They neuer veile their faire through winters frowne But from their sweets loue suckt his Summer time Her bodies beauties best esteemed bowre Delicious comely daintie without staine The thought whereof not toucht hath wrought my paine Whose faire all faire and beauties doth deuoure Her maiden wount the dwelling house of pleasure Not like for why no like surpasseth wonder O blest is he may bring such beauties vnder Or search by sute the secrets of that treasure Deuour'd in though how wanders my deuioâ— What rests behind I must diuine vpon Who talkes the best can say but â—airer none Few words well coucht doe most content the wise All you that heare let not my filly stile Condemne my zeale for what my tongue should say Serues to inforce my thoughts to seeke the way Whereby my woes and cares I doe beguile Seld speaketh Loue but sighes his secret paines Teares are his Truce-men words doe make him trembleâ— How sweet is loue to them that can dissemble In thoughts and lookes till they haue reapt the gaines A lonely I am plaine and what I say I thinke yet what I thinke tongue cannot tell Sweet Censors take my silly worst for well My faith is firme though homely be my lay After the haplesse Menaphon had in this homely discourse shadowed his heauenly â—rlight the shepheard Melicertus after some pause began in this sort Melicertus Eglogue What need compare where sweet exceeds compare Who drawes his thoughts of loue from fencelesse things Their pompe and greatest glorie doth impaire And mount Loues heauen with ouer-leaden wings Stones hearbes and flowers the foolish spoiles of earth Flouds metals colours dalliance of the eye These shew conceit is stain'd with too much dearth Such abstract fond compares make cunning dye But he that hath the feeling taste of loue Deriues his essence from no earthly ioy A weake conceit his power cannot approue For earthly thoughts are subiect to annoy Be whist be still be silent Censors now My fellow-swaine hâ—as told a prettie Tale Which moderne Poets may perhapâ— allow Yet I condemne the termes for they are stale Apollo when my Mistris first was borne Cut off his lockes and left them on her head And said I planâ— these wires in Natures scorne Whose beauty shall appeare when Time is dead From forth the Christall Heauen when she was made The puritie thereof did â—aint her brow On which the glist'ring Sunne that sought the shade Gan set and there his glories doth auow Those eyes faire eyes too faire to be describde Were those that earst the Chaos did reforme To whom the heauens their beauties haue ascribde That fashion life in man in beast in worme When first her faire delicious cheekes were wrought Aurora brought her blush the Moone her white Both so combinde as passed natures thought Compilde those prettie Orbes of sweet delight When Loue and Nature once were proude with play From both their lips her lips the corrall drew On them doth fancie sleepe and euerie day Doth swallow-ioy such sweet delights to view Whilome while Venus sonne did seeke a bowre To sport with Psiches his desired deare He chose her chin and from that happy stovvre He neuer stints in glorie to appeare Desires and ioyes that long had serued Loue Behold a hold whence prettie eyes might woo them Loue made her necke and for their bost behoue Hath shut them there whence no man can vndoe them Once Venus dreamt vpon two pretie things Her thoughts they were affections chiefest nests She suckt and sighde and bathde her in the springs And when she wakte they were my Mistris brests Once Cupid sought a hold to couch his kisses And found the bodie of my best belou'd Wherein he closde the beautie of his blisses And from that bowre can neuer be remou'd The Graces earst when Alcedelian springs Were waxen drie perhaps did find her fountaine Within the bale of blisse where Cupids wings Doe shield the Nectar fleeting from the mountaine No more fond man things infinite I see Brooke no dimension hell a foolish speech For endlesse things may neuer talked be Then let me liue to honour and beseech Sweet Natures pompe if my deficient phrase Hath stain'd thy glories by too little skill Yeeld pardon though mine eye that long did gaze Hath left no better patterne to my quill I will no more no more will I detaine Your listning eares with dalliance of my tongue I speake my ioyes but yet conceale my paine My paine too olde although my yeeres be young As soone as Melicertus had ended this Eglogse they expected the doome of Democles who hearing the swéete description wherein Melicertus described his Mistris wondered that such rare conceits could bee harboured vnder a Shepheards gray clothing at last hee made this answere Arcadian Swaines whose wealth is content whose labours â—â—e tempered with sweete loues whose mindes aspire not whose thoughts brooke no enuie only as riuals in affection you are friendly emulatoâ—â— in honest fanâ—ie sith fortune as enemie to your quiet hath rest you of your faire Shepheardesse the worlds wonder Arcadies miracle and one of you as champion must lead the rest to reuenge both destrous to shew your valor as your forwardnesse in