the purse a foe to the person a Canker to the mind a Corrasive to the Conscience a weakner of the wit a besotter of the senses and finally a mortall baâ—e to all the body So you shall finde pleasure in the path-way to perdition and lusting Love the Load-stone to ruth and ruine The Duke protested he meant verily to make her sole owner governour to him and his if she would but requite him with her lasting affection she promised him so he would vtterly renounce all suspition and as having no cause given by her so he would not lay hold on every frivolous occasion whereby Iealousie might proceed for I will relate a jealous humour and the ill conveniency thereof said shee and thus she begun A jealous man is suspitious ever more judging the worst for if his wife be merry hee thinketh her immodest if sober sullen if pleasant inconstant if she laugh it is lewdly if she looke it is lightly So he is still casting beyond the Moone and watcheth as the crafty Cat over the silly Mouse for if the heart be once infected herewith his sleepes are broken and dreames prove vnquiet the whole night is consumed in slumber thoughts and cares the day in woe vexation and misery besides my Lord the jealous man living dyes and dying prolongs out his life in passion worse then death none looketh on his Love but suspitious sayes this is he that would be Corrivall in my favours none knocketh at the doore but starting up hee imagins them to be the messengers of fancy none talkes but they whisper of affection if shee frowne she hates him and loves others if she smile it is because she hath had successe in her Love lookes she frowardly on any man she dissembles if she favours him with a gracious eye then as a man possessed with a phrensie he cryeth out that neither fire in straw nor love in a womans lookes can be concealed Thus doth he live restlesse and maketh love that is sweet in it selfe more bitter then gall consider this my Lord for should you perpetrate the like it would make a woman wanton if she were borne to Chastity But by this time ALEXTO had pen'd his Epistle therefore we will leave her subtilty proceeding in her Rhetorick thereby yoking the Duke vnto her servitude and returne vnto him who was reading what he had writ vnto Sandrico and this was it Shall I be stab'd with Ponyards of disdaine Or languish still in my obscurest paine For in my heart thy worth is firmely fixt My groning sighs with teares are intermixt As Spiders webs hold fast the silly Fly Intangled so by thy faire selfe am I Why planted I Hearts-ease and Rue must gather As I did sow I should have reaped rather This is a Paradox beyond reliefe That I in anguish should prolong my griefe After SANDRICO had perused these lines without intermission hee prosecuted the delivery knowing the Lady frequented the walkes in the Coole of the day and thither being both come though unseene yet they saw the Lady ANGELICA imbraced by the Duke of Aragon to whom she had newly contracted herselfe ALEXTO being conveniently placed Sandrico vndanted proceeded towards her where she starting vp from the Dukes lap demanded the Originall of his abrupt intrusion SANDRICO said Lady you must and shall peruse each syllable enclosed here delivering her the Letter at which the Duke begun to storme but she having her trickes briefer then her Pater noster soone pacified the Duke telling him he was a gentleman Sewer to a kinsman of hers from whom she did not much desire to be solicited so craving pardon and his patience discended the Mount and read what was inclosed SANDRICO demanded her answer why that I am otherwise provided quoth she With that ALEXTO did approach vowing not to be so satisfied at whose comming she did sustaine an Agony which more tortured her then if grimme death had seized each part then said ALEXTO Lady will you falsifie your vowes she replyed that she never made any and demanded his witnesse I have none said Alexto but Sandrico and your owne conscience otherwise wherefore did you vse mee so respectively retaining me into your favour why as my servant shee reply'd for that was your first request at your entring of my Palace and so I have counted of you and ever will if you bee resident with me Lady answered SANDRICO you are false and disloyall you are like the Mandrake apple comely in show but banefull in taste and for your ingratitude you are worse then the Serpent who hath venome to annoy others but not himselfe And then ALEXTO begun Lady is this equity and justice O no For Justice consists of Eight parts Friendship Concord Godlinesse Humanity gratefulnesse faithfulnesse and vertuousnesse but you have neither for it is the badge of Vertue the staffe of peace and the maintenance of Honour O that I were but some Sorcerer as Cyrce who altered the shapes of Men and Women to Beares Wolves Lyons Asses Apes and the like whereby I might make some metamorphose of thee if your Sexe were not worse then ours Wherefore doth Serpents engender in your Reines and Toades in dead mens skuls and so fare you well said Angelica ALEXTO seeing himselfe utterly cast off was desperate