hope for the redress remedy of their harms For they were in great hope that some of them whom they so diligently painfully sought for either were already among those gentlemen damosels shepheards which Polydor said that he had séen with the Lady Felicia or should be ere long by means of the said Ladies singular wisdom and experience The Sun by this time began to fall in the Western plains and thereby was not so hot but that Polydor thought good to march forward that they might in good time reach to the pallace of the Lady Felicia Which liking all the coÌ„pany they rose all and went on their journey They had not gone passing a league and a half but they met a certain nymph whom the Lady Felicia foreknowing the comming of this worthy company had sent to let them know of certain things which she would have them acquainted with before they came unto her to the end that all things might succéed according as she through her incredible wisdome thought convenient Marcelio therefore with the rest of his company coming to the place where the nymph was saluted her very curteously as she likewise did him and all the other that were by him and asked them whither they were going whereunto they answered that they weÌ„t toward the temple of Diana She hearing that said for as much as I can gather by the valor and worthinesse of your persons I believe the Lady Felicia of whose nimphs I am one will be very glad of your company And séeing that Phoebus doth now begin to prepare for his evening lodging the day draweth to an end I wil return home with you for I am assured ye shall be received with great triumph They thanked her greatly that she would keep them company and went on with her towards the temple For they conceived marvellous hope by her words and although Polydor Clenarde had been in the Pallace before yet they remembred not that they had séen her among the other nymphs by reason of the multitude of the nymphs of the Lady Felicia who all of them obeying the commandement of their sage Lady are imployed in sundry charges and divers places So that Polydor asked this nimph how she was called whereupon she answered her name was Arethea Clenarde demanded what news was in the Ladies Pallace she answered that the chiefest news she knew was the two hours before her departure from thence there arrived a young Lady in the habit of a shepheardesse who being espied by an aged Knight that was at that present with the Lady Felicia was known to be his daughter and that because she had a long time gone astray through most parts of the world the aged Knight her father was so joyfull of her arrival that the rumor of that young Ladies fortune was spread through al the villages about the temple of Diana Marcelio listening attentively to these words greedily desiring to know whether the Lady she spake of were Alcida could not but interrupt the nymph as she went to go forward in the relation of her news and so he asked her how the aged Knight was called Vnlesse my memory fail me answered the nymph he is called Eugerio and his daughter Alcida Wherewith Marcelio surprized with excéeding joy after he had a long time stood as if he had been in a trance at length burst out into these words Ah most blessed troubles that take end by so prosperous an adventure ah fortune and as he meant to have gone forward he could not utter one word more but fell down on the ground wholly astonished The Lady Brisil Ismenia and Clenarde flocked about him to incourage him and did so much prevail that he came to himself again In the mean time Polydor and Clenarde were marvellous joyfull at that news séeing that all their misfortunes should take end by the comming of their sister Alcida Maffeo Perierio and the Lady Brisil with Ismenia were likewise glad for Marcelio's sake and hoped likewise that as the Lady Felicia had wrought his blisse so she would likewise being moved with compassion of their miseries redresse their grief Ismenia desirous to hear something of her husband Lexander said to Arethee fair Nymgh I was marvellously well contented and received great joy to hear of the general gladnesse that is in the Ladies Pallace by reason of the arrivall of the Lady Alcida but yet I should conceive more perfect pleasure if it would please you to tell me what shepheard of account there is at this present in the Pallace Arethee answered you shall find divers shepheards of account whose names I remember not yet two or three I know above the rest There is one shepheard called Petulca of whom the Lady Felicia maketh great account of for his wit and chastity Besides there is a shepheard called Philorenus whose presence pleaseth the Lady Felicia as much The Lady Brisil hearing Petulca named marvelled to know how he came thither and to what end and therefore asked the nymph whether she knew â—he cause of his commig thither The nymph answered that as she remembred he came to hear of a certain young shepheard whom he sometime had loved instead of a young maid under the name of Sybilla he being apparelled in the habit of a shepheardesse and dwelling with his wife made all the world beleeve they were two sisters And many other things which I cannot quoth Arethee now rehearse shaâ—l you understand of him when you come to the Pallace concerning those two sisters which I promise you are wonderfull strange Strange they are indeed quoth Brisil if you knew all fair nymph Verily I beleeve quoth Arethee that you are either the shepheard Periander or his supposed sister Either of them indeed quoth Brisil but my name is not Periander I promise you quoth Arethee that my Lady will be singularly glad when she séeth you for I have heard her talk much of you and your spouse Periander