderfullie applauding her braue and straunge conceit Wherevpon I humblie thanked her for her kindnesse accepting of her gratious offer vowing vnto her that I will not die as now but rather expect some happie issue of her employment And therwithall I protest that I am the willinger to liue because I would satisfie her request not daring to refuse her courtesie because I found my selfe so much beholding vnto her and not for any certaine hope I did conceiue that I should finde grace at my Mistris hands For how could I thinke to finde succor from her who without occasion giuen had deliuered me ouer vnto death whereas I might well haue bene counted barbarous and vngratefull to haue denied the request of this Nymph especially when it proceeded from an affection so loyall and perfect Ingratitude being as foule a vice as bloodie Murther Vnthankfull persons in the old time were condemned vnto death An Example as the vnnaturall Sonnes of Sophocles were disinherited loosing all their father goods because they accused their aged father to doate for very age Doe as thou pleasest most gratious Nymph said I for I promise thee I will prolong my life at thy command not that I expect thy enterprise may bring me any comfort but onely because I feare to disobey thee Too much alreadie hast thou bound me vnto thee and therefore I beseech thee thinke I will sooner dispend my heart blood for thy sake then for mine owne Goe then thy waies and the heauens prosper thee in thy voyage yet if this my busines
shall chance to be any hinderance vnto thee let me then entreate so much at thy hands that I depriuing my selfe of this loathed life may be rid of these corsiues which still torment me and thou be freed of this tedious charge which so much troubles thee Not so answered Orythia Let mee alone and I dare warrant thee all shall be well Castles besieged yeeld not at the first parley things that are brought to passe processe of time and with mature deliberation and aduise continue longer and seeme more sweet afterward for a man knoweth not the delightfulnes of pleasure aright if he haue not a tast of paine before and that which we haue most dearest bought and hardliest come by we alwaies hold most pretious and of most account Liue then in peace and suffer me to trie my fortune which I perswade my selfe shall proue most happie in thy behalfe So saying the Nymph leaueth me to take her iourney minding to helpe me although she hurt her selfe taking more care to heale my sore then to cure her owne wound I could not chuse but follow after her faire and softly yet aloofe when by chance I met Fortunnio in the way all to be blubbered with weeping who thought verily that I had bene dead he roming vp and downe the Forrest like a man distraught crying out and calling still vpon my name whom none saue an Ecco answered Much did he bewaile my losse making greater moane for me then I deserued whilest most vnwisely he blamed Loue as the Author of my death and enuied most bitterly against the stonie hart of my faire Mistris But no sooner had he a sight of me but that he came running most cheerfully vnto me and most tenderly embraced me changing his former sad and heauie countenance not vnlike to him who hauing found some pretious Iewell which he before accounted as lost beginneth to reuiue and to be merrie againe Then did he tell me how my Ladie had hard I was dead she belieuing the same for most certaine truth for Orythia had for my good spread abroad this report with as much speed as possible she could which comming vnto my Dianas eares was not a little vnpleasant vnto her as was found by the number of salt teares which she shed as a sure restimonie of her true griefe Which when I knew I began to take comfort againe and to reuiue my selfe with a fresh hope of some good successe to come and thereupon I compiled these verses following vpon the teares which my Mistris shed in my behalfe whilest I attended with great deuotion the often wished for returne of kinde Orythia Examitor and Pentamitor verses Sweet doe not thinke thy pearly teares my paines can asswage ought Not death but thy teares bring to my soule his adue For thy grieuous plaints in steed of one onely shert death Thousand deaths and more are to me paine to enerease I not deserue that thou for me shouldst wofully weepe thus T is not death but thy teares take from my selfe my delight Death alone this sillie corpse commands when it iskes him But thy griefes doeforce soule for to flie to the skie After so many paines in our loue leaue vnto me giue none Hence to depart in peace rest that I may in my graue Long enough haue I liu'd since that so gentle a liking Tide hath thy hart to mine and to thy soule ioyned miue Then this my exceeding torments Faire doe not enuie Since that I desire life then thy selfe for to leaue Farewell pleasd he dyes who dying findeth a fauour When that his Ladies hand close vp his eyes at his end What more sacred Tombe to be interd can I chuse me Then to die in thy armes where my desire euer liu'd If whilst I liu'd thou care didst take for my poore life At my happines then ah be not enuious now Leaue I beseech thee teares to shed since teares cannot helpe me For my soule once gone thou by thy teares cannot haue Cruell death to relent with sighes you neuer intreate can Blest that Louer dies who by his Loue makes an end Onely this I beg at thy hands before that I die here Those faire beautious eyes kisse that I might but a while Might I but finde this kindnes rare then blest would my soule be Nor would it are forget thanks to requite in his minde Faire too much it were for me to die in thy sweet armes He that dies content death neuer feeles or his dart Who to his Mistris doth deuote his hart as a present Leaues the same in his brest royally laide in a Tombe Gloomie night for to close mine eyes fast can neuer haue power Nor can I die as long as what I like I may see Then doe but thinke on me whose soule was onely deuoted Vnto thy selfe and which liu'd in thy brest that is chaste In the bottome of my darke graue shine shall thy bright eyes Whilst with a new fire death shall me reuiue once againe For if heretofore the same could into my soule peirce Who can hinder it now brightly to shine on my coarse Then deare Saint to leaue these wailings let me request thee I doe not sigh cause I die but thee to see to lament For since of thy grace I am not worthy but vnfit Then as much as a teare why for my sake shouldst thou shed Vnder the yoake of amorous seruice whilst that I liu'd What good once did I thee what haue I done for thee ere T is no sense to bewaile the losse of one that deserues not Who to none but himselfe whilst that he liu'd did he loue This is the cause my soule force my coarse to relinquish For that he seruice small did whilst he liu'd to my dame Yet since this my wisht for death most happily hapneth Since by my parting now I from my griefe now doe part T is my fortune for me too good ah faire doe not enuie Since that alone through death happily liue doth the soule Wipe then thy faire eyes and without shewe of a mourner This my breathlesse Trunke vnto the graue doe thou beare Thrise happie Tombe since he againe reuiues with a new life Who dead leaueth his Loue rauished him for to joy This was the mestfull Dittie I made I being then so troubled in my minde as I knew not well how to expresse my griefe although I vsed many scalding sighes and salt teares to make manifest the same I being of cōceit that it was impossible for me to blazon forth the crueltie of Loue in his right colours and yet did I seeke to comfort my selfe in that I had many cōpanions in my miserie heretofore O victorious Caesar for all thy valour thou wast conquered by louely Cleopatra who had a sonne by thee called Cesarion And thou graue Emperour and diuine Phylosopher diddest thou not doate vpon thy most vnhonest Faustina whilest thou thy selfe becamest Loues prisoner notwithstanding all thy wisedome and greatnes Hanniball found his force too
heauens hauing gotten into a safe creake and bay will needs venter backe againe into the maine Sea at what time a tempest ariseth and so suffereth shipwracke Those great personages in times past in steed of being afraid of death tooke death as the chiefest remedie against all their crosses and misfortunes Tryumphant Casar who enioyed all the delights that might be although he had reason to couet to liue being blessed with so much happines was so farre off from being afraid of death as he would needs entertaine the same although he might haue auoyded it if he had so pleased And shall we then who quite contrarie to him are ouercharged with thousands of plagues being in respect of him most vile base and abiect vassalles to whom disgraces are common and all pleasures hatefull aduersaries seare that which he in the chiefest of all his felicities neuer once so much as doubted So to doe would argue vs to haue small courage and we should be like vnto the base minded Macedonian King who rather then he would die suffered himselfe to be carried aliue in tryumph through the stretes of Rome being afterward starued to death in prison Yet farre more generous and of a brauer resolution was Cleopatra although a fillie woman who deceiued the expectation of Augustus by killing her selfe and so hindering him thereby from beautifying his glorious tryumphant Chariot with the liuely shewe of her owne proper person No no before this mischiefe shall seaze vpon me and that disgrace shall still tryumph ouer me I will end both my life and my lamentations all at once