wherfore embracing her I told her she said right and that I was the same Vrania afflicted then for ignorance of mine estate now known to be daughter to the King of Naples but hers proceeding from loue I againe intreated the vnderstanding of it she then rose vp and with sober and low reuerence she began her discourse thus Most excellent Princess poore Liana your seruant being as you know Daughter to the chiefe Shepheard of that Iland who had the title of Lord ouer the rest being indeed a Noble man and a great Lord by birth in his owne Countrey which was Prouence but misery glorying to shew in greatnesse more then in meaner sorts of people It happ'ned so as the Earle of Prouence tooke dislike with him and that growing to hate he so farre prosecuted his spight as he ceased not till he had vndone him an â—asie thing for a Prince to compasse ouer a Subiect Then hauing nothing left him but life and misfortune hee left his Countrey seeking to gaine some solitary place to ende his daies in he happened into that sweet Iland and as you haue heard I am sure very often with his few friends that would not forsake him else left by fortune inhabited in it and call'd it by his name nor did I till after your departure know my Father to be other then the chiefe Shepheard But my misfortune brought that knowledge and makes me desire a speedy end for thus it was I being his onely child and so heire to all his estate which was great for a Shepherd was by many sought iâ—deed most if not all the young and best Shepherds of the Countrey those youthes all striuing for me made me striue how to vse them all alike and so I did likeing none but courteously refusing all till as euery one must haue a beginning to their misery there came a Shepherd and a stranger he was in birth to that place yet gained he a neerer and choycer acquaintance with my heart and affection then any of our home-bredâ— neighbours He call'd himselfe Alanius and so if you haue heard part of my discourse I am sure you haue already with that vnderstood his name being the head-spring to my calamitie for Alanius I affected and onely lou'd and to say truth most desperatly did loue him O Loue that so sweet a name and so honour'd a power should bring such disasters secretly I lou'd somewhile vnknowne vnto himselfe but not before his heart had made it selfe my prisoner little imagining mine had beene so much his subiect But so it continued till his paine made him discouer his loue and that pittie I held ouer his paine mixed with mine owne affection compelld me to yeeld to my misfortune yet was Alanius then worthy of my loue for hee loued me and I must euer loue him still though he be false False murdering word which with it selfe carries death and millions of tortures ioynd with it yet thou art so and I vnfortunate to call thee so else no worth wanted in thee But this is too sadd a relation I will proceed with the continuance of our Loues which was for a pretty space when another who had before Alanius his comming thither sought me for his wife being of good estate and of equall hope to rise in his fortunes giuen to husbandry and such commendable qualities as Countrymen affect and so it was my fathers minde to breed me too and therefore had giuen his consent looking to the towardlinesse of the man and the great blessing hee had receiued in more then vsuall increase of his stocke These were allurements to him while they were scarce heeded by me the riches I looked vnto being fortune in our Loues till one day my Father call'd me to him telling mee what a match he had made for me and not doubting of my liking shewed much comfort which he had conceiud of it and so went on with ioy as if the mariage had beene straight to bee consummated I was truely a little amazed withall till he finding I made no answere pulling me to him told mee â—hee hop'd my silence proceeded from no other ground then bashfulnesse since he assur'd himselfe I would not gainesay what he commanded or so much as dislike what he intended to doe with me wherefore hee would haue mee ioyne my dutifull agreement to his choice and order my loue to goe along with his pleasure for young maides eyes should like onely where their Father liked and loue where he did appoint This gaue me sight to my greater mischiefe wherefore I kneeld downe words I had few to speake onely with teares I besought him to remember his promise which was neuer to force me against my will to marry any Will said he why your Will ought to be no other then obedience and in that you should be rather wilfull in obeying then question what I appoint if not take this and bee assured of it that if you like not as I like and wed where I will you you shall neuer from me receiue least fauour but be accompted a stranger and a lost childe These words ran into my soule like poyson through my veines chilling it as the cold fit of an Ague disperseth the coldnesse ouer all ones body for not being Alanius whom he meant it was death to me to heare of marriage yet desirous to seeme ignorant and to be resolud who it was I desired to know who it was it pleased him to bestow vpon me Hee reply'd one more worthy then thou canst imagine thy selfe deseruing then naming him that name was like a Thunder-bolt to strike my life to death yet had I strength though contrary to iudgement to doe this I kneeld againe and told him that if he please to kill me I should better and more willingly embrace it else vnlesse he did desire to see me wretched and so to conâ—clude my daies in misery I besought him to alter his purpose for of any man breathing I could not loue him nor any but. That But I staid withall yet he in rage proceeded But cryd he what haue you setled you affections else where Who is this fine man hath wonne your idle fancie Who hath made your duty voide Whose faire tongue hath brought you to the foulenesse of disobedience Speake and speake truely that I may discerne what choice you can make to refuse my fatherly authoritie ouer you I truely trembled yet meaning to obey him as much as it was possible for me to doe in my heart louing the expression of dutie I told him it was Alanius Alanius a trimme choice truely said he and like your owne wit and discretion see what you haue done choose a man onely for ouâ—side a stranger and for any thing we know a run-away from his countrey none knowing him nor himselfe being able to say what he is I weeping implor'd a better opinion of him since I assured my selfe that if I could come to the blessing of enioying him all happinesse in this world
onely sure for his owne honour then her safety hee sent often to her this made her take ioy assuring her selfe he now felt he was bound to loue her since thus she was neere death for him this made her hope he would be gratefull in affection though not passionate Much did he flatter then and protest respect of her aboue his life and that her life and safety were more deare to him then his owne heart bloud Expresseles consolation were these vowes but broken greatest plagues what should we trust when man the excellentest creature doth thus excell in ill No sooner was she amended but he sent againe with all shew of affection his comming he excused as out of care to her lest others would haue visited her too and so might trouble her in weakenes bring danger to her health These glosses were to her like faith beleeud cheerish'd til soone was she made to know mens words are onely breath their oathes winde and vowes water to begin with her ensuing griefe her new borne hopes soone died those tyes she had knit vp were broken asunder in more violence which death brought heauy misery vnto the mother of these misaduentures for soone after fell his direct leauing her not scanting any contempt or scorne but turning all shew of fauour to her after that fell a new change for then this dainty woman must yeeld her fortunes to a new choyce in him and to an other whose beauty wins him from her craftinesse Then did she likewise fall to new dislikes crying out 'gainst disloyalty complaind of her misfortune cursd her credulity and fond hopes neuer ceasing complaints nor reuilings for her thoughts chusing the first forsaken louer to heare her accuse him euen vnto her face he who had from her chang'd lately to her and now from her vnto an other loue cruell this needs must bee to see him blamd and for that fault which she had suffered for alas then would she say what hap haue I to accuse my Fate and still to heare the accusation from an other to the same purpose Disloyall Lincus hath thy poore louer Alena deseru'd this hate canst thou without shame consider my wrongs thinke on my deserts I challeng none but leaue them to thy selfe to iudge I am your lost forsaken I am yet your truest loue and I am indeed the vnhappiest sufferer of your blame Pelia complaines of your disloyalty and to mee from whom you flew to her if shee dislike what shall I doe who beare the marks of shame and losse for you my reputation marr'd my honour in the dust are these requitalls to be scornd despised and hated at the last vnkind man for worse I cannot call you yet turne backe againe and look on my desearts if not on me and you shal find cleerenes in them to discerne these other faults by purenes to tel you none but it self deserues you griefe to mooue all your compassions to it lastly iust claimes to make you gratefull but you I see despise all vertuous wayes goe on your course then while I mourne for you and my extreamest crosse Thus did she oft complaine yet neuer shund his sight least he should thinke his change could alter her◠the more he saw her patience the more and insolentlyer did hee presse on it striuing of purpose to afflict her most which the sight of his alteration needs must bring when she beheld him kisse his new loues hand with melting heart and passionate respect smile in her eyes begge for her grace write to her praise and expression of his loue these alas cryd shee were the baites that first betrayed me thus once he did to me thus fond was hee of mee thus careles of all else but now transformed as is his truth and faith Many perswaded her to keepe away to scorn as much as he to hate as much as he no would she cry his fault shal neuer make me il nor wil I chang though he so fickle bee yet bee assured I loue him not nor can bee more deceiued by him or any other onely thus far the remnant of my loue extends that I wonll take any course though painefull dangerous and hazard my life to keepe him from least harme Thus did a loiall louer liue and this is cōmonly the end of loyaltie to men who neuer knew but the end of their owne wills which are to delight only Perissus excepted And to satisfie you I haue giuen you this short example of true loue faigned I confesse the story is yet such may be and will bee louers Fates Pamphilia gaue great attention to it and the more because her last aduenture and this discourse did somewhat neere concurre as ending in misfortune why said she to her selfe should all chuse these or such like wofull histories of purpose to torment me with feare that I may liue to see like woes alas Loue sheild me from such harme I now behold cleere ioy so did Siluania and Alena and Pelia yet what conclusion haue they vtter ruine and distresse for reward These thoughts so inwardly afflicted her as she sat still her colour not changing nor any motion in her outward part while the soule onely wrought in her yet not to let the world be ignorant of her operation sent teares from out her eyes to witnesse the affliction that she felt teares which did fall with such louelynes as louelines did fall and bide with them So much did Limena loue her as shee greeu'd for those teares and with cryes gaue testimony of her sorrow while she vnstirr'd still let them slide vpon her softest cheeks as if she did consent to honour her true teares with touching that earths-heauenly place her heart did beate with paine and I thinke greefe that her eyes should be more happy in ability to demonstrate her paine then that which best knowing her mind could attaine vnto I feele said it the torment they shew it like players of an others part and so did it swell as Limena was forced to helpe and with comfort and perswasions appease the rage Thus they continued till Nanio the dwarfe came to them telling his Lady the happy tydings of Rosindy's arriuall with Selarinus this awaked her and made her melancholy companion yeeld to her better friend ioy back they went together and with much content met the King Rosindy and his companion in the Hall where the King and all the Court were assembled ioy plentifully disposing it selfe to euery one Amphilanthus holding his course towards St. Maura was thither brought safely and speedily then going to the Rocke he tooke Vrania in his armes vsing these wordes My dearest Sister and the one halfe of my life Fortune neuer fauourable to vs hath ordain'd a strange aduenture for vs and the more cruell is it since not to be auoyded nor to be executed but by my hands who best loue you yet blame me not since I haue assured hope of good successe yet apparent death in the action I must
instantly withdrew her selfe from the windowe threw her selfe vpon her bedd ctyed out onely against misfortune and so brake her heart and dyed her last words being yet though honour and life bee lost I dye iust and truely thine my onely deare Ala and this Ala was all for all my name shee spake death either then wholly possessing her or shee desirous still to hold mee neere her kept that last part in her for her to ende with and mee to liue by yet truely had I like to haue gone with her with her though asunder I may say for our soules vnited had gone together but alas I was not so happy though had I had a spirit like hers or weapons suffered mee I had soone ouertaken her or came to her as her soule parted but I was hindred and â—he had all my powerfull spirit the shew of my falling and the truth of her death was thus The Villaine had dressed mee and a stuff'd-man-likeâ—thing in sutes alike his intent being this and such was the performance in some kinde though too hasty they were that if the King ouercame I should bee throwne downe if the other the counterfeit piece should bee cast foorth that all hope being taken from her shee might the sooner yeeld to him but the Executioners seeing the King downe threw out the framd Alarinus which brought as much mischiefe as all ill could doe for shee seeing it imagining it to be mee dyed and left all misery to dwell with vs especially in me I fell from the window in â— swound thinking the day lost they heeded not any thing more but confident of the Champions victory tended mee striuing to saue me to this misery The doores within a little while after were opened and I fetch'd foorth to death I thought but so it happened not nor neere so much good befell mee for I no sooner saw liberty with the King who came for mee but I mette the cruellest of deaths encountring her death O Myra my best and last Loue thy memory liues in mee and I liue but to remember thee now let mee know if so much loue so much misfortune chastity and deare true Loue rested in your Mistresse else I must not yeeld Hee then twin'd his handes one in another wrung them and sighing wept then lay downe on his side leaning his elbow on the ground and his face on his hand when the Bauarian followed thus Loue I confesse you haue had plentifully shewed vnto you yet as grieâ—e is felt but by one's selfe none being able to compare with the knowledge vnlesse hee felt the equall weight no more can I yet see but that my losse is the greater My selfe am called Peryneus Duke of Bauaria but vassell to misfortune my Lady was called Elina daughter to the Duke of Saxony that now is brother in law to the Emperour that then was she was brought vp with the Empresse and there I fell in loue with her she asmuch did affect me although at that time there were three of vs fiercely wooing her the other two were the Dukes of Brunswicke and Wertenberge the one infinite rich but as poore in naturall perfections for hee is weake in iudgement and discourse else faire and white The other as louely as a man can bee or indeed a woman for delicate clearenesse and sweetnesse but wanting in estate as the other in wisedome My selfe the third and such as you see gained the loue from the other two and the hate of the one while shee was liuing now hee vseth mee well but so shee had beene still would I had still beene hated My ill fortune it was also that the Empresse liked mee shee was not so true a