Ismenia although she heard not that her beloved Lexander was among the other shepheards which Arethee had named yet for that she heard that the Lady Brisil had heard something concerning her matters she took the more heart in her own cause and was glad for the poor distressed Dutchesse sake hoping that she should receive comfort of the Lady Felicia Maffeo and Perierio who had heard nothing of their Ladies were neverthelesse of as good chear as the rest hoping that when they were come to the Temple of Diana they should receive as much comfort as any because the Lady Felicia had written to him and Marcelio as you have heard before CHAP. XX. How Perierio and his company came to the Temple of Diana how they were entertained by the Sage Lady Felicia and the great joy that was there made THis worthy company being convoyed by Arethee the Nymph came into a fair large place which was before the gate of the Pallace weere they saw a most gallant Dame come out of the house being apparelled
Philorenus whom they had present had dwelt with the Sergeant till that present day and never entred into the Court insomuch that the K. began to think that there were two brothers of them and that they themselves knew it not by reason that they were separated one from the other so timely But to the end that he might be the surer of this matter he sent for the Captain of whom he had me Who being come and having séen my brother the King asked him whether he knew any privy token about my body whereby he might know me if there were one in the world so like me that he might hardly be known from me Such token answered the Captain I know none my Soveraign Lord neither is it necessary for I nor any man that hath eys can doubt of this man but that it is Philorenus whom I brought from Cinqueni and I will not onely say so but also affirm it by oath and die upon the same The other Gentlemen that were present said that he might be deceived for that they had already deposed the contrary To make few words if the King had not been present they had gone together by the ears and tried the matter not by words but by wounds rather and by fight come to knowledge of the right Philorenus but the King commanded them to return to their mansion place and to leave the person concerning whom the question grew to wit my brother with him for that he would not be satisfied but would have him kept in hold till such time as he might send into Persia after me to know whether I were there or no imagining that if I were found there then the same Philorenus that they had in the Court should be my brother and if it were so the King intended to give him some high office but if contrarily I were not found in Persia then it should be manifest that the same Philorenus was no other but the man who he was judged by all the courtiers to be and both he and his pretended master with the other Gentlemen that were before the King should with death be punished for their madnesse in taking upon them to depose such falsities and so openly to mock with their King and Soveraign Well they being returned and my brother clapt in hold two Knights were dispatched from the court to Persia who taking their journey thâ— same way that I was prescribed to take at every City that was of any fame he enquired for me but in vain for they passed into Persia and yet could hear nothing of me neither in the way as they went thither nor in the Court of the King ef Persia the reason whereof was as followeth CHAP. XXVIII How the elder Philorenti going on his journey was taken by Aegyptian Robbers How the other Philorenus escaped out of prison by the means of Mistresse Cerafâ—lla AFter I had travelled two days from Naples as I rode with my men through a huge wood we met with five and twenty Aegyptians who having certain Cells in that Wood lived upon the spoil of those that passed through the same These Villains ugly in countenance in colour resembling Divels and in stature Gyants having espied us and seeing that we were able to out-run them being on horseback marched on before us as if they had not thought of us till they had reached to a place serving fit for their purpose where our horse hindred us more then they could advantage our valour For we entred into a Thicket ful of Thorns and Brambles where we were compelled to alight and lead our horses by the bridle and had more trouble to pull them after us then to pass our selves Now the Aegyptians therefore thinking it time to pursue their prey came all of them towards us and being most of them armed with demi-pikes and javelins set upon us so fiercely on the sudden that we scarce knew whether were the best to resist their fury or yeeld to their mercy But séeing we had no time to deliberate upon the matter quick expedition was necessary and I perpending that all the mercy that such villains had was more then cruelty I thought it better to die in the defence of our honour then to fall into the hands of such barbarous rascals Then I drew my sword as also all the rest did that were with me and abandoning our horses we dealt with the villains in such sort that we woundes thrée or four of them deadly but yet we could not escape their hands by reason that they were so many of them and had the vantage of us in that they had half-pikes and we had none To be short the end of the conflict was such that I could more deplore it then avoid it for the most of my men were slain the rest escaped by flight and I being thrust through the arm with a pike was taken by the Aegyptian villains and bound hand and foot and so htey cast me upon one of our horses and brought me to their cels whither they also conveyed the horses and my baggage When I was brought to