miserable Carkasses should come to be in durance neuer to be redeemed Besides men haue found now adayes many kindes of shiftes to violate and breake their Faiths as some Note by betraying of their maisters others by selling such places of importance as are committed vnto them in trust others by being neuer maisters of their owne word and others faining themselues of deadly enemies to become sound and deare friends to the ende that vnder the colour of this faith they may the sooner beguile such as repute most confidence in them We must therefore talke no more of Faith But God who is the reuenger of all outrages and enormities committed against him punisheth those persons with such extreame rigor that there is not so much as one of them exempted from publike misfortunes whereas peace-full quietnes being the companions of Loue and of Faith hath followed after them leauing men in a most miserable plight and wretched taking For this is most certaine A Sentence that the wicked languish alwayes in miserie being alwayes in continuall feare horror and frighting although they be followed by none other then their owne faults alone And thus you see how Loue and Faith are quite expulsed from out the world Although quoth the olde man these two goodly vertues be driuen from hence yet see I as yet no sufficient subiect by reason of which the Muses should be exiled as thou hast set downe the other be and therefore in this point thy speech is false For glorious renowme is a passion so sweete and of so pleasing a taste that it maketh herselfe to be wisht for not of the good and vertuous onely but also of such as are Infidels and vngodly For doe the leaude man neuer so badly A Sentence yet would he willingly be commended for the same Praise is a certaine odoriferous sent in the noses of men and an amorous kinde of thundring in their tickling eares Haue you euer seene creature were he neuer so much corrupted with vice that would refuse such glorie as you seemed willing to attribute vnto him A right Simily For as euery parent thinketh his owne childe fairest and euery workman his owne worke finest euen so euery man be he neuer so wicked esteemeth his deedes most iust and his actions worthy of most praise If therefore both the good and the bad hunt thus after this glorie and striue so much for praise although the world at this time be inhabited only with the wicked And if the sacred Muses be of so great perfection of themselues as they giue sufficient testimony euerie where of the same who then can be able to chase them away from men For much good can they doe for the good in commending their proceedings Prayse of Learning and in animating their courages to follow the same still And much hurt can they doe to the bad in dispraising their actions and in disswading others to leaue and giue ouer such vndecent and most vnseemlie fashions In good therefore and in bad the Muses ought and may alwaies haue an interest and a perfect continuance as best them pleaseth Denis the Tyrant loued Plato diuers learned men haue tendered succoured cherished and fauored the Muses and Learning and therefore doe they still liue amongst them And I am flat of another minde replied the Shepheard being of opinion that the Muses haue neuer had to doe with the wicked that their fortunes haue not bene like the others neither their cariage at any time alike Therefore the Muses as things contrarie vnto them hate them finging of none but of the vertuous whereas the others shunne and detest the Muses doubting least they should reueale their vices and reprehend their faults ouermuch The vpright Iudge hateth the high-way Robber because he troubleth the quietnes of the Countrie of which his charge maketh him the preseruer and the fellon hateth the good Iudge because he both knoweth he can and ought to punish him for his demirrits And so is it betweene the Muses and such as are wicked Neuer hath it bene knowne that betweene them there hath bene found any perfect frendship of force sufficient to haue tyed their hearts stronglie together for if the bad haue at any time made any show of Loue vnto the Muses yet no sooner came they to haue knowledge of their true iust and of their pure and liberall nature but that sodenly they conceiued against them a greater hatred then if they had neuer bene acquainted with theÌ For as two agreeable natures hapning to encounter and vnite themselues so strictlie together as it is not possible for death it selfe to separate them asunder So likewise two contrarie humors coÌfronting one against another after they perceiue now much they disagree detest and loathe one another more then if there had not bene any habit of acquaintance betweene them before For although Denis loued Plato yet when he vnderstood of his plainnes and bold franknes in his speech and how he abhorred all flattery he then pursued him vnto death sending him home againe most shamefullie into Greece So was that worthie Philosopher Anaxagoras hated so much of that Tyrant as nothing could appease and expâat his cankred rage and furie but only the hart blood of this graue and prudent wise man It is now an ordinarie custome amongst men who because they are vicious therefore they become aduersaries vnto the Muses whose diuine and immortall pen they greatly feare So as I may well say that neither Faith neither Amitie nor the Muses are now liuing amongst men To this the olde man began to replie when on the sodaine they might heare a voice which sweetly sighed forth these words following O Loue and the Sea alike and agreeable in power which force men against their wills to take what course they best please Loue compelleth to like in despight of our owne hart and the Sea driueth miserable wretches out of their way halfe dead and halfe aliue which flote on her waues Twise hath Loue made me loue contrarie vnto my minde and twise hath the sea driuen me far froÌ my iourny against my desire But alas which of these twaine can any mortall creature resist of both I gesse the sea is best able to be encountred withal For if the Gods tremble at the commandements of Loue who then can set men free at libertie from his yoke whereas the labor and industrie of the Marriners the Mast the Rudder the Cable and the Ancor may sometimes bridle the boldnes of the sea and withstand his raging violence The first place into which the sea maugre my will threw me was wheÌ I arriued being driuen by the swelling surges vpoÌ the bankes of the desarts of Arabia where I sawe that thrise renoumed Iulietta of whom Loue on the soden forced me to become exceeding amorous since which time long haue bene my paines cruell my trauels scalding hote my cares in this my liking these being the goodliest Weapons that
of their disastrous InflueÌce What care moued resolute Diogines any thing at all either the cruell blowes of peruerse fortune or the terrible constellations of heauen Liued he not happy without sighes in his Tunne By his knowledge he surmounted both the starres fortune For properly he may be tearmed victor that feareth not his enemie and when he can no wayes iniurie or offend him And if all men would frame their liues after the exaÌple of this wise man when shuld we heare any sighes proceed froÌ them or what dolour could entangle their repose Nothing wanteth in man to be perfectlie happie but resolution For when he is resolute to be constant in misfortunes without so much as being once moued at the darts of aduerse fortune nothing can annoy him hee remaineth braue and couragious like the Conqueror within the Lystes against whome none dare make further tryall of their force In like manner fortune feareth the noble hart he which with a braue resolution disposeth himselfe to resist inconstancie shee dares no further lay hold vpon but permitteth him a free life quiet breathing happie repose She is like the cocke who hauing bene well beateÌ by an other and bleeding in all parts of his body dares not returne to encouÌter but auoideth the pit vaÌquished flieth away In like manner resist thou this vniust fortune who hath made vpon thee so huge and cruel a warre resolue as a Marius to withstand misfortunes without changing thy countenance thereat more then he did For mans wisedome is not discerned in prosperous fortune in that it is an easie matter to shew himselfe wise constant in his felicities but rather in aduerse and contrarie occurrences the which to surmount valour constancie and vertue is requisite Shepheard replyed Arcas I confesse that the losse of earthlie thinges yea and of the life it selfe should not drawe tears from the eyes of the wise nor enforce his heart to send forth sighes For they be things of small value the ancieÌt Sages thought alwayes that they carried their treasure about with them in bearing their knowledge but this doctrine taketh no place in Loue. Euery thing hath alwaies some exception and the very threatnings of the eternall God chaunge oftentimes and saueth some one or other So notwithstanding we may iustly maintaine that teares sighes are vnbeseeming a valiant and noble man yet must wee alwayes say except onely in amorous actions For the Gods Goddesses and the Heroes haue lamented in this case Did not Venus bewaile her deare Adonis mouing to pitty therewith euen things without life did not Apollo lament his Daphne did not Hercules mourne for his wife which the Centaure took away from him did not cruell Achilles bewaile his Brisais did not Vlisses the wise take on for his wife and that Palladine of France Orlando the Frenchmens honor did he not a thousand times bewaile his Angelica becomming furious madde in that hee had lost her hath not braue Renaldo and all those valiant Heroicall spirits made moane whose complaints wise and mellifluent driostus reporteth vnto as O Shepheard why art thou then astonished if I bewaile and grieue for my sacred Diana the fire of loue like thunder which neuer commeth without raine although of it selfe it be burning fire and hotely kindeled In like manner the flames of Loue are alwayes mingled with lamentations and teares For Loue oftentimes forgeth his firebrands of contraries that is of Loue oftentimes and of hatred both mixt together Experience giueth testimonie of the same For onely Louers lament and are sadde when they are not beloued but hated of their Mistresses And behold euen as the thunder is engendred of heate and cold so be the flames of Loue compounded of loue and hatred so that it is vnpossible for the Louer to loue except he be beloued againe but bewaile and lament he may because these contraries proceed from him and render diuers effects of their sorme Why wonder you therefore that I weepe Oh Shepheard he which soweth vpon the Sea sand spendeth not his time more vnprofitably then he which bestoweth it in searching remedie for his Loue. For what can enforce an heart of Diamond or a loftie proud and cruell dame to loue against her will Violence in this thing is forbidden and though law would permit it yet would liuely and loyall Loue hinder it For the Louer will neuer doe any thing though he may which shall be displeasing to his Mistresse all meanes of remedie ceasing we must necessarily haue remorse to lamentation and teares which be the armes of the afflicted crying out of the iniustice and crueltie of the Starres which make vs loue the thing that hateth vs and to desire the thing that flieth and shunneth vs. And if the wise as thou saist ouercame and surmounted the diuers assaults of Fortune I answere thee withall That Loue hath tamed them as well as my selfe and none can make head against him Let Plato Aristotle and that prudent King endued with the gift of wisedome beare witnes I will no more therefore thinke my selfe foolish or depriued of reason in louing seeing these great lights as well as my selfe haue by Loue bene darkned that these Sages haue troddeÌ the path of my error But Shepheard replied Coribant if some haue offended will you conclude that by their example euery one may erre And if amongst the auncient Sages some haue bene fooles and deceiued by Loue will you affirme that others haue yeelded themselues to this inconuenience You should in this doe them great iniurie for all the Iewes for the most part were wicked and yet the Apostles being of the selfe same nation were good men The cruell daughters of Danaut killed their husbands but pittifull Hypermuestra that saued hers must not be put in the number of these bloodie sisters In like manner a thousand learned personages which haue not onely subdued Loue but euen the starres themselues ought not to be taxed of reproach because there were some amongst them suffered themselues to be transported away with this furie for the vice of one particular man obligeth not a generalitie to the blame which he onely deserueth and an othres offence cannot preiudice the innocent If Plate haue erred wise Aristetle stumbled Sage Salomon gone astray will you say for all this that diuine Socrates wise graue Cato prudent Moses haue bene sinners and plunged in the selfe same vice and if the former be not to be followed nor imitated take example by the second doing like the wise Apothecarie who extracteth the iuice and vertue of hearbes and afterwards casteth away that which is worth nothing Fuen so amongst the Ancients we must imitate those whose excellent actions may serue in stead of a guide patterne leauing this who in imitating of them may cause vs stumble into the pit of vice in which they be drowned and washed You conclude not well therefore in drawing a libertie of doing euill from
admired of all men then how much more ought the true Pastors Seruitors of the almightie be respected and regarded For according vnto the bountie goodnes and greatnes of the Maister is the seruant honoured and according vnto the basenes and vilenes of him that he followeth is he respected which if it be so then of how much esteeme and account ought the good and faithfull Pastors of God to be who walke in his waies and follow his holie lawes and commandements seeing that such great honour is attributed vnto the officers of diuels And if such bad Seruitors haue so great power through the fauour that their Maister doth bestow vpon them that they are able to change transforme and make a tree a rocke or a brute beast of a reasonable iran how farre more excellent power and authoritie then shall those haue that are followers of the euerliuing God indeed And certainely their puissance and might is great and large for they not alone command ouer malignant spirits but are after some sort more then the Angels themselues They haue authoritie ouer Infernall Ghosts whom they chase away and make them tremble at their diuine words in such sort as they can doe nothing where they be in place A witnesse is Simon Magus who in the absence of S. Peter wrought strange myracles by reason of his Art but in his presence and at his praier was seene to fall downe from the aire and to breake his owne necke as he tooke vpon him to flie with wings before a number of people For our Sauiour Christ hauing vanquished the enemie of mankinde hath of his owne goodnes left as an inheritance the same power vnto man himselfe through which he is able to breake Sathans necke bringing him vnder subiection and vanquished who before did vanquish so as now by this meanes men command ouer diuels who before did dominier ouer them And that this is true you may know by many religious Diuines of the word of God who are of force sufficient to driue away wicked spirits by their speeches and in the name of the holy one of Israell Now he that draweth and chaseth away is farre more stronger and of greater might then he that is chased as the enemie that is vanquisht for want of courage turneth his backe and by flying away confesseth his want of valour yeelding himselfe as prisoner vnto his foe Then if it be so and that men can make the blacke angels of Lucifer to giue place and retire they are farre more strange and mightie then the other be Besides hath not man aduantage aboue the Angels themselues in that he receiueth the sacred and holie communion of our Sauiour which he hath giuen vnto vs as a testimonie of his diuine loue and for a perfect pledge and assurance of his grace towards vs. Againe haue not some men that vertue that they can heale diseases and sicknesses without the helpe of medicines or pretious potions onely with their words yea and haue there not bene othersome that haue had the gift to haue raised dead bodies vnto life againe and yet neuerthelesse notwithstanding that all these wonderfull powers are found to be in many of the Ministers of God how many wicked persons are there to be found at this day in the world who more esteeme of these vile Magitians attendants vpon the diuell then of these holie and sacred Preachers worshipping that most wicked infamous creature to leaue the thrice blessed and heauenly Creator himselfe by reason of which they must needs leaue denie and hate the Church of which men are appoynted Ministers and hating her without acknowledging her to be their mother they neuer can obtaine to haue God for their Father For if the good and faithfull husband cannot abide to loue neither can willingly suffer any such to liue as be mortall enemies vnto his kind and lawfull wife because they seeke the meanes to oppresse her and to worke her ouerthrow No more then will God permit and beare with any such who goe about to hauocke and spoyle the Church which is the sacred and legitimate Spouse For what vices soeuer be found in the Pastors of the same yet is she still holie and propitious vnto our welfare alwaies euen as although a Iudge chance to be wicked and bad Iustice it selfe neuerthelesse is right and iust the Ministers not being able to defame nor disgrace the vertue of that Ministrie which they exercise And therefore it is but a foolish argument for one to withdraw himselfe from the Church and to giue ouer to come to Gods Temple to make Intercessions and Prayers vnto him for despite that the Ministers liue ill and are occasions of many scandalls and much reproch vnto the diuine word not a little degenerating from their former auncient predecessors God hauing alone reserued vnto himselfe the separation and the diuision of the good and bad which he will diuide at the time of his latter iudgement and therefore as his garment was not diuided nor parted at all but kept and conserued whole so the Church being a figure of the same cannot be parted and such as thorough their fond errour withdraw themselues from thence resemble the Rauen which lighted vpon the carrion without returning againe into the Arke as the faithfull Doue did all which shall perish in the end because there is no hope of saluation but from the Church I meane our Sauiour Iesus Christ and therefore is she compared vnto the Arke of Noah that saued mankind from drowning during that great and terrible deluge of waters And although that within the same ship there were found all kind of liuing creatures to doe their filthines therein for the time that they remained therein enclosed yet for all that Noah neuer came forth but endured all those vnwhole some and loathsome sauours for otherwise if he had not kept him so immured he had bene drowned Thus we see the Arke that saueth men is the Church from forth of which no person can come vnlesse he meane to be browned and lost in hell fire in as much as within the same the health of man is encluded and inclosed Cursed then be he that loueth not the Church or shall thinke that she is stained polluted or in any thing at all lesned of her dignitie through the faults of her Pastors who are be they neuer so leaude to be accounted of because of their profession especially as long as they shall deliuer the verie truth it selfe vnto vs forced thereunto by the holy orders into which they are inducted as bad Casphas had the gift of Prophesie although he will be wicked and ill giuen by vertue of the pontificall dignitie through which he had that speciall grace bestowed vpon him from aboue And therefore we may compare our mother Church vnto a goodly auncient pallace which thorough continuance of time and by reason of many hard stormes and bitter tempests that it hath endured is much decaied in euery part the Galleries
all kindnesse that might be brought forth many Demigods and heroicall Spirits who most brauely purged the world from these hatefull and damned Monsters Olympia the mother of that great Alexander receiued into her bosome that mightie Iupiter conceiuing by him that glorious Sonne and that great Monarch of the earth Rbea the mother of Remus and Romulus refused not the kissings of God Mars being big with child of those two worthy Princesse which built Rome afterward she comming to be Mistris ouer all the world Away then with these fond conceits and remember to be fauourable vnto me as these courteous dames haue bene heretofore Shepheard Shepheard aunswered Delia neuer dreame of any such thing betweene thee and me for those women yeelded vnto the Gods because they might bring forth children worthy of such Fathers which might be as profitable vnto the publike God as they themselues had bene before But such a commoditie cannot happen of our Loue and say it might chaunce to be so yet my opinion is according vnto the common saying that we ought not doe Euill that good may come thereof because the ill being once done cannot be amended whereas we we are not sure whether that good which we expect will fall out according vnto our hopes or no and the rather because many things happen betweene the cup and the lip Therefore these presidents shall neuer perswade me to loue for none are bound to follow that which is leaud or bad neither are they commaunded to be wicked after the examples of others Then Shepheard change thou thy minde thine owne selfe or else thou wilt force me to shun thy companie for there is nothing that troubleth the eares of another more then to repeate often that which is pleasing vnto him Remember the torments of Ixion for affecting the iealous Sister of Ioue and thinke how poore Tamirus was plagued for being amorous of the Muses neither goe about to debash a chaste minde to cast liking vnto thee for feare least the heauens who punish all such wrongs as are done vnto Innocents reuenge not this iniurie which thou offerest vnto me seeing that he is in more fault that perswadeth one to leaudnes then he that doth the same the first inuenting that which had not he bene had neuer bene done whereas the other doth but put in practise what he neuer of himselfe had ment Quench then and mortifie within thee thy foolish desires and let me alone I pray thee to liue as I haue done who haue bene offered but too much wrong alreadie without hauing need of thee to buz such vaine toyes into my head as thou doest continually Coribant would haue aunswered when he might perceiue hard at hand the reuerend old man protector of that Desart hauing a staffe in one hand and a booke in an other with which he controuled the Spirits as well of the earth below as of the aire aboue He came to finde melancolike Arcas to the end he might follow and prosecute his amorous Historie whom he no sooner espied with Orythia who was all this while courting of him but that he marched towards him which the Nymph perceiuing left him when the Magitian making a signe poore Arcas followed him he not daring to denie him whereupon they went vnto their accustomed place where being set downe the old man thus began Come on Shepheard and now begin thy Tale which the other day thou leftest vnperfect for it is to no end to take a busines in hand except we finish the same Dispatch I pray thee and let me heare what thou canst say more as concerning thy chaste Loues for sweete is the memorie of things commendable the recitall of which purgeth our soules from many faults which otherwise we are likely to commit Happie are such as haue had the friendship of good and excellent Poets and so likewise vnfortunate are they that chaunce to fall into their hatred For of the first they make the memorie and remembrance euerlasting and eternall asthey make the last to be counted hatefull and detestable for so doe the writings of the auncient Poets shew vs. Homer bringeth Achilles and the Greekes to be victors although it was the Troyans that had the vpper hand making Penelope to be the Mirrour of chastitie and wisedome when indeed she was no better then an infamous Curtezan and Virgil commendeth the traitor Aeneas when the very truth is he like a disloyall wretch sold Troy and condemneth modest Dido to make the world to hate her she being as free from any such lascionsnes as Maro was from telling what was true Happie therefore are such as learned Poets fauour with their pennes but aboue all most fortunate are those whom thou hast taken in hand to praise because thy Muse is veritable and not a liar or vntrue Blessed are those thy beautious Ladies whose worthie vertues thou hast blazed forth with so great respect and reuerence since the memorie of them shall neuer perish by reason of deuouring time or be drowned in the pitchy Riner of forgetfull Lethes Goe forward then for the soule that is dallied withall deferred from hope is grieuously afflicted with sorrow and the hinderance of that thing which one desireth maketh the conceit of the ioy to be farre lesse than otherwise it would be Great is the charge thou laiest vpon me replied Arcas and hardly would I take such a peece of worke in hand for any other but the law willeth that he that receiueth must render againe neither is it sufficient for one to be beholding vnto another vnlesse he make some satisfaction for the same and therefore seeing I am in this predicament it is but reason that I should endeuour to acquit my selfe towards thee in satisfying thy desire because I am so much bound vnto thee And yet before I goe any further I beseech thee graue Father and all such as shall come after thee vnto whom this worke by fortune shall happen to beleeue that I haue not declined from the truth in any one word in describring the rare perfections of IVLIETTA and of DIANA they being such as I haue painted forth or rather farre more excellent then I am able to display And therefore let the Posterities hereafter beleeue as we at this day doe that as there was a braue and valiant Harpalice that as Thomaris sometimes raigned who discomfited the vanquisher of Kings that as Pentisilea gaue succour and assistance vnto the Troyans that as Sage and couragious Zenobia liued with thousands of other peerlesse women So was their flourishing IVLIETTA and DIANA two Ladies and Virgins of so excellent and exquisit qualities as well of the bodie as the minde as neuer any of their Sex in the old time are to be compared vnto them But to come to the purpose If you remember I presented certaine verses vnto my sugred Saint for so I told you and she accepting of them went with the other Nymphs towards the Temple of Diana Follow her I durst not for those
first seeketh to take away that which the Gods themselues are not able to render backe againe whereas the other bereaueth vs but of life onely which is subiect vnto death continually Wretched are those persons that doe ill and yet reape no commoditie thereby for what good commeth vnto the backbiter by speaking ill of anie but onely that in the ende hee himselfe is hated of euery bodie Play not thou this part neither stumble thou into this foule ditch especially doe not blame her whome thou makest a shewe to loue so much But thy speeches discouer sufficiently enough what thy affection is for if thou hadst supposed mee to be such a one I cannot beleue that euer thou couldest haue loued mee because commonly wee ought to hate vice and respect and preferre vertue For such as make the world beleeue that they beare affection vnto foolish women doe not loue them indeed but onely seeke to enioy part of those pleasures as they participate vnto others So as it is impossible that a vertuous and a constant Loue can haue any other foundation then Vertue it selfe Therefore it is but meere follie for thee to make me belieue hereafter through thy fained teares and dissembling speeches that thou louest mee For is it likely that one can loue an other whom hee himselfe blameth and whom hee thinketh worthie of reprehension and shame If thou hast loued mee for my Vertue which thou imaginest I haue now lost for what wilt thou loue me hereafter The cause being taken away the effect dieth and the foundation of a Building being ruinated the house whereon it standeth must needs fall because nothing can be without his cause or subiect If the cause ceaseth in mee which was the motiue of thy Loue then needes thy former affection must cease likewise And therefore I pray thee make me belieue no more that thou bearest any good liking vnto me for I neuer can nor will giue credit vnto thee nor will belieue therein Or if thou did dest loue me then I must needs thinke thou didst it to betray me and so to corrupt mine honor I say therefore that so farre off is thy loue from being Amitie as rather quite contrarie â esteeme it to be deadly hatred and most furious rage So as these bad conditions being in thee I can haue no occasion to loue thee but rather haue more reason to loath and detest thee as the most mortall aduersary that I haue vnto that thing which is far dearer vnto me then is my dearest life that is my pretious honour Thus said the Chollorike Diana and to confesse but truth she had good reason so to say For there is no guilelesse soule that without being somewhat moued can heare herselfe ill spoken off neither can the most vertuous person that is endure to be falslie slaundered but that he must needs growe a little in Choller As that child who being already forth of the Schoole doore thinking he is alreadie in the fields and that hee is playing amongst his companions abroad looketh very sadly and is wonderfully amazed when vpon the suddaine his Tutor taketh him by the chollar of his doublet and bringeth him againe correcting him with the rodde for his ouerbold and foolish hardines Euen so found I my selfe to be confounded with silent heauines and being wonderfully afflicted with inward anguish and sorrow Great is that Corsie and sharpe which a man feeleth when through ouermuch headdie rashnes he offen deth that thing which hee esteemeth most of all in this world Euen so vnsupportable is that griefe when a man falsly accuseth his friend whose credit he would seeke to preferre before his owne dearest hart blood Ah why then did not the earth open to swallow mee vp and why at that time did not the Sunne obscure it selfe as when he was three daies without appearing abroad disdaining to behold so horrible a crueltie of an vnnaturall father committed by him against his owne young and prettie children These speeches of mine innocent Lady iustly incensed against mee was as a poysoned darte piercing quite through my poore soule A chilly cold ranne through all my bones a deepe despite against my selfe seized vpon my veines and my voyce lay as if iâ had bene stopped within the pallate of my mouth my colour looked as dead Ashes my tongue remained dumbe and my mouelesse eies were closed bowing downe toward the earth As then no other answere could I giue vnto my Mistris then salt teares trickling downe along my cheekes whilst from my breast as from a Furnace issued forth great store of scalding sighes O how happie had I beene at that time if some one courteous God or other would haue transformed me into some rocke some stone or else into some Tree Neuerthelesse although I spake not all well might she gather that my exceeding griefe was the cause thereof It is an old saide Sawe One mischiefe neuer commeth alone but that it hath an other attending vppon it And so by misfortune it happened vnto mee For my new companion in Loue of whom long since I told you commeth in amongst vs who hauing more witte in his head then I in stead of blaming my Ladie most wrongfullie as I very foolishly had done presented her with these Verses following The heauens for honours theirs thee faire haue made The heauens for my mishap mee kinde haue framde Ioue for his praise infanted Vertue thine Gods heauen and earth reape honour through thy glorie I onely am accurst but victorie T' is to wage Combat with a Deitie I loue that sweet band which enchaines my soule Liuing I burne yet honour I thee flame Loe how rich Beautie can vsurpe ore mâe Medusa like my Nature thou dost channge But hee his Time spends not but gaineth honor Who branely fights vnder a Goddesse Banner O happie I when I thy face behold More rare and perfect than was Venus faire When I thine Eyes see shining like two Starres Gazing I die whilst death brings life to mee He happie dieth that his best life doth end In loyall seruice of his beautious friend More happie I my selfe iudge so to die Than Adon liu'd whilst hee the daintie Corpse Of Venus ioyde who wailde his death most sadde Hee blessed was but I celestiall Since Fortune mine with his may well compare And beare away the prize for ouer-Faire Beautious if onely for to see thy stainelesse Feature More happie t' is than Gods by many wayes What should I be wouldst thou to loue mee dame But so great good vnworthie I to haue The Gods would iealous grow that one poore wretch Ingratious fauor boue themselues should stretch Yet in despite of them my ioyfull life Liueth in contemplation of thy Thewes Whilst they like rolling Spheares the Skies adorne Happie that Lambe offered in Sacrifice To burne vpon thy Aultars Grace to gaine Whose Tombe and Ashes winnes vnto him Fame Most gratiously did shee accept of this Present and the rather because shee would anger me
vnto the other vertue where I doubt not but I shall be better entertained then I haue bene here vpon the earth Meane space I admonish thee and all such as thou shalt thinke worthie to make acquainted with this matter to detest and aborre this shamelesse Monster and to follow me in my course of life otherwise they shall be afflicted with like punishment as those proud Giants the Titanois were for their more then audatious presumption Hauing made an end of her speech I might perceiue wings to issue out of the sides of this beautious Damozell wherewith I saw her to flie vp towards the element passing through the airie Regious vntill she came vnto the heauenly Court of the Eternall King since which time she neuer descended nor neuer as I doubt will she any more This accident droue me into no small amazement not vnlike him that seeth many strange enchantments done by a Magitian whereupon with more hast then good speed I went to finde my Mistris to declare this aduenture vnto her but the feare she had of the foresaid beast had driuen her from thence so as I found nothing but the corner within which we had hidden our selues But O me vnhappie wretch that reported that which afterward was my vtter ruine and ouerthrow An Example O what euill sometimes this little tongue of ours doth vnto vs for that of Demosthenes ouerthrew the libertie of Greece And therefore thrise wise was that Phylosopher that thought nothing in this world to be worse then the tongue because it not onely bringeth calamitie vnto him that speaketh but also vnto the whole common-wealth besides And therefore well said that old Sage of Greece who affirmed that silence was commendable and without blame whereas speaking was subiect vnto reprehention and reproach The auncient wise men in times past did offer Sacrifice vnto dumb Silence as vnto a sacred Deitie adoring her with great reuerence for many a one haue bene cut short of their liues because of their ouer-rash and bold speech and this found I to be but too true by mine owne experience and vnto my no small griefe Well I not finding my Mistris there went seeking of her vp and downe not making account of any paine so I might once haue a sight of her loue making that labour to seeme but easie and sweet which Louers vndertake when they follow in pursuit their faire and beautious Ladies for the desire which they haue to see them maketh them to thinke it is no trauaile at all and that man thinketh that he rather plaieth then worketh who expecteth some worthie recompence when he hath brought his worke vnto an end This made me to run vp and downe to see if I could finde her whilest being earnest in this busines I might heare a certaine voice comming forth of a thicke quickset wherevpon I staied awhile to harken if it were hers or no but I knew quickly it was not as soone as I hard the Song which was as followeth Withouten scope To haue the hopen My Ladie any more Since cannot bee That I may see To death I le flie therefore Sweet death now come And to me runne Since I to thee doe crie Be thou my friend That I may end These dates of miserie Whilst I doe line I nought but grieue Deprined of all ioy How can that hart Of case haue part When Loue doth him annoy My sorrowes soure My cries each houre My soule doth pinch with paine My heauie moanes My sighes nor groanes Can neuer moue my dame Why then so long Death dost me wrong That yet I am not dead That man doth rest Happie and blest Whose soule from hence is sled No worldly strife No ill so rife Can hurt who is in graus Die he doth not But life hath got That such a good may haue Thus was the Shepheard amorous of my Diana of whome I told you before who reaped no more sweet fruits of his loue nor found any more curtesie at her hands then I had done which was in effect nothing so that we being borne both vnder one Plannet became to become partners and companions in our loue and miserie together He sighed and sobbed as I did he wailed and wept as I vsed to doe and yet neither his sighing nor his teares were any more profitable vnto him then they were vnto me After his Song was finished he began thus afresh to complaine O Cupid how well haue the Gods chosen thee to be the bloodie butcher of their cruelties since they could not bestowe this office vpon any that could discharge the place so well as thou by reason thou art more cruellie giuen then any one that is in heauen aboue or else in hell belowe There is no tortor or torment no Corsie or anquish of what Nature or kinde soeuer that is without hope Loue onely excepted for to miserable Captaines there is some hope of their freedome to poore and beggerly wretches a conceit to become rich againe to sicke persons some comfort to recouer their former health but loue is without all likelihood or beliefe of hope whatsoeuer Who then is more cruell then he who more to be doubted and who so hurtfull and dammageable vnto mankinde and therefore when the Gods meane to punish vs most cruellie then doe they send this cruell executioner vnto vs he being farre worse then the flashing lightning it selfe for that without languishing quickly dispatcheth vs where this after it once beginneth with vs neuer maketh an end driuing vs to linger in a worse then deadly consumption Too well finde I this and feele it to my smart louing in dispaire and yet in such sort as death which is hatefull vnto men and is of force to rid me out of this agonie and insupportable passions is forbidden me I not daring to die for feare to loose the wisht for presence of her who daily killeth me So doth the Marchant allured with profit scowre so often the swelling Seas that in the end both he and his ship with all his Marchandise is swallowed therein And so I loue and yet will not giue ouer that which in the end will drowne me and be the cause of my pittious ouerthrow but as the Gods harden the harts of such men whom they meane to chastise who when it is too late begin to thinke how they might haue aunided the same so the more rigorously to punish me the heauens haue forced me to loue depriuing me of all meanes how to helpe my selfe because they are desirous of my fall O thrise blessed Leander Piramus and Paris in respect of me who for loue left their liues and yet had this good hap that before they died they enioyed their Mistreâes companie and were beloued of them where I on the other side am hated and loathed of mine But diuers and of sundrie effects are the shafts of Loue some are of leade and they rather coole and freeze then heate others ââhedded with gold which pierce into
diuers contrarie effects for of that thing which is perfect nothing can proceede but what is perfect like vnto it selfe As it happeneth amongst Lions Lionesses which alwaies resemble one another but from Nature diuers effects doe happen vnperfect and therefore is not she her selfe perfect Now badly quoth the old man herein doe you conclude for both Nature her selfe is perfect and so are her workes also Perfect are her workes in that she doth distribute vnto euery one that which she knoweth to be most necessarie for him Some doth she cause to be sicke to the ende she may smoother and kill the force and power of such vices as they haue ouer greedily swallowed downe From others she taketh away their right wits and memorie to make them forget the conceit and thought of high and aspiring designes and to bring them to thinke of base and lowe matters vpon the conseruation of which dependeth the estate and safetie of their Superious and from others she keepeth backe her treasures to the ende she might acquaint them with the ordinarie labour and tillage of the earth which rendereth a most sacred and diume testimonie of her perfection without which the most worthiest Spirits addicted wholly vnto glory should be constrained to forsake and yeelde their bodies vnto death as being famished for want of sustenance and as her perfection is exquisite so is her puissance incomprehensible and the effects of the same most admirable so as who solloweth her steps alwaies orderly shall neuer grosely erre nor offend shamefully And yet replied the Shepheard diuers that haue offended erring through Nature haue by Art much amended their defects whereas neuer hath there bin knonwe any one that hath bin found to be perfect through the benefit of Nature As we see the Sages wise men that liued heretofore in the olde world spent many yeares to correct by knowledge and experience the defaults of lame Nature But that knowledge answered the old man proceeded from the selfe same Nature in such wise as she is not to be blamed at all for the same nor to be thought any thing the more vnperfect for it seeing that as she was the cause of that ill so she brought a remedie for the same and that so holesome a one as the wound being once cured A Similie the whole body euer after was the better being cleare purged of all his defects Not vnlike vnto the body of man which being purified through a comfortable potion is not onely freed of that disease which as then infected him but euer after is the better in health for that holesome Phisicke We see that sometimes the Surgion maketh incision and cutteth off flesh to the ende the whole body may be the more healthfull and sound so this experieece which Nature hath bestowed vpon man is so perfect and necessarie as he may iudge himselfe to be right happie to haue found some such small defect of Nature in himselfe since they haue bin of force to learne him how to helpe himselfe and how to vse this excellent knowledge vnto his great aduantage which not onely cleanseth him from his faults present but from such likewise as are to come hereafter What is that you said answered Arcas as though there be not many faults and imperfections of Nature and those of so high a qualitie as no experience nor skill be it neuer so great can euer amend them or once be able to doe good of them how many incurable diseases are there that no Phisicke can helpe them and how many cruell and desperate inconueniences that no Art can withstand them No no Nature her selfe can neuer deliuer vnto man any one knowledge sufficient no although we would graunt that wisedome proceeded from her as it doth not which were of force and power enough to amend and correct her owne faults and imperfections I will demaund but this one question of you whether you thinke there be any naturall prudence or foresight strong enough to helpe that sicknes which proceedeth from Loue and whether Louers haue not good reason iustly to complaine of Nature who without any succour or helpe halleth theÌso cruelly vnto such inexpiable miseries Nay then quoth the old man if you come to encounter against me with the power of Loue I must needs haue the field and yeeld the prize vnto you For I my selfe although I haue drawne thousands of treasures from Nature all which are sufficient proofes of her beautifulnes of her power vertue yet could I neuer find by her meanes any remedie against this incurable disease Incurable may I call it since it hath made me to abandon the world to liue this solitarie kinde of life whereby I might beguile my vnsupportable paines and so in the ende finde death the onely right Soueraigne cordiall and helpe to ease and ende this hellish disease And if the selfesame accident hath brought thee hither to be a companion vnto me in my miseries I shall be very willing to discourse vnto thee the disastred aduentures of my Loue and as gladly euery way to vnderstand the haplesse course of thine owne It is the onely thing I most desire replied Arcas although I doubt shrodely that the memorie of my bitter troubles will hardly afford me free vtterance of speech to recite and repeate at full the discourse of mine infinite misfortunes and I feare me least the sadde remembrance of my renewed griefes will interrupt and breake the slender threed of my feeble voice But before I begin let me intreat you to expound and to enterpret vnto me these Arabique verses the substance of the same Withall my hart answered the old man but first let vs take our places for our more ease vnder the shade of this coolie rocke that the faire coloured greene of these sight pleasing odoriferous hearbes may be partakers of so lamentable an Historie Whereupon the old man with Arcas sat him downe where he thought fittest for himselfe when hauing now alreadie cast his eyes vpon the Caracters readie to report them in the French language a sad accent of a heauie voice caused him on the soden to stop be silent not vnlike that Marchant who trauailing on the way to goe his voyage A Comparison sodenly turneth backe leauing his companie with whome before he had iournied being giuen by the way as he passed to vnderstand of the too too vntimely death of his deare louing Spouse This voice rauished the soules of both our Pilgrimes reuiuing a fresh memorie of their loues within their hearts tooke away from them all other thoughs the better to make them dreame of their passions and brought them into their former estates of their Loues in which they were at the first And this following was the Song which that sweete breast breathed forth most sweetely accompanied with thousands of deepe and profound sighes WHen wilt thou wearie be of sighing forth my paines Poore heauie heart whose teares extinguisht haue thy heate Why doth