but SANDRICO perswaded him as followeth Hee that bruiseth the Olive tree with hard Iron fetcheth out no oyle but water and he that pricketh a proud heart with perswasions draweth out nothing but hate and envie therefore let her goe as better lost then found for Aristotle reporteth that a Virgins heart is like a Cotton tree whose fruit is so hard in the Bud that it soundeth like steele and being ripe putteth forth nothing but Wooll O said ALEXTO that I could with Aristotle throw my selfe into the Euripus saying Quia te non capio tu me capies Be not wilfull said Sandrico to destroy thy selfe for many happen to dye by chance whose causes are unknowne and obscur'd many by Infirmity whose causes are apparent many by age whose causes are present but some dye neither by chance Infirmities nor Age but dye for want of grace to live longer Shall I kill her then said ALEXTO O no quoth SANDRICO how frequent is it that such men have beene frequented with horrible fantasies and imaginations which come into their heads both sleeping and waking So Thierie King of Italy being a Goth by Nation after hee had slaine Symmachus and Boâ—tius his sons as Procopius reports it seemed to him that hee saw in the head of a Fish served on his Table the face of Symmachus in a horrible shape and fashion knitting of his browes Gogling of his Eyes biting his lip for very anger the conceit thereof so perplext the King that he fell sicke and dyed this is the usuall course of murtherers Then replyed Alexto thou art a Plato unto me and I like Dionisius abstaine from much tyrannie by thy good counsell then let her live like the
perpetrated sprung from that which was enacted in her brest so with much amorous daliance as befits Lovers to disport time with they with a very willing unwillingnesse for that time parted where we will leave her entring of her Palace and ALEXTO and SANDRICO to their accustomed Chamber You have heard of this their severall meetings and how lovingly they accorded together but fortune proved her selfe envious as to mixe his present joyes with perpetuall sorrowes for ere the time was totally expir'd the Duke of Aragon arrived at the Palace who was very nobly entertained by the Lady and her attendants but to cut off prolixity he became her Suitor and so fervently that nothing could repulse his forwardnesse The Lady being mightily perplexed thereat knew not how to demeane her selfe for faine she would yet loath she was to condescend because her vowes were passed to Alexto and the Worme of Conscience turning round did solicite her â—ares with the sting of Memento thus betwixt feare and hope or rather falshood and dissembling she remained the most part of a day but at last considering with her selfe ALEXTO was but a Lord the other a Duke who was esteemed a potent Monarch she concluded utterly to renounce ALEXTO and to entertaine the Duke into her favour and studied with her selfe how to accomplish it without the impeachment of her honour at last she resolved not to make a perfect semblance of rejecting him at first but by degrees requiting his amorous glances with coy and disdainfull frowns and to repute his modest imbraces lascivious claspes With this resolution shee went to meete the affectionate ALEXTO who expected her presence in the Garden musing at her long delay but when hee perceived her comming he arose from the banke to meet her proferring imbracement she refusing it answered that that was Childish play and fitter for Rurals then these of their degrees at which ALEXTO much marvelled little conceiving her drift and policie therein yet had he no great cause to admire because Plato reports that the ferventest mind may be changed betweene Evening and Morning besides how could truth be expected to lye in falshood But ALEXTO rowsing his decaying spirits thus answered Lady is your Love like your beauty both fading like a Rose in June You said a sliding knot was soone loose and that Lovers vowes couple no constraint but like fetters made of glasse that glister much but speedily breake your gestures make your words apparant yet in your vowing you gave mee heart and hand I meane no other-wise quoth she unto you if ever I marry your selfe shall be him that shall Crowne my browes with a laurell wreath why said Alexto the time of our marriage is limited and is almost expired With this discourse they spent their time Alexto urging her still to remember her promise in so much that Angelica flung forth of the Arbour very much discontented Alexto after her requesting her stay and further conference she neither returned answered nor look't but shrowding subtilty beneath the Maske of anger went her way leaving Alexto solitary to himselfe who stayed not long but went to Sandrico who was the mitigator of his distresse and no sooner did he meet with him but he thus began To a man in misery life seemeth too long but to a worldly minded man living in pleasure life seemeth too short Plinie reports a detestable life removeth all merit of honourable buriall for it is a Pilgrimage a shadow of joy a glasse of inflrmity and the perfect