better to abridge my dayes Then vrge her more to saue my life O Apheleia thy loues power Is my liues date and my deaths hower How crosse hath heauen beene to my fate Since first I got the vse of breath She that me loues alas I hate She that I loue desires my death O Apheleia thy loues power Is my liues date and my deaths hower Cruell Loue why didst thou strike me With a Dart so full of woe If both my euer doe dislike thee Nor my life thou wilt let goe O Apheleia thy loues power Is my liues date and my deaths hower What bootes it thee to see me beare This raging fire in which I burne But that to men it may appeare What fortunes thou canst ouerturne O Apheleia thy loues power Is my liues date and my deaths hower Yet if thou ru'st on any smart Rue on my woe that wofull is But thou hast an obdurate hart And stonie minds wants Pitties blisse O Apheleia thy loues power Is my liues date and my deaths hower Alas why shouldst thy chast faire sight His glorie gaine by killing me And so against all law and right Win an abusiue victorie O Apheliea thy loues power Is my liues date and my deaths hower Why didst thou giue life to my flame If hope to kill were thy regard What worser chance can crowne thy name Then still to loue and lacke reward O Apheleia thy loues power Is my liues date and my deathes hower And shall the showers of teares I show Gaine no remorse for all my smart Alas sterne Loue doth answere No For why he dare not touch her hart O Apheleia thy loues power Is my liues date and my deaths hower It is in vaine I am asham'd That thus I seeke cure for my griefe For hearts that are inhumane fram'd Loue woe so well they hate reliefe O Apheleia thy loues power Is Diatassans dying howers The Princesse attentiuely hearing this song but not seeing the singer after her eares had drunke the sounde of her Shepheards name coupled with another as she thought much vnworthie of so hie preheminence as if all such adoration had beene most damnable blasphemies all-bee the sound did not chalenge anie thing from his voyce yet restlesse Iealousie strake such strange fire into her bosome that not able to containe her selfe she came foorth of the Arbour with a more then vsuall haste Anger making the Lillies of her face couer all the Roses But when shee sawe the deceyte and that it was but onelie the Nymph Ethera newe Gilliflowers springing about the Throne of Roses smiling vpon the Nymph she said I am glad my Ethera that thy pleasant free thoughts stirring vp thy siluer voice will giue vs the comfort of thy song beleeue mee I feard thy last affright would haue robbed both from thee and me all taste of solitarie pleasure But I pray thee fayre Nymph tell me what song was this which thou didst euen now so passionately vtter was it of thine owne or of others composing The Nymph Ethera with a downe-cast looke and an humble reuerence teaching her cheekes so artificiall a blush as might verie well deceiue Nature bowing herselfe before the Princesse and first crauing pardon for her bolde presumption in that shee had come so neare the place of her priuate retiring assuring her with many prettie protestations that she was vtterly ignorant of her there aboade in the ende shee tolde the Princesse that for the song which shee had sung it was none of her owne inuention but made by the famous Shepheard Diatassan in honour of the loue hee bare to the faire Nymph Apheleia which she of late hearing had now newly bequeathed to memorie O God! had the Nymph Ethera out of an implacable anger taken a vow vtterly to haue confounded the Princesse or had the Princesse beene the vtter confusion of all the generation from whence the Nymph was descended had the Princesse beene her riuall in affection the barre to her desires or had the Princesse said what no woman can endure to haue saide that shee had not beene faire shee coulde neither haue founde a more readie poyson nor a more sharpe reuenge then the vtterance of these wordes which shee deliuered they were Daggers in the Princesse heart they were woundes in her soule and liuing deathes of dying liues anguish what passion was there with which shee did not communicate what feare what distrust what iealousie what madnesse what amazement and what else that may take vpon it the name of absolute euill But in the ende Reason that could neuer indure that such euils as these should become maisters of his fairest habitation but like Carniuall masquers to haue onely a moments entertainment and no further summoning his best accomplices as Vertue Constancie Consideration and such like beganne to warre agaynst the former with these arguments First she called to minde the vertue of his former life his innocent thoughts his plaine dealing tongue and his vndisembling actions the seueritie of his gouernment giuing no libertie to inconstancie and his honourable imitations being euen assurances of the best goodnesse insomuch that Passion being accompanied with his onely companion easie beliefe and both they attended on by Anger their seruant casting a threatning cloude ouer the chearefull Firmament of her diuine lookes shee thus spake to the Nymph Ethera Well I perceiue than the vse of sinne brings the Euill both to a delight and easinesse in sinne nothing in them augmenting their ripenesse more then the warmth of their owne wickednesse of this hath thine immodestie giuen mee a double experience thy first vnchast perswasions being now seconded with a most shamefull slaunder lightnesse and impudencie striuing how to create murther O Ethera thou art doublie vnkinde vnkind to vertue the shadow of whose countenance hath brought thee to much honour but most vnkinde to truth whom thou seekest to kill with a false witnesse be thy folly therfore thy scourge and both my hate and refusals of thy counsels profes of that detestation wherein I holde thee hencefoorth I charge thee neither to frequent these walkes nor acknowledge my memorie but liuing an eternall exile complaine to the worlde what woes falshoode and shame haue brought vpon thee Alas poore Diatassan the vertue hath begot thee infinite enuie and thine imaginarie happinesse seekes to inrich thee with most cottaine mischiefe but thy goodnesse hath taken such well grounded roote in mine vnderstanding that nothing shall draw from thee the blisse of my good opinion liue but as happie as thou art constant and euen Angels shall finde want in thine vnbounded prospetiue And as she spake these words tears rising in her eyes as it were to make a question in the worlde which were the more purer Diamonds she offered to depart But the Nymph after the custome of disgrast Tragedians whose first act is entertained with a snakie salutation falling vpon her knees and staying her by her garments with all the humilitie that either Art