't to passe This onely now remaines for me my life is in thy hand If I shall liue or die the power as now within thee stands By thee alone I hold this life for thee I die as now That hope I haue thou nourishest my feare engendrest thou Sweete then take pittie of this Loue like Caos so confuse And graunt my hearts request who there his aduocate doth chuse Mine i st not any more thine eyes from me the same did take Then being thine doe pittie it and much of it doe make Destroy not what is in thy power but rather it preserue In man great wisedome t is what is his owne for to conserue I craue not that thou me my captiue heart againe restore To liue with so braue conquerour as thou t is happier more My wils if any interest longes to me in the same As much I doubt since it I lost no more I may it claime It still within thy louely bands as prisoner true be bound Nor in my brest his wonted place no more henceforth be found Then since it is thine owne and that an amorous sweete desire To haue respect vnto his health and life doth thee require Vnlesse thou on his fortune hard dost take some kinde remorse In thy chast amities pure heate he needes must die of force Ah then relent be pittifull in fauourable wise And daine for to accept from him this dutious sacrifice For what can I offer more deare to thee then my deere heart Which nere would yeelde to Loue before he felt this bitter smart Which scornd his vtmost force and lawes did vtterly reiect And of his manly stomack stout did showe full many effect Then of so braue a vanquisht Foe ore-come by beautie thine Take pittie and him gently vse in this his captiue time Such gallant souldiers as be tooke in field by chaunce of warre A Similie Be much respected kindly vsde and honoured much they are And whilst as prisoners they remaine and till their ransome come All friendly courtesie to them in louing sort is done Then to my humble heart faire Dame who thee doth honour deere Not cruell be as if thy foe whome thou should'st hate he were Ah gently vse him or without thus suffering him to lie Still languishing giue verdit strait and he shall willing die For if thy grace he may not gaine he cannot liue on earth Whose wounds are deadly happie he if ease he finds by death A Sentence Speake then Floretta faire to me nor by thine answere sower Be thou the cruell cause to force me leaue my life this hower SWEET speake for by their Oracles contented are the Gods To answere men yet greater farre then men they are by ods So said the Shepheard who in feare the summons did attend Offortune good or bad if he should liue or life should end Like to the guiltie criminall who is of hope depriu'd A Comparision Whilst iudgement with great terror he expects to be disliu'd His heart did paint full sore and fast his face for feare did sweat Mistrust did show in his sad eyes feare in his soule was set Disgrace and shame to be denide his bodie gauld throughout Who doth attend for what he longes and languisheth in doubt Thus wandred too and fro his vitall spirits in this state Whilst that his life did seeme to him as ouer desperate Tide was his tongue and now it irke him that he ought had said Wishing that he his secret wound to her had not bewraide So doth a braue and gallant mind by famine forct to beg Repent him after that an almes demanded thus he had But at the last the Shepheardesse dissolu'd these doubts confuse Chearing somewhat the Shepheard by these words which she did vse The time hath bin that Venus though Loues mothers she hath lou'd Whilst selfe same plagues which she inflicts on others she hath prou'd Great Ioue the President and chiefe of all the Gods aboue Did thinke it no disparagement at all to be in loue Both Gods and Goddesse haue lou'd then why should I be blam'd Since but with selfesame spot I am as they haue all bin staind Ioue life hath giuen vnto vs that we should follow him To erre as Gods A Sentence is no offence so praise not blame we winne Then may I without scandall loue as they before haue done So as my loue in chastest path of loyaltie doe come With such loue Plaindor thee I like and hope this loue so strong Shall be of force thy constancie to make endure more long I loue thee yet no power thou hast ore body mine at all If once presume vnmodestly A Sentence ought to request thou shall For no loue is that loue indeed but rather furious rage That seekes our honour with disgrace or infamie t' engage Then I will loue thee yet of me thy selfe nought else assure But my chast faith which I le reserue to thee vnspotted pure Vntill that happie time shall chance to hap to vs at last When we by sacred marriage rights may coupled be more fast And with this Plaindor be content for what more canst require Then of my loue to be assur'd which is thy chiefe desire The loyall wish of Louers true is loue reciprocall For where good meaning is and plaine there none is mockt at all But for to ãâã for plâââure send alone in sensuall wise Is brutish ãâã to beâstâs who show all reason to despise Did I but thinks Shepheard thy Loue not sober were or chast Or that within thy brest blaâk thoughts staine to my state were plast That from thy heart all honour thou and credit didst reiect And more of ãâã mâât ânlike then vertue didst respect Assure thy selfe I will ârâuâng myself on thee so sore As for thy boldnes thou shouldst diâ although I dide therefore And I soone pââish would my ãâã for that I was so vaine To loue a friend so small of worth a my chast minde to staine My blood shed by my hands should wash my fault and error baed Since I to maker hoyce of my Loue no better foresight had Floretta nere shall liue to morne by taking such disgrace Floretta sooner flourish shall by death which I le imbrace Then Plaindor liue and thinke thy selfe thrise happie for to be Since of a vertuous Loue thy selfe assured thou dost see Mâaââ time looke to thy selfe attending that same blessed day The haruâst of our âhastest Loue when Hymen gather may To die or say ought that vnto discredit mine may turne For which death purging me too late thou then for me shalt mourne He that is wise seekes to be Lord ore his affections And he a conquerour is right that conquers his passions Be thou such one deare friend for who with prudencie doth cope Findes his desires soone riâin dare and nourished his hope Thus wisely spake Floretta faire whose golden speech so graue Made Plaindor in his entrailes hot a greater burning haue Her sage discretion
he admires her faith he doth adore As sacred he doth honour her and likes her chast loue more He could not ââst nor rightly giue a gesse which did surmount Of these two so âre qualities in her if so great count Her beautie faire or wisedome graue which most did her aduance He was with them so ravished and out of countenance For heauenly Alâârs we dâe vse to vertue to erect And so cause beautie conquereth mens spirits we respect Each of these twaine ãâã by themselues or by themselues diuided By men are raisde to highest rate and as diuine are praised But in one body when alone this Twinne of vertue light That coarse the beautie of the Gods as then resembleth right T is heauenly then as they and for to Loue doth willing draw The hardest hearts and senselest Rocks of Epyr with great awe With this rich Iewell pretious is Plaindor rauished And without stirring thinkes that he vp to the heauens is fled Immortall and most iâ finit his glorie he doth thinke More then the Gods themselues which do of flowing Nectar drinke His heart in pleasures sea swimmes fast as he himselfe requires His soule doth melt through sweet conceit in flames of his desires His ioy doth keepâ him tongue tide and he thinkes he dreames as tho Whilst in his minde he diuers thoughts doth canuas too and fro What he doth see he credits not nor can he easily deeme That so rare beautie once will daine of him for to esteeme He stands amazde like to that Prince from captiue bonds vnthrald Who is from prison tooke to Throne and there anew enstald He thought Floretta flower of all would nere haue stoopt so base Nor that she ere ment him to write in Checkroll of her grace Sad sorrow oft the constancie of man doth much annoy And good things vnexpected quite confound the minde with ioy Thrise happie who the Center keepe nor nere exceed the meane Where neither good nor bad doth them torment with such extreame Plaindor then wakt out of his traâse with louely discreet cheere Million of condigne thankes doth giue to his Floretta deere Denââtly he his faith protests strictly to keepe to her And that beyond Loues sacred bonds he neuer meanes to stir To serue her faithfully and that himselfe heele sooner slaie Then to commit what should offend her humor any way Faire flower quoth he light of my life doe not me doubt at all Thy will a Lnâ thy word command be vnto me still shall Thy wish my chiefe desire I le hold thy glorie shall be mine Thou wholly shalt be vnto me and my soule onely thine I neuer will forget my selfe and when I first offend Against thy daintie selfe I pray my life haue shamefull end When as vnconstant wauering wight I shall like Haggard range Of all the hellish torments fierce then let me haue the change Most wicked I and most vnfit to liue vpon the earth If when thou life to me hast giuen I should thee quite with death 'A sowler fault cannot be nam'd nor that deserues more shame A Sentence ' Then th'ungrate Lâuer when he is vnthankefull to his dame ' For ther 's no euill that so much craues succours speedie neede ' Then that which Louers doth molest and makes their hearts to bleede ' Nor is there any cruell paine as is the louing griefe ' For Loue consumes both soule and coarse vnlesse it finde reliefe Then Ladie as thou mercifull hast bin thus vnto me So I my seruice dutifull for die assure to thee And if my fortune chaunce to prooue by enuious destenie set That I my selfe by doing what vndecent is forget My blood shall wash my fault away and rather this offence Shall ende my life then periurde like with fault I will dispence Doe so replide Ploretta and thou soone shalt see the day When as our Loues shall happie preouc though now they vs delay But chiefely haue regard boue all that thou the cause be not That my chast meaning through thy fault be staind with vitious blot For should this ill chaunce hap thou then as I before said soone Shall seem slaine by mine owne hands to sleepe within my Tombe Thus did these Louers twaine themselues one th' other oft coniure And thus betweene themselues their faithes in secret did assure As whilom was Dan Paris An example with forsooks Enone seene To plight their Loues most couertlie amongst the leaues so greene But after they had to idea while with many a pleasing word After a thousand pâstimes as the yeare did then afford With thousand louely glaunces quickâ one to the other cast Which forst the amorus fire within their entrailes burne more fast After a thousand petite Oathes with sports before nere found To see if of their fancies fiât a like were not the ground After a thousand sugred smiles and toyings delicate Which more the mindes of Louers true doth rightly recreate After a thousand small disdâânes ãâã d for the nonce And discontents prou'd mâriâââts betweene these Doue-like ones By which from cinders vnto flames there heate did more encrease By reason of this wânton warre and amorous angrie peace After much woing but no doing the euening being come And that the Sâre of Phâeâon his course that day had runne At last Plaindor nigh surfetting with ioy and meere content Kist her faire hand with much adoe yet prettily was shent That done though loth he bids adue vnto his Ladie bright Being angrie not a little that so soone was come the night And laden richly thus with hope of her whome he lou'd best He home doth goe where quietly he takes his wished rest O rare beginning faire commencement of two Loues so chast O happie couple whilst their daies so luckily were gract O blessed Louers if against your fortunes heauens rage Not trauerst had to ruine you in your best youthfull age But when we thinke puft vp with hope that we doe flie aloft Then soonest clipped are our wings by angrie stars full oft Then iealous of our glory they doe seeke vs to destroy Thinking they gaine chiefe victorie when vs they can annoy Thus these two Louers vnto dire misfortune destined By cruell Fates in middest of their ioyes were ruined Yet heare this wofull tale of them and you will iustly say That nothing long in this vaine world continueth at one stay Because Plaindor for propernes and strength others did passe He of another Shepheardesse extreamely liked was His two blacke eyes made her eyes show how nigh she was to death Her colour for the loue of him was like the fall of leafe She fancied none but him alone he was her onely treasure And that she was thus thrald for him she counted it a pleasure But Plaindor neuer thought on her nor for her ought did care Alreadie all his Rest was vp to like none but his FAIRE He had no leisure for to iudge if she did loue or no So much for faire Floretta did his
strange affection growe And so should be true Loue indeed where two should be but one A loyall Louer should but serue his mistris sole alone For neuer hath it yet bin seene that constant amitie Would ere disgest that in the midst it should diuided be This caused Plaindor not to loue this wretched maiden poore Who for his sake perplexed was and well nie at deaths doore Thus languishing she followeth him with pale and pitteous looke Still seeking for to take that course which she should haue forsooke She followeth him in Quest and still she after him doth trace Like to the Blood-hound good the deare that followeth with great pace Whilst he good soule full little thought that she ought to him ment He on his owne affection so earnestly was bent Nor could he scarce endure to heare her speake or talke to him Nor once to looke on her although she proper was and trim None but Florettas stainlesse shape as beautifull he deem'd All other fauours whatsoere as Maskes vnto him seem'd His soules sole ioy and lifes delight she was and chiefe repose She was his first choyse and the last that he through fancie chose Yet in the end this pleasure which him lik't so him deceiu'd For she whome he did thus contemne at last his loue perceiu'd Seeing her selfe disdaind so oft by him now growne so quaint She doubted lest whome he did serue he had some other Saint Which was the cause that hindred her his fauour to obtaine Resoluing with her selfe to seeke till she had found the same Imagining but to no end by some deuise herein To wade so far as at the last she Plaindors grace would win But t' was the ruine of the one and th 'others ouerthrow By too too soone vntimely death as I to you will show Plaindor expecting still the houre when stormes should once be past To reâpe with ioy what he had sowen with sorrow at the last Building vpon Florettos faith as on a rockie shelfe Whome he more then the better part accounted of himselfe Did yeeld his heart into her hands in most obsequious wise Breathing by her sweet breath and taking life by her bright eyes So as that houre he saw her not he found himselfe to die For then the Louers chear'd when as his Mistris he is by Sometimes he would be with her in the thicke and muddie shade Sometime sit with her by some spring which prettie murmuring made And there while by fountaine coole the heate from them to keepe Or in some groue be tapistred with flowers surpassing sweete Then in some Bower by Nature fram'd where they did often vse Vpon the grâsse in steed of beds their lodgings for to chuse Or for to see the wanton fish about some cristall poole Or by some Isie riuer cleere the mor themselues to coole Or in some hodow Rocke the heate of scorching sunne t' auoid Whose sparkling beames their tender flesh too much oft times annoid Or in some fresh and low deepe Caue enuironed about Like Baricados made for fence with brier sweet throughout In such like place as these they vsde without suspect alwaies In this same sort to spend of their greene youth full many daies Deuising many a louing toy as harmelesse wantons doe Which honour doth permit whilst they their honour honour toe One while they merrie Rundelaies together both doe sing And with their cheerfull chaunting make the woods throughout to ring An other while with blushing cheekes like to two Turtle Doues One doth vnto the other tell their first chast modest Loues Then one the others beautie doth commend and then againe They praise their plighted constancie exempt and free from staine And now they prettie Babies looke one in the others eyes Whilst loue new subiects still of sport to please them doth deuise For bearing alwaies nerethelesse by proffer or by showe Once to attempt what any way might to dishonour growe Whilst they poore soules bare burning coales yet quench them durst they not Lest their good fame they should abuse and their pure honour spot This made them sound through hope and sigh for want of their desire Not daring reape their loues sweet fruites as much they did require They wish and yet are wide from it faine if they durst they would They will not doe through vertue what they thinke in sense they should Sweet thoughts they haue they sweat for hope and yet they die through griefe They haue at hand the remedie yet will not take reliefe Halfe dead halfe liue they gasping stand disiesting this sower drench Whilst water in their hands they haue this fire yet will not quench Bright mirrours of rare modestie crown'd glory you haue wonne That hauing time and place so fit your passions did orecome And now they fell to their repast which was of sauadge Bore Which Plaindor had in hunting slaine with cheese and fruit good store In steed of daintie wine full strong to drinke glad were they than The water of a riuer cleare which from a Rocke forth ran But their chiefe foode and daintiest meate were louely glaunces cast Which from their eyes like swiftest shafts were shot and darted fast Thrise blessed they A Sentence No fortune like â although they feele some smart 'To such true Louers as in bodies twaine haue but one heart ' The wealth of all this hugie world not worth the halfe of this ' None lest they haue experience had can comprehend such blisse ' But as we see the sunne oft times through ouer sweltrie heate Changing the weather faire great stormes and thundercraks doth threat So likewise we do finde full oft that of most pretious things Some great misfortune groweth which vs to our destructions brings For euery thing is framed so and in such fashion'd guise That what is good here on the earth doth finde his contraries Of perfect Elements of diuers natures here vnnam'de Are bodies formde and fashioned and liuing Creatures framde The heate engendreth chillie cold cold water Thunders cracke Warre Concord Concord Peace Peace War where all goeth to wracke So of the pleasant sweet successe of Louers these did come That which did breed their dismall ends and layd them in their Tombe The Shepheardesse which Plaindor lou'd disdaining in her minde To be disdaind and reape repulse where she thought Loue to finde Did dogge him as an enuious Spie that no way he could walke In wood nor groue but after him full slylie she would stalke And one day by ill luck it was her fortune to espie How with Floretta he a Caue did enter secretlie Which when she saw her loue she curst the author of her strise She band the day of her sad byrth detesting sore her life She saw her labor all was lost her time was spent in vaine And there withall she well perceiu'd recurelesse was her paine Yet thought she she would see the ende of this their Loue so chast And their discourse to heare herselfe close in a bush she
and insupportable miseries are in the hearts of Louers Ariadne knoweth And how many false Treasons and blasphemous periuries Oenone feeleth Why then wilt thou iustifie him he hauing these foule faults Euerie bodie that lodgeth not reason within it selfe is blame-worthie And what reason I pray you is their found in Loue He is a traiterous Drogerar and a Physition of mens hearts for some he healeth and comforteth and other-some he vexeth killeth and tormenteth He is blind-folded which is enough and sufficient proofe to make thee know his imperfections Thinke not the worse of him for that said the old man for Iustice is vnited which brooketh no comparison in perfection and vertue Loue is blinded because he should haue no respect of persons to the ende greatest Kings may be no more exempted from his power then the poorest beggers He is blind to shew that he walketh without craft or dissimulation for that is no true and sincere amitie where falsenes of heart lodgeth and where treason and disloyaltie lurketh If Loue seeing clearely with his eyes should spare Princes and Potentates what profit then should the poorer sort receiue through this friendship For Loue compelleth the rich and haughtiest courages to affect and honour the poore basest creatures and to doe them all seruice possible they can And this is the reason that Loue is vailed and not meere folly For he shall neuer be counted vnwise who without any sudden alteration or passion whatsoeuer taketh his way and course directly and iustly without sparing great personages who are made for the support and helpe of the meanest and poorest sort of people Yet this vaile answered Arcas taketh away the light of knowledge hindring him from seeing what he ought to doe So that as a blinde man without a guide falleth into the ditch Euen so Cupid for want of sight committeth many thousands of grose enormities which being put in practise christen him with the name of a furie in steed of Loue. Is that right loue which altereth the minds of meÌ quite topsic turuie in all their proceedings in such wise as one shal be forced to loue her who hateth him and another shall be beloued of her whome he cannot in any wise abide Are not these effects meere enmities despights plaine rage and furie If so why then most vnworthie is Loue of this name attributed vnto him Thogh Iustice be vailed yet most loyall iust vnpartiall and sacred are her proceedings whereas those of Loue are quite contrarie Therefore you conclude ill to affirme that Loue is blinded like vnto Iustice which though it be all one thing yet is the cause different for the one carrieth her vaile to a good ende and the other to a bad purpose I report me vnto the vniust behauiour of this little blind Infant Alas poore soules replied the old man what more sheweth the admirable puissance of God then the diuersitie of effects proceeding from himselfe what giueth so much glorie vnto the Painter as the varietie of faire Pictures which he doth most cunningly portray forth and embollish Euen so why doth Loue bring forth so many and contrarie causes but onely to shew himselfe the more wonderfull to lay strong the diuine foundations of his mightie power He bringeth forth effects which althogh they are all differing yet be they alwaies such as are agreeable with the diuersitie of the natures of man gouerning euery thing with a kind of prudent policie vnknowne far aboue our reaches For else it might peraduenture so fall out that it might be more worse for him that loueth to be beloued againe then if he should be hated the wisedome of the Gods cannot be comprehended within our feeble spirits But this is the shallow conceit that mortall men haue rather then to thinke that to be firme holy iust and good which the Gods themselues goe about to enterprise For it is not to be thought otherwise but that they who are perfect as the Gods themselues and are no way spotted or polluted with vice can doe any thing that is vniust imperfect or foolish In respect of the Gods answered the Shepheard I auow what you affirme yet by your leaue I denie that loue may be admitted amongst this troope Those insolent Tyrants who vse their licentious will in steed of rightfull Loue whose constraining force maketh them to be feared although they be puissant mightie yet cannot they entitle themselues with the names of iust and prudent Princes And so I allow of the greatnes of the power of Loue but not of his Deitie God taketh no pleasure in the fal of man his creature but Loue seeketh the same God establisheth all things in good securitie by a certaine sacred order but Loue dismembreth scattereth separateth breaketh the peace and quietnes of man and therefore he is no God Most damnable persons are those who being troubled with some supernaturall and violent power attribute most wickedly vnto the Iust Sacred and diuine God the furious and raging fittes of braine-sicke Loue. Therefore let vs neuer pronounce this broad blasphemie for so farre off is Loue from being a God that mortall men are able to conquere and take him as it were prisoner If this be true replyed the olde Sire who then is it that maketh thee thus to stoope who hath yoked thee and made thee bowe thy necke vnto this God and wherefore doest not thou trample and treade vpon him he being but a man That Captaine that is conquered by a braue victorious enemy is worthie of blame but farre more is he to be condemned that suffereth himselfe to be ledde away Captiue by a weake feeble aduersarie If Loue be a thing of so small worth why then doest thou not chase him away from thee In vaine therfore be these teares which thou now sheddest in vaine thy complaints and in vaine these sorrowes which thou stil makest Fond is that sicke bodie that may helpe himselfe and who because as one selfe-wild will not suffereth himselfe to be infected with a disease too weake for him if he were willing to striue wrastle with the same Euen so art thou fond to languish as a vassaile vnto this God so long a time in this maner when if thou wilt thou canst vaÌquish him O foolish Slaue A Sentence that being able to free himselfe without danger from seruitude yet neuerthelesse continueth so all his life But the bragging Souldier may alwayes threaten his foe being absent against whom appearing once in sight he dareth not once so much as drawe his sword So thou seemest to contemne Loue yet in the meane time darest not for thy life to resist him and beeing valiant a farre off thou yeeldest at the first encountring together But this one thing I will tell thee that amongst all the deadly passions that doe ruinate and ouerthrow man there is none so strong nor violent as this of Loue death it selfe being farre more sweeter then that is How often doe we see
men sing when they are at point of death esteeming themselues right blessed for to die whereas the Louer not beloued againe butchereth and killeth himselfe running headlong into all dangers and as one furious looseth all patience and all good hopes to come Man endureth resolutely all other accidents of misfortunes which ordinarily happen vnto him but being plagued with Loue it rauisheth and bereaueth him of his vertue and valour and of his constancie and welfare Therfore is he more mighty then all other things which eyther descend from Heauen or proceed from forth the earth Mightie indeed must I needes say hee is quoth the Shepheard yet I esteeme him but as vnwise that maketh any account of vniust puissance Without Iustice kingdomes are but robberies and without reason the Gods also are but sinners and therefore vnworthie of that name If euery one were iust what neede should we haue then of Lawes and compulsions Doest thou make account of Loue because hee is strong and violent why so is the Sea tempestuous strong violent rough and of great power but are his waters as wholesome fresh sweet and good as are those of springs and lesser fountaines Knowledge is a glorie to him that possesseth the same in seruing himselfe wisely and discreetely but as hee maketh it a refuge for vice and a support to such wrongs and iniuries as he putteth in practise it is his vtter ruine and ouerthrowe Bad force for a time may compell to be obeyed but it is quickly gone the feare thereof also dying with the same where contrariwise Iustice purchased without compulsion to Signorise and dominere ouer mens soules is alwayes highly honored Nothing that is built vpon rigor can long endure the self-same force driuing forcibly away the first violence but Iustice neuer ouerthroweth the works of Iustice An Example for that they are vpright and worthy of life I confesse indeed not a little to my griefe that I am the slaue of Loue for sometimes a Prince hapneth to be the vassaile of a simple meane Captaine and in as much as men borne to suffer are bondmen by Fortune vassels of the earth God disposeth of them according vnto his owne will But the sick patient often blameth his discase which he feeleth imagineth to be little or nothing dangerous at all and yet neurethelesse cannot he rid himselfe of the same when hee fainest would The Beare for want of knowing his owne strength yeeldeth vnto a lesse force for man is perfect in knowledge yet because bee wants the right vse thereof hee is but as a burning Candle vnder a bushell And as for Loue my conceit is that yeelding vnto him I obey the least power that is in heauen or on earth And I am of an other opinion answered the olde man for I thinke it can no way turne vnto discredit to render seruice vnto him whom the greatest Gods deuoutly honour The Seruant ought not to scorne to attend vpon him to whome his Maister himselfe doth belong The Gods replied the Shepheard honored Loue whil'st he lent them his hand A Sentence and assisted them in their voluptuous pastimes Profit oftentimes is the cause that a man doth reuerence vnto such a one as he esteemeth to be a farre worse man then himselfe We cannot said the olde man tearme that thing lesse then our selues which hath power to command ouer vs And if wee be obedient vnto Loue then is he more diuine and great then wee our selues are Indeed replyed the Shepheard he is mightier in malice but leaude behauiour and mischieuousnes cannot be registred amongst the Catalogue of Famous enterprises Then is not he mightie that maketh men illustrious in this pointe but rather weake and of no reckening inas-much as puissance with the defect is as drosse and base trash and Vertue though it be poore is an eternall treasure And yet for all this answered the olde man the most learned erected Altars heeretofore vnto him enterprising more for his honor then for any other Celestial God whatsoeuer And wee being lesse wise then they wee cannot as I gesse much faile to followe their foot-steps The propertie of gold replyed the Shepheard is sometimes changed Suger now and then becommeth bitter and sower and the brightest day is often darkened with thicke clouds euen so the wisest now and then forget themselues yet their faults ought not to be as a warrant vnto the posteritie hereafter to come because that vice which the ministers of any vertue doe commit shall neuer be allowed of by her voyce the same being as personall and not publike The Sages then hauing erred wee must likewise needes acknowledge their offence which taxeth them for committing the same Yet in the meane time saide the olde man see how Loue is here noted to be ouer-powerfull and mighty seeing he forceth and compelleth the wisest to doe amisse Truth quoth the Shepheard but as out of a heapeof corne we make choyce of our wheate and leaue the cockle So of the actions and proceedings of most discreet persons wee should chuse the best and leaue the worst For as they are men they are subiect to erre and wander astray Vertue being alwayes a good president vnto vs but not vice In asmuch as such as follow the vertuous shall be commended where those that imitate the bad shall be as much blamed and condemned Well then my good Shepheard answered the old man let vs giue ouer from arguing any further about this LOVE recount vnto me the subiect of thy griefe the cause of this thy strange wandring or miserable exile amongst these solitary dwellings Ah my deare Father replyed Arcas more dangerous is the second sicknesse then the first it being of the selfe same qualitie and happening not long after and so cruell shall I finde my troubles in imparting vnto thee my misfortunes as I haue heretofore felt bloody the effects of the same Cease therefore to enquire of mee about that where of the remembrance alone killeth me to thinke therevpon For what good can it doe vnto the whole to demand of the diseased the cause of his sicknesse and what profit will it be vnto thee to heare me recite my drerie Fortunes No no rather doe I thinke it meetest to conceale them least I should prouoke men to exclaime against the Gods when they shall perceiue how partiall and vnnaturall they haue bene alwaies against mee Woe is me excepting my mischance euery maladie all paine and euery sorrowe haue their proper remedie The Eternitie of the Gods is not more sure then my haples disaster still to continue is most certaine It is far from the nature of all other diseases for that which healeth others woundeth me O Heauens what hope of health resteth for that miserable wretch who when he hath embraced all the wholsom Altars of the Gods is yet as vnfortunate as euer he was before But what is violent cannot by the course of Nature be long permanent And if it
A Sentence For is not that sick patient to be noted for vnwise who will not disclose vnto his Phisition the cause of his disease but persisting most obstinately rather to feele the pangs of death then to declare where his griefe is And so hee that manifesteth his sorrowes by lamenting receiueth some kinde of consolation if not present remedie For as the small droppes of water falling by little and little vpon the harde Rocke in time doe make it hollow So likewise the hearts of women be they neuer so stronglie armed with the splints of Steele and Adamant yet in the ende they will waxe tender and soft as the harde Iron is made to bowe by the stroke of the hammer Besides oftentimes the peruerse Iudge doth Iustice rightlie through verie importunitie which by no other meanes he could euer haue bene brought to haue done It is a thing that I haue seene Louers ordinarily put in practise of whom the passions are so violent as they haue not bene able nether to conceale nor to restraine them within themselues when they haue most coueted to doe the same I my selfe haue made tryall of this remedie haue passed this straight ventured this hazard and in conclusion haue found to haue done good of it In witnesse whereof I beseech you once more to giue me the hearing of another of my passionate Sonnets With right good will answered the old man vpon condition that thou wilt promise me afterward to vnwinde the Bothome of thy Loues threed Wherevppon the Shepheard began to sing in this sort Before my selfe I doe disliue heare these my plaints O FAIRE which rauisht hast my sweetest libertie If thou before hast dainde of my religious Loue My loyaltie after my death then honor thou Nor feare that Heauens shall by my death be proud Because ending my dayes extinguisht is my Fire Death onely can cashere mee from this wretched life Where in the sacred Throne of Loue seates my pure Soule Whilst I doe breath whilst hart through 1000. sorrowes sobs It shall be seruile vassaile to thy Deitie And mongst the Ghosts being dead thou shalt my Lady be For in my soule thy Beautie is caractered There do I see thee still and as mine Idol chiefe I le sacrifice to thee great store of cries and teares Ah then plight me thy faith for to accept my vowes As late thou seemdst to rewe at my sad heauie griefs Leaue him to dye to dye who liues withouten life Being far from thine Eyes his chiefe diuinest light For say alas wherein can I stand thee in steed When I am but a shadow in a withered Corse Spent haue I all my teares bewailing thy long absence In loosing thee the Heauens haue reft my vigor quite I nothing am become Most wretched he that thinks To liue depriu'd of that chiefe good his heart doth nourish Then whilst I looke my fatall day of death to see No voyce sounds in mine eares but of laments and cries Mirth is for those are fortunate rot for a soule That feeles more horrors strange then Limbos frightfull Ghosts Then welcome pining Care and sorrow sower to me For with my thoughts dispairing still you best agree Thus haue you heard another of my wofull ditties O happie Arcas if being depriued of so sorrowfull a subiect of lamenting as this is thou couldest enioy the sight of thy faire and deere Diana as heretofore thou hast done Alas that the separation of the soule from a faire body should be far more pleasing then that of two loyall harts most stricklie chained with the strong bond of faithfull loue for with this first dissolution the remembrance of all greife and doller passeth away like a flash of lightening that is sodenly come and gone But alack how long are the sorrowes how wearisome the troubles how vnsupportable the miseries that the separation of his Mistris bringeth vnto the wretched Louers Poore Oenone too well knowest thou this to be true who diddest die for verie heauines because thou wert disioyned and withheld from thy deere Paris Death it selfe is more welcome vnto Louers then the long absence of their Ladies and yet dare they not die because they feare their displeasures which when they goe about to free themselues from this bondage snatcheth the weapon out of their hands whilest the hope which they conceiued once to behold them delayeth from day to day the execution of this cruell arrest of death A Similie being so profitable vnto all Louers That traueller findeth himselfe in great perplexitie and is not a little pensiue and angrie who after he hath iournied all the day long by the comfortable light of the Sunne is constrained to wander in the darke all the night after For as the comming forth out of bad into good is luckie sweete and fortunate so harde and troublesome is the losse of ioy to enter from thence into miserie and as it were into the verie gates of destruction And as mortall meÌ desist not from offering sacrifice vnto the Gods although they be far off from their sacred presence So my deere and diuine Diana though my fortune hath remoued me far from thy beautious sight yet will I not leaue to dedicate all my writings vnto thee to present my sighes vnto thee and to render thousand pittious oblations of my teares as vnto my chiefe Goddesse whose I whollie am my verses my cries and my complaints shall all be addressed vnto thee O faire Diana in what place soeuer thou now displaiest forth thy radiant beames doe not I besech thee despise the slender vowes of the religious votary who liuing only through thee oweth vnto thee both his labors and his life How wiselie haue the learned set downe that the onely presence of the Diuine Essence bringeth all contentment that may be vnto those blessed spirits that continually behold the same seeing the onely countenance of my Mistris brought my soule to be happie and satisfied mine eyes at full with perfect ioy I now excuse you O yee leane and yet rich couetous churles who content your minds with often gazing vpon your rustie old gold because there is nothing comparable vnto that pleasure which the sight bringeth vnto the soule in respect of that thing which so much delighteth him And who then with reason may blame me to loue so faire a Iewell seeing beautie is found to be a gift come from God made onely to render himselfe the more admirable in the eyes of the world Who can iustlie finde fault with that man that shall loue a thing rare perfect and surpassing in perfection such as are ordinarie and common So likewise who can rightly condemne men for honoring such a one as beautie her selfe yeeldeth a most excellent perfection amongst those that are most perfect of all Then thee O Diana doe I honor thee doe I loue thee do I respect sorrowing alway for the want of thee and whilst my vital blood shall boyle within my veines will I worship thee
as long as my bones shall be ioyned vnto this flesh will I reuerence thee as long as my soule shall be martyred within this bodie will I dutiously regard thee bewailing thy losse whilst I shall haue libertie to breath and to be able to make sensible things gentle giue eare vnto my complaints But I see reuerend Sire that I doe but wearie thee and trouble thine eares ouermuch to importune them with these pittious discourses of my hard fortune now therefore will I change my note resoluing to doe what it shall please thee to command me Yet before we proceede any further spare me I pray thee so much leisure as to heare a Sonet of mine which I being depriued of my Ladie cast off and quite left of mortall men cleane for gotten of such as haue bin beholding vnto me my sad or rather colericke Muse endited for me whilst I wandered vp and downe this darkesome Forrest Reade it quoth the old man for both thy prose and verse are pleasing vnto me seruing me in steed of sweet Roses to reuiue and refresh mine ancient heate And thinke not but that thy speeches are worthy to be harkned vnto Whereupon the Shepheard red this Sonet following Beyond the Stigian Stix hath Caron reft Thee O diuine Faith and for company Friendship with thee who must not here be left For faith is nothing without amitie Alas why let'st thy Muse liue in disdaine To thee and her a fortune vsuall seene Thou men beleeu'st t is they that thee haue slaine Abusing her through othes as thou hast bin Thy comforts this thou diest at this hower Her ende was languishing long ere she dide A speedie death is sweete a lingring sower She starued died by flowing plenties side You Mortals then let in one Tombe remaine Faith Loue and Muses since they were of prise For fond is he that calls them backe againe And you not Loyall are friendly nor wise This Dittie of thine said the old man is pithie and graue but yet the Subiect thereof is somewhat displeasing vnto me For I cannot doe men that iniurie as to thinke or imagine that they should become enemies vnto the Muses considering but for them their memories and names should rest and lie buried with their bodies in the selfesame graue And although age hath cooled and frozen in me my first Tragick furie Mother of all good verses yet will I answere thee as well as I may Heare me then awhile Whereupon he began thus If in one coffin FAITH LOVE and the MVSES graue By earthly creatures hand enformed close doe lie And thinke their deedes and name immortall so to haue They doe abuse themselues with ore much Surquedrie If FAITH no more liues and if hence we banish LOVE If MVSES haue on earth no sacred Altars here Heauens then must perish And the supreme Gods aboue With essence their's diuine confused must appeare But heauens as yet stand firmely Gods doe raigne And mortall men by liuing on the earth belowe So FAITH LOVE and the MVSES still aliue remaine The sinnes of men cannot exile them vnto woe Astormie Tempest may the Sunne sometimes obscure Yet afterward his Beames shew forth more bright and graue See Shepheard quoth the old man if this Sonnet hath as yet any smacke of this gallant heate which en flameth youthfull spirits with the hot cinders of glory And if my Muse shall so much vouchsafe as to fauour me with some small conceit to accompanie my trembling old age which although she doe not and that my verses be rude and ill shapen yet of this I am well assured that the Subiect is both good and true For how O Shepheard can heauens and earth continue without Loue If the Gods should fall at variance and Loue should be driuen away from them who then during this confused dissension and tempestuous hurly-burly should guide the course of the heauens and giue order about the gouernment of terrestiall matters What good rule and order and what vpright Iustice or policie is there found in that cittie An example wherein the Magistrates are at variance diuided into factions and quite discrepant in opinions No no Loue of necessitie must liue amongst the Gods to the ende he may maintaine vnion amitie and friendship one with the other he giuing directions as well for diuine as earthly businesses Father answered the Shepheard this question of thine is verie easilie resolued and thou as quickly to be contented and satsfied in this poynt There is no neede at all to haue the companie of Loue in the heauens to be as an assistance or helper in the maintaining and gouerning of celestiall causes seeing amongst vs there is but one God whose onely diuine prouidence alone ruleth both heauen and earth he being not disvnited at all for it is a Substance simple not subiect vnto diuision and therefore hath nothing to doe with Loue to bring him to agreement seeing he can neuer be diuided And this is for the auncient Paynims to discourse vpon these naturall reasons God then A similie doth not meddle nor hath not to deale with this Loue I meane such as is wanton but dearely doth he affect perfect amitie inasmuch as he loueth mankinde which are his children he demaunding the selfe-same loue of them againe The Soueraigne Magistrate vpon whose commaundements the gouernment of the whole cittie dependeth cannot be at controuersie with his Subiects about the ordering thereof because they doe not participate with his power he himselfe commanding alone by his absolute will and authoritie So God being without equall and onely perfectly puissaunt and mightie cannot fall at square with any of his seruants which thing if it be so he then hath no neede of Loue to make them agree together againe Thy reason is good replied the old man in respect of that which belongeth vnto God but as concerning men how can they liue without Loue For if a building cannot remaine firme and sure without a strong foundation how then may men continue without Loue which serueth as a fortresse vnto their rest and pleasure and as a chiefe nourishment vnto their liues For can men liue quietly who are alwaies quarrelling and as it were at daggers-drawing and who for want of Loue are still readie to stabbe one another What assurance of life can that souldier promise vnto himselfe who most couragiously goeth to the field to combat with his enemie man to man An example alone Euen so what kind of life should men leade one with an other if their quarrells should cause them trie their valours with their swords staining the ground with the losse of their dearest blood For into what bottomlesse gulfes of misfortune and ouerthrow did ciuill dissension for want of Loue and friendship bring the Romanes who with their owne proper weapons reuenged the iniuries and wrongs they had done vnto forraigne Nations vpon their owne selues which those barborous strangers with all their force could neuer haue bin able to
haue done Into what great losses and dammages did the quarrells of the Spartaines and the Atheniaus plunge all Greece And what monstrous crueltie for default of Loue did those two Theban brethren exercise one against the other who with one stroke stabbing one another and cast into one and the selfe-same fire so mortall was their hatred as the verie flame thereof diuided it selfe till it consumed those bodies which whilst they liued were diuided and sundred in disagreement alwaies I say therefore that men cannot liue without amitie and that the Sonet is false in that point for either Loue must yet be liuing or else the world must perish mortall men must be swallowed vp and the earth be left fruitlesse and barraine Reuerend Father answered the Shepheard I will make thee a short answere which is that Friendship as thou affirmest is most necessarie for man who cannot liue without it no more then the fish can be without the water which was the reason induced me to say that Loue was dead amongst them For what doe wee see nowe a dayes but murders troubles controuersies debates quarrels and peruerse opinions which after the chasing away of Amitie with the same whip haue also driuen away men out of the worlde being rooted out with continuall brawling and fighting whilst they wanted the comfortable support of Frienship to assist them The golden world of our Forefathers is gone and past and that of Iron is come in his place so that we may truely say All Curtesie all kindnesse all Iustice and all Pietie are dead and extinct and so by the same meanes the Essence of all mortall men must needes decay and die The chiefe Gouernour of an Armie Royall minding to chaunge his place and to remoue all his Camp sendeth his Marshall of the fielde before A Simily to prouide conuenient lodgings for him So earthly men entending to change this field of the world haue sent before them as their Harbinger milde Amitie to prouide better dwellings for them in another Climat And surely surely most happie art thou that thine eyes haue bene kept from the viewe of so manie miseries that thy toung is seene to be exempt and free from recounting so many mischiefs vsually lighting vpon men and that thine eares are found to be shut close from the cryes and complaintes of afflicted persons in this most wretched Age. For amongst worldlings fortunate now are Fooles blessed are the blinde and rightly contented are onely such as be deafe I speake by experience who most miserably euerie way haue found so little commiseration and comfort in these my calamities amongst men as I perswade my selfe verily that Friendship liueth no more amongst them Although thy speech sayd the olde man as touching the first be found to be true yet cannot I beleeue that the like may be prooued in Faith For I confesse it may be that Amitie peraduenture is wanting amongst men which is the occasion of so manie dissentions quarrells and debates But I thinke not so of Faith which findeth roome euen in the selfe-same place from whence friendship hath bene driuen As amongst Warres Battailes Combats and contentions For those that Discord and want of Loue force to arme themselues one against another ought not for all that to faile of their faith inasmuch as Faith it selfe is requisite and required in an Enemie and because without the same not any iust Warre can be waged For it is lawfull for vs to hate our foe and to persecute him with anie naked sword in our hands but not to deceiue him with our Faith giuen vnto him seeing nothing should make one to goe from his solemne promise except the badde dealings of other men and the treacherous wrongs wrought against him by his enemies which is of force to make him detest and loath With such a Faith the ancient Romans waged battaile against Phineus whome they aduertised of the poyson which his Phisition would haue ministred vnto him in a Potion How true of his word was Marcus Regulus who with the price of his blood preserued his Faith whole entire and vnblemisht I holde then for a truth that friendship liueth no more now adayes amongst men but that in his place warre and discention gouerne and raigne and yet for all this I will not graunt that Faith is also fled from hence as the other is seeing she is not onely necessarie in time of quietnes but also profitable during the stormes of brawling discord But should this mischiefe happen that Faith were quite banished away by men yet cannot I thinke that God would suffer such as are the cause thereof to liue one houre in as much as hee reserueth the punishment of Periurie to himselfe alone and that hee being the Father of Truth the enemies thereof are as much odious vnto him as the pride of those Giants was which would haue scaled Heauen Indeed quoth the Shepheard I confesse that heeretofore verie Faith liued amongst Warres and warriours and that shee was heartily welcome vnto those places from whence amitie was quite exiled but the times wax euery day worse and worse men growing more and more in badnes that first sacred and iust Nature of man being daily ccorrupted by reason of the sharpnes of vice as wine becommeth tart and sower with ouer-much heat of Sommer Lysimachus An Example being prisoner vnto a certaine barbarous King gaue good triall of his Faith being sent home vnto his Countrey without ransome Loyall and faithfull was Camillus in his warres who sent that traiterous Schoole maister home well whipt vnto his foes whom he had besieged whose Citie he offered to betray vnto him But the world is now changed In steed of the Lyon the Fox wageth battell whilst men as the followers of Lysander make vse of their Faith studying to cozen and deceiue one another Vice in this age borroweth the place of Vertue A Sentence receiuing the selfe-same vowes and Sacrifices which before times were offered vnto that sacred Goddesse they being by antiquitie onely ordained for her In steede of Faith false disloyaltie maketh her selfe to be adored and he is most commended feared and respected that knoweth best how with subtiltie to ouercom others and hath put in practise no small number of base and trecherous effects In times past prisoners taken in Battaile might vpon their promise giuen retire A discourse against vnhonotable Soldiers whether they best pleased and such great curtesie receiued by their aduersaries they recompenced againe with a firme and faithfull assurance of their word neuer failing to performe as much as they had before protested But now vpon the warrant of their Faith they will out the throtes if they can of such as haue taken them and if the same Faith hath giuen them such free passage as they may haue leaue to retire themselues for a certaine time yet will they neuer returne backe againe but had rather that their promise so pawned should remaine as prisoner then their