like that gallant Egyptian Princes Neither is this argument forcible enough to say that because one loueth onely the inward qualities of his Mistris therefore he should not die for farre greater is the despite and the distresse is more violent which proceedeth from those who haue loued chastely without offering any outrage or vnseemly behauiour to discredit themselues then it is amongst other vaine Louers and therefore thy Mistris haue the lesse reason to be so hard-harted and vnkinde towards them when they are vrged vnto no such villainie This therefore is my opinion that death is an hundred times more sweeter then life and that the onely defaults of Nature without other reasons that proceed from sorrow are of force sufficient to make vs wish and venter vpon the same For the free man is onely happie and free can none be whilest they are intangled in the nets of the miseries of this world death onely being of power to infranchise vs and therefore is it most happie and most necessarie for man While I was thus disputing with my old acquaintance and friend curteous Orythia was nothing forgetfull of me who comming before my Ladie pleaded hard in my behalfe she beginning thus Certainly beautious Diana most cruell is that man that seeketh the life of an other who neuer offended him The Gods who are without beginning A Sentence and therefore more to be respected then men although not so soone moued to wrath demand sildome or neuer the blood of mortall creatures to expiate their faults but being more kinde then so are content with the warme sacrifices of beasts How then can he purge himselfe who hauing neuer bene abused by such a one yet worketh all the meanes he can to cut his throate It is the propertie of Tyrants banished from the companie of men from whom through rigour of their owne lawe and wills they take both life and liuing without any reasonable cause giuen them to bath their murthering hands in giltlesse blood but such as be godly and iust Princes will neuer commit so hainous an act much lesse ought Ladies to acqaint themselues therewithall they being the very patternes of compassion of pittie and of mildnes and not of blood of murther or of vengance O what paine doth Lydia proue in the pitchy bottome of hell for causing her louing Seruant to be murthered What sharpe punishment doe the daughters of Danaus endure for cutting their husbands throates and with what violent plagues is Clytemnestra scourged in dying her hands with the lukewarme blood of her deare Spouse and bedfellow Agamemnon for if we be cruell then cruell shall we finde those into whose power we shall chance to light to be chastised because the same euill we doe shall be done vnto vs againe Doe not you thinke that it were better for a woman to loose somewhat that belongeth vnto her then to destroy the life of a man not to be recouered any more the life I say of a man which the Gods themselues haue first breathed into them bestowed vpon them Aboue all vices A Sentence crueltie is the most insupportable intollerable is shedding of blood and horrible is beastly murther None can make themselues more strange or more contrarie vnto the Gods then in setting abroch this damned vice they themselues hating crueltie abhorring nothing so much as blood-shed If we would be willing that they should pardon vs let vs then after their example be curteous and milde towards such as shall implore our aide when they haue neede of vs for the selfe same mercie we shall shewe vnto strangers who haue offended vs the same shall we finde returned home to vs by the immortall powers themselues againe Let vs then shun this Sauadge minde and barbarous fault as a deadly pestilence and let vs driue it from vs as we would doe a mortall poyson from our bodies for it killeth our good name and renowme which ought to be dearer vnto vs then our pretious liues by odds And since it is so what then hath moued thee most Faire yet cruell Nymph to pursue so egerly the life of wretched Arcas Alacke why wouldest thou haue him die what fault what crime or what offence hath he committed against thee but perhaps thou wilt say he loueth thee and how then what doe not we loue the Gods and are they not glad and contented we so should loue them Thinkest thou that any goodly thing or whatsoeuer sauoureth of the beautie of the Gods An Example can be here belowe vpon the earth and not be loued and highly prised by mortall men If the Lawe commandeth vs to pardon our enemies as Caesar is more commended for his clemencie towards his foes then for his notorious victories how much more then ought we to make account of such as fancie and affect vs If for killing our aduersaries in steed of shewing them grace and fauour we are condemned as faultie how much more shall we be if we goe about to murther our friends Then gratious Diana fall not into so horrible a sinne Thou art too faire to be froward and vnkinde neither will any wise woman euer refuse the chaste and modest Amitie of a vertuous spirit who is able to make her memorie immortall and to liue for euer What outrage or discurtesie doth a yong man vnto a sweet Ladie in louing her as long as he goeth not about to
and as kinde vnto vs as euer he was before The weaker must alwaies yeeld somewhat vnto the stronger because the one is neuer distraught nor carryed away with our publike affaires where the other are drawne abroad with much businesse and diuers cares which hindereth them oftentimes to remember or thinke vpon their inferiours Let him then liue if he be as yet liuing For neuer let Diana wish to liue to see that day wherein she shall be reproached to haue bene the cause of his death who by his writings doth eternize the Vertuous especially when I may preserue his life and that he seeketh not to haue any thing of mee that is preiudiciall vnto mine honour This was the answere of wise Diana vnto faire Orythia who most kindely thanking her in my behalfe came merrilie away seeking to find me out Who no sooner saw me but that shee deliuered vnto me my Ladies minde and therewithall aduised me to goe presently vnto her and to present my selfe vnto her How to requite this curteous Nymphe for so exceeding a fauour done vnto mee I know not Whilst I was framing a set speech in my minde to shew my selfe in some sort gratefull vnto her How now quoth she it is no time now to studie away and get you gone vnto your Mistris As for thanks I looke for none at your handes I hauing done but what was my dutie seeing such as are bound must needs obey yet I beseech the goddesse of Loue to make thee once to pittie me who wish thee no worse fortune then I doe vnto mine owne soule although thy chiefe happines must needs be my bad ouerthrow And hauing so sayd casting a pittious eye towards me and sighing most heauilie as if her heart would haue burst she went away from me and so left me I could not chuse but weepe thinking vpon her When remembring my Ladies message I set forward speedilie to wend towards her carrying in my hand a certain Sonnet which I had made in her praise not long before meaning to present it vnto her Being arriued where she was I found her accompanied with other Nymphes sitting by the side of a Fountaine which issued forth from out the veines of a stately Rocke the water whereof was farre clearer then any Cristall in whose bottome was a dainty yealow Sand such as that of Pactolus intermixed with a number of precious stones of sundry colours had a man bene able to haue thrust his nimble hand deep enogh he might without wetting of his arme with exceeding great pleasure haue taken a number of little fishes running vp downe and playing most wantonly there one while hyding themselues within the entrailes of the grauell and another while in sundrie corners and holes of the Fountaine Whilst being slipperie and skipping too and fro they would most cunninglie get out of the fingers of him that had caught them From this Fountaine there came forth two sweet Riuers which growing into a great water ranne round about the whole Countrey loosing themselues as they fell into the Sea adioyning This Fountaine was shadowed ouer with beautious Cipresse and louely Orenge ttees the sweete buds and blossomes whereof was able to rauish the mindes euen of bruit Beasts within the Rock were many seates to rest on framed by nature so artificiallie as no cunning could any way come neare them they being alwaies couered with pleasing Camomell the more to delight the sense of man The ground all along was full of greene grasse and other pretie hearbes which the teeth of Cattell had neuer spoyled nor ouer-heate of the day scorched or burned Manie sweete Rose-trees sprung forth from out the sides of that Rocke in diuers places and that in so iustand seemly an order as you would haue thought they had bene planted and set by the handy-labour of some curious Gardiner whilst all sort of Roots sprouted out in their right colours the odoriferous sent whereof was such and the scituation of the place so delightfull as you would haue thoght your selfe in Paradice as long as you had continued there Neuer was there Pallace more beautifull That Fountaine which the warlike Horse caused to spring out of the ground An Example with the hoose of his foote was nothing so daintie although more commended by such as dranke of the water thereof they being inspired with the gift of Poetrie euer after In this so pleasant a seate then did I finde gratious Diana passing away her time one while with washing her beautifull face an other while her Diamond eyes and then againe her long and