wise as Vlisses had but yet shee was and had a braue Woman and belou'd of many shee nobly requiting most for gratitude is a great matter in Louers This sweet Bird of beauty and vertue Elyna saw the Empresse Loue as clearely as her owne could make it transparent through which shee saw likewise sorrow and was sad as dispayring I hauing that countenance as carefully beholding her as her loue cared for mee I fear'd shee lou'd I sawe shee lou'd and grieued because shee loued For O me I durst not thinke it was my selfe the King of the Romans then now my Lord the Emperour after his receiuing that Title for ouerthrowing the vsurping Duke of Sax in whose place and to whose honour and estate my Ladies Father by the Emperours and Princes fauours succeeded came to Prage where the Court was to entertaine him all triumps were prouided none thought enough to welcome him who had saued the Empire from ruine Sports of Field were most in vse the King most affecting them at those excercises I was one and then called the seruant to the Dutchesse she pleased to honour me with a fauour but the greatest honour was that she sent it by Elina who comming into the Chamber of Presence hauing layd it on her Fardingale I approached like the rest but aboue all others in affection to her shee that day honoured me more then vsually wee was wont turning from the rest and looking on mee bashfully for feare of them sadly because imployed against her selfe as for another sweetly but slowly bringâ—ng foorth these words I am said shee O dearest shee entreated by many to giue fauours this day but my Lord I am determined to deny all because not able to conâ—tent all yet to you who haue not asked I must present this Scarfe giuing me a maruellous rich one of Crimson Tafaty embrodered with gold siluer and dainty coloured Silkes euen to the height of richnesse and delicacy but the delicatest delicacie was that shee presented it mee I kissed my hand to take it and kissed that part where shee had touched it blush I did and tremble with ioy and wonder till shee looking on me my Lord said shee are you amazed me thinkes you should know the Sender this shee spake so low as none but I heard it and I was sorry I then had hearing rather would I haue beene deceiued and thought graced by her then assuredly honour'd by the Dutchesse I bowed lowe vnto her saying I had been richer in content if she had giuen me a Shooe-string of hers She starâ—ed smil'd and with her eyes kindly shewed shee liked my words but gaue no answer so I departed and with the rest of the Court performed what was expected of vs oft times I confesse I looked vp to to the window were shee stood and thence tooke spirit anâ— hope grew then and still increased when I sawe shee entertained and not reiected my humble affection Thus were wee fortunate but how much longer can that word last then it is spoken Alas no longer for no sooner were wee truely assured of what our soules called blisse enioying hearts wishes in loues happy remembrance that yet said this is and was when miserable Fate her Aunt discerned it wearing quickely then glasse eyes to make euery mote seeme thousands and so
with Treason Treason Nay the worst of Treasons to be a Traytor to my friend Wherefore my Lord pardon me for I will with more willingnesse die then execute your minde and more happily shall I end sauing him innocent from ill deliuering my soule pure and I vnspotted of the crime you tax me of or a thought of such dishonour to my selfe I might haue saide to you but that this cruell course makes me thus part my honour from you yet can you not part infamy and reproach from you nor me said he Prepare then quickly this shall be your last My Lord said shee behold before your eyes the most distress'd of women who if you will thus murder is here ready then vntying a daintie embrodered wast coate see here said she the breast and a most heauenly breast it was which you so dearely loued or made me thinke so calling it purest warme snow yet neuer was the colour purer then my loue to you but now 't is ready to receiue that stroake shall bring my heart blood cherish'd by you once to dye it in reuenge of this my wrong reuenge nay such reuenge will my death haue as though by you I die I pittie your ensuing ouerthrow Whether these words or that sight which not to be seene without adoring wrought most I knowe not but both together so well preuaile as hee stood in a strange kind of fashion which she who now was to act her part for life or death tooke aduantage of and this your cruelty will more appeare wheÌ„ it is known you gaue no time for consideration or repentance said she you deserue no such fauor from me said he but rather that I should with out giuing care to that bewitching tongue haue reueng'd my harme but since I haue committed this first like faultie men I must fall into another Charity but in no desert of yours procures this fauour for you two dayes I giue you at the end of which be sure to content me with your answere or content your selfe with present death The ioy she at this conceiued was as if assured life had beene giuen her wherefore humbly thanking him she promised to satisfie him so fully at that time as he should she hop'd be pleased with it Away â—hee went leauing her to her busie thoughts yet somewhat comforted since so shee might acquaint mee with her afflictions for which cause grieuing that I should be ignorant of the true meanes to her end she so prettily gain'd that little time for the rarest lampe of excellent life to endure Then called she a faithfull seruant of hers and the same who brought me the dolefull letter First she coniured him by the faith hee bare her to obey what shee commaunded and to bee secret then related shee this soule rendring storie to him which shee inioyn'd him truly to discouer to mee by his helpe getting pen and paper and hauing written that dolorous yet sweete because louing letter sent him to mee that day shee was to giue her answere which shee assured him should bee a direct refusall esteeming death more pleasing and noble then to betray me who for my now griefe mixt with that blessing shee inricht with her incomparable affection giuing him charge to deliuer it to mine owne hands and besides to stay with mee assuring him I would most kindly intreat him for her sake which shee might truly warrant him being Commandresse of my soule Hee found mee in my Tent ready to goe forth with a wan and sad countenance hee gaue that and my death together then telling the lamentable storie I now deliuered you With flouds of teares and stormes of sighes hee concluded And by this is the rarest peece of woman-kinde destroyed Had I growne into an ordinary passion like his of weeping sobbing or crying it had not been fit for the excessiue losse I was falne into wherefore like a true Cast-away of fortune I was at that instant metamorphosed into miserie it selfe no other thing being able to equall mee no more then any except the owne fellow to a cockle shell can fit the other This change yet in mee which to my selfe was so sudden as I felt it not was so marked by my friends and by all admired as those who feared the least doubted my end which would it then had happened since if so the earth no longer had borne such a wretch this sad place been molested with a guest perpetually filling it and these places neere with my vnceasing complaints Despaire hauing left mee no more ground for hope but this that ere long I shall ease them all death prouing mercifull vnto mee in deliuering this griefe-full body to the rest of a desired graue My Lord Perissus said Vrania how idle and vnprofitable indeed are these courses since if shee bee dead what good can they bring to her and not being certaine of her death how vnfit are they for so braue a Prince who will as it were by will without reason wilfully lose himselfe will not any till the contrarie bee knowne as properly hope as vainely despaire and can it bee imagined her husband who passion of loue did in his furie so much temper should haue so cruell a hand guided by so sauage a heart or seene by so pitilesse eyes as to be able to murder so sweet a beauty No my Lord I cannot beleeue but she is liuing and that you shal find it so if vnreasonable stubborne resolution bar you not and so hinder you from the eternall happinesse you might enioy Only rare Shepherdesse said the loue-kill'd Perissus how comfortable might these speeches bee to one who were able to receiue them or had a heart could let in one signe of ioy but to me they are rather bitter since they but cherish mee the longer to liue in despairefull miserie No shee is dead and with her is all vertue and beauteous constancy gone She is dead for how can goodnesse or pitie bee expected from him who knew nothing more then desire of ill and crueltie Thou art dead and with thee all my ioyes departed all faith loue and worth are dead to enioy some part of which in short time I will bee with thee that though in life wee were kept asunder in death we may bee ioyn'd together till which happie hower I will thus still lament thy losse If you bee resolu'd said the daintie Vrania folly it were to offer to perswade you from so resolute a determination yet being so braue a Prince stored with all vertuous parts discretion and iudgement mee thinks should not suffer you to burie them in the poore graue of Loues passion the poorest of all other these inuite mee as from your selfe to speake to your selfe Leaue these teares and woman-like complaints no way befitting the valiant Perissus but like a braue Prince if you know shee bee dead reuenge her death on her murderers and after if you will celebrate her funeralls with your owne life giuing that will bee a famous act so may
you gaine perpetuall glorie and repay the honor to her dead which could not bee but touched by her vntimely end Her honour toucht and toucht for mee O immortall God cride he thou wilt not I hope let a slaue liue should touch on such a thought nor me to liue after it were borne if not to sacrifice my bloud to wash away the staine But I pray you since you vndertake thus to aduise mee how can I doe this and yet obey my Limena's commaund in not reuenging her death Why that replide the discreet Vrania proceeded whollie from the loue shee bare you which rather is another motiue to stirre you if you consider it since the danger shee apprehended you would runne into to right so delicate yet vnhappilie iniured a Ladie and for you iniured forced her to vse her authoritie for your safetie But let not that preuailâ— nor hinder a deadlie reuenge for so detestable a fact Thus shall you approoue your selfe a braue and worthie Louer deseruing her who best deseru'd but let it neuer be said Perissus ended vnreuenged of Philargus and concluded his dayes like a Fly in a corner These wordes wrought so farre in the noble heart of Perissus as rising from his leauie Cabine then thus said hee Is Perissus the second time conquerd I must obey that reason which abounds in you and to you shall the glory of this attempt belong now will I againe put on those habites which of late I abandoned you hauing gaind the victorie ouer my vowe But I beseech you tell mee who my Counsellor is for too much iudgement I finde in you to be directly as you seeme a meere Shepherdesse nor is that beauty sutable to that apparell My name said shee is Vrania my bringing vp hath been vnder an old Man and his wife who till lately I tooke for my Father and Mother but they telling me the contrary and the manner of their finding me makes mee find I am lost and so in truth is much of my content not being able to know any more of my selfe I delighted before to tend a little Flocke the old paire put into my handes now am I troubled how to rule mine owne thoughts This doe I well credit said Perissus for more like a Princesse then a Shepherdesse doe you appeare and so much doe I reuerence your wisedome as next vnto Limena I will still most honor you and therefore faire Vrania for so I hope you will giue mee leaue to call you I vow before heauen and you that I will neuer leaue off my Armes vntill I haue found Philargus and on him reueng'd my Ladies death and then to her loue and memory offer vp my afflicted life but first shall you haue notice of the successe which if good shall bee attributed to you if ill but to the continuance of my ill destinie But if your fortune call you hence before you shall be found by them I will imploy since the world hath not a place can keepe the beautie of Vrania hidden if seene then will it not bee adored they shall not leaue till they haue found you nor will you scorne that name from mee who shall now leaue you the incomparable Vrania With these words they went out of the Caue hee straight going to a large Holly tree the place rich with trees of that kind on which at his comming to that melancholy abiding hee had hung his Armor meaning that should there remaine in memorie of him and as a monument after his death to the end that whosoeuer did finde his bodie might by that see hee was no meane man though subiect to fortune Them hee tooke downe and arm'd himselfe but while hee was arming Vrania entreated him to doe one thing more for her which was to tell her how he came to that place And that was ill forgot most faire Vrania said hee then know that as soone as I had receiued that letter so full of sorrow and heard all that miserable relation I was forced notwithstanding the vow I had to my selfe made of this solitary course you haue reliâ—ued mee from to goe against the Enemie who with new forces and vnder a new Leader were come within sight of our Army I thinking all mischiefes did then conspire together against mee with an inraged furie went towards them hoping and that onely hope was left mee in that encounter to ende my life and care together in the battaile yet not slightly to part with it in my soule wishing euerie one I had to deale withall had been Philargus This wish after made mee doe things beyond my selfe forcing not only our company and party to admire me but also the contrary to bee discouraged so as wee got the day and not onely that but an end of the warres for the chiefe Traytors being either kild or taken the rest that outliu'd the bloudy slaughter yeelded themselues to mercie whom in my Vncles name I pardoned on condition that instantly they disbanded and euerie one retire to his owne home This done and my Vncle quietly setled in his seate in the midst of those triumphs which were for this happy Victorie I stole away leauing a letter with my new Seruant directed to the King wherein I humbly asked pardon for my priuate departure and with all the intreates that I could frame perswaded him to entertaine that seruant of mine and to accept of him as recommended by mee and accordingly to esteeme of him Then tooke I my way first to her Fathers to know the manner and certaintie where I found vnspeakable mourning and sadnesse her Mother readie to die with her as if shee had brought her forth to bee still as her life that though two yet like those eyes that one being struck in a certaine part of it the other vnhurt doth lose likewise the sight so she hauing lost her lost likewise all comfort with her the seruants mourn'd and made pitifull lamentations I was sorry for them yet gratefully tooke their mourning for mee thought it was for mee none being able to grieue sufficiently but my selfe for her losse When her Mother saw me who euer she well lou'd she cry'd out these words O my Lord see here the miserable Woman depriu'd of all ioy hauing lost my Limena your respected friend Full well do I now remember your words when with gentle and mild perswasions you would haue had vs stay her going from this place vnto his house Would we had then fear'd or beleeu'd then had she bin safe whereas now she is murdred Murdred criâ—d I O speak againe but withall how Her husband said she led her forth where in a Wood thicke enough to shade all light of pitie from him hee killed her and then burnt her her clothes found in the Wood besmeard with blood and hard by them the remnant of a great fire they with such store of teares as had been able to wash them cleane and quench the fier were brought to the house by those who went to