Loue hath without which he is neuer rightly found All these sorrowes as yet remaine in me I bringing them with me into my Ship insteed of such pretious Marchandise as the Marchant ladeth his vessel withall in a far and forrein Countrie But O how sweete vnto Illustrious spirits are such trauels as they endure to purchase glorie For that labor doe we not call any toyling at all which we suffer for a most beautious thing when with the same we may recompence our selues for the paines which we haue taken Sweet and kinde haue I found the sorrowes which the loue I bare renowmed Iulietta hath made me feele Inasmuch as the remembrance of her rare perfections shadowed the thought of my griefs as a bright burning torch doth a little small candle A Sentence For how many are there that iudge the paine more sweete and pleasing which they endure for the respect of some worthy subiect then the quiet repose and gentle rest of their owne soules How many are there to be founde which giue themselues vnto great paines taking of which if they pleased they might be soone rid by louing better that kinde of life A Similie then any rest at all The Husbandman calleth not that trauell any labour which he taketh to sowe his grounde because he hopeth thereby to reape a good Haruest So likewise cannot any one that loueth terme his traucls any troubles at all if he endure the same for a worthie respect especially hoping to finde some grace or fauour in the ende The Fruites of Loue are so delightfull as the onlie sent of them alone A Sentence without any further taste extinguisheth and cureth the toylings turmoyles of Louers That labor being most blessed whereof the recompence is ready and at haÌd and not long neither slow in coÌming With Loue may the Louer be requited of his kinde Lady mistris if she so pleaseth and therefore most happie the paines of Loue. But woe is me I talke of fortunate Louers and not of my selfe for without any shewe or signe that my loue is cured or healed am I returned home againe bringing nothing with me but the Image of my fair Saint imprinted in my soule with thousand sorrowes to accompany the same yet wheresoeuer the cunning Painter passeth he leaueth some showe of his skill A Similie and euerie famous Poet some signe of his Muses excellencie So I before my departure from forth this solitarie abode whilst the angrie sea waxeth calme and the blustring windes growe to be milde wandring vp downe and singing we wil afterward engraue in some Oke or other some of my verses as true Testimonies of my zealous labors To the end that my diuine Goddesse may florish euen in the most vncoth and vtmost partes of all the world Wherevpon he sung these Verses following Mongst the cries of the dead amidst sighes heauily groning Of such Ghosts as are damn'd frighted with Fiends and with hags Long haue I forced forth the accents of my too hoarse voice Yet nor the dead nor the damn'd answered haue any word My cruell Mistris nor the Heauens will vnderstand me Ah solitarie wood answere me then I thee pray Ah doe receiue marke the wofull tune of my sad Song And make all for to know my clamor ore pittious Draw with at tractiue voyce the stony Rocks for to heare me O grone speake thou for me else all doe scorne at my cries Thus for to sigh and to complaine alwaie ' is a hard case But worse it is for to see who sighes and cries to be scorn'd VVhat should I then O yee woods for Sacrifice to you offer But my laments to you agreeable and very fit Since that you kindly daine to answer vnto my waylings Nought haue I now left else only my sad toung I haue But t is enough too much for such as Cupid abuseth For true Louers good hap lies in the Tombes of the dead Oh that of woes wearie some great God would but exchange me Into some auncient Beech or to some wilde sauadge Elme Should not my linelesse Trunke be welcome theÌ to your Forrests Teares should so fast from me fall like to a crist all eye-spring As they your faithfull plants still should make more abounding And of power be to force halfe dying trees to reuine Ah most sacred Groues the time hath bin in your coole shade As one rauisht for ioy I saw the heauenly face Of my cruell Faire the deadliest foe to my good daies Of which since that the stars as iealous haue me depriu'd O giue me leaue so much as I may but write with my starpe knife Deepe all about your Rocks the stories of my deare Loue. Then will I write how heauens haue made daintily perfect Mongst thousand beauties Iuliet more then the rest I will write of her chast worth more then rightly renowmed What doe I say Will I write O no not I as I should Yet dare I write of my dire paines the Destinie cruell Write will I of my hopes lookt for of me but in vaine I will tell how mine eyes are blind with weeping I vse still And to death will I leaue deafe to my plaints that hath bin A defying challenge for to prooue that he could not Kill me without that he kill my miseries therewithall I will write how my teares could moue no more with their weeping Those faire eies I adore Eies which I loue as my soule Then the waues of sea doe moue the Rocks that doe scorne them Rather I write will how into my teares there are falne Her leaden shafts tipt hard with disdaine for to coole them And by the same hath she power me for to wound when she please Write will I thi'll hap of my youth the spring of my chiefe tide Of such veniall faults as by ill lucke we commit Which when they seaze on vs they ende our liues most intire But more loud will I crie that mine owne hurts and my harmes After so many crosses nere could make me become wise Curst is the wight that is plagu'd yet by his plagues nothing wise But yet as who power hath ore a power of the rest He complaines without sense that by a God's ore come More for to striue or doe then we can the lawes doe forbid vs. LOVE ore Gods and Kings I le say I take but the vse If the cause why I haue offended any doe aske me Of great Gods and Kings I le say I take but the vse If to haue thus gron'd forth my painfull griefe I be blamed If condemned I am thus to bewray my true Loue If I be taxt for my crying for my plaints and my wailing Then for my selfe thus I say Loue that doth wound euery man One himselfe being wounded strait complains to his Mother And Mars oft did grieue when that he first was in loue Wretched so that they iustly plaine no man may for bid them Reason t' haue to crie till that
Iulietta who being pressed vpon to returne into his owne natiue soyle was forced much against his will to leaue her bringing away with her license these two Tables to the ende he might still contemplate and behold her as well with the eyes of his bodie as those of his soule And now I maruaile no more of that selfe-conceited Painter A Historie who fell in loue with his owne picture or of fond Narcissus who grew extreamely enamoured of his owne shadow seeing the Shepheard Arcas found the thoughts of his misfortunes to be sweetely asswaged with the continuall regard of these counterfaites gazing vpon them without mouing a long time In the meane space Philistel awaked the other Swaine not perceiuing it at all hauing now called to mind poore Arcas and how he had bin heretofore corriuall in his Loue and imagining that he was as yet touched with his first passion by reason his senses were rauished in staring so much vpon the picture of Iulietta to awake him out of his dreame he began thus to accost him Arcas the excellencie of beautie consisteth chiefly in this one poynt which is not to beare enuie vnto those that exercise the same but rather to imitate them in what we may for happie is that countrie which as a thicke and shadowing Forrest is sowed and filled with a great number of worthie and vertuous men Thy selfe and I strooken with one and the selfe-same dart haue loued her whose shadow thou here seest and because this Loue of ours was laudable yea and worthie of reward therefore hath it neuer altered our mindes nor separated our good liking one from another The Spartaines heretofore loued but yet chastly the faire and prettie children of their citie this liking of theirs neuer breeding any falling out or iealous conceit An example one against another although three or fower of them loued but one of these yongest boies alone But contrariwise they rather forced themselues and striued one with another who should best teach these youthes some rare qualitie or perfection whereby they might come to more estimation and credit And such was our loue towards the diuine Iulietta we both hauing loued her and yet not hated one the other forcing our selues to trie who could doe best in chaunting abroad her faire vertues seeking still to render that worthie honour vnto her perfections as they of right deserued And seeing this Loue did part vs at that time for a while asunder we ought as now of our owne accord to reunite our selues againe together For the Maister of a ship who hath had but hard fortune hauing made a bad voyage at sea hath neede after his losses to get tother the relicks and remainders of his Shipwracke and to make account of that which before this mischaunce he would haue disdained to haue done And so we if any small conceit ouerpartiall hath passed twixt vs about our Loues now at this houre when all is lost and that scarce we our selues are escaped from the crueltie of the waters let vs forget and sorgiue what is past and let the ioy in that we haue once more met againe before we die maister for a while this our ouermuch sadnes Friendship neuer bestoweth her diuine brightnes A Sentence where aboundance of pleasures flow for they hinder vs fro discerning the same being the occasions that it is not adored according vnto her deserts But when affliction and sorrow approacheth then doth she best appeare her wholsome effects as then being most prised and commended For at such a time necessitie forceth men to haue more neede one of another then when they are in prosperitie it being the onely cause that loue sheweth it selfe more liuely hot comfortable My minde prognosticated vnto me the comming into this place whilst I not knowing the good and happie meeting that I should haue here did murmur against the Seas for casting me vpon this shore but now I haue found by triall that humane matters being ordered by diuine prouidence happen oftentimes contrarie vnto the opinion of men to the ende they may know that in respect of God they are but vessels of earth by him ordained for shame and that vnto him onely appertaineth the disposing of all things O Philistell answered the Shepheard of great follie should he be condemned who finding himselfe all alone would imagine to be able to carrie away some great victorie amongst the midst of a huge number of enemies For it is not courage but rather mad furie for one to vndertake more then he is able to bring to passe inasmuch as it is no lesse vertue to know himselfe then to vanquish and ouercome his aduersaries These considerations are sufficient to moue me to extinquish all bad conceits which I might haue conceiued against you about the loue of sweete Iulietta For could I hope to haue any recompence of her whome hard misfortune wretched pouertie the malice of nature and a thousand other hinderances haue set me vp as it were for a marke to discharge their deadly arrowes at me Whereas you who to serue her haue left your countrie and your realme and who carrie besides the auncientnes of your birth and the greatnes of your race a braue and generous spirit endued with as vnseemely qualities may well hope for that which I not so much as dare to name or thinke of in my heart Behold then the cause why I cannot beare any malice vnto thee as touching that thing which I iudge my selfe vnworthie to possesse which for the same cause I reuerence adore For my Loues haue bin but shrill Trompets to sound the glory of this faire superexcellent virgin my labours but her Herrolds to blazen forth in right colours her rich perfections and mine amorous trauailes but loud Chaunters of her rare and diuine vertues But you my deare Philistell easilie and sweetly may you obtaine her good will by the sacred bond of Nuptiall hallowed right Nature hauing made you her equall in blood How men ought truely to loue power authoritie credit command Diuers waies may a man loue for in louing are many effects Some lay the foundation of their Loue vpon the weake and feeble ground of pleasures Others vpon that of marriage but the wisest place it vpon the inexpugnable Rocke of vertue Voluptuous loue passeth slightly and lightly away with the pleasures themselues for we loue no more that thing which we haue no more occasion to vse by reason we haue drawne from thence all the contentment we desired The affection which marriage engendreth endureth longer and yet is there oftentimes in the same many contrarieties and disagreements betweene the Husband and the Wife but that liking which is setled vpon the firme Rocke of vertue neuer dieth because the cause thereof remaineth euerlasting The foundation whereof can neuer be ouerthrown With such religious amitie haue I sought diuine Iulietta yea with such amity as shall neuer die in me no more then vertue
the onely secret messengers of his minde vnto her All which the Ladie well perceiued although shee wisely dissembled the same beginning as it were now to participate with him in the selfe-same paine and during in a manner the selfe-same that he did But the feare shee had lest this good will should force him to forget his promise and his honorable âarriage vnto her was the cause shee very hardly entertained this kinde affection which she bare him Yet is it lawfull for an honest woman to loue for nothing is more sacred in the whole world A Sentence then Loue but yet so must they like as they must seeeke to conserue their Honours chaste and vntainted such was the loue that faire Iustina cast vpon this Noble Spanyard But as a subtill Tyrant hauing set foote into some place although at the first entrance because hee hath not as yet planted strongly enough sufficient forces to serue his purpose carryeth a shewe of mercie and mildnesse to euery one where hee commeth by which meanes at the length hee getteth to be absolute Lorde and maister ouer the same which authoritie afterwardes hee exerciseth with all kinde of cruelties iniustice and all other horrible faults that may be Euen so Loue hauing gained one of the gates of the heart of the Princesse in the ende made himselfe chiefe ruler ouer all the Fortresse of her faire bodie She now began to take liking vnto the sweet lookes of the Gentlemen to praise and make account of his seruices and to lend a listning eare vnto his pleasing speeches and as a sicke person leauing his bedde and chamber doth giue testimonie vnto euery one of his welfare and recouerie by reason he findeth his stomack againe and can disgest his meare well euen so the delight and contentment which she tooke in the companie and in the behauiour of the Knight was a sufficient and assured signe of the great good will and singular affection which she bare him yet was her fancie nothing like vnto that which Alfonso for so was the Spaniards name bare vnto her it being of such strange force as it not onely gouerned ouer his health and welfare but also it helde in subiection his very soule which most miserablie languished Not vnlike vnto such who hauing taken a determinatiue kinde of poyson consume away by little and little Hee now thought that there could be no such rare contentment in this world as to enioy the companie of his Goddesse which could not be too deerely bought although it should cost him his deerest heart blood Neither was he of the rainde he had bene before to make a doubt what she was or that she was of a more base or inferiour house then himselfe was of Loue now had drowned all such doubtes in him hee onely studyed how he might worke the meanes to be gracious in her sight and to enioy her as his lawfull Bed-fellow and wife knowing too too well that her vertues would oppose themselues against all other sinister and dishonest meanes that should be attempted against her but this could he not doe except he tooke a newe course neither euer come to be maister of his desire without opening his minde vnto her in such sort as he resolued to giue his Mistris to vnderstand of the whole matter at large Wherevpon as he was one day walking alone with her after thousands of sighes sent forth from his heart with thousands of pitious loue-lookes most sweetely glaunced on her and with millions of sweet alterations in his minde his tongue trembling and his voice fainting his countenance and his colour altering and changing and a cold Feuer running through all his bones doubting least he should be repulsed with a sharp denyall with a lowe and faint voyce he began thus to accost her Sweet Charge for so she requested him to call her the assured report of certaine things amazeth oftentimes the spirit of man very much but the experience of the same giueth sufficient testimonie that it is most true I speake this vnto this end for that I haue heard manieto discourse often of Loue who haue reported infinite strange effects which hee hath with great wonder brought to passe so that I for mine owne part haue not a little admired him in mine inward soule yet could I neuer iudge rightly thereof vntill experience had acquainted me with an infallible proofe as concerning the same Since which time I haue found afterward that he is more wonderfull then I haue bene giuen to vnderstand there being such a certaine thing in Loue that none are able to expresse hauing more diuinitie in him then one can imagine with which only such as are strooken with his dart are acquainted withall and none else And certainly hee may be well called DORDE and liberall disposer of mortall mens fortunes seeing he is able to make such as are Conquerours to yeelde and force maisters to become slaues vnto their owne seruants and vassailes Besides he ought by great reason to be termed a God especially amongst such as are most wretched and miserable who being ready as it were to fall into the pitte are by him holpen out and lifted vp giuing them commaund and power ouer their Superiours This which I speake is not by roate nor by heare-say but onely by good proofe as I my selfe can best iustifie For I finde my selfe vanquisht by you faire Gentlewoman whome enuious Fortune had sometime though most vniustly brought into a most pittifull estate Then am I your slaue and yet none of these which seeke the dishonour of their Ladies to satisfie their sensuall desires But such a one I am as beareth more affection vnto your Honor then loue vnto your beautie Needes must I confesse I loue both the one and the other endeuouring in what I may for to conserue them both wishing to die a thousand times rather then suffer the least wrong or iniurie to be offered vnto them For your vertue doe I loue you and for your beautie doe I honor you for your modestie do I seeke you and reuerence you for your chastitie If I were found to affect you but for one of these good qualities onely in you may be it were subiect and likely to fall to ruine and decay but hauing so many goodly and sacred foundations and all vnited one vnto another making it to be of an inuincible strength Me-thinks it is impossible that euer this my loue should be shaken or remoued from his first place The hope of your goods of your Noblenesse of byrth or your riches are not occasions of the good liking I haue of you in that I am not acquainted with any such matters but onely with your Noblenesse I rather hating such friendships because they are lost and ended as soone as possession is taken of such things vpon which they were founded I then loue you with a sacred and chaste kind of loue beseeching you that I may be recompenced with the like affection againe For no
gaspe in her armes I will now be briefe After the Princesse found Alfonso dead she remembred her plighted vowe vnto him and therefore sought neither venim sword nor ame other extremitie to ende her dayes but hauing sweetely embalmed his carkasse and placing it in a monument of Christall because she might the better behold it she neuer departed from the same vntill that after a certaine time what with hunger sorrow griefe she finished her wearie and loathed life Her fasting and weeping had so chaunged her as her neerest seruants and acquaintance scarce knew her Now had shee no more that sweete face for the beautie of which so many Princes had so often combatted and fought nor were her eyes such as had rauished so manie soules neither was her haire that passing golden haire whose tresses had serued for nets to catch and intrap the Courtliest and greatest hearts that liued And to be briefe she was no more that faire and louely Iustina who indeed had no need of such comely fauour when her onely desire was to die Her face and cheekes were now become pale and yeallow her eyes darke and sunke deepe into her head her haire fowle vnkempt and almost all torne off her breasts drie and leane her armes shrunke and brawnfallen her handes without flesh or whitenesse and finally shee resembled the very portraiture of a Ghost or rather of Death it selfe In this miserie did shee liue some fewe moneths when at the last perceiuing the date of her life to be expired she came vnto the Tombe where taking the embalmed carkasse vp and embracing it in her armes she vsed these pittifull speeches vnto it as followeth O sole remainder of all my good Fortunes O onely chiefe treasure of all my goods O sole pawne furuiuing of my true Loue the onely comfort I haue in these my languishing griefes and the goodly bodie which sometimes reuiued the faire soule inhabiting therein which now liueth in eternall glorie for euer To thee I appeale as the onely thing which I most loue honor and praise praying thee to assist me at mine ende and to beare witnesse with me that I haue kept promise most faithfullie As thou when thou diddest die wert willing that I should not malice or annoy thee at thy death So let not mine I pray thee be any way displeasing vnto thee All whatsoeuer thou diddest craue did I yeeld and accord vnto then blame me not if hauing performed what I protested I come vnto the Heauens to finde thee In thy life time I haue liued for feare to displease but now thou liuest no longer faire and beautifull Coarse and that I haue taken order for thy buryall what thinkest thou should keepe me heere any longer It is reasonable I should die seeing I can now no longer liue and that I goe to make a search for thee most chast soule in what place soeuer thou art Die then sorrowfull Iustina and leauing of to lament change these thy reares thy miseries and cares into this eternall repose where resteth thy husband quietly I haue liued but too too long and my miserable life hath bin too irkesome vnto me It is now more then high time to make an ende thereof and making an ende of my selfe to remoue my selfe vnto him who whilst he liued had commaund ouer my soule Thrise blessed Instina to be quit and rid of these vnspeakable torments to liue in euerlasting quietnes which is the onely hope of the miserable Let vs goe then let vs goe I humbly beseech that great God who as a iust Iudge of the innocencie of our hearts knoweth the secrets of our thoughts to open that sacred gate vnto me which he hath promised vnto his faithfull children This said she kissed the dead coarse of her husband againe giuing charge vnto her Gentlewoman to enterre and burie her body hard by his side that done she layeth her selfe along by the same which she still embraceth and hauing dressed her head and apparelled her selfe for the same purpose she rendied vp her spirit A spirit right meritorious and worthie of eternall glorie Her body according vnto her last will was buried in the selfe same sepulcre which she had caused to be made for her husband before Herewith Coribant held his peace being hindred to speake any more by reason of his teares teares which berest the others of their voyces who without being able to discourse any more one with another for that time departed euery one to their senerall homes so to passe away the darke and gloomie night As they were walking faire and softly onwardsvpon their way Arcas heard one sing this song following Loue fare thouwell liue will I now Quiet amongst the green-wood bow Ill betide him that loue seekes He shall liue but with leane cheekes He that fondly falles in Ioue A slaue still to griefe shall prooue Loue fare thou well liue will I now Quiet amongst the greene-wood bow What an Asse and foole is hee That may serue and will goe free In worlds not a wench so faire But I for my life more care Loue fare thou well liue will I now Quiet amongst the c. I like not these Dames so smooth As would haue men court and lous For as constant I them finde As the Sea is or the winde Loue fare thou well liue c. Once I lou'd one that was kinde But she did what pleasde her minde Better t is nere to be borne Then liue as anothers scorne Loue fare thou well liue well c. Then Loue thee I doe defie I hate thy bad dealing I He is a foole that liues in paine A toy so small for to gaine Loue fare thou well liue will I now Quiet amongst the greene-woodbow After the Shepheard had made an ende of this merrie Sonnet another came vnto them demaunding if some of the companie could expound his Riddle which he proposed in this manner Nor life nor vertue haue I lest I die I borrow of my buried trunke chiefe strength Though I am dead ore time yet triumph I Ore time that cuerie thing consumes at length What 's dead disdained is yet all affoord Me honour and their chiefe preseruers name All men may rightly call me their best Lord Since they Sans me the world cannot maintaine Yet though so much good doth from me proceed These thanklesse worldlings doe not sticke at all To cut me off in Summer with great speed And beate me into little powder small Yet had I rather cruelly thus perish Then liue a longer space for many time The season doth but badly oft me chearish Offering great hurt and wrong to vertue mine This Riddle was interpreted to be corne which being sowne in the earth and seeming dead casteth forth a greene blade and in time groweth to be ripe in despite of all stormes and foule weather whatsoeuer It nourisheth mankind and therefore is honoured of them as a father not forbearing for all that to reape him in Haruest to thresh and grinde
why speakest thou not all this while why breakest thou not this solemne silence of thine which caÌnot be but grieuous vnto such as behold thee nay more as painfull as death it selfe vnto them that think well of thee Ah faire Nymphe replyed the Shepheard what delightfull answer canst thou imagin to draw from him who is not agreeable or pleasing vnto his own selfe and what medicine canst thou get from a sicke person that is not able through the agonie of his griefe to help himselfe any thing at all Can my discourses be pleasing vnto thee when they are most odious and hatefull vnto mine owne selfe he had need to be perfect in health that will heale such as be sick to be fully at libertie that can infranchise slaues and to be perfectly content A Sentence that taketh vpon him to comfort the unserable Stay but the time beautious Nymph I say stay but the time vntill the gratious Heauens taking compassion vpon me doe cure my recureles infirmitie that I be once freed from the heauy and burthensom bonds wherein I am now chained and then will I condescend vnto thy demaund For alas can one loyall and faithfull seruant serue at one time two maisters and they both differing in nature Euen so can the true chast Louer loue with equall affection two contrary subiects A Sentence No no for that Loue which is sacred firme and commendable can neuer endure to be diuided Loue it selfe being a simple substance which participateth with no diuision and therefore such as truely fancie anie doe loue without the separation of good will in such wise as it is as vnpossible for the constant Louer to haue two Mistresses as it is for the Element to containe two Sunnes within it all at one time If thy fancie were fixed vpon some Demi-god heere below wouldest thou take it in good part that a sillie Swaine should presume to make loue vnto thee seeking to force thee to giue ouer thy first loue and promise which neuer should be forgotten what deuise soeuer might be wrought If not then I beseech thee immortall Creature importune no more the despised Arcas too too much alreadie wronged by the Heauens but rather suffer him to take some breath in his miseries which hee must perforce endure as well as he may Heape not vpon him stone vpon stone burthen vpon burthen nor mischiefe vpon mischiefe satisfying thy selfe with this his most heauie extremitie without seeking to make his woes more terrible or cruell then they already be For Orythia this I will sweare that the Heauens shall fall vpon this ground and the cold frozen Seas shall turne into hote fire before the heart of vnfortunate Arcas shall be heated with anie other loue then with that of his Diana Her beautie will he loue alone shee onely shall be serued of him pale death it selfe not being of force to alter this constant resolution Then speake no more of this matter vnto mee and let it suffice thee that I honour thee for thy Deitie as Numa Pompilius adored the Nymph Egeria For onely Diana doe I loue and none but her alone Commaund my bodie to serue thee in what he is able call my soule to âttend vppon thee at thy will dispose of my poore power as thou shalt best please and bid mee doe anie thing whatsoeuer thou likest Behold me prest to obey thee but not to loue least I should forget my Diana and say I should goe about to doe so yet cannot I although I would neuer so faine Content thee that I doe what I may that I offer thee all that my soule is able and be not so vnourteous vnto me as to binde me to things vnpossible which no man is bound to performe So deare doe I hold thy quietnes answered the weeping Nymphe that for feare I shoulddisplease thee to the end thou shalt perceiue how vnfainedly I doe fancie theeâ I will rather studie to ouerthrow and vtterlie ruinate mine owne life then seeke by any meanes to hinder or force thy desire any way at all So let it be yea let it be so and so let it still continue since I was borne to be the most miserable of all others And seeing I see so many mortall creatures preferred before my loue who am immortall I will vse to make mine eyes perforce to weepe continually to the ende that they being depriued of their lightes may no longer behold the cause of their ineuitable sorrowes Thou must then O poore Nymph and wretched Orythia resolue with thy selfe to endure this mischiefe and prepare thy selfe to make an ordinary exercise of thy more then heauie mischaunces So liued Venus in woe long time after the death of her Darling Adonis So did Phoebus lament the losse of his deare Daphne And so did Ioue waile for the losse of his Io and his Europa Euen so must I grieue at this mine vnlukie deniall Yet neuertheles A Sentence thou that art the onely motiue of this my mischiefe and the onely cause of this my sharpe and bitter Corsie take heede take heede I say lest for this egregious iniurie which thou now offerest mee the Gods reuenge not themselues vppon thee making thine anguish as great as mine is grieuous euerie way For neuer let him looke for fauour from aboue that hath not shewed mercie vnto such as sue and seeke vnto him heere below And yet accursed that I am mine owne griefe is not so cruell but that the care which I take for thine is farre more troublesome vnto mee I seeking in desire to be doublie plagued perplexed and tormented so I might see thee quite ridde and released from these thy woefull passions although notwithstanding all this thou doest badly requite my great good will towards thee But the Heauens who are farre more iust more excellent and diuine then thou will yeelde me some sufficient guerdon Meane space dispose of dolefull Orythia who is more thine then her owne and reseruing her honor doe with her what thou list shee beeing readie with her diuine power to assist thee in all thy writings which thy mournfull Muse shall sigh forth not onely alone at this time but for euer hereafter not demaunding any other reward of thee for her paines but that shee sometimes may be had in remembrance in thy works which alreadie haue found place amongst the most commendable Inuentions that haue bene accounted of by the brauest Princes and highly prised and esteemed of by manie others and which also shall be had in request heereafter more then euer they yet haue bene despite of the enuious whatsoeuer that goe about to seeke to deface the same Liue then sweet Shepheard and dreame as long as thou please with thy selfe of thy so much desired Loues as I shall do the like of thine But the day shall come in which the Heauens shall depriue thee from the pleasure of the same to the ende thou mayest know by the experience of thine owne proper
vnto him narrowlie and sharpely keepeth him in For nothing increaseth vice and leaudenesse so much as doeth wanton libertie The vnbrideled Colte runneth galloping heere and there committing manie foule disorders The priuiledge of Euill taketh away all Vertue be cause it stifleth the recompence of good deedes and hindreth the punishment due vnto offences The auncient Princes who would haue their Children learne how to obey well before they should commaund sent them to studie amongst the Lacedcmonians to the intent they might be restrained and depriued of this enchaunting libertie through which men draw forth vice as if it were at a full vessell LOVE therefore must be gouernour and protector ouer youthfulnesse which he will purge from badde qualities as the Physition doth the sicke man from corrupt humours replenishing him againe with manie excellent and commendable Vertues Is not then Loue very necessarie The winde carryeth the chaffe from the Corne leauing onely that that is good and fanned cleerly So doth Loue A Similie croppe off vice cutting it away as the husbandman doeth the superfluous braunches of his vine leauing the inward minde neat and quite clensed from all filthinesse of vice Loue can doe more then all knowledge yea then the Muses themselues can doe For he teacheth learned men who hauing a confused masse and heape of thousand Sciences in their braines not knowing in what good manner to deliuer their mindes ar full as concerning these matters how to set downe their meaning orderly and to discourse of euery thing with good method and iudgement imitating the cunning Gold-smith who of a great wedge of Gold forgeth and frameth a great sort of good peeces of plate right profitable for men Or resembling the Sun which breaketh and diuideth in sunder the gloomy clouds which darkeÌ the brightnes of heaueÌ He is the luke-warme blood of the Goate mollifying and sotfning these rocks of Diamonds turning them to the vse of all sorts of people The greatest Doctors are but Dunces vntill Loue hath refined them and that they haue felt what his power is they after that becomming wittie and Courtly enditers through the sweete vaine of Loue. For necessitie findeth out the Art and the perill sought forth by the Soldior vrgeth him to finde the means to saue himselfe And so is the Louer compelled to please his Mistris which he doeth either discoursing vnto her his true and loyall affection in smoothe and pleasing tearms or else couching them sweetly and daintily in writing curiously and with a Courtlike phrase And of this perfection is Loue also the author shall he then be called a Paine and not rather the father of all science and vertue It is reported that the Muses lighted one day vpon Cupid keeping him within a border of flowers but what could that border bring but pleasure and contentment vnto them who had enclosed him within the same The Muses then honored Loue as Conquerors are wont to be vsed placing vpon his head a Crowne of greene flowers as also the most wisest in the world haue offered scrifices vnto him and to his celestiall Godhead he being the greatest power amongst the Gods that are in Heauen Therefore as I will not dispute against him so dare I not maintaine the cause of anie that should not pleade in his behalfe Herewithall the noble Knight held his peace daunting very much the other Nymph that had written against LOVE with these his liuely and excellent reasons which she thought were of such efficacie and force that they could hardly be refelled by anie other But the olde man who found himselfe to be ouercome in the argument hee had with Philistell as concerning Inchauntment and Sorcerie willing to recouer his lost honor and to winne the spurres againe in this second disputation replied against Loue in this wise I cannot denie but must needs confesse that neither the ordinary trauailes that men vse nor the day lie labours which they vsually take ought to be called Paine for they are not alwayes of one force and nature they passing away quiet rest comming in their place as the Bowe that cannot alwaies remaine stiffe and bent wheras Loue onely and that most iustly deserueth well this name of Paine An example The Laborer being payed for his worke is contented and taketh his rest the Husbandman reaping his corne taketh his ease and liueth merilie after but in Loue what quietnes can be found The poore drudge being wearie reposeth himselfe in the night so doth the tyred Traueller and euery beast whatsoeuer but the Louer what rest receiueth he either in the night or day As the day is tedious vnto him so is the night irksome and sadde are they then freed of paine The hungrie desire neuer taketh quiet ease but is in continuall paine the greedie couetous wretch crauing still golde can neuer so much as slumber one winke but the tormented Louers leadeth a wotse life farre then both these twaine because that good which he so much wisheth for and yet cannot obtaine it seemeth more pretious vnto him then all the Treasures in the world This doctrine to KNOW HIMSELFE doeth him no good at all for it cannot bridle his passions keep in his hed strong will nor curb or constraine his ardent affections and hee that cannot so doe can neuer be quiet in his minde Now the Louer coueteth alwayes and couetousnes is the child of paine Is not then Loue the author of paine and is it any thing else then meere griefe Nay although the Louer obtaineth that which he desireth yet for all that his torments cease not because he wisheth still to coÌtinue the same for that the sore doubt he hath to lose that which he hath obtained with so much trauell increaseth the paine still in him The more golde the couetous myzer possesseth the more continually he wisheth A Sentence by reason the contentmeÌt of man is without any limit for being glutted with one kind of meat he is greedy and hungry after an other Diogines gaue out that he was contented in his pouertie but yet he was not for he did hunt after vaine-glory What shall wee then say of Louers who not onely desire to enioy their Loues but also a continuation still to gather them And when that length of much time hath quenched this fire of loue yet is there still remaining some hote cinders which presently is set on fire with the wind of desire as a flame when it is out is reuiued againe with the breath of the Ayre the selfe-same Loue beeing of this propertie that after it hath a long space troubled and tormented ouerthrowne and ruinated a man with continuall paine and anguish of minde in the ende it taketh away his life whether he will or no. Achilles knoweth this to be true who died for louing Polixena being slaine most miserablie amongst his enemies So doth Priam An Example the foolish loue of incestuous Paris being the cause he lost his life And so
doeth sage Agamemnon whose disloyall wife cut his owne throate because she might the more safer follow her disordinate appetite O what a pernitious thing is this Loue how often hath it broke the plighted oath betweene man wife making them amorous of strangers and causing them to disdaine their nuptiall bed with base and filthie whoredome The good Emperour Marcus Aurelius remembred this but too too well who saw so often his wife ouer familar with so many and poor Sampson through loue was depriued of his strength and made a slaue vnto others that Sampson I say who was wont to conquer others and to make them become tributaries vnto him Againe what faith and trust is there to be reposed in Louers so cunning are they and so readie to break their promises and to sweare falsly that Iupiter iesteth and scoffeth at their protestations as one that thinketh they neither can nor ought to keepe them any longer then they list For if men now a daies be so basely giueÌ that they will strait yeelde vnto Loue and that the desire to enioy a little paltrie beautie or a little coloured complexion composde of white and red can make them to forget all dutie all promise and their owne good nature it selfe What then should hinder them but that they may loue in another place to endanger their Faith there to sweare and forsweare themselues againe For hee that once committeth one sinne will easily fall into diuers other more grieuous he that is knowne to be faultie in one thing A Sentence is reputed to haue offended in all the rest Besides so farre is Loue off from standing the learned in anie stead that it hindereth and ouerthroweth their learning for it is impossible for a learned man both to loue and follow his studie together because the minde cannot in one and the selfe-same time intend to hunt after diuers matters and for that the care which Loue engendreth hindereth a wise man in prositing himselfe at his booke and doeth withdraw him from the pervsing and reading of the same Againe if there be neuer so meane and little ascience in the world but is sufficient to imploy a mans whole life time and all his wittes therein and yet for all that it hath neuer bene found that any could euer sound the deapth of the same How then is it possible that a wise man should be able to follow both Loue and Learning to prooue excellent in both Nay then I will see farther and dare auouch that the malice of the Serpent not onely spoyleth and corrupteth the studie of the wise but also his condition and religion And that this is true great Dauid and his sonne Salomon can witnesse and the Iewes themselues whom the loue of the Moabite women which the trayterous King Balaac sent vnto them moued from the seruice of the true God making them become most wicked and abhominable Idolaters What greater mischiefe can happen vnto a man then to denie his God his faith his beliefe and his religion yea and therewithall to loose all his wisdome and authoritie If Loue then be the cause of so manie misfortunes vnto men and bringeth them with him vnto them is not he then the damnable author of our ruine our perpetuall paine and vtter ouerthrow heeis farre worfe then all the poysonous serpents of the earth yea then the Diuels of of hell themselues Not so quoth Coribant and therefore I pray you make a stop there for Loue is not of that bad nature neither is hee to be compared vnto such wicked creatures as you would haue vs beleeue for were it not for him whom you reuile so much neither you nor any man else could liue at all That which maintaineth all things and giueth life and force vnto them can that be teatmed an euill spirst So farre off is Loue from being such a one as he hath made the Fiendes of hell themselues milde and gentle when the faithfull Orpheus went downe thither to bring backe his deare espouse That which doth not vsurpe vpon publike honestie but hath respect vnto euery vertuous action may it be called an enemie of Nature Loue hath preserued both honor respect and vertue then why should anie blame him The sonne of Seleucus falling in loue with his stepmother chose rather to be brought euen vnto deaths doore then to declare as much as his passion for feare least he should haue offended the honor respect and the obeisance of a Father through the dutie of a louing Sonne There is no doubt but that man is to be commended highly who rather consenteth vnto his own death ruine and miserie then to commit a most notorious and vnnaturall fact Loue forceth the Louer to chuse rather to die A Sentence then to perpetrate any hainous fault Is Loue then the subiect of blame Loue resembleth wine which taken moderately and with measure nourisheth the bodie but being vsed too excessiuely it burneth and inflameth the same Euen so Loue being well and wisely applyed may bring much profit glorie as it did vnto the Romans Sabines who being ready to encounter and to kill one another they agreed so louingly as euer after they were but as one bodie or a Citie within themselues Indeed if it be ill imployed then I must needes say it may doe much hurt but it is the Louer himselfe that is in fault thereof and not Loue. The grape of the vineyard of it selfe is good and was giuen for a nourishment vnto man yet neuerthelesse man sometimes dyeth with taking ouermuch thereof but is this the fault of the grape or of him that abused the same Is there any precious treasure to be found throughout the compasse of the wide and spatious world that is to be compared vnto a loyall faithfull friend What happier contentment can there be betweene man and wife then chast and perfect loue The greatest blessing that euer Mithrâdates found in this life was his kinde wife that in all his troubles still did assist and accompanie him shee being attired in the apparell of a man and doing him all the serurce she could as if shee had bene the meanest of his ordinary followers Manie things are there bestowed vpon vs by the Heauens which of their owne natures are good and yet the malice of man doth alter them into a bad propertie As weapons with which they kill one another Fire wherewith they burne whole Cities and townes Gold with which vertue is corrupted and the cloake of Religion wherewith they couer their proud ambition with many such like Yet although these things are thus ill vsed and wrested by the corruption of man we must not therefore say they are bad of their owne selues but rather by reason of the malice of others Euen so Loue being perfect and good in his owne proper nature and of his owne selfe be abused and made worse through the default of men it is not he but they that are to be