slender hands No care as then troubled her neither was she busied in canuasing in her braines A Similie any serious matter of weighty importance As that great Sacrificer who thinking to sacrifice to Iuno the goddesse of Riches finding her Image either bloodie or sweating suddainely withdraweth himselfe from thence consulting with his fellow-Priest about the strange chance before he beginne his Ceremonies againe Euen so I seeing so rare a beautie stood as one amazed without speech and as if I had bene in a sound And now I began to consider within my selfe whether I were best to goe forwards on my iourney and offer my Present vnto this Nymphe or whether without speaking vnto her I should turne backe againe and goe from whence I came For although such onely finde Fortune to fauour them who are venturous and of bold spirits yet thought I it were farre better not to trye all especially when a mans life or credit lyeth therevpon then like bold Bayard to runne bluntly onwards and so to take repulse and be denyed of his sute For more sure and certaine is the meane life and estate then is the richest and highest in authority wherin there is nothing but trouble and danger This was the cause I stood so long debating of the matter within my selfe whether I were best to pursue my first enterprise or no A Sentence For hardly dare a man speak to such a one as we feare respect but in the end the same thing that made mee most to doubt did rid me out of the same stifling my feare driuing away all sorrow from me For my Mistris hauing espied mee who was neare readie to goe back againe called me vnto her O how sweete and comfortable was that sound vnto mee I thinking I had bene called by some God there-abouts Gratious and full of courtesie was her speech insomuch as I counted my name most blessed because it was pronounced by my louelie Goddesse No longer will I maruell now although the voyces of Saintes heeretofore haue bene of power to call vp dead Coarses from out the bottome of their graues where they lay buried restoring them vnto life againe since that of my faire Mistrisse was able to driue away all sadnesse and sorrow from mee and to reuiue fresh hope within me This made me draw neare vnto her when after many dutious Ceremonies done by me vnto her I
passeth through the pikes of all difficulties A Sentence yet it descendeth downe into the Tombs of the dead sounding like a Trumpet the due praises of manie when they are buryed who whilst they liued would not accept of any such matter For as the Cloudes although they shew thicke darke and gloomie cannot for all that hinder the brightnes of the Sunne but for all their foggie vapours hee will breake out and appeare in his splendent Maiestie Euen so maugre the cruell times yea and in despite of their owne selues the vertuous are euer honoured whom glorie it selfe doeth neuer abandon or forsake And therefore gratious Nymph reiect not what my Muse in most humble manner bestoweth vpon thee seeing she doth the best she can For the good will of the giuer not the richnes of the gift doth perfect make better the present Poore folke giue as much althogh it be of little value considering their abilitie as the mightier sort doe A Sentence although they bestow neuer so much and the sillie widowes Mite was as well accepted as the richest mens golde which in the Temple was offered Dainethen to make me so fortunate as to vouchsafe to accept of me to chaunt forth thy praises And doubt not but so earnest a desire shall so much animate and incourage my Muse as she will think nothing can see me to be too hard for her For this cause onely do I liue nothing so much keeping life within my bodie as a zealous desire Herald-like to blazon forth thy vertues which If I thought I might not obtaine I would chuse rather to die then liue My gifts are but small and yet more commendable shalt thou be for accepting of them then if they had bene richer because the world shall see that not anie couetous humor of gaine nor any worth of the present moued mee to make a tender of the same but only an humble mind the right noblenes of thy more then curteous own nature Thus did I argue for my selfe when my faire Saint who tooke some pleasure in my speech beganne to answer me in this manner Neuer ought any honest praise to be reiected because it proceedeth from good will The Gods themselues taking in good part the praises of the simple as well as of those that are more mightie I therefore accept of thine if thou thinkest there be any thing in mee as I doubt me there is not worthy of thy studie but yet with this condition that like a faithfull Hystoriographer and not as a fawning Poet thou set downe the truth For as that Crowe An Example when she was despoyled of her feathers which shee had borrowed of the other Byrds became naked and bare as that face is found to be more fowle and fuller of wrinkles which is vsed to be dawbed with paintings then that which neuer hath any other then her naturall beautie So when one is praised afterwards his defects and vitious life commeth to be knowne abroad he is more disgraced with infaâ—â—ie discredit then if he had not bene spoken of before only because of his owne imperfections Be then iust and true in thy writings and then no doubt but the labour which thou shalt take shal be much lessened abated and small shal be the paine thou puttest thy pen too because thou shalt finde little or nothing in mee worthy to be commended But aboue all I would wish thee to haue speciall regard vnto this that thy works if by chaunce thou shalt find I be worthy of thy Inuention breed neither iealousie of me nor malicious enuie against me the two common plagues amongst all men For it were farre better to liue bare and poorely and without beeing made famous abroad then to be rich and be enuied of all and so to purchase the ill will of euery one This onely desire was Casars death his enemies bearing malice at his vertues and this was the losse of the life of Alexander the great who was hated for his exceeding great victories So said the beautious Nymph and that with so good a grace as although shee seemed to make a shewe that shee was vnwilling to accept of the praises of my Muse yet did she so wittilie order the matter as I found by the circumstance of her discourse she did not altogether reiect mine offer A Sentence Quickly did I find her meaning for who marketh so narrowly the manner fashion the gesture and the countenance of his Mistris as doeth the Louer seeing he findeth either good or hurt in the least glaunce of her eyes Soone did I conceiue that she did not differ much from my minde and I made my selfe ready to answer her when behold we might suddenly heare a great noise a far off as if it had bene of fome wilde Beast that brake through bushes past through hedges and forced the very trees to stoope and shake with his furious running against them This noise made my Ladie and all her company maruellously afraid for it was most terrible in their cares wherevpon they began to take their flight and that they might runne the swifter the feare of this straunge accident lent them wings I seeing this tooke my worthie Diana vnder the arme the greatest fauour that euer I had before receiued of her and yet was it not willingly graunted by her For neuer would shee haue suffered me to haue done so much but that the danger and her present necessitie was such I helping her the better to get vp vnto the toppe of the foresaid high Rocke at the foote of which was as I tolde you before a most faire and cleare Christiall Fountaine When beeing there wee thought our selues to be quite out of all perill and danger and that if it were a Beare or a Lyon or any Tyger it could not ouer easily get vp to the top of the same or at least that we could not be discouered in so high a place but yet neuerthelesse my Ladie still quaking trembling as one that could not abandon her pensiuenes vpon the suddaine She endured that I should holde her vnder the arme whilest in the meane time I ventured to touch her white and daintie hand which was to me as if I had bene in Paradise for so much did feare possesse her as she neuer thought of any such matter O what a happie time had I as then and how much was I beholding vnto that wilde beast although the terror thereof did make me to shake A right holy day was that day vnto me and the happiest that euer I had in all my life Great was the pleasure my poore heart felt as then when I had that libertie to touch those rare and victorious hands as long since these desperate Pirates had An Example who came from farre onely to kisse the fist of Scipio surnamed Affrican after he had taken his farewell of vngratefull Rome Neuer was there so lillie a white hand neuer one