path-way to Death for Philip King Alexanders Father falling upon the Sands and seeing there the marke and print of his Body said how little a plot of Ground is Nature content with And the life of man fadeth like a shadow yet doe wee covet the whole World Sandrico all this while remained astonish't little deeming his Lady was the originall of this his distemprature but thus interrupted him What unexpected stratagem hath thus perplext thy mind condenc't your understanding exil'd your judgement betrayed your spirits to disquiet passions and leading your selfe captive to fond contemplation O my Sandrico answered Alexto the pinace of my affection is like to sustaine Ship wracke on the waves of her inconstancy shee begins to disdaine mee whom formerly she loved the World seduceth the eye with variety of objects the Sent with sweet confections the taste with all delicious dainties the touch with soft flesh the body with precious clothings and all is but the inventions of vanity Tush said Sandrico admit she doth forsake thee as 't is impossible never grieve therefore for that griefe is best digested that brings not open shame but now you have no such cause of mourning then cease these brinish teares T is true said Alexto Homer so spoke but what answered Seneca we shall sooner want teares then cause of mourning in this life and GREGORY said teares crave compassion and submission deserveth forgivenesse but I answer thee as Solon who burying his Sonne wept bitterly being requested to the contrary cause his teares were in vaine for that cause I weepe the more quoth he because I cannot prevaile by weeping Come come said Sandrico to weepe for toyish love thou dost impare thy worth cease then this which is the very common Embleme of dissimulation For its common in the eye of a strumpet like heat-drops in a bright Sun-shine and as much to be pittied as the weeping of a Crocodile and peradventure thy Mrs. dropt angry words to try thy constancy and might act this with the counterfeite Tragedians of Smyrna who lifting up their bloody hands to the skies and their eyes stedfastly fixed on the earth cryes Coelum meaning the Heavens Come come thy Lady is Loyally affectionated towards thee to my knowledge then answered ALEXTO she did disdaine me that I should touch her lips and at her departure she gave me not a word but went away in silence I like not this Muta Eloquentia SANDRICO then mistrusted the worst but to hearten on his friend thus replyed perhaps more eyes were present then your owne and that she might feare or she gave you some private signe by which you might vnderstand her meaning and peradventure you did not conceive thereof for Caesar writ vnto his Captaines per notas by markes and notes lest his letters should be vnderstood by his souldiers and Tarquin the proud was sent vnto by his sonne Sextus to know what he should doe by the Gabians he brought the messenger into a Garden and with his staffe Altissima papaperum capita decussit the messenger wondered at the strategem but Sextus vnderstood his Fathers mind So hee might give some private note and passe away silent Then answered ALEXTO I like not such notes to write as Demetrius did on Sand or as Pythagoras did on glasse nor as Damaratus on wood therefore what wilt thou advise me to do to answer her dumbe jesture Sandrico requested him to write some amorous lines vnto her in courting
exquisite beauty of PHILIP with his admirable elocution and excessive bearing of drinke The which being related in the audience of Demosthenes hee presently checkt Aesehines saying that he made a woman of Philip for his beauty a babling Sophister for his eloquence and a spunge for his retaining of liquour But now this young ALEXTO was the onely joy and comfort of his Aged Sire who having a desire to have his Sonne experienced in Martiall Discipline and also not ignorant for the courting of amorous Damozels he sent him to Athens to bee educated in both and also for his Comrade he sent one Sandrico a mans Sonne of great worth and no lesse valiant then his owne Sonne for Sandrico's Courage was apparently manifested and also proved most eminent But in short space these two undanted spirits were landed at Athens where not altogether so joyfull for their safe arrivall as for the good society of each other to whom they linckt their fidelity in a fraternall vow and bound their friendship with such a Gordian knot as the Asse was fastened to the Temple of Apollo with But after they had spent some few yeares in Athens the Thracian Emperour began to over-runne Greece which stood in need of the ayd power and assistance of these two Champions Aâ—lexto and Sandrîco And speedily they were sent for home for the succour of their aged Sires In which warres they performed exceeding rare deeds of Chivalry whereby they became the only blossoms and mirrours of those times for still the honour of each day did adorne their Crests But the acting of their exquisit feates to the no small amazement of each spectator in which behold how retrograde fortune proved that these two uncontroled Greeks