their cell they began to consult what they should do with me For they thought it pity which affection did not proceed from any good disposition in them seeing they were bereft of all good qualities but rather was bred in them by the wil and pleasure of the Gods who being moved to mecy would deliver me from the wicked villains to kill me séeing they had gotten so great a booty by me and on the other side they feared that if I should escape their knavery should be detected by reason that I did not onely know their wicked kind of dealings but also the place where they kept theÌ„selves being the most secret place in the world But after they had a long time deliberated upon the matter they came by me and brought me such meat as they had though I had no great lust to eat and untied the cords wherewith they had bound me but they put on a pair of shackles on my legges for fear I should out-run them Thus I lived among them the space of nine or ten moneths in such misery that I wished death every day to deliver me from the wretched life which I led in that pittiful kind of captivity But I will return to my brother whose hap was evil by reason of my mishap For the knights that were sent into Persia to enquire for me returned to Naples informed the King that they had not heard any thing of me and that they could assure his Majesty that I had not béen séen in Persia nor in any place between Naples and Persia save onely in one town about one days journey from the Court in which place they had certain intelligence that I had béen seen Other information they had none The Sergeant my brothers master and the other Gentlemen his neighbours upon this news fled fearing lest they should have been unjustly put to death blaming Fortune
and sobs that he could scarce with much ado speak embracing us all one after another to take his leave and bid us farewell before the hour of eminent shipwrack was come It would be a great enterprise and difficult matter for me presently to recount what tears Aloda wept and what grief I suffered for her sake and therefore I will onely tell you one thing that nothing so much grieved me as that my life which I had offered for her service could not take end without her death In the mean time our forlorn ship driven with the force of the angry waves and furious winds which blew so marvellous strongly flying all night though the streight of Gilbatan more swiftly then we wished or served our turn the next day went astray I know not how many leagues into the large Mediterrean sea Where after that we had long wandred hither and thither the force of the wind and waves driving us up and down for the space of that dry and night the next morning the tempest séemed to be something asswaged and the rufull waves abating their courage Neptune spread a pleasant calm over the sea wherewith we were not a little cheared But fortune not contented to have heaped such a world of calamities upon us would also take her pleasure in mocking us in the midst of miseries For on the suddain the wished calm was turned into a worse and greater extream tempest then before which brought us into such extreamity that we hoped not for one hour of life At last one side of the ship being strooken with a great raging whirlwind the other side lay flat upon the water and was in danger to sink presently When I saw the manifest danger I began to ungird my sword to the end it might not hinder me and imbracing Alcida I leaped with her into the ship boat Clenarde being a light and nimble Gentlewoman following us did the same not leaving behind her bow and arrows for that she estéemed more of that than of some great and precious treasure Polidor thrusting his father forwards thought to have done as much and to have leaped into the boat as we had done but the ship-Master with another Marriner leaped in before them And as Polidor with his aged father thought to have followed the boat was separated from the ship by reason of a mighty wave which was driven by the wind betwixt the ship and the boat so that they were forced to remain in the ship the sight whereof in short time we lost and never since heard any news of her But I am of opinion that all doubt removed she was swallowed up by Neptunes greedy waves or that crossing overthwart the Sea she perished miserably on the coast of Spain How Bartophamus the Pylot by Treason left Alcida in the Isle Formentaria and Marcelio in the Isle Juique and carried away Clenarde and what ensued PErierio and his sisters listening to Marcelio's discourse he proceeded in this manner Alcida Clenarde and I being in the boat conducted by the industry and diligent painfulnesse of the Marriners we went astray up and down the seas for the space of one whole day and night attending for Death from hour to hour without hope of any remedy not knowing where or in what part of the world we were This notwithstanding the morning next following we perceived that we were very near to land endeavouring to row as near it as we could possibly At the length the two Marriners being very cunning in swimming did not onely leap into the water to swim to the shore but also drew us all to that so long desired land After we were so happily delivered from the danger which furious Neptune threatned us the Marriners fastened their ship-boat to the shore side and knowing the place where we landed told us we were in the Isle of Formentera and wonderfully marvelled that we had run so many miles in so little time But they had such experience of the wonders that fierce tempests are accustomed to do that they were not too much amazed at the course of our navigation Yet howsoever the tempest had driven us we were then assured and out of danger