their liues doe loath Worthie is hee of blaeke Night That in Cupid doth delight Gods from heauen haue chast'e and som This vile wretch vs to torment Nor are wee him to endure That such plagnes vs doth procure Worthie is hee of blaoke Night That in Cupid doth delight Then most wretched him I deeme That of this blinde Boye doth steeme Worser Plague there 's not of ills That consumes still yet nere kills Worthie is hee of blacke Night That is Cupid takes delight If this Song did astenne me driuing me into a heauy dump you may caslly iudge For I assure you I began now to giue ouer all hope to haue any more ioyfull dayes in this world and I was of this opinion that my Ladit had for the nonce deliuered the same in my presence to the end I should not looke for any fauour at her hands and that by this Song she had as it were bidden me farewell For such women as are wise and of diseretion haue a thousand deuises to take their leaues and to be rid of their Louers whome they esteeme not as well to shadow their cruell mindes with the same as to be free and cleare from them without reproach or blame For what need had my Mistris to bid me Adieu since I neuer was worthie nor accounted to be one that shee should loue No no I was not a man good enough to heare of a beautie so perfect so much as this one small word Goe thy wayes But haughtie and high minded LOVE vseth to distribute his pride amongst his followers in such sort as you shall seldome or neuer see a Louer but that hee is insolent and proud promising farre more vnto himselfe then hee is like to obtaine Hee that is a seruant will be alwayes sure to haue one qualitie or other of his Maisters as a newe vessell retaineth still the sent of that liquor with which he hath bene first seasoned And so I before this time beganne to thinke better of my selfe then I had cause but my vain-glorious humor was quickly taken downe resembling the Lightning flash which no sooner is borne but that it dyeth or a buble of water which is no sooner come but that it is gone againe presentlie The Dance ended my Ladie came straight towards mee demanding and enquiring of me what that Monster and that Maide were and what became of them I tolde her all as I did vnto you without forgetting any thing describing vnto her with all the best cunning I had both the vglinesse of that deformed beast and the beautie of the Damosell that did encounter with him As that braue Caualier whome his enemie doeth dare to Combat standeth musing within himselfe sometime before hee doeth answere debating in his minde whether he should accept or refuse the Combat so stood my Mistris mute and still at my speeches studying a great while before she spake any one word In the end she sitteth her downe when hauing willed vs to sit by her shee beginneth with a most sober and sadde looke thus to deliuer her minde Seeing Shepheard that this Monster is called Pride thou couldest not describe so fowle a Beast and so horrible bad de enough neither must thou speake too much in the praise of so sweete so faire and gentle a Virgin as that Damosell was because shee is Humilitie For what thing is there in the world more vglie then Pride What more disagreeing from the Nature of Gods and men what so great an aduerfarie vnto Vertue and what more contrarie vnto the glorie of mankinde Pride was first placed in heauen amongst the Angelicall spirits which the Almighty God had made beautifull immortall and without corruption An excelleÌ„t discourse against Pride but this Monster hauing defamed and disgraced them was with them throwne downefrom thence from whence he came to inhabit in the terrestriall Paradise There did this damned wretch poyson our first Parents perswading them The fall of Lucifer through Pride that they should be like vnto their Creator if they would by transgressing his sacred Ordinance cate of the forbidden Tree These poore soules belieued him but they ouerthrew themselues for hauing hearkened vnto him God driuing them out of that dainty Paradise condemned them to die The fall of our first parents Adam and Eue through Pride after they had in much sorrow and care finished their naturall liue With them was this Serpent hunted away who retired himselfe amongst mortall men liuing heere in the world and fewe were there of the sonnes of men which did not entertaine and make much of him Caine nourished this hell-hound a long time being induced through him to kill his humble and meek-harted brother who could not abide this insolent Dragon Afterward The fall of Caine through Pride as men grew increased so hath this Monster done both in power and credit insomuch as he counselled the children of the earth to build a Tower which might reach vp into heauen These vaine fooles belieued him busying themselues about their high Turret and taking great paines to accomplish and effect this rash and haughtie enterprise But the HOLIE ONE of Syon ouerthrew their building The ouerthrow of the Tower of Babylon throgh Pride destroyed the worke of their owne hands and brake their audacious attempts driuing the Monster himselfe almost out of his wittes to see such an alteration and chaunge Hereof was it that the first Poets fained That those huge Giants the Tytans being sonnes of the earth went about to set hill vppon hill and mountaine vppon mountaine that they might scale vp to heauen and that therefore Iupiter destroyed them with Lightning by the ayde and assistance of Minerua the Goddesse of wisedome ouerthrowing their prefumptuous action with his foresaid Thunderbolts Since when this Monster hath entered into the Courtes of Princes and Kings impoysoning them so strongly with his accursed venome The ouerthrow of the Peâ—sian Kings through Pride as they grew to be exceeding proud causing themselues to be worshipped and adored of men as the Kings of Persia did he giuing addresse vnto some of them that they should imitate Iupster making his Thunder to roare and to cast Lightning abroad as he vsed This proud Conceit was entertained in the Pallace of Alcxander the great after he had brought the Empire of Persia vnder subiection The ouerthrow of Alexander the great through Pride For hee grewe so arrogant and so high minded as he would needs be adored by his people but death quickly extinguisht both his glorie and his life after hee grewe to be odious amongst his owne followers through his insolent Pride So would Nabuchadonozar be worshipped causing his Image to be set vp he commaunding euerie one to offer sacrifice and prayer vnto it The fall of Nabucadnezar through Pride as vnto a God But the three Children of the Iowes refused this vniust law who for that cause were cast into a hote burning Ouen they being neuerthelesse taken forth
true who sent home the poore Publicane beeing humble and meeke more iustified vnto his house then hee did the proud Pharisie who stood vaunting so much vppon his owne good-works with this sentence Free that buâ—◠〈◊〉 himselfe shall be glorified and hee that glorifieth himselfe shall not be exalted O how much better and comelier is it that a man should say vnto one Friend sit vp higher at the Table take a more honourable place vnto you then to say Come downe sit lower that a worthier person then thy selfe may sit where thou doest Hence then Pride and fie vpon Haughtines pack hence Ambition and away with vainglory these being most dangerous plagues vnto men infecting as well their consciences as their mindes within them On the other side sweere and profitable is Humilitie for so doth the wise man teach vs when hee saith Boast not thy selfe of to morrow for little doest thou knowe what tuill this day may bring vnto thee Amilcar Amilear deceuted throgh Pride chiefe Generall of the Carthaginian forces besieging Syracusa had an answere from his false Gods that hee should suppe the day following within the same Towne wherevpon he straightwaies began to waxe proud and yet did it fall out otperwise then he expected for although hee supped the same night within the Citie it was not as a Conquerour but as a prisoner hee being taken in a Skirmish which they of the besieged Towne made against him Let vs not therefore vaunt our selues ouermuch least wee be taken downe sooner then we looke for for hee onely that is lowly in minde shall be accounted of Let vs then shunne all Prids to auoyd the same we must leaue all companies all Cities and all Courts of Princes So did the deuout and mortified Marie Magdalene leaue the world retiring her selfe into a Rock The death of M. Magdalen where being all alone she lamented her sinnes past with great contrition and repentance passing the rest of her life in this deuout manner To leaue this Monster the Auncient good Fathers ranne into Woods and Desarts leauing their Townes and Cities as Paul Anthony Hierome and diuers moe because Prsde seldome or neuer haunteth solitarie places for feare he should be starued for hun ger but rather runneth amongst the Rich and where there is good store and plentie of euery thing and thither likewise must wee withdraw our selues if wee meane to liue deuoutlie indeed The Almightie Sonne of the euerliuing God chose a Wildernesse for his field of warre A solitary place better for Meditano of heauenly matters then Citties or company of men at what time hee did combat with the Diuell after that he had fasted fortie dayes and fourtie nights O thrice happie they who giuing ouer the world passe the rest of their liues in true holinesse and vertue in some secrete and remote place as if it were an Hermitage where neither Ambition nor Enuie neither Couetousnes nor vaine Loue trouble them not at all whilst they with great contentment and pleasure passe the rest of their liues free from all daungers whatfoeuer There they grieue not to see their enemies waxe rich and themselues to growe poore There no brawlings at the Barre about Law matters no confused noyse for the profite of Cities no toyling and moyling like Drudges in the Countrey doth trouble or molest them at all whilst they onely liue vnto their God not regarding or once minding any matters or businesse of the world After this manner of life A proofe of the Contemplatius life meane I to end mine owne and I will studie to finde out this sacred Humilitie which neuer deceiueth anie For hardly can hee misse of his purpose or be frustrated of his enterprise who goeth willingly about the same not beeing