became captivated by the arrivall and verball report which the shrill Trumpet of fame triumphed through all the Army Which was of the exquisite feature of the Roman Lady Angelica of whom t' was said that if all the Goddesses were composed in an Vnion they could not equalize her the citation here of each particular of her unparalleliz'd worthâ— would appeare too tedious Only conceive this that the report which flying fame did demonstrate did still solicite the Eares of young Alexto insomuch that it was deepely rooted in his heart and the fruit which sprung from thence was his daily squared sighes whereby he was altogether disabled to negociate his Martiall affaires And thus was he enamoured of her whom his eyes were never blest with the prospect of yet daily did hee surfeit by the excessive quaffing of the nomination of her name and did as much adore the same as Pigmalion did the senselesse Portraiture that he carved on which he so much doted that he made it his bedfellow But all this while we have not treated of the vexation and perplexity which Sandrico sustained not that hee was intangled or captivated by the amorous report of the terrestiall Goddesse But his griefe and disability proceeded from the pensivenes which he perceived his friend Alexto to be in And as he could not conceive the originall from whence it sprung so would not ALEXTO relate unto him and divulge the cause of his internall griefe which was apparantly descryed by his externall hew and melancholy gestures yet poore Sandrico was not so well read in that loving Philosophy as to conceive the nature of his unusuall passion for he was more fitte for the Tents of boysterous Mars then the Temples of amorous Ladies So likewise was ALEXTO before he was intrapped with the snare of affection But alas there is no heart so soveraigne good but Love can make simple And so it fell out that one time above the rest Sandrîco came into the Tent of his noble friend ALEXTO and falling into a deepe discourse at the Catastroph period of each sentence Alexto would still close them up with such a sigh that it would seeme to rent and cleave in sunder the rafters of his Tent At which Sandrîco laying fast hold upon that occasion began to importune and request him by all the permanent and unfained friendship that so liberally he had and did shew on him that hee would not conceale any longer that in obstinacy which might prove his utter ruine but reveale it unto him whereby it might be a mitigation of his distresse vowing to participate of the same and also to lend him the propagation of all his future and faithfull endeavours Have you beheld how Iris struts when as her Mantel's spred Or have you mark't when as Sol riseth with his radiant beames he doth disperse the misty Foggs and unsavoury vapours which were obscured in the concavious places of the earth Even so the true paterne of perfect friendship which SANDRICO spred upon ALEXTO partly disperst the sable Clouds of that his present calamity For when Birds sing early it doth betoken a faire day but when the Sun-shine garnishes it it prognosticates a shower but after a storme comes a calme so after ALEXTO had turned over the Volumes of numberlesse sighes he unfolded his mind unto SANDRICO in these words O unhappy J Warres have their ends either houre or death the Scilian pooles by sufficient helpe may be drawne dry the Talitian tree in time did wither the Stoiticall floud did drowne the usurping Tyrant But Love O Love Thou hast no period neither can J bring thee to a compromise delay to thee is the unhappy Headsman that holding mee neither saves nor kills but leaves me to languish in a burning frozen zone Sandrico being attentive by this understood that an amorous passion had creep'd into him and thus began modestly to chide him Oh quench these smothering sparkes lest suffered they grow to a perpetuall flame and like the Amazonian Cell scorch all that doth approach it nigh and at last with Mount Aetna consume it selfe But Oh my friend let the Buckets of thy undanted courage draw forth of the noble Well of thy understanding so much reason as to quench this unmartiall Agony Let not thy brave heroicke mind stoope unto so base and ascivious a lure fit for none but Panicall rusticks that never were trained in the Trojan Warres whose whips prongs are Speares and Lances Hay-cocks Shields and Targets and blew Bonnets Crests and Helmets I blush at thy thoughts and could take pleasure to deridefancie were it not in thee but now J see the Poets did well when as they first fained Cupid that disloyall Sycophant to be blind For had he seene thy worth hee never durst attempt a shaft as thus rovingly hath light upon thee the which repulse and send backe againe in as many pieces about his Corpes as there be sands in the Lydian shores for what 's his bolt only headed with a voluntary desire and feathered with a quicke consent which is shot from a bow of Jdlenesse Then rowse up thy disordered senses and remember the Souldiours Phrase Dulcior est Mors quam Amor Aristotle Socrates Nay hadst thou taken Lectures from