affection yet as I said one to be whole chieftaine of the traine I awarde to Melicertus that honour as to him that hath most curiously portraied out his Mistris excellence to heare the sole rule and supremacie At this Menaphon grudged and Melicertus was in an extasse of ioy so that gathering all his â—orces together of stout head-strong clownes amounting to the number of some aco hee apparrelled him selfe in armor colour sabled as mourning for his Mistris in his shield hee had figured the waues of the sea Venus sitting on them in the height of all her pride Thus marched Melicertus forward with old Domocleâ— the supposed Shepheard till they came to the Castle where Pleusidippus and his faire Samela were resident As soone as they came there Melicertus begirt the Castle with such a siege as so many shéepish Caualiers could furnish which when hee had done summoned them in the Castle to parley the young Knight slept vpon the wals and séeing such a crue of base companions with iackets and rustie bils on their barkes fell into a great laughter and began to taunt them thus Why what strange Metamorphosis is this Are the plaines of Arcadie whilome filled with labourers now ouer-laide with Launces Are shéepe transformed into men swaines into souldiers and a wandring companie of poore Shepheards into a worthie troupe of resolute Champions No doubt either Pan meanes to play the God of warre or else these be but such men as rase of the téeth of Cadmus Now I sée the beginning of your warres and the pretended end of your stratagems the shepheards hauing a madding humor like the Greekes to séeke for the recouerie of Helena so you for the regaining of your faire Samela Héere shée is a shepheardesse I a Priam to
passe vnto Delphos at Apollos Oracle to heare the fatall sentence eyther of their future misery or present remedie They hauing their charge posting from Arcadia to the Tripos where Pithia sate the sacred Nimph that deliuered out Apollos Dylonimas offering as their manner 〈◊〉 Orizons and presents as well to intreat by deuotion as to perswade by bountie they had returned from Apollo this doome When Neptune riding on the Southerne Seas Shall from the bosome of his Lomman yeeld The' Arcadian wonder men and 〈◊〉 to please Plentie in pride shall march amidst the field Dead men shall warre and vnborne babes shall frowne And with their fawchons hew their footmen downe When Lambes haue Lyons for their surest guide And Plannets rest vpon th' Arcadian hils When swelling Seas haue neyther ebbe nor'tide When equall bankes the Ocean margine fils Then looke Arcadians for a happy time And sweet content within your troubled clime No sooner had Pithia deliuered this scroll to the Lords of Arcadia but they departed and brought it to Democles who causing the Oracle to bee read amongst the distressed commons found the Delphian censure more full of doubts to amaze then fraught with hope to comfort thinking rather that the anger of GOD sent a peremptory presage of ruine then a probable ambiguitie to applaud any hope of remedie yet loth to haue his carefull subiects fall into the balefull Labyrinth of deshaire Democles beganne to discourse vnto them that the interpreters of Apollos secrets were not the conceits of humane reason but the successe of long expected euents that Comets did portend at the first blaze but tooke effect in the dated bosome of the destinies that Oracles were fortold at the Delphian caue but were shapte out and fluished in the Counsell house With such perswasiue arguments Democles appealed the distressed thoughts of his doubtfull Countrey-men and commanded by Proclamation that no man should pry into the quiddities of Apollo answere lest sundry censures of his diuine secrecy should trouble Arcadia with some sudden â—â—tinie The King thus smoothing the beate of his cares rested a melancholy man in his Court hiding vnder his head the double-faced figure of Ianus as well to 〈◊〉 the Skies of other mens conceits with smiles as to furnish out his owne dumps with thoughts But as other beastes leuell their lookes at the countenance of the Lyon and birds make wings as the Eagles flye so Regis ad arbitrium totus componitur orbis the people were measured by the minde of their Soueraigne and what stormes soeuer they smoothered in priuate conceite yet they made hay and cryed holiday in outward appearance insomuch that euery man repayred to his owne home and fell eyther vnto pleasures or labours as their liuing or content allowed them Whiles thus Arcadie rested in a silent quiet Menaphon the Kinge shepheard a man of high account among the Swaines of Arcadia loued of the Nimphes as the paragon of all their country yongsters walking solitary downe to the shore to see if any of his Ewes and Lambes were straggled downe to the Strand to browze on the Sea Iuy whereof they take speciall delight to feede hee found his stockeâ— gazing vpon the Promentory Mountaines hardly whereon resting himselfe on a hill that ouer-peered the great Mediterraneum noting how Phoebus fetched his Laualtesâ—n â—n the purple Plaines of Neptunus as if hee had meant to haue courted