troubled with any thing else in his minde at all Hence then all Ambitious creatures for I must needes leaue you since you soyle our soules as oyle doth staine a garment A solitarie and sequestred kinde of life is best Pride is neuer in poote and vertuous places more pleasing and more secure then any other So will I liue and such a one will I be to â—uoyd that furious Monster Pride who neuer commeth in chaste and priuate places which are well gouerned and where good exercises are vsed in all laudable sort that may be And therfore here I protest that from hence forward I will leaue this wicked world and that most willingly with all the vaine pompes and flattering greatnesse of the same wishing euery one that is wise to followe mee taking the same course I am in hand to doe So horrible and terrible is the foulenesse of that Beast as it maketh me yet to tremble for verie feare and neuer shall I thinke thereof but that I shall finde my selfe the worse a long time after Therefore to preuent the worst and not to fall into his gryping pawes I am resolued to forsake all companie of men shutting my selfe within some vncoth and vnfrequented place like vnto a Recluse where without euer seeing any bodie I will end the remnant of this my too long life farre from Pride and ambition and voyd of all loue and enuie This is my constant and certaine resolution which I propose to such as minding to follow me are willing to be partakers of true Humslitie gaining thereby rest in this world and in the world to come peace euerlasting Therefore my deare and sweet companions although I be loth yet must I needs leaue you to seeke out this rough and austere kinde of abode where my drerie eyes shall be exempted from the view of this strange Monster which would make me to die for very feare onely if they should by chance once more haue neuer so little sight of him yea yea I will seeke to auoide his loathed prefence by this good meanes whilest following the steps of humble Humilitie I shall imitate that great vessell of election who reioyced in nothing so much as in the crosse of Christ That religious S. Iohn the Baptist who called himselfe the voice of a cryer in the wildernes and that godly Elias who tearmed himselfe to be a feather blowne vp and downe by the winde all which three were lowly and humble aduersries to Pride and voide of all ambition Therefore haue I set vp my rest to cast Anker in this Hauen after my sayling through so many and dangerous mortall Seas desiring you all my deare and louing sisters most humble entreating you that none of you doe me that great wrong as to seeke to dehort me from this so holy a resolution which if you should yet were it but in vaine and to no purpose at all he is accursed that seekes to leade astray that sinner who is entered into the path of his saluation he hauing a sorrowfull heart and being penitent in his minde for the same Now reuerend Sire iudge you if this Oration was pleasing vnto me or no I stood mute and still as that huge
many of them that haue not done good vnto their priuate friends onely but also vnto their whole countrie and common-wealth Besides A praise of Cicero that famous Orator of Rome did he not preserue his citie through his prudent Eloquence from being vtterly spoyled and ouerthrowne when Cateline Cethegus Lentulus with diuers other of their complices had conspired together first to cut the throates of the chiefe Citizens and then to set Rome on fire he alone bringing to passe through his prudent policie that which the brauest Romane Captaine amongst them would neuer haue effected without the effusion of blood of millions of Citizens Therefore did Cicero shew himselfe more stout and more profitable then the greatest Commanders and brauest Souldiours of them all Cicero preserued Rome from the consâ—itacie of Careline and other noble Romanes who with the losse of many a man purchased a Conquest vnto their countrie wheras he without the death of any one ouerthrew his aduersaries who were the more dangerous in that they kept within the citie it selfe Besides this notable exployt of his how often hath he saued many a good Citizen and worthy Gentlemen from death as that Roscius most vniustly accused before the Tyrant Scilly Ligarius and Deioterus with many more all which through his diuine Eloquence he restored vnto life yea he did more then all this for he rather chose to goe into voluntarie exile then to encounter and withstand the force of his vniust enemies although he might very easily haue done the same and so by that meanes saued Rome which otherwise was readie to take his part if so he had pleased he hauing the maior part of the greatest persons and in a manner the whole youth of Rome to be on his side Many other good deeds did this worthy man leauing diuers learned peeces of workes behind him to the no small profite and benefit of that royall citie Where you blame Homer A praise of Homer you doe that which neuer any in the world hath done before for so highly was he accounted of as there were diuers goodly cities which falling at debate and contention amongst themselues committed their whole busines vnto his iudgement they receiuing for an irreuocable Sentence but onely one of his verses and after he was dead they fell out and striued who should haue his bodie to interre the same He is counted the Author of all Arts and Sciences But say he should sometimes spare the truth now and then in his writings as if he seemed to be a little partiall yet was he neuerthelesse to be borne withall and could doe no otherwise then hee did in speaking somewhat in the praise and commendation of his owne Countrey For for our Countrey we are borne and are bound to doe more for it then for our selues Againe you must consider he was a Poet and no Hystoriographer and that Poets haue more libertie to write according vnto their owne fancie or affection then Hystoriographers haue who without great reproach cannot abuse sacred Veritie it selfe But howsoeuer it is the workes of Homer are full of iudgement and Learning from whence as from a deepe Fountaine euery great Scholler draweth forth his learning and without his books grosse Ignorance had darkned the whole world with her blacke gloomie Cloudes As for Virgil how could he doe lesse than what he did seeing he did but praise such from whom hee had receiued so many benefites and good turnes and who had restored him vnto his former liuing and Lands all which he before had lost The vngratefull man is as bad and as worthy to be punished as is the Homicide Besides it is better now and then to straine curtesie with Truth then to murther a man for there may be amends made for a lie but not for ones life when it is gone and taken away And therefore that great Mantua Poet is more to be excused in that he somewhat dissembled the veritie of the storie which he wrote praising his benefactors because he would not be vnthankfull vnto them then if hee had spoken the Truth and so concealed those great kindnesses which hee had receiued whereby hee should be taxed of ingratitude But for all this he is reputed for the Prince of Latin Poets his Aeneidos shewing to be a most learned and beautifull worke in so much as he dying before he had sufficient time to make a finall ende thereof especially of those verses which hee left vnperfect Augustus the Emperour would not permit that anie of his owne Poets should take the same in hand to correct it Being loth that so famous a Poeme should be iniuried any way hee chusing rather to leaue it vnfinished as he found it then that it should be perfected by the hand of any other Not vnlike that picture which excellent Zeuxis beganne to make for Venus no Painter daring after his death to take vpon him to ende the same Cicero before Octanius his raigne comming by chaunce before he dyed to haue a sight of some of Virgils verses cryed out with great admiration Behold another hope of Romeâ— for I knowe not how the witte of man can deuise a greater worke then this Poets then are not so much to be blamed as you imagine for without them wee should be depriued of many goodly Inuentions and graue Moralls â—ca and from many diuine praises which wee attribute vnto God as are the Psalmes of Dauid which are in verse proceeding from that sacred Prince and Poet of the Iewes Contrary vnto your minde was Alexander the great who made so great account of Homers verse as he had alwayes his Iliades vnder the pillow of his bedde lying hard by his sword affirming oftentimes Achilles to be most fortunate because he was renowmed by so famous a Poet wishing that hee had bene as then aliue to the end hee might haue graced him so much as to haue set forth his valiant exploits Where you alledge Demosthenes to haue made the Macedonians and the Athenians to wage battell together I answere you that hee could doe no lesse then perswade his Countrey-men to defend the libertie of their Countrey it beeing the greatest Treasure that free people esteemed especially the Grecians who continually were vp in Armes to conserue their auncient Liberties In so much as it is reported of Demosthenes that if hee had had as much force power and vallour as he had of good affection and true zeale towards his Countrey the Macedonians had neuer conquered Athens But he cannot be blamed who fighteth vntill the last gaspe of life dying with the first and chiefest for the health of his Countrey as did that stout Orator who lost his life for that cause hauing done many good seruices and brought much profite vnto the Athenians before For beeing banished from amongst them hee went presently without loosing anit time at all vp and downe such Citties as belonged vnto the Spartanes who were deadly enemies vnto Athens whom hee perswaded so vehemently