Mercury and studied all thy life time for Poems to feed the variable incredulity of these insatiable Dames either they would banish thee as Caesar did Ovid or condemne thee to dye in the height of their displeasure As for beauty their chiefest pride it is but Times flower which as it is delicate so it soone withers for it is like the Colours which Phidias drew which seemed admirable and to the view most excellent but did vanish and impaire at every aeriall breath You know that VENUS the Matron of them all was faire the sooner to make a wanton also HELEN the Mirrour of our Grecian Land but aske Troy of her qualities Therefore when as you have runne through the Alphabet of praising fictions as in saying Worthiest Mistresse my service lyes prostrated unto your acceptance the which if you please to command I shall think of none other happinesse but in the accomplishment of the same Or should'st thou figure thy Mistresse as the Poets did Venus to ride in a Golden Chariot drawne with silver breasted Doves or as Iuno with golden plumed Peacocks At the last when as they are satisfied by drawing the day of extolments they will seeke to place thee amongst the starres as Venus did Pythagentes for a Flatterer a very lofty seate but low in reward and this is the common course now a dayes of our Grecian and Roman Damosels Therefore use no physicke but the consideration of these which forth of the seriousnesse of my love to thee I have beene enboldned to relate After Sandrico had made an end of this discourse Alexto began to answer him as followeth My dearest Sandrico had Dionisius but ten Platoes to tell him truth he had not erred Agamemnon wish't but ten such as Nestor to vanquish all his Enemies at Phrygia and to set our Greekes at liberty But thou art both a Plato and a Nestor unto me thy counsels are both true and good But alas my heart is filled with such an amorous passion that it admits no attentivenesse unto thy friendly advertisements Yet J must confesse I have heard that a womans love is like the river Tedocheus which being tasted unto some it proves venomous and banefull but unto others as their daily nutriment Or as the Macedonian Image which unto some Champions at the triumph there it would cast amorous glances and on others disdainfull lookes and frownes And also as on the Saxtenion Mount there was a Castle inchanted by the Necromancer Bastellotus wherein he caused to bee tortured his faire Polidarca for her cruelty towards him at the Entry of which he had placed a Brasen Bull a fierce Dragon and hellish furies These were Guardians whereby none could vanquish nor unloose but onely he which was the Mirrour of Rome for all perfection Alcontiodes and hee finished the Inchantment Then O Sandrico suffer mee to try my fortune which peradventure may prove as these have and why may not I with Calapassus take a turne in Dancing with Ióves Daughters in the Pierian Greene Tush tush said Sandrico remember thy owne speeches wherefore did Bastelotus cause Pilodorea to be tortured but for her cruelty towards him and may not thy Mistresse prove as marble hearted Also remember how long Lodovicus was enamoured of the Lady Dantrissea and how unfaithfull she prooed unto him As also when he dyed he desired that his heart should be shewed unto her wherein she perceived her owne similitude as transparent as an object is by the Suns reflexion in a Chrystall Mirror yet she regarded it not but esteem'd it ridiculous But should thy Mistresse prove so marble-hearted I would become Santeticus causing her to be inchanted in that sort as hee did Dantrissia for being the death of his friend Lodovicus First he caused her to be placed in a boyling Caldron amongst furies with the portraiture of his friend Lodovicus in her view holding his bleeding heart in his hand whereby shee should also gaze on her own dissembling Phisiognomy and on Lodovicus front was engraven in Capitall letters this motto Thy base dissembling face did cause my death Thy flattering Tongue makes this to bleed on earth Torments I did sustaine in life for thee And now in Death thus tortured shalt thou be Secondly her nutriment was the excrement of Toades Adders and Serpents which was dish't in the naturall Scull of Lodovicus served her by Satyres which were her attendants with strange deformed beasts In this sort she still remained which is too good for all such disloyall Sycophants But my Alexto if this amorous conceit doe but once creepe into thee I doe much dread the successe for thou that art for beauty like the faire Romans Paramour for Wisedome like Vlysses whom Circe could not inchant for Courage like a second Hector Then seeing thou art adorned with all these graces bequeath not thy selfe and it unto so foolish a passion which allowes nothing excellent but what it likes for it shadoweth beggery in Crates whom Hisparata thought and esteemed rich for his love but contrariwise Palperea accompted Croesus a poore fellow because she disliked him Then yeeld not thy selfe to this fancy which is altogether in extreames and admits no reason for thou aâ—t he from