but fiue and vnarmed attempted to rescue her from vs being all these and two of them so amorous as they in that raging passion loue being at the best a mild frenzie would haue been able or thought themselues so to haue withstood them and many more especially their Mistris being in presence This noise also brought forth the good womaÌ„ wife to the honest merchant where began so pitifull a monefull complaining betweene her and this Princesse as truly mou'd compassion in all my heart I am sure weeping for them yet the mad Louers had sense of nothing but their worst desires With these words the Princesse fell into a new sorrow which the Knight perceiuing whose heart was neuer but pitifull to faire Ladies perswaded the sad Antissia so well as he proceeded Then being possest of the Ladie my Master led the way bringing his brother and vs to this banket this place being set downe for her dishonor but destin'd for their graues Then grew a strife for the first enioying of her so farre it proceeded as from words they fell to blowes and so in short time to this conclusion for they fighting wee following our Masters example followed them in death likewise all but my selfe and I now at your mercy He had but concluded his storie when I pulling of my helmet kneeling downe to the Princesse told her who I was and likewise my search for her which she with as much ioy as on a sudden could enter into so sad a mind receiu'd with gratious thankfulnes Now had the black Knight in like manner discouer'd his face which so excellent in louelines I cannot say fairenes as the whitest beauty must yeeld to such a sweetnes and yet doth his mind as farre excell his person as his person doth all others that I haue seene and so will all allow for this was Amphilanthus who with mild yet a princely manner told the Princesse That she might leaue her sorrow being falne into his hands where she should haue all honor and respect and within short time by himselfe bee deliuer'd to her father But first hee was to performe his promise to his dearest friend and Cosen Parselius in meeting him in Italy the time prefixed being almost expired and his search vtâ—erly fruitlesse But I pray sir said Parselius how came that braue Prince againe into Morea By a violent storme said he wherein he suffer'd shipwrack This done Amphilanthus Antissia the Hermit and my selfe tooke our waies to the Merchants house whom we found return'd but ready again to haue left his house fill'd with discontent and passion for the vnhappy accident his wife in that desperate griefe as hardly could shee haue endured with life had not the blessed returne of Antissia giuen comfort like life vnto her sorrowes The seruant to the slaine Knight guided vs within sight of the house but then with pardon and liberty of going his owne way he departed That night we rested there the next morning parted our selues Amphilanthus Antissia the Merchant and his wife took their iourny together towards the Court there to leaue her till he had found Parselius and so end his vow the old Hermit returnd to his priuate deuotions my self took my way to the next port to ship my selfe for Romania in the same ship was also this man who hearing me discourse of my aduentures with the Master of the ship gaue ill language of Amphilanthus then of Parselius saying they were Cosoners and not Princes but some odde fellowes taking good names vpon them since it was very vnlikely so great persons should be so long suffered abroad and trauell in such a sort alone and more like runne-awaies then Princes These much moued mee but to put mee quite out of patience hee went on giuing vilder and more curst speeches of my owne Lord this made mee strike him and so wee fell together so close as one or both had dyed for it had not the company parted vs and after wee had againe gon to it but that this ship came and tooke vs and so made vs Prisoners to saue our liues But now Sirs if you doe not iustice you wrong your selues in not reuenging so great an iniurie done to the brauest Princes Parselius replide Wee were not worthie to liue if wee did not right so worthy a Gentleman as your selfe and reuenge the wrong done to so great Princes whose greatnesse yet cannot keepe ill tongues in awe sufficientlie but that in absence they are often wronged and therefore friends must reuenge that which they ignorant of otherwise may suffer But herein wee may bee thought partiall for this Knight you see is Leandrus my selfe Parselius one of the cousoning Princes as it pleased his honestie to call mee I would aduise therefore that this rare Shepherdesse should appoint him his punishment The young Knight kneeled downe to haue kissed the handes of the two Princes they taking him vp gaue him thankes for his discourse commending him much for his loyaltie and valour Vrania who was as heartily angry as the Knight seeing her Parselius thus wronged could find no lesse punishment for him then death But then the Prince did with sweete perswasions mitigate her furie but brought it no lower then to publike whipping submission and recantation Lastlie humbly on his knees to aske pardon of the Romanian Kâ—ight All now satisfied but Vrania who could not easilie forgiue an iniure done to her other selfe sent him a shore to the next land they saw Then did the knight againe speake My Lord Parselius with your leaue I beseech you permit me to take so much boldnes as to beseech my Lord Leandrus to doe me so much honour as to tell mee the aduenture which caused the report and suspition of his death they both agreeing Leandrus thus began After I had left you most noble Parselius I went to my owne countrie to visite my father where still I heard the noise of Antissia's losse the likelihood of her beauty the griefe of Parents and the wrong done to my selfe these did not only inuite but command me to be diligent in making al these pieces ioyne again in the first body of coÌ„tent which I perswaded my self able to doe by seeking and finding of her The one I resolu'd the other I nothing doubted then with my fathers consent I left Achaya taking my way among the Greek Ilands and passing the Archipelago I left no Iland that had a league of land vnsought or vnseene then shipt I my self and past into your Morea so after I had seene all those places I went againe to â—ea resoluing afterwards to take towards Italy whither for farnesse it might bee the traytors had carried her my companion then leauing me to go to his heart which he had left in Cecillia But being in the Iland of Cephalonia there was a solemne and magnificent Feast held which was by reason of a marriage betweene the Lords daughter of that Iland and the Lord of Zante's sonne a fine and spritefull
seruing his Sonne to haue a iust and fit requitall for such a wickednesse on those shamefull murderers They came with this body of the most beloued Prince while he liued and the most pittied and honourd after death to my house Iust as I return'd did I encounter this sad and disastrous aduenture In stead of a braue couragious and with it pleasing presence I met his bloudlesse pale and martyrd body There I saw the hope of our Country and comfort of mine age chang'd againe into our first being So much it afflicted mee as I stood amazed with griefe speechlesse and senselesse of sense but sorrow till sorrow being pleasd to make me haue more feeling of her power gaue me leaue to let these words come from me O Antissius hath life beene lent me to see this day Miserable man miserable Countrey wretched age wherein such cruelty doth raigne O Antissius but then by their honest good perswasions telling me the necessity and ensuing dangers if not preuented that the rest liuing might fall into I stroue to endure this calamity with as much patience as so miserable a man could let sinke into him and indeed for this young youthes sake who is the young Antissius heire to these miseries and the ouerthrowne estate of Romania But then followed a second cause of griefe For his vertuous wife came to vs who hearing such lowd cries and distracted noyses left her Chamber following the cries till they brought her to that most lamentable spectacle When she saw the cause of their wailing she put them aside going to the body and kneeling downe by it vsed these words My deare was it for this that vnnaturall Father and monster of women sent for thee That no sooner thou shouldest see thy Fathers house but with it thou must see thy house of death Alas wert thou too good too hopefull too full of all vertues to liue among vs who can now but assist thee with our teares But long shall not this worldly sorrow triumph ouer me in thy losse for I must and will be with thee with that kissing the pale lips of her dearest loue and as it were breathing her though not last but fortelling last breath into him she rose and rising a little seemed to smile ioy within her for assured going to him hauing caused that Countenauce which by some was disliked not being to their weake apprehensions sad enough for such a cause of woe As soone as she had left the body she came to me earnestly entreating me that I would suffer none to trouble her shee hauing some priuate deuotions to performe which being ended I should be welcome to her For my part I so little mistrusted her intent or imagined a Woman had so strong a spirit as to dye when shee would granted what she asked being confident her goodnesse would keepe her from doing any violence on her selfe Hauing left me she went to the roome where her young Sonne lay and then fast sleeping when as weeping ouer him as the Maides â—ince tolde me well maist thou sleepe deare heart said she for long I feare thy quiet will not last thy being Sonne to so worthy a Father and vnfortunate a Mother must cast some stormes on thee it being fault enough in thee to haue such Parents at least thy wicked Grandmother will thinke so who hating truth will make thee suffer for thy Fathers sake Sleepe then quietly my sweet and lost Antissius nor now looke vp to see thy woefull Mother or to take her last farewell but thus receiue her blessing which as the blessing of her owne soule shee wishes may come and stay vpon thee God sending thee a more happie life then thy valiant Father had let his guifts of vertue courage and magnanimity liue in thee and his misfortunes take their graue in mee Alas Antissius my onely sweet Babe I must leaue thee then againe kissing him shee said This is the difference in affection twixt a Husband and a Childe otherwise no feare of misfortune â—hould carry me from thee but my sweetest I must goe leauing Antissius to flie to Antissius And good maids said she haue a kind and iust care of this young Prince he may liue to requite your paines and reuenge the wrongs done to his distressed Parents They vowed all faith and dutifull seruice to him then againe as loath it must be the last she kissed him and so went to her Chamber yet at the dore turning backe affectionatly and with watry eyes cast her last and kindest fare-well looke on him When she came into her Chamber Shee lockt the dore not suffering any to stay or come to her where she continued till I thinking her stay long besides hauing businesse with her concerning the dead Prince I went to her Lodgings where long I knocked and indeed so long as it vexed me but after feare possessed mee when I considered what the danger might be and her freedome and liberty such as none had euer receiued that dishonor of being barr'd her presence Wherefore I sent for some of my Seruants who by my command brake open the dore Entring the roome We found her laid vpon her bed newely dead yet her owne accustomed sweetnesse in her lying as straight and vnmou'd as if death had onely then showne he could in his panges be milde yet receiue his gaine so as well it may be said he depriu'd her of her life yet left her owne beauty and grace to triumph ouer his fury By the bed side stood a Table couer'd with a Carpet of Crimson Veluet and on the board a Letter which I tooke vp and seeing it directed to me I read it and here braue Princes you may see the very same my dearest Neece left to me which neuer will I pâ—rt with till time giue end vnto my dayes or life to accomplish her desires The Letter was this SInce it hath pleasâ—d God for the ouerthrow of this Land and griefe of all good hearts among which you and I hold the neerest places in sorrow to cut this thread of admiration in sunder and leaue the heauy burden of lamentation vpon vs taking away our ioy our comfort our onely Hope Antissius I feele my selfe altogether vnable to sustaine so great and killing a losse then let me craue this of you which the assurance of your loue to your dead Nephew and dying Neece imboldeneth me to aske that you will grant these three things and see them accomplished Let the loue you bare to your dead Nephew continue and liue in the same strength to your liuing Nephew Let nothing hinder you from seeking a deadly reuenge on his Murderers Lastly let me be here priuately buried with him Let these requests be welcome to you my dearest Vncle and not deny the dying Lucenia No Stranger I thinke would haue denied so iust requests proceeding from a Lady of her worth and being dying what then wrought in me who wanted not loue or resolution of reuenge One of her desires I instantly
Sweet heat and light My heauy sp'rit Dull'd in thy setting made anew If you renew Daysies doe grow And spring below Blest with thy warm'th so once I grew Wilt thou returne Deare blesse mine â—yes Where loues zeale lyes Let thy deere obiect mildly burne Nor flie but turne 'T is season now Each happy bow Both buds and bloomâ—s why should I mourne No sooner had he ended his song but the same voice though in a more plaining maner brought forth these words O life O death why am I cloyd with one slaue for the other much more of me desired False ioyes leaue forc'd pleasure fly me musick why abide you since ioy pleasure and true musick which is loue abandons me shuns me alas true piece of misery I who am despis'd hated scorn'd and lost Are these my gaines vngratefull loue take here thy conquest and glory in thy purchase while I liue loathing my selfe and all but her by whom I remaine a wretched forlorne slaue yet some comfort I haue to sustaine mee that I suffer for the rarest and most excellent of women and so long Cupid vse thy force and tyrannize vpon my slaughtered heart These words were to the braue Italian so iust the image of his owne thoughts as they were as if his or like two Lutes tun'd alike and placed the one struck the other likewise sounds so did these speeches agree to his incumbred thoughts Willing he was to comfort him but loth to disquiet him knowing in this estate lonelines and disburdning of some part of the like griefe doth ease one wherefore he remain'd in a doubt what to doe when as the young man for so he perceiuâ—d from such a one the voyce did come not caring which way he did take or seeing any direct path but that his phantasies led him in came hard by the place where Amphilanthus lay who viewing his youth and delicate beautie admired and pittied him He passed on towards the Riuer his eyes as it were imitating the swift running of that streame his Lute he held in his hand till againe hauing some more Verses fram'd in his minde perfect louers neuer wanting inuention he againe played and sung hauing done O Loue said he once eaâ—e me or let death seaze me giuing conclusion to my dolorous daies What doe I gaine by being a Prince What auailes it me to hope for a Kingdomes Gouernment when she who is my Kingdome to me and my Princesse doth reiect me Woe is me that euer I knew Morea Woe is me that euer I beheld Pamphilia O Phamphiliâ— would I were but so much honour'd as thou wouldst but thinke me worthy to kisse thy hands that would reuiue me and for that fauour would I thinke my selfe sufficiently requited for all my torments-bearing Amphilanthus hearing his Cousen named and the young man discouer himselfe to be a Prince wondring in his trauels he had neuer seene him desirous to be resolu'd of his estate and name with all the true cause of his desperate griefe went towards him curteously and with respect due to him saluted him thus Sir let not I pray you my boldnesse in this interrupting your more pleasing thoughts be displeasing to you since it is my fortune not desire to trouble you which brought me hither wherefore I hope I shal obtaine pardon of you The young Prince soberly and a little blushing answered No fault can I find with your being here or any thing except my owne fortune which thinkes it selfe neuer curst enough to me but since as I assure my selfe you haue heard my Passions till now neuer knowne to man let me know by whom I am discouer'd Vpon promise to haue the like curtesie from you replyed the valiant King I wil not hide my selfe from you He consenting