farre better deliuer and present before the diuine Maiestie I being in some remote place separated and alone then if I should liue where I should behold the fond vanities of worldlings continually As for you my deare companions a worser guide then my selfe Heauen neuer can bestow vpon you That Goddesse Diana whom you serue shall take care of you neither wil she leaue you vnprouided of some one or other worthy protectresse that may alwaies defend you Should I haue stayed with you still yet could not you haue hoped that I could haue done any good for you by reason of the small power ability which vnconstant Fortune hath bestowed vpon me And yet I must needs confesse that your absence will be an exceeding corsie griefe vnto me and that losing you I shall lose the chiefest stay of my ioy contentment But notwithstanding all this so sweet and comfortable is the thought of spirituall things as I must leaue all mortall pleasures for them This only is my comfort that the separation of our bodies shall neuer part our former affection which we haue borne one another Then I beseech you all forget not me as I will euer remember you You shall haue parcell of my prayers and I will thinke vpon you in my soule when I am alone Weepe not then for her who goeth away to lead a most blessed life otherwise I shall take you to be my mortall enemies enuying my good fortune neither bewaile her losse who neuer could be halfe so profitable vnto you whilst shee liued with you as shee shall be when she is sundred from you Flintie Rockes sometimes are diuided through Lightninges and Thunders much more may earthly creatures be seuered one from another All Companies and all Acquaintance must needes one day breake off whereas their true Friendship and loyall Amitie neuer departeth nor dyeth at all If euer you haue loued me then reioyce with me and wish vnto me that glorie and felicitie which I prepare for my life to finish the rest of these wretched dayes of mine But it now draweth on towards the euening I therefore will trouble you no more at this time but bid you all good night let euery one withdraw thēselues vnto their lodgings Wherevpon they all went homewardes whilst I my selfe stayed all alone behind for I was not able to rise vp from the ground whereon I sat by reason of the exceeding griefe I felt within me Mouelesse I lay like vnto a Tower cold I was as any stone and senselesse I seemed resembling a dead Coarse which is layed in a Tombe without mouing speaking or sighing at all All that long night did I spend falling into cold sweats and heauie soundings weeping and sobbing vntill my hart nigh burst without either sleepe or rest no not so much as once closing mine eye-liddes The day being come I found my selfe a little and God knowes it was little indeed amended wherevpon with much adoe I got vp and went to my lodging where finding paper and Inke sheading thousandes of teares and sending forth millions of sighes I wrote these dolefull verses following Since farre exilde from mee doth wound my soule And that a mortall desperate straunge disease Doth stealing seaze vpon my bloudlesse Coarse What should I longer linger for to ate Since Death alone can cure this vncoth flame Mine eies hane wept mine hart hath sigh'd too much My soule is wearied with enduring paine Hee dieth not that in dying ends all griefe Those lonely Eyes are now debasht from mee So is that gratious Fauour more then faire For whom I breath and feede vpon this Aire Blest is that man that then yeelds vp his Ghost When as he findes himselfe in heauens disgrace And seeth the Welkin for to wound him still With mee shall wend into my Fatall Tombe My bloody griefes and more then dolefull Dule And all those thoughts of her who when I liu'd Made mee to prooue a worse then trebble Death Let no man then seeme for to waile my losse Since friendly Death by it my cares doth crosse It is enough since for my worthlesse Death My Mistris faire forbeareth to lament Nor grieues that I should part so soone her fro Dead I should please her better then when life Did soiourne in this earthly Inne of mine And therefore I will end my loathed dayes My prying Eyes first authours of mine ill My gentle hart ore loyall in his loue As they deseru'd sharpe paine shall first endure Reason it is that they who first offended Should be inflicted with due punishment For so the heauens will guerdon each aright Cupid doth vse for to abridge our dayes Nor for our woes doth quit vs otherwise First hee doth wound and then he heales againe By two Deuises and both contraries The first our heart burnes th' other kills our strength Th' one cruell is the other 's amiable Blest is he that LOVE serues since in one day Hee happie or vnhappie make him may Hauing made this sorrowfull Song I determined to present it vnto my Ladie come of it whatsoeuer could for my last farewell that euer she should haue of mee wherevpon I went to seeke her and such was my good fortune as I found her all alone walking vnder the shadow of a number of sweet Cipresse trees No sooner had I a sight of her but that a certaine timerous respect ioyned with a kinde of amazement seazed vpon mee so that I became vpon the suddaine as colde as any Ice Wherevpon I began to be astonisht quite forgetting my former resolution whilst I remained as a Pillar fixed in the ground not being abe to doe anie thing but to gaze vpon her more then Angelicall face My vitall spirits were all flowen into mine eyes who held them very earnestlie busied in contemplation of this her more then peerlesse beautifull countenance Whilst I thus beheld her I remembred the vnsupportable losse I was like to endure losing her diuine presence knowing that the more I viewde her the more was my griefe when I thought I should be depriued from her and yet neuerthelesse I tooke a wonderfull great contentment to lose my selfe in this sweete Riuer as the flie doth when hee is drowned in sweete milke Minerua neuer seemed more graue nor fuller of maiestie vnto poore Arachne when shee was punished by her neither did Diana shewe more amiable or louely when she accompanied her Shepheard Endimion then my Mistris did in mine eye Being thus rauished with so heauenly a sight I could not withdraw my selfe from the same desiring no other death in my minde but in beholding her so to giue vp the Ghost which the Virgin perceiuing thus saluted mee What is the matter Shepheard that you are vp so early this morning what seekest thou here and why lookest thou so sadde and heauilie Away with this dumpish melancholy the butcher of mans life for hee liueth not but rather languisheth as one dying who being ouer sadde and heauie cannot shake this
to what end is it to winne time for that which cannot be auoided Free and discharge my doubtfull soule from farther care and seeme not to enuie at the good fortune which I am like to haue by laying violent hands vpon my selfe Diana seeing me looke so pale and gastly began to be a little moued with compassion towards me whereupon she thus answered Ah Shepheard why dealest thou so hardly with me and why doest thou constraine me to doe that which is against my will and why to saue thy selfe doest thou seeke that I may perish Hard hap had I to be borne vnder so vnluckie a Plannet sithence inaccording vnto thy request I shall leaue vnto the world a bad opinion of my chaste minde and in resusing to yeeld vnto thee I shall be counted the murtherer of thy life Ah would to God that that day wherein I first sawe thee had bene the last houre that euer mine eyes had seene thee any more But seeing there is no remedie in extremities come what will I will rather ingage mine owne life then venture thine and if it be my fortune to die for this fault yet will I thinke to finde my death more sweet vnto me then if I had put thee to suffer the same seeing thou hast endured so much for my sake onely Take then this accursed hand accursed because of mine honour and doe with it as thou shalt please yet with this solemne protestation that if this my curtesie shall bring the least suspition or scandall of my good name and fame vnto me the selfe same hand that hath bene the cause thereof shall make amends by shedding the purest blood which is within this bodie Whereupon she presented me her faire hand to kisse But in this exploit I behaued my selfe as that braue Cauailier who doth sweare to be the death of his enemie whilest he keepeth him close and standeth out against him but no sooner doth he submit himselfe vnto him but that he receiueth him most curteously forgiuing all displeasures that is past Euen so plaid I for holding this pretions pawne within my power and perceiuing that it grieued my Mistris to giue the same as she did I vtterly refused her kinde offer resoluing with my selfe rather to languish still like a miserable creature then to giue her the least displeasure that might be and yet neuerthelesse I disputed of this question a good while before I let her hand goe from me One while the great delight which it presented vnto mine eyes longing sore as a starued man for foode to possesse this rich Iewell pressed me very much to take that happie occasion not vnlike vnto that man who hauing not of long time eate any thing finding a Table furnished with great store of meate falleth vnto his Victualls and cannot for his life forbeare from eating that though he would neuer so