Thet is in the royaltie of his robes the Dolphines the sweet comeiters of Musike fetcht their carreers on the calmed waues as if Aâ—ion had touched the strings of his siluer sounding instrument the Mermaides thrusting their heads from the bosome of Amphitrite sate on the mounting bankes of Neptune day 〈◊〉 their watry tresses in the Sunne 〈◊〉 Aeâ—dus for bare to throwe abroade his gusts on the slumbring browes of the Sea-god as giuing Triron leaue to pleasure his Quéene with destred melodie and Protens libertie to sollowe his flockes without disquiet Menaphon looking ouer the champion of Arcady to see if the continent was as full of smiles as the Seas were of fauours saw the shrubbes as in a dreame with delightfull harnwnie and the birds that chaunted on their branches not disturbed with the least breath of a fauourable Zephirus Seeing thus the accord of the land and Sea casting a fresh gaze oâ— the water-Nimphes hee beganne to consider how Venus was faigned by the Poets to spring of the froth of the seas which draâ—e him straight into a deepe coniecture of the inconstancie of loue that as if Luna were his lead-starre had euery 〈◊〉 ebbes and tydes sometime ouer-flowing the bankes of Fortune with a gracious looke lightened from the eyes of a fauourable louer other whiles ebbing to the dangerous shelfe of despairs with the piercing frowne of a froward Mistresse Menaphon in this browne studie calling to minde certaine Aphorismes that Auarreon had penâ— downe as principles of loues follies being as deepe an enemie to fancie as Narâ—issus was to assertion beganne thus to scoffe at Venus Deitie Menaphon thy mindes fauours are greater than thy wealths fortunes thy thoughts higher than thy birth and thy priuate conceit better then thy publique esteeme Thou art a shepheard Menaphon who in feeding of thy â—oike findest out natures secrecis and in â—rouenting thy lambes preiudice conceitest the astronomicall motions of the heauens holding thy sheepe-walkes to yeeld as great Philosophie as the ancients discourse in their learned Academies Thou countest labour as the Indians doe their Chrysocolla wherewith they try euery mettall and thou examine euery action Content sitteth in thy minde as Neptune in his Sea-throne who with his trident mare appeaseth euery storme When thou seest the heauens frowne thou thinkest on thy faults and a cleere skie putteth thee in minde of grace the Summers glory tells thee of youths vanitie the winters parched leaues of ages declining weaknesse Thus in a mirrour thou measurest thy deeds with equall and considerate motions by being a Shepheard findest that which Kings want in their royalties Enuy ouer-looketh thée renting with the windes the Pine-trees of Ida when the Affrick shrubs waue not a leafe with the tempest Thine eyes are vailde with content that thou canst not gaze so high as ambition and for loue and with that in naming of loue the shepheard fell into a great laughter Loue Menaphon why of all follies that euer Poets fained or men saulted with this foolish imagination of loue is the greatest Venus forsooth for her wanton escapes must bee a goddesse and her bastard a Deitie Cupid must bee yong and euer a boy to prooue that loue is fond and witlesse wings to make him inconstant and arrowes whereby to shew him fearefull blind or all were not worth a pin to prooue that Cupids leuell is both without aime and reason thus is the god and such are 〈…〉 as our Shepheards of Arcadie settle themselues to fancy and weare the caracters of Venus stampt in their fore-heads straight their attire must bee quaint
Menaphon at last he began thus to answers Strangers your degree I know not therefore pardon if I giue lesse titlâ— then your estates â—â—rite fortunes from 〈◊〉 are princes fortunes and kings are subiect to châ—â—câ—â— destiny Mis-hap is to be salued with pitie not scorne and we that are fortunes darlings are bound to relieuâ— them that are distrest therefore follow mee and you shall haue such succor as a Shepheard may afford Lamedon and Sephestia were passing glad and Menaphon led the way not content onely to feede his sight with the beauty of his new Mistris but thought also to infer some occasion of parlâ—y to heare whether her voice were as mâ—ledious as her face beautifull hée therefore prosecuted his prattle thus Gentlewoman when first I saw you sitting vpon the Arcadian promontorie with your babie on your lap this old father by I thought I had seene Venus with Cupid on her knée 〈…〉 of Troy the 〈…〉 your lookes could discouer no lesse thâ—n Mar◠〈…〉 and the beautie 〈◊〉 child as much as the digniâ—â— of her wanton at last 〈…〉 that yo◠〈…〉 distresse 〈…〉 partake your so 〈◊〉 and 〈…〉 I pity ouercharged persons in lieu 〈◊〉 het 〈…〉 your name country and â—â—â—â—ntage 〈…〉 by the a 〈…〉 that the swains 〈…〉 loue replyed 〈◊〉 Courteâ—â—◠〈…〉 did looke like Venus at a blush it way 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 goddesse wept for her faire Adonis my boy 〈…〉 Cupid but the fouâ—â— of Care Fortunes 〈◊〉 in his youth to be I hope her darling in his age 〈◊〉 that your lookâ— saw our griefe and your â—hought 