whose mouth flowes melody more enchanting then the Sirens And in thy lips the Muses make a new Parnassus and thy head containes the subtilty of Aristotle Remember also thou art a Warriour whose undanted courage was never yet quail'd by any neither forraigne Foe nor home bredenemy For the name of noble ALEXTO is sufficient to vanquish Troopes of armed men After Sandrico had used all the skill he could to perswade his friend ALEXTO from the entertaining of his new fancie Alexto began thus to answer him My deare Sandrico as the wounded Deere wringeth forth teares and as the Myrtle depressed yeeldeth gumme so by the deepe impression which J have conceived of faire Angelica's beauty my sighs leade mee captive to picke up a mourner in the time of my owne teares besides my SANDRICO the Gods should doe nature too much wrong if they should place an Adamant heart in a Chrystall face therfore twit me no more with Vesta for Venus is she who can chastise Angelica though she did glory in beauty as Narcissus who stooping to kisse his owne shadow in a brooke was immediately drowned therein Besides Lucina is a Goddesse which must be imployed for marriage is honourable and to live unmatcht it were a wrong to nature The Phoenix when shee is nigh her end builds her neast with all sweet spices and odoriferous perfumes as close unto the Sunnes reflexion as she can whereby at her decease his splendidious and Radiant beams should revive a young Phoenix forth of the Ashes of the olde deceased one But Sandrico should either man or woman dye without the propagation of Issue their Characters and resemblances could not be left behind but by a dead substance as Dostitetius was whose portraiture was carved ere he died by the
cunning Artist therefore I say Love is Divine and Marriage honourable especially to those that are the paragons of this terrestriall Paradise Also when as the Demetriall King esteemed of Love as the Barbarian King did of gold wch he sent as presents to his Enemies Venus curst him out of her Temple wherefore he was hated of all and thus hatefully dyed And when Rossilius would tast no fruit but such as grew in the Gardens of Hesperides neither then any Colour content his eyes but such as was stained by the Maureticall fish that is he could affect no Damozell but shee which was accompted the terrestriall Goddesse of the Thration land named Dionela and because he was loyally affected to her Venus suffered him to marry her and when as she lackt the assistance of Lucina Diana also came vnto her and at the birth of Dionella's son the Goddesses rained Pearle Iupiter gold Mars trained his warlike Legions in the Aire This was to signifie that where loyall affection is the Gods rejoyce tryumphantly Also when as Doves are matcht young they never sever but by death so Vines grafted being sprigs they seldome part but they decay Sandrico perceiving that Alexto would still Crosse him he thus begun againe I perceive that thy head is not barren of Sophistry to prove this thy Argument of loving Philosophie but suppose my friend that thy Autumne showers come too late and cause not thy Crop to prove Besides a woman will say she hath but one heart as the Heavens have but one Sunne but none can finde how many tricks and false imaginations are observed and shrowded in that one heart of theirs Then looke before you leape and walke not where no footing can be found seek not to clime Olimpus before you consider the altitude therof neither barke with the Wolves of Cirea against Endimion Settle not too much affection before you know how to be requited but I perceive that is true which one relates of a certaine person which was so ravished in his amorous and fond Contemplations that he had the Image of his Mistres so imprinted in his thoughts that he seemed alwaies to converse with her and performe with her all those actions which lovers vse to commit in imbracing of their loves so you Alexto grow almost desperate for her whom you have not seene Alexto perceiving Sandrico spoke vnto the purpose he speedily thus answered him Prethee Sandrico honour me so much as to beare me company vnto Rome where J will try my fortune with Angelica and if she prove not so amorous as I am loyall I will more exclaime of her then Doronus did of our Grecian Army to which request Sandrico consented perceiving there was no repulsion but Alexto would try his fortune with the Roman Lady Angelica hee gave his consent to travaile with Alexto In which Journey Alexto began thus to passe away the time Worthiest Sandrico beauties arrowes are so sharpe and the darts that flye from womens eyes so piercing that the choisest Armour cannot repulse either of them no not the Corslet which Vulcan made for the Didonian Champion for it pierceth deeper within the tender brest of an Amorous Lover then Canon Shot in plancke for shot either it passeth through or stickes but when Love makes battery if it enters not the defendant it teares the plaintiffe in a thousand peeces It 's also like the Amazonian Armour which being shot at the King of Phrygia it was repulst in such sort