faine An other while the extreame Loue which I bare vnto my Ladie compelling me to seeke and preferre the contentment of her aboue mine owne quiet opposed it selfe against me counterchecking my desire And therefore well might she perceiue how farre I was from seeking the purchase of her dishonour when I resolued to endure millions of torments before I would be an occasion that she should grieue or be discontented any way at all Hauing long time debated within my selfe about this matter in the end I did as that prudent King of the Spartans who being almost dead for thirst caused all his followers to drinke their fills he himselfe refusing to tast as much as one drop of the water although he sat vpon the Fountaines side to the end he might saue his people from seruile bondage and so did I refuse this worthy gift seeing I sawe how dearely my Mistris accounted of the same and therefore taking her by that faire hand I said thus vnto her No no my sacred Goddesse neuer shall it be obiected as a foule reproach vnto wretched Arcas that he went about to force the vertuous Diana Death shall be more agreeable vnto me then life before I will constraine or compell thee to any thing that is against thine owne will Suffer me I pray thee to continue the same as I am and let neither the one nor the other of my requests be graunted I will not offer to touch thy beautious hand with my polluted lips seeing I perceiue thou thinkest that it will be some disparagement vnto thee neither will I die at all seeing my death is not agreeable vnto thee but rather liuing as I doe a most languishing life I will still attend thy last will pleasure First shall my soule flie forth from out this bodie rather shall my heart burst in sunder within my brest and sooner shall this vitall breath of mine be stopped on the suddaine before I will doe any thing that shall any way mislike thy minde If I demaund ought that is vnlawfull pardon me I beseech you seeing Loue is the cause thereof As for my selfe I will meekely beare and patiently endure my tedious troubles and still vexing corsies without lodging any more such two vnwelcome guests within me as you shall dislike of Then O yee miserable wretches all you that sometimes haue liued here vpon the earth come come and rid your selues of all your cares and lay them all vpon me who am ble and of force to beare them And now you my drearie eyes euerlasting let your teares be my scalding sighes neuer giue ouer to smoake from out my brest whilest thou my tongue shalt doe nothing else but pitteously report thy heauie Martyrdomes Alas when will that houre come wherein after I haue sufficiently wept and wailed sighed and sobbed may depart this vaile of miserie Ah Ladie must mine eyes endure to behold thine absence and shall my tongue be able to bid thee farewell No no rather let mine eyes be blind for euer and let my tongue neuer pronounce word more Ah kinde death gentle death curteous death if euer thou hast brought succour vnto any sorrowfull wight then come and helpe me Behold I call thee heare how I cry vnto thee nay more I summon thee in Iustice to appeare But is it possible that a solitarie place shall seclude so sweet a Saint from my companie and must I be faine loosing the substance to feed vpon the shadow No it cannot be I first must die not being able to endure her absence Madam your most wretched and yet more loyall Seruant Arcas cannot leaue your presence but he must withall leaue his owne life he must die before your eyes before he depart from you and faine would he sacrifice his heart vpon the Altar of your beautie if he might haue but your good will and leaue But I see it will not be for I am yours and not mine owne you may not be without me and therefore I will follow you wheresoeuer you goe and when I can goe no farther then will I shorten my daies to end mine endlesse sorrowes For
I le leaue to loue thee being dead When thy faire portraiture reuiues my sight If mortall voice from Tombes haue some men lead Restoring vnto them their senses right Then how much more ought LOVE be houonred Whom then the greatest Gods is more of might Then think not though my Corse in Vault thou see That from thy loue as thou wouldst I am free Below in Monument still shalt thou heare How I will sigh for without soule thy Fire Shall hold mee vp whilst liuing I 'le appeare Being dead as fore my death I did desire Nor deadly pangs thereof will I once feare Nor part from thee as thou wouldst faine require For in thy life so cruell th' ast not beene But in my Death as loyall I 'le be seene Yet is my Fortune better farre then thine For without breach of Faith as thou hast done I shall haue leaue to plaine of sorrow mine Thou thinkst in killing mee a Martyrdome More tedious then before mee to assigne But th' art deceiu'd a wrong Race hast thou runne For whilst I liu'd thy Rigour was my bane But now being dead I freed am from the same Death then both thee and mee preserues from ill Thee that no more thy Beautie I molest Mee that I feele not now thy cruell will O happie Death that two desires hath blest Then let mee die thy minde for to fulfill Yet first I will this Rock shall be possest Of this my dolefull verse true witnesse How vndeseru'd I brought was to distresse For though to die it shall mee mickle please Yet must I grieue at thy lost Companie Then Rocks Caues Woods Groues Springs and greenie Leaze Witnes you all LOVE Arcas made to die To noyse this in the world doe neuer cease If I report shall where as dead I lie How all of you although by Nature wilde Yet then my Mistris are more meeke and milde No sooner had I engrauen these Verses but that I got me vp vnto the toppe of the same Rock minding to cast my selfe downe into the swelling Seas when vpon the suddaine an other new conceit came into my braine which was to see if I could deuise a meane how I might restore Diana againe not onely vnto my selfe but also vnto the other Nymphs who as well as I sore lamented the losse of her departure Wherevpon I knowing that she would not be perswaded by any reasons whatsoeuer to be reclaimed or altered from her first determination I went and sought out her Friends and Parents vnto whome I bewrayed the intention of their faire daughter perswading them with all the earnest speeches I could by all the liuely reasons as might be deuised that they should not in any wise permit her to haue her will therein They hearing mee tell so straunge a Tale were wonderfully amazed and daunted therewith For Diana neuer meant to haue made them priuie in this her secret businesse promised mee that they would so worke as they would if they could crosse her in this her resouled purpose they themselues being much vnwilling she should take vpon her any such Austere and Melancholike course Wherevpon I being glad that they iumped with mee in opinion hauing receiued hearty thankes from them for my kinde Intelligences came away wonderfullie well pleased in that I had spedde so well And not long after they tooke so good an order as the faire Nymph although very much against her will was constrained to obey their hests and giuing ouer her former resolution liuing amongst vs as shee had vsed before But alas as hee that buildeth goodly houses oftentimes erecteth his graue it being his chaunce to be slaine therein Euen so I thinking to prolong mine owne life framed mine owne proper death and ouer throwe For my Mistris who before time was wont still to vse mee kindely shewing me good countenance when she saw me although for the most part shee was sadde and heauy in her minde because shee was barred from her most wished for Designe came at the length to know that I onely was the chiefe cause that her Parents had so much hindered and crossed her against her will As that Maister who bearing great affection vnto one of his seruants particularly both hateth and detesteth the same man after he findeth how hee is run-away and hath robbed him of his goods and Treasure Euen so no sooner came these dismall newes vnto her cares but that suddainly she began to alter her minde towardes mee hating mee vnto death yea and that in so cruell a manner as shee beganne now to loath mee a thousand times more then euer she had loued me before Wherevpon shee vowed in her minde to be reuenged vpon me imagining and deuising in her selfe how she might best doe it But alas what need had she to haue troubled herselfe so much For shee needed no other to execute this spitefull malice towards me then her owne poore selfe Thus we see how chaungeable and vncertaine the fortunes of Louers are in their Loues For one morning I finding her alone beganne as I was wont to salute her when shee presently looking as redde as any â—â—re with extreame choller began thus to requite my kindnesse O cruell and vngratefull wretch out of my sight if thou meanest that I shall liue Is this the reward for so many curtesies as thou hast receiued at my hands to seeke most Traitreously to hinder mee in my sacred and religious intention Away I say and out of my sight for I forbid thee my presence and thinke or else It shall goe hardly with me but that I will most grieuously plague thee for thy vnthankfull and leaud dealing In the meane while I commaund thee vpon paine of death that thou neuer presume to come againe before me Cruell vngratefull false-harted and wicked Creature as thou art that hast thus requited mee with euill for good most iniuriously opposing thy selfe against my most iust and godly desires And hauing so said away she flung swelling for very rage and anger and not so much