〈…〉 shal giue thanks the bountâ— of 〈…〉 harts pray that the gods may be as friendly to your floâ—â—s as you fauourable vnto vs. My 〈◊〉 is Samela my country Cypres my 〈…〉 the wisâ— of a 〈◊〉 Gentleman now 〈…〉 shâ—pheard 〈◊〉 lest it be â—edious for thée to heare it and a double griefe for meâ— to 〈◊〉 it The shepheard not daring displease hiâ— Mistris 〈…〉 threats hanging 〈◊〉 her lips 〈…〉 them 〈◊〉 to his house 〈◊〉 as they were art 〈…〉 he began at the doore to entertaine them thus Fairâ— Mistris the flower of all our Nimpheâ— that liâ—â— here in Arcadia this is my cottage wherein I liue content and your lodging where please it you ye may rest 〈…〉 to couer the 〈◊〉 nor 〈…〉 wealth for shepheards vse neither to 〈…〉 you shall â—â—nde here 〈◊〉 and milk so dai◠〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 for â—lâ—â—hing in euery corner of the house Content sitting smiling and tempering 〈…〉 thing with a 〈◊〉 this if ye can brooke and accept of as gods allow the meanest hospitalitie ye â—all haue such welcome and 〈◊〉 Philâ—mon and Baucis gaue to Iupiter Sephestia thankt him heartily and going into his house 〈…〉 what he promise 〈◊〉 that they had sate a little by the 〈◊〉 and were 〈◊〉 warmed they went to suppâ—â— where Sephestia 〈◊〉 well as one whom the sea had made 〈◊〉 and Lamedon so plied his teeth that at supper he spâ—ke not 〈…〉 taken their â—eÌ„past Menaphon 〈◊〉 they were 〈◊〉 and that sléepe chimed on to the rest let them sée their lodging and so gaue them the good night Lamedon on his â—ock-bed and Sephestia on her country â—ouch were so 〈◊〉 that they slept well but Menaphon poore Menaaphon neither asked his 〈◊〉 for his 〈◊〉 nor tooke his male-spade on his neck to sée his 〈◊〉 but as a man pained with a thousand passions drenched in distresse ouer-whelmed with a multitude of vncouth 〈◊〉 he 〈◊〉 like the pictures that Persâ—â— turned with him 〈◊〉 head into stones His sister Carmela kept his house for so was the country wench called and shée seeing her brother sit so 〈◊〉 contented stept to her cupboord fetcht a little beaten spice in an old bladder she spared no euening milke but went amongst the creame bollâ—s and made him a posset But alas loue had so locked vp the shepheards stomach that none would downe with Menaphon Carmela seeing her brother refuse his spiced drinke thought all was not well and therfore sat down and wept to be 〈◊〉 she blubbered and he 〈◊〉 and his men that came in and saw their â—â—â—ster with a kercher on his head mourned so that amongst these swaines there was such melodie that Menaphon tooke his bow and arrowes and went to bed where casting himselfe he thought to haue beguiled his â—assions with some sweet slumbers but loue that smiled at his new entertained champion sitting on his beds head wicked him forward with new desires charging Morphâ—â—â— Phobetur and Icâ—lon the gods of sleepe to present vnto his closed eyes the singular beauty and rare 〈…〉 of 〈◊〉 for so will we now call her in that the Idâ—â— of her excellence forced him to breathe out scalding sighâ—s smothered within the fornace of his thoughts which grew into this or the like passion I had thought Menaphon that he which weareth the bay leafe had bin frée from light 〈◊〉 and the Eagles 〈◊〉 a preseruatiue against thunder that labour had béene 〈◊〉 so loue and the eschewing of idlenes an Antidote against fancie but I sée by proofe there is no adamant so â—ard but the bloud of a Goat will make soft no 〈◊〉 so well defenced but strong battery will enter nor any heart so plyant to restlesse labours but inchantments of loue will ouer come Vnfortunate Menaphon that of late thoughtâ—â—â— Venus a strumpet and her sonne a bastard now must thou offer incense at her shrine sweare Cupid no lesse then a god thou hast reason Menaphon for heâ— that liues without loue liues without life presuming as Narcissus to hate all and being like him at length despised of all Can there 〈◊〉 â— swâ—â—ter blisse then beautie a greater heauen then her heauenly perfections that is mistris of thy thoughts If the sparkle of her eyes appeare in the night the sâ—arres blush at her brightnesse if her haire glister in the day Phâ—â—bus puts off his wreath of diamonds as ouercome with the shine of her tresses if she walke in the fields Flora séeing her face bids all her glorious flowers 〈◊〉 themselues as being by her beautie disgraced â—â— her Alaâ—aster necke appeare then Hyeâ—â—s couereth his sâ—old as surpassed in whitenesseâ— to be short Menaphon if Samela had appeared in Ida Iuno for maiestie Pallas for wisdome and Venus for beauty had let my Samela haue the Supremacie why shouldest thou not then loue and thinke there is no life to loue séeing the end of loue is the possession of such a heauenly paragon but what of this Menaphon hast thou any hope to inioy her person shee is a widdow true but too high for thy fortunes shée is in distresse Ah Menaphon if thou hast any sparke of comfort this must set thy hope on fire want is the load-stone of affection distresse forceth â—éeper then fortunes frownes and such as are poore wil rather loue then want reliefe fortunes frownes are whetstones to fancie and as the horse starteth at the spurre