men and that they might imploy him as they should thinke best then would not so many wretched Louers endure such cruell torments and bitter anguish as they doe but would quickly ridde themselues from out his cruell hands But alas they can no more get from him then the poore bond-slaue can get out of his chaines except it please his Lord and maister Therfore we must not say that men can order and bridle Loue at their owne pleasures turning him to good or bad purposes as they shall thinke best when it is quite contrarie and as they say Allo reuerso he playing the vsurping tyrant ouer them In the end of your speech to make amends you tell me that this selfesame Loue maketh a perfect and an eternall league of friendship betweene Gods and men in such sort as it forceth the husband to offer his life most willingly for his wiues sake and that the wife doth the like for the conseruation of her husbands welfare As Craccus A Similie who to coÌtinue his wiues life shortned his owne And as Alcesta did who offered her selfe to die for Adentus her husbands sake Yet as sharpe and strong medicines engendred much danger and feare yea and many times are much hurtfull to the bodie of man so Loue during this amitie bringeth forth many bad and vntowardly children which alter and chaunge their mindes very much and are not a little hurtfull vnto both parties as the burning Iealousie which so much galled poore Iuno long since as the whoredomes with which Venus defiled the bed of Vulcan her husband with the number of Rapes vsed by Iupiter and such like bad stuffe So as you see so many euils to proceed for one small little good But as he cannot be called a bountifull and liberall giuer indeed who presenteth and bestoweth a small trifle to purchase huge and mightie riches Euen so Loue cannot be counted neither good nor healthfull when for one onely good turne he doth he yeeldeth forth so many sufficient proofes of his wicked and bad nature In no one action doth Loue merrit commendations for he respecteth neither reason nor Iustice and such things as are voyd of those two qualities can neuer deserue honour nor cause themselues to be counted perfect he is without reason in that he regardeth neither law nor kindred friendship nor acquaintasce no good turne nor any kinde consideration else so as he may come to obtaine what he desireth One while violating and breaking the lawes of hospitalitie another while those of marriage and then those of parentage and kindred He is without Iustice because he rauisheth and taketh away by force that which is none of his owne applying the same to his owne aduantage as if it were his owne proper goods raising and procuring by these bad meanes thousands of brawles and brabbles debates and quarrels and continuall warres and battaile In steed of seemely and fitte exercises he should acquaint young men withall he oftentimes maketh them so mad and furious as they sticke not to commit rapes to offer violence and to doe all the villainies that may be thereby infringing the peace and lawes of the common-wealth Well may he be compared vnto the Snake which the husbandman carried in his bosome to warme it being nie dead for colde which afterward went about to sting him for his paines So Loue in requitall and for amends vnto vs for the honour we haue borne him and because we haue so curteously entertained him stingeth vs with furie and rage and with iniustice and miserie these being the fruites which he bringeth vs and which are as it were the precursors and fore-runners of a most wofull and wretched death which end most commonly lighteth vpon Louers for furie is the daughter of sorrow and not of pleasure which our desire doth ouermuch couet And that I alledge nothing but Truth I will prooue it most apparant and plaine by a goodly Historie which if you please to giue mee audience I will deliuer vnto you Wherevpon they were all silent when the Shephcard thus began his wofull Tragedie LOVE author of all euill the nurse of dainties delicate The strange historie and wofull ende of proude Sycambra and loyall Zersira That chuseth for to soiourne proude in Pallaces of State Who makes himselfe be honored as Father of the skies In Courts of mightiest Kings and in the heauens mongst Gods likewise As yet scarce haunted had the Plaines congeal'd with Ice and cold Nor solitary Desarts strange which snowy mountaines hold He had but little in the Woods yet vsed for to be Permitting Shepheards quietly to ioy their libertie Who not so much as thinking once on him had no more care Then their small flocks forth for to leade along the medowes faire To watch and to defend them arm'd for armed still they were From roaring Lyon howling Wolfe or from the rauenous Beare Right happie is that man that hath then this no worser foe The pleasant sweetnes of his life to make him to forgoe Happy indeed if other thought he hath not in this life This trauaile being the cause of all content and foe to strife Withouten carke and care they past their time deuoyd of feare And from the Fatall sisters sheeres exempt and freed they were As iocund and as meerrily they liu'd as day was long No mestfull griefe was intermixt their sweet discourse emong Nor were their cheekes beblubbered still with teares cominually As wretched Louers who bewaile their woes with weeping eye Withouten sighes and sorrowes sad they liu'd most blessed than Nor they their Fortunes did reuile and as accursed ban No pittious Tennor such as this their Songs or Chantings had No mournfull note came heauily forth from their brests ore-sad As Louers vse their Musique sweet and merrie warbling voyce Much like that of the Gods of Woods that each thing doth reioyce No enuious malice mongst them was no poyson at their Table No proud desire the spring-tyde of their youth made miserable Exempt from all ambitious thoughts they were whose mounting dart Piercing into the minds of men doth make them often smart Nor any other passion strange had they or did endure Then such as did an earnest care for their poore flocks procure They thought they could resist Loues force and oft did iest at him Thinking he was not able them vnder his yoake to bring And as a stubborne Rock we see the Tempests rage doth scorne Who growing angry at his pride renues afresh his storme Vntill with flashy Laghtning-claps in pieces he doth breake His flintie stones whilst to resist his furie is too weake And with a boysterous Whyrle-winds blast on sudden casts downe all So as being cleft in midst it doth in thousand pieces fall Transporting here and there apart by violence so burst A Similie And with the clap of Thunder-bolt becommeth black as dust Alongst the medowes and the fields whilst they as trembling stand To see how raging Tempests fell ore euery
thing commaund Euen so these Shepheards mockt at Loue they scorn'd at his renowne Who chafing at them quickly puld their Peacocks plumes adowne Taking them prisoners in the snares which they for others set Whilst idlely they went to hunt the light-foote Leueret So long they gib'de at him till at the last they bought it deare As did the Muses heretofore when as they amorous were And had him taken fettered fast within a Flowrie line He thinking them to haue embrac't through his great power diuine For Cupid in meane time as one enuious of their glorie Thinking the fairer that he tooke the more his victorie Resolu'd to vanquish them and in his yoake to make them draw And force them prooue against their wills the rigor of his law He at anynch doeth follow them watching most warily As doeth the Hunts-man when his game the wilde Boore he doth spie When they were set along the bankes of some cleare running brooke Or on some little Hillock small or Oake for shade had tooke Or whilst like Fairies they sat downe about some siluer spring Some working and some doing one and some another thing Some tuning their Rebeccas rude and some their Cornets shrill Each one themselues applying to what sport they had most will Whilst in the thickest of the grasse and meadowes coloured greene Their prettie foolish Flocks to daunce to feede and bleat were seene Meane time LOVE watch't with wary heed aduantage for to take To spoyle their pleasures sweet and them his prisoners for to make But he did find that this could not vpon the hast be done To vanquish such as prudent be A Sentence is not effected soone This Fort of Vertue to assault he could not find the feate Sore doubting lest in skirmishing he should repulst be beate Not easily can Loue surprise the double fenced brest Of such a one A Sentence who for his Loue of vertue is possest Where through preuention graue he knew he no good there could finde Whilst mongst chast harts his force was like a little blast of winde In th' end when long he had attempt although it was in vaine He playeth the subtile Spie with craft his purpose to obtaine Thrusting himselfe in middest of this chast and harmles flocke As doth the Wolfe when he doth meane the silly Lamhes to mocke Dauncing within the eyes most faire of fairest Shepheardesse To make himselfe be honored there with lowly humblenesse There doth he take his lodging vp this practise for to prooue And rauisheth thousands of harts most chast with her sweet Lone Meane while vnto the Shepheards all this Shepheardesse doth seeme So faire a Creature as her face immortall they do deeme They her adore within their soules and loue her perfectly They seek to serue her honoring her with zeale religiously But she makes no account of them she thinks her selfe diuine Whilst mortall men for her to loue she scorns as t' were a crime Thus Loue with pride such minds doth fill as with such heat is firde And who with such disdainfull spirits most hauty are inspirde So oft fine coyest Dames A Sentence most proud and insolent become When men they 'le haue to account of them yet mens sights will faun Euen as that Souldier who doth back returne to natiue soyle As victor not a little vaunts and bragges of golden spoyle So with vain-glory A Comparison small is not this angell possest Whose insolencie is such as Heauens themselues the same detest Honor oft-times engendred is of the most perfects thing Each one belieues his owne conceit his passion following Accounts of what is excellent within his proper soule But yet such faults as him disgrace he neuer doth controule He seeth the goodliest gifts he hath A Sentence to be distaind with pride Yet on this vice so palpable to looke he cannot bide This Shepheardesse Sycambra proud was call'd and christned so Whose high aspiring wrought in th' end her finall ouerthrow A faire young Shepheard did her loue her did he lone alone But at her hands poore silly soule contentment found he none For though she knew affection his did towards her surmount Yet she not of his friendship waide nor of him made no count Too too diuine she thought her selfe for any for to loue Loues selfe so high she lookt her will could hardly change or moue Yet by the selfe-same Loue her pride was punisht to her cost And this presumptuous minde of hers was cause her life she lost For now behold LOVE who to 'th Gods for might yeelds not at all Brauely totame proud stubborne hearts that pride might haue a fall Beyond this loftie minded Girle doth soare the prize to haue Whilst to a heart more proud then hers he makes her stoope like slane This was a Springall young who of his youth was in the prime Sanguin as Adon faire as faire Nurcissus in his time As trim and fresh as May whose chiefe delight and exercise Was hunting of the rauenous Wolfe as was his vsuall guise The poysoned darts of restles Loue which loyall hearts doth slay His wonted rest brake not at all by night nor yet by day He neuer dream'd of nor ere knew what those sad waylings means Which gripes the Louers oft with griefs and makes them pule leane He carefull looking to his sheepe his time away did passe In hunting was his chiefest ioy his loue wet fishing was Thus doe you see how Loue reueng'd himselfe on that coye Dame Who ore-presumptuous both his grace and fauour did disdaint Thus hurlie burlie makes he being the sire of leand debate Confounds all orders good and sense and changeth our estate So braue Achilles lou'd yet could not lou'd be of his friend So did Apollo Daphne like but t w'as vnto no end So thousands loued haue who nere could right rewarded be Whilst they true tryall made of Loues most vninst crueltte A Sentence Sycambra she whom others lik'te did loue sââs being lou'd And seeking others to transforme herselfe transformde she proon'd The louely Swaine which she adorde Armanda ââepedso Armanda whom Sycambra sought yet nere could find him the. Of stature he was tall well made of personage and face And in discretion bare himselfe with trim and seemely grace His chestnut haire was like vnto the whitish waters wet Which dangling downe in tresses faire did waue alongst his necke His faultlesse for-head large and broad as outward witnes gane By secret instinct as it were of his stout courage brane His eyes in colour like to blacke with twinckling eye-browes hid The swift flight which from bowe doth flie resemble aptly did His Currall mouth was Rubie red like to the ruddyrose When through the heat of Sunne himselfe he daintily doth close His checks white as the Creame wherein red strawberies one flings His Gate and port like to the state Maiesticall of kings His naked chinne declar'd his youth on which no haire was yet His well-growne armes his valour
possible a wight to fiad so cruell in his will To worke or once in minde to thinke so faire a Virgin ill What heart so harsh degenerate can liue here on the ground That to so rare a beautious face he dare a foe be found The all doing Gods whose Essence is immortall and diuine Haue heretofore sought fauours out lesse faire a thousand time Phoebus of not so faire as thou did dearely like and deeme And Ioue inferiours thine by far did fancie and esteeme Who then hard hearted so could be to play so vile apart As for to seeke to trouble thee who more then Goddesse art Neuer was yet diuinitie to be offended seene But for their rash temeritie it hath well punisht beene Then Lady speake who could ecclips thy Sun-shine glorie thus Or ore thy feature faire who could become so tyrannous The hearts of many Shepheards proud hast not thou vanquished Thy diamond eyes their haughtie spirits haue they not rauished Then why should'st thou thus mourne and weepe Ah cease to keepe this guile And from thy heart all dismall care abandon and exile Too louely is thy countenance thy coarse too sweete to see That in the flower of youth thou should'st withouten Louers bee Mong'st which thy loyall Zerphir still most dutious thou shalt finde And who more then his proper good thy seruice aie doth minde Whil'st on the Altar of good will his heart in zealous wise Vnto thy Saint-like beautie he deuout doth sacrifice Ah if thou wert acquainted with this heate so vehement With which Loue doth incensevs so whil'st he doth vs torment If thou but knew'st this ill by which such crosses sower we haue Nere leaning vs vntill our coarse it bringeth to the graue Or if thou canst imagine by thine owne experience How much they suffer whom Loue keepes within his warlike fence Then by the selfesame bitter panges which tortor thy sad heart Doe take some pittie on my woes and rue my deadly smart If thou desir'st to haue thy wound to be recur'd with ease To heale mine inward festring sore let it not thee displease Chase hence mine ill drie vp my teares and by one selfe same way Driue thine likewise from hence which else will soone worke my decay Liue after Zerphir thy true slaue withouten teene and care Happâe liue thou Sicambra sweet in beautle enerrare Passe cheerfully thy time with him who merily would liue If he might see these ioylesse fits thou ouer once would'st giue Deare let me holde this life of mine as tennant vnto thee That freede from all disasters bad thy heart he mighten see Helpe thou thy selfe Physition sweet and driue away these fits These fits companions vnto griefe which in thy countinance fits And bring not him vnluckilie before his time be come Who is thy secret seruant sworne vnto his dismall Tombe Ah speake to me mine onely ioy and wipe thy watrie eyes Of late the clearest lightes of heauen they were not made forcries Giue to my frighted heart some breath and yeeld to him such scope That one day he of that his ill may be acquit through hope Put him in comfort that though now his fortunes in the waine He may once fiade it at the full and franchisde be againe But why Sicambra speak'st thou not And why art thou so sad This humour thine melancolie doth make me almost mad Ah answere me and by thy paine what I doe suffer indge Being ore loyall vnto thee at which I doe not grudge The parly portall of thy mouth at last yet open breake Vntill hold me not thus in suspence but some what to me speake For to importune thee with words I neuer meane to leaue Vntill some happie blest repile I shall from thee receaue Speake then at last that my poore heart may know if it shall cease From doubtfull dread or if thou meanst to graunt it wished peace Thus Zerphir woo'd but she that had her minde as then not there No answere to him gaue againe nor what he said did heare She not so much as thought on him nor what he had indur'd For her owne sake Loue all her thoughts so strongly had immurde Yet he so earnest was with her desiring her to show What her intention was towards him whereby he might it know That in the end with choller mou'd outragious through griefe Her passions ruling ouer her and desprate of reliefe With pale and wanny looke she forth to him these words doth send The heauie sentence of his death and of his fatall end What moues thee Zerphir vnto her so troublesome to bee Who cares not for thee nor accounts of thy griefe nor thee Who through her dismall fortune hard hath so much for to care As other mens misfortunes she to heare no time hath spare Say what I haue to doe with thee or with thy constancie When I nere meane to goe about to quit this courtesie Thou nothing feel'st compar'd to me my griefe to thine is small Thy sicknes in respect of mine no sicknes is at all To helpe thy maladie I am too much diseasde in minde To chase away thy cares mine owne troubles too great I finde A sickly Patient sore attatch't with sharpe diseases rife Vnto another soule diseasde cannot restore him life I cannot helpe thee for for want of succour I my selfe Complaine withouten remedie yet cannot I finde health With selfe same paine as thou art I am vexed through Loue Nor Fortune me to fauour more then thee as yet I proue Seeke then elsewhere to swage thy woes mongst such as so are bent And suffer me that I alone my sorrowes may lament Nor me importune any more for fore I pittie take Of thee the Sunne shall leaue the skie and firie coach forsake Enough tis I alreadie burne with more then extreame paine Withouten entertaining more a second worser gaine It neuer shall be said or seene Sycambra burnes with fire Of nouellchange as if to rage she had a swift desire For she vnkind Armanda still will loue and euer shall Nor euer any but himselfe in heart she will enstall She death will chuse before her faith she once doe falsifie Though churlish her he Sanus remorse doth vse discourteously Thy seruice nere of me shall finde reward or recompence Then get thee gone goe Shepheard goe dispatch I say from hence Thus said she angrie flings away in minde tormented sore As scarred wolfe from thickest flies or foming saundge Boore When they doe heare the Eccoing woods with noyce of Hounds toring Which of their taking at their prey vnluckie message bring So went Sycambra who did leaue poore Zerphir in a sound Whilst banning his hard fortunes all he grunting falls on ground He stood amazde Enon like and as a Bedlem mad When as how Paris false had her forsooke she tidings had He hauing lost his Mistris loathes to liue such life to rew As Piramus for Thisbies sake himselfe vnhappie slew The Nymph he followeth heauily who galde was at the hart As
with thee and is not this thinkest thou the still Cell where heauie sleepe remaineth and the dreadfull lodge of the fuskie daughters of blacke Night Hither did Iuno come to finde out drousie Slomber shee as then abiding here when she wrought so cunningly that she cast Iupiter into a dead sleepe whilst she in the meane while fauoured the Grecians in battaile who before that time had bene forsaken both by her Brother and her Husband Heere did Pluto hide his deare beloued Proserpina before he conueyed her into Hell And heere Aeneas vnderstood the Oracle of Sibilla which was his sufficient warrant to descend downe vnto the pitchie kingdome of the youngest sonne of Saturne If this place be agreeable vnto thy mind then onwards with that which I haue so earnestly vrged thee to bewray faile not to perform as much as thou hast promised vnto him who will shew what testimonies possible may be of a gratefull mind towards thee With all my hart replyed kinde Arcas for it is no losse nor trauaile to seeke to discharge and satisfie such as wee are bound or beholding vnto there being no remedie but we must needes one way or other cleare with them who are our Creditors and vnto whom we are obliged Let vs then sit downe reuerend Father giue mee leaue to take breath for a while to the ende I may call to minde and knit vp the broken threed of this my last discourse with you For already haue I told you if you haue not forgotten the same how Loue against reason and iudgement had quenched the affection I bare to Iulietta mine enforcing me in steede of the other to affect my Diana as the Smyth maketh his coales more hotter by flinging water vpon them And to say truth what is hee that could not haue bene ouertaken by her faire feature For if there had bene exception taken against the beautie of the Goddesse of beautie as did Pallas and Iuno no doubt the Phrygian Shepheard had yeelded the prize vnto her and had not needed to haue trauersed the Seas to bring away Heliene because she was lesse faire then shee By her onely Zerxis had bene able to haue drawne the counterfait of Iuno through which hee thought to make himselfe to become admirable and diuine without drawing together so manie faire women of Crotona as hee did to borrow from euery one of them such beautie as they had This then so much inflamed my heart at euery word shee spake in her daunce seemed a swift dart which thwirled into my soule euery step she moued in the measures An Example proued a firebrand to burne my heart withall Whilst shee minding her dauncing neuer marked me nor once so much as cast her sight vpon mee except it were by great chaunce Great personages hauing their mindes busied about matters of importance seldome or neuer wouchsafe to looke or to behold miserable persons which are altogether vnprofitable vnto them Meane space Loue lying in waite let not the least of her looks fall vnto the ground but that with the same he pierced and through pierced my soule as a young childe giueth a thousand pricks vpon a peece of paper in which hee would set out the shewe or resemblance of some figure or shape What should I say I forgot euery thing onely to thinke vpon her and to marke if peraduenture she did cast her eyes vpon me and like a foole as I was I flattered my selfe made my conceit belieue that she perceiued my meaning and that she would take some pittie of my disease construing and interpreting all her gestures and glaunces vnto mine owne aduantage not vnlike that fond Captaine that dreameth he hath vanquished his enemies giuing the spoyle away before he hath wonne the field But O how much was I deceiued I when the daunce was ended seeing her A Similie where I stood to goe on the other side where I stood retiring as it were her selfe fat from me Yet was I so foolish for all that that I thought she vsed this pollicie to the ende she might bleare the eyes of the rest and conceale the great good will shee bare me as if she had had a great care of me when as God knoweth she was far off from the same Thus Desire causeth Louers to interprete euerie thing to the best and for their owne conceits imagining that they cannot loue but that they must needes be loued againe But Phedra loued the chast Hippolitus yet was not shee beloued againe An example Apollo loued Daphne yet found no requitall at her handes and Myrrha doted vppon her owne Father yet could neuer obtaine what she so much requested Notwithstanding all this Loue grewe so extreamely within me as he beganne to make me couragious and bolde as that Captain which taketh into his grace his enemie whom he hath ouercom putteth newe life and valour in him So I would not giue ouer nor play the coward in this extreame perill but as a second Theseus began to deuise how I might draw my selfe out of this intricate Labyrinth wherevpon plucking vp my heart and setting a good face vpon the matter I aduentured to approach and to come nigh my faire mistrisse O diuine force of LOVE how great his puissance is Being a farre off from her I was hardie and bolde I made reckoning that I had gotten her I deuised sundry sorts of speeches which I meant to deliuer vnto her and began to grow proud in my gesture wordes and countenance But no sooner came I neere vnto her but that I was another kinde of man quite changed and altered hauing in steed of my former brauados and bragging conceits feare and respect awfull dutie and graue reuerence entred into my minde all which tooke possession of my heart so that I was as timerous as could be not knowing what to doe So Casar staied a long time doubting about the passage of Rubicon although before he was throughly determined to wade through it An Example I then might haue bene compared vnto that miserable creature who calleth for death prayeth and most earnestly vrgeth death to come and to carrie him away With a good will faith death behold me here ready but when the poore wretch seeth him he is astonied amazed and terrified wishing rather his roome then his companie So soemed it that death had feazed vpon me I being so confounded vpon the suddaine that I knewe not whether I had anie hart life or sence within me or no. The Foole perceiueth not his owne follie which the wiser sort take notice of because they are wise A Sentence So I being taken with this new desire which had blinded as well the eyes of my bodie as of my minde tooke no knowledge of my foolish carriage onely being rauished with the faire contemplation of my sacred Goddesse I neuer thought of any thing but how to stare her still in the sweete face O how hard are the entraces in to Loue where
dutious respect timerous feare vncertaine doubt and bashfull shame keepe the doore through which we cannot passe without their permission and leaue we being bound to content them all one after another before wee can goe any one foote further My beautious Ladie nothing sicke at all of my disease gaue a gesse presently of my maladie shee quickly found out my fault which I my selfe could not see and being warie and graue soone descried my vaine and idle follie My cruell passions which confounded my sences bringing mee to be as an idiot or as one deuoyd of sense moued her nothing at all For vertuous she had neuer knowne what Loue was she hauing bene for her most exquisite beauty at the first beginning of her life consecrated and bestowed vpon that Goddesse whose name she bare and whose sacrifices she most solemnely did performe But all Natures are not subiect vnto Loue. The right Diamond can neuer be cut with all the yron tooles that may be neither can Cupid be counted the commaunder ouer all such soules as liue heere belowe in the world whether it is for that he can doe nothing with vs except we giue him leaue and so submit our selues voluntarily vnto him or whether it be because he being blind and an infant he canot see how to strike such rightly which scape shot-free froÌ his tyrannies She then perceiuing my folly acquainted with my sicknes began thus to schoole me Shepheard who hath so suddenly taken away thy voyce and countenance from thee And what is the matter thou carryest thy selfe so strangely I am no Medusa that changeth men into stones neither any Circes or Medea to alter the shapes of men by inchaunting potions Who willed thee to come hither thus to lose both thy selfe and thy speech together what foolish imagination hath seazed vpon thy spirits what fortish disease doth bridle thy tongue and what sensles dolour doth possesse all the partes of thy body Am I so ghastly a sight to behold that my very face maketh such become amazed and astonished and those mute and dumbe of speech that doe but looke vpon the same What vncoth frenzie hath brought thee hither to giue vs so many testimonies of thy extreame and witlesse follie Fond man that thou art not sufficientlie satisfied and content that thy neighbours should know of this thy madnesse but thou must needs make strangers acquainted with the same also who before knew no such matter Either withdrawe thy selfe from my companie or else declare vnto mee the cause and the occasion of this thy comming hither and of these thy brain-sicke fittes and humours For what profite or credite should a man looke to get by talking with such sortish companions as will belieue nothing but their owne grosse follie and who are without reason to take in good part such wholsome admonitions and warnings as shall be for their best benefit and behoofe Speake then or be gone for a dead truncke of a withered Tree would performe as much as thou doest thine eyes being onely they of all thy other members that swiftly moue and strangely stare vpon me As the way-faring man heauy a sleepe vnder some shadowing Oake A Sentence awaketh vpon the sudden in the morning when he heareth the Hunts-man with his yelping dogs to passe along by him Euen so I with this sweete voyce of hers awaked out of my drousie slumber and contrary to the companions of Vlisses whom the Songs of the Syrons brought to sleepe I was much reuiued with the same Or as the watchfull Louer depriued of his Mistris dreaming in his bed that hee speaketh vnto her waketh and starteth vp suddenly verilie imagining that he seeth and discourseth with her So likewise this short and sharpe Oration of hers rowsed me by force as it were from my dull and leaden musings and brought me into my right wittes againe O how Loue resembleth the Sunne For it taketh away from vs both our voyce and force As the other giueth life and vigour vnto vs and by the selfe-same heate consumeth vs againe This made me sore ashamed blushing to looke about me But in the end I plucked vp my spirits being bold to answere her in these tearmes O fairest amongst all that be faire lesse perfect then thou art haue heeretofore with their presence taken away the speech of more excellent Orators then I am by oddes If in beholding the ordinarie workes of GOD which daily present themselues before our eyes and which we continually see wee become mute and dumme at the same wondering and admiring at the puissance of such an immortall and mercifull Creator How much more them most gratious Nymphe thinkesh thou we should be astonished and amazed seeing so rare so perfect and so exquisite a ãâã as thou art comming so neere vnto the beautie of God indeed If the Infernall powers in hell belowe haue in times past bene moued with the sound of a melodious Harpe and if that gentle Orpheus could by his Musike allure and drawe after him such things as had no foule Ah then by how much more shall out soules be enticed with that which is both comely liuely rare and faire and such as is diuine beautie Nothing delighteth our eyes so much as that which is beautifull A Sentence neither do they take anie pleasure to behold that which is deformed foule or il-fauoured And as the greedy and huugtie starueling who hath not seene any victualls of a long time before finding himselfe at a great feast is so rauished with ioy as hee looseth his colour and speech confounded with the sent and sight of the meate Euen so in seeing an Obiect so admirable and so pleasing as thy beauty is why shouldest thou wonder if I be rauished with the same Hath not Loue had the power to race out of the heart of Theseus as well the sweet fauour of Ariadne as the great good turnes hee receiued at her hands forcing him whollie to affect and like of Phoedra And the same Loue did it not take away all the remembrance from periurde Iason as well of the pleasures as of the beautie of Medea repudiating her to take Glauce vnto his espoused wife Then comeliest Creature of all others created muse no more at this my fond behauiour and carriage and if I haue offended condemne not my minde but thy peerlesse countenance which as the Sunne pierceth the Christall so can it penetrate the power the puissance force and might of Constancie it selfe yea and through the hardest hearte of the most barbarous people that are This was the first speech I made before her and which God knoweth I could hardly finish by reason I was so afraide lest I should offend her But this preuailed no more with her then an earnest and vehement perswasion doth with a right braue and constant minde vrging it to breake his Oathe and promise or to commit some horrible treason or extreame vile and egregious villanie shee being throughly resolute to serue still the
haue euer bene accomplished and brought to passe without extreame boldnesse and exceeding great venturing yea and many times without all apparance of Reason They which spare to venture prooue for the most part Audaces Fortuna iuuat the midosque repellat poore and beggerly wretches For Fortune most commonly fauoureth such as be be bolde and of a desperate spirit whereas cowards and such as be white-liuered shee reiecteth and bringeth enought The Gods themselues vouchsafe to accept men for their seruitors nothing disdaining at all their sincere oblations and offerings Neither do you iudge aright of mine inward affection towards you For in louing you I doe honour you this my loue not being the childe of an vnchast Venus but of renowmed and illustrious Honour Too too diuine is your Beautie too braue your Vertue too chaste your mind and too sacred your honor to be tainted or once touched with the dart of Cytherea Besides Vertue it selfe neuer disdaineth dutious affection and loyall constancie for her attendants and seruitours which if it be so Then why should not you entertaine the poore Shepheard Arcas for your slaue The selfe-same Goddesse which you honour hath deerely loued a simple Swaine shee descending downe from the heauens to come vnto him and to search for him with all delightfull and pleasant shewes that may be Venus likewise hath not thought scorne of the amitie of louely Adonis why then should you disdaine mine Well may you forbid me but hinder me you cannot For loue you I must nor can anie thing turne me from the same Easilie may man tame his couetous passion his losses and hinderances his sorrowes and griefes but hardly or neuer can hee ouercome Loue. For neither Dame Nature her-selfe nor anie cunning Art are able to giue vs anie such precepts as are sufficient to bring the same to passe Dauid nor Dauids wise sonne Hercules nor strong Sampson Plato nor wittie Aristotle Ouid nor learned Virgill were neuer able to doe it hee hauing forced them all to trie his conclusions Bee then perswaded most excellent Nymphe and esteeme not so lightly of the puissance and force of LOVE lest hee make you to feele of his powerfull effects as that Prince vseth to deale hardly with such of his people and subiects as goe about to reuolt from him Fond man A Sentence replyed shee smiling The faults of great personages excuseth not the follies of the meaner sort whom wee must follow not in their riches but rather imitating them in their Vertues for their mightinesse couereth the faults which they doe the other not being able to doe the like because they want the authoritie the first are in If Diana and Venus haue loued therefore thinkest thou that I am bound to follow them and Loue as they did If so thou thinkest thou art much deceiued A Kingdome may well suffer a wicked and an vniust Prince and yet it doeth not followe but that his subiects may be both faithfull and godly Vertue is as much commendable in the poore A Sentence as in the rich and the sillie wretch dught as much to doubt to offend as hee that is most wealthiest and mightiest of all because the violating of Vertue admitteth no excuse at all in as much as men are more bound vnto her then vnto any thing else in the world Thinke not then that either these thy examples or these thy reasons are able to change my minde to alter my will or as much as once to make the least breach that is into the inuincible Forte of my chaste thought Subtill Sophisters in their schooles to maintaine their bad opinions neuer want Arguments which carrie the shewe and face of Reason So you Louers learne in the Academie of your Maister manie goodly discourses which resemble such fruite as is faire and ripe outwardly but within is rotten and vnwholsome and good for nothing For how can they be good or iust when the Doctor that teacheth them by your testimonies is without reason and blinde and without all equitie and iustice The beginning of your Song is alwayes this that it would please vnto entertaine you into our seruices Because forsooth your Loue is most sacred and chast towards vs. But good wine in time groweth to be sower and sharpe And so these your goodly considerations and chast respects waxe daily worse and worse so that in the ende they come to be starke naught indeed and much disagreeing with our Honours as the sweetest meate is soonest spoyled through the heate of the Sunne Giue ouer then good Swaine and neuer talke vnto me more of these errors which make both high and lowe to forget themselues otherwise I will stoppe mine eares as the Serpent doeth his with his taile I seeing her choller to be somewhat abated replied thus Rich Treasure of Vertue vnder correction your owne wordes condemne your owne opinion which you holde For if wee must not iudge by the example of others and if particular actions be they good or badde binde not the generall Then why thinke you that all Louers are scarce chaste or vertuous when there be diuers found to be of a contrarie disposition and Nature All the Goddesses were not like to Venus nor all the Gods of the humour of Iupiter He that hath abused himselfe no way but doeth his businesse honestly and well not going about any Treacherie or Treason ought not to abide the punishment of a Traitor For that were to doe against all Iustice there being great difference betweene the guiltlesse and the guiltie in the manner of their liues When I shall haue spoken or done any thing against my former meaning then may you well enroll mee amongst the number of those infamous Louers but vntill I shall so doe you cannot iustly accuse mee Did I thinke you were otherwise then you say you are and that Honor Vertue Modestie and Chastitie lodged not in your brest I could not I assure you loue you so much as I doe For that Loue that is not immortall is but a Loue false deceitfull and counterfait The Loue which one attributeth alone vnto Beautie passeth and dieth without the the same but that which respecteth Vertue continueth sacred and sure for euer because it neuer dyeth no more then Vertue it selfe doth If wee will loue rightlie then must wee loue the soule which is the receptacle of Reason which neuer perisheth and not the bodie which in small processe of time endeth and decaieth My conclusion is thus that I honour you for your vertue I loue you for your beautie hoping you will accept of my poore sacrifices least you be condemned to be more haughtie and high-minded then the Gods themselues who disdaine not to listen vnto the supplication of a sincere and loyall heart No more Shepheard answered the Virgin importune me no more Hee that is wise ought not alone to be without spot or blame but must as well be free and cleare from all suspition of the same Taking away
King hauing wonne himselfe such commendations by reason of his valour as he might commaund that which other Gallants and Gentlemen scarce durst not open their mouths to entreat for so that hauing egresse and regresse at all houres and to euerie place he one day espied a fit time to breake his minde vnto his Mistris whom he finding alone began thus to giue her the onset he that is troubled with any griefe is much lightned of the same when he hath vnfolded and discouered it vnto his friend Now faire Gentlewoman of all euils that I haue knowne in my conceit there is none that commeth nigh vnto Loue in respect of crueltie for all other diseases haue their remedies onely he is as it were without recure Notwithstanding as he entereth in at the eyes who stand him in steed of torches to set him a fire in the heart so will he perforce passe from forth the mouth taking the tongue for a Herold or Trompet of his dissignes I speake this by experience although vnto my no little sorrow vnlesse your harsh and hard rigour growe to be gentle and milde and except you lay a side this cruell vaile which hide the pittie of your inward thought Alas sweet Ladie if sometimes we loue those who hate vs such as beare vs no good will at all how much more in reason then ought we to affect those that loue vs indeed For although their friendship is not profitable vnto vs yet neuerthelesse ought we to accept of their good wills inasmuch as we cannot loue one vnlesse we wish couet and procure the credit and good of such whom we fancie which me thinkes should binde vs in conscience to shew the like good meaning againe considering that the bruit beastes themselues fancie those that doe good vnto them doing a kind of reuerence vnto their gouerners that gouerne and bring them vp That your beautie being so rare as it is cannot suffer or indure any thing that is bad or vitious I doubt not at all for most comonly that which is perfect of it selfe is not so easily through vice corrupted which put me in good hope that you will not blame my loyall amitie my true intention nor the chast desire I haue had alwaies to serue you If therefore it shall please you to entertaine me into so happie an office you then shall quickly perceiue many true effects to spring forth from this my faithfull seruitude a double band tying me against the harshnes of your rigour and I being double wise moued and compelled to serue you the one is your admirable incoÌparable vertue which admitteth no coÌparison and the other is your excellent beautie which glistereth among other faces as tho Sunne doth among the startes May be you will say that Loue hath set me downe this lesson teaching me what I should speake and that neuer any Louer thinketh that Subiect foule which he loueth To which I will answere you that if you were not worthie of the praise I haue giuen you and meriting euery way to be beloued Loue neuer had made vse of your singular perfections to ouerthrow my libertie as he hath now done because he can neuer make a shew of the greatnes of his power but by such rare Subiects as Nature doth furnish him with all through which he helpeth himselfe to take prisoners the harts of greatest Monarks this being the reason we seldome or neuer sees foule or vitious woman to be affected or loued for that Loue refuseth to doe such a one as she any seruice at all It is no vnhonest desire that inflameth me with your kind a mitie for rather would I chuse to die then once to holde within me such a bad thought and much lesse doe I make Eburting mine exercise to passe the day withall now I am free froÌ warres For too pretious a thing doe I esteeme Time to be to consume and lose it without any good occasion neither is it my meaning any way to goe about to deceiue you for so doing I should but deceiue my selfe and deceiuing my selfe I should quickly be the authour of mine owne proper ouerthrow my pretence being to seeke you with a chast minde in the way of sacred marriage with the consent of your friends according vnto all orderly proceedings Thinke then sweet Lady how plaine my meaning is how holy mine intentions are and how chast my desires remeÌbring that Wedlocke is a matter you can hardly avoyd therefore I beseech you if you find me any way worthie of your friendship cast him not away that honoureth and adoreth you more then his owne soule neither frustrate him of that good fortune which he hopeth to find by enioying of your seemely selfe because he neitheir will nor can be fortunate but to make you blessed neither seeke for any renowme but onely to make your selfe the more glorious for euer This was the summe of the Caualiers speech Who silent now attends his Ladies kind replie Whilst to his heart she wounds doth dart with her faire eye Our saine Maide of Honour vnaoquainted altogether with such busines as this whose chast cares vntill now were alwaies shut vnto such Orations as these was much amazed to heare such a speech as this not knowing what answere to giue vnto Horatio vpon the soden She saw his vertue his reputation and his glorie had made him famous and commendable his loue to be chaste and laudable and his modest and pudicque intentions worthie of all succour reasonable But yet on the other side a number of these odde contrarie conceits which hinder men much in their first proceedings and so hardly bring it to passe when they haue begun the same as the most part of them like faint-hearted cowards giue ouer in their pursuite without doing any good at all made her to pause and doubt vpon the matter fearing lest as into vnknowne places all entrings and beginnings are dangerous so this his eager chasing in loue was followed either for some mischiefe to light vpon her bodie or else for some staine or blemish vnto her honour Besides such Virgins as are not practisde at all in the Art of Loue although they thinke well of such as are suters vnto them alwaies imagine so simple are they that their credits should be much disparaged if they should not giue two or three proud or disdainfull answeres vnto their seruants when they first begin to court them and therefore for fashion sake this Gentlewoman thought to doe the like but yet bethinking her selfe somewhat better of the matter she thought it was as good to forbeare as to doe it one while she thought vpon one thing and another while vpon an other in the end she resembled The Rosie bad which winde bloweth here and there amaine Holding his head downe which he raiseth vp againe She loued Horatio admired at his valour honoured his Chiualrie highly prized his glorie and found her selfe tickled with the great praises he gaue vnto her But as too