the stranger Prince began Then Sir know I am called Steriamus Prince and rightfull King of Albania brought vnto this countrey by the vertuous and noble Prince Parselius who hath vndertaken to assist me in recouering the Kingdome lost in my Fathers daies but what talke I of a Kingdome hauing lost the power of my content and happinesse now Sir performe your word I am said the other Amphilanthus King of the Romans Steriamius knowing him to be that famous Prince in whose search his friend was gone fast held him in his armes crying yet am I happy to see the most renowned Priâ—ce breathing before I dye for now may I ending say I haue seene the worth of the world and feele her greatest cruelty Amphilanthus blushâ—d to heare his vertue so extold but louingly embracing in like manner the Albanian Prince was againe sollicited by him to tell him all his story which in this manner sitting downe by the Riuer side he did discourse My selfe and my brother being brought by that worthy Prince to his Fathers Court were there left he first hauing receiu'd promise and command being giuen for mens raysing to restore me miserable me to my kingdome as I before told you he tooke his leaue being gone in the search of you but promised returne within six monthes into Morea being now gone into Italie hoping to meete you there I remaining grieu'd to part with him but more afflicted with an incurable wound which in that Court I receiu'd But before I goe any further I pray tell me whether you haue lately seene the Princesse Pamphilia for surely then shall I finde one paine troubles vs and one cure onely for vs I saw her very lately repli'd Amphilanthus being but almost now come from her Fathers Court but for all that you may safely goe on with your discourse Then said he it was my happinesse to see her but my misery to fall in loue with her cruell she who if she proue not mercifull to me I must for her thus euer suffer besides it hinders my going on in the regaining of Albania for what is a Kingdome to me being subiect to a greater power of the minde What can that Realme proue to me if Pamphilia martyr mee What is a Court to one cast downe to the lowest of Loues slaueries No Selarinus thou art worthy and free and therefore fit to rule and God send thee that and all other good fortunes and this among the rest that thou neuer come to the knowledge of thy miserable Brothers end whose misery did thus begin One day as the King and Queene were walking in the Garden attended on by all the Princes Ladies and Knights of the Court euery one discoursing as best pleased them Pamphilia walked alone none daring to present himselfe to her such was the respect all bore vnto her and feare of displeasing her I saw her and with that sight lost my selfe Loue then emboldned me so as arm'd with his fire I went to her and tooke the boldnesse to walke by her and offering discourse I confesse vnworthy of her hearing shee entertain'd me modestly and grauely Loue for me finding this hope forc'd me to vse the time and to speake something of it selfe to her
her amazed and afflicted with hate disdaine scorne and all other shee accused him of till shame ouercame and forst her to returne to a good old man her father whose mild and good example brought her to follow the counsell of Parselius who held on his iourney taking ship for Italy he landed in the kingdome of Naples those very parts making him remember that which too well still continued in his mind which was the sweet and delicate Iland wherein he found the sweetest and delicatest of Shepherdesses the thought of whom brought forth these words his heart bleeding as fast as before his eyes had shed sad drops O sweet Iland cride he and yet desolate Pantalarea how doe our afflictions suit as one and so our destinies Vrania hath left thee and thou mourn'st Vrania hath left mee and I pine Deerest Vrania deere vnto me still why wouldst thou for nouelties leaue thy faithfull Parselius why wouldst thou not be as well then aduised as till that time be gouernd by my counsell Yet foole most blame thy selfe for why didst thou permit-her dainty lips to touch that charmed Brooke nay still adde vnto thy folly why wouldest thou drinke so haâ—tily thy selfe and so haue no meanes left to helpe or saue Accursed Spring from whence did run the ruine of my blisse Bewitching streame to charme me to the losse of my soules ioyes spitefullest of the gods or goddesses was it for reuenge because wee would not trie your charmed house that yet their cruell triall should be made vpon vs Vnlucky tempest constraining vs to land on that much more vnlucky shore Leauing his ship he went a land commaunding his seruants to goe to the Court and if they came before him thither there to attend till his comming but secretly himselfe going along the sea-side his mind as vnrestingly running on Vrania as a hurt bird that neuer leaues flying till he falls downe no more did hee rest till death-like sleepe did force him to obay yet were his dreames oft of her his mind then working and presenting her vnto his imagination as in day his thoughts did to his heart so did the eyes of his louing soule euer behold her accusing himselfe for his folly fearing the power of the charmes whose wicked might might alter her assuring himselfe shee must be deceiu'd by them if euer she did change In this violent feauer of sorrow hee went on till he discern'd a man come from vnder the roâ—ks that proudly shewed their craggie faces wrinkling in the smiles of their ioy for being aboue the Sea which stroue by flowing to couer them but for all that ambition was forc'd to ebbe in penance for that high desire He came arm'd at all points leading in his hand as beautifull a Lady as Nature could frame and sorrow suffer to appeare so being such an one as both had vs'd their best art to frame and suffer to shew excellent had she bin free how much more rare must she then of necessity appeare who in misery shew'd so delicate The Morean Prince staid to behold beholding did admire the exquisitenes of that sad beautie but more theÌ„ that did the cruelty of the armed man seeme woÌ„derful for leading her to a pillar which stood on the sand a fit place that the sea might stil wash away the memorie of such inhumanity he tied her to it by the haire which was of great length and Sun-like brightnesse Then pulled hee off a mantle which she wore leauing her from the girdle vpwards al naked her soft daintie white hands hee fastened behind her with a cord about both wrists in manner of a crosse as testimony of her cruellest Martyrdome When shee was thus miserably bound to his vnmercifull liking with whipps hee was about to torment her but Parselius with this sight was quickly put out of his admiration hasting to reuenge her wrong setting spurres to his horse hee ran as swift as Lightning and as dangerous this happned to the Knight towards them yet sending his voyce with more speede before him crying vilde Traitor hold thy hands and turne thy spight on mee more fit to encounter stripes hoping thus to saue her from some which if but one had beene too much for such delicacie to endure But hee whose malice was such as the neerer hee saw her succour the more was his fury encreased looking vp and seeing a braue knight accompany that voice casting his hatefull looke againe on her and throwing away the Whips drew his Sword saying nor yet shall this newe Champion rescue thee then ready to haue parted that sweet breath from that most sweet body Parselius came and struck downe the blow with his Sword though not so directly but that it a little rased her on the left side which shee perceiuing looking on it and seeing how the bloud did trickle in some though few drops Many more then these said shee haue I inwardly shed for thee my deare Perissus but that last word she spake softlier then the rest either that the strange Knight should not heare her or that she could not affoord that deere name to any but her owne eares Shee being thus rescued the Knight strake fiercely at Parselius who met him with as much furious strength giuing him his due in the curstedst kind and fullest measure making such proofe of his valour iustice being on his side which best guides a good sword in a noble hand as in short time hee laid him at his feete pulling off his helme to cut off his head But then the Ladie cride vnto him beseeching him to stay that blow the like did another Knight newly arriu'd who vntide the Lady Whereat Parselius was offended thinking himselfe highly iniured that any except himselfe should doe her that seruice telling him Hee much wondred at his boldnesse which had made him offer that wrong vnto him I did it said the new Knight but to giue her ease and so to bring her that wee both might acknowledge humble thankfulnesse for this braue and happy reliefe which hath brought her blessed safetyâ— Parselius hearing this curteous answere was satisfied then looking on the vanquished Knight hee demaunded Why hee had vsed that cruelty to so perfect a Lady As he was answering the stranger Knight knew him casting his eye vpon him and without any word would as soone haue depriued him of his life but Parselius stayd him blaming him for seeking the death of a man already dying He confessing his fault askt pardon and pulling off his helme told him that there he stood ready to receiue punishment for twice so offending him Parselius though not knowing him yet seeing his excellent personage and princely countenance imbraced him telling him That honour might gaine nay challenge pardon for a greater fault then was possible to bee committed by such a braue Knight he likewise taking off his helme When Limena who was this sad tormented Lady saw her Perissus for Perissus it was the ioy she conceiu'd was iust such as her loue could
some places the Lord then gaue back a little his men cirkling Clarimatto about like busie Bees when anger'd vsing their best or better to say more malicious meanes to hurt him who protected by a braue spirit and vndaunted courage layd about him without feare but not without such hurt to them assisted brauely by Leandrus as they began to flee Their Master seeing that reâ—il'd them vowing to hang who euer saued himselfe by base flight and kill those that fought not better though he by that meanes let the hatefull enemy passe This vrged them againe to perplexe them but could not now compasse him hee hauing to preuent that danger got the Fountaine at his backe there defending himselfe but alas much like a Stagge at Bay that must for all his courage yeeld to the multitude and force of many Doggs and so was he like to doe Leandrus hauing a new supply set on him for hauing receiu'd a wound in the thigh he bled so fast as almost his powers faild him his eyes beginning with faintnesse to dazle and his strength so fast to decrease as he leand himselfe against the Fountaine holding his Sword straight out meaning he that first seazed him should also meet his owne end and with this resolution stood the braue reuengefull Louer his soule bidding his friends and all farewell Leandrus being but in a little better case when as an vnexpected good hap befell them by the comming of a Knight in blacke Armour who seeing this cruell fight and vnmanly combaâ—ing of many against two came happily and speedily to their succour euen when one had done his last for that time to defend himselfe which the Lord perceiuing pressed in vpon Clarimatto although almost as weake as hee with losse of bloud spite procuring that lest he might else want his will in hauing his end some way so as both valiant both strong were now without ability to shew valour if not in dying with their Swords in their hands and without strength hauing no more then hatred at that time allowed to both in those weake limbes which was no more then insteed of running one at the other they reeld and fell one vpon the other in the fall the Sword of Clarimatto finding a way into an vnarmed part of his Riuals body which a blow at the first encounter had left open but till then well guarded by the skill and courage of his Master whose Sword missed him who else with that had with him taken a graue both agreeing by disagreeing to death The new-come Knight made a quicke dispatch of the rest some by death some by yeelding Leandrus though weake going with much care to Clarimatto and who had in all the fight behaued himselfe so worthily not fearing any thing but continuance of disgrace and freeing all in true worth and loue to truth The businesse ended the stranger and Leandrus tooke vp the wounded Clarimatto and hauing with vntying his Helme giuen him some ayre hee came a little to himselfe but so besmeer'd with bloud as at first hee was not knowne to the Knight whose Helme was likewise off but when discouer'd O Clarimatto said he happy I am to helpe thee but vnhappy to finde thee thus my dearest friend What destiny brought thee hither What happinesse in vnhappinesse met to make me meet thee thus Accursed yet now blest occasion if thou outliue this victory If I had conquered said hee death yet might haue honour'd me but to liue vanquished rather wish I to dye Thou hast braue Clarimatto said hee ouercome and slaine thine Enemy with thine owne hands Then am I contented said hee though â—traight I die and most that I shall yet end in your armes whom of all men I most loue none but your selfe could haue had the destiny to helpe me who onely was aud is best beloued of me and herein hath Destiny blessed me Then came the Lady who with as much contempt of them as sorrow for her louer looked vpon them both the one dead the other dying she said nothing but kneeled downe by her latter loued friend and kissed him rose againe and looked with infinite hate vpon Clarimatto and then taking a knife she held vnder her Gowne stabb'd her selfe falling betweene them both The blacke Knight went to the Castle whither Clarimatto was carried and soone after died the bodies of the others were buried in the place where the fight was the keyes were deliuered to the blacke Knight who deliuered many braue and valiant Knights caught by â—reason and vnfortunate spite and all Greeks Then was Leandrus brought into a rich Chamber and the blacke Knight who had taken possâ—ssion of that Castle for the King of Morea bestowed the keeping of it on Clorimundus his Esquire With many teares and sighes Clarimatto was buried who was extreamly beloued of this blacke Knight which was Rosindy with whom hee had beene bred and nursed This being done and Leandrus past danger though not for weakenesse able to remoue Rosindie left him in the custody of the new Gouernour and other Knights who loued him so well as there was a question which they more affected their deliuering ioy and happy inioying or his safety who had beene the first cause to bring them the other herein their worths appeared and in better hands Leandrus cannot be left till his ability call him againe to seruice in other parts But now Rosindy must be a little accompanied who taking on his iourney still resolu'd to performe the command of his Mistris which was to passe all Greece and accomplish such aduentures as might make him worthy of her loue and yet not to discouer the ende of his trauell or himselfe to any without exâ—raordinary occasion To obserue this he put on those blacke Armes bearing no Deuice in his Shield because his desire was onely to be called the vnknowne Knight the cause why she had thus commanded him was that the more his honor was known the more he might be feared when time might serue for him to deliuer her from her Prison and bondage wherein she liued from whence as yet shee could not be released Thus vuknowne he passed among his best friends and meaning so to continue he passed from this place to his Fathers Court there to see what aduenture would happen to adde to his fame besides to know the certaine time of the pretended Iourney for Albania but especially when they appointed to free Meriana the chiefe end indeed of his iourney So he came to the Court and sending one Squire of his who well knew all the parts of it came to Pamphilia's Chamber who hearing who it was that desired to speake with her shee straight sent for him from whom shee learned that her dearely beloued Brother was hard by but resoluing not to be knowne had intreated her to come into the pleasant Groue there to conferre with him which she with much willingnesse and desire performed Now this Squire was not knowne of many besides Pamphilia nor any whit