by his hands thrift shée a princesse that sate inuested with a diadem The more fortunate qd Samela was he in his honors and she the lesse famous in her honestie To leaue these instances replied Menaphon for loue had made him hardy I swéet Samela infer these presupposed premisses to discouer the basenesse of my mean birth and yet the â—éepnesse of my affection who euer since I saw the brightnesse of your perfection shining vpon the mountaines of Arcady like the glister of the Sun vpon the toplesse promontory of Sicilia was so snared with your beauty so inueigled with the excellence of that perfection that excéeds all excellency that loue entring my desire hath maintained himselfe by force that vnlesse sweets Samela grant me fauor of her loue play the princely Egle I shall with the poore â—â—ie perish in my fortunes he concluded this period with a deepe sigh and Samela grieuing aâ— this folly of the shepheard gaue him mildely this answere Menaphon my distressed haps are the resolution of the destinies and the wrongs of my youth are the fore-runners of my woes in age my natiue home is my worst nurcery my friends deny that which strangers preiudicially grant I arriued in Arcadie shipwrackt and Menaphon fauoring my sorrowes hath affoorded me succours for which Samela rests bound and will prooue thankefull as for loue know that Venus standeth on the Tortois as shewing that loue creepeth on by degrées that affection is like the snaile that steales to the top of the launce by minutes the grasse hath his increase yet neuer any sées it augment the sun shadoweth but the motion is not séene loue like those should enter into the eye and by long gradations passe into the heart Cupid hath wings to flie not that loue should be swift but that he may soâ—re hie to auoid base thoughts The Topaz being throwne into the fire burnes strait but no sooner out of the flame but it fréezeth straw is soone kindled but it is but a blaze and loue that is caught in a moment is lost in a minute giue me leaue Menaphon first to sorrow 〈◊〉 my fortunes then to call to mind my husbands late funeralls then if the fates haue assigned I shall fancie I will account of thée before any shepheard in Arcadie This conclusion of Samela drew Menaphon into such an extasie for ioy that hee stoode as a man metamorphozed at last calling his senses together he told her he rested satisfied with her answer and thereupon leâ—t her a kisse such as blushing Thetis receiues from her choicest Leman At this Lamedon awaked otherwise no doubt Menaphon had replied but breaking off their talke they went so view their pastures so passing downe to the place where the shéep grazed they searched the shepheards bags so emptied their bottles as Samela maruelled at such an vncouth banquet at last they returned home Menaphon glorying in the hope of his successe entertaining Samela stil with such curtesy yâ— she finding such content in the cottage began to despise the honors of the court Resting thus in house with the Shepheard to auoyd tedious conceits she framed her selfe so to countrie labours that she oft-times would leade the â—â—ackeâ— to the fields her selfe and being drest in hamely attire shee séemed like Ocnone that was amorous of Paris As shee thus often traced alongst the plaines she was noted amongst the shepheards of one Doron next neighbour to Menaphon who entred into the consideration of her beauty and made report of it to all his fellow swaines so that they chatted naught in the fields but of the new shepheardâ—sse One day amongst the rest it chaunced that Doron sitting in parley with another country companion of his amidst other tattle they prattled of the beautâ—e of Samela Hast thou 〈◊〉 her quoth Melicertus for so was his â—rland called I quoth Doron and â—â—ghed to sée her not that I was in loue but that Agréeued shee should bee in loue with such a one as Menaphon What manner of woman is she quoth Melicertus As well as I can answered Doron I will make description of her Dorons description of Samela Like to Diana in her summer weede Girt with a crimson robe of brightest die goes faire Samela Whiter then be the flocks thâ—t straggling feede When washt by Arothusa faint they lie is faire Samela As faire Aurora in her morning gray Deckt with the ruddy glister of her loue is faire Samela Like louely Thetis on a calmed day When as her brightnesse Neptunas fancy moue shines faire Samela Her tresses gold her eyes like glassie streames Her teeth are pearle the brests are ivory of faire Samela Her cheekes like rose lilly yeeld forth gleames Her browes bright arches framde of ebony thus faire Samela Passeth faire Venus in her brauest hiew And Inno in the shew of maiestie for sheâ—â— Samela Pâ—llas in 〈◊〉 all three if you will view For beauty 〈◊〉 and matchlesse dignitie yeeld to Samela Thou haâ—◠〈◊〉 Melicâ—â—us made such a description as 〈…〉 should painst â—nt the perfection of his 〈…〉 thinkes the Idea of her person represents 〈…〉 an obiect to my sanâ—â—e and that I see in the discouerie of her excellence the rare beauties of