much good fortune is not the best too much ill fortune is as bad the moderate and temperate being that which is the golden meane so this Damozell compoundeth her answere of sweet and sower nourishing the minde of her Louer as well with hope as with feare following herein the cunning Pothicarie who couereth his bitter Pill with gold all ouer And thus she answered vnto him I willingly confesse noble Lord Horatio that your worthie valour deserueth great commendations but though it be of great force against the enemies of the King yet bath it no power nor interest ouer me For although I highly prise it as euerie one else doth yet doe I farre more esteeme of mine honour and therefore perswade your selfe of this that in comparison of that I scorne the greatest things in the world be they neuer so pretious I most strange and monstrous is it for vertuous Maidens to loue whose liking ought to be tied vnto the good will of their parents and depending vpon their pleasures they can make no promise without their consents This maketh me to smile at you and to thinke such Louers to want their right wits that so foolishly follow in pursuite the loue of such Virgings as are wholy subiect vnto the disposing of their kindred For what good answere may they looke for to please themselues withall from such as cannot bestow themselues as they would And such an answere must I be faine to giue vnto you for that I cannot assure you for certaintie of any such thing as you defire For of my selfe I am no bodie but as it were vnder couert barne my good ill and my bodie being wholy in the possession and at the disposing of my gratious Ladie and Mistris the Queene and of mine owne Father my Lord Samperius Besides I so well like of a Virgins life which is not subiect vnto cruell Himen as I wish not nor willingly would giue it ouer to be come a Bond-slaue of a free-woman not forgetting that as long as men are woers they are seruants but no sooner haue they obtained what they would but then strait they become Maisters and Lords ouer vs. Againe I am not ignorant that they will not spare for faire speeches that they want not pithie perswasions and aboue all they will not sticke for golden promises But the old saying is that he that scoreth best paieth euer worst and great braggers are least performers of their words And me thinkes you do great iniurie vnto these beaue qualities in you to spend your time in courting a sillie damozell who cannot pleasure you when you might better employ the same to the great profit of your King and Countrie Then valiant Horatio follow the Warres againe and loose not your glorie and Honor through vaine and idle LOVE to the ende you may not be blamed neither I suspected to be the cause of your loytering heere at home without doing any thing as if I had pulled your Armour off from that warlike couragious and valiant bodie of yours And this perswade your selfe that the renowmed credit which shall come vnto you by your gallant venturous and braue exploits shall sooner winne mee to be yours then all the cunning traines that you can deuise by Loue to take me and that I make more account and estimation of them then of all the Oathes and protestations that you daily vse And this when you shall haue accomplished at the full and when my Father shall be returned from the Indies if it shall stand with the good liking of the King the Queene and him I then shall be well content and pleased to take vnto husband such a braue Caualier as yourselfe is and vntill then you shall pardon mee For as I am now so will I keepe my selfe whilst you in the meane time may studie how to shewe and make triall of the rare and admirable proofes of your vndoubted and inuincible courage and vallour But will you then sweete Mistris replied the Knight be euery way as good as your word and performe what you promise at this time That will I answered the Ladie as I am a true Maide Prouided alwayes that you take that vertuous course which I haue set downe vnto you accomplishing euery thing orderly and all obstacles and lettes taken quite out of the way by the consent of all my foresaid friendes It is enough said Horatio and I take your faire promise vpon which I will build as vpon a flintie Rocke assuring your selfe that ere long you shall heare some newes of mee Heerevpon kissing her daintie hand hee departed from her most luckilie performnig his promise O mightie LOVE not Ioue though mightiest God be bee Can bring to passe such wonders as are done by thee Horatio making all possible haste to be gone and prouiding euery thing necessarie for his iourney presently saileth vnto Saffin where hee atchieued many straunge and wonderfull enterprises ouer the Infidels in Affrica burning their Cities slaughtering their people and ouer-running all the whole Countrey Insomuch as his glorie euery day grew greater and greater he being now growne a terro vnto his foes and a great Honor vnto his owne Countreymen Which done hee commeth backe againe vnto Portugall whither also Sampeius the Father of Izabella was returned from the Indies who hearing such a generall applause of praâse giuen vnto Horatio began to affect him wonderfully whilst hee following his Loue businesse in chase so earnestly and with such good meanes as with the consent of all parties as the King the Queene and Sampeius himselfe the marriage betweene valiant Horatio and faire Izabella was concluded consummated and finished with the greatest pompe and most Princelike solemnities that might be Our Louers so entierly louing one another as they could scarcely abide to be one small minute asunder So rare and admirable was their loue as that of Priam and Hecu. ba was not the like Nor that of Scipio and Cornelia to be compared vnto the same Their two heartes were but one their two bodies but one minde and thought and their will and affection was all one without any difference at all In respect of their kindnesse let that of Seleucus and Stratonica be voyde and the rare fancie that was found to be betweene Vlisses and his constant Penelope there hauing bene neuer so earnest or ardent a kinde of affection as theirs was But what is too violent can not be permanent and firme Tempests and stormes the more furious and raging they are the lesser time they continue and endure Euen as that bodie is suddainely ouerthrowne and killed that is surprized with a most suddaine dangerous disease Meane while Horatio grewe euerie day in more fauour with his King then other In so much as not long after hee chose him Gouernour of Ansillies whither he must needs goe to keepe possession there O how sweete is Honour be it neuer so painefull vnto generous and couragious Spirits as vnto Hercules and to others They leauing all
hence To you I turne my speech now my faithfull fellows and companions in Arms who haue always taken such fortunes as I haue done to you I recommend the honor of your deare friend Horatio somtimes your Gouernor after his death Most strictly charging you as you shall answere before God and most kindlie intreating you as you will haue the good will of men to see my faithfull and constant wife conueyed safely from hence into Portugall according vnto her calling after this my carkasse shall be interred there to doe her all dutifull seruice that may be Farewell my brethren my friendes and my companions I goe before you to prepare places for you I goe to heauen there to enioy eternall happinesse Giue me your hands euery one of you before I die and leaue now these your needlesse and vnnecessary mournings in my behalfe Remember that God is iust in all his actions who hath and that deseruedly punished mee for abusing my constant Spouse so hainouslie as I haue done being so voyde of grace as to preferre a most damned strumpet before her chast and vertuous selfe which was the onely occasion of mine vntimely death Murmure not therefore at the diuine iudgements of the Almightie neither be you grieued at my losse and ouethrow for a far better and a brauer Captaine may you haue then I am Portugall being able to veeld forth men better for desert and for valour then I haue bene euery way I say no more but wish you my faithfull Souldiers no worse then I doe vnto mine owne soule And now once more againe I come to thee my chastest wife Although what to say more then alreadie I haue done well I knowe not Loth I am to leaue thee yet leaue thee I must and therefore I hope thou wilt remember not the fault I haue done thee but how I repent me for the same before I die And this perswade thy selfe that if euer sinne hath bene grieuous vnto the sinner then hath mine bene the same My verie soule beeing sore vexed and tormented day and night euery houre that I doe but thinke thereof But things past and done are not to be vndone and what is once remedilesse must needs prooue to be recurelesse Once more farewell my sweete Izabella to whom I wish no lesse ioy then I haue felt of sorrow Thou God that knowest the secrets of all hearts receiue my soule I beseech thee and saue it from the hands of the enemie So saying hee gaue vp the ghost being infolded within the chaste armes of his kinde wife his face touching her face and his lippes ioyning vnto hers No sooner was his carkasse without life and colde as a marble stone but his mestfull Izabella sunke downe for sorrow So that afresh as then began cryings out screechings wringing of hands and sheading of teares the house resembling a shadow of that miserable mourning when the Troyans saw their Citie set on fire by the Grecians in the night So wofull and so shrill was the sorrowes that euery one made for their Lord as the noise therof waked their vnfortunate Lady from her passionate extasie who being somwehat come vnto her selfe and falling vpon the dead coarse began thus to exclaime Woe is me that euer I was borne and art thou dead my deare Lord without mee Ah why hast thou left her who had rather die with thee then liue with anie other else Thou hast left me at the worst now thou art gone For what am I but an Anatomie of griefe it selfe What is my heart but a receptacle of sadnesse And what are mine eyes but a colde fountaine that distilleth salt water continually Is it likely or possible that Izabella should breath now Horatio is breathles Can it be he should be dead and I should be as yet aliue No no it cannot be and yet in the meane time his bodie is without life and senses and mine too full of vitall motion but long it shall not be so I must now resolue my selfe to follow the course my husband led mee and to take such part with him as he hath taken before me vnfortunate I to haue stayed so long and that I died not before my louely husband Could Portia die when Brutus was slaine and may Izabella liue her Horatio hauing left her Before that time come the Seas shall chaunge the course of his floods and mountaines shall remoue and come to settle amongst lowe valleyes As I saw thee here vpon the earth so hope I to behold thee in the Heauens And for the conclusion and ende of all my disasters I will be interred in the place where thou art buryed Then kissing the pale lippes of her dead husband shee thus began againe O faire mouth from whence sometimes I sucked Nectar foorth must thou be a Trophee for death And must thou be despoyled of so many rich vertues to make famous his victorie Sweete louely eyes must you likewise serue to honour death resigning ouer your quondam Diamond lights vnto blacke and gloomic darknes And thou beautious face must thou turne vnto earth and shewe pale and wanne whilst I remaine here against my will and pleasure No reason is there herein but that I should follow my Guide and accompany him at whose commaund I was alwayes and that most willingly Ah my kind friends I coniure you by the late affection you bare vnto your Lord and Goueruor now dead by the faith and promise you vowed and sware vnto him and by the sacred remembrance of his glorious renowne which neuer shal be forgotten that you consent and agree to bury our two bodies both in one graue Whilst I liued I esteemed as my chiefest treasure my honor good name and now I die my loue vnto my Lord shall remaine as a president for Ages to come of our loyall and true faithfull loue I come sweet Horatio I come nor will I any longer linger in miserie but will seeke thee wheresoeuer thou art vntill I finde thee ending this my loathed life with a death most sweet comfortable Then sweet Iesus be mercifull vnto me and forgiue me this my last fault which extreame and vnsupportable sorrow and not any desperate kinde of conceit forceth me to put in practise And hauing so said shee went about to stabbe her selfe with a poniard vnto the hart when one of the company there by snatcht it forth of her hands vppon the suddaine wherevpon shee seeing her selfe to be preuented of her purpose looking angerly vpon them Well quoth she Portia for all her Gard that watched ouer her had her will and died Cato despite of all his attendants slew himselfe And thinke you for all your narrow looking vnto me that I will not rid my selfe one way or another of life Yes yes ye vnkind men I will dispatch my selfe from this miserie mauger your malicious minds who I perceiue do enuie at my good Fortune and I will complaine of your hard dealing towards me vnto my deare husband in that
you go about to keep me from him whither I will or no. Nor was she deceiued of her purpose though thrise happie in that it pleased God to call her himselfe from out this vale of miserie and so by that meanes to saue her soule For no sooner was shee hindered of her intent but what for anger thereof and what for extreame griefe for Horatios death she fell into a dangerous and hote burning Feuer which so violently seazed vpon euery part of her as her weake bodie being not able to endure the fierie raging thereof shee yeelded her tormented carkas vnto death within sixe dayes after At what time shee was freed from all her former troubles and after her death she was according vnto her desire enterred with her husband leauing behinde her many commendations for her matchlesse vertues her losse being lamented of cuerie good bodie as was fufficiently showne by the pittifull laments that were euerie where vsed for her sake because of the rare examples of chastitie of patience of modest demeanure of loue and of loy altie which she carryed towards her vngratefull and vnkind Husband And this Shepheard is the historie I meant to report vnto thee but because that Diana looking palish with her siluer hornes meaneth to runne her course entering into the place of her glistering brother the Sunne wee will for this time vntill to morrow morning withdraw our selues vnto our Cortages and then as earlie as thou wilt shalt thou begin the discourse of thy Loue againe Wherevpon the olde man and Arcas began to retire themselues homewards and by the way they encountered a faire Shepheardesse who proposed a Riddle vnto another desiring him to interpret the same rightly And this was it that followeth For others good and profit I outragious still Consume what doth my proper vigor entertaine And though my burning is not vnto anie ill Where I should prais de be they vngras of all me doe name Father of liuing Creatures all I am renoumde And Lord I am ouer the Time on earth that staies Yet doth a little thing dant mee and me confound And of a Conquerour conquered forceth mee strait-waies But in the end although that I am plagued thus Through succour of the windes when all thinke I am dead I rise againe to men of times most dangerous And through my harmefull rage I fill them full of dread My mother I deuour whilst I a straunger nonrish For ill I good doe to my spightfull enemies Iudge then since Serpents in my bosome I doe cherish If I ore wretched am not in most pittious wise The other Shepheard knew not the meaning of this Riddle which the old man interpreted in this sort Your Emgma faire Shepherdesse signifieth the fire which being for the vse of man to warme him consumeth deuoureth the wood it being his mother and nourisher It is counted the Father of all liuing Creatures who without heat cannot liue Although he is of great force yet doth a very small thing vanquish him which is water Neuerthelesse when he sheweth to be dead a little blast of winde maketh him to burne more furious then before He doth good to such as count and call him vngratefull in warming them with his heate and deuoureth his mother which is the reason he tearmeth himselfe to be most miserable and wretched This solution euery one commended when as they were walking homewards one of the Shepheards sung this Ode following To Louers what good doth the Sunne If by his beames they be vndone LOVE' 's as bitter as is Rue Blest are such as nere is knew He is accurst that comes tot'h Sea Once were and in port waist haue ease To Louers what good doth their Sunne If by his beames they are vndone A fend Louer doth not ââril Name nor fame of mant inberit Since he is fee to his owne health Whilst in fire he burnes himselfe To Louers what good doth their Sâââe If by his beames they be vndone Griefe ãâã Loue tendeth nis Pleasure is his ãâ¦ã Better laugh then wade and sigh Who then Loues not his owne life To Louers what good deth If by his beames Without teares no Louer is Nor his sad laments doth âisse Better farre to liue at ease Then to seeke a shrowe to please To Louers what good If by his beames Wretched then be such as loue I le liue free nor it will proue For who 'le count of him that still Like set his wees nourish will To Louers what good doth the Sâââe If by his beames he be vndone This Ode being sung euerie owne departed vntill the returne of mestfull Aurera leauing the Sister of Apollo to runne out her darke and gloomie course The end of the second daies meeting of Iuliettaes Shepheards THE THIRD DAIES MEETING OF IVLIETTAES SHEPHEARDS NO distance of place can hinder kind amitie no change of aire altar firme affection neither can the separation of that which is loued diuide or keepe backe the Louer from his sweet Mistris Too true noble Phillistell doest thou know this to be thou being so farre off from thy faire and sacred Iulietta and yet neuerthelesse thou liuest in her and still dreamest of her beautie whilest louing her although she be absent thou canst not forget her for that she holdeth thy heart with her as in a close prison thou in the meane time feeling and by thine owne experience finding how cruell vnto a loyall Louer the absence of his beautious Ladie is the fish not more desiring to haue water for his nourishment then he doth couet her companie it being the chiefe foode of his soule O how tedious and irkesome vnto him who attendeth and expecteth the breake of day to come hauing some great matter of importance to dispatch is the long seeming course of the vnwelcome night In all which time he is not able to take any rest looking still with open eyes to spie the rising of the faire Sunne which he ioyfully marketh at his first appearing to warme the little hills to melt the soft snow to glister and shine vpon the earth and with a solemne pace to mount vp and to settle himselfe in his glorious chariot riding in progresse through the huge giring Vault of heauen he seeth him brauely to chase away the sparkling Starres as the Conquerour doth his enemies that he hath vanquisht and beholdeth the sad and sable night to flie from his cheerfull face as the timerous thiefe doth the seuere Iudges presence whilest he listeneth vnto the melodie of thousands of pretie Birds which solemnize and celebrate in their warbling notes the arriuall of the prudent Sire of proud Phaeton Poore Philistell how often hast thou counted short daies for long yeares after that malitious Fortune had sequestred thee from the companie of thy Ladie and how many times didst thou dreame in the night that thou sawest her deuising and talking with thee in the same manner as she was wont to doe when those happie Desarts of Arcadia were true witnesses
world did encounter And wicked Tyrants did send to hell with a mischiefe So did Achilles loue in his prime and he but a youngling Was by the craftie meanes of his foe most cruelly murdred Greatest states haue lou'd why then for loue should I blam'd be If that I seeke as they to loue thee my Goddesse aboue all Not any things here in this earth compared to thy beautie Not any things here in this earth that like to thy sweet selfe May vaunt to giue lawes as Gods that dwell in the cleere skie For Loue falling in loue with thy faue face and with thy rose checke Plase like awanton in thine eies and like to a Babie Nor doth he liue but in thee who art his Court and his Heauen Happie thou that canst command so loftie a God-head Such and so rare thy fauour is thy grace so beseeming As their Palas most denine doth seeke to repose her On thy cherrie lippes hunnie sucking Mercurie seazeth Aud thy sacred Angels voice is the voice of Apollo And to be briefe th' art so diuine as fewe thee resemble Fowe or none that liues in this world so beautifull as thou Then will I loue thee what doe I say too little a thing t is Lesse that I worship doe to thee as vnto a Goddesse Then to thee as immortall might my life I doe offer And my loy all heart doe I sacrifice to thy beautie Whilst I hung on thine Altar this my verse which hath chaunted With thousand close sighes the praises of many others But yet neuer honoured any like to thy rare selfe Wondred at of men of Gods most worthily worshipt Then this my chast voice receiue as heauenly powers doe And vouchsafe for this song a corner of thy sweet Altar Vnto the end I deeply may engraue in the same place How in coarse and in minde thou fram'd art daintily perfect And that nothing equall can thy feature immortall Who art honours lonely Nurse and Eternities owne childe Hauing made these verses I plaide as the countrie Farmeth doth who hauing gathered some daintie or new kind of fruite keepeth the same verie charily to make a present thereof vnto his Land-lord vpon the first occasion he shall haue to see him and so I resolued to keepe these my verses and to present them vnto my Diana assoone as she should returne from the ceremonies of her Goddesse and long was it as me thought that she staied For to one that expecteth looketh for any thnig euery houre seemeth a yeare at the least Willingly could I haue murmured against the Goddesse Diana If I durst and more willingly haue curtold of and shortned her Sacrifices if I had bene as I was not the great Priest of the Gods But in the end the best thing that I could finde to helpe me was patience perforce whilest I attended with good deuotion the will of the heauens which at the last bringeth euery thing to his perfection Yet when these Sacrifices were at an end they were no more fortunate vnto me then was their beginning For my Diana being elected and chosen Queene of these Mysteries by the other Nymphs was conducted not farre from thence by the whole troupe of them to be enstalled to receiue the Robes of her Royrall Soueraigntie much did it please me that my Ladie was so highly honoured but as much againe did it displease me that I should lose her presence longer for the same which was the cause it drowned and choaked all the contentment and pleasure which I conceiued of her prehemmence and to know her to be preferred before all the rest of the Goddesse traine For the good seruant is not a little glad and proud in that he serueth a braue and vertuous Maister who surpasseth all others in vertue and in chiualrie And so the Louer is fullie contented and not a little doth glorie when he is the seruant of such a Ladie as not Loue alone maketh her seeme beautifull in his owne sight but when she is so reputed and accounted of by the voice of all men Nothing delighteth our mindes more then when we see euery mans conceit to iumpe with our owne in the thing that we loue most of all Now the honour that was attributed vnto my Mistris was great for she was brought from the temple arrayed with a fine and daintie robe of white lawne vnder which was a garment of cloth of golde rich of great valew her head was adorned embollished with a Royall golden Crowne and the louely traces of her flaxen haire were tied with small and delicate colours of the purest silke set out with many prettie knots à nd wonderfull rare deuises Her countenance was such and so Maiesticall as if she had bene the Goddesse Diana indeed for apparell setteth out the bodie verie much being one of the goodhest and chiefest ornaments to encrease beautie especially if there be good store of change of the sacred and costly with ill and that it be fit and well made for the person that shall weare it Her Chariot was of Iuorie wherein she sat inthronized drawne with foure huge Lions which shaked their yellow rough skinnes to make such stubborne harts to feare and quake that were loth to bow and doe reuerence vnto their beautious and Princely Princesse Before her and by her side the other Nymphs marched orderly and in a row euery one of them carrying a braunch of Oliue wreathed and intermixed with a bowe of greene Laurell and a writing vpon the same which bare euerie one 's owne Quatrin in praise of this royall Nymph whereof some of them were these here vnder inserted The Muses Goddesse faire this chast verse offer thee And to thy peerlesse Coarse and Beauties excellence To praise the good to blame such wights as wicked be Is honors double gaine and double recompence Another Quatersan If thou Dianaes name her beautie and her wit doest beare Who is adornd in heauens whilst thou below dost soiourne here What reason is it then but that we worship thee likewise As wee the mighty Gods doe and like honors thee deuise Another Too small a toy this Lawrell is to make for thee a Crowne Thy temples to embellish faire thou art of such renowne T is mortals gaine this honour yet as we present to thee Immortall verses so with such the Gods presented bee Another Rare vertue neuer honoured is enough at any time Nor can we too much make to smoake her Altars ore diuine Then if thy workes as hers immortall right doe show Wonder thou not though beauties thine be worshipt so Another Queene of our workes and Princesse of our hart Of our chaste minds we offer thee best part Our verse it is through which the Conquerour liues Which to his deeds most heauenly brightnes giues Another Blest be our Queene immortall she alwaies In words and deeds we 'ele honour her with praise Whose bodie beautious and whose soule is faire And who for gifts with Pallas may compare Another
away from them and disdaineth them The bodie cannot mooue nor liue without soule No more can vertue be without glorie If the Gods themselues holde thee for faire for vertuous and for wise and if the immortall Nymphes make account of thee for such a one and respect thee for the same Why then wilt thou refuse this small praise my mournefull Muse giueth thee If I am deceiued so are the Gods deceiued If I erre the Nymphs haue erred And if I haue done amisse so haue all the Demy-gods of the Forrest likewise But gratious Diana no man can doe amisse in imitating the Gods in as much as they are not subiect vnto vice and for that they vse not to sinne Why then doest thou blame mee in that I follow them Penelope so renowmed for chastitie hath neuer bene of that worth that thou art of nor Cassandra more learned Helene was neuer more beautious nor Enone more wise whilst in the meane time euery one of these for one only rare gift that was within them haue caused thousands of Poets to sweat in their praises why then shouldest thou who art possessed of all these goodly vertues alone refuse that honor which is so rightly due vnto thee But alas what say I Great reason hast thou to refuse such a poore praise as commeth from one so simple and weake a Poet as my selfe For the glory which the ignorant giue vnto the wise may rather be tearmed a discredit then ame honor vnto them Yet such as I am I beseech you accept of me imitating Alexander the great who cherished gratiously entertained as well bad as good writers as did blazon forth his praise For although through want of skill the ignorant man faileth very much of this marke by reason he cannot explaine and shewe forth the effects of his good will as he desireth yet cannot it let him from manifesting the good will it selfe which alwayes is accounted for the first part of the worke Permit then my poore Muse to celebrate thy renowme thou being farre more fairer then the Cassandra of great Ronsard more chaste then the Oliua of Hunny mother Bellay and more perfect then the Diana of courteous De Reports For a more diuine subiect my Muse could neuer chuse my pen could neuer write of a daintier matter my wit could neuer finde a fairer fielde to walke in nor my tongue a sweeter Theame whereon to discourse And shouldest thou denie me yet would I not giue ouer to praise thee for not onely do I hold thee worthy to be worthie thereof but also account thee the onely shee that heercafter I will celebrate and make famous as mine onely Ladie and Mistris Shepheard answered shee affection oftentimes blindeth the eyes of the wise and good will is euer partiall in the praises of his friends What soeuer a man loueth that neuer seemeth soule nor deformed because Desire is the childe of faire pleasaââ and agreeable things and for that none will couet that which hee thinketh or imagineth to be loathsome or deformed And this is the reason that many haue praised vice and discommended Vertue writing most foolishly as their passions haue led them without respecting or once hauing any regard vnto the Truth it selfe Dido was reported by Virgil to be amorous and wanton yet was she chaste Vlisses by Homer to be more valiant then Alax whom he durst not look in the face And Aeneas âo be pittifull and godly vnto his Countrey and yet it was he that most vngodlily betrayed the same vnto his enemie Poets write according vnto their owne humors when they please but not according as the Truth it selfe is indeed And so thy forward affection onely and not the night thrusteth thee forward to take pen in hand in my behalfe But what mayst thou expect to follow vpon the same hereafter but onely that men will say of thee as I haue saide of Homer and Virgil that thy fancie hath made thee to affect and commend that which was not any way praise-worthie of it selfe Thou wilt stand me in no other steed then to reuiue the memoriall of mine imperfections after my death which were farre better to be buried with me in my graue then to be bruited abroad Content thee therefore I pray thee and let it be sufficient that I am knowne to be full of defects now I am aliue without making me to be remembred for such hereafter when I shall be dead If thou louest me as thou makest a showe thou doest then loue my memorie also for wee ought not so much to respect things present which wee see whilest we liue as we should doe those that are to come hereafter The reason is for that we may finde some one remedie For the first whilst wee remaine here in this world But for the latter wee cannot because we are not heere to make meanes for the same Be not then the occasion that my name shall be called in question when for that I am then dead I cannot come to excuse my selfe as I would For happie are such worthie persons as leaue no remembrance of their Imperfections after they are gone out of this world least the people should call againe vnto minde their faults and so condemne them for the same And also thy verses testifying the great affection and good will thou bearest me will also show apparantly my defects and what was amisse in me For who doubteth but that Louers in respect of the great loue they beare vnto their Ladies hide vnder the colours of their smoothe and dainty kinde of Enditings all the faults and defects they haue be they neuer so foule There is none so vehement a passion as Loue neither is there any thing that doth so much wrong to Truth as that doeth in such wise as women should rather take these praises for a discredit then for a credit vnto them which they receiue of their Louers And this is mine opinion which all the perswasions in the world shall neuer make me chaunge Faire Nymphes replyed I then because Loue is mightie and celestiall therefore doth hee neuer intermeddle amongst the basest and meanest creatures especially with such as are deformed For neuer is there anie hard fauoured face beloued Who then will belieue otherwise but that Ladie that shall be found to be honoured by â graue Poet is otherwise then a most perfect and accomplisht Creature euery way seeing perfection onely hath authoritie ouer our soules which hateth as much the thing that is deformed as it adoreth that which is faire How exquisite and excellent a Virgin was the faire Laura of renowned Petrarââ and how much haue his workes brought liuely credit vnto her praises The Muses neuer sung of vnworthy subiects â And although some may thinke that a Poet can make huge Elephant of a little Flie yet cannot he commend an vnhonest matter and worthy of reproach although he faine would Because the Muses who are the sounding Truââ pets of Heroicall mindes would oppose themselues
against him No no faire Dame chast and modest writings neuer alter the honor of any Gentlewoman Many haue written of Lucretia and their discourses haue made her the more famous throughout the whole world For as the remembraunce of infamous person is much detested and hated by the Muses So is the glorie and renowne of the venâous installed by them in eternall memorie for euer What are men but dust if the Muses should not make them suruiue after they are dead and liue in the world againe Hee neuer leaueth this world whom the Muses doe grace so much as to paint his egregious Acts in the Temple of memorie when his successors and succeeders beholde him continuallie with great admiration and wonder by which meanes hee dieth no more then such sacred and noble minds doe who are obliged and bound vnto the Muses as Achilles and Hector were with diuers other Refuse not then gratious Nymph the commendations of my Muse although too base for thee which shall neuer cease nor giue ouer to sing of thy vertues according vnto thine owne minde and pleasure For the Muses are the waiting Gentlewomen of Vertue and are bound to reserue the memories of all such as haue liued ãâã and with honor So that if Vertue force her owne enemies to reuerence her much more can shee compell the Muses to doe the like they being obliged by dutie to be alwayes at her call and to attend vpon her Scipis the great after he had giuen ouer Rome was daily visited by the Pyrates of the Sea which men although in their owne proper nature they were cruell and wicked yet neuertheles were they forced by reason of his vertue to honor him comming so farre out of their way onely to see so famous a Captaine and kissing his victorious hands as if he had bene some great God So Casar likewise after hee was taken prisoner by certaine Rouers of the Seas was much respected of the same Theeues for his vertue although hee threatned them to hang them when hee should come on land Denie not then diuine Daâââzell the frutes of my Muse but giue her leaue to doe her good will who hash vowed to praise thee although thou forbid the same I will not then hinder thee answered the Nymphe because I see thou art resolute Yet this I will tell thee that as it is a pleasant pastime to labour and sowe where a man may reape the fruit thereof againe with increase So is it most grieuous and intollerable when one shall toyle and sweate night and day and yet obtaine no recompence for the same When thy Muse shall haue composed thousands of verses in mine honour and when thou hast made whole volumes perined and endited at large written wholelie for my credit yet what profite doest thou hope for at my handes Or what shalt thou get thereby They say that Baccus and Cupid as they were one day going a hunting caught Minerua in their Nettes If so it were no doubt it was with her owne consent For I doe not thinke that anie can force one to loue or affect him whether the partie will or no. Neither shall thy writings nor thy perswasions euer take mee in their Trappes For where the Iudge is iust and vncorrupt there is no altering nor wresting of Iustice nor can his vertue be dimmed or abused with presents or gifts So likewise neuer looke for anie commoditie by thy studie at my hands For so should I buy them too too deare Inasmuch as nothing is to be rated at so high a price as our good Name or Fame is For euery thing that is lost may be recouered else againe but the losse of this is deplorable and altogether impossible to be obtained when it is once gone But say I should beleeue thee and yeeld vnto thee in this point that thy loue towards mee is sacred and iust yet art thou so simple to thinke that those that shall come hereafter will imagine the same and that they will iudge thy flowring youth and the spring-tide of thy life hauing bene spent in my behalfe and for mine occasion thou hast found no recompence nor guerdon of me for so great paines So that if whilst I liue I can hardly keepe mine honour from blame yet when I am dead I cannot preserue it from the suspition thereof it being become a prey vnto most venemous and slaunderous tongues For this I will tell thee Shepheard the presence of a man oftentimes withholdeth manie things from being spoken against his credit and good name which when hee is absent the mischieuous and malignant sort will not sticke to report and blaze abrode And although I know that euery kinde of friendship is not dishonest but that manie haue loued for pure vertue onely yet can wee not let euery one from speaking as they shall please and it is left vnto the conceits of those as shall be then liuing to thinke according vnto their owne humours and will and to belieue as they list because there is none to forbid them the contrarie But in the meane space how many is there in the world that will rather speake ill then well and giue forth bad speeches then once thinke good thoughts especially such kinde of people as speake of spite who because they are bad themselues therefore they will report malitiously of others that are better then themselues onely of ill will and for nothing else These reasons make mee take small taste in thy writings when they shall prooue more damageable then profitable vnto mee and chiefly if by their meanes I chaunce to be defamed any way For for glorie onely it being accompanied with vertue may mortall men account themselues worthie both of the name of men and of immorrall renowne and not for any thing else Gratious Ladie and Mistris replied Arcas is it possible that the Sunne should shine at mid-day and yet not be seene with our eyes And can anie be so blinde as to take that glorious Lampe for night seeing so many bright and glittering beames to issue from the same And so likewise do you thinke it is likely that anie one dare be so shamelesse and impudent to slaunder the spotlesse vertue of an immaculate Virgin whome euery one knoweth to be both prudent and chaste Those that are replenished with vertue can neuer blame such a one because shee is as they are and resembleth her And if the vitious and foolish seeke to backbite her then doth her glorie increase the more For that they see by daily experience that shee is nothing vnto them in as much as in malitious sort they seeke to oppugne and rise vp against her And if this which you say should be true then should the world thinke ill of so manie worthie and vertuous women who are commended in the workes of diuers Poets Then should Cassandra the Troyan Penelope Pelixena Portia Lucretia Alcesta and diuers others be but hardly thought of which neuertheles we see commended throughout the
she blusht Whilst she more faire did shew when through her face the colour flasht Her eies she cast on the ground and at ãâ¦ã so looke By them vpon the soden she durst not vpon them to looke That done with sad and heedfull eare she doth about her prit Lest what not comely had bene they about her ãâ¦ã In th' end she findes all well not much ãâ¦ã Who doubts some theenes but hauing found ãâ¦ã their doth not feââe Mean time poore Cloridou who is perplext most dangerus Takes heart at grasse whilst boldly he gins to accost her thus Faire light of my best life why art thou thus possest with care When heauent themselues they vertuous life hurt cannot nor once dare Chaste is thy soule vertuous thy minde most beautifull thy face No Tyger fierce or Lion fell thy beautie dare disgrace The diuels themselues cannot thee hurt why doubts thou things diuine Are not as mortall be to shame subiect at any time The Gods haue made thee goodly that the heauens might honour thee Our spirits are bodies framde that thou by vs mighst worshipt bee Thee will we serue in humble wise with dutifull respect Nor whilst we liue as vs becomes our duties wee le neglect Then sacred Saint thy selfe assure my soule thus languishing No bad conceit through carriage mine to thee shall euer bring No rash attempt vndecently shall make me ouerbold With her ãâã home Mistris of my hart and my chiefe good I hold Then doe all dread abandon quite looke merrie and be blithe For we both honour thee and for thy Loue contend and strine So said the Shepheard whilst that Loue did shoote in cunning wise Fancies swift darts into his hart which came from Stellas eies From Stellas eies who now begins to felle an vncoth flame And who doth finde as Cloridan to bide the selfesame paine She findes she forced is to loue although against her will And more she seekes him to expell the more be enâreth still The Shepheards words are wounds to her and pierce her like a dart His speeches breaches be which soone make entrance in her hart And now on soden Cloridon she liketh and sowell As in her sight for beautie he doth onely heare the bell And so likewise doth Cloridan thinke of his daintie Loue Vowing within his soule that death shall not her thence ãâã So in the Phrigian forrest thicke when Paris liu de ãâã In Enons Loue he was intrapt and for the same did ãâã Of whose deare loue that loyall Nymph so highly did esteeme As after he was slaine to mourne for him she aiâ was seene But Stella somewhat fearfull now and blushing in this case Vnto her Shepheard thus replide with comely bashfull grace A worthie Shepheard like thy selfe I neuer doubted yet That for to offer wrong to me his honour would forget The minde that generous is indeed and doth for glâris made Is nere so base as to abuse a sillie harmelesse maide His honour he doth holy wracke vpon discredits shelfe That hauing others conquered braue cannot orecome himselfe It better him becomes to bunt the Lion or the Bare The greedie Wolfe wilde Boore and fierce then sillie Daââzeâ fââe No glorie t is much for to force or proudly to command As haue no might nor any power such furie to withstand But I assure me of thy selfe and that I trust thee thââ Thou seest I doe not flie from thee as one ore time ãâã Besides with blushing I confesse thou art the first of all That hast against my will enforct me follow Cupidâ call A soule thou hast that Loue as now compelleth to be thine Loue that doth both our harts in one in loyall bands combine That Loue which makes me yeeld to thee for to be ouerthrowne That Loue which Tyrant-like denies that I shall be mine owne Then looke that in this loue thou doe mine ãâã still preserue It being all that for our paines me righly shall deserue For thou shalt sooner Stella see in graue for to remaine Before that any vitious soule her vertuous life shall staine Shee 'le rather die a thousand times for constant amitie The treasure is which I doe rate at endlesse price so hie Chastely to loue in vertuous sort is sure a worthie thing And heauens themselues to modest Loue a ioyfull end will bring Remember then what I doe say or trouble me no more Faire words without performance true I loathe and doe abore So Stella said and Cloridan to heare these words of ioy So rauisht was as now he quite forgot all former noy Nor could he speake for gladnes while his hart did leape within He knew not how to frame his tale or which way to begin As dead men we through ouermuch displeasing griefe become So sudden pleasure ouermuch stops passage of our tongue Both th' one and th' other oftentimes vs too too much doth moue Extremities of both without a meane we often proue Many through pleasure die their daies many doe end through woe Griefe kills our sences sodenly and ioy likewise doth so And after winter many stormes and rainie shewers apace The Sunne begins by little for to shew to vs his face The plants and Trees reuiue againe looking both fresh and greene Which in the frostie season cold through snow did lie vnseene So at the last the Shepheard got his wonted speech againe And pleasure former dread and feare did chase away ãâã Which being gone as soone as time did breath to him affoord In humblâ wise he once more thus began her for to boord Sweet Ladie since the law diuine of Cupid heauenly king Such fauours great doth shew to me not of my meriting And that I blest am so that to your hart mine tied is A cause our chast desires are like for to obtaine rare blisse And since our mindes are so vnite and knit in bonds so strong As death it selfe with all his force shall neuer doe vs wrong I vow for to be yours alone hap ill to me or well Despite of destinie despite of Fortune spite of hell For to be loued of thy selfe it passeth and is such As like no glorie is on earth for to be found by much When Adon Venus did enioy so blessed was not he Nor Pirams loue to Thisbe could so hot and ardent be The Gods themselues in glorie theirs who are redoubtable In pleasure with me to compare cannot nor are not able More fortunate am I then they my hart is more content Then when Ioue with Europa liu'd and time away so spent A thousand Almours in my minde I feele for to be hid More sweet then when Leander kind embrace his Hero did With Paris vaine is Hellens ioy compared vnto mine My fancies are so sweet they seeme as if they were diuine None is so happie as my selfe th' Ambrosia of the Gods Not so much liketh them as doth my life like me by ods Ah then amongst contentments such doe not me so much grieue As for to thinke
to offer thee dishonour I would liue No no I held thee too too deare and at too high a rate And more of thee I doe esteeme then of mine owne estate Wrong me not so for from the heauens the Sunne shall swiftly fall And I my life will sacrifice before that happen shall A great offence with punishment most grieuous plagued is Then thinke not I le forget my selfe to doe so much amisse And that I will performe my word my promise thou shalt haue So that with leaue my mouth of thee this tinie Boone may craue Onely to kisse thy sacred hand is that which I request That hand of thine which being toucht shall make me liuing blest No other good for all my paines then this I will require For all my loue and my good will I will no way desire Graunt me my suit that as my soule is rauisht with thine eies So by the same may rauisht be my life in selfesame wise Which if I shall obtaine I le iudge my ioyes for to abound And that so happie as my selfe no Louer liues on ground So said his Mistris kind to yeeld this fauour is content Giuing her hand to him which he doth kisse incontinent Thrise blessed hand which through thy power doth quench so hot a flame And through thy gentle touch the rage asswagest of the same She powers the drops of pittie on his more than burning fire And from his hart plucks forth those darts there fixed through desire And now is Cloridan content and cased of his smart He goeth no farther nor makes shew from promise his to part Yet in his hope is comfort hid he hopes well in his minde And in assurance he doth liue some better good to finde Meane space Dan Phoebus leaues his worke his taâke he hauing done His place resigning Sisters his that she her course may runne When being wearied of his toyle he gets him to highed Whilst Luna pale amongst the clouds appeares with horned hed This is the cause that Cloridan halfe angrie takes his leaue Whilst homeward for to goe his hart with thousand thoughts doth heaue The day he doth accuse as one vnconstant wauering That dai'es nere long enough when one hopes that good twill him bring But he must packe from thence and men the Gods ought to obay Who haue as well the night ordained as they did make the day His leaue of Stella he doth take and praieth her be so kind That he next morning in that place her louely selfe may find Which she doth promise halfe compeld for Loue doth force her please Her amorous Swaine and meanes to seeke his torments for to ease And now both part and goe their waies whilst vndershadowing tree They leaue their bleating flocks to rest which there in safetie bee For Woolues no enemies as then were vnto any beast The Tiger nor the Lion then vpon them neuerceast But Phoebus now was scarsely rose his wonted course to make Nor to his brightsome Chariot had his firie horse betake Nor was Aurora stollen yet from aged Tithonâ side To get vnto Eudimion leu'd and there with hiââ to bide When Cloridan whose minde did run vpon his Mistris beautie To whom he had deuoted all his seruice and his dutie Leapes from his couch for he that hopes vpon some good lucke sweet To come next day hath small desire to slumber or to sleepe He to the old place maketh hast to wait on those faire eies Which spoyle his rest yet to his hart are kind in gratious wife Meane time the Shepheard Aridon that wretch most miserable To find such like as Cloridan had found he was not able Most pitiously he languisheth whilst Loue and ââll his law He curseth more then thousand times of all his woes the cause Faine would he leaue to loue since he seeth he can gaine no grace And that the fruits of Loue he nere is like for to embrace But all in vaine his destinie he can no waies prenens Nor can he aught of ill resist what powers diuine haue âent What he is able that he doth but what doth it auaile For man LOVE to withstand when Gods he forceth for to quaile But as the Hart being sore hurt the more that he doth seeke To ease him of his hurts the more he worser is and weeke So Aridon in thinking how to rid him of his griefe The worser waxeth still and in the end dieth sans reliefe Nothing on earth the power of LOVE is able to controle Like whirling Tempests what denies before him it doth role So Aridon is not of strength his feete for to retire From forth that place that burneth him with vnextinguisht Fire Whilst Cloridon within himselfe doth thinke how he is blest Poore Aridon his Fortunes bannes from pleasures dispossest Both equall in affection but in comfort differing Th' one sighes for his woes the other stands his ioyes oft reckoning Both like in passions but in lucke both too too contrarie In pleasure th' one consumes his life th' other for paine doth die Vntill this time the one vnto the other was a friend Nor did the one against the other mischieuous hate pretend Before as brethren sworne they were and so together liu'd What th' one did like the other lou'd nor th' one the other grieu'd But at the the last faire Stellas loue alas that should be so Causae this their amitie to end and lesse and lesse to grow The blinded Sonne of Mars who doth his Fathers heire right prooue Strife and discention takes from Sire and from his Mother LOVE For more he sets at variance and whips with Discords roddes Then be the harts he subingates and brings to Loue by oddes But now is Cloridan againe vnto that Spring returnd Which quenched had the flame in which before he wofull burnd The comming of his Dame he stayes with great deuotion For now to hunt the Sauadge Bore he thinkes not once vpon His minde on Stella onely runnes such is this sodaine change As after Wolfe or Lyon fierce he careth not to range To her his heart he doth deuote and vnto her prefer His vitall Powers as pawnes of Loue engag'de be vnto her The place he kisseth often which with Flowers was strewde all ore Whereas his Mistris hee had found to lye the day before Happie he calld and counted them more then a thousand times Them honoring as if they had bene some power of God diuine He blest their beautie and did pray that storme nor soking raine That Sythe nor Plowe-share there might come their beautie for to staine That neither Winters colde nor Sommers great heate might there be seene But that they alwayes fresh might showe with cooly shadow greene Thus stayeth the Shepheard wishing still and still expecteth sore Her comming who vntill she comes each houre imagining foure He thinks that for her he stayeth long but when her companie He hath he then saith Time runnes fast and too too soone doth hie Louers esteeme not any time