leaues of the Duke and all the Rodean Knights and Ladies taking their way to Delos Polarchus promising within short time to attend them in Morea The end of the first Booke THE COVNTESSE OF MOVNTGOMERIES VRANIA THE SECOND BOOKE ALL this iourney did Vrania passe with much griefe inwardly suffered and so borne desirous to know where her loue was yet bashfull durst not aske till one day Perissus sitting betweene her and Limena tooke occasion to speake of his first finding her and so of the obligation they remaind tied vnto her in for all the fortunes they enioyd and so from that to speake of the rescue Parselius brought Limena at her last breathing as shee thought I wonder said Vrania where that Prince is since so many braue men being here mee thinkes hee should not bee absent nor could I haue thought any but himselfe might haue ended this aduenture Truly said Perissus when we parted with him I neuer saw a more afflicted man then hee was except once my selfe and all was for the losse of you I thought rather said she he had been offended with vs for aduenturing which well he might considering by that folly we lost him Nay said Allimarlus who was then come to them hee had no cause to blame you hauing committed as great an error and the same himselfe then told hee all the story to her of what had past after the drinking the water and so much as he knew or heard by others of him while he was heard of Then came Pamphilia and Amphilanthus who went on with the discourse that now Vrania was resolued and assured of his affection which so much ioyd her as the absence of him grew the more terrible to afflict her Then to Delos they came whose milke-white rockes looked smooth with ioy to receiue within their girdle the worlds treasure of worth now being in their presence richer then when most treasure was within her then tooke they directly to the Pallace at the entring into the vault meeting the graue Melissea who with her maides caâ—rying torches of white waxe conducted the Prince through that into the Gardens all now in hope or feare to know their fortunes Vrania desiring to know her selfe Pamphilia to be resolued whether she should gaine by her loyalty Amphilanthus when he should enioy and Antissius longing to be assured if hee should haue Selarina who as much desired the same knowledge of gaining him such affection had growne betweene them he being as shee did verily perswade her selfe the selfe same little King that beckned to her out of the enchanted Garden Allimarlus must by any meanes be gaind by the Shepheardesse Thus they all expecting and Perissus happily enioying they continue in the Pallace while the graue Hermit must next haue time to tell his story to distressed Parselius in this manner beginning My louing and afflicted sonne heare your poore friend say his name is Detareus borne in Dalmatia and Lord of Ragusa I was bred a Courtier and accordingly thriued repentance being at last their best fortunes In that Court I liued in good fauour with the king and honoured with the office of Steward of his house Children I had and all other contents but at last my wife died and so did the best of my happinesse for alas soone after fell my miseries to increase and for the greater sharpnes of them to be thus springing from my owne best remaining comfort for I call'd to my chamber my dearest daughter Bellamira by name to be with me and to gouerne my seruants but she hauing such beauty as to be a fit bait to catch misfortune and bring it to me the king liked her which I perceiuing hasted to bestow her and so I did on a great heire who was called Treborius with whom she happily liued But this King still louing her and as a louer seeking all meanes to gaine his mind neuer spared feastings and all occasions to draw company to the Court yet all was because she must be there otherwise were none in his opinion present her husband also was extreamely fauoured by him in outward show and his house often visited by his Maiesty He saw it but seeing his wiues vertue spotlesse ouer-lookt the temptations which were but as two Glasses set to see both sides of her noblenesse and worthy chastitie Much adoe there was all eyes beheld it all spake of it all admired her I discerning this at last gaue ouer the Court scorning to bee vsed in the slights which were for her dishonour and mine in hers I retyrd she then hauing no fit occasion to visit the Court did likewise so No country sports faild to giue delight I oft-times with her and her louing husband they oft with mee But now must these bee crost not being fit for subiects to liue in content when the Prince is not pleased to break which he sent me Embassador to Italy to the king of Naples father to the glory of Princes your matchles cosin her husband he employed another way hoping to win her in our absence but herein he was deceiued for she would not haue the shadow of such times afforded him wherefore she went with her husband thereby that plot was hindred and the kings immoderate affection crossed but whereby my misery most increased was that in my Embassage I fell in loue with a Lady whose sweetnes and delicacie was able to haue made Troylus false This Lady I loued this Lady happiest destiny as I then vnwisely coniectured loued me but alas she had a husband a terrible and wretched barre in the way of those loose and wicked enioyings which we coueted yet so we ordered our affaires as wee came to haue priuate conference and many seuerall meetings This Lady was of Apulia and one who if the enioying her were death and life the missing it death had bin sweeter and more to haue bin prised As I went to the Court I saw her she after came thither at the assemblie which was for my entertainement Wee liked loued and enioyed then did I not faile to seeke all meanes to win and keepe her husbands fauour which was the way for my blessing hee embraced it and truly I must confesse vsed mee so well as had any other matter been the end of my deceiuing but what was I should haue been sorry so to haue abus'd his trust But what shall I say you know loue and therefore braue Sir pardon it or rather the relation of that which was in mee so much power had this affection in mee as I drew out the time of my stay to last weauing the longest web that faining occasions could allow mee the spider loue working for me But now comes my affliction in loue and yet happinesse in the end for time grew for my departing which word I may iustly vse since it was like death or that it selfe to mee or any passionate seruant To his house I was inuited in my way home wee yet hauing remaind at Rome thither wee went and made
not to prolong time or amaze you with discourse alas that I must say these words deerest Vrania I must throw thee into the Sea pardon me Heauen appoints it so My deerest brother sayd she what neede you make this scruple You wrong me much to thinke that I feare death being your sister or cheerish life if not to ioy my parents fulfill your command and be assured it is doubly welcome comming to free me from much sorrow and more since giuen mee by your hands those hands that best I loue and you to giue it me for whose deare sake I onely lou'd to liue and now as much delight and wish to die Kinde teares proceeded from them both and mournfull silence did possesse their tongus till she againe besought and hee refused but yet at last resoluing if she perish'd to ende with her he tooke her in his armes and gently let her slide shewing it rather to be her slipping from him then his letting her fall and as shee fell so fell his heart in woe drownd in as deepe an Ocean of despaire but soone was he call'd to wonder and all ioy for no sooner had she suncke into the water but the waues did beare her vp againe to shewe the glory they had in bearing such perfections but then the Deepes ambitious of such a prize sought to obtaine her opening their hearts to let her sincke into them when two men in a boate came rowing towards her and one who lay in a craggy part of the Rocke furiously threw himselfe vnto her she only saying Liue happy Amphilanthus and my onely deare Parselius farewell that calld him who leaping in cry'd Parselius will neuer out-liue Vrania and sunke straight with her then were both pulled vp and safely brought to land by the help of the other two who leaping out of their boat into the sea spared not danger or life it selfe all foure then soundly washed came a shoare where Amphilanthus embraced them and with teaâ—es of ioy welcom'd his sister and his friends who now well vnderstood the operation of that water for Parselius knew nothing of his former loue to her onely the face of Vrania and being assured of her neerenesse to him in bloud reioyced with them the others did the like Now was Steriamus released of his vnfortunate loue esteeming Pamphilia wholly for her worth not with passion thinking of her Vrania's desires were no other then to goe into Italy to see her father and Dolorindus to accompany his friends whither they would goe Thus happily were all deliuered of the most burdenous tormenting affliction that soules can know Loue and Loue was pleased because now he might haue new worke in new kinds Parselius longs to see his Dalinea Vrania wisheth it also without iealousie or anger but loues her heartily for her Cosins sake most happy Princesse to be deliuerd from such a hell as louing him who had although so neere to her been so farre from truth to her Amphilanthus was so ouercome with comfort and ioy discerning this fortunate and blessed issue of the aduentures as kindnesse now wrought like sorrow then embracing all they tooke to the boats the Hermit going with them to the Iland where with kind louing perswasions they inuited him to leaue that place and to accompany them thence but hee excused himselfe promising to be ready at any time to doe them seruice but his vow he could not breake then he intreated them that if by chance in their trauels they happened into Dalmatia they would enquire for his vnfortunate daughter Bellemira and by some meanes to let him vnderstand of her They promised this so with more kind farewels they parted from the Hermit and at Amphilanthus eaâ—nest intreaty went together for Italy where they arriued and so past vnto the Court But what ioy what content did all hearts feele in seeing the Princesse of true worth and admiration returnd Then did the old king whose haire and beard like snow make a true resemblance of it ioy like the Sun heating and melting so did ioy melt his hart into teares they like a thaw dropping on the lower snow he held them in his armes they kneeld he kist them but could not speake so was he wrapped and ouerwhelmd with ioy At last Amphilanthus spake beseeching him to salute the other Princes which he did and then turnd to them and againe kissed and embraced them This being past they were conducted to their lodgings Vrania hauing rich robes fit for her birth brought vnto her till then hauing worne her Shepherdesse attire which she resolu'd to doe as long as she liu'd vnseene of her father only to receiue them from his hands Now was Italy fild with delight being the pleasing'st and delightful'st of any sports are new inâ—â—nted to giue welcome and Iusts proclaimed wherein these Knights must also shew their skil the Ladies came from al parts to see Vrania the Knights to honor Amphilanthus the first day of the Iusts the King being ready to go forth of the Hall to the lists there entred an old man in habit like a Pilgrim with a staffe of that fashion in his hands bare-footed and with all demonstration of that life he spake lowd and besought the King to stay till he had deliuerd some things fit for his knowledge then all placing themselues he began thus Most happy King receiue these speeches from me a miserable man if you pitie not a Prince I am by birth but a Villaine by nature Prince I was of Istria and brother to the King of Dalmatia proud I was and accompanying that vice I had malice and all ill abiding in mee which causd a detestable treason in me for hearing many prophesies likelihoods of the greatnes worth of Amphilanthus I studied how I might any way crosse the successe he then being but of tender yeares scarce hauing attained to seuen yeares of age but that which most moou'd me was that a learned man said he should rule ouer the greatest part of the world and liue to be Lord of my Country alsoâ— to auoid this I vowed to loose no meanes or opportunitie wherefore I went to the Court of my brother where there then liu'd a great and a wise man this man confirm'd what before I had heard adding more vnto it for his increase of honour for he had cast his natiuitie hauing gaind it from one who was at the birth of the worlds wonder your sonne Vpon this I disguised my selfe and hither I came into your Country and Court where I found the Queene newly brought to bed of a daughter this I thought might be a meanes for my safety for no magicke could withstand the happy fortune of Amphilanthus though a danger he should fall into vncertaine to recouer it and by a woman So determining to haue my ends some way hauing some skill in Magicke I cast a sleepe vpon all the attendants where the babe lay and being in an euening tooke the child and conueyed it away
the priuatest places and striuing to gaine the sea which soone after I obtaind getting the opportunity of a youths passing into Italy who had sought Perissus to bring him notice of his Vncles death the King of Sicily with him I passed and so came into this country where euer since I haue romingly endured neuer in any one place setled The youth Menander and I parted at the sea he I thinke going to seeke his Master or rather you then did shee close her speech with multitudes of teares which truly mooud mee to much compassion beginning then to hold her deare to me I perswaded her to leaue that life and liue with me who would accompany her sorrowes rather then afflict her with mirth and besides it might bee in my company shee might gaine remedy for her torture No remedy but death said shee can I haue and too long O me haue I sought that yet to obay you I will abide some time here and but here in these woods beseeehing you not to vrge me to the Court when the poorest place much better doth agree with my estate I to enioy her conuersation granted to any thing concluding that I should often visit her and so passe our times together in louing discourse This said Amphilanthus by your fauour sweete sister prooues you loue the water it seemes hath not so thorowly washed away your affection but reliques remaine of the old passion No truly dearâ—st brother said shee all those thoughts are cleane droun'd but yet I will goe on with my story Doe deare Sister said he and begin againe at But yet She blusht to find he had taken her and yet daintily proceeded That promise most religiously was kept betweene vs euery day I visiting my Shepherdesse But one day as we were together discoursing and walking in the wood we heard one not farre from vs sadly to sing an od kind of song which I remember getting afterwards the coppy of it and if I bee not deceiu'd sweet Cosin said she you will like it also the song was this speaking as if she had by him and the words directed to her as his thoughts were YOu powers diuine of loue-commanding eyes Within whose lids are kept the fires of loue Close not your selues to ruiue me who lies In bands of death while you in darkenesse moue One looke doth giue a sparck to kindle flames To burne my heart a martyr to your might Receiuing one kind smile I find new frames For loue to build me wholly to your light My soule doth fixe all thoughts vpon your will Gazing vnto amazement greedy how To see those blessed lights of loues-heauen bow Themselues on wretched me who else they kill You then that rule loues God in mercy flourish Gods must not murder but their creatures nourish Pamphilia much commended it which pleased Vrania infinitely touching as she thought her one estate while a proper song and well composd truly said Amphilanthus is this to be so much liked but my cosin only doth it to please you No in truth said Pamphilia it deserues in my iudgement much liking he smild on her Vrania going on you seeme Brother said she a little willing to crosse me this day but I will proceed in discourse The song you are pleasd to iest at being ended the same voyce againe did begin to lament in this manner If scorne be ordaind the reward for true loue then I am fully requited if firme affection must be rewarded with contempt and forsaking I am richly pay'd but if these deserue a sweet payment