THE ENGLISH ARCADIA Alluding his beginning from Sir Philip Sydneys ending By Iaruis Markham LONDON Printed by Edward Allde and are to bee solde by Henrie Rocket at his shop vnder Saint Mildreds Church in the Poultrie 1607. To the Reader THe innumerable tortures wherewith seuere censures will torment and whip me their pewes their pyshes their wrye lookes Apish iestures and vntunable pronuntiations haue not so much retained me any time this halfe-score yeares from the publication of this morall Historie as the imputations of arrogancie immitation affectation and euen absurd ignorance which I euer feared Enuie would vniustly lay vpon me but hauing by custome and the weaknesse of detraction loosed my selfe from such shadowie fetters and with a more airie spirit freed my soule from such insubstantiall feares I haue aduentured to cast into the world this Orphan which how-euer it was once begot by noble parents and bosomed in the most celestiall eares that euer was worthie to retaine noble mysteries is now like a vagabond inforst to begge and liue vpon miserable charitie yet for vertues sake whom I euer desire to satisfie with my best powers before I be araignd at the barre of bitternesse I am willing to make this defence for the crimes which crueltie may suggest against me First for the Title thogh it be only excellēt in the most excellēt creature that first taught vs the sound of excellent writing yet hath it likewise beene vsed by others in sundrie pamphlets without either pride or ostentation men taking libertie to lay their hystories in Countries by them most affected next for mine allusion and imitation which beareth a colour of much greater vain-glorie mine excuse must onely bee the worthinesse of former presidents as Virgill from Homer Ariosto from Baiardo famous Spencer from renowned Chaucer and I with as good priuiledge from the onely to be admired Sir Philip Sydney whose like though neuer age hath or shall present to memorie yet shall it be renowne to the meanest that indeuour to liue by the crummes of his Table who were our age but blest with his liuing breath he would himselfe confesse the honie hee drew both from Heliodorus and Diana For other faults I must answere with Maister France if there were a bond to compell men to read there should then be an authoritie likewise to bind vs that write to delight But since both haue free will my counsell is to reade no longer then till your appetite be either cloyed or filled and so by preseruation of your stomackes make them apt to taste others better labours to which and to your owne content I commit you I. M. THE FIRST PART OF THE FIRST BOOKE of the Morall English Arcadia alluding his beginning from Sir Philip Sidneyes ending AT such time as the flowers appearing vpon the earth had summoned the ayrie quiristers to entertaine the first Embassadors of the Spring and that Nature deliuered frō the barraine wombe of Winter had shewed her selfe lyuelie as the morning faire as the nightes Gouernesse pure as the Sunne and as almighty as an armye of inuincible fortune The vnhappy and forlorne Shepheard Credulo being come to the foot of the mountaine Tagetus from whose large distributed skirts ranne an euen and wel leuiled plaine through which the siluer-flowing Erimanthus had made many curious and enterchangeable windinges till she deliuered the abundance of her tribute into the bosome of the Oceās vnruly treasurie and being arryued at the vtmost of the earths prospecte he encountred with his companion both in fortunes and desires the forsaken Carino whose eyes long before that time drown'd in their owne teares were now ouer earlie awaked to bathe them-selues in the tearye sea of others more deere afflictions And being mette in that alone lonelinesse which extreamest of all miseries had chosen out as a plat-forme whereon to build that day a stage for an immortal Tragedie they sate downe casting their eies vpon the waues whose vast solitarines presented to their mindes the liuely Idaeas of their vnaccompanied lamentations began bitterly to complaine that hauing ouer-laden hearts broke deuided with complaints which by incessant bemoanings they sought howerly to disburden foūd neither ease nor respet but rather a more augmentation of their continuall child-bearing mischiefes where-upon Credulo commenting in the sadnesse of his coūtenance more large volumes of griefe then his weake tongue could deliuer thus spake Ah Carino said he hither are we come to behold not the last act though as bleedingly pitious as the latest can be of Infortunes worst Tragedie presented to the stony eyes of creatures insensible because barbarous and acted by the greatest Beautie that euer before this day arose in the skie of anie womans countenance Alas that miserie should be so Imperious as to dare to take possessiō in the Pallace of Vertue or vertue so fearfull as for any disaster in-fortune to forgoe the habitation of Beautie Will the Almightie Iustice in his Diuine prouidence create excellēt frames to ignoble vses or Nature spend the golden treasure of her workmāship in a receptacle for greatest imperfections It is impossible it is impossible The Arts-masters of this lowe rounds nations striue in their works exquisite to portrait their owne vertues the best of which endeuours remaine after them liuing remembrances of dead worthines And shall the master of them and their knowledges make his goodliest pyramed a monument for vnblushing shamefulnes it is too preposterous to imagine and irreligious to beleeue only to thee and mee whose care-consumed imaginations direct all their leuells against the marke of mis-fortunes as hauing our hopes giuen ouer into the handes of Disdaine our vowes inrespected our loues fruitles our torments pittiles our deaths Tomblesse to vs I say these accidents of inhumane aduersitie are but awaking thunders or Night-Rauen cryes to our laboring remēbrances drawing in them and before them the models of those mishappes where-with our owne soules are attainted How oft haue thou and I my Carino from the top of yon Mountaine sent our eyes with the imbassage of our heartes conueying in blood-drawing sighes speedy messengers of dispaire the occurrents of our dying hopes How oft vpon this Plaine haue wee in darke Eglogues discoursed the pure intent of our honest seruices How oft vpon these Sandes haue wee wrtten her name with our Sheep-hookes which the iealous Sea in loue with hath greedily snacht into his bosome And how oft from yon aspiring Rocke haue wee wisht so she would beare witnes to our wish to fal head-long into the Sea as a seale to the great deed of our induring affection and yet haue found neither hope in our desires comfort in our loues nor end in our dispaires Haue we at any time desisted from the violēce of our first passion Hath there euer been seen coolenesse in the burning Feuer of our desires Haue our mindes slept at all in the shade of a reputed obliuion Or hath the Historie of her praises at any time
tooke their leaues of the Queene and the dead reputed Amphyalus and so returned backe to the place from whence they were departed The Queene left alone to accompany her dead Lord sauing that she had onely twentie horsemen and sixe Ladies which had beene her gardiants in that wofull voyage commanded the coffin to bee set downe vpon a faire banke of flowers by the riuers side and then taking her Lute to the delicacie of whose sound she maried a more dilicate voyce sung this funerall Sonnet Strong heart my strong cares vnconsumed throne How bigge thou swellst with euer feeding griefe I hop'd that worne to nothing with my mone Nothing to nothing would haue brought reliefe And you mine eyes that enuie these faire streames Because they flow not ouer like your teares Learne by this riuer to abate extreames Sith coolest woes breede longest liu'd dispaires But O mine Eyes you haue immortall springs Fed by a heart which feedes vpon distresse And thou my heart art wed to sorrowing Sorrow that sorrows-selfe cannot expresse Then heart grieue still and Eies augment your founttaines Till one make Seas the other cloud-hie Mountaines Here casting the Lute from her hands that she might cast her hands with more feeling ardencie about the beloued bodie which with such vnspeakeable adoration she had inshrined in the faire Temple of her spotlesse heart After my vnsympathised imbracements and cold kisses taken from his vnfeeling lips shee thus began to second her well tuned moanes with vntuned lamentations Alas Amphyalus sayd she alas thou that in the infinitenesse of thine vnbounded Disdaine hast had such an immortall soueraigntie as to bee the all onely director both of