they haue assisted thee in this Desart and most happily haue caused thee to meete him who hath endured so much for thy sake without any recompence as yet at all ah chaunge thy humour sweet Delia alter thy opinion and shew thy selfe to be of another minde to the end thy sweetlenitie and gratious bountie may bring the Gods to be as pleasing and willing in all thy desires as thy vnkind rigor and harsh disdaine haue heretofore made them to be austere and angrie towards thee for miserable is that wight and worthie to suffer trouble who being admonished will not amend and therefore is out of all hope to finde any succour at all Loue then froward Delia him who to obtaine thy grace hath dispended so many teares consumed so many whole daies sent abroad so many scalding sighes and left so many daintie pleasures onely to follow thee and who if he might but in some sort be assured of thy friendship would thinke himselfe the most happiest and the best contented man in the world But miserable is he who still laboureth and yet findeth himselfe frustrate of the fruits of his labour yet farre more accursed is he who consumeth his yeares and his life in the seruice of such a proud dame as yeeldeth no recompence vnto him at all for that he looseth his labour and paine and because he is forced to sigh and bewaile his foolish and vnkind choyse alone vnto himselfe neuer expecting any remedie Thus pleaded the Shepheard for himselfe when the hard-âarted Shepheardesss made him this sower and vnwelcome answere I can neuer belcoue fond Shepheard that the Gods who are the authors of goodnes and most curtenu Earâhers vnto mortall men can be the cause that they should commit any fault much âesse to eggs and incite them forward vnto the same but rather that men themselurs are the occasions thereof and therefore when any one hath done any such offence he must turne it from bad to good and seeke to couer the visage of his ill fortune with the colour and shew of good chaunce and hap If the Gods as thou affirmest had brought me hither to yeeld vnto thy wanton desires and to be an attendant vpon this Tyrant Loue then should they be the authors of my ruine and the occasions of my sinne but I will neuer thinke so vnreuerently or wickedly of their prupent prouidence and sacred bountie and if my good fortune hath made me to escape so great a daunger as I confesse I haue done I most humble thanke the Gods therefore of which sithence I now finde my selfe free I thinke it no wife dome to tumble into Caribdis because I haue auoided Silla and hauing gotten out of one mischiefe to fall into another for I hold my hap more cruell to be subiect vnder the bloodie tyrannie of Loue than if I had bene laid vpon the cruell Altar of Iuno as a Sacrifice to haue appeased her furie Thinke not that the Gods take any care of such as they suffer to fall into the hands of Loue but rather that they account them for lost creatures and such as be most miserable as the Phisition giueth ouer a patient whose disease is desperate and recurelesse when he seeth there is hope of his recouerie No man will bring his friend whom he affecteth vnder the yoke of a Tyrannicall maister who will make his life ouer miserable and whose crueltie he himselfe hath felt now the Gods haue oftentimes had experience of this bloodie Loue and felt his ouermuch rage furie and anger and therefore it is not likely that they will deliuer into such a Butchers hands that creature which they most of all desire to protect and defend in safetie The accident of Loue then doth not come by the meanes of the Gods neither are they occasions of such idlenes in our braines such Louers being but foolish so to thinke who being afflicted with his passions lay all the fault vpon the Gods Who then answered the Shepheard is the author thereof and who is it that breedeth it in cur soules if Loue is seared of the Gods theÌse lues how is it possiblie but meÌ should be troubled therewithall and what daintie spirit hath there cuer bene but hath loued what braue generous minde or what heroicall and magnanimous heart hath bene without it As the winde serueth for a guide vnto the Sailer in the Sea guiding his ship rightly Euen so Loue doth serue as a Pilot vnto the Sonnes of the Gods to effect and bring to passe braue expoites which can neuer be perfected as they should be vnlesse that Loue set foote into the fame What rare deeds of chiularie did Hercules a atchieue for faire Andromacha whom he loued How brauely did Achilles carrie himselfe for Bxiseis sake Iason for Medea Theseus for Ariadne and Orlando for his Angelica The Oxe pricked with the gode beginneth to mend his pace and draweth more lustily then at the first and so Loue is a kind of pricke and prouokement which eggeth forward valiant mindes forcing them to bring to passe farre more worthie and illustrious enterprises then they would haue done if they had liued quietly at home without knowing what Loue meant And therefore I am of opinion that not onely men but the Gods also ought to account themselues happie that Loue flourisheth in them for it is the bright tosch of their nights and the splendant Sunne of their daies Shepheard Shepheard replied the Nymphs thy owne speech hath confounded thy selfe for if Loue be so violentas thou describest him he then cannot last nor make himselfe knowne to be iust Things violent are alwaies hurtfull vnto some one or other and being so full of misfortunes and miseries they can neuer abide them because they passe with as great heate and furie as a flaming fire which consumeth all that is before it Therefore Loue being neuer in the meane but alwayes in the extremitie cannot chuse but be very vniust in as much as Iustice expelleth all force without hurting anie bodie So likewise are there verie fewe that willingly entertaine it but as the Tyrant by maine force and rigorous compulsion compelleth his subiects to do him seruice Euen so Loue through meere violence maketh men to submit themselues vnder his yoake and therefore he cannot be both iust and violent all at one time which two qualities can neuer be at one instant and in one and the selfe same subiect By thine owne confession he is violent and therefore he cannot be iust but ought as one vnworthie to be reiected and shaken off Nay I will say more there is nothing that maketh a man oftner to offend and to commit sinnes then this Loue doeth for it picketh out the eyes of Reason In such sort as the Louer respecteth neither Law Kinred Vertue Grace nor any Courtesies receiued so he may obtaine his vnrulie desire the enioying of which he respecteth more then he doth any Reason Iustice or Honor whatsoeuer For what respect I pray you
had Paris of his Host Menelaus Clytemnestra of Agamemnon her husband and Tarquine of the good name and fame of Lucretia To be short it is an accursed kinde of Rage that breaketh all Alliance and kinred all Amitie and good friendship Faith and hospitalitie ouerthrowing topsituruie all the buildings of Reason Talke not then vnto mee of this pernitious LOVE The burnt childe dreads the fire and I haue somewhat felt the flame thereof and therefore I will resolue rather to die then to be ouertaken by so furious an Enemie Ah faire Shepheardesse replyed the Shepheard how much art thou deceiued herein when amongst all mortall respects whatsoeuer LOVE is esteemed the chiefe and carryeth away the prize before them all For what is he that is more warie and circumspect then the constant Louer it towards his Dame Whom feareth he so much to offend as her and how willingly would he offer his life to besacrificed rather then he would so much as once moue or displease her The same LOVE being the reason that shee alone is not respected but as well all such of her well-willers as goe about to aduance and honour her There is nothing that teacheth men better the Adoration of the Gods then Loue for that seruice which Louers yeeld vnto their Ladles hath a kinde of resemblance vnto the reuerent worshipping of the Gods who are not displeased that wee should attribute such respect vnto such a beautifull thing which they haue made to the intent it should be honoured For were it not for LOVE what account or difference can there be made betweene an excellent and exquisite kinde of beautie and that which is but meane But that God that hath taught vs to discerne the faire from the foule and esteeming of the one to Loue and refuse the other maketh vs to loue and couet faire faces setting on fire thousands of Inuentions in our soules which reuiueth vs with liuely effects to the end wee may satisfie and content our desire But answered the Shepheardesse these effects are for the most part wicked and bad as are the Childern of a leaude and ill-giuen Father resembling the off-spring of such as be crooked who are borne with crooked backes as their Parents had before them Now if such effects are contrarie to Lawe and Reason it were farre better they should be stifled as dead then being suffered to liue they should growe to be mischieuous and vnfortunate But if it be necessarie that to driue away all smne wee condemne the sinner to the ende that afterwards it may finde no fit instrument to put in practise so vngodly a force So if wee will take away all the bad effects of LOVE wee must despoyle and banish himselfe and his enticing allurements also For in vaine doth the Gardener goe about to kill or destroy any bad and noysome weede or plant if without pulling vp the roote hee doth but onely breake the tender leaues thereof Let vs men Shepheard ânue away this pestisent Loue from vs. As for mine owne part I ve we neuer willingly to follow the same For marching but a while vnder his Ensigne I haue alreadie suffered more then thousands of hard misfortunes and terrible crosses So saide the Shepheardesse when as the Shepheard was answering her they might vnderstand the voyce of another Shepheard speaking as followeth ECCO O that the Gods of these huge Woods would shew me fauour such But for to heare my Fortunes hard ore Fortunate by much O that they would but marke how I doe nought but waile and crie I doubt not then but they their eares would lend mee by and by Might I but them so courteons finde to listen to my mone I would adore and honor still their Maiesties each one Then with a voyce like Lightning flash I soone would thunder forth And shewe with sighing in my verse their bountie and their worth Of them alone then would I fing and of their great renowne Whist that my tongue should neuer linne but still their praises sonne Their kindnesse my soule vnto them should binde in to be so fast As nere I would forget the same as long as life should last Ah then shall I obtaine of Mistris mine this happie Bonne To yeeld me liking when will shee will it be long or soone ECCO Soone What may I hope for when I thus fight vnder Cupids Banner Whilst I consume my selfe thereby and worke mine owne dishoner ECCO Honer What may I of my FAIRE expect when as the Gods I finde To crosse me in my amorous sute vnlesse she will be kinde ECCO She will be kinds Who is of power this gloomy Cloud from off mine eyes to moue âând to repaire my late fallen helpe quite ruined by Loue ECCO Lous Then i st not hee that courtcously after our grieuous woe Our Fancie brings to happie Port I now perceine t' is so ECCO T' is so But are the gentle Heauens content importunde without cries To yeeld to vs poore worldly wights our wish in courteous wise ECCO In conrteous wise If so what shall become of that quicke Fire which burnes so bright Within my bowels languishing shal't be extinguisht quite ECCO Extinguisht quite What shall become of this mine ill which in my Coarse doth stay Shall it increase my farther care or shall it soone away ECCO Soone away Shall I for any good ere hope to come from her my griefe Who holds my heart fast tide and plagues my soule without reliefe ECCO Reâefe Say then hath Lone acquainted yet my Mistris cruell Hart With this my woes hath she as yet felt of my paines some part ECCO Some part Then sacred Gods I le hope the best and as an Oratle I le looke one day that this to mee may fall out veritable Not doubting but that fore I die I may that sweete fruit reape In Ioy which I haue sowne long since in anguish and in sweate Meane time with these your answeres kinde I le satis fide returne Assuring me through fauours yours I shall giue ore to mourne For whilst your comfortable beames shall shine vpon me bright My hart shall liue sreed from all feare enfrancht from danger quite Then heauenly Powers remember what your promise is to me Who trust repose in you that I deceiued may not be of men are taxt for Farth not kept you menit farre more blame Sââte you our deeds brightly adorne as glistering Sunny flame Vpon this the Shepheard being maruellously well satisfied in his minde beganue to speake thus vnto himselfe If wee haue any reason to giue credit vnto the Oracles of the Gods then out of doubt I hâue no other cause but to hope well For manie times through thousands of such answeres haue they assured mee that I shall enioy that which I most desire and couet And yet alas alas this is a great and grosse error in me to belieue them For God onely who alone is without beginning and ending knoweth what is to come whereas these Diueis
afterwards discouered and appeare in his right forme and likenes The eyes of his Mistris onely seemed in his iudgement worthie to be marked and regarded although they resembled the Viper which as well hurteth as helpeth a man for no sooner did he gaze vppon them but that his soule swallowed downe a sweet poysonous potion feeling at one instant both pleasure and paine yet could not hee liue without approching neare this ardent Fire Although the nearer hee came vnto it the more by degrees hee consumingly both melted and wasted away Wherein he resembleth that sicke patient who doth nothing else but drinke and after he hath drunke findeth the drinke to double his griefe thoughout his bodie Had he had but the libertie of speech and might he haue bene bolde to haue vttered his minde hee had not endured halfe the torments he did but being preuented by vnhonest meanes and because hee was vnworthie to receiue anie succour or helpe hee was forced though much against his will to be silent and to hold his peace For ouermuch talke oftentimes doubleth a mans shame and hindereth him not a little His aime was at the marke which onely appertained to his Friend And like as the Theefe feareth to deliuer his minde vnto the Iudge because of the great desire he hath to commit some one Robberie or other Fuen so a Louer being in his conceits dishonest and quite repugnant to Honour dareth not but conceale the same as much as hee may to auoyd greater disgraces that may ensue for feare of further danger This was the cause that the sonne of Seleucus louing his Stepmother ouer dearely because he kept his mouth so close his lippes being sealed with the Signet of dutifull respect and lawfull Honour endured great torment lying at the point of death The hart of man being tainted with poyson dyeth soone vnlesse by some meanes or other the venome be cast forth and therefore most insupportable is their anguish and tortures who dare not discouer their hurts because they are vnworthie of helpe But what Who euer saw but that a Louer vaine Conceales his griefe nor dares bewray his paine And so did Picchio onely his heauie eye and sadde countenance supplied the office of his tongue by which he declared his minde by sighes though otherwise hee durst not And therefore it is a hard matter for those that loue constantly to conceale their passions doe they neuer set so hard and close a Bridle before their tongue for either the pale colour of their face either their sad and heauie countenance A Louer can hardly coÌâcale his griefe either the teares that alwayes flowe from their eyes or else their continuall sighing and sobbing will discouer and bewray their affection for this passion is too terrible too vehement and too hote to be keptsecret without disclosing some signe or token of the violence thereof no more then fire can be hidde vnder the Ashes which neuerthelesse sendeth forth a heate Yea and sometimes a flame too This then was the occasion that Antonio was chaunged both in fauour and shape and yet notwithstanding these were not sufficient strong testimonies for the standers by to iudge that he was in Loue. Seldome or neuer is the Criminall condemned to die vppon bare suppositions or likely hoodes if neither his owne eyes haue giuen anie shrewde gesse or his owne tongue discouered his offence And yet this alteration of bodie in Picchio made euery one to wonder in so much as they were maruellously desirous to know the reason thereof for the nature of man is alwayes verie cur lous to heare of straunge matters delighting in nouelties and to vnderstand the seuerall euents and occasions of the same But to what ende should the Physition enquire of a sicke man the originall of his discase what it is and how it came if the patient be stedfastly resolued to die and will not liue Euen so it was but lost labour for those who did importune verie often poore Picchio to discouer where his most paine lay when he meant not to tell them For he had bene worthie to haue bene registred for a right Dolt indeed if he should haue made them acquainted therewith when they could doe him no good at all and who were so farre from helping of him as they sooner would haue brought poyson then Balme for his recurelesse wound O Tyraunous LOVE thou art not content alone to inflict vpon vs manie corrosiues and dolours vnlesse thou forcest vs also to commit manie villainous Actions making vs thy executioners by doing of which wee loose our whole contentments our honours and our liues Was not the anguish and agonie that haplesse Antonio endured sufficient to content thee but that he must needes perpetrate so hainous a deed as must cost him the life of her whom hee so dearely loued must cause her husband to die and make him to spill his owne heart blood and all to satisfie thee But it is a thing vsuall and ordinarie to see in thy Theater thousands of Tragedies of all sorts of murthers horrible Treasons and most damned villanies presented vpon the Stage before thee It is not as thou thinkest enough to haue life of one onely as those cruell Gods vsed to doe who demaunded men to be sacrificed vnto them but thou wilt haue manie to appease thy wrath that thou mayest be as it were drunke with their blood and grow fatte with eating and feeding vppon their flesh But to come to kinde Leander who seeing Picchio in this heauie taking began to condole wonderfullie with him for his sicknesse and as it were to participate and beare parcell of his paine crying out for the sorrowes of his friend But that which grieued him most of all was because hee could not learne of Antonio what the cause of his discontentment should be taking it passing vnkindely at his hands that hee would neuer tell him But had hee but knowne the minde of him hee had cut off manie wofull inconueniences which after followed But alas Men haue not windowes in their bodies that we may see into their harts and onely God aboue knoweth the secret thoughts of euerie one Priam thought that he had broke asunder the fatall threed of the destruction of Troy commaunding that Paris his owne sonne should be cast amongst wolues to be deuoured of them And yet good man he could not Danaus causing his owne daughters cut their husbands throats came for all this vnto that lucklesse ende which the Oracles of the Gods had fore-told him Astiages sought to murther and to make away Cyrus and neuerthelesse he dyed a wretched death as was before allotted vnto him Oft may Destinie be foreseene but neuer can it be preuented for what the Heauens decree against mortall men that shall happen vnto them let them seeke neuer so much to preuent it Leander was ordained before his byrth to haue this hard happe neither could his good Fortunes hinder it had hee sought neuer so much to auoyde the
Curtizans abroad and court them and not me there make a spoke vnto such like huswiues who haue no respect either of good name or fame You are no Chapman for my Marchandise no gold can buy mine honour I hold it at so high a rate neither can any loue or affection purchase the faith which I haue paund and promisde vnto my husband I am no Laies nor any Thais that thou shouldst seeke to vrge me thus thy perswasions being so perillous vnto me Besides I am least bound vnto thee than vnto any other in that thou as my mortall enemie liest in waite to spoyle and ruinate that which is ten thousand times more pretious vnto me than mine owne life Thinke that neuer the Romane Lucrece redeemed more couragiously the losse of credit with the price of her blood then I desire after the same rate to preserue mine and that I had alwaies chuse rather to die a chaste and faithfull wife then liue like a most dishonest and disloyall harlot I rather couet the troubles and crosses of Penelope with her slainlesse vertue then the merrie life of Clitemnestra with all her foule and beastly pleasures And the death of a sober Polixena shall be still more agreeable vnto me than the voluptuous liuing of a wanton Semiramis being glutted with all sorts of vaine delices and dainties whatsoeuer Talke no more then vnto me of this matter for thou doest but loose thy labour for sooner shall the heauens become Sea and faire grow to be Ice before I will yeeld vnto the least of thy requests And were it not but that I am in hope that there are some sparkes of grace in thee and that thou wilt become a new man I would take such order to make thee giue ouer and to bridle this thy rash attempt as thou shouldest neuer speake more vnto me thereof by laying open and displaying thy shamelesse practise vnto him who may with good reason and Iustice be reuenged of thee for a busing him so much as thou hast done Cynthia for so was the Gentlewomans name hauing cooled Antonios heate with this sharpe iniectiue moued with iust chollor left him and returned into her house he being as much amazed and confounded therewith as those were who went about the building of the Tower of Babell seeing themselues so sodenly to haue so many languages amongst them and so different in their proceedings one against another As that Murtherer is mightily astonisht and in a most bad taking vpon whom the Iudge at vnawares commeth as he is wiping of his bloodie sword and standeth by the carkasse of him that he hath slaughtered because he seeth there is no way but one with him which is the losse of his life Euen so was Antonio in such a plight long time did he stand as still as a stone and no sooner was he able to speake but that he began to lament and crie out afresh No heart were it neuer so obdurate and hard had bene able to haue endured so heauie a burthen of torments as he did And now he beginneth to hate Loue the motiue of his miseries he accuseth his Mistris the Author of his dispaire detesteth his fortune that his successe was no better in his sute and curseth his tongue which for being ouer sawsie and presumptuous had vtterly ouerthrowne him for euer All ioy he bids adue all hope farewell No longer now in sorrow he will dwell He is fullie bent to die deuising with himselfe what kinde of death he were best to chuse to the end he might be rid both of the world and of his wretched estate all at one time he will now neither sigh nor weepe more for the matter determining to change his teares into blood and his sighes into wofull death onely his desire is to be fitted of a conuenient place to put in practise the same for he durst not lay violent hands vpon himselfe in the Castle of Leander least perhaps it should come to light why he made himselfe so away whereupon he priuily conueieth himselfe away from thence and getteth him into a thicke and darke wood not farre from thenee where he resolueth to end his life and make that place his graue It was aunswerable vnto his minde it was secret obscure vnfrequented of all This was the cause he began afresh being all alone to sigh and sob and to ban and curse his ill fortune againe which being done he draweth his sword he feeleth the edge of it to see if it be keene and sharpe enough and that done prepareth himselfe vnto death thinking it to be much better to die by his owne proper hands as another braue and high minded Aiax than to liue in continuall vexation and miserie as a base and degenerate Thesites And now he setteth the pommell of his blade vpon the ground the poynt whereof was placed iust against his heart when as he was minded to thrust himselfe quite through behold death as he thought appeared vnto him with so horrible and gastly a visage as he gaue ouer his enterprise long was he not in this muse but that he drew his Raiper againe condemning much his first feare when vpon the sodaine an other humor more diuilish than the rest tooke him which was not to die vntill he had obtained what he so much coueted vowing within his soule that he would haue his will of the faire Cynthia at what high price soeuer he bought it His Loue now was turned into hate and his respectfull duetie into sensuall lust He thinketh not of the daÌger he is like to incurre by entring into so infamous an actioÌ All former friendship and kinde Hospitalitie is forgotten so he may haue his wish either by violence or what way else he cares not although afterward he die for the same for so to die he imagineth he shall be most happie and this is his most certaine and constant resolution O franticke rage O cursed madnes and O cruell furiousnes of Loue This made Medea worse than a Bedlem to massacre her owne children and this brought the famous Mark Antony to lose both his honour and his life Now Antonio hammering in his head this wicked practise began to set a good vpon the matter as if all had bene well beginning to looke cheerfully and making the world beleeue he had quite forgotten all former sorrowes as if he would haue bene merrie euer after which recouerie from his sicknes made euery one glad especially his true friend Leander and the Ladie his wife who verily thought that Antonio had forgotten all his old loue to wards her and that her schooling of him in that shroad manner as she did had made him to be come a new man But alas poore soule how much was she deceiued for all this while Antonio was working of treason against her and her husband which wrought their vtter ouerthrew As a fire that long time lie hid in a hollow hole when it bursteth forth becommeth more violent more outragious and
strange Shepheard who left him when he and the rest of his company retired as fast as they could vnto their owne Lodging where we will as now leaue them The end of the third daies meeting of Iuliettaes Shepheards THE FOVRTH DAYES MEETING OF IVLIETTAES SHEPHEARDS LOVE pierceth not so farre the tender brest of a young Hart in the loue of a fresh and iollie Doe or that of the sturdie Bull towardes his fatte and faire Heifer as was Coribants pricked through the remembrance of Deliaes beautie What rest tooke hee in the night what sleepe went downe with him what pleasure felt hee or what contentment did he perceiue or finde Night which otherwise is the mother and refresher of all trauell is the Nourse of Louers labours For in that they are then solitarie and alone nothing crosseth the meditation of their Loues Their torments present themselues daylie before their eyes and they bethinke themselues euery houre how with a thousand troubles and crosses they may but speak vnto their Mistresses Solitude doth more hurt then good to him whome griefe tormenteth and that coueteth to find out a place to his desire wherein to complaine himselfe Euen so the young Bull depriued of the loue of his iollie Heifer goeth away roaring to hide himselfe in some coole caue or denne and there he beateth and tormenteth himselfe roaring and crying out with maine force No otherwise braue Orlando depriued of his Angelica sought out the most remote and secrete places therein to complaine his disastrous mishappes Solitarie and sadde night therefore in stead of bringing anie relaxation or ease vnto the torments of this Shepheard more renewed them euen as the Smyth maketh the heate of his Forge more ardent when he throweth water vpon the same Onely God Morpheus beguiling him might haue giuen him some asswagement of his griefe but yet such as would not long haue continued For Truth chased away imaginations and dreames and discouered her face These torments these dreames these labours and these flames are stirring verie earlie And as the Hare goeth out of her Forme betimes in the morning to feede in the corne fieldes being afraide lest in the day shee should light vpon some vnhappie encounter In like manner the Shepheard can no longer remaine in his Cottage when hee seeth the day dawne on that side of the heauens where the Sunne riseth hee will by no meanes that his bright beames should reflect vpon his drousie head This would turne him as he thinketh to great shame to be discouered by the Sunne And he feared the like reproach as Mars and Venus receiued being found together and taken within the industrious Net of Vulcan A sluggard neuer acteth any thing of importance Glorie is not obtained by being idle but by plying out fingers busying our selues in manie matters and styrring earlie about our affaires The Sunne yet wet in rising from his moyst bed let fall certaine droppes vpon the earth it seemed by his appearaÌce that some flagitious fact by him seene had made him looke all pale sad heauie notwithstanding by degrees he euer drew nearer nearer Oh what a power hath this goodly Lamp which giueth life vnto all creatures keeping and preseruing the same in them as also by the same hand he taketh away perisheth and confoundeth the same notwithstanding there is no good how little so euer it be which is not farre better then the best griefes of the world In like manner thogh the Sun shewed himselfe pale morphewed ghastly yet was hee by all creatures a 1000. times more desired then night how cleare soeuer The clifts euen smoaked with a desire to see and feele his beams vpon their toppes euen as the furious Bull casteth fume out of his nosthrills when he seeketh after fight desireth to meete with the Lydian Lyon to set vpon him There was not so much as the flowers which smiled not at his coÌming they being his beautifull kinsmen to the end to please ioyfully receiue him The Birds called vpon him in their notes the beasts by their sounds voyces men by many signes and demonstrations Desired therefore of all liuing creatures he commeth spreadeth on all sides his flaming eyes causing all the world to behold his faire bright countenaÌce Euery one beholding the same blusheth thereat is ashamed heauen it selfe appeareth more neare and cleare and the Shepheard conducted by this immortall light with slow pace arriueth within the Desarts He neither draue lambs nor sheepe before him for the iniquitie of the time had dispoyled him of them robbing him of his bleating troupes and of whatsoeuer else he had receiued by the benefite of Fortune Hee went out therefore all alone walking along with an awaked spirit mind disburdened of all drowsines all quick and liuing whilst he thus said to himselfe It is with speciall reason that men tearme heauen their Father for in truth without him what could they performe Doth not he bestow on them their being life vigour contentmeÌt pleasure Whatsoeuer fauour or bountie men feele it descendeth from aboue For the earth of it selfe produceth vnto them nothing good or excelleÌt but on the contrary bringeth theÌ forth a thousand maladies cares torments labors And though there tumble down from heauen sometimes miseries scourges which torment whip men yet neuertheles their own sinne is the cause thereof For this is the liuely fountain of malediction not heauens euen as the fountain is no occasion of the water that harboreth within the same but the spring from whence it floweth so cold Is not heauen the nourice of this faire Sun which ripeneth all things heateth as well those bodies sensible as other immoueable that giueth vertue power vnto the earth On the other side within heauen dwelleth the Eternall Deitie in the same is his seate there within is his Empire there his diuine Tabernacle In heauen dwelleth this great and mercifull GOD who doth not only pardon men during their liues but euen wheÌ they are dead also His mercie walketh ouer the Tombs and Sepulchers of the dead and goeth seeking them out euen vnder the earth to relieue them by his charitable office giuing vs triall not onely of admirable Clemencie but also of diuine Iustice That which maketh him to be knowne for true God is only his Iustice and his Mercie For hee could not be God except he were both iust and mercifull Besides hee most liberallie giueth vnto vs wherewith to maintaine our life hauing a care of the least haires that fall from off our heads and of the least byrd that liueth Hee giueth nourishment vnto euery one yea vnto the Crowes little ones themselues that call vpon him when their olde ones denie to giue them foode at all O an hundred times worthie of infernall punishment is hee who loftie and proud will not giue thanks vnto God for so manie of his benefites I seeing besides a thousand others he might haue iust occasion
an other mans vice but on the contrarie our neighbours error must serue vs in steed of a darke night wherein during the same to kindle our owne vertue must shine bright instructing our selues by his famous example as the ancient Spartaines caused their slaues to be made drunke to the end that their children might hate wine by the brutish and dishonest actions they sawe these base creatures commit being possessed with this liquor It is a foolish conclusion to say that if my neighbour be a foole I must therefore become insensate and set fire on my owne house because I see my neighbours on a burning flame It is rather requisite that an other mans doing be beneficiall vnto vs and that the vice of our neighbour reforme our owne and not make vs to offend like himselfe For vertue would be imitated and vice auoided To maintaine that no man can be constant and resist Loue were to erre grosely For Alexander amidst his great victories delights and conquests performed it Demosthenes refused the Loue of Lais louing ten crownes better then the enioyance of her This wise and graue Philosopher I say whom she could neuer set on fire either by her wanton enticements amorous lookes or her beautie so renowmed so that she thought him an insensible stone and not a man You should in this doe iniurie to modest Scipio who being conquerour of all Affricke religiously abstained from the loue of a woman And a thousand others haue liued free from this misfortune which you may not rightly place in the number of offenders For their fault obscure not the excellent glorie of the vertuoââ and drawe not from their offence matter of opprobrietie against the wise It will be greater honour vnto you to see wise men in name offend and your selfe free from fault then if you erred after the example of some simple creatures Oh Shepheard replied Arcas I denie the foundation of your argument for I will not confesse that it is a fault or crime to loue and iudge Louers no lesse wise then those that haue not loued at all for he may iustly be said to be peruerse and an offender whose offence procureth publike dammage but so farre of is a Louer from preiudicing men that quite contrarie he profiteth them greatly The Louer like the prodigall man iniureth none but himselfe he onely beareth he onely endureth he onely suffereth but from his torment ariseth mortall glorie to the subiect he loueth for was there euer Ladie faithfully by her seruant beloued that did not both honour and sing forth according to the abilitie of his inuention her excellent and rare vertues What can mortall men desire more deare and precious then to see themselues honoured and made immortall to future ages the which Louers fauoured by the Muses may make their Ladies and Mistresses That great King of Macedon thought he not Achilles happie to haue bene set forth and commended by Homor and all great personages haue they not desired the like honour Not to be moued with the passion of glorie is to be brutish and without feeling or not to be stirred vp with a desire to make ones name liuing after death is a signe of a base and boorish minde They to whom the heauens haue not imitated either Art or Learning to attaine to this glorie by writing seeke after it in buildings or other rare workes of great charge and expence which continue for some time but not so long as bookes But it is certaine that the Muses hauing taken Loue in a snare of flowers would say nothing else but crowne this God with greene garlands acknowledging that they should be nothing without him who giueth them vttrance power breath to set forth their verses in despite of time it selfe For neither the greatnes of gifts nor of feare nor the hope of rewards nor threatnings could neuer make a learned Poet write well of any one if he doe not loue and affect him but on the contrarie onely Loue will make him speake better of those whom he shall loue simply without hope of reward then of those whom he loueth not and yet expecteth from them some recompence Questionlesse without Loue many excellent bookes which are made in the honour of men would be yet to doe a thousand other noble Acts which now through him be apparant to the eies of men Commendable therefore are Louers and more then any other sort of men at least they loose not time nor consume it not in doing nothing Oh Godhead replied Coribant but on the contrarie a thousand euils haue proceeded from Loue The ruine of Troy may verifie this and a thousand other testimonies I but quite otherwise replied Arcas Loue stood the Troyans in steed for he sent them the meane to kill Achilles reuenging the death of their Princes he being dead they in such a sort weakened the enemies Campe that without Treason Troy had neuer bene subiect to the Greekes But what hath Loue to doe with the Treason of men as long as he is not the cause thereof And yet the selfelame Loue replied Coribant was it not the cause of the death of modest Hipâolitus who was pittifully slaine by the vniust dealings of his wicked Stepmother Nay rather quice contrarie aunswered Arcas he was the occasion that he was made immortall he being raised from death vnto life againe by the cunning of that learned Esculapius who could neuer haue done him so great a good turne vnlesse he had first tasted of death through Loue. But what say you then quoth Coribant vnto Loue which forced Tarquin to offer violence vnto the castitie of Lucres being the cause of so great a mischiefe It was an occasion replied Arcas rather of a maruellous good turne by reason it was the cause of libertie of the Romances with the vtter ruine ouerthrow of their TyraÌts and Lucretia dying in that order as she did was she not most fortunate and happie For doth not such a one die happily who as Codrus by his death preserueth his countrie making the same through his losse to be fortunate afterward And yet the verie same Loue said Coribant was the Author of the cruell perishing of Piramus and Thisby they hauing but a sorie guerdon for their so constant affection which the one bare vnto the other Is he not then bloodie minded and cruell No truely replied Arcas for what more sweet and pleasing kinde of death could they suffer than they did And had it not bene a thousand times better that one of them should die with the other thaÌ to be separated diuided seeing the Louer that loseth his Mistris or that Ladie that hath lost her seruant liue not at all but rather languish And yet still the same Loue was it said Coribant which vrged the daughters of Minos to betray their aged Father giuing instructions vnto Theseus how to slay the monster and to get out of the Labyrinth when he had done Why and the same Loue answered
Areas was the occasion of a greater benefit in deliuering Athens from such a seruile bondage as forced them to offer their prettie little children vnto the greedie lawes of that deuouring Monster To conclude much honour great glorie and infinite good hath proceeded through Loue in so much as he that hath neuer loued deserueth not the name of a man As the Shepheard had made an end of his speech the faire Nymph Orythia arriued who hauing her Lute in her hand sung in a most dulcet tune these Heroicall verses following What shall my Fortune neuer mend in which I doe languish Yet O yee Gods let me die for line without heart can I not now Cruell he that my soule commaunds doth mocke at my hard haps Curst be the flame that euery thing doth burne sane our anguish Ah shall I neuer see my life nor my Loue to be ended Neuer for these skies are cruell vnto my plainings And they doe seeme to be deafe when with my cries I doe mone them More that I liue I plague my selfe and am mine owne Hangman Cruell alone is that griefe that no remedie findeth But for to suffer without hope if destinie mine were Why was I brought into this world and why was I borne then Better nere to be than alwaies so to be tortred Woe to me hope haue I none that ere my paine will be swaged Yet no griefe there is to be found but findeth his easing Excepe such as ouer desperate onely by Loue comes Then since I needes must langnish thus content will I hold me For at last my comforts this although that I perish Yet from all these cares and troubles soone shall I rid me That man neuer feares when death doth venter vpon him When to loose this wretched life he rides in a Hauen Free from the Tempests of this world to liue euerlasting After the Nymph had with many scalding sighes deliuered these verses she thus bespake the Shepheard Arcas What time wilt thou limit vnto my sorrowes and when wilt thou make an end of tormenting me as thou doest If pittie cannot induce thee to succour me at least let these mine earnest praiers moue thee Why takest thou delight thus to be importuned and why is it a pleasure vnto thee thus to be sued vnto Ah wy doest thou not restore my heart vnto his former health and why deuiest thou to helpe him who is so much affected to doe thee seruice Cruell is that Lord that maketh his faithfull seruant to serue him still and yet yeeldeth him no recompence for his paine vniust is he and hatefull both to God and man For what vice more horrible can there be than barbarous ingratitude Ah wash from thy soule that foule fault and suffer not thy selfe any more to be reproached in that thou art hard-harted and bitter against her who onely deuoteth her selfe vnto thee After the Criminall hath his fatall sentence pronounced he is put to death presently without making him languish any more in prolonging his miserie Fuen so let me intreate thee to dispatch and giue thy verdit of life or death against me without delighting thy selfe any longer in my Disasters The fire put into the mouth of a Cannon forceth the pouder to flie out suddenly which turneth into a flame Euen so I am not able longer to endure without my griefe burst forth of my soule or that I giue vp the ghost and die But what talke I of death when it is denied vnto me No no had I but had the benefit of the same thou cruell man hadst neuer heard so many praiers come from me neuer had I made so many vowes vnto thee neither had I moued thee so often vnto compassion as I haue done for with some desperate instrument or other I had finished both my life and griefe long ere this and both at one time But alas I being immortall must endure this anguish whilest being able to helpe others I cannot heale mine owne festring wounds Not vnlike the Physition who dieth after he hath conserued the liues of other not hauing the skill to preserue his owne Were some God the cause of these my plaints and that by reason of some one Deitie or other this mischaunce had hapned vnto me I were not worthie of some excuse amongst mine equals But when I call to minde how I haue suffered my selfe to be vanquisht by a simple Shepheard and yet am not able to perswade him to haue remorse vpon me I needs must confesse I am worthie to be blamed and that rightly But alas I know not wel what I say for my Ladie the Goddesse Diana loueth a Shephcard as well as I and vnder this weede oftentimes lodgeth vertue learning and beautie Neuer was any more beautifull than Adonis none more faire than Narcissus and none more liuely than Paris when he was a Shepheard neither was there euer a Nymph more amiable than Enone the Shepheardesse Angelica the peerlesse Paragon of all beautie left many great Princes and valiant Paladines all which were suters vnto her for her Loue and accepted a poore common Souldier for her sweet heart and Loue. Loue respecteth not riches onely he hath an eie vnto the perfection of the person that is loued Then sweet Shepheard fancie me and giue me some sure proofe of thy affection towards me without putting me any more to further troubles So said the pensiue Nymph when Arcas being rauished with the contemplation of his faire Mistris as if he had bene speaking vnto her and as if Orythia had bene farre from him Began to speake thus O sacred Diana haue I not as yet giuen thee sufficient testimonie of my zealous good will towards thee considering my long and many sorrowes but wilt thou still see more and yet neuer yeeld me any recompence for the same Alas the Goldsmith trieth gold but once if it will indure the fire which he vseth to make so me excellent piece of worke withall and the Eagle is contented to carrie his little ones but once against the Sunnie Beames which if they are able to abide he suffereth them to liue making account they are his owne Why then deare Mistris art not thou content with these many proofes of my faithfull Amitie without demaunding still new at my hands If it be because I am too base a creature to be beloued and that thou thinkest me not worthie of so high a fauour Ah then I beseech thee remember Iupiter who disdained not the Loue of Europe or of Semele although they were mortall women nor Thetis who although a Goddesse yet vouchsafed to espouse Penelus an earthly man and sacred Apollo who vouchsafed to affect the Troyan Cassandra yea remember the Goddesse of all beautie who was willing to accept the Loue of Anchises to beare a child by him which was called the wandring Prince Aeneas And therefore be not angrie although I dare to loue thee for I feare not that the torment of Ixion shall euer punish me because I