which alone consisteth in deare loue then am I iniurd and none more causelesly afflicted or cruelly reiected Loue suffer what thou wilt faith indure all neglect but euer be your selues pure and vnspotted Vnkind Liana yet pardon me for calling thee so since my heart grieues at that word vnkind yet giue me leaue to tell thee I haue not deseru'd this punishment from thee nor merited this rigor if anothers offence may make me faulty I am most guilty els as free as my loue still is to thee from blame or thought of staine in it art thou not then vniust sweete Iudge of all my harmes to punish me without a fault committed Pitie me yet and recall the censure wrongfully giuen on me condemned without a cause and still led on towards execution in daily tortures without merit Did any man die for anothers act then I must also suffer that tiranny else consider falfe iudgement is a shame vnto the Iudge and will lie heauy on his conscience call backe then e're I die this vnmerited verdict since my truth with-stands thy cruelty I would with Liana haue gone to see who this was that thus accused her but that we heard him againe say some Verses which being concluded we went to him but as wee went we heard another speake vnto him thus Alanius why doe you thus accuse Liana and torment your selfe with that which were shee certaine of shee would and must pity you nor can you blame her for flying you seeing as we both belieued your vnkindnesse and foule error Alas said Alanius farre be it from me euer to blame her nor can my soule permit me to loue her lesse though she were curst nay were she false I yet should loue her best but being by you assured of her truth giue me leaue to blame her rashnes and curse my owne ill fortune and vnluckie life which gaue and giues such dislike and smart vnto my dearer selfe and my sad daies Liana now knew not what to doe when she was certaine this complainer was Alanius and the other as she did imagine Menander but I willing to reconcile such broken fortunes made her goe towards him accompaning her sorrowes my selfe When being neere him and he looking vp perceiuing her without ceremony or regarding me ran vnto her and kneeling downe cry'd out these words Alas my deare Liana what hath your vnhappy slaue Alanius deseru'd to be thus pitilesse tortured heare but the truth and before you rashly censure me consider my great wrongs which I still suffer by mistakes in you Liana who loued as much as he and was as equally perplexed yet now a little more if possible bearing her owne and his sorrow for her affliction as being his and caused by her she lifted him vp from the ground and with teares said Think not my Alanius thy Liana can be other to thee then thou wilt haue her be yet blame me not directly for these things since here Menander can resolue thee of the cause yet let that passe and now bee confident thy loue hath such command mee as hadst thou been false she would not say as we imagined thy repentance and thy loued sight should haue destroyd all those thoughts where in offence might haue been borne to thee and so forgetfulnes in mee had gouernd with the memory of thy loue Then rising with a kisse the louers reconcil'd themselues and cast away their mourning but the story being strange where
by so braue a King But what is become of him I pray that you hauing such a desire to see him could not compasse it Truely said the Knight of Loue I was going to finde him but an accident vnlooked for call'd me from Morea and so much against my heart as neuer any thing was more when I could neither goe into Albania where they say he must be shortly nor stay where I most desired With that â—ee sigh'd indeed and so passionatly as they all pittied him Then the Duke demanded who the others were He answered strangers they encountred vpon the way but it seem'd good Knights So the Duke tooke the Knight of Loue on his right hand and the Forrest Knight on his left desiring the others likewise to sit so sitting downe altogether Amphilanthus besought him to let him know in what estate the Country stood for said he I desire to goe to the Court and see it but hearing the King is dead I would most willingly be ordered by you what I should doe Truely said he Sir I can direct you no better way then to stay heere till such time as we heare of our King nothing to be seene nor safety much in this Countrey for an Army is prouiding men raysing and much businesse toward By whom I pray Sir said the Knight of the Forrest are these men rays'd The chiefe yet repli'd he hath not declared himselfe but there are foure Great men that call these Troops together yet none of them hauing right or claime it is thought they haue some other who yet will not discouer himselfe Who is the next in bloud said he Marry that am I said he being the last Kings Vnkle Brother to his Father Will not you Sir then be pleas'd said hee to withstand these forces in the Kings right Alas Sir said he you see I am old noâ— euer was I a Souldier borne deformed as you see not for Armes but Carpets these shoulders crooked and mishapen were not ordaind but to be kept from eyes which would rather bring contempt then respect my Stature low my body weake all fram'd to be a Chamber-keeper rather then a Knight at Armes but I haue a Son who I hope wil be worthy of his bloud Where is he I pray said he Truely now I am not certaine but I thinke he will be here this night answered the Duke These things netled Ollorandus yet he couer'd his rage as well as he could and thus they pass'd the time till Supper when the old Duke desirâ—d them to goe to their lodgeings and vnarme themselues which they did and returning sate to meate The Duke all Supper time curiously beholding the Knights especially Ollorandus who he imagined by his complexion and the fauour of his face to be the King though it was long since he had seene him but the ground he had in malice made him discerne that which otherwise had laine hidden enuy hauing sharpnâ—sse in discouering Thus the night grew on and Supper ended the Knights were brought to their seuerall lodgings Amphilanthus desired to lye with his friend but the Duke out of complement as deâ—iring-they should see their welcome by the respect done them would not permit them to lodge but alone the other two were carried to an other Towre farre from them they being in their Chambers Ollorandus safe as he thought from discouery went to bedd taking his rest very soundly his Dwarfe lying in the next roome to him Amphilanthus had not so much liberty or freedome by rest granted to him wherefore he went not to bedd but walked vp and downe his Camber in his old posture armes acrosse and breathing in sighes wishing his eyes might be once more blessed with seeing what his soule euer beheld with feruent loue that neuer deuiding it selfe no more then heate from fire Passion growne such a commander ouer him as he was an Imagâ— of Loues torments curiously carued to the life of passionate distresse Measure some of his thoughts hee did and delicately expresse his paine in Verse but so dainty was he as few saue himselfe which was his Mistris euer saw them especially those which were for his parting and those hee made that night But his Muse had no more then finished that conceit when she and hee were call'd to attendance summon'd by a fearefull and terrible noise mixt with voyces and armour at last hee heard his friend say O traytors thus betraying a stranger and Villaine to doe it in thine owne house farewell deare friend let misfortune wholly be and end in me Those words and the knowledge of the speaker quickly make the King prepare for rescue wherefore arming himselfe he ran towards the Chamber where Ollorandus lay but by the way he saw him fetter'd and leading to a Gate where it might appeare a Prison was He quickely came to him crying to those who led him to stay they refused but he who fear'd not many more tâ—eâ— they were set vpon them they deuided themselues and some of them held him play while the rest went away with the King taking the aduantage of his busie fighting but his hands were not so imployd but his eyes also vsed their office and so well did he consider the traitors as he neuer let them be but in his eyes which made him soone perceiue this villany and as readily preuent it for they thinking to steale him away were staied and made in streames of bloud to deliuer their confession and liues to his victory The Dwarfe in this time had so roared about the Castle as the other two Knights awaked and came to the rescue Amphilanthus throwing a Sword and Sheild of one of the vanquished to Ollorandus and in time they came for hee was then readie to bee slaine the old Duke and his sonne comming together and incouraging their seruants by promises and commanded by threatnings to kill him but those Armes protected him and then furiouslie did he flie among them the old monster reuiling his people for letting them escape death till Amphilanthus got to him and as he was opening his mouth to speake hatefully to them he thrust his Sword into it hindring those villanous words which hee had else deliuered The other two also came and saued the braue Prince from killing such a worme dispatching that ill naturd man out of the way of molesting any more good creatures But his sonne reuenged his fathers death killing the elder of those brothers whose death Amphilanthus quickly pay'd with the young mans end striking off his arme whereof he died then getting close to Ollorandus they set backe to backe and so fought till they gaind the stepps which went vp to the Hall and getting euen into it they pressed to that doore but some who continued fight with them kept so neare as they got betweene Ollorandus and the doore so as Amphilanthus hoping in the croud his friend was come in locked the doore but shut Ollorandus out where he was ingirdled with his enemies and past hope
the bankes of it and brought him to a hedge wherein were many high trees which shadowed them well they standing vp to the bodies of them there they saw the charge giuen but as he was beholding them another Knight was seene by him on the other side of the hedge wearing his owne Colours whereupon Amphilanthus demanded of him who he was and to what end he stood close in that manner To see the battaile replide he and to doe as you doe spare my selfe from fighting It may be said Amphilanthus wee doe the better since there is no iesting as they say with those Ladds T is not for feare I assure you said hee that I am not among them I belieue that answered Amphilanthus nor is that the cause of my being here but to see what seruice I may doe my friends if occasion serue else stand as I doe The better and the nobler side said the other will hardly want your company or mine vnlesse wee were able to equall their valours which I make doubt of It were modestly spoken of your selfe said Amphilanthus but if I bee not mistaken you might haue had better manners then to compare those together which you know not Why what chollerick Knight are you said hee that takes this exception Parselius Rosindy Steriamus Selarinus Leandrus and Dolorindus besides the braue King of Romania being there but since you now know who I meane I must bee satisfied by you who you are that dare compare with them I make no comparisons with them but only answer you wherefore tell me your name and I will satisfie you with the like and something else to make you know curteous answers better â—ir Knights I am not said he ashamed of my name therefore know I am Philarchos of Metilin newly from thence come to serue my friends I see answered the King that your extreme affection rather mooued your care and haste then ill nature therefore pardon me and take this satisfaction for the other which I threatned that Amphilanthus loues Philarchos and will be his seruant With that they both saluted with such loue as Cosins ought to beare one to another and such who were so like as they were Then stood they ready to behold what happned which was this Antissius with his troopes charged the enemy but they were led by a young man who rather rash then valiant came with such violence against them as he disordered the ranck and brake Antissius order whereupon their men were in routs and Antissius in some danger whereupon the three Knights ran in and rescued him Amphilanthus fighting while Philarchos remounted Antissius Then came to them twenty thousand led by Leandrus which were encountred by as many led by the Kings fauourite who was Martiall of his Kingdome The two Commanders met and Leandrus was vnhorsed whom Amphilanthus killing first the Martiall againe mounted and told him hee was sorry Pamphilias seruant had so ill fortune He knew his voice and replide that the honor was greater to bee aided by him then if he had kept his horse and won the day these men shroudly set to so as the braue Princes stood at last all on foote like the towers of a mighty Castle the rest of the wals ruind and throwne downe so the dead bodies lay round about them in rude heapes Then came vp the rest of the Albanian army in grosse which Steriamus perceiuing went downe with all the forces and Princes The encounter was terrible betweene them Rosindy came with some horse and helped the other fiue to fresh horse and so together charged in but such was their force and cunning compassing their enemy and charging on all sides as they brake them and put them in the like disorder they had brought that part which Antissius had all braue men all equally resolued to fight for victorie resolutely made proofe of their wills and powers as had not the last three come in happy time the victorie had been doubtfull Twise Amphilanthus was vnhorsed by the death of his horses and once helped by Rosindy whoÌ„ he requited in a greater measure though almost the same kind taking him from vnder his horses belly ready to be smotherd by the multitude that were pressing on him the other time hee was furnished with a Horse which Selarinus brought him he saued Parselius and Steriamus besides from death one hauing his Helme strooke off hee couering him with his Sheild till a new one was brought him The other hee rescued from many mens hands hauing broke his Sword Antissius hee horsed and many braue acts hee did so as all attributed the happinesse of that dayes Victory which then was gained to him who vnknowne they came to salute but hee not willing to hide himselfe from them besides wanting ayre quickly discouered himselfe then if any enuy were in them before to the deseruing stranger when Amphilanthus was the man all was rooted out and supplanted by true affection to him The Princes of Italy and his souldiers were ouer-ioyed at their Kings arriuall and rauished with his magnanimous valour and courage then the Trumpets were sounded and all retyred to a Plaine close by keeping the field that night to witnesse their Conquest The King was taken aliue but hurt to death dying within fiue dayes after but hee heard Steriamus againe proclaimed by the Army as a salue for his wounds This was a sharpe and terrible fight wherefore they went to the next Towne which was the chiefe and yeelded to their force there they rested their men and themselues neuer an one hauing escaped without some hurt or other the Vsurper died and was buried When all were refreâ—hed they began to thinke of marching forwards and the two Knights which had guided Amphilanthus vndertooke to bee the guides to the Army putting themselues dutifully and affectionately vnder Steriamus seruing him with all loyaltie Amphilanthus and Selarinus with as much comfort as absence could afford them got by themselues to giue account to each other of their passions for none else were made fortunate to know their sufferings nor did Amphilanthus for all his trust in him impart his Mistrisses name holding that too deare euen for his friend to heare Into a Garden they went but that because the chiefe windowes of the house were vpon it was thought not priuate enough they went into an Orchard beyond it in which was a place raised with three ascents like a triple Crowne the trees being Orange and Lemond trees then in their pride hauing blossoms vnripe and ripe fruite vpon them In the midst of this place was a stone not vnlike a Tombe of red Marble as high from the ground as a large chest and of that proportion round about it or better to say on three full sides incompassed with Ciprus on the other side was a Ring of Gold as if to open the Tombe like the Ring to a Latch The amorous Kings sat downe vpon it being so inriched with their passions as other thoughts were too meane for