my thoughts and actions how much mightier had beene the amplified honor of thy royall spirit if the great Godhead of thy diuinitie had proceeded from a gracefull pitty to the gnawing torrent of my miserable distresse But I was vnworthy and woe is me that thy worthinesse did not esteeme me a worthy subiect to be ennobled by thy loues worthinesse yet was I not fatall to the long liued kingdome of thy vertues thou shouldst not haue brought a consuming fire from Corinth nor should my wombe haue deliuered a fire-brand to waste Arcadia O yes I was prodigious to thy birth-right and as a blasing starre at thine vnlooked for funerall For me though not from me came that first knowledge of thy first euill when thy deare Phyloxenus ende became the beginning of thy hate to my desires Tymotheus death a Seale to that reuers-lesse deed of thy disdain which no time or opinion shall euer cancell O vnspeakable miserie O maruellous doome of my fore-doomed persecution O most wonderfull impietie of a haplesse beautie O singular affliction to an euer afflicting memorie and O iust iudgement of my starre-crost destinie O sorrow iust sorrow be thou henceforth the iustnesse of my mediation O fearefull sorrow in the extremitie of my fearfulnes increase my sorrowes augmentation and let me sorrow that euer sorrowing my sorrows are not amplifyed to a sufficient greatnesse But why talke I of sorrow that am not worthy of so gentle a sleepe-killing cōpanion O rest thee thou faire foe to my rest thou weeping eye of a soft heart thou reuenge of weaknesse vnkindnesse satisfaction and the key which vnlockes the closet of a concealed affection O image of sleepe sleepe with my forgetfulnesse and forgotten contentments And come Death vgly Death vntimely Death the rack to a burdned conscience the soules bitternesse the bodies graue and the mindes immortall affliction come thou and accompanie my calamities leade mee to my Lorde that he may beholde in thee his Lordship ouer mee there is no reason I liue being reasonlesse left of the loue I adored And here as if shee woulde haue drowned herselfe in newe teares or prooued that the greatnesse of griefe is euer begotte by the greatest expence of griefe shee wept in such violent abundance that the extremitie of that ouerflowe brought her to a motionlesse dumbnesse in-so-much that one of her Ladies whose eye had taken a full draught from that cup of patheticall griefe taking the falne Lute into her hande awakened her Queene with these mournfull Stanzies Night like a mourner creepes vpon moanes Yet troubles me because it lets me see The blacke fac'd image of my hideous groanes Which still vnstill increase to martyr me O eyelesse night the portrature of death Noise hating mistresse of the hearts calme griefe That charm'st our cares and quiettest our breath O thou that art calamities reliefe In thy downe-footed stealing steale away Woes memorie approching with the day O not thou night the Sunne set follower The generall closer of all mortall eyes O thou art not my sad hearts sucoorer Euen thee I waste and tyre with agonies But thou eternall night Deaths elder borne Thou night of nights more powerfull then the Sunne Throw mountaines on me that am most forlorne Most abiect haplesse wofull and vndone O let my woes be into darknesse hurld Or plast a burning Comet ore the world This song did so aggrauate the extremitie of her passion which now like an ouer-wittie Sophister whose fluent braine presents him more arguments then his tongue can discharge euer most in loue with that which lies last vnreuealed was conceyted that shee could vtter more wounding lamentations then she yet had vttered began to create new methods of complaining till shee was interrupted by a discrete Gentleman her attendant who perswaded her from that wearinesse of mourning chiefly where no ease-procuring sorrowe made the laboursome day eternall with vaine labour and brought no night of rest to her so long vnrested diliberations arguing that these delayes in her moanes would if shee woulde continue them bring her anguish to a more desperate state of miserie the necessitie of this extremitie crauing no spurres but winges to conuey her hope to the ende of that rare arte wherein all her hope was builded This speech laid such holde vpon her reason that adorning her faire cheekes with the rosie blush of shamefastnesse she rose vp and commaunded the coffin to be put into the litter in which her selfe rode and so followed on her iourney yet at euerie such conuenient houre wherein either the reliefe of Nature or the extremitie of the hot burning Sun commanded a desistance from trauailing she omitted not still to doe the like lest any ouer-curious eye should imagine that the trauell of her mind receyued ease when her body wanted motion obseruing the humour of an absolute couetous person whose desires grow greater when he enioies the greatest part of that he desired After many daies nights all-be dayes and nights were not by her distinguished with any difference thus pitiously consumed she arriued near vnto her owne most goodly and beautifull Citie the Citie of Corinth whither newes of her approaching was some fewe dayes before comed as heauinesse hath euer moe Fames then one running before it insomuch that Phalantus a gallant Knight and base
Now when shee was com'd to the port of the Citie and was readie to enter in she was there met with all the Damzels and virgins thereof who attyred Nymph-like in loose silkes which the breath of eue ie ayre wantonly carried and moued about them with baskets of Roses and the most choyse smelling flowers which that clime affoorded vpon their armes strewing all the Streetes through which the Queene should passe the out-side of the houses thereof being that day apparelled eyther in Tissue cloath of Gold Veluet or rich Arras as if the richnesse of such cloathing should either hide from her the wofulnesse which for hir woes was concealed within them or that making a Sabboth for her home-come euery one triumphed in his wedding garment And as the Virgins passed thus along some with Timbrils some with Kyttes and some other newe inuented Instruments to which they accorded the heauie accents of their most sorrowfull voyces they sang this mournfull and Elegiacke passion O Tedious howers that ouer-take swift time And in the end bringst backe our wisht for cares By which as by a circle we may climbe Vnto the endlesse height of our dispaires Adde to our grieues great ages of Lament Lorne in our selues and loathed of content Thou elder brother to the first of all Whom men consume but neuer can make lesse Thou smiling ayme crier at Princes fall Father of death husband of heauinesse Adde to our greeues great ages of lament Lorne in our selues and loathed of content For since there is no hope in our restore But like thy minuts so our moanes must rise And put to most this multiplying more Woe on woes fall as teare on teares from eyes Adde to our grieues great ages of lament Lorne in our selues and loathed of content And when the world shall blame thy cruell minde That heapes affliction where Afflictions â—well Say long-liu'd Sorrow men doe seldome finde And least we may a flowrie pleasure smell Adde to our grieues great ages of lament Lorne in our selues and loathed of content Say Passion Humor Fashion and Dispight Beguile the eye of Sorrow with false teares To which that men and Angels may doe right By scorning them that shadowes onely beares Adde to our greeues immortall liu'd lament Lorne in our selues and loathed of content This infinite consort consisting of all the innumerable parts of true sorowe like a Riuer-swallowing Behemoth dranke vp the vniuersall teares of the worlde so that the spectators