by Magicke Art that it brake about the Eares of Stonatus who shot it that it killd him and five hundred of his resolute Warriâ—rs Or it hath resemblance vnto the fire-balls and Thunder-bolts which Iove sent at Mars the one lighting on his Helmet and the other glancing on his Shield were returned with such fury that the bolts stroke Xantusissius loves kinsman dead and the balls had well nigh fired Iove himselfe out of his throane So nothing could extinguish the wild-fire which well nigh burnt the Castle of Silotus but the Milke and Juice of the Stabolian Tree So neither will nor can any thing asswage the fervent anguish of a Loyall Lover but the true acceptance of the beloved For what spoke APOLLO hee whose skill in compounds and simples exceeded all mens for Galen and Hippocrates were not worthy to carry his Drugs when as an Amorous passion crept into him hee said Hei mihi quod nullis amor est medicabilis herbis Besides Love that Divine passion if it bee over rash dealt with it burnes dim and dyes like the Forge of Dedalus But if it be moderately treated on it will quickly flame with consent like Arnalian sparkles which smothering lay but being leisurely blowne were soone fired But my Sandrico if my faire Angelica would looke vpon me as the affectionated mother on her smiling Infant or with such an amiable countenance as Doranelia did on Stolâ—tius her constant lover who rushed into the battaile at Phrygia resolutely resolving there to dye or to set at liberty his faire Mistres who after a tedious conflict with expence of blood and the close pursuing of his enemies was almost brought unto the period of life but casting his decaying eyes about speedily received such strength and fresh Courage from the feiture of his beautious Love which did so replenish his empty veines that in short time he subdued his haughty Foes and brought them to submission even so an amorous glance from Angelica would revive my drooping heart which is in a fierce conflict for her sake and is almost vanquisht by death his deadly enemy But ô Sandrico doe but consider what Love is for as there is no cut to vnkindnesse so there is no haughty spirit but that the quintessence of Love can chastise with Celerity For great Alexander stood affrighted at the Amazonian beauties Hector in the midst of his battaile against Alezanto when as hee saw the Empresse Claria hee instantly was amazed and sustained the Agony of a Tartian Ague letting his Lance drop from his Martiall hand suffering himselfe to bee disarmed vnhelm'd and Captivated by his Foes I feare quoth Sandrico that this fiction of praising Love will not last long for the Nightingale hath but one May in twelve moneths and whereas thou hast surfetted by quaffing the poysoned Cup of bitter Love thou shalt finde the reward in the bottome thereof to bee but the dreggs of thy counterfeiting Mistresses hate yeeld not too much to the impotency thereof for you know not with how much gall and bitternesse the hony of Love is tempered with Est melle felle foecundissimus Besides a woman hath as many minds as the Alphabet hath letters for the distinction of their fancies are like the difference of their faces for Aristes said that his Alderia had two kinds of faces the one dissembling to please him the other lasciviously to entertaine a friend also they are meerely compos'd and made of vanity which makes them prove so light For
enamoured of her and also hoping that he would make the first assault of which she was desirous though modesty was her hinderance Jn these contemplations we leave her and returne to Alexto who had pend poeticall Verses for his Lady and Mistresse delivering them vnto Sandrico for to present vnto her and these are they Worthiest of all could I thee equilize To any shee that might thee paralize In rusticke sort then should my rurall quill Herauld thy fame resounding forth it still Yet fairest Dame I deeme you le not disdaine To 〈◊〉 these rough hewne lines whose meaning 's plaine Then by your favour Lady I presume To cast my selfe beneath your Sacred plume I homage must if you a Goddesse were But now a frowne from your blest brow I feare To figure you like Venus t' were vnfit Shee was disloyall beauty blasted it Or say that you resemble Helen's face Compar'd with which 't would but impart disgrace For Troy doth know her qualities so well That penn's can't write nor tongues have power to tell Yet thus I le say Arabian Odours sweet Distill from your faire cheekes deare love to Greet Lady know this by knowing which know all Your Servant proves obedient to your call Now after Sandrico had perused thē he very well esteemed thereof promising to deliver them which he performed some two dayes after finding a fit opportunity both for time and place at the receipt whereof the Lady knowing from whence they came conceived an inward and vnspeakeable Joy but dreading to be perceived by Sandrico shrowded this extasie beneath the vaile of discontent framing her gesture correspondent vnto the sterne aspect of her visage made this answer Dares he presume a Goddesse to behold Or spot