those Knights maintaine the passage said hee To defend poore mee cryd shee who since now left vngarded on that side I beseech you will conuey me to my house which when you see you will find likewise cause of pitty there Then brought she them vnto her dwelling which was in a Caue of great bignesse and large proportion a Monument in the mid'st of it of the most pretious stone of that time wherein shee liued being the Tombe of her sweete and last deere loue her sonne Deuided the Caue was into pretty roomes finely furnished but such as seemed rather to affect delicate cleanlines then sumptuous ornament yet were they rich enough Her attendants few but their seruice shewed them sufficient for that place with a modest and sad kindnesse shee bad them wellcome thither and instantly asking pardon that she must leaue them for such a tyme as she might performe her vow of mourning ouer the Tombe which hauing finished with numbers of sigh's groanes and teares she returnd to them againe Amphilanthus was not yet satisfied with the discourse wherefore againe he vrg'd her Then Sir said she you shall haue all I was borne to be betrayâ—'d for before this cunning ill man came I was vndone in former hops by one that had beene with my Lord almost from his birth who with flatterings had seald vp my heart to his vse neuer hiding any thing not my loue it selfe from his knowledge he making the greatest shew of obligâ—tion to me for my confidence that might bee expressed by so rare a witt striuing by subâ—ill meanes to make me thinke hee vsd all wayes hee might to make me happy still vrging me who needed no inticement to thinke how worthy the loue was how fit the match and then shewed me the liknesse of it our loues being so perfectly and reciprocally embraced the strong bond of friendship twixt our fathers and the continuance of that betweene him and my father as inheriting it from him lastly of our breeding together which though in our infancies yet the more naturally bred loue and increased it adding to loue as the smalest sticks doe with momber to the fiâ—rs of triumph but what aboue all indeed was the earnestest moouer as he treacherously protested was the true euen consent of our dispositions which seem'd so neere being one as though by birth made two yet created so as to be ioyned in one for the more direct and vnpartiall strength of perfectnesse and thus were you made to be one said hee in all fortunes and beings Heauen I confesse I held his louâ— Father Mother friends all were strangers to me in respect of the nearnesse of my affection to him and next to that did I thinke my best spent time was with those he most affected in his absence in that kinde seruing him Fortunate I thought my selfe and honour'd when his companions accompanyed me and so much I loued him as being forsaken I now the more am tortur'd with iust cause of coÌ„playning This Creature loath I am to name by other title and yet grieued to giue him his due and to call him spoyler of my blisse too diligently attended me neuer left me when any time might be permitted for man to see me in I embraced his conuersation but it chang'd to my affliction and contents destruction seeing oft times my passions which were too vehement for mee to hide or my weakenesse couer hee aduised yet still inticed mee on At last a match was offered me many had beene so before but all refused my conscience being such as neuer to marry any that I could not loue especially knowing it before yet was this more earnestly pursued then any other before the Gentleman himselfe too much and vnhappily affecting mee My Parents looked without loues eyes or rather saw while that child was blind the goodnes and greatnesse of his estate the hopefullnesse of the man his vertues and noble conditions much perswaded mee vnto him yet could not more mooue me then it is possible to stirr the most renowned Albion Rocks and in as much chast whitenesse remain'd my loue to my Lord while this Diuell who promis'd his helpe aymed at a farre fowler end beeing gaind I will not say by bribes to the friends of a great Heire whose estate might make one how vnworthy soeuer before a couetous minde seeme beautifull This was his fire and by this hee wrought destilling the offence of Villanie through the Limbeck of his wickednesse and this was the beginning My only loue being gon a iourney with the King loued infinitely by Deterius my father and hee staying had left his chamber and seruants to his dispose and command a stranger came in the plot ordained so by this Villaine while my Lord was dressing him hee desired to speake with the Traytor he went vnto him coÌ„ming in againe with a paper in his hand amazednes in his face which made my deerer selfe demand the cause he teÌ„derly louing the wretch because he had instructed himâ— froÌ„ in his tender youth He counterfetted loathnes to speake as if vnwelcome newes would follow his words the more he was troubled silent the more perplexed was my deere wherefore he priuately called the messenger to him of whom he demanded the newes he answered he knew none but that with much ioy and content Bellamira was betrothed to her long louing friend though not till then beloued of her he then loued and so may youâ— the better iudge of his paine When he heard I had giuen my selfe to another yet thus discreetly heâ— caryed it that hee spake not any thing vnto it though some while after heâ— demaunded of his fauour'd seruant as if but by chance if he heard any thing of Bellamira he would not answere but with a sigh and these words It is impossible I now find for any woman to be true Why said my Lord is Bellamira marryed No answered hee but as ill for shee is betrothed O women O loue how fickle and false are you both My deere hearing the death of my loue confirmed in this likely but vntrue manner saiâ— little only turned himselfe to a window where some teares he shed yet hauing the noblest spirit in the world would not suffer himselfe too long tâ— be gouernd vnder sorrow turned againe and so walked into an Orchardâ— where they conferred and at last he gained his consent to his desired end I ignorantly liued not daring to make other expressions then by looks or humble and willing seruices offered him which with as much affection were embraced yet was I grieued I heard not of him which still till then I did by euery one that saw him he as willing to send as I to receiue kindnesse The earnest suiter and falsely supposed betrothed man still did pursue and so hotly as at last I resolued to stretch the limits of modesty and to acquaint my Lord withall by letter and so ambitiously hoped to gaine one from him but considering many dangers I
heauen bring her not to murder mee lade your selues with pitie and compassion then come apace and giue life to the most peâ—plexed louer All this while she was comming while he attended as a passionate man doth the breaking of the day when he is to visit at that time his loue Dawning and leasurely shee came hee thought shee made small haste yet came too fast if loue did not accompany her and that loue to him like a delicate young Courtier who is to make his estate by the marriage of a great heire when hee comes before her is at first timerous loth to offend yet dressed vp in all richnes and finenes so was hee his Helme hee tooke off rubd vp his Haire wiped his face set on his most manly yet amorous countenance knowing women loue not childish men how much soeuer they commonly like louelines and the choicest beauties Poore man to see what a busines he kept with himselfe were strange that hee who but newly come to know passion should bee in so much variety and skilfull manner of learned knowledge to win as those who after their naturall inclination change and wooe daily but to such it is pleasure and delight to this young man torture He sighed he looked he prayed he wished he did all and yet nothing that might helpe him for so long he was in these distempers as either ignorance neglect or ill manners were like to be laid to his charge who indeed was an exact fond louer taken and spoild at first sight the louing Country of Italy could neuer make him thus passionate the beauties there were as ones owne Country esteemed nothing so pleasing to one as the thought of others till they be tried Arcadia is the place can onely captiuate his heart and there must he tast the paines makes him wish to be in Italy with freedome O sweet place heauenly Paradice said he what delights be in thee but what serpents keepe them from enioying stories I haue heard of waters and trees kept by Monsters but what rarenes was euer thus kept as loue keepes her and mee from asking pity while he stood letting his imagination twine out the time which he might if acquainted with loue or bred in his cunning Schoole haue vsed to farre more gainefull purpose She past feare of danger secured by the death of the Beare her before threatner turned back and came to thanke him but what with her sight and words he stood in as still a Posture as if the Beast in death had also wounded him which made that excellent Shepherdesse take him by the hand and kindly demaund how he felt himselfe but the touch of her dainty skin with the rare softnes gaue a more cruell hurt to his heart then the hard sword had giuen though death vnto the Beast Hee could not answer but with sighs his eies raining showers of teares and yet as through a wet cloud gazed on her She was sorry for his sorrow and wished her helpe might pleasure him it was she alone that could doe it but he duâ—st not hope for it nor aduenture to demand it then were the rest come vnto them who stirred not but looked like metamorphosed creatures their hands fast in one anothers she pittying and hee that had what he could wish yet fearing it enioyed it not which the Shepheard Youth perceiuing louing Leonius as much as man could loue another with no more acquaintance stepped to him Sir said he it appeares that the sudden ioy of this braue victory with the releasing of this rare beauty before you from such danger doth too much possesse you or else the same fit which this day I found you in hath againe ouercome you He now who shame instructed to be carefull starting as children doe at Bugbeares told him that it was true his fit had taken him and held him worse then it had done before which had caused that stilnesse in him for which he asked pardon of the most faire Shepherdesse and kissing her hand assured her that nothing was more comfort to him then the rescuing of her nor any thing more grieuous then that he had been so rude as not to acknowlâ—dge the fauour she did in comming back to thanke him for that wherein he did but the due of any one to serue and preserue such beauty thinking himselfe most fortunately borne and brought thither at that time so to doe her seruice She mildly and modestly blushing told him the good fortune was hers which had gained not onely safety but that from the noblest hand and heart so taking away her hand which was a death-like blow to him courteously bid him farewell with millions of kind thanks and sweet words vnto him euery one of which were wounds vnto his soule because with them she left him They gone he alone but for the Shepherd began his complaints partly to himselfe partly to his new friend in this manner Is it possible O Arcadia the most sweet and delicate of all these Prouinces that in thee there should liue so dangerous a creature as at first sight should wound and kill with the first touch alas my friend what peril doth abide in these most dainty dwellings were these places ordained excellent and alluring to draw men to their ends are you made happy with seeing delicasies only to see them but to taste none other then sharp murders O my father how hast thou left thy son in thine owne friends dominions to bee slaine and by a woman how will you brauest brother disdaine my bloud vanquished by a looke O Arcadia in your sweetnes I am martyrd and one of your Kings blood thus you kil are you not then guilty of treason The Shepheard who now perceiued this Knight to bee a Prince and by his words an Aliance of that Country hee kneeled downe and thus spake My Lord said hee blame not this place for that for which I doubt not but you shall haue cause to loue it accuse not your friends since if they saw your vallour and braue destroying that fierce Beast they would without question glory in your vertue nor be displeased with your fortune or loue since fortune hath brought you to loue one the most loue-worthy and I beseech you what cause haue you thus to complaine not knowing whether you may be fauourd or disgraced I see no reason you should bee discontented if not that you would not receiue kindnesse she so mildly and sweetly affording it Loue Loue it was and is cryd he makes mee thus wretched what can I doe when my senses in her sight faile me how can I haue comfort when deadly dispaire makes me not dare to hope what shall I ioy in when I scarce may venture to looke on her who must deliuer mee from this bondage noe I see no remedy when I am not able to aske or take it I am lost and only found by dispaire and desperate loue Then did his teares follow those words and groanes those teares till the Sheephard
grieu'd I am in soule to tell the truth for you must and cannot choose but hate me when I shall say what yet my heart loth to let me speake my eyes will waste themselues in streames before I can vâ—ter it and my soule rend when I must say you cannot bee blessed in loue your wofull and sinfull mother being the cause and roote of all this mischiefe I blush in soule guiltinesse I mourne in the knowledge of my sinne I am more faulty then euer woman was and a meere staine to my sexe you cannot my dearest heart enioy this Lady nor you sweet Lady haue your loue I am the Monster that keepes the gates against you and the Serpent that deserues death from you for double iniury Then kneel'd shee downe pardon mee cryde shee you perfectest and best though most vnfortunate Louers I am the wretch that hath vndone you and my selâ—e your loue 's vnlawfull I am the shamefull cause thereof your loues cannot imbrace I am the Diuorcer your wishes if granted would bee wickednesse and I am the ground brought forth this poyson wonder not but shun me as the Pestilence I am not to bee neerer suffer'd then the Plague for such I am to you to you deare two the life of my poore life the reason of all this was loue and your loue by this sinfull loue is cross'd you are poore soules deceiu'd and couzened turne your affections now to chast and iust desires for you are ah that I must say so Brother and Sister children to one man They miserable soules could not looke vpon each other the grouâ—d was their highest obiect swell and almost burst they did with griefe their senses shut vp as in an Apoplexie at last all rose from the earth into which they rather would haue gone the old woman to her chamber where falling into passions her weaknes could not sustain but she with heart afflicted oppressed with shame and vnsufferable woe dyed being found in the morning in her bed a pittifull corps of an afflicted minde The youth and his Sister wept and sate that night together wringing their hands as their hearts and soules smarted for this harme In the morning for feare of spies they parted their misery being to shew themselues as carefull as before their honours and the Parents lying on it though their wofull fortunes might haue giuen liberty which was their greatest Prison liberty they before did couet now had is onely hated Sobs and groanes were the words they said farewell withall their eyes so fill'd with cloudes of teares as if yet pitty were had not to let them see their extreamest misery but through a scarfe of loue shed water The noise of the Ladies death was soone spread abroad the house comming to the young Lords eares who with much sorrow which hee dissembled not his supposed father being absent tooke order for her buriall himselfe soon after went thence priuatly like Caunus from Biblis yet the comparison holds not clearly because these Louers were chaste and pure after the secret was disclos'd Wandring about hee happened on this Desart and into a little round place in proportion like this you came from where you descended the stayres Shee follow'd him or fortune whither she would guide her who was so kinde as to bring her to this place where they continued some short space life not allowing too much sorrow to such vnfortunate though worthy