of this egregious lamentation adiudged this Cittie nothing else but a vaste sadde and disconsolate Trophonius whose entrance vrged euen the eye of delight to a relenting tearfulnesse so that euen to such if such in such a place could bee as had no feeling of the cause of this felt woe yet the touch thereof in the effects of others participated a sympathized wayling to their rockie senselesnesse and the more when they more earnestly behelde in whom and from whom the greatest part or rather the whole which to others lent part yet like the Sunne had no part lesse of that in which she triumphed was as from a goodly Fountaine deriued But in the ende when shee was brought in this mourner-like royaltie to her pallace which was a most goodly Castell verie defensiuely fortifyed and curiously built of rich Marble in the verie heart of the Cittie After many thankes interrupted with many teares both to Phalantus for his care of her and to the rest for the sufferance of her follie through which she gat the knowledge of their loues she with the dying Amphyalus betwixt whom and death was almost sealed the deed of perpetuitie with-drew her selfe and was no more seene in publique so the space of fortie dayes during all which time shee bequeathed the desperate case of her loues Lord into the hands of the skilful Physition A maÌ„ of such age decrepidnesse that euen his life acknowledged a loathsomnesse in her habitation and Nature whome the hande of Arte by mending regenerated with a malicious enuie languished her continuance being bettered by that which for her slaue she created He was by birth an Arabian and well trayned in the vse of letters whose neare alliance with the Sun inspiring him with a spritie humor of ambitious knowledge led him to delight in trauell and the taste of vnexperienced customes to that coÌ„ming vpon a day to the mount Ida he met with a Nymph belonging to the fount Gaballine of whoÌ„ being inquisitiue to know the maners of that place he got the knowledge of the learned Wel of the habitation of the Mules and the court of memorie yet vnsatisfied and wandring further hee came into the groue where Paris first wooed Oenon saw where they pitched their toyles where they made their Pitte-falles where in the heate they lay and mocked the Sun which could not warme them and in the coole where they bathed while the Sunne with his gentlest heate did refresh them and amongest many reliques left there for remembrances of their loue hee found that heauenly and rare Booke which Apollo when he was ouer-gone with affection and desire of her beautie gaue her as a monument to eternize her name before many multitudes of admirable women in it was the portratute of all hearbs plants Mynerals or what euer belonges to the sacred studie of Physicke together with their vertues compositions effects and vses this he tooke for this Oenon had carelesly cast away when confounded with the burden of care she was become an out-cast in the worlde and forlorne of Paris And hence came those vncurable cures which in the opinions of men made his name with such vnspeakable reuerence adored and this still he practised vpon the wounded Amphyalus with such prosperous seruiceablenes that in few dayes he brought backe vnto him life and his seruant remembrance who yet not peace with that life which with former vpbrayding he had violently put forward to destruction began afresh to gall him with newe thoughts of that auntient Disdaine wherewith the most excellent Phyloclea had disfigured and ouerthrowne the beautie of his fortune so that the inuisible wound of his soule tankled and kept open the Vlcer of his bodie his newe life being an olde death worse then the bodie and the breathles diuorcement which once perceyued by this most learned father of science he immediately applyed those Antidots to his vnderstanding which drowned all the faculties of his mind in a Lethe of forgetfulnesse and he became such an Iris in the mutable exchange of his resolutions that hee had all the colours in the which any passion could be disguised except that in which the memorie of Phyloclea alone was clothed and that from the Genuine sense of his best thoughts had such an Anathema or deuided excommunication that like a Rauens-foster line cast vp into the woods to seeke a desolate fortune hee had vtterly forgone and shaked off the memorie of her which being the most precious thing in the worlde hee had made of
exile but his owne resolution him-selfe that is the God of his Fortune and his Resolution a decree like Fate neuer to he controlled Is it likely that he who most preiudicately sawe his owne ill and eschewed it will seeke to reuiue that euill and anew to returne vnto it It cannot be imagined or if it could the vowes he hath throwne throughout the world are impregnable Bulwarkes to withstande his returning hauing sworne by his princely hand neuer againe to beholde Laconia If he then be valiant that spirit will detaine him if he be wise his wisdome will make his vowes lawfull and if he be iust there can no iniustice shine in his actions And to the first let his conquests speake to the next his gouernment and to the last both the world you that are his people Thus is our amends frustrate and Redresse slaine vtterly dead for euer Is it then in your opinions tollerable to loose him to lacke remedie neither to him nor vs yeeld any satisfaction the gods forbid then our satisfaction must be the abolishing of that euill by which our first euill was ingendred which is the life of Hellen euen Hellen the too-early late-crowned Queene of our Country she that hath ouerthrown the goodly temple of her vertue by an inuertuous communicating of those beauties which to him onely should haue bin for euer most dearly preserued she that in her loue hath beene false to Amphyalus dishonorable to herself and an vtter ruine to vs you this country If then you will haue your King restored restore him by her death for in her ending must cōsist the best of his liuing and in this action doth the world infinitely gaze vppon you to see whether any vaine title of beauty or perfections can rebelliously with-draw your minds frō the execution of iustice restore vnto your selues your auncient honours by banishing out of the land your dishonours which is onely she by whom all our infamies are maintained and that this may bee performed by such a direct mean of wel intending that no seuere iudgemēt may attach vs of crueltie thus haue the Senat Lords of Laconia decreed that Hellen shall bee conuaid into a Caruill mastlesse sailelesse vnmand vnuittaild of all munition vnfurnished which being toaed forty leagues into the maine Ocean there be left to the mercy of the gods the seas and her own furtune if she be blameles her preseruation will be doublesse if faulty her end will be swift and without pittie how euer in vs will be nothing but the discharge of a most loyall dutie wherefore as many as loue Amphyalus wish for Amphyalus or hope for the benefite of his blessed sight throw vp their hats as a signe of consent to the execution of this noble iustice The whole assembly whose minds were variously caried vp and and downe with a desire and feare or a fearfull desire to wish nothing that might put them in feare of ensuing good fortune And euen those betwixt whose lippes yet stucke the worde of safetie to the neuer-ill deseruing Queene Hellen were so inchaunted with the plaine Rhetoricke of this honest-seeming Oration that as if all their seuerall bodies had had but one mind that mind one head that head but one tongue to vtter their cogitations cast vp their caps and cried the iudgement was excellent and not to be reuersed all be euen at the beginning of the speech scarce any