of the menaces wherewith fortune feared us amidst the inexorable waves But we were so gréeved for the losse of Eugerio and Polydor so troubled with wearinesse and so famished with hunger that we had none or little cause to rejoice of the life which we had recovered Neither will I now rehearse what tears Alcida and Clenarde shed because they had lost their father and brother to the end that I may tell you the sorrowful and unhappy successe which I had in that desart and solitary Isle For after that by reason we were arrived in the same I was delivered from the fury of the sea love became such an adversary and enemy unto me that he séemed to be grieved that my life was saved from the pecil of the tempest and that he would torment me with a new and more grievous pain when I thought my self to be in safety For malicious Cupid wounded the heart of the Pylot who was called Bartophamus and rendred him so far in love of the beauty of Clenarde the sister to Alcida that to attain to the point of his intended desires he forgot the law of friendship and fidelity and imagined a strange and wicked treason which he did put in execution Which was such As the two sisters wept and grievously lamented their fathers and brothers miserable death it happened that Alcida overcome with heavinesse and wearinesse she lay down on the sand and fell a sléep Whereupon I began to say to the Pylot friend Bartophamus if we take not some order to provide for victuals and if our ill luck be such that we can find none we may make account we have not saved our lives but rather that we have changed the manner and kind of our death and therefore would I that you and your companion should go to some village or burrough of this Isle which thou may find to fetch meat for us to eat Sir Marcelio answered Bartophamus fortune hath done us pleasure enough in bringing us hither and helping us to arrive at this Isle though it be desart and barren And you must not think that we shall here find any meat to asswage our hunger and remedy our necessity for the country is not inhabited But I will tell you how we may find means to suffer no hunger do you sée yonder litle Isle that lieth right over against us in that Isle there is great quantity of Dear Conies Hares and many other beasts There is also a Hermitage where the Hermite hath good store of bread and meal Therefore I am of this advice that it were good that Clenarde whose dexterity and cunning in shooting is not unknown unto you should passe over to that Isle and carry her bow and arrows which she hath here with her kill some Hart or Doe I and my companion
of silk almost in pieces in his left hand This Knight séeing Perierio and his sisters could not enough marvell that he had found shepheards so far surpassing in beauty And drawing near them he was so curteously saluted by them that he was amazed to have such an unlooked for Salve And requiting them with like curtesie asked them whether they had not seen any men riding that morning through the same wood Perierio answered no. And as the knight thought to take his leave of them Euphilia desiring to know what he was found occasion to stay him and therefore spake unto him in this manner Sir Knight it seemeth that you are sorely wounded by the abundance of bloud which hath issued out of sundry parts of your body and therefore I think it were not amisse if you should alight from your horse and tie up your wounds ere you travel on any further And for as much as we are far from any town or village if it will please you to take in good part such homely fare as my fathers country cottage can afford you shall find us ready to lead you thither and to welcome you to such chear as may content nature though it be not comparable to courtly dainties The Knight being very weary and fearing least he might incur extream danger if it should happen to be long are he might reach to some town though he was ashamed necessity forcing him thereto accepted of Euphilias offer thinking that God had sent him in that wood to méet with those curteous shepheards who beyond all expectation proffered him such friendship and succour he being a meer stranger unto them Therefore thanking them for their excéeding curtesie he did bear them company to their fathers house Where the old man rejoycing to see so comely a person by his son Perierio and his two daughters feasted the Knight in such manner that he easily might perceive that he was welcome After they had ended dinner Euphilia asked the Knight how he had gotten all those wounds and what ill fortune had brought him into such danger Whereupon the Knight began to make this discourse of his tragedy Gentle shepheards to the end that you may know that you have the miserablest man in the world before your eyes here present with you I will as briefly declare you the history of all my life as I may so I be not troublesome unto you to hear the tragicall events happened unto me since my cradle I am loath to give you any cause of grief But séeing that it pleaseth you to know the cause of this my mishap I hold my self bounden to pleasure you and do according to your desire And to be as little tedious as I possible may I will use as much brevity as the greatnesse of the matter will permit me Know therefore gentle shepheards that fortune threatening me bad luck began to lower on me before I came into the world for she conspired my death before I was born You must note how that my father before I was born had no children but his brothers son was his adopted heir and should have inherited all his lands had he died without issue So that this adopted heir having intelligence that my mother was big with child very carefulâ—y wâ—ited for the