and with that he 〈…〉 as it séemed his heart 〈…〉 as the Lapithes when they 〈…〉 Doron maruelling at this sodaine euent was halfe afraid as if some apoplâ—â—y had astonied his senses so that chéering vp his friend he demanded what the cause was of this â—â—daine conceit Melicertus no niggard in discouerie of his fortunes began thus I tell thée Doron before I kept sheepe in Arcadle I was a shepheard elsewhere so famous for my flockes as Menaphon for his foldes beloued of the Nimphes as he likte of the Country Damsels coueting in my loues to vse Cupids wings to soare high in my desires though my selfe were borne to base fortunes The hobby catcheth no prey vnlesse she mount beyond her marke the Palme tree beareth most boughes where it groweth highest loue is most fortunate where his courage is 〈◊〉 and though beyond his compasse Grounding therefore on these principles I fixt mine eies on a Nimph whose parentage was great but her beauty far more excellent her birth was by many degrees greater then mine and my worth by many discents lesse then hers yet 〈◊〉 Venus loued Adonis and Luna Endymion that Cupid had boltes feathered with the plumes of a Crowe as well as with the pennes of an Eagle I attempted and courted her I found her lookes lightning disdaine and her forehead to containe fauours for others and frownes for meâ— when I alleaged faith shee crost me with Aeneas when loyaltie she told 〈…〉 when I swore constancie 〈…〉 when I craued a finall resolution 〈…〉 shee â—ld her browes full of wrinckles and her eyes full of furie turned her back and shooke 〈◊〉 off with a Non placet Thus in loues I lost loues and for her loue had lost all had I not when I néere
chéeks with a vermillion die yet thinking to carry out the matter with a iest he stood to his tackling thus whosoeuer Samela descanted of that loue told you a Canterburie Tale some propheticall full mouth that as hee were a Coblers eldest son would by the Last tell where and ther 's shee wrings but his sowterly ayme was iust leuell in thinking euery looke was loue or euery faire word a pawne of loyalty Then said Samela taking him at a rebound Neither map I thinke your glances to be fancies nor your greatest protestation any assurance of déepe affection therefore ceasing off to court any further at this time thinke you haue proued yourâ—selfe too tall a souldier to continue so long at battery and that I am a fauourable soe that haue continued solong at parly but I change you by the loue you a we your déerest mistris not to say any more as toâ—ching loue at this time It Samela said he thou hadst iniâ—yned me as Iuoâ— did to Hercules most dangerous labours I would haue discouered my loue by obedience and my affection by death yet let me craue this that as I began with a Sonnet so I may end with a Madrigall Content Melicertus quoth she for none more then I loue musich Vpon this reply the shepheard proudtu followed with this ditty Melicertus Madrigall What are my sheepe without their wonted foode What is my life except I gaine my loue My sheepe consume and faint for want of blood My life is lost vnlesse I grace approue No flower that saplesse â—hriues No Turtle without pheare The day without the Sunne doth lowre for woe Then woe mine eyes vnlesse thy beauty see My Sunne Samelaes eyes by who 〈◊〉 know Wherein delight cansisâ—s where pleasureâ— be Nought more the heart reuiues Thâ—â— to 〈…〉 his deare The starres from earthly earthly 〈…〉 their light Our humors by their lighâ— possesse their power Samelaes eyes fed by any weepiâ—e sights Iufudâ—s my paines or iâ—yes by smile or lowrâ— So wends the source of loue It feedes it falles it ends Kind lookes cleare to your ioy behold her eyes Admire her heart desire to taste her kisses In them the heauen of ioy and solace lies Without them eu'rie hope his succour misses Oh how I loue to proue Whereto this solace tends Scarce had the Shepheard ended this Madrigall but Samela began to frowne saying he had broken promise Melâ—certus alleaged if he had vttered any passion t was sung not said Thus these louers in a humorous descant of their prattle espied a far off olde Lamedon and Menaphon comming towards them whereupon kissing in conceit and prattling with interchanged glances Meliceriusâ—tole â—tole to his sheepe and Samelaâ—ate â—ate her downe making of nets to caâ—eh birds At last Lamedon and her loue came after many gracious looks and much good parly helpt her home with her shéepe put them in the folds but leauing these amorous shepherds busie in their loues let vs returne at length to the pretty babie Samelas childe whom Menaphon had put to norse in the country This infant being by nature beautiful and by birth noble euen in his cradle exprest to the eyes of the gazers such glorious presages of his approching fortunes as if another Alciades the arm-strong dâ—rling of the doubled night by wrestling with snakes in his swaâ—dling â—lowtes should prophesse to the world the approching wonders of his prowesse so did his fiery looks reflect â—â—rror to the weak beholders of his ingrafieâ— nobilitie as if some God twice-borne like to the Thâ—raâ—ian