two agreed one in opinion some consenting more for feare then cōscience some dissenting as much vpon will as loyaltie some to bee reputed strickt performers of Iustice some to bee thought charitable in pittying the innocent some to seeme to vnderstand deeper misteries then were hid in plaine dealing and some to picke a thankes-giuing of such as might pursue like hard fortune All in such mutinie of censures that it was impossible either to discerne Pitie Mercy or Iustice vntill the colours of this speech as alwayes the eyes of common multitude are bleared with showfull reportinges had brought them to concurre and agree in one Opinion and consent of her destruction the fearefull fearing the scourge of disobedience the wilfull willing to haue their willes performed the seuere as delighting in crueltie the charitable for a counterfaite loue to their Country the wise to be renowned for their deepnesse and the flatterers to draw to them a good opinion of well meaning which no sooner was perceiued by the most politike Queene Euronusa whose heart enkindled her braine with a fierie wisedome to see the desperate estate where-unto the ayre of wordes drewe her dearest beloued but breaking through the multitude and opposing face to face with the Nobilitie of Laconia lifting vp a well tuned voyce guarded with so reuerent a countenance of glorious Maiestie as did not onely intice but astonish the beholders drawing their attentions to a silent dumbnes she thus made answere to the former Oration You Princes Lords and Commons of Laconia let neither my presence how greatly so euer at this time inexpected nor my wordes though farre vnsutable to this voluntarie consent you haue giuen for the killing of a worthe innocent breede in you so much wonder as your inconsideracie neuer till this time knowne or attached stirreth in me an admiration beyond the compasse of common admiring the rather when I behold your grauities directed and led by the blinde eye of no reason why whither are your Noble iudgements fled till nowe the Schooles of other Nations where are your faiths where are your loues and where are your wisedomes Are all slaine with insubstantiall wordes with broken arguments and vngrounded supposes O that it were as lawfull for me to chide you as it is most necessarie for your selues in your selues to condemne your selues as blame-worthy you haue this day by your consents hurt onely Amphyalus dishonoured onely Amphyalus and adiudged to death not Hellen but in Hellen the liuing soule of Amphyalus in-so-much that if the backe-looking eye of your vnderstanding doe not recall that vnaduised euill of your too-suddaine verdite it will be too manifestly true as this Gentleman hath ouer-wel deliuered with an ill intention that your losse will bee vnspeakable your redresse vnrecouerable and no satisfaction though the sacrifices of your owne wiues and children will in the eye of the world be esteemed auailable for it is most certaine that in loosing her you loose that Prince that vertue that power that strength that wisdome that honour that Lion that Lambe and that goodnesse he hath spoke of nay that King that hade that ornament that maintenance and colombe of your safeties and more then this and more then hee or I can or haue spoken the diuine father of your kingdome sith the Sacramentall misterie of two moste intirely louing hearts co-vnited and inseparably ioyned together hath made them one flesh one spirit and one bodie so that they are not two but one creature not he Amphyalus but Hellen nor she Hellen but him you seeke to
the comfortable day O let those eyes which are so much the fayrer by how much my torment is made greater by them to pittie the anguish I haue got by gazing on them Melidora with a blushing countenance whose rosie colour gaue a signe of heauenly anger eyeing the Shepheard with an appauling Maiestie demaunded of him if hee were not that Thirsis who comming but lately into these walks had made those curious hookes and baites with which her-selfe and the other Nymphes had so oft taken so manie fish He made her answere it was hee shee demaunded againe if it were not he that had made the curious Nets wherewith himselfe and the Shepheards had taken so manie birdes hee made her answere it was hee why then said Melidora Shepheard farewell I will no longer stay with thee lest I bee likewise taken by thee but hee staying her againe said Excellent Ladie how can you be made captiue by your prisoner or howe can your subiect alter anye of your determinations alas most excellent creature you know my seruice hath attended you in the woods in the Medowes on the Mountains at the springs at the riuers by day by night I at euery silent time and yet hath my thoughts bin pure without the staine of villanie I saide Melidora but when yong desires begin to sting and bee inflamed you giue me cause to fear the effects of frenzie I hope said Thirsis by that to purchase my glorie when you beholding mine anguish shall admire my patience O but you may forget your selfe said Melidora I le near forget said Thirsis to doe that which shal cōtent you I le neare attempt that which in my knowledge shal offend you I take you at your worde saide Melidora henceforth I charge you that you forget to loue me for there is nothing in the world can bring my minde better contentment againe I charge you that you tarrie no longer in my presence for nothing in the worlde is more offensiue vnto me Madam saide Thirsis both your commaunds are extreame yet to the first I must needs make answere I can neuer forget to loue you because all my thoughtes doe and must euer so doe liue in you Why said Melidora will you loue mee in despight of me O no said Thirsis not in despight though I cannot retyre Well said Melidora if thy disposition be as full of curtesie as thy words are of care auoyde from mee or let me goe from thee I hope said Thirsis that Time who is the worlds conquerour will eyther conquer you or consume me I humbly take my leaue And with that rising from the ground in such an heauie perplexitie that sorrow was neuer to bee seene in a more sorrowfull taking he departed from her and went not respecting where or whither onely desirous to hide his heade in some dark Caue where none but Miserie and he might liue togither Siluagio that sawe him thus depart like a condemned man and was a witnesse of the heauie sentence that shee his cruel Iudge had pronounced wondring that infernall furie should be found in a heauenly bodie and cursing nature that had placed a flintie heart in a silken Cabinet followed his friend with infinite pensiuenesse as well to preuent the aduauntage Dispaire might take of griefe as to fortifie that wounded hope which now was euen at his last breathing But Melidora all-be the excellēcie of her owne disposition could haue affoorded a more milder repulse yet at this time her mind being caried away with such an earnest affection as may well be comprehended within the title of loue would not suffer her tongue to deliuer any other satisfaction And this was the reason There is a gallant yong Shepheard who some three yeares agone hauing seated himselfe in Tempe hath lyued there with much happinesse more admiration but most loue his beautie inticing his good disposition confirming and his vertue binding vnto him all those with whom at any time he conuersed His rurall profession was beautified with a Cittie-gouernment his homely attyre had a courtly fashion and his plainest discourses were interlyned with wittie and morrall constructions his words were queint his behauiour ciuill and his desires lofty insomuch that he was called the courtly shepheard or the noble Pastor exceeding all his fellowe-Shepheards excepting