time that she should fall in travell which hour being approached he corrupted the midwife with a great sum of money to smother me at my first entry into this world and to spoil me of my life before I perfectly lived But no fortune would reserve me to worser events and I was not so happy to be dealt withall as my unkind cousin had appointed For the midwife being pricked with remorse of conscience and overcome with pity could not find in her heart to stifle me in her hands when as I was committed to her to be tenderly handled and looked to with all the care and diligence that might be but she invented another manner to content Silvestro for so was my cousin named which was secretly to steal me from my parents and to convey me into the house of a poor labouring man whose wife was wont to serve for nurse unto such poor mens wives as for weaknesse or sicknesse could not bring up their own children about twenty miles from the place where my parents dwelled which was the renowned City of Constantinople my father at that time being generall governour over the same City The Midwife made the same poor labouring man and his wife believe that I was son unto one of her cousins that she had in the abovenamed City being called Bradasso and therefore willed them to take all the care and diligence that might be in fostring me as a child ought to be and that she would accordingly reward them as ste did for she payed them duly wéek by wéek as long as she lived Thinking her fault more excusable seeing she caused me to be brought up with part of the money which she took of my cousin to spoil me of my life I omit for brevities sake what grief my parents suffered for the loue of their long desired sonne especially becauâ—e they knâ—w not what was become of me but they thought nothing so â—uâ—e as that I was dead and that the midwife would not let them know of it least they should have been too suddenly oppressed with such sorrowfull news When I was thrée years old or thereabout the midwife died such a sudden kind of death that she could not take order with my nurse for me The nurse therefore having intelligence of her death fearing least she should kéep me for nothing which she was not able to do being a very poor woman borrowed her neighbours horse and rode with me to the City of Constantinople where at the midwifes she inquired for the same Bradasso whose child she thought it was this Bradasso being a young man of some four or five and twenty years of age and unmarried swore by all that he might that he never had to do with woman in his life time so far as to gâ—t her with child Whereof the woman wonderfully amazed wist not what she should do with me And so poor Maffeo for that is my unfortunate name was become a bastard that had neither rathâ—r or mother that would know him or receive him as their child and yet had both father and mother who would have thought themselves to be the happiest parents that lived under the vâ—â—l of heâ—â—en if they had found their own beloved infant whom they thought to be dead long since But my cousin being informed by the rumor spread through the City that a child nourished thrée or four years by the industry of such a midwife could find neither father nor mother after the same midwife was dead began to calculate the time of my birth and finding it to be full just at the time that the nurse avouched that I was brought unto her remembred that the midwife had told him that she had dispatched the
Farewell When I had read this letter I was in worse case then before it would be too long for me to make rehearsal in what a passionate state I was both while I heard her rail at me like a raging Lyonesse and when I saw by the reading of the Letter how she sought to be revenged of me that I was ready to resign up my life and to fall down dead in her presence for love grief and fear and contrarily gladnesse and hope made such a combate at one instant in the midst of my heart that I knew no more of my self then he that was never born At length gathering my sences together I came to my self and answered her that whereas she sometime said that I was an instrument against my self she should now have most just occasion to say the same and most fit matter whereout to gather premises producing the conclusion of her saying And though if be my death quoth I to do your command yet I will and must obey With that she having sealed the Letter I tâ—ok it and went away bidding her adieu with all the humility that I could for my life And posting to my master I delivered him the Letter which was so spightfully written against poor Maffeo notwithstanding that I was not ignorant of the contents thereof though my master knew not so much But assoon as he read the letter supposing that I had béen the onely cause of his bad successe in his amours drew forth his dagger and threw it at me and séeing that though the dagger stuck in my leg yet it had not given me my fatall stroke ran at me with his naked sword intending fully to glut himself with the bloud of his innocent page and cousin germain though I as yet then knew not that I was so But I stepped aside and got out of the house as soon as I could flying unto one of our neighbors who seemed to make much of me and in whom I had most confidence Vnto him I declared how my master was fallen out with me and shewed him the wound which he had given me meaning to slay me This maÌ„ being a poor honest man and a Baker by his occupation by name Pharicles was likewise cunning in chirurgery and so willingly and so carefully dressed my wound that I thought him worthy of greater reward then I could give him But the smart of the wound the sorrow of my grief and the tormeÌ„t of love