Bacâ—â—â—◠〈◊〉 his he auen-borne deitie should delude our eies with the alternate form of his infancie Fiue yéeres had full run their monthly reuolution when as this beautious boy began to shew himselfe among the shepheards children with whom he had no sooner contracted familiar acquaintance but steaite he was chosen Lord of the May-gamâ— king of their sports Ring-leader to their reuelâ— insomuch that his 〈◊〉 or another 〈◊〉 holding him by chaunce â—ounted in his Kingly Maiestie and imitating honourable iustice in his gamesâ—â—e exercite of discipline with teares of ioy tooke vp these propheticall termes wel do I sée where God and Fatâ— hath vowed felicitie no aduerse fortune may expel prosperity Pleusidâ—pus thou art young thy lookes high and thy thoughts hautie soueraignety is seated in thine eies honor in thy hart I feare this fire will haue his flame and then am I vndone in thée my Son â—y countrylife 〈◊〉 countrylife in thy proude soaring hopes dispoited and disrâ—abed of the disguised array of his rest must returne ruâ—â—et wéedes to the folds where I left my feares haste to the court of my hell there to inuest me with my wonted cares how now Samela wilt thou be a Sybill of mishaps to thy selfe The angry heauens that haue eterniz'd thy exile haste establishâ— thy content in Arcady my content in Arcady that we may be no longer then my Pleusidippus daies in Arcady which I haue cause to feare for the whelpes of the Lyon are no longer harmelesse then when they are whelpes and babes are no longer to be awed then while they are babes I but nature ther with she paused being interrupted by a tumult of boyes that by yong Pleusidippus command fell vpon one of their fellowes and beat him most cruelly for playing false play at Nine-holes which she espying through the lattice 〈…〉 not chuse but smile aboue measure but when shee saw him in his childish tearmes condemne one to death for despising the authoritie bequeathed him by the rest of the boyes then she bethought her of the Persian Cyrus that deposed his Grandfather Astyages whose vse it was at like age to imitate maiestie in like manner In this distraction of thoughts she had not long time stayed but Lamedon and Menaphon called her away to accompany them to the solds whiles Pleusidippus hasting to the execution of iustice dismissed of his boyish session till their next meeting where how imperiously hee behaued himselfe in punishing misorders amongst his equalls in vsing more then iesting iustice towards his vntamed copesmates I referre it to the Aâ—â—als of the Arcadians that dilate not a little of this ingenious argument In this sort did Pleufidippus draw forth his infancie till on a time walking to the shore where he with his mother were wrackt to gather Cockle and pebble stones as children are wont there arriued on the strond a Thessalian Pirate named Eurilochus who after he had forraged in the Arcadian confines driuing before him a large bootie of â—easts to his ships espied this pretty infant when gazing on his face as wanton Ioue gazeâ— on Phrygian Ganimede in the fields of Idâ— heâ— exhaled into his eyes such déepe impression of his perfection as that his thought neuer thirsted so much after any prey as this pretty Pleusidippus possession But determining first to assay him by curtesie before he aâ—â—ailed him with rigour he began to try his wit after this
her wonted manner bewailed her misfortuneâ— Democles plungeâ— thus in a Labyrinth of restlesse passions seeing Melicertus figure was so deâ—ply printed in the centre of her thoughts as neyther the resolution of his fancie his Metamorphosis from a King to a Trauailer Crownes Kingdome preferments batteries that soone ouer throw the fortresse of womens fantasses when Democles I say saw that none of these could remoue Samela hearing that the Arcadian Shepheards were in an vprore for the losse of their beautifull Shepheardesse his hote loue changing to a bird of coy disdaine hee intended by some reuenge eyther to obtaine his loue or satisfie his hate whereupon throughly resolued hee stole away secretly in his shepheards apparell and got him downe to the plaines where he found all the Swaines in a mutinie about the recouery of their beautifull Paragon Democles stepping amongst the rowte demaunded the cause of their controuersie Mary sir quoth Doron bluntly the flower of all our garland is gone How meane you that sir quoth hee We had answered Doron an Ewe amongst our Rams whose sléece was as white as the hayres that grow on Father Boreas chinne or as the dangling dewlap of the siluer Bull her front curled like to the Erimanthyan Boare and spangled like to the worsted stockings of Saturne her face like Mars treading vpon the milke-white cloudes beléeue me Shepheard her eyes like the fierie torches tilting against the Moone This Paragon this none such this Ewe this Mistris of our flockes was by a wily Fox stolne from our folds for which these shepheards assemble themselues to recouer so wealthy a prize What is hee quoth Menaphon that Doron is in such debate with Fellow canst thou tell vs any newes of the faire Shepherdesse