the more hauing read them she thus came vpon me Thou onely and none but thou alone with thy rash conceit taxest such of blame who be most cleare and innocent of the same whilst other extoll and commend what deserueth glorie But thy tongue is no slander neither can thine ill words bring such within the compasse of discredit If I hate thee I doe but what in reason I may for what occasion hast thou giuen to mee that I should thinke well of thee That Lord most seuerely punisheth his Vassaile who like a periurde wretch would offer villanie vnto the honour of his wife Law and Iustice both depriuing him of all his Lands and goods whatsoeuer Euen so what can hinder me to â lague thee who terming thy selfe to be my louing seruant seekest to take that from me by force which I prefer before all the wealth of the world Hardly can I forbeare from forbidding thee my presence for worse thou hast deserued and yet because thou shalt perceiue that I am more readie to forgiue then thou art quit in forging false slaunders I will defer this my punishment vntill another time meane space change thou thy minde amend what thou hast done amisse and become a new man otherwise it will be the worse for thee And hauing so said away she goeth suddainly leauing me all alone As that passenger who comming to the shore to refresh himselfe for his trauailes past and to take the aire a little is very heauie much astonisht and in a manner halfe dead when he seeth the Boate which should carrie him backe againe to be launched farre into the Seas and tossed too and fro by the Tempest that ouer maistereth him Euen so sad and pensiue did I become when I found my selfe alone and when I sawe my Ladie was fled from me More sorrowfull was not Ariadne perceiuing her selfe to be left on the Sea cost all alone by her periured Spouse Theseus More doleful was not Olympia vewing her selfe forsaken and sitting vpon a cold Rocke by her disloyall Birreus Neither were those Phrigian women so wofull when they found themselues to be left in a strange and vncoth I le by their dissembling husbands then I was then at that time Diuers passions tormented mine inward soule one was because I had offended my Ladie another was to see that she should grace my Corriuall so much the third to see her goe her waies and I yet not to be reconciled vnto her and the fourth that I was not able to craue pardon of her nor to excuse my fault This made me seeme for a pretie while as one senselesse and without motion as if I had bene a stone mine eies onely stared after my Mistris but the other parts of my bodie were in a manner dead for faine would I haue followed after her but that my legs had not power to sturre for as a sicknes taketh away the good will the force and the meanes from the sicke patient that he is not able to doe any thing Euen so griefe hindered me from going after mine angrie Saint to craue pardon of her O Father the remembrance of this mortall miserie depriueth me as yet of voice and sense and therefore I pray thee vrge me not to passe any farther but rather be content to haue knowne the commencements of my misfortunes without being acquainted with the rest No answered the Magitian I must needs vrge thee to make an end as thou hast begun Not vnlike the good Physition who forceth the sicke man to emptie the Goblet and to drinke vp all the potion the sooner to be healed Forward then and let me entreat thee to doe so much for thy Loues resembling mine owne old ones content me not a little Courage man and acquite thy selfe of thy promise without giuing ouer so faire a ground now thou hast begun thy race alreadie Well then replied the disconsolate Shepheard seeing it is thy pleasure I will vntie my tongue that it may speake againe deliuering vnto thee the rest of my Disasters I hartily wish that when I haue made an end thereof I may giue vp my Ghost as that Pilot after he hath failed long vp and downe the swelling Seas findeth his happie and comfortable Hauen wherein he resteth Knowe then that for a long while after her departure I wailed and wept taking on like a madman musing within my selfe what to doe and yet not being able to resolue vpon any thing certaine So much was my soule vexed and gaulled within mee as it began to entertaine blacke dispaire banishing all hope likely to come vnto him Earnest was she to leaue this loathed prison of my bodie crauing pardon to depart from thence and so importunate was she with me as in the end I graunted her request and resolued to die Thou shalt die cried I out yea thou shalt die accursed tongue of mine that durst presume and that most iniuriously to abuse the good name and fame of the most chastest Virgin in the world Thou shalt die thou traiterous heart of mine in that thou diddest dare to thinke that she who is the very tipe of vertue it selfe should become bad and vitious Thou wretched bodie of mine shalt die because thou hast forgot thy selfe so much as to thinke that that comely corpse of my Mistris was like vnto thine owne and thou most wicked thought returne shalt thou into the damned deepe of all hell from whence thou first diddest proceed because thou hast made me so miserable as none can be the like Come then come let vs die whilest with one and the selfesame griefe we will extinguish both our sault and our sorrow all at one time And therewith being in a rage â arose running from thence with great furie vp vnto the top of a high Rocke which lâoked into the Sea where being I beheld the frothy face of the mother of Achâies the surges whereof roared and made a gastly noyse by reason it was troubled with â Tempest This did I thinke to be a fit way for me to dispatch and drowne my selfe therein for the more it did rage the more I thought it sufficient to take my life from me And now was I readie to leap downe into the same I hauing closed mine ere 's stretcht out my armes and bowed my head to make this dangerous leap when I hard a voice that called me it being a voice that sounded like vnto that of my Diana Whereupon I opened mine eies I lifted vp my head and looked backeward to see if I could perceiue the partie that named my name but I could find nothing but Trees Stones and Bushes Wherupon I returned againe vnto my first course offering my selfe most willingly vnto death minding no more to defer nor delay to put in practise my cruell exployt any longer when the same voice which I hard but a little before put me off from my determination I being very desirous to know who it was that thus twise had called me This made
Nobilitie and of the Courtly Ladies as his vertue well deserued receiuing the Prize from the daintie hands of that saite Princeise who wondering at his Chiualrie presenting the same vnto him vsed these gratious speeches Although this small reward is worthie of acceptance in that it hath bene wonne and brought away from so many gallant Gentlemen to stand in stead of a recompence due vnto Vertue yet is it nothing worth in respect of that which your valour hath alreadie wonne vnto you which hath made you to be glorious renowned and famous amongst the worthiest personages of the world This which I here present you withall is but a trifle and of no weight and yet of great importance in that you haue so brauely purchaste it by the vndoubted proofe of your dauntlesse courage which maketh it worthy of commendation and not otherwise Receiue it then braue Knight from the hands of her who wisheth all increase of glorie vnto you and such worthie praise as your vertue doth deserue and merit This little speech was of greater force to conquer this stout Knight then were all the Launces of his enemies for hee was ouercome with the same Whilst the bright eyes of the Princesse serued for fire to kindle affection in his heart and her speeches were as whirling darts that pierced quite through the same The exceeding great heate that hee had gotten with sweating on Horse-backe and the bashfull colour that seized vpon him to see himselfe so highly commended of this gratious Princesse had painted his face with so pure a vermillion Dye as he seemed farre more amiable louely then before In so much as she held him to be no lesse faire then valiant highly commending him within her secret minde seeing him to haue both valour and beautie the more to make him in euerie part right beautifull On the other side Don Iohn viewing the sweete countenance and marking the sugred speeches of this young Ladie was greatly troubled inwardly not knowing how to answere her Yet had it not bene but that hee doubted he should be noted how his colour changed too and fro he had replied on the suddaine Neuerthelesse hee thought come what should of the matter hee would make her an answere which hee did with a lowe and trembling voyce in this sort Madame there is no wood so wette or greene but fire will kindle it So is there no heart so soft or fearefull but your Vertue is able to make valiant couragious It was neither my owne proper strength or force neither the desire to carrie away this Prize that brought mee to be victorious but it was the onely glorie which I promised vnto my selfe in receiuing it from your Princely hands From your Princely hands I say who are not inferiour vnto anie in the world for perfect beautie For this subiect onely doe I make account of it desiring to keep it as an immortall treasure and not because I haue wonne it from so manie couragious Knights or that I highly esteeme of their valor but onely because I knewe that that glorie would be most pleasing vnto mee when I might vaunt that I had it bestowed vpon me by the hands of the most rarest Princesse that liueth of whome in lieu of so great a recompence I doe and will account my selfe for euer the most faithfull slaue and vassall and her most loyall seruant Thus spake the braue Don Iohn for more he could not as then speak as he was most willing because he was compassed round about with manie Gallants all which came to honour him and to reioyce with him of his good Fortune so as hee was forced to leaue his Mistris for that time and for that he was in great Triumph conducted vnto the King who caused him onely to grace him the more to sit by him as if he had bene his companion and equall Meane space the Reuells and Dauncing beganne in the Court in which sports my Maister would needs be one where he shewed him selfe as dainty a Reueler as he had in the Lists performed the part of a valiant Soldiour whilst in these Courtly sportes the young Princesse bare away the Prize which so much pleased him as after that time the faire Infant of Spaine was all his ioy Achilles nere so much lou'd Briseis so faire For whome to quarrell so hee then did dare His eies were still fixed vpon hers he delighting in nothing so much as to gaze vpon her Angelicall face And as the couetous mizer can neuer turn his looks from his gold but must aiwaies be staring vpon the same so our knight did nothing but conteÌplate and behold his sweet Mistris As that maÌ who being extreamly hot calling for drink thinketh the same to be maruelous good pleasing vnto his tast althogh it proue afterward to be full of deadly poyson Euen so this couragious follower of Mars ouerheated with Loue sore longing and thirsting after the heauenly feature of his Kings Daughter swallowed downe most mortall poyson sweetly which by his eyes slipt downe into his heart and there impoysoned him As the way-faring man perceiueth his force to faile and his life to steale away as soone as euer the venemous Basilisque hath looked vpon him Euen so this poore Captaine found his heart and soule to be reft violently from him through the dartes which were glaunced at him from the sparkling eyes of the Princesse Thus LOVE hauing gotten the vpper hand ouer Mars learned Don Iohn a new lesson making him to submit himselfe vnto his lawes changing in him his former humor his nature and his complexion As the Horscourser in breaking a young Colt brideleth him of his wonted libertie forcing him to carrie his head to runne to turne and then to stand still againe and all as he thinkes good and at his owne pleasure Euen so was my kind Maister brought vnder to doe what Loue commaunded him A sweet kinde of humor that he supped vp at his eyes descended downe into his heart a new desire or wish oppressed his soule and straunge and vncoth passions continually tormented him and yet he is so vnfortunate as he findeth his sicknes to be passing sweete vnto him whilst hee honoureth his enemie and refuseth all helpe and remedie for the same Night beeing come euery one betaketh himselfe to his quiet rest Onely Don Ihon who was both victor and vanquished was depriued of his sleepe At too too high a rate did hee buy the Prize which he got in the Lastes and happie had he bene if he had bene ouercome in running so he had not bene conquered by the beautious eyes of his Ladie For so he might perhaps haue recouered his credit another time hauing manie companions in his discomfiture whereas now hee was ouercome for euer because his losse was vnrecouerable and shee that had conquered him was not againe to be ouecome by his power or might any way at all He finding his Prize to haue cost him too deere in that he
lost his former libertie and the freedome of his heart for the same He resembled that Pilot who seeth his Shippe to leake and full of holes by which the water entereth and therefore dispaireth of life And such a one was our wretched Conquerour who saw no remedie for him to quench this fire which burned his inward entrailes Hee was in loue with a Princesse the onely daughter of his King and whome the greatest Monarks of the world would haue thought themselues fortunate to haue had her for wise and who was so vertuous and wise as hardly could she be induced vnto Loue. Yet his misfortunes take to them a larger scope Hee giues not ore to Loue though he is without hope But after he hath considered within himselfe wisely of the matter he findeth that it is but meere follie to set vp his rest at that game anie longer and therfore hee resolueth to giue it ouer But the more he thinketh to forget his Loue the more Affection kindeleth within Not vnlike the Byrd who being taken in the lime-twigges the more she striueth to get away the more she is intangled Wherevpon one day he being alone calleth for mee and because he knewe I had some experience in Loue he demaunded my aduise therein discouering his wound vnto mee and crauing my best counsell I âouing him dearely perswaded him to chase away that venomous Adder and that he play not as that husbandman of the Countrie did who kept a Snake so long in his bosome till at the last hee stung him for his kindnes Besides I discoursed vnto him of the bloody outragiousnes of Loue often sighing as I reported the same vnto him because as then I remembred mine olde loue in Arcadia Hee hearing me say so strait belieued me determining with himselfe not to follow his faire Mistris any longer in chase and with that resolution willing mee to depart he layeth him downe vpon his bedde thinking to take his rest for a while But no sooner were his eyes closed but that Loue opened them againe presenting the beauâââ of ãâã Ladie before him so that presently he was chaunged in minde minding now to lone her againe As that Traueller who being bound by reason of some busines of great importance to take Sea no sooner arriueth at the shore but that hee fearing to enter the Sââppâ because of drowning retireth backe againe but afterward remembring the weightineâ of the matter and how much it importeth him for his profit to goe onwards on his iourney marcheth backe againe vnto the water hazardeth himselfe and so in the end performeth his voyage Euen so my perplexed Lord after hee hath done what he can to subdue his passion and yet cannot at the last seeing no other remedie he resolueth to loue and to submit himselfe vnder the seruile yoake of cursed Cupid Or as the bondslaue hauing escaped in the night determineth with himselfe to be followed after in the day time chaungeth his aduise and frighted with extreame feare returneth home vnto his Maister Euen so Don Iohn hee is in the ende forced to acknowledge proud LOVE for his soueraigne Lord and is glad to yeeld vnto him Wherevpon he calleth mee againe vnto him making me priuie vnto his resolution discoursing still of Loue and flattering himselfe he would needes perswade mee that Loue was courteous and gentle when hee knew right well in his owne conscience that he did finde him otherwise But I on the other side wish him not to belieue so but rather aduise him to banish Loue from him as one that is an aduersarie both vnto his life and quietnes deliuering vnto him many proofes of the crueltie of that blinde God and of his villainous nature All this he heareth although hee knoweth not what to answere vnto the same because I spake but reason and yet for all this such was his mishap as like an obstinate and selfe-wild man he standeth still in his blind error stiffely As the robber by the high way side beeing admonished by some faithfull friend of his to giue ouer that leaud kinde of life telling him of the wretched and wicked end he is like to come vnto if he continueth still in the same listneth vnto him very earnestly and yet neuerthelesse falleth vnto his old kinde of trade of robbing is the same man still and so continueth Euen so this Gaualier although he gaue good eare vnto my reasons and perswasions yet did he persist as one obdurate in former follie and selfe-wilfulnesse But yet to say truth he was somewhat to be excused herein seeing he was no more maister of his owne selfe but rather Loue vnder whose Banner he fought Long lay he vpon his bed and yet he could not sleepe by reason of such strange visions as Loue presented vnto his eyes Whose fashion it is when he hath once conquered he will seldom or neuer suffer him to be in quiet Whervpon Don Iohn ariseth from his loathed bed taking his iourney towards the Kings Pallace where by the way hee is saluted and commended of all men but yet all these honors abated his paine little or nothing because he found by experience that he had lost more then euer he was like to recouer againe Besides if he had but knowne the minde of his Mistrisse he then could the sooner haue resolued what to doe according vnto her answere which was either to die or to followe his suite begunne But not knowing her will hee knewe not what to say nor what to thinke of the matter For Each Louer that is burned with this amorous flame In word and deed dependeth on his louely Dame Not long had hee stayed in the Court but that it was his good Fortune to haue a sight of his Mistrisse whome he thought to be wonderfullie inereased in Beautie since last hee saw her so as if shee then deserued to be honored as a Ladie why now shee merited to be worshipped and adored as if shee had bene some Goddesse indeed And thus his affection increaseth more and more On the other side the young Princesse began to feele a kinde of alteration within her selfe and found her heart to fancie Don Iohn aboue all men liuing Yea and so much as she thought he deserued to haue her Loue before anie other And yet when she remembred her Royall birth whose daughter she was and the greatnes of her honour shee beganne somewhat to forget him so as her desire was no sooner lightned but that it was quenched againe Not vnlike vnto those children borne before their time who no sooner are brought into the world but they straitway die Meane time the Knight who was not so bad a scholler in Loues schoole but that he had learned some lessons therein beganne to gather by the stealing glaunces which she cast vpon him that shee did not altogether hate him and therefore beganne to perswade himselfe that he was likely to haue some good successe in his amorous busines Wherevpon hee thought to venture to
speake vnto her For said he vnto him selfe what should hinder me that I should not bewray how much I affect her What though shee be the Daughter of my King is it reason therefore that I should die for her and yet not make her acquainied with my death and the cause thereof What know I whether Loue hath infected her as well as it hath poysoned mee Fot as great Princes as shee haue felt his force and haue bene brought vnder by him which if it were so I would not then doubt but that shee would be so gratious vnto me as to take some pittie vpon mee For Loue makes the hearts of great Monarks to stoope as well as those of poore peasants forcing as well the brauest minds to be subiect vnto his lawes as such as are baser persons Did not he make soft and gentle the hart of proud and haughtie Achilles compelling him to yeeld vnto his prisoner Briseis to like her so well as hee quarrelled with all the Princes of Greece to haue her good will And the selfe same Loue did it not take downe the stubborne stomacke of high minded Angelica who although she were a Princesse and sought vnto by all the chiefest Paladines and men of renowne in the world yet did she cast her liking vpon sillie Medor a simple Page or Lackey Nothing can withstand his mightie power neither King nor Queene Royaltie nor Nobilitie all are alike vnto him and all must doe as he pleaseth Onely with surlie and proud mindes doth he most commonly adorne his triumphant Chariot disdaining as it were the spoyles of the meanest Againe did not Venus doate on a Shepheard and Phoebus vpon a plaine Countrey Lasse Yes yes and therefore nothing is impossible vnto Loue. And seeing it is so I will endeuour to see if I can learne whether hee hath tamed the great heart of this louely Princesse which if he hath done I hope then that it is strucken with a golden Dart as mine is and not with one of lead Might I but once finde that she affecteth mee I would doe well enough with the rest hoping in time to bring euery thing to a most prosperous end and happie issue Thus said my Maister being resolute to sound the depth of the Princesse thoughts and yet hee thought it was hard to wade through such a Foord much doubting the entrance therein but farre more how to get out thereof againe And as a Generall of an Armie after hee hath had manie parleyes with the Fort which is enemie vnto him pitcheth his Tentes round about the same but seeing his Souldiers to be beatten backe againe with losse of many of his men dispaireth that he shall not be able to surprize it doubting sore of some bad issue in this his enterprise Euen so many doubts ran into Don Iohns head which much troubled him as well he knew not what to doe One while he feareth lest he should offend his Mistris and loth he is to displease her yet in the end Fortune who fauoreth such as be venturous egged him forward making the way plain for him that he might the better bewray his affection vnto his Ladie For one day the King being willing highly to grace him commanded him to sit downe with him at his owne Royall table where his daughter fat right ouer against him Neuer can Vertue be honoured too much whilst shee doeth credit vnto them that thus seeke to doe her reuerence and dutie I leaue vnto your aduised considerations to iudge whether whilest the Princesse sate so nigh the Knight he lost anie time or no And whether hee tooke his occasion finding the opportunitie so fitte if hee had done otherwise he had done fondlie But hee seeing his Saint so nigh vnto him watching fitte time after many troubled conceits running in his minde with a blushing countenance and a low trembling voyee hee thus beganne to Court her What would you say most excellent Princes to heare that your owne knight vpon the selfesame day in which he receiued from your royall selfe the prize for Tilting became both victorious and vanquisht and all at once Victor ouer so many braue Caualiers but vanquisht through your most beautious eyes And although euery Conquerour is proud of his conquest and he that is conquered lamenteth for his losse yet I quite contrarie vnto them esteeme lesse of my victorie then I doe to be ouercome for it is far more honourable to be ouerthrowne by a diuine puyssance then to be Conquerour ouer a weeke and feeble force And what greater renowme or brauer fame may so much beautifie and adorne my daies as to be called the vassall and slaue of her and to be vanquisht by her who by the same force is able to ouercome euen the Gods themselues No other glorie will I seeke then this which is to be accounted your Captiue I know good Madame you may count me ouer arragant and without discretion in that I dare presume to vse such speeches vnto you who are both my naturall Princes and my Ladie purchased through your too beautious eyes yet though the Gods be sacred and immortall they for all that refuse not the seruice of worldly men their creatures because nothing can hinder vertue from doing her duetie inasmuch as she is without fault and the rather in that she is of force to make the fierce and wildest hearts that are to be in loue with her I speake not this that I would looke for any recompence for my paines of you neither that you should make any account of me at all onely I would most humble entreat you that you would vouchsafe to belieue that all my desires all my studies and all my endeuours are wholy vowed vnto your secret seruice and that no person shall command ouer my soule but onely your sweet selfe Thinke not then gratious Princes that I am ouer-rash and too too bold to deliuer such words as these vnto you For it is impossible that any right generous minde or braue heroicall thought should see so rare and matchlesse a beautie as yours is but that he needs must be in loue therewith and louing it deuote himselfe vnto the honour of the same for euer Did not so many diuine vertues abound within you and were you not euery way indued with so rare and exquisite qualities as you are we then should not so earnestly seeke to serue you neither should we be so curious to follow you with so great affection and respect as we doe Sooner shall the Sunne be without light and the earth without verdure and greenes for as the heauens whether we will or no giueth vnto vs light Euen so despite of your selfe shall you be honoured and admired as long as you are so excellent and perfect a creature Then if I place my selfe in the order of such as reuerence your rare qualities good Madam pardon me neither thinke that any person can bare more loyall seruice vnto you then I my selfe doe for might my
tell the nature of his disease but onely she who might if so she pleased haue bene his Physition and yet was it not so grieuous vnto him but that it was farre worse to her selfe she repenting her selfe many times and often for her froward and tart words and seeking all meanes possible to make amends for the same although as then she could not Alacke how soone and quickly doth speech passe from vs and how terrible doe it sting oftentimes when a word is so bitterly spoken as it cutteth and pierceth more deeper then a sharpe and keene sword It was not for nothing that the auncient Sages had a certaine Goddesse they called Silence which alwaies held her finger vpon her mouth to giue vs to vnderstand therby that without long premeditating and bethinking vs well of the matter which we ment to deliuer we should not speake at all for feare least as the Poet saith That thy rash speech make thee for to repent Which at vnwares most fondly from thee went That great Commander ouer the whole armie of the Gretians who ouercame Troy repented him many a time and often of his too rash promise for he hauing vowed most solemnly vnto the Goddesse Diana to facrifice the fairest and goodliest thing in all his Realme vpon condition she would beappeased and plague the Gretian Campe no more was constrained for performance of what he had so religiously protested to sacrifice his owne daughter then who there was none fairer So likewise did those Fishermen repent them of their words who sold vnto that Phylosopher the counterfait of a Virgin in which they brought the Triuet of gold which was placed in the Temple of Apollo And so was that good Iudge Iepha sorrie in that he had so vnaduisedly promised vnto God to sacrifice the first thing which he should meete comming from his owne house as he should returne homeward if he should obtaine the conquest ouer his enemies for his onely child and daughter was she of whom he first had a sight of and therefore was she put to death This was the reason our young Princes being sorie that she had done amisse sought to amend the same when though faine she would yet then she could not And now the whole companie being readie to depart beautious Maria cast a most louely looke vpon her Seruant to giue him in full fatisfaction of her former iniuries done vnto him a certaine assurance as well of her Loue towards him as of her repentance for what she had vttered before But he that now had entertained blacke dispaire within his minde and who dreamed vpon nothing but on horror and death neuer marked her nor perceiued any such gratious signe and therefore it did him no good at all no more then a little weake potion is able to counterchecke and encounter with a deadly poyson that is mortally entred into the stomacke and euery part of a man And as small and ordinarie remedies are sufficient to helpe a man to his health who being but newly fallen sicke but are of no force nor vertue at all when he is growne to be dangerously diseased indeed Eeuen so these amorous gestures and signes of this Ladie which before the mortall infirmitie of my maister had bene comfortable vnto him and had done him much good comming now too late stood him in no steed he being as then like one that dispaired of his life Night being come he commeth home heauie and sad none knowing the occasion thereof but my selfe he himselfe not being able or at lestwise somewhat vnwilling to deliuer his misfortune vnto me but I hauing knowne the same came of mine owne accord vnto him seeking to comfort him by all the deuises I could therewithall telling him that the first entring into Loue was the hardest and that if a braue Generall of a field for one repulse or two would neuer giue ouer his enterprise but rather follow it harder yea and that with so desperate a courage as in the end he returned conquerour then much lesse ought he to be daunted or distrust his owne good hap although at the first push he had not made a breach into his Ladies heart Besides I told him that what is easie obtained is not worth the getting whereas that that is dearely bought hardly come by as most commoÌly the affaires in loue be such are not so quickly purchast and therefore he must not thinke much although he endure some paine or labour before he attaine his so much desired suite for the fruits thereof are so luscious sweet that if the Louer should gather them without some danger he would growe more proud then the Tâans and not sticke to compare for good fortune with the Gods themselues of which Iupiter himselfe although the mightiest of them all could not enioy his loue without great trauaile no though they were but mortall creatures which he so much affected Againe say that women should loue vs yet were it neither decent nor iust that they should suffer themselues to be intreated at the first encounter as well because their honour is still before their eyes which they hold as the dearest thing they haue as also because they doubt they shall be the sooner disdained and despised by vs as fooles and such as want discretion and gouernment if they should so soone make a tender vnto vs of their friendly loue Besides that a woman is but courted and attended vpon by the man but a small time and whilest he woeth her in the way of marriage for no sooner are they become man and wife but that then she must attend and serue him and this is the reason they are so long before they will yeeld vnto these amorous pursuites perswasions Withall we must consider the birth the calling and the qualitie of the person whom we seeke to obtaine who the nobler she is the longer must we thinke it will be before she be brought vnto our lures especially when she is our better farre so as if Briseus although a seruant and Captiue stood so much vpon her Pantophles as she looked that she should be sued vnto by Achilles her Lord and Maister much more should not he thinke it straunge and not wonder thereat at all although his Mistris being a Princes borne would looke for farre more seruice at his hands and therefore he had no reason but to be of courage to plucke vp his spirits and play as that wise Captaine doth who seeing himselfe discomfited presently gathereth new forces together againe and once more ventureth his fortune These and many other perswasions did I vse vnto him but the vnfortunate Gentleman thinking the taske he had taken in hand to be harder for to finish then it was would receiue no comfort at all much lesse any hope to obtaine what he so much desired in so much as he resolued to giue ouer the court for euer and to goe and liue in a house he had in the countrie where he ment to spend
found this written which followeth IF there be no greater Corsiue vnto the minde of one then that which forceth vs despite of our selues to seeke vnto those whom wee before haue and that without iust cause notoriouslie offended then certainely am I the most wretchedst Creature liuing For as now there is no meanes left for mee to escape from daunger but onely by thy helpe sweete Knight alone who hast more reason to wish mine ouerthrow then my good Fortune or health anie way at all in that thou hast found such extreame and barbarous discourtesie in mee Yet neuerthelesse if thy right generous and gentle minde cannot feele this iniurie done vnto thee by a sillie Maiden then I beseech thee thinke no more vpon mine offence but burying it deepe vnder thy feete doe that for my sake which the bearer heere of shall make thee priuie vnto And then shalt thou quickly perceiue what great satisfaction I will make thee for my fault committed graunting vnto thee that which thou shalt most desire Giue credite then vnto this Messenger assuring thy selfe that I am Thine most obliged Maria. As that Prince who being pensiue and sadde attending for newes of the fortune of the Battaile which his Lieutenant hath giuen vnto his enemie seeing a Messenger comming a farre off is amazed and confounded with feare one while hoping of the victorie and then another while doubting least hee hath lost the day and so is vtterly ouerthrowne Euen so it fared with our Arragonign Knight for hee knoweth not what his Ladie would haue with him and say that shee would employ him in her seruice yet thinketh hee that it is not for anie good will shee beareth him but onely because she would serue her owne turne and that she had great need of him Wherevpon hee commaundeth the Chamber to be voyded when being all alone except the Page hee demaundeth of him what the Princesse pleasure was who told him that her earnest request was that he would doe her so much fauour as to challenge the Prince of Lions to Combat and to maintaine in quarrell against him that he ought not against the oath and deuoire of a true Knight goe about to seeke to haue her vnto his wife against her will which victorie if it please God that he obtaine he then should soone finde how thankfull she would be vnto him for the same My maister hearing this was readie to leape out of his skinne for verie ioy driuing away all sadnesse and becomming merrie as he was at the first seeing he had now some meanes to shewe himselfe some way worthie of the good will of his Mistris Wherevpon he answered the Page that his humble dutie first remembred vnto the Princesse hee would be at the Court within tenne dayes after and so willed him to signifie and to assure her thereof where in his blacke Armour spread all ouer with burning flames and drerie leaues hee would meete his hote and importunate Louer not doubting but quicklie to coole his heate and courage and so bestowing a rich Iewell vpon the Page he sent him backe againe vnto the Princesse who was maruellous glad to heare this newes from him But there is an olde Sawe Haste makes waste And Soft Fire maketh sweet Mauls Euen so if this Traytour LOVE had not blinded the eyes of my Maister so much as he could not see his owne weaknesse and if he had not bene so forward but had stayed and taken a longer time to cherish and recouer his health more throughlie then hee did by reason that he was brought wonderfull lowe and almost vnto deaths doore with verie faintnesse and sorrow of minde no doubt but it had hapned better for him then it did and he had bene one of the most fortunatest men liuing But alas who euer hath seene a Louer that hath not bene halfe foolish and that would not thinke but that hee were able to performe things that were impossible for the Loue of his Mistrisse For as the Poet saith Nothing is hard vnto a Louers minde When hee doth seeke to please his Mistrisse kinde For it was verie straunge that Don Iohn hauing bene so long sicke and without beeing recouered aboue three or foure dayes should be able to encounter with one of the most brauest lustiest and strongest Gallants in the world and not to be the occasion of the losse of his owne life as afterwards it was Neuerthelesse hee thought nothing was impossible vnto him as long as it was in the seruice of his Ladie hee beeing of the minde that in such a cause he was able to conquer all the world Meane time the Kings Pursiuants returned backe againe vnto the Court certifying his Maiestie how that Don Iohn was deadlie sicke and for that cause craued pardon of him to be excused since he was farre likelier to die then to liue Which when the King had heard hee was wonderfully sorie but on the other side the Page warranted the Princesse that what newes so euer hee had sent vnto the King her Father because hee would not as then be knowne of the sime that yet neuerthelesse hee would keepe his word and not faile of his promise and so hee did indeed Although LOVE himselfe doeth but mocke at the Oathes and protestations of Louers they beeing for the most part false deceitfull and oftentimes broken And yet I say That Louertrue which to his Mistrisse makes an Oath Will die before to her hee 'le breake his vowed Troath This was the reason that Don Iohn according vnto his word kept his day not missing to be there at the time appointed and in such an Armour as hee told the Page of although he was verie weake and sickly which if his faire Maria had knowne shee would not haue so lightly employed him in so weightie a businesse as concerned as well his life as her owne and the wel-fare of them both but rather would haue caused him to take some longer time to recouer him selfe and some good Physicke to make him strong againe And now the day being come Don Iohn as a Knight errant and vnknowne Armed and disguised as I told you before presented himselfe before the King and hauing done reuerence vnto him demaundeth for the Prince of Lims The King hearing him say so asked what hee would haue with him and the occasion why hee enquired for him my reason is answered the Knight to prooue against him if so it shall stand with your Highnes good liking that hee doeth against the honour and lawes of Chiualrie to go about to obtaine the Princesse your Daughters loue rather by force then by other good meanes and therevpon I denounce the Combat vnto him which if hee refuse I will account him no better then a base Coward voyd of all valour and as as one that is vnworthy of that thrice Noble order of Knighthood Heerevpon the Prince was called for hee was come but the day before vnto the Court hee hauing bene sent for thither by a
there are But wherefore are they so condemned Is it because they beleeue not rightly or for that they had no Faith at all neither for the one nor for the other For there is no Christan be he neuer so leaud or badde but doth belieue otherwise hee should be tearmed a Turke and not a Christian why then are they adiudged vnto such an accursed sentence Euen for their badde deeds and vngodly actions For be they not the verie wordes of the Almightie when hee shall sit in his high Throne at the last day in iudgement Depart from mee ye workers of iniquitie into Hell fire and not Away from me yee faithlesse wretches who haue not beleeued aright What ouerthrewe Lucifer onely his badde deeds Hee presuming to dare to sit in the place of his Soueraigne and not his default of Faith For he could nor belieue ill seeeing that he visiblie saw that which Faith commandeth vs to belieue What droue our first father Adaw out of Paradise what but his badde dealings for which he was chastised What damned Iudas euen that horrible and terrible wickednes which he committed against his owne conscience That there is a recompence for liuing well and a punishment for dooing ill the Holie one himselfe instructeth vs when hee vsed this speech vnto Caine If thou hast done iustly shall thou not receiue thy reward and if vngodlie shall not sinne then stand knocking at thy gate Hee vsing heere this word Reward which cannot be without deseruing of the same For vppon what occasion should such a one be remunerated with a rich reward who hath done nothing worthie of anie recompence And yet neuerthelesse seeing God doth promise a guerdon vnto him that doeth well we must needs conclude that good workes deserues it and that without them faith is dead The onely Sonne of the euerlasting Father vsed the same words when speaking of the Scribes and Pharisies who made a shewe to doe good workes he said thus Verilie verilie I say vnto you these people haue receiued the reward of their works alreadie in this world By which we may conclude that there is an other world to come in which these wicked Hypocritas had bene recompenced for their works If they had not had their due whilst they liued here vpon the earth And hereby we learne that there is a reward due vnto good workes and that therefore they are not vnprofitable but I say not meritorious although there haue bene such as haue denied this doctrine because they might liue without discipline to haue the raine of liberty in their own hands and not to be subiect vnto Iustice to compasse which they haue denied the commendations of good workes to the ende that euerie bodie might doe euill without feare of punishment seeing that doing well should be no more requited then if they had committed euill But ô yee hellish spirited what wicked vices what Tyrannous crueltie what open robberies and what base villanies haue your fond and beastly errours brought into this world For before these your grosse opinions were set abroach no disordinate leaudnes raigned amongst vs all Murther Robbing Treason Cosenage deceit being quite banisht from vs whereas now such wicked minds as you haue seduced couet rather to doe ill then well because they feared no punishment for the same and that their good workes were not as they thought recompenced at all But many Authorities shewe you to Lye yea and naturall Iustice it selfe doth tell you that you are in the wrong For wherefore did that Maister command his bad seruant to be punished who had not employed his Talent well that was giuen vnto him at his departure but that such as are workers of iniquitie shall one day be punished And that those who like other good seruants haue taken grrat paines and laboured well shall be rewarded most bountifully as they were of their Maister Daniel the Prophet teacheth vs the very same doctrine when he aduised Nabuchedonozer not alone to belieue to the intent hee may be pardoned for his fault but to shewe the fruites of good workes as to giue Almes vnto the poore and to doe manie other deeds of Charitie which as the Apostle saith is the most goodliest and holiest of all the other vertues For this shall neuer die but alwayes remaine fresh and aliue whereas Faith shall cease at what time we shall behold that great GOD face to face in whom we haue belieued the hope whereof shall faile when we enioy that diuine glorie which wee expect and looke for But diuine Charitie shall still flourish because wee shall neuer giue ouer to remember our acquaintance and friends with whome wee haue liued heere vpon the earth although we liue in heauen praising God for them This was the reason that the Apostle said Although I were able through Faith to remoue Rockes from one place into an other yet if I be without Charitie I am like vnto on emptie Cimball which can doe nothing but make a confused noyse Small good then doth Faith without good works Ananias and Saphira did belieue nor were they voyde of Faith and yet behold how they were plagued with death by Saint Peter because they had done a most wicked and dissembling deed For onely Charitie and not Faith couereth the loathsomenesse and the multitude of sinnes as a garment doth the priuie parts of man And as that King at the Marriage commaunded that fellow to be cast into a dungion of darknesse where was nothing but wailing and gnashing of teeth because hee presumed to come vnto the Feast without his wedding garment Euen so he that will not attire him selfe with the comely roabe of Charitie shall be deliuered into the power of the Diuell as one vnworthy to be admitted to come vnto the Banquet of Angells Of small force then is Faith without Good works which our Sauiour witnesseth to be true when hee attributeth the remission of Marie Magdalens sinnes vnto the good worke which she had done for him she hauing vsed such Charitie vnto her Maister and therefore he said Many sinnes are forgiuen her because she loued much Now Loue and Charitie are as it were Twinnes and but one bodie for hee that loueth not cannot be kinde vnto his aduersarie and therefore the foresaid Marie by reason that she had loued and had shewed her selfe dutifull vnto our Sauiour gained full forgiuenes of her sinnes of whose kindnesse Christ had spoken thereof vnto his Disciples saying Wherefore are you angrie with this Woman shee hath done a good worke for me and therefore deserueth well of mee I see then by these examples that thou most gratious Lord expectest good works to come from man because thine are so admirable thou hauing taught vs by the example of that Prince that put to death those wicked Labourers in his Vineyard how thou wilt recompence such godly persons as haue done well and wilt punish the wicked whom thou shalt finde to haue done euill Let vs then endeuour by our