onely the most rare Thirsis whom he could exceede in nothing but in the blisse of affection This worthie Swaine had long time before Thirsis came into these parts with his noble deseignes which promised more then could be comprehended in a countrey fortune had so won the heart of the excellent Princesse Melidora that shee did not disdaine to call him her seruant and with many graces did so adorne his blisfulnesse that his loftie fortunes might well contend with any Monarchs greatnesse in-so-much that loue who had euer liued prisoner in her eyes began to dart his beames into the Shepheards heart and with a wanton recoyling to looke nowe and then downe into her bosome making his dayly seruice the witnesse of his assured loue and her Fauour an Herauld to pronounce that by possibilitie shee might loue Nowe it happened that this day beeing the great Sabboth of Diana the Princesse had promised her Shepheard Diatassan for so was he named after the Rites and Ceremonies were finished to meete him in a most pleasant Arbor seated in a delicate groaue dedicated to the Goddesse Chloris to which none but her selfe onely had priuate accesse there to discourse vnto him the order the pompe and the manner of the Ceremonies which were due to the greate Goddesse and to that ende she was walkt foorth as before I haue rehearsed and beeing nowe entred into the Arbor finding her Shepheard not come taking vp a Lute which lay ypon a bed of flowers hard by to whose sweete sound coupling her more sweeter voyce she sang this Sonnet I Doe not now complaine of my disgrace O cruell Loue O loue too cruell crost Nor of the hower season time nor place Nor of my foyle for any freedome lost Nor of my minde by my misfortune daunted Nor of my wit with ouer-weening strooke Nor of my sense by any sound inchaunted Nor for the force of fierie poynted looke Nor of the steele that stickes within my wound Nor of my thoughts by worser thoughts displac'd Nor of the life I labour to cofound But I complaine that being thus disgrac'd Fierd feard fettred shot through slaine My death is such as I dare not complaine She had scarce made an ende of her song before the courtly Shepheard Diatassan entred into the groaue blushing to see his absence condemned of all negligent errors by her presence humbly besought her Maiestie to pardon his slow-footed attendāce alledging the care of his folde the feare of suspect and many other prettie excuses but aboue all he alledged the losse of a most dainty lambe which he had most curiously brought vp and wherewith Melidora was much delighted to play saying that morning the cruel wolfe had
stolne it away in-so-much that hee pursuing the chase tooke the wolfe at his pray and then had no remedie but to kill him that had killed her play-fellow Melidora smiling made him answer that if she had not some constant trials of his loyaltie she should feare lest some violent mischance would eyther kill or take him from her seruice but hee whose feruent loue could induce no colde suspition to prophesie his apostacie with more then an vsuall earnestnesse besought her not to make doubt of his faithfulnes vowing by Heauen by Earth by Loue by the golden treasure of his hopes by all his comforts past by all his delights to come and lastly by her sacred self who was the great volume which contained the cronicle of his fortunes that no time no chance no change nor no admiration should take from his name the title of her eternall Admirer wishing ruine to his bodie infamie to his name and immortall death to his soule when his pure thoughts shoulde bee blotted with the staine of disloyaltie and with that kissing her hande and shedding some teares thereon desired her not to suspect him till she was inwardly resolued absolutely to kill him which she promising to performe they sate downe togither vpon a flowrie banke within the Arbour whilest Diatassan calling to remembrance her former promise humbly besought her to tell him the manner of Dianas ceremonies what was the pompe the show and the order of their sacrifice to which shee thus answered To tell thee my Shepheard at length without omission all the stately proceedings due this day to our great Goddesse neither could a Sommers day nor Winters night out-last my discoursings wherefore we will omit it till a more coÌ„uenient time for such an argumeÌ„t onely one accideÌ„t as worthie note as loue it selfe is worthy memorie which fell out this day in the Temple I will impart vnto thee and thus it was Amongst all the Nymphs and Mayds which this day made the Altars of the great Diana smoake with perfumed Sacrifice I spyde a virgin who bestirring herselfe like a busie toyling Bee exceeded many of her consorts in praying in sensing in sacrificing and in singing by her gestures I could not suspect her knowledge her garments I knew not her face because of her vaile I saw not and for her speech like the rest it witnessed vnto me that she was a stranger After her sacrifices were ascended she for her more diuinne contemplation retyred into a priuate seate my selfe closely stealing from the rest of the Maydens came and deuoutly ioyn'd me to her side where I had not long seated my selfe but I might perceiue she cast many pretty gazes vpon mee such as by the interpretation of affection are said to carrie loue in their glaunces at first I wondred but at last I encountred her looke for looke making loue an excellent linguist onely by demonstration and all-be the race was but short yet was there a large field for loue to tylt in betwixt each of our gazings my face being couered all ouer with this vaile had onely two loop-holes left for mine eyes to looke through From whence sayd this Nymph she saw such heauenly glimpses issue as matcht the Sunne which straitned betwixt two clouds darts into the worlde faire louely beames of induring brightnesse I tolde her if in me there were any of those glories they onely were borrowed from her and from her beautie with that she whispering in mine eare demaunded my name but I wringing her softly by the silken hande and to make my selfe some prettie sport by this instant accident tolde her that I was a Shepheard not a Nymph and that onely for her sake I had disguised my selfe fearing not the daunger of my life because I had none but by her sufferance meaning in this Temple and at this holy time to consecrate my chaste thoughts to her seruice She againe demaunded of me my name and I answered her it was Diatassan And I pray you Ladie said Diatassan what answered shee to that name Vpon the knowledge of that name sayd Melidora wee concluded that this night when the Nymphs doe come to fetch water at Mineruaes spring shee shall come the hindmost in the traine and that I wayting for her in a mazie Thicke adioyning shall as soone as I perceiue the Nymphes to returne home discouer my selfe to her who fayning odde tryfles to stay behind them woulde administer vnto me al aduauâ—tage of further coÌ„ference Much other talk we had but in the end when the rites were ended she sighing departed my smyles ready to breake into open laughter to see the poore foole so cunningly deceiued But what was her name said Diatassan shee is called said Melidora Apheleia O what sport will this be for thee me wheÌ„ in the cooling shade amongst the rest of thy fellowe Shepheards we passe away the time with toyes with Ridles and with wittie purposes I tell thee this action will bee worthy of a conceited eglogue And as they were thus discoursing a Page beloÌ„ging vnto the Princesse came into the Arbor brought her worde that al the Forresters were attending her Maiestie at the Lodge to knowe in what parte of the forrest she intended the next day to hunt that orderly preparation might be