cast me into such a dangerous disease that I was in great peril of death and out of all hope ever to recover my life again After that I had lain in that case six or seven days late in the night came Eleonora unto me in the habit of a gentleman page because she would not be known and told the baker Pharicles that she was my cousin and that she had brought something to make a confection for me Whereupon the good Baker arose and opening his door let her in and sent her up to my chamber Where she séeing that I was alone fell down on her knées before my bed and wéeping most pittifully pronounced these words Pardon me swéet Maffeo pardon me and could not for grief speak one word more but shed out whole streams of tears which running down her chéeks fell on my bed and in such sort wetted it as if it had been cast into some river I amazed at that sudden chance could not tell whether I dreamt or whether I was awake for me thought by the voice it should be Eleonora but when I looked on her vesture I suspected it had been my master that had repented in such manner for that he so hardly used me But to rid my self from doubt I reached the candle that stood by my beds-head and looking her in the face I soon knew my Eleonora who was in the like taking that I was when I read that unfortunate letter before her Incontinently I lifted her from off her knées embraced her and kissed her on her tender lips saying What Eleonora my Lady and mistresse do you humble your self after this order unto you servant Pluck up your heart and be of good chear and ask no pardon at my hands for you have not committed any fault against your servant Ah Maffeo qd she my fault is great and so much the greater because against Maffeo After we had passed on great part of the night in such talk she in accusing her self and I in reiterating my unworthiness at last we promised each other troth and agreed to leave Constantinople and flie into Spain For because she knew that her father would never agrée unto our marriage she concluded to provide a good sum of money and many rich jewels for the easier carriage and so to transport her self and me into Spain there to lead a contented life untill such time as we might be reconciled to here father or fortune allowed us to return This devise liked me so well that all the medicines in the world could not have cured my disease so well as the presence of her for whom I was so willing to die To be short she appointed me the hour and place where I should méet her when all things were prepared for our voyage Where I finding her in the same habit that she was when she visited me we took ship and sailed unto Saint Lucar in Spain where we lived contentedly and merrily for the space of five or six years In he mean time you must note how that Eleonoras parents marvelling what was become of her were excéeding sorrowful CHAP. VIII How Maffeo and Eleonora sailing towards Constantinople were severed by a tempest and Sylvestro drowned also how he met with her again MY cousin Sylvestro having heard of her secret and sudden departure and mine also began to suspect that we were together and that Eleonora sent him that letter but to give the matter a contrary colour Wherefore considering that the Gods so favoured me first in that my life was saved by means of the pittifull midwife and afterwards that I was loved by so noble a gentlewoman where he was rejected his conscience began to prick and urged him so far that on a morning he went to the house of Eleonoras father and declared to him the whole matter Whereat he wondring would have besought the Magistrate to burn Sylvestro at a stake but that Sylvestro promised him that he would go to the end of the world but he would find us and in like manner discover the whole case unto us and bring us home to Constantinople In so much that six years being expired I espied my cousin Sylvestro walking in the Market place and least he should see me I went homewards to carry the news unto Eleonora But he espied me and followed me to the place where I dwelt and entring into the hall where I sate with Eleonora fell down on his knees and informed us of all the matter shewing us his testimoniall letters and passeport from the
ready now to do me pleasure and acquite my self of your duty as I have been at other times My pleasure is that thou make a voyage into Spain and passe over all that country to sée whether you can hear of my son Periander to the end that if you find him you may let him know how earnestly I wish to see him that he may come hither and receive the Crown of the Realm And if it chance Duchesse Brisil be in those parts for it may be she is with him or in travel to séek him insomuch that you meet with her or hear of her I would have order taken that she notwithstanding that Periander be not yet found might return to the Court to be crowned Queen séeing that the Crown by the law of the Realme apperteineth unto her after my death being betrothed to my son if he marry no other as I know he will not I will send others to other Countries you shall onely séek them in Spain I pray you to do all the diligence you can and to behave your self herein according to the opinion I bear of you And for your reward if you find either of them I will promise you lesse then I wil perform And especially this I will say before hand that he that findeth and bringeth Periander and Brisil both as soon as they arrive at the Court I will give him the isle Mon◠to be his and his heirs for ever and he that findeth either Periander or Brisil I will give him the government of West Albion But as for you Pharelus you shall receive greater benefits at my hands if the Gods will favour your journey yet what