that brest that 's beautifide with Gold Dares he the Gods in battaile to provoke Or from darke Hell the furies to Invoke But what dares hee or dares not for to doe That thus doth dare send lines vnto our view Shee willing to proceed but fearing that her sharpe answer would vtterly repulse his forwardnesse yet loath to seeme Captivated at first thus went on Sir I know not how to accept these lines because I deeme them to proceed from presumption and arrogancy and because I favoured his person in the lists he imagins me enamoured of him but his hopes foole him if so he deemes or have I showne him some other extraordinary favors that he should thus abuse my vertues meaning But I perceive he reacheth me to be cautions and circumspect in all my actions confining my lookes vpon imoveable objects lest others with himselfe misdeeme them Sandrico perceiving her still to proceed emboldened himselfe to interrupt her thus Thrice illustrious Lady his perpetuall service is offered to your Divine person for at your feete he casts the hope of his worlds happinesse uniting the remainder of his life therewith for he and that little all nature endowed him with lyes sole at your disposing Then seeing you are the first Starre that ever seduc't him to study Astronomy let him not perish by the reflexion of your ingratitude seeing he is loyally affected towards you The Lady Angelica fearing to be entrapped requested his vnwelcome absence adding that by his lines she perceived no forcing effects besides that she had vowed Chastity and that a Monarch should not cause her infringe her former passed vowes to Vasta But turning aside she said she must give her conscious tōgue that lie for though a Monarch should not yet Alexto could So pulling a Jem frō her Ivery neck freely presented it to Sandrico requesting him to pacifie his friend and so away she past Sandrico returned vnto his friēd Alexto But Angelica seeing she had Alexto at a bay vowed to keep him off to try his constancy and a while to triumph over him while he was in Captivity But by this time Sandrico had met with ALEXTO and relating vnto him what answer he received from the beautious Lady which caused ALEXTO to fall into a second desperation But Sandrico shewing him her favour recomforted him to send a second Epistle My ALEXTO said he it is naturall for women a while to dispise that which is offered but death to them if they be denyed of their demands And he that looketh to have the purest Christall water must dig deepe and he that delighteth in sweet Musicke and Madrigals must straine Art vnto the highest So he that seeketh to win his Love must not spare labour nor feare hazarding his life for Birds are trained with sweet Calls but caught with long nets so lovers are insnared with faire lookes but intangled with disdainfull eyes Then let me be the bearer of another Epistle for he that gathereth Roses must be content to prick his fingers and he that would conquer a womans affection must not be repulst by sharpe words and the wisest sort of them are commonly tickled with selfe love Come then lay hold of my advise for it is better to preferre the stedfast counsell of advised policy then the rash enterprise of malapert boldnesse for as a Cameleon hath all Colours save white so a flatterer hath all points save honesty I wish thee to proceed as if the subject was my owne I never found thee otherwise answered Alexto but it is an easie thing for a man being in health to give good counsell to another that is Sicke but with such facility the Sicke man cannot follow it but I le write once more ere other exploits I le try The Letter ILlustrious Mistresse I never desired to be so good a Scholler as to learne to love in Cupids Schoole whereby I should attain the courting of beauty with flattering phrases or hypocriticall Complements whose oyl'd tongu'd Metaphors so lavish in themselves do warble But could the dumbe speech of silence reveale the nature of my apparent passion or were it engraven in Capitall Letters in my front whereby the vulgar view of jealous eyes might peruse the secrets of my Love then were this inscription needlesse but since not then equall your inward perfection with your outward excellence for your apparent beauty hath rob'd me of my heart and either I must accuse you of the theft or be accessary to my utter ruine and for your sake Cupid hath taught mee what restlesse passions are in Love but fearing my laborious pen should prove too sad an Orator I restlesse rest vntill I fully rest Yours or not his owne ALEXTO This he having Sealed enclosed a rich Jewell therein gave it to Sandrico to present vnto the Lady the which he most willingly imbraced and at a convenient time delivered it her from whose hands she joyfully kist the contents ere she had perused the inscription and well noting each particular with a modest blush returned this answer presenting Sandrico an unestimable pearle wherein was carved her portraiture deliver this vnto thy friend whereby ingratitude may not be objected against me I had rather have a personall appearance then this dumbe