made for her sportes with that the Princesse arysing with such a gesture as did enuye the times swiftnes she tolde her shepheard she must be gone but he desiring leaue to attend her shee earnestly forbad him saying the tutret loue is the cottage hate and so shee departed onely accompained with her Page to her owne Castell As soone as the Princesse was gone Diatassan reuoluing in his minde vpon the aduenture she reported grew into an amazed extasie Desire Wonder breeding in his soule a thousand Chymeras and strange imaginations one while feare appald him least dooing iniurye to the Princesse he might kill his loue and Fauour then presently Desire inflames him to beholde her whose loue liuing vpon his name is derided by fortune Another while Doubt takes him prisoner Reason denying the minde to haue such insubstantiall apprehensions but then Wonder resolues him and bids him but looke into the worke of his owne mindes creation thus beeing carryed awhile with these variable thoughts in the end hee absolutelye concludeth with himselfe that he will goe to Mineruas Spring and in the groaue adioyning shilter himselfe to try what euent will issue of the former passage And so in the end hee did where hauing rested till the Sunnes departure made the night proclayme her gouernment hee might beholde sixe beautifull Nimphes with Golden Flagons in their handes who commning vnto Mineruas spring before they would dippe their vessels into the holy water they in a moste comely order walking about the Fountaine sang this Canzonet THose foolish women are accurst That make of Loue a God though blinde And vnder him the worst of worst Couer the follyes of the minde For vs we doe detest out
vppon her knees like a deuoute Saint praying to a damnable Idoll and humblie besought him to take away her life rather then to attaint her honour in which mercifull proceeding he should bind her spotlesse soule to do him seruice in a better kingdome O excellēt man said she let me not suruiue my happinesse make me not wretched by a weary life but sith the vttermost of reuenge is but death let my death at thy hands make for all my disdaines a deserued though bloody satisfaction These wordes which might haue mooued in anye marble brest some commiseration like oyle into fire did make more madde the flame of his raging so that he solemnly once more sware the performance of his detestable desire at which sentence she shryking out and with weake force arming an inuincible heart began to strugle and contend for the sauing of that pretiousnesse which lost is too pretious euer to be recouered to her strugling she added such lamentable out-cries such piercing sorrowes and such deafening clamors that euen Heauen earth were grieued with her infinite tormentings and as they are commonly seene in such cases they did adde vnto her vigor though not such force as to free her from captiuity yet so much blessed fortitude that she yet preseru'd both her honour and all the Iuel sights or imaginations belonging to her sacred bodye free from the sullying of so barbarous a Traytor Whilst the Princesse and the Monster were in this deadlie strife thus impatiently contending poore Ethera whose fearefull soule boaded her no better fortune like one distraught or lunaticke taking this aduantage ranne into the Woodes with infinite clamors cryed for helpe to the Gods to men to beastes to any thing to all thinges crying with such loude pitteousnesse that euery Eccho there abouts in pittie of her ruth did double and redouble her noyse and lamentations insomuch that Thirsis w ho that day more to auoid company then to companion any delight being walkt fourth into this vast solitarie place as fittest receptakle for disdayned sorrowes hapned to crosse Ethera and demaunding what might occasion in her this hyddeous skritching shee euen distraught with wofulnesse could answere him nothing but helpe helpe rape murder force Melidora Melidora she had no sooner named Melidora and with such precedent wordes as did signifie eyther her death or daunger his haire beganne to start vp his heart swelled his eies sent forth fire his tongue cryed out deare Nimphe where when how which way what place what slaue O satisfie my longing but she running from him and he pursuing her to bee better instructed shee at last brought him where hee beheld as much and more thē she had tolde or he imagined for euē now the Princesse being fore-wearyed with striuing and fore-done with the tyrranous rage of her enemye not being able longer to resist she fel into a swound but the villaine hauing tyed her by the golden hayres of her head fast to a Cypresse tree held her from falling to the earth so that shee hung like an vnmatchable picture wherein sorrow and dispayre was moste liuely presented and had not the loue-thrald Shepheard come in that auspitious howre the Villaine might haue atttayned the worst of his foulest wishes But it was not an amazement it was not a furye neither was it a madnesse which then tooke houlde vppon Thirsis but euen a celestial valour in which all the glistering Tapers of honour might bee disecrned which bearing him vpō the immortal winges of Resolution made him with so glorious a courage assault the inhumae Demagoras that hauing onely but his sheep-hooke which hee towered aboue his head hee threatned more then all the Launces which guard the Pallaces of Princes Now whē Demagoras saw the Shepheard comming to assaile him he left the Princesse taking vp a massy club of Steele which euer be boare about with him he met the shepheard thinking with one blow both to punish his pride for daring and to finish the combat which he scorned to account a contention But the Shepheard as nimble in his deliuer action as he was valient and powerful in destributing blowes at the first encounter with a slip auoided the downefall of Demagoras stroake in the same instant making good againe his former ground gaue Demagoras such a blowe vpon the shoulder that it made his arme sloathful in aduauncing his club to reuenge the paine he suffered But wrath disdaine or a disainfull wrath that hee should meete with an incounterour madding his soule caused him strike at the Shepheard with such furye that had it light vpon eyther his head or body it had vtterlye confounded all the rest of his members but as the former so he did auoided the second retourning backe such heauy interest that Demagoras was sometimes ready to sincke vnder the burthen Thus betwixt them began a fearefull and dreadfull combatte the noise of their fierce blowes awaking the Princesse from her swound whose eies being opened to see the amorus shepheard thus ingadged for her sake begā to ouerflow their bankes with new teares not teares of griefe for her bondage but that her deliuery shold be more yrksome then the basest seruitude The valiēt shepheards rare valor his Prince-like cariage his infinite daunger wrought but this in her minde that so her honour might bee vnstained she rather wisht death then this likely deliuerance as hating that life which to him she could not affect must of necessity be ingadged Whilst thus with these thoughtes she was variously carried wishing health to the Shepheard whose health she onely confounded the fight more and more augmented Thirsis had with his hooke drawne much blood from Demagoras which to reuenge Demogaras bringing all his forces into his armes hee stroke at Thirsis such a counterblowe that a little glauncing vpon his head put him into a little stamering amaze which perceiued by Demagoras and much doubting by former proofe the requitall of such payment taking aduantage of that stroake turned his backe and ran with all his power into the thickest woodes where cursing and banning both the heauens and his fortunes he hid himselfe from the view of all creatures After Thirsis had in his pursuite both lost the sight of his enemye and the hope of his reuenge he returned back to the Princesse whom when he found in that manner bound like an innocent sacrifice vpon a prophane Altar he threw himselfe vpon his knees before her said Goddesse of my life pardon I beseech thee my presumption in that mine vnworthy hands dare be so bould as to touch the seemly tresses of thy goulden hayre alas it is thine own danger and the cruell knots knit by the moste hatefullest hand that euer prophan'd holy relique which compelling me to loose them must excuse mine arogance And with that vntying her faire hayre and setting her at new libertie with a greedy eye that was neuer satisfyed with looking he gazed so earnestly vpō her that in