luck soever you have I will not be unmindful of your labour and readinesse Therewith the King weary by reason of his sicknesse and scarce able to speak more ceased and I thanking his Majesty for his singular favour towards me vowed to do whatsoever lay in me to the uttermost of my power partly for my duty towards him and partly for the love I bear the young Prince Insomuch that after we had fully concluded the matter I departed from Albion the next day with twelve men which I have all sent to sundry places of this country appointing them to meet all at the famous City Leon situated along the River Eyla as the sixt day after to morrow at which time I mean to be there by the help of the Gods to know what tidings they can bring me Verily sir Knight quoth Periander the Kings son would wish to meet with you if he knew the good tidings you bring him I am grieved my selfe to heare that such great persons are subject to so much adversity But I pray fair shepheard quoth Pharelus séeing you say you have heard talk of him in your Village to tell me where the same vilage is and how it is called for if I thought I might there hear any thing of him I would take my journey that way More then I have said quoth Periander shall you not heare there I promise you and therfore séeing it is out of your way take not the pains And as they were thus talking together they espied an old man wandring through the wood so far from them that they could scarce sée him by reason of the thicknesse of the bushes and small trees that grew in the wood But calling unto him he fearing lest they had meant to do him some harm began to run away as fast as his old leggs could carry him But Pharelus with all celerity followed him so long till he overtook him at last at the wood end having run a whole hour before he could come to him the old fellow so bestirred his stumps and séeing he could not outrun him he fell downe on his knées and asked for mercy making a large apologie that he was a poor old man and had a wife and children to kéep and many good morrows fearing that he should have been robbed by Pharelus which he perceiving could not but laugh to sée the old man so timerous and therefore said Alack good Father fear not for though I perceive by thy fearfulnesse that thou art well provided of money yet I called thee not for thy wealth but for thy counsell for I have been here in this Wood these three dayes and more and cannot find any path to lead me out of the same And though I perceive that by following thee I have attained to that which I wished for seeing I am here at the wood end yet I thought good to deliver thee out of the opinion which thou conceivest of me who wish thee no harme Neverthelesse seeing I do not well know where I am thou shalt do me a pleasure to tell me what way I may best take towards the famous City Leon. Ah good Gentleman answered the old fellow the cause that I ran from you was not for fear to loose any treasure for I have none but I heard that there was a poor man slain about five or six weeks ago in this wood and seeing I knew you not I hope you will not think the worse of me though I was afraid of you As concerning your request knew that I dwell in the same City you enquire for and if you dain to travel in the company of such an homely person as my self by the help of the Gods I will lead you thither before three dayes come to an end Willingly quoth Pharelus and I thank thee for thy courteous offer but there is a young shepheardesse that followed me as I ran after thee of whom I asked the way and alas she knew it as little as I and I would be sorry that we should leave her behind us and therefore I pray thee to stay here a little and I will see whether I can espy her comming But if you be wise quoth the old man go not in too deep lest you lose your way again it were best for you to call unto her as loud as you can or to whistle for if she hear you she will come and if she be cut of hearing you may chance to seek after her as long as you have already been in the wood Pharelus followed his counsel and whooped unto her as loud as he might and seeing that she came not after he had remained there for the space of two hourrs the old man being very hasty to go on his journey he would not stay behind and omit that opportunity though loth yet forced to leave the shepheard he went with the old man Periander on the other side who for his woman-like shepheard attire could not follow Pharelus when he ran after the old man for his long coat catched by the thornes and brambles and having lost the sight of Pharelus went quite another way so that it was no marvel that he heard not Pharelus call unto him for he went quite contrary from the path which Pharelus took after the old man and came out at the other end of the
some other time whensoever it shall please your worthinesse to hear the rest opportunity being thereto offered The Dutchesse Brisil with the other Ladies Gentlemen and shepheards thanking Philorenus assured him that he had done them a pleasure more then mean in that he had taken so much pain as to delight them with that rehearsal of his own fortunes promising that he should find them as ready to pleasure him But the Dutchesse above the rest told him that she hoped as he had begun to delight her with the beginning of his history so he would work the perfection of her delight so begun with the end of the same occasion presenting time and place fit for the purpose as he had promised And therewith they went altogether into the palace where the Lady Felicia meeting them at the garden dore most courteously saluting them being by them saluted first the Dutchess Brisil old Eugerio next then Marcelio and his Alcida with