as once staying to heare what answere I could make in mine owne defence That woman whom her husband hath taken tardie as guiltie of some hainous facultie is not halfe so heauie sorrowfull neither so confounded with feare and shame as I was then Long did I stand stone still as if my feete had growne vnto the ground neither was I able or had the power to open or lift vp mine eyes so much had grieâ— seazed vpon me as I thought verily I should haue dyed as then in that place In the ende comming vnto my selfe againe and remembring the more then cruell threatnings of my dread Mistris without wailing any more or bethinking me of any other deuise how to excuse my selfe I ran vp vnto the toppe of the Rocke vpon which I had bene so often before That done I closed both mine eyes flinging my selfe downe from thence into the maine Sea resoluing to drowne me within the bottome of the same No sooner was I in the water but I began to repent mee of my rash enterprise whilst the feare of death being not farre off so terrified and affrighted mee as I beganne to swimme most lustily in the waues to saue my life Thus as I was tumbled and tossed too and fro by the churlish Surges a certaine Shippe by great good fortune sailed by the Marriners and Sailers whereof being moued with pittie tooke mee vp by a rope being verie heauie and sadde as you may well suppose And within a while after whether it were by reason the inward griefe I conceiued for my Ladies vnkindnesse or because of the great paine and labour which I had taken in swimming I know not but I fell to be most extreamely sicke in the Shippe vpon the suddaine They doubting least I would die as those who were very vnwilling to haue any diseased folks in their vessell although forie for the same yet forced and as it were halfe against their wills set me on land in this desart leauing me some victualls to liue vpon vntill better foretune should happen In the end I recouered my health againe and am miserable ARCAS confined to fiue in this comfortlesse wildernesse and depriued the company of my deare Mistris for euer my comfort is that my dayes will soone be shortned and that I haue not long to liue And thus good Father haue you heard the true dolefull discourse of my more then wretched misfortunes which will neuer end vntill my life shall part from this his vnwelcome mansion I doubt I haue troubled you in being ouer long but alas it was sore against my will for sooner if I could would I haue sinisht the same Not a whit answered the olde Magitian for you rather haue pleased mee very much and I like your discourse maruailous well And God I pray comfort you for great need haue you thereof But it is now very neere night Let vs then goe replied the Shepheard seeing I haue now set downe and reported the restlesse liues the pittifull complaints and the most lamentable kindes of such as haue loued FINIS Nec morte moritur Amor. LONDON PRINTED BY THOMAS Creede dvvelling in the old Change neere old Fishstreete at the Signe of the Eagle and Childe 1610.
I doe liue after thee and suruiue him who was the onely nourisher of my dolorous life Can I abide to be one minute of an houre from thee who hast so much alwayes desired the companie of haplesse Iustina Ah mine eyes mine eyes as much as you shewed your selues cheerfull to delight the heart of my Husband in your Loues so much or more shew your selues full of salt teares to lament his disaster But teares are the common offerings of euery woman at their husbands buryalls A Sentence and are too base oblations for so worthie and solemne an exequies Thy friendship deserueth better then so And more am I obliged vnto thee then to offer such base trifles Not my blubbering teares but my heart blood is due vnto thee For why should it not be thine when my verie soule is at thy seruice Ah cruell Honor why hast thou not rendered mee againe mine Alfonso in the selfe-same manner as thou tookest him from mee to doe thee seruice And how badly hast thou requited the paines hee hath taken in seeking to preserue thee fafe and sound Who euer would haue thought I should haue seene so horrible a sight as I see before I had dyed and who would haue imagined but that my praiers which I made continuallie vnto God to take me out of the world before my sweet Husband should not haue obtained grace from Heauen But come the worst that can come there shall not be much difference of time betweene our deaths for so quickly will we follow one another that if one houre cannot cut vs off both together yet at least one day shall dispatch and make vs away But in the meane space iustly maiest thou complaine of me my deare Knight in another world for that I haue bene the murtherer of thy life But I beseech thee complaine not of that neither of her who thinketh the time but miserable in which she liueth exiled and banished from thee Woe is mee I haue killed I haue slaine and murthered that which I loued most vpon the earth And vnto him which I know and acknowledge I was most beholding But is this possible Alack alack it is but too true Blacke and vnluckie was our marriage not vnlike vnto that of Paris and Hellena the conclusion whereof was bloodie woe and sorrowfull death Ah my tongue canst thou yet talke and thou my heart canst thou still breathe and yee mine eyes are you not yet blinde Alas I liue not for the least anguish that I endure is a greater hell then death vnto me And thou partiall death who art not ignorant that my Husband and I were but one onely person why killing him hast thou not done the like vnto me Or if thou then hadst forgotten the same why doest not thou now better remember thy selfe Come then most welcome death come I pray and permit not her to liue that so much desireth to attend on thee And yet before I depart where shall I find eyes sufficient to weepe and lamentings bitter enough to be conformable vnto the sorrowes of my soule Oh that this my humor changing it selfe wholly into teares and drowning me therewith in it might be so forth ate to drowne therewith all my torments also And alack what intollerable pangs doe I suffer can any sauadge body endure the same and yet not part hence And can mine eyes view my Spouse giue vp his ghost and not seale vp their liddes with an euerlasting slumber Louing and louely bedfellow as heretofore our affections were loyall true and chast so as loyall sweet and chast shall our entombings be together Sweet Husband as long as thou liuedst thou neuer wouldest depriue me of thy kinde and friendly embracings Ah then I desire thee let me not be defrauded of thy death For I am not worthie to be called thy wife if I doe not as well participate of thy bad fortunes as of thy good and take a say of thy sowre as well as I haue done of thy sweet If ioy could neuer diuide our foules why should they then be vntyed by death And as I heeretofore haue slept with thee in the selfe-same bed as our sacred marriage appointed vs so I beseech thee denie mee not to lye with thee in the selfe-same Tombe that thou doest Whlist we were liuing we were perfitly vnited together being dead wee will be as kindly ioyned one vnto another As well shalt thou be my husband now thou art dead as when thou wert aliue neither shall the Destinies themselues hinder me from following thee still to assist and helpe thee according vnto my bounden dutie But now alas before I come vnto thee how shall I pay the last remainders of my Loue which I owe thee By what testimony shall I render sufficient proofe of mine ardent affection towards thee and what perfect signes shall I shewe of my true dolour as thou too too well deseruest In times past An Example those women that loued their husbands best vsed to sacrifice themselues vnto the fire burning their bodies because they would die with them And shall I be lesse dutifull then those And what cannot I for my Loue is more perfect then theirs was But yet before I die let me kisse those eyes which liuing rauished my libertie those eyes which were of late the cheerfull Sun of my soule those eyes which once nourished my sadde and dulled spirits So let me touch those sugred lips whose liuely breath was sometimes the chiefe comfort of my minde and a precious balme to my griefe And thou faire countenance wherein sometimes lay all my hopes whose louely presence entertained my good Fortune Neuer shall I be satisfied enough in kissing of thee neither can my mortall desires be satisfied as they wish Ay me was I borne to murther mine owne life and was I so vnluckie in my birth that I could not dye without the losse of that which I helde as deare as mine inward soule And thou my soule how hard is thy trouble how heauie thy languishing and how wretched thy estate whilst that of mine Espouse liueth glorious by me heerein I can no longer talke and too long haue I prolonged my life and it may seeme my griefe is the lesse in that I haue had such libertie of speech But how The Swan singeth sweetly at the houre of her death An example then let none wonder though I waile and lament so much mine ende being so nigh Dispatch then miserable Iustina and performe the last vowes which are due vnto thy Alphonso to the ende thou maist hasten the more to follow him And therewithall she so often kissed and rekissed him as his Ghost for a while once returned againe into his bodie whilst hauing heard what pitious mone shee made for him he striueth euen in the middest of his death pangs to open his closed eyes and pale mouth a little to looke once more vpon her and to vtter these fewe words vnto her Ah my deare soule and deerer then my