is no sooner finished in my conceite but a new springes vp and then Imagination tels me that shee onely to my sight standes fixte and vnmooued yet like the celestiall bodyes moues with such sortecie that wee shall sooner feele the change then beholde the motion these and a thousand such cogitations are the continuall hammers which beating vpon the Anuile of my heart disquiet my sences and take all rest from my slumbers which to reconcile or remooue I would become a slaue eyther to Time or Opinion Etherae at these wordes perceiuing the Qu. was giuen her which must let loose her language starting from the place of her aboade presented herselfe euen to the sight and presence of the two Shepheards and first vnder the cloake of carefull amine and obsequious loue couering the vnexpectance of her aproach and the danger of her suddaine intrusion shee briefely tolde Diatassan with some flattering circumstances how much shee honoured his vertue respected his quiet and desired the satisfaction of his best longings therefore saide shee fayre Shepheard although thou didst not see mee yet haue I heard thy sorrowes and long since suspected thy heauie plight which to helpe I am now content thou shalt esteeme mee rude wherefore if it please thee to accept of my counsaile I will direct thee into so fayre a path as shall without amazement or danger bring thee to the full end of thy wishes Diatassan who had hee had his counsailes in his bosome might haue prooued more daintie in discharging them now seeing they were reuealed like an infant curtezan who trembling at the first touch of sinne growes by vse impudent in sinne being altogether insuspitious kissing Ethera's fayre hand tolde her that if eyther her knowledge could discharge his doubtfulnesse or her counsaile dyrect him through the blinde pathes of his intrycate Loue that shee should not onelye make him an euer admyrer of her vertues but a man proud to bee intytuled her Seruant Ethera as proud of this insinuation as counning to preserue her aduantage thus saide to Diatassan There is quoth she fayre Shepheard not farre from this place and hard adioyning to the foote of the Mountaine Ossa an obscure and auntient groaue of Pynes of Cedars and of wilde Oliues where no Shepheard haunts no Beast feedes nor anye Satyre dare prophane Within this darke groaue there is a little Grot which making his passage through the hollownesse of the earth is all ouer-growne with bryre with thorne with twitch with many intāgling bushes It is a place vnsearcht vnknowne and vndesired as being rough thicke and like hell darke and voyde of all comfort Within this place there liues a holye Hermitte who beeing pretious and deare vnto our greate God Pan hauing sundrie wayes to issue from this his desolate Mansion sometimes to drinke the comfortable ayre sometimes to giue releife to distressed Shepheards and sometymes for other more holye recreations I haue oft obserued his howers wherefore to morrowe about the euening at what time it shall bee my happe to meete with him I will with such sweete perswasion intyce his olde yeares that he shall not deny me to stay for some little space to conferre with thee touching the doubtfulnesse of thine affection the gift of prophecie the knowledge of things past and to come and what else vnreuealed arte hath bene to mankinde hid and obscured the bountifull heauens to him onely haue disclosed therefore looke thou discharge thy counsailes into his eares with care performe all his instructions to shalt thou rayse honour vnto him ease vnto thy selfe and to me thy well wisher a iust satisfaction Diatassan after a little amazement at her discourse calling vp his better wittes and finding a stronge hope in this secret knowledge being as it were tickled with a desire to beholde the issue for loue hath no meane or patience in his desires demaunded if hee should not presently goe with her But she answered No for first she would conferre with the Hermit herselfe and then she aduis'd him at the clossing of the euening to come vnto the foote of the mountaine Ossa and if there hee found an Hermit according to such description as she gaue him then to proceede and trye the euent of his vnderstanding Diatassan as much satisfied in himselfe by this hope as Ethera was hopefull to satisfie others by this stratagem after many obseruant kisses offered vpon the fayre Altar of her hand and double so many religious vowes and protestations of seuerall seruices for this her no lesse kynde then honourable friendship taking his leaue of the polilicke Nimphe did together with the honest Shepheard Cosino for that time depart home towards their owne Cabinets But Ethera not hauing as yet brought foorth that prodegie which shee intended should amaze all the worlde and Tempe but being as it were in a painfull labour of much greater subtilties as soone as the Shepheard was gone from her presence shee went and collected together sundrie simples or strange workinges as Mandragge Rue Poppy womansmilke Roseleaues pouder of Nutmegges and such like Of these shee composed a strong liquid potion which being infused into a Christall Vyoll and so carryed it about with her in her bosome This doone she presently went to the lodge where the Princesse Melidora lay but missing her there and being so imboldned with rage of her owne desires that shee feard not to bee accounted barbarous shee went straight vnto that priuate Arbor to which none might haue accesse saue onely the princesse and as Boldnesse was readye to make her set her foote within the same Wonder held her backe for shee might heare a more then Angells voice which consorting the sound of a moste delicate toucht Lute deliuered vnto her eares this Sonnet Care keepe that absent presence in my brest Whose present absence doth torment my heart And I will make thee Mistris of my rest Not my soules good but my soules better part That absent image houldes my present life My life in it it in my life doth liue Part them and all my sences are at strife They doe my pleasures make and comforts giue Then gentle Care let no Carracter graue Other then his remembrance in my minde And eyes if you send to my hearts close cane Other then him be you for euer blind He hath my heart within his Image wrought I haue his Image grauen in my thought The verie rarenesse of the sound deliuered with such incomparable sweetnesse easily assured her whom the singer was and that it could not be any other then the Princesse Melidora wherefore retiring her selfe from her first intended entrance and being of a pregnant wit apt to compasse choyse Numbers without meditation leaning herselfe against the backe-side of the Arbor so that the Princesse might not loose one syllable of her vtterance she sung this song Extempore as it had beene in the person of Diatasson Alas why should I hope for ease Of this my soules immortall strife T were