her brother Polydor and his sister Clenarde and so Lexander with his Ismenia and then Philorenus with his Petulca and the rest of the company which courteously finished she led them all into a fair stateÌ„ly hall most sumptuously and gorgeously furnished where the cloth was laid for that the evening bringing something too cold an air with it she thought it better to sup there then in the bower in the garden where they had dined While supper continued the Nymph Arethea sung this sonnet to the sound of her Lute Arethea MY song is love yet strange love not mine own And though I love not yet my tongue will spend In praise of love though many that alone Which theirs is will vouchsafe for to commend But now my thoughts from passions being free My words as true as truth it self shall be Love is the thing through which all men have being Love is the thing which mankind doth preserve Love is the cause of heavens and earths agreeing Love is the Lord whom Gods and men do serve Love is the knot wich sexes doth unite Love in estate maintaineth every wight Love is the tool which finest wits doth file Love unto worthy things mens hearts doth bind Love frames the tongue to use a flowing stile Love is the touchstone of a verâ—tuous mind Love is the spur to valorous exploits Love doth exalt thy mind to heavenly thoughts Love is the joy wherein Lordings delight In Love do Ladies think the time well spent In all is love a comely courteous sight In men a grace in maids an ornament All this of Love and more if more may be I know though nothing Love doth know of me Arethea having ended her Sonnet the Lady Felicia asked Perierio how he liked it and whether he thought not that lovers were beholding unto her for so extolling the Saint that ruleth their affection But he framed her this answer Divine Lady your Nymphs Encomion of love hath so swéetly toucht mine ears that they most willingly and readily carried the meaning of her spéeches to my mind who receiving them with no lesse delight was moved to think so well of them that it now comandeth my tongue to let you understand And in truth Madam as I am glad that I now love not in respect of divers circumstances so I should be singularly sorry if I thought I should never love again And more directly to answer your question I think my self not a little beholding to Arethea for esteeming so much of Love onely for that I have once loved much more think I will such as now féel the fire of fancy glowing in their hearts make account of her for making such account of that wherein they have placed their chief felicity CHAP. XXXVII The dispute which happened between Perierio and the Dutchesse Brisil occasioned by the Song of the Nymph Arethea in commendation of Love ALL the company hearing Periecrio speak in this manner marvelled at the same for they knew nothing how the Lady Felicia had used him in her study by giving him the drink of oblivion And therefore they were amazed to see Perierio a man before so full of melancholy and so pathetical now so freely speak of Love as one not now in Love whereunto he was before so earnestly addicted that he seemed to be bound apprentice unto it for ever But among the rest the Lady Brisil spake unto him in this manner But I pray you sir you that ere while so furiously loved are the hot flees wherein you so madly flamed already quenched yet they seemed unextinguishâ—ble I think they be fair Princesse answered Perierio for they are not quenched but allayed and in this degree it is that I commend love and no doubt but Arethea so thought of it when she so effectually describe it Yet am not I of the opinion answered the Dutchess for that were neither hot nor cold whereas if love should do and cause all those worthy things which Arethea attributeth unto it no doubt it must be extended to some extream point or else how should it be able to work so many excellent matters as she speaketh of nay rather as truth it self averreth even by the mouth of all such as know the excellency of love You say well quoth Perierio but yet I hope you will likewise grant that as in all other vertues so in love also there may be an extremity in excesse which is a vice and not to be defended An extremity quoth Brisil I grant in this that one may love too coldly but too hotly one cannot in my mind For seeing love is commendable as none here gain-say it the more one doth love the more doth he that which is worthy of commendation how shal we then blame him as doing that which is vicious For love is not to be considered as liberallity or other vertues for being too easie in giving and bestowing as more then one is able he falleth from liberallity and cannot be accounted to be liberall but prodigall in that he lavishly maketh havock of more then his ability well can allow or reason perswade him But love the more it possesseth man the more he loveth and the more he loveth the more he possesseth For though by being liberal without measurs that ability waineth and riches decay yet by loving how extraordinarily soever love never waxeth lesse nay increaseth For the more one loveth the more still doth his power to love grow and the more able doth he become to love And so long cannot he fall from love and be accounted no lover as they that by too much spending fall from â—eing too liberall to become prodigall Nay but quoth Peâ—â—â—â—o by loving without reason do we fall from love to madnesse for frantick I account that love which is not guided by reason By reason quoth the Dutchess why love is too noble a thing to be â—iâ—d to any respect either of reason or any other thing 〈…〉 For love being considered in it self is a certain kind of moâ—iâ—â—â—f the mind which moveth of it self and