that the Knight of Thessalie hath carried away from her fellow Nymphes Democles thinking to take apportunitie by the forehead séeing time had feathered his bolt willing to assay as he might to hit the marke began thus Shepheards you sée my profession is your trade and although my wandring fortunes bee not like your home-borne fauours yet were I in the Groues of Thessâ—lian Tempe as I am in the plaines of Arcadie the Swaines would giue me as many due honors as they present you héere with submisse reuerence Beauty that drew Apollo from heauen to play the Shepheard that fetcht Ioue from heauen to beare the shape of a Bull for Agenors daughter the excellence of such a metaphysicall vertue I mean shepheards the fame of your faire Samela houering in the eares of euery man as a miracle of nature brought mee from Thessaly to féed mine eyes with Arcadies wonder stepping alongst the shore to come to some sheepecote where my wearie limmes might haue rest Loue that for my labors thought to lead me to fancies pauillion was my conduct to a Castle where a Thessalian Knight lyes in hold the Portcullis was let downe the bridge drawne the court of gard kept thither I went for my tongue I was knowne to be a Thessalian I was entertained and lodged the Knight whose yeeres are yong and valure matchlesse holding in his armes a Lady more beautifull then Loues Quéene all blubbred with teares asked me many questions which as I might I replyed vnto but while he talkt mine eye surfeiting with such excellence was detained vpon the glorious shew of such a wonderfull obiect I demaunded what she was of the standers by and they said she was the faire Shepheardesse whom the Knight had taken from the Swains of Arcadie and would carry with the first wind that serued into Thessalie this shepheards I know and grieue that thus your loues should be ouermatcht with Fortune and your affections puld backe vp contrarietie or destinie Melicertus hearing this the fire sparkling out of his eyes began thus I tell thée shepheard if Fates with their fore-pointing pensils did pen downe or fortune with the deepe varietie resolue or loue with his greatest power determine to depriue Arcadia of the beautifull Samela wee would with our bloud signe downe such spels on the plaines that either our gods should summon her to Elizium or she rest with vs quiet fortunate thou séest the shepheards are vp in Arimes to reuenge only it rests who shal haue the honor and principalitie of the field What néeds that question quoth Menaphon am not I the Kings Shepheard and chiefe of all the bordering Swaines of Arcadia I grant quoth Melicertus but am not I a Gentleman though tyred in a Shepheards skincote superior to thée in birth though equall now in profession Wel from words they had falne to blowes had not the shepheards parted them and for the auoiding of further troubles it was agréed that they should in two Eglogâ—es make description of their loue and Democles for he was a stranger to fit Censor and who best could decipher his Mistris perfection should be made generall of the rest Menaphon and Melicereus condestended to this motion and Democles sitting as a Iudge the rest of the shepheards standing as witnesses of this combate Menaphon began thus Menaphons Eglogue Too weake the wit too slender is the braine That meanes to marke the power and worth of loue Not one that liues excep the hap to proue Can tell the sweet or tell the secret paine Yet I that haue beene prentice to the griefe Like to the cunning Sea-man from afarre By gesse will take the beautie of that starre Whose influence must yeeld me chiefe reliefe You Censors of the glory of my deare With reuerence and lowly bent of knee Attend and marke what her perfections be For in my words my fancies shall appeare Her lockes are plighted like the â—leece of wooll That Iason with his Grecian mates atchiu'de As pure as gold yet not from gold deriu'd As full of sweets as sweet of sweets is full Her browes are prettie tables of conceit Where loue his records of delight doth quâ—te On them her dallying lockes doe daily â—lore As loue full ofâ— doth feede vpon the bâ—ite Her eyes faire eyes liketh the purest lights That animate the Sunne or â—â—eere the daie In whom the shining Sun-beames brightly plaie Whiles fancie doth on them diuine delights Her cheekeâ— like ripened Lillies steept in wine Or faire Pomegranate kernels washt in milke Or snow-white threds in nets of crimson silke Or gorgeous cloudes vpon the Sunnes decline Her lips like Roses ouerwâ—sht with dew Or like the purple of Narâ—issus flower No frost their faire no winde doth waste their power But by her breath her beauties doe renew Her christall chin like to the purest mold Enchac'd with daintiest Daisies soft and white Where fancies faire Pauilion once is pight Whereas imbrac'd his beauties he doth hold Her necke like to an Iâ—orie shining Towre Where through with azure veines sweet Nectar runneâ— Or like the downe of Swannes where Sâ—nessâ— woâ—nes Or like delight that doth it selfe deuoure Her paps are like faire Apples in the prime As round as orient pearles as soft as downe