creatures but would to assist them loose it selfe parting with them leauing their bodies cleare reliques of spotlesse truth and cross'd affections malice They saw each other and bewail'd their chance but to fauour each other came no neerer then through those bushes to behold their wofull selues as in Mooneshine glimmering and as colde At last as they had iustly at once begun their loues they iustly at one instant died a little before meeting pitty not letting the one outliue the other or loue couetous would receiue both parts at once againe into possession loth to spare any part of such perfection The bodies by diuine prouidence kept safe the woefull Prince Father to them by destiny brought to them hauing searched and all his seruants for them Vnder a great Cyprus Tree which grew where the stone is now they lay intwined in each others armes dying with as chast and in as chast embracements as they had liued her groanes of death called him who had as little life yet some thing more strength finding her end comming hee kissed her hand and dying lippes then tore some of those branches downe honouring againe poore Caparissus wearing his Funerall memory making two Coronets one for her another for him selfe and so Crowned but most with loyall spotles loue they ended leauing no staine but misfortune to touch them withal much honour to be rendred to their loues The Prince finding them thus fell downe on them and as it were breathing his last likewise into them but hee was to out liue them and to grace their Funeralls he therefore rose commanding that stately Tree to be cut downe whose pride had beene such as not to let any tree grow within the compasse of his armes of the body hee made a Coffin into which with precious balmes he layd the bodies as one then did hee get the rarest workman and by his directions make this place the comming to it he would haue this way as most vnusuall and strange as their liues the place els on the other side would haue suffered another and finer comming to it though painefull the ascent being so highe for indeed it was a place as cut out of the maine Rocke and wrought into the heart of it all of one side hauing light in aboundance but hee had as it were made his way in the middest thereof as if to pierce the Center as that part in their hearts had beene sealed When this stately and sumptuous building was finished he went into Chios where dwelt an ancient and rare Magitian this man he made his instrument to fulfill his intent who did so well performe it as hee accomplished what Art could frame my selfe my Wife the old woman that conducted your Maiesty and my Sonne that brought you hither were heere established by them this booke hee gaue mee to deliuer to you when you came and the time appointed when a woman should raigne heere louing as well as much deseruing but more happily enioying to her comfort which is your selfe I was commanded to tell this story to none els nor deliuer this Booke wherin this is more exactly expressed and yet all this in the presence of the King your chosen mate These I haue obserued and now haue but two things more to do which are these to shew you the Tombe then opened he that place which seem'd like an Altar wherein lay the two Louers adorn'd as they dyed with the same Garlands whose honour was to continue greene still as hopefull of their memory The candles hee then lighted telling them that hee and his
most sad feeling in it all spite In night when darknesse doth forbid all light Yet see I griefe apparant to the show Follow'd by iealousie whose fond tricks flow And on vnconstant waues of doubt alight I can behold rage cowardly to feede Vpon foule error which these humors breede Shame doubt and feare yet boldly will thinke ill All those in both I feele then which is best Darke to ioy by day light in night opprest Leaue both and end these but each other spill Song 3. STay my thoughts doe not aspire To vaine hopes of high desire See you not all meanes bereft To inioy no ioy is left Yet still me thinkes my thoughts doe say Some hopes doe liue amid dismay Hope then once more Hope for ioy Bury feare which ioyes destroy Thought hath yet some comfort giuen Which despaire hath from vs driuen Therefore deerely my thoughts cherish Neuer let such thinking perish 'T is an idle thing to plaine Odder farre to dye for paine Thinke and see how thoughts doe rise Winning where there no hope lies Which alone is louers treasure For by thoughts we loue doe measure Then kinde thought my fant'sie guide Let me neuer haplesse slide Still maintaine thy force in me Let me thinking still be free Nor leaue thy might vntill my death But let me thinking yeeld vp breath 19. COme darkest Night becomming sorrow best Light leaue thy light fit for a lightsome soule Darknesse doth truely sute with me opprest Whom absence power doth from mirth controule The very trees with hanging heads condole Sweet Summers parting and of leaues distrest In dying colours make a grief-full role So much alas to sorrow are they prest Thus of dead leaues her farewell carpets made Their fall their branches all their mournings proue With leauelesse naked bodies whose hues vade From hopefull greene to wither in their loue If trees and leaues for absence mourners be No maruell that I grieue who like want see 20. THe Sunne which glads the earth at his bright sight When in the morne he showes his golden face And takes the place from tedious drowsie Night Making the world still happy in his grace Shewes happinesse remaines not in one place Nor may the Heauens alone to vs giue light But hide that cheerefull face though no long space Yet long enough for tryall of their might But neuer Sun-set could be so obscure No Desart euer had a shade so sad Nor could black darknesse euer proue so bad As paines which absence makes me now indure The missing of the Sunne a while makes Night But absence of my ioy sees neuer light 21. WHen last I saw thee I did not thee see It was thine Image which in my thoughts lay So liuely figur'd as no times delay Could suffer me in heart to parted be And sleepe so fauourable is to me As not to let thy lou'd remembrance stray Lest that I waking might haue cause to say There was one mnute found to forget thee Then since my faith is such so kinde my sleepe That gladly thee presents into my thought And still true Louer-like thy face doth keepe So as some pleasure shadow-like is wrought Pitty my louing nay of conscience giue Reward to me in whom thy selfe doth liue 22. LIke to the Indians scorched with the Sunne The Sunne which they doe as their God adore So am I vs'd by Loue for euermore I worship him lesse fauours haue I wonne Better are they who thus to blacknesse run And so can onely whitenesse want deplore Theu I who pale and white am with griefes store Nor can haue hope but to see hopes vndone Besides their sacrifice receiu'd in sight Of their chose Saint mine hid as worthlesse rite Grant me to see where I my offerings giue Then let me weare the marke of Cupids might In heart as they in skin of Phoebus light Not ceasing offerings to Loue while I liue 23. WHen euery one to pleasing pastime hies Some hunt fome hauke some play while some delight In sweet discourse and musicke shewes ioyes might Yet I my thoughts doe farre aboue these prize The ioy which I take is that free from eyes I sit and wonder at this day-like night So to dispose themselues as void of right And leaue true pleasure for poore vanities When others hunt my thoughts I haue in chase If hauke my minde at wished end doth flye Discourse I with my spirit talke and cry While others musicke choose as greatest grace O God say I can these fond pleasures moue Or musicke bee but in sweet thoughts of Loue 24. ONce did I heare an aged father say Vnto his sonne who with attention heares What Age and wise experience euer cleares From doubts of feare or reason to betray My sonne said hee behold thy father gray I once had as thou hast fresh tender yeares And like thee sported destitute of feares But my young faults made me too soone decay Loue once I did and like thee fear'd my Loue Led by the hatefull threed of Iealousie Striuing to keepe I lost my liberty And gain'd my griefe which still my sorrowes moue In time shun this to loue is no offence But doubt in Youth in Age breeds penitence Song 4. SWeetest Loue returne againe Make not too long stay Killing mirth and forcing paine Sorrow leading way Let vs not thus parted be Loue and absence nere agree But since you must needs depart And me haplesse leaue In your iourney take my heart Which will not deceiue Yours it is to you it flies Ioying in those loued eyes So in part we shall not part Though we absent be Tyme nor place nor greatest smart Shall my bands make free Tyed I am yet thinke it gaine In such knots I feele no paine But can I liue hauing lost Chiefest part of me Heart is fled and sight is crost These my fortunes be Yet deare heart goe soone returne As good there as heere to burne 25. POore eyes bee blinde the light behold no more Since that is gone which is your deare delight Rauish'd from you by greater power and might Making your losse a gaine to others store Oreflow and drowne till sight to you restore That blessed Starre and as in hatefull spight Send forth your teares in flouds to kill all sight And lookes that lost wherein you ioy'd before Bury thâ—se beames which in some kindled fires And conquer'd haue their loue-burnt hearts desires Losing and yet no gaine by you esteem'd Till that bright Starre doe once againe appeare Brighter then Mars when hee doth shine most cleare See not then by his might be you redeem'd 26. DEare cherish this and with it my soules will Nor for it ran away doe it abuse Alas it left poore me your brest to choose As the best shrine where it would harbour still Then fauour shew and not vnkindly kill The heart which fled to you but doe excuse That which for better did the worse refuse And pleas'd I le be though heartlesse my life spill But if you
began againe My Lord said hee yet heare me there is a way whereby you may let her see your loue and yet not speake it your teares thus continually shed your sigh's still breathing out your passions your groanes foretelling death will all truly witnesse your affliction and sue for you pull off these habits vnfit for these passions put on such as I wil prouide for you so well agreeing to your humour as the cloathes and the action shall make her vnable to withstand so much pitty as must breed loue and that loue if you then discreetly gouerne it will procure your happinesse Direct me deere friend said hee and let me enioy her loue and be assured I will make thee see I am not vngratefull Then my Lord said hee you shall put on the habit I will tomorrow morning bring to yonder Groue but be sure you be there before the Sunne appeare least they be there before vs and after follow my aduice so shall you I feare not come to your wishes end but withall you must promise and performe assistance to me Leonius could but with kind teares and straightly embracing him giue him thankes and promise thus they resolued the youth went to the next towne to buy things fit for the Prince while he with sad thoughts vncertaine wishes and wrestlesse passions spent the time till his returne The Sheepheardesse who poore soule before knew but her owne beauty now found anothers to master her I would said she the Beare had deuoured me rather then this torment should perplexe me Why did this Stranger succour me of purpose was he sent to torture mee must I be made a subiect to one I know not and suffer afflictions for one I shall no more behold fie vpon this strange loue which makes me so strangly loue as to affect impossibilities but I see I am but iustly punished for disdaining all the Youths of these parts thinking none worthy of me now I must loue one that knowes me not will no more see mee and surely loues an other Pride it is you haue vndone mee I confesse my fault I sorrow for it yet Venus helpe me Pan our Sheapheard-God assist mee let not one of your seruants nay poore me your seruant thus distressed liue I recall my former scornings I repent my disdaines I accuse my selfe more then you can blame mee O ayd me then Thus she pass'd the night in millions of such like complaints till morning being come she rose and hastely dressing her raysed her flocks before their vsuall time as shee was raised by this vnusuall passion to the plaine she went there awhile she stayed yet rested no where sometimes shee walked a pace as if she would leaue that paine behind her but seeing it so closely follow her lay downe embracing it yet blushing would turne her face on the ground and seeme ashamed of her owne thoughts O Chastity said shee why doe you wholy possesse mee deere Diana take me to thee but then did Venus as in rage increase her flames making her forget all but her affections Then rising to the next tree shee went which was a Willow and of those branches she puld and with them crowned her selfe casting off her strawne hatte her Sun-beame haire falling downe at the full length which with a little fine and naturall curling reched to the small of her leg and the rich thicknesse spread it selfe ouer her shoulders there awhile she stayed grauing some few words in the Barque of the tree agreeing to the paines shee felt and condition of that tree whose softnesse concur'd with the yeelding hearts of loâ—ers but the Fate giuen it to be forsaken and made it to be the Garland for such haplesse creatures Well poore Willow said she thou shalt yet be my companion and I will honour thee though happier folks despise thee then went she into the Groue but as little stayd shee there flying the company she saw there assembled seeking new places as all doe that seeke ease and hope for it by trauell so shee pass'd along the side of one of the little Brooks her eyes still fixed vpon it speaking sometimes at last shee said these words Poore Brooke said shee how like my paines are yours I seeke to flye from the Spring of my sorrowes so fall you from your head how fast sweete Brooke you runne in hope of eafe so fast doe my poore hopes flye from my hart stay turne your course and I shall hope to liue notwill not be you runne and I continue in my paines As she went on sadly bemoning her solitary thoughts she heard as pittifull a voyce vtter these vnperfect ioyn'd words Leonia poore Nimph said it where is thy vowe must Venus make thee change O loue coward loue to steale thus to my heart couldest thou not haue come brauely and contended with me in the Chase or taken me in the time when I did reuile thee and scorne thy power but to set vpon me when I was quiet and safe as I thought treacherously to lye in wait and betray mee when I was vnarm'd naked and without power to resist and more for my shame when I had sworne to Diana what punnishment will that chast Goddesse lay vpon me for this offence But foole why talke I of these poore things which in comparison of my woe are but blossoms I loue and must loue what then I will loue and die in loue then shall that Cruell see written in my heart that murther thus committed vnkind alasse my soule melts as these teares and yet to thee my paines are no more waighed then bubbles my hart weepes blood pitty me then say you do pitty and saue me pitty said the Sheepheardes is that I want what new companion in my woe haue I found heere with that she went towards the place from whence as shee imagined that sad voyce did proceede when as a little from the banke vnder the shade of mirtle trees which made as it were a Cabine of them selues lay a Forrest Nimph her apparrell of colour and fashion like Diana buskins vpon her leggs of white her haire tyd vp only some of the shortest and about the temples curled crowned with Roses Hyacinths she lay with her head toward her who with a soft pace went on till she came iust behinde her then viewing her earnestly her eyes being so full of loue as all louing creatures found a power in them to draw them to her call especially those eyes which were so much hers as they could not stirre but to her will commanding them so as shee could with her looking on them with louing force bring them to her owne and so it now prooued for those eyes which full of teares were seeing themselues in the streame shewing their watry pictures to each other her earnest viewing the Nimph with a naturall humblenesse to hers drew her lookes to her ioy then appear'd in the Nimphes face yet straight was that clowded with sorrow She rose and with a timerous though she