his charges if he should not learne and enrich himselfe in knowledge Euen so why should we be counted reasonable and wherfore hath our God done so much for vs If we cannot through the aide and helpe of reason wade through the depth of these humane miseries To what purpose hath a Generall of an Armie Royall hundreds of Captaines and thousands of Souldiours if he doth not employ them in the warres but rather permitteth the enemie to ouerthrow them As victualls are set vpon the Table whereon to feede so is reason bestowed vpon vs to vanquish our naturall passions and most deadliest crosses Neither can any iustly excuse themselues when they shall confesse to haue bene ouercome through these mortall impediments seeing they were armed with weapons to resist them which are discretion and reason The bruite beastes that haue lost their little ones although they haue no wisedome take not on more neither shewe more tokens of follie and rage then that man doth who suffereth himselfe to be carried away with griefe and yet in the meant time he is called their Lord and Maister because of reason onely but he is much vnworthie of this Soueraigntie if he knoweth no better how to exercise his royall dignitie then they as he is vnmeete and vnfit to haue the name of a King who as a Tyrant doth most vniustly violate the Lawes of the Realme ouerthrowing all Iustice and all good orders belonging vnto the same Either thou must be a man or a beast if thou art a man then carrie thy selfe like a man rightly employing reason which maketh thee one If thou be a beast neuer then steale away this qualitie belonging vnto man contenting thy selfe with that which is fit for a beast and so shall thy fault be the lesse For we wonder not so much at an offence done by a beast neither condemne him vnto death for the same because as a beast we know him to be without reason But man we punish seuerely for that he being a man ought not to commit any such hainous crime but rather gouerning himselfe by reason seeke to shun and auoid the danger thereof We cannot deeme the opinion of an ignorant person and one without knowledge to be cruell or bad especially when he iudgeth according vnto his small skill but wicked and vniust may we tearme the sentence of a wise and learned Iudge if he shall giue his censure contrarie to all reason and Lawe Shew then thy selfe to be a man and a right man indeed chusing Reason for thy guide by which meanes thou shalt tame thy sencelesse desires and keepe vnder these more then extreame passions Good and of great force reuerend sire replied the Shepheard were your perswasions if you spake vnto a free man who because he is not bound vnto another might easily through the helpe of reason vanquish his naturall imperfections But although the slaue may perhaps doe a thing worthie of commendation yet thinke you he dareth attempt it without the good will of his Maister Euen so although Louers were fit to bring to passe as much as you speake of and to maister their mortall passions through reason yet are they so shroadly bound and tied vnto this hard Lawe as they are not able to doe any commendable or good thing vnlesse it please Loue who forceth them to be slaues vnto their Ladies The Beare by nature is wild and strong yet when he is taken bound made tame by a man what great proofes of his strength can he shew Euen so I will not denie but man is wise and furnisht with reason and yet I say he cannot aide nor helpe himselfe as long as he shall be subiect vnto Cupids Lawes A King that is a prisoner is for all that a King still his Realme is where it was before and so is his Crowne and Scepter and yet notwithstanding all this during his imprisonment he can doe no act of a King neither make proofe of his regall authoritie because he is depriued of his libertie So fareth it with men that are in loue they still are men and yet neuerthelesse they cannot doe the office of men because they are Bond-men and subiect vnto the will of an other Besides if naturall maladies which as thou saiest are subiect vnto the reason of man oppresse and ouercome him many times causing him to fall mad and franticke how much more easily may Loue enforce the same who not onely is greater then these humane accidents but also then the Gods themselues Wonder not then although you see many Louers without wit or discretion for of two poysons the lesse feeble must yeeld vnto the stronger and where two contrarie enemies he the field must needs remaine vnto him that is of most force so where two such great powers as Loue and Reason meete together the weaker must needs yeeld vnto the other which is Loue that maketh many Louers liue with small or no reason at all To argue or dispute that Loue is of lesse force then Reason were but a grose error for the wisest next vnto the Gods haue not onely with reason confuted this absurditie but by experience it selfe haue tried as much in their owne proper persons Let vs then excuse Louers in their vnreasonable actions which appertaine onely vnto men as Iupiter winketh at them for breaking their Othes and blame me no more if I as a wretched caitife and slaue am forced maugre my selfe to giue ouer that that is most excellent and rare in man to follow the will of my Maister at whose command I am Well then said the Magitian I will vrge thee no more for it is but reason that he that is in health yeeld gently vnto the diseased in his conceit and that the fortunate iump in opinion with such as are miserable making shew to know of nothing but what the other is willing because they are alreadie but too much afflicted with their misfortunes without galling them afresh crossing them in their speeches and wringing out of them that which they are loth to bewray vnto the world Let vs therefore giue ouer this disputation yet with this conclusion that nothing can exceed the right wise man that no faults are to be excused through what extremities soeuer they shall proceed in him who will be counted reasonable and wise yeelding somewhat vnto Loue in thy fauour and therefore prosecute thine old Historie comforting thy minde with the remembrance of such matters as shall be more acceptable and pleasing vnto thee Content answered the Shepheard if there be no other remedie and thereupon after he had a while pawsed he thus began What can be more gratious vnto a condemned person then to heare of his pardon and what obligation is more deare vnto a man then that which doth cancell his debts Cruell and barbarous vngodly and wicked were Brutus and Cassius accounted in that they slew Caesar although they shadowed their fault vnder the colour of doing their common wealth good because they
word and beeing very willing to sleepe indeed presentlie went and layde him downe vpon a bedde where hee rested soundly Meane while vpon the suddaine I was ioyfull as that Captaine who hauing with stood the brunts and hazardes of Fortune returneth home victour of the fielde composed these Verses following A fierce LOVE that burned hast my hart with milde flame In my Mistris sweet thoughts thoughts for me too high to reach too And with deepe desire doest make mee for to adore her Ah proud LOVE that lik'st our wailings laugh'st for to see still Our Breasts wounded all with goare through heauenly Beautie Through glaunce of such sparkling Eyes as into our soules diue After so much done vnto mee now hast thou the courage After so many hurts th' ast done mee now for to helpe mee And to abridge my paines Speake sweete Desire I doe pray thee Ah but alas what a Follie were it for mee to thinkese Thy crueltie thou nere giâest ouer Thou to the world comst Our Faults seuerely to punish as the Gods Hang-man Mars by their sufferance knew thy too wanton a Mother When thou into the world wast brought forth like to a Bastard Of Female bloodshed th' art Sonne and of bloody murther Foule fall thee therefore that hast most shamefully cousned Thousands of Heroick spirits whome wee doe Gods call Canst thou then falsly breaking the lawes of thy Byrth-right Curteous now become and be not like to thy Father Canst thou prooue better then thy Mother who was an Harlot No no for ripe Grapes from Thistles neuer can we gather Nor can I hope once well that thou beeing proud euer after Hast minde Gentle to turne for my good good for to doe mee No LOVE I confesse I not deserue whome I doe honour Worthie shâe is for the Gods and too too fure is shee for me Too too vnworthie I am t' enioy her whom I doe loue so Onely to thinke that I loue so faire a soule doth appease paine All my paine and my torments though they be as immortall When I remember that in her liues what is adorned How that the wisedome is in her of Pallas abounding How that portly Gate of Iuno is in her walking And how for Beautie as Venus shee 's a Goddesse Then goe thy wayes Cupid packe hence for well am I pleased Thy helpe nor thine ayde to assist mee ought doe I care for Happier I can neuer be then when I behold her Whom I doe highly prise reuerence and obey aboue all things And farre more then pleasures false Lusts chiefest Allurings Which fond Loners buy full deare ioyes which soone doe away flitte And likewise kill vs long long before our time 's come I doe not honour her for to dishonour her for her Vertues are that I like so they her minde haue adorned For where Vertue is there 's a minde Vnconquered euer Nor will I crane any other guerdon whilst I doe liue here What 's diuine will I loue and what 's worthily steemed For such praise hath shee wonne as she shall liue euerlasting These Verses I kept to present them vnto my Diana hoping to find her in the same good minde as I left her and to gaine some one small fauour or other for my reward of her But things that are framed slightly are of little or no account of all warre it selfe hath not so manie deuises and sundrie effects but LOVE hath farre manie more And yet no maruell for hee being a tender and delicate childe cannot chuse but by nature must needs be mutable and vnconstant And therefore it is no small misfortune vnto men that are forced to obey not a graue and well experimented Maister But this peeuish Boy from whom want of yeares taketh away all knowledge of Reason which as wee growe in bodie so doeth it sprout forth in vs For wretched is that Realme that is gouerned by a Childe because verie hardly without stumbling can a blinde man leade another without a light Now I being merrie at the hart and as iocund as might bee went to see if I could finde out my Mistrisse when thinking to haue no reason nor occasion at all to feare I then found her quite contrarie vnto my hopefull expectation As Mowers are wonderfullie amazed when as the Sunne shining faire and cleare they see vppon the suddaine great showres of raine to streame downe with manie horrible flashings of Lightning and Thunder and much like vnto a blustering Tempest a terrible Whirle-winde breaking forth of the prisons of Aeolus carrying away their greene heapes of grasse and other things as a troupe of Wolues doe bleating Sheepe so that in the ende they are forced to throwe away their sickles and Sithes not once dreaming of any such pittifull chaunces before Euen so hapned it vnto mee I not looking for any such hard fortune Neuer went any thing more nearer vnto my heart then this did I beeing so daunted therwithall as I was almost at the point of death For hauing sought out my Ladie whome I expected should be as curteous and debonaire as I had left her the day before I found her quite and cleane altered from her former disposition she looking vppon me with a most fierce and disdainefull countenance not vouchsafing so much as to speake one milde word vnto me or to accept of my Verses which I in humble wise did offer vnto her Alas thought I what meaneth this and how contrarie are the proceedings of LOVE vnto all other things For they chaunge alwayes and this their suddaine alteration altereth still against the hope of Louers Other men seeing their businesse to fall out well looke for some happie issue thereof But in Loue when our matters are prettilie well and likely to prooue best then are wee driuen most of all to feare and when they are past all hope then haue wee the chiefest cause to expect the best If this encounter was not farre more bitter and vnfortunate then the meeting of a Thiefe is vnto the way-faring man iudge you good Father for it is too grieuous a Corsiue vnto the innocent person to be condemned vnto death and yet not so much as once to heare nor vnderstand his iust defences in the same But in the meane time I must perforce swallow downe this vnwelcome Potion As the Slaue that is runne away beeing taken and brought backe againe vnto his Lord trembleth and feareth sore being forced to endure what punishment soeuer shall be inflicted vpon him Euen so there was no other remedie but that I must needs abide the displeasure of my Misters and take patiently what it should please her for to impose vpon mee I know not whether any olde conceit comming afresh into her minde had chaunged her former humour or whether some other new opinion conceiued without reason had made her so outragious or disdainefull towards mee But whatsoeuer it was neuer did I see her to looke so angerlie vpon me before As the Maister of a Shippe is passing
shall chance to be any hinderance vnto thee let me then entreate so much at thy hands that I depriuing my selfe of this loathed life may be rid of these corsiues which still torment me and thou be freed of this tedious charge which so much troubles thee Not so answered Orythia Let mee alone and I dare warrant thee all shall be well Castles besieged yeeld not at the first parley things that are brought to passe processe of time and with mature deliberation and aduise continue longer and seeme more sweet afterward for a man knoweth not the delightfulnes of pleasure aright if he haue not a tast of paine before and that which we haue most dearest bought and hardliest come by we alwaies hold most pretious and of most account Liue then in peace and suffer me to trie my fortune which I perswade my selfe shall proue most happie in thy behalfe So saying the Nymph leaueth me to take her iourney minding to helpe me although she hurt her selfe taking more care to heale my sore then to cure her owne wound I could not chuse but follow after her faire and softly yet aloofe when by chance I met Fortunnio in the way all to be blubbered with weeping who thought verily that I had bene dead he roming vp and downe the Forrest like a man distraught crying out and calling still vpon my name whom none saue an Ecco answered Much did he bewaile my losse making greater moane for me then I deserued whilest most vnwisely he blamed Loue as the Author of my death and enuied most bitterly against the stonie hart of my faire Mistris But no sooner had he a sight of me but that he came running most cheerfully vnto me and most tenderly embraced me changing his former sad and heauie countenance not vnlike to him who hauing found some pretious Iewell which he before accounted as lost beginneth to reuiue and to be merrie againe Then did he tell me how my Ladie had hard I was dead she belieuing the same for most certaine truth for Orythia had for my good spread abroad this report with as much speed as possible she could which comming vnto my Dianas eares was not a little vnpleasant vnto her as was found by the number of salt teares which she shed as a sure restimonie of her true griefe Which when I knew I began to take comfort againe and to reuiue my selfe with a fresh hope of some good successe to come and thereupon I compiled these verses following vpon the teares which my Mistris shed in my behalfe whilest I attended with great deuotion the often wished for returne of kinde Orythia Examitor and Pentamitor verses Sweet doe not thinke thy pearly teares my paines can asswage ought Not death but thy teares bring to my soule his adue For thy grieuous plaints in steed of one onely shert death Thousand deaths and more are to me paine to enerease I not deserue that thou for me shouldst wofully weepe thus T is not death but thy teares take from my selfe my delight Death alone this sillie corpse commands when it iskes him But thy griefes doeforce soule for to flie to the skie After so many paines in our loue leaue vnto me giue none Hence to depart in peace rest that I may in my graue Long enough haue I liu'd since that so gentle a liking Tide hath thy hart to mine and to thy soule ioyned miue Then this my exceeding torments Faire doe not enuie Since that I desire life then thy selfe for to leaue Farewell pleasd he dyes who dying findeth a fauour When that his Ladies hand close vp his eyes at his end What more sacred Tombe to be interd can I chuse me Then to die in thy armes where my desire euer liu'd If whilst I liu'd thou care didst take for my poore life At my happines then ah be not enuious now Leaue I beseech thee teares to shed since teares cannot helpe me For my soule once gone thou by thy teares cannot haue Cruell death to relent with sighes you neuer intreate can Blest that Louer dies who by his Loue makes an end Onely this I beg at thy hands before that I die here Those faire beautious eyes kisse that I might but a while Might I but finde this kindnes rare then blest would my soule be Nor would it are forget thanks to requite in his minde Faire too much it were for me to die in thy sweet armes He that dies content death neuer feeles or his dart Who to his Mistris doth deuote his hart as a present Leaues the same in his brest royally laide in a Tombe Gloomie night for to close mine eyes fast can neuer haue power Nor can I die as long as what I like I may see Then doe but thinke on me whose soule was onely deuoted Vnto thy selfe and which liu'd in thy brest that is chaste In the bottome of my darke graue shine shall thy bright eyes Whilst with a new fire death shall me reuiue once againe For if heretofore the same could into my soule peirce Who can hinder it now brightly to shine on my coarse Then deare Saint to leaue these wailings let me request thee I doe not sigh cause I die but thee to see to lament For since of thy grace I am not worthy but vnfit Then as much as a teare why for my sake shouldst thou shed Vnder the yoake of amorous seruice whilst that I liu'd What good once did I thee what haue I done for thee ere T is no sense to bewaile the losse of one that deserues not Who to none but himselfe whilst that he liu'd did he loue This is the cause my soule force my coarse to relinquish For that he seruice small did whilst he liu'd to my dame Yet since this my wisht for death most happily hapneth Since by my parting now I from my griefe now doe part T is my fortune for me too good ah faire doe not enuie Since that alone through death happily liue doth the soule Wipe then thy faire eyes and without shewe of a mourner This my breathlesse Trunke vnto the graue doe thou beare Thrise happie Tombe since he againe reuiues with a new life Who dead leaueth his Loue rauished him for to joy This was the mestfull Dittie I made I being then so troubled in my minde as I knew not well how to expresse my griefe although I vsed many scalding sighes and salt teares to make manifest the same I being of coÌceit that it was impossible for me to blazon forth the crueltie of Loue in his right colours and yet did I seeke to comfort my selfe in that I had many coÌpanions in my miserie heretofore O victorious Caesar for all thy valour thou wast conquered by louely Cleopatra who had a sonne by thee called Cesarion And thou graue Emperour and diuine Phylosopher diddest thou not doate vpon thy most vnhonest Faustina whilest thou thy selfe becamest Loues prisoner notwithstanding all thy wisedome and greatnes Hanniball found his force too
offer violence vnto her honour For as that woman is not to be excused who at the earnest praiers of her Louer suffereth that goodly Flower to be slipt wherein consists her reputation and credit so cannot shee chuse but be blamed who seeketh the vtter ruine and ouerthrowe of such as chastly honour her without impeach of honour So doeth Arcas loue thee and why then doest thou force him to make away himselfe Cruell is the wrong that one receiueth of his friend but farre more piercing is that which commeth from a mans owne selfe seeing none can be greater friendes vnto vs then our owne selues Be not then the cause that this poore wretch should massacre himselfe least it be hereafter cast in thy teeth that thou hast slaine him which if thou doest it may fall out with thee as it did with proud Narassus who dyed falling in loue with his owne selfe after he had disdained the friendship of diuers faire and curteous Nymphs But I will say no more for thou art wise and to such fewe words are sufficient thou art faire and therefore I hope wilt not be oner froward and thou art religious which maketh mee perswade my selfe that thou wilt haue a conscience especially in a matter of so great importance as this is Thus did the pittifull Orythâa pleade for me against her owne selfe willing is she to die so shee may saue my life not caring what sorrowes she endured so shee could rid me from out my troubles Diana hauing heard her was readie to make answere for they that are faire spoken and can speake with discretion haue alwayes the best and readiest wittes and so had shee Mercury lodging in her tongue and purest houie dropping from out her mouth Harke then how wisely she replyed If any man vexed with a furious spirit shall without beeing proucked or vrged by any other then by their owneseluâs ruâne wilfully vnto death can any be blamed for the same but onely their owne selues Or is it reasonable that such as be guiltlesse shall be punished and answere for the faults that others commit Iuno is the occasion of the plagues that that luxurious Ixion endureth and yet it was his owne offence that was the cause thereof and not she her selfe If these vaine and fantastike Louers who are weakened in their right wittes through Cupid shall murther and make away themselues are therefore those Ladies vnto whome they offer their seruice the cause of their ruine and ouerthrow Hee onely rightly may be called the author of mischiefe who either hath done it or hath caused it to be done But women doe they force men to loue them and doe they compell them in despite of themselues to deuote themselues vnto them What they doe they doe of themselues and through their owne follies doeth this madnes proceed and therefore who is the cause of their vndoing but their owne selues If the enuious person dieth for very griefe and rage of minde because he seeth his neighbour prosper and doe well who but himselfe is the occasion thereof None forceth any man to loue And so no woman ought to be vrged to loose that which is as pretious vnto her as her owne life which is her honour to satisfie and please such who through their owne vainnesse and mecâe fondnesse shall worke their owne hurt and decay That desperate wretch that drowneth himselfe is hee to thanke any other then his owneselfe for his drowning And say that Shepheard of whom thou talkest should die through his owne peeuish sollie think you that â feare least the world would count me to be the cause thereof or that I shall be blamed in that he hath done amisse I warrant you no For I neuer brought him into this narrow straight which if hee follow it is his owne fault and not mine Besides to say I seeke to couet or to be the cause of his death you doe me wrong for I delight not in crueltie the contentment and well fare of another being as deare vnto mee as mine owne health Yet neuerthelesse this I must tell you that I would be verie loth hee should liue to be so hurtfull vnto mee as to destroy the goodly building of mine honor which being once ouerthrowne can neuer be repaired or built new againe That hee liue I most heartilie wish but yet with the conseruation of my good name fame For otherwise I desire vengeance to light vpon him as on my most mortall foe although I will neuer be but a friend vnto his chaste Amitie prouided alwaies that he giue sufficient testimonies it be such by his good carriage modest behauiour For I am not so ignorant but that I knowe pure and chaste Loue to be a most diuine and beautifull Vertue and the honest affection of right generous and Gentlemanlike spirites to be commendable and prasse-worthie seeing they are of power to make famous our memories for euer All Portraitures Tables Counterfaites and Pictures soone loose their colours and decay be they neuer so excellently well drawne quickly are they spoiled and soone doth Time deuour them No Picture of Achilles now remaineth yet his praise doth through Homers Muse None of Alexander the great although both Apelles and Lysippus two exquisite Painters had often drew him And yet although their famous works be consumed and gone the braue writings of Quintus Curtius blazoning forth the life of this mighty Monark liue and flourish Neither is the verse of Virgil dead ringing out the vertues of AEneas although the counterfaites of that Troyan Prince be all turned vnto dust And so if that Arcas be yet aliue I wish he so may still continue thy onely intreaty and request being of force to command more of mee then this seeing it is thy pleasure he should be entertained But if he will so vnaduisedly rashly and so foolishly offend his owne selfe I heere wash my handes as cleare from this matter protesting heere before all that I am innocent of his death because I neuer gaue him any such occasion of discontentment If perchaunce he haue found me that I haue not bene so curteous nor so affable vnto him at one time as I haue bin at an other Or if that I haue looked more heauy sad now and then then I haue vsed to doe heretofore Thinketh he therefore that he hath iust reason to lay all the blame vpon me as if I had bene she that was the Author of his ouerthrow If so he is deceiued For our bodies which are subiect vnto the influences of the celestiall Signes are either ioyfull or sadde according vnto their motions This being the cause that when we meet by fortune with one of our acquaintance and hee is as then troubled with many thoughts in his mind or some bad celestiall Planet is predominate ouer him wee then by his sower countenance would take him for our enemie but no sooner is his humour past and gone from him but hee is our good friend againe
presented her with my Paper which the opening with a cheerfull countenance read this Sonnet following Faire thou the heauenâ like to thy selfe mak'st faire So thou my Fortune blessest thee to loue He vanquisht is not though of Armour bare When with the Sunne his strength Mars dares not prââut If I thy Beauties stine my selfe right call Who thee t' adore can blame my loyaltse The selfe same God that Louers worship all Is that sweete God which breeds their miseris Faire then I loue thee ah what i st I say Nay more I worship thee and thee admire Mâverse and voyce shall honour thee for aye Sing still thy praise thy glorse still desire Faire it is much the Gods for to resemble But more to be like Vertue yet without Sage Pallas helpe Ioue nere had made to tremble Offurious Tytans that rebellious Rout. To thee then like to Gods to Vertue like All praises wee 'le ascribe as guerdon right As she read these Verses shee seemed to smile A Similie giuing mee a verie kinde looke and many thankes for the same As the Vine-worker reioyceth when comming into the field betimes in the morning hee findeth his Vine sprung forth and readie to budde all ouer which promiseth him a bountifull Largesse to come from Bacchus Euen so began I to be light for ioy to see so cheerfull a countenance to come from her hoping to haue some good fortune afterward O how sundrie and suddaine are the alterations in loue One while a Louer is dead and then againe he is aliue now hee is merrie and then by and by he is sadde a small matter being able to make him hope or dispaire as a litle Leuen maketh a great deale of Paste sower But as I was most vnfortunate before so beganne I now to be most happie of all For no sooner had my Mistris read what was written but shee began thus It is great griefe and hart vnto a gallant Courtier who can and faine would make some excellent proofe of his valour when hee cannot meete with a fitte place or fielde wherein he might exercise and put in practise his Chiualrie Euen so it is great pittie Shepheard that thou canst not encounter a subiect worthy of thy penne which might be able and of sufficiencie enough to make thy Muse shewe her selfe abroad in her right colours For this Poeticall veine of thine without hauing some rare or diuine matter to animate it and to set it forward is like vnto a goodlie body that hath no soule which although it shewe faire and beautifull yet can it doe little good A comparison because it wanteth life Or it may be compared vnto a large and fatte fielde bringing forth much grasse which is a testimonie of his fertile richnesse But yet for want of labour and sowing yeeldeth not anie Corne at all I assure thee I am right heartilie sorrie that thou wantest an excellent subiect whereon to worke For then I verily perswade my selfe we should see most admirable conceits to come from thy Muse As for my selfe I neither will nor dare refuse these Verses which thou hast bestowed vpon mee they sanouring of the same sweetnesse for then worthilie mightest thou iudge mee to be more prouder then the Gods who thankfullie accept of the smallest gifts that mortall men doe offer them But yet I could wish with all my hart that they had bene meant vnto some other more vertuous Saint For worthie things belong vnto such as are worthie personages great matters vnto great mightie Potentates what is honorable is due vnto the vertuous no otherwise then shame reproach do belong vnto the infamous such as be wicked Notwithstanding all this I will not giue ouer to account of thy Muse seeing that for all shee hath taken so leane and barren a subiect as my selfe she doth so well by reason whereof she sheweth herselfe to be the more worthie of commendation and praise But farre better and more perfect by great oddes would she appeare if the foundation wherevpon she had built had bene but as goodly as shee her selfe is faire For then no doubt but she would bring forth most straunge and matchlesse workes as of beautifull parents sweete and well-fauoured children are borne Ah say not so most sacred Nymph replyed I although these your speeches are like vnto a lowlie vertue wherein the more you humble your selfe the more you are exalted For what Goddesse is there raigning in the Skies aboue that meriteth more praise then thou doest And what mortall woman is there liuing that carrieth a minde more chaste a heart more vertuous a beautie more excellent or a iudgement more perfect then thou thy selfe doest Although great persons are by the benefite of Fortune raised and aduaunced vnto many Titles of honour and are enriched with Treasures mightilie we cannot therefore say that for that onely cause they are more worthie of praise then such meaner creatures as are barred from such great wealth and authoritie so long as they be as curteous as the others For true glory is not giuen to blinde and cheating Fortune but vnto diuine and heauenly Vertue He is worthy of little praise who hath nothing of his owne but is faine to borrow of others such are rich men who throgh the aduancement of nature A Sentence not of their own industrie enioy that which they haue wheras such as are wise who of their own selues without the help of others shew many proofs of vertue deserue to be comended indeed Poore Homer is more accounted of then rich Agamemnon laudlesse Maro then couetous Crassus poore Solon more then golden Croesus And so faire Nymph although thou hast not the name of a Goddesse seeing in desert thou doest merite the same why shouldest thou refuse that praise that is rightly due and belonging vnto the soueraigne powers aboue But I know thy minde and by thy speech doe gather what thou meanest Thou seemest to refuse the fruits of my Muse and not without great reason because they are too weake and vnable to display and set abroach thy vertues For as those that are excellent Poets greatly honor wise and worthy spirits so such as be grosse and vnlearned rather bring discredite then credite vnto them by their harsh and foolish vorses It being far better for a braue Heroicall minde not to be praised at all then to heare himselfe commended by the mouth of an illiterated and simple Poetizer This is the cause thou refusest my verse but it is certaine that the more Vertue flieth from glorie the more doeth glorie follow her The Sages in times past did well An Example to reiect the praises which were attributed vnto them and because they would not be seene when they put in practise many rare and admirable exploites they hidde themselues close within some vnfrequented Desart or other And yet neuerthelesse they had their due in the ende and when they least dreamed of any such matter Glorie
their liues doe loath Worthie is hee of blaeke Night That in Cupid doth delight Gods from heauen haue chast'e and som This vile wretch vs to torment Nor are wee him to endure That such plagnes vs doth procure Worthie is hee of blaoke Night That in Cupid doth delight Then most wretched him I deeme That of this blinde Boye doth steeme Worser Plague there 's not of ills That consumes still yet nere kills Worthie is hee of blacke Night That is Cupid takes delight If this Song did astenne me driuing me into a heauy dump you may caslly iudge For I assure you I began now to giue ouer all hope to haue any more ioyfull dayes in this world and I was of this opinion that my Ladit had for the nonce deliuered the same in my presence to the end I should not looke for any fauour at her hands and that by this Song she had as it were bidden me farewell For such women as are wise and of diseretion haue a thousand deuises to take their leaues and to be rid of their Louers whome they esteeme not as well to shadow their cruell mindes with the same as to be free and cleare from them without reproach or blame For what need had my Mistris to bid me Adieu since I neuer was worthie nor accounted to be one that shee should loue No no I was not a man good enough to heare of a beautie so perfect so much as this one small word Goe thy wayes But haughtie and high minded LOVE vseth to distribute his pride amongst his followers in such sort as you shall seldome or neuer see a Louer but that hee is insolent and proud promising farre more vnto himselfe then hee is like to obtaine Hee that is a seruant will be alwayes sure to haue one qualitie or other of his Maisters as a newe vessell retaineth still the sent of that liquor with which he hath bene first seasoned And so I before this time beganne to thinke better of my selfe then I had cause but my vain-glorious humor was quickly taken downe resembling the Lightning flash which no sooner is borne but that it dyeth or a buble of water which is no sooner come but that it is gone againe presentlie The Dance ended my Ladie came straight towards mee demanding and enquiring of me what that Monster and that Maide were and what became of them I tolde her all as I did vnto you without forgetting any thing describing vnto her with all the best cunning I had both the vglinesse of that deformed beast and the beautie of the Damosell that did encounter with him As that braue Caualier whome his enemie doeth dare to Combat standeth musing within himselfe sometime before hee doeth answere debating in his minde whether he should accept or refuse the Combat so stood my Mistris mute and still at my speeches studying a great while before she spake any one word In the end she sitteth her downe when hauing willed vs to sit by her shee beginneth with a most sober and sadde looke thus to deliuer her minde Seeing Shepheard that this Monster is called Pride thou couldest not describe so fowle a Beast and so horrible bad de enough neither must thou speake too much in the praise of so sweete so faire and gentle a Virgin as that Damosell was because shee is Humilitie For what thing is there in the world more vglie then Pride What more disagreeing from the Nature of Gods and men what so great an aduerfarie vnto Vertue and what more contrarie vnto the glorie of mankinde Pride was first placed in heauen amongst the Angelicall spirits which the Almighty God had made beautifull immortall and without corruption An excelleÌt discourse against Pride but this Monster hauing defamed and disgraced them was with them throwne downefrom thence from whence he came to inhabit in the terrestriall Paradise There did this damned wretch poyson our first Parents perswading them The fall of Lucifer through Pride that they should be like vnto their Creator if they would by transgressing his sacred Ordinance cate of the forbidden Tree These poore soules belieued him but they ouerthrew themselues for hauing hearkened vnto him God driuing them out of that dainty Paradise condemned them to die The fall of our first parents Adam and Eue through Pride after they had in much sorrow and care finished their naturall liue With them was this Serpent hunted away who retired himselfe amongst mortall men liuing heere in the world and fewe were there of the sonnes of men which did not entertaine and make much of him Caine nourished this hell-hound a long time being induced through him to kill his humble and meek-harted brother who could not abide this insolent Dragon Afterward The fall of Caine through Pride as men grew increased so hath this Monster done both in power and credit insomuch as he counselled the children of the earth to build a Tower which might reach vp into heauen These vaine fooles belieued him busying themselues about their high Turret and taking great paines to accomplish and effect this rash and haughtie enterprise But the HOLIE ONE of Syon ouerthrew their building The ouerthrow of the Tower of Babylon throgh Pride destroyed the worke of their owne hands and brake their audacious attempts driuing the Monster himselfe almost out of his wittes to see such an alteration and chaunge Hereof was it that the first Poets fained That those huge Giants the Tytans being sonnes of the earth went about to set hill vppon hill and mountaine vppon mountaine that they might scale vp to heauen and that therefore Iupiter destroyed them with Lightning by the ayde and assistance of Minerua the Goddesse of wisedome ouerthrowing their prefumptuous action with his foresaid Thunderbolts Since when this Monster hath entered into the Courtes of Princes and Kings impoysoning them so strongly with his accursed venome The ouerthrow of the Peâsian Kings through Pride as they grew to be exceeding proud causing themselues to be worshipped and adored of men as the Kings of Persia did he giuing addresse vnto some of them that they should imitate Iupster making his Thunder to roare and to cast Lightning abroad as he vsed This proud Conceit was entertained in the Pallace of Alcxander the great after he had brought the Empire of Persia vnder subiection The ouerthrow of Alexander the great through Pride For hee grewe so arrogant and so high minded as he would needs be adored by his people but death quickly extinguisht both his glorie and his life after hee grewe to be odious amongst his owne followers through his insolent Pride So would Nabuchadonozar be worshipped causing his Image to be set vp he commaunding euerie one to offer sacrifice and prayer vnto it The fall of Nabucadnezar through Pride as vnto a God But the three Children of the Iowes refused this vniust law who for that cause were cast into a hote burning Ouen they being neuerthelesse taken forth
Gretian Horse made of wood wherein were hidden the enemies of Troy for neuer vntill then did I feele the piereing darts of sorrow aright In respect of this all my other paines were but pleasures nay meere toyes to speake of in a manner compared vnto this Corfie which so violently seazed vpon me as I felt most bloodie pangs and cruell conflicts to make warre within me the anguish thereof being so insupportable as I looked euery houre when my soule and bodie should haue parted asunder Ah most vnluckie tongue who taught thee to talke so much Alas that man should be so vnwife as to make way vnto his owne ouerthrow whilest he thinking to doe for the best it falleth out vnto him for the worst and where he looketh to haue praise there oftentimes he purchaseth most blame and discredit Full little did I thinke but that whilest I reported the filthines of the Monster she would haue giuen me great thankes for the same and that made me with the best tearmes I could to set out my tale but it fell out quite contrarie for I seeking to get somewhat lost all Well doe I see that the prudencie of man is nothing whilest God scosteth at their wisedome changing their dissignes quite contrarie vnto their desire Great reason had I to curse that lucklesse Monster vnto the bottomlesse pit of hell although before I had praised him so much because through him I was permitted to touch the faire hand of my froward Mistris And thus Louers either hate or loue what their blind God putteth into their heads they being still wauering and inconstant in their opinions Diuers were the heauie thoughts which as then seazed vpon me I being growne in a manner to follow blacke dispaire because I sawe I was like to be depriued of the presence of my Ladie for euer if she going onward as she began would seclude her selfe from all companies like vnto an Ankresse An other while I imagined that I my selfe was culpable of all this wofull mischance fearing shroadly that all such as should deplore or lament the losse of her would lay all the fault vpon me And therefore had I great reason to mourne and sorrow as I did I shewing by many signes and expressing by diuers waies how my feeble heart was wounded with an incurable fore But whilest I stood thus sighing and lamenting vnto my selfe and whilest all the sad Nymphs had fixed their weeping eyes vpoÌ the ground not knowing what to say vnto the speech which their Ladie made the Shepheard who was amorous of her arriued there who after he had with a dutifull Conge saluted her and all her troupe presented her with these verses foilowing My pittious eye in mailing nothing more Bel oldeth faire then thy diuinest grace Nothing I see more sacred to adore Then that pure vertue that shines in thy face For thee I liue for thee I willing die Wishing no Sunne to see but for thy sake But should I thee offend then wretched I. Thus good and ill alike for thee I take For so rare subiect as thy selfe diuine My hart can neuer suffer ouermuch Although these cares knawe this poore hart of mine And to the quicke in euery part me touch Happie is he that suffereth for pure Loue For whilest he loues so he himselfe doth finde Transformed into such beautie as doth moue Life whereas death before to him was signds A Deitie then beautie is aright When it such wonders worketh in her sight Another Cruell for louing thee I le end my daies Since dying I shall liue still in thy beautie Who dieth Conquerour merrits double praise But farre more be who dieth for louing duetie Immortall glorie Piramus did gaine For this besides his loyall chastitie Was much commended when by death the same Freede Thisbe from most wofull miserie As he for her so I for thee will doe For thee I le die of my chaste Loue the honour And as the Phoenix I le consume for you I as himselfe consuming in that manner Whilst of my bones so burned shall reuiue Thousands of Louers created by this fire Who for their constant Loue shall be aliue World without end renowmed through true desire Of these Sonnets she made no account but hauing read them which she did rather to be rid of him then otherwise she gaue them backe againe vnto the Shepheard contrarie vnto her wonted custome with these words Little hath she neede of praise who because she should auoid the same maketh her selfe of a liue creature but a deadly coarse and yet of her owne valuntarle will and pleasure Wretched are such men as take pleasure to haue their eares tickled with praises God onely who is immortall infinite without sinne and euerlasting deserueth glorie alone Then Shepheard talke no more vnto me of such vanities as these are for I am no better then a most miserable caitiffe who am going to die and to giue ouer the world if that auncient Greeke refused all titles of honour affirming that he knew onely one thing which was that he knew nothing thinkest thou then that I can deserue it I who am as brittle as glasse descended from that first woman yea and from her owne sex who through her pride ouerthew all the world O Shepheard Shepheard if as now our first Grandmother Eue liued so farre would she be from looking for honour and reuerend duetie to be done vnto her as she would doe nothing but weepe continually whilest her haire with which we set out and beautifie our faces should serue her to doe nothing else then drie and weepe those drerie teares of hers Away then withall vaine-glorie Behold Saladine Emperour of the Infidels who dying commanded that this Epitaph should be set vpon his Tombe An excellens Epit aph Here lieth famous Saladine who of so many Kingdomes victories Riches and Titles of honour which he had whilst he liued hath carried away with him nothing but a plaine sheete into his graue All is meere vanitie that man doth euery thing passeth away like winde and after they are dead there is no more remembrance of them That deserueth no glorie at all A Sentence which is subiect vnto ruine and corruption nothing is more mortall or declining then man why then wouldest thou haue him commended seeing he perisheth and being perished the cause of his honour which thou so much chauntest doth perish also But God who is without beginning without middle or ending and who decaieth not at all doth merrit praise onely because he cannot fade and therefore the subiect of his glorie is alwaies liuing which we sing continually vnto his name Away then away with these foolish verses rather flattering then true and let me neuer heare nor see any thing that hath neuer so little a tast or shew of this misshapen Monster Pride Is it possible that man should presume that he merriteth praise who being made of earth is no better then earth and yet before he can returne to be
pensiue humour from him What man be of good courage we must he ordered by the will of the Gods and without killing ourselues with these inward passions must attend the good houre vntill it shall please them to call vs For neither weeping nor wailing can alter our Destinies neither can they be mended thereby because it lieth not in our handes but in the heauenly Powers to amend what is amisse This is my aduise in that I wish thee well for wee are giuen by nature to wish well vnto those whom we know are our friends and wel-willers whereas otherwise we should be worse then bruit beasts who acknowledge curtesies which they haue receiued Then take this counsell from mee although I was borne rather to learne counsell then to giue counsell vnto others But the Gardiner sometimes can giue good hearbes for Phisicke and a wise man now and then may be aduised by one that is simple and without learning as Moses did who tooke the opinion of his Father in law being farre lesse skilfull then hee I doubt not but thou knowest by experience that this which I haue saide will be profitable vnto thee and that thou wilt hereafter remember mee for the good aduise which I haue giuen thee Thus spake the Nymph most kindely her curteous speeches putting life into my bodie againe making me blush with a vermillion colour which she seemed to like well of Wherevpon I taking hart at grasse although still crazed with inward heauinesse beganne thus to answere her Oh sacred Goddesse is it possible that hee that is stiffened and benommed in all his limmes and ioyntes with an extreame colde should be warme without Fire Euen so can hee comfort and delight himselfe who without hauing the least subiect of ioy in the world hath all his Bodie attached with a wonderfull strange and heauie sadnesse Amongst all the wise Sages of the world past there haue bene very fewe that haue bene able to haue dissembled and concealed their inwdard griefes and sorrowes Elias that great Prophet could neuer doe it but rather flying into a Desart to auoyd the furie of wicked Achab most pittiously desired to die Neither could Iob the patterne of all patience smother the same but rather weeping and taking on most lamentablie wished to be ridde from his miserable life And thinke you I that am so poore a wretch in respect of them am able to hide mine anguish and driue away these inward afflictions which so much torment mee especially when I haue so great reason to lament my Disasters Wonder not then gracious Nymph that I seeme thus to waile and weepe but rather suffer mee to goe through with the same to the ende I may the sooner be brought vnto my graue for that is the onely comfort of such forlorne and forsaken Caitiffes as my selfe yea Death sweete Death is the Port and Hauen of all such distressed mindes as I am O that I were blinde that I might not see the mischiefe that is ready to take holde vpon mee or that I were senslesse and voyde of all passions to the ende I might be exempted from such dangerous plagues as are alreadie ready to infect me Must I be well in bodie and yet deadly sicke in minde Must I be sicke in minde and yet not consume away And must I consume away and not yet die but languish thus in horror worse then in hell yea and that continually O vniust Heauens ô too vnkinde and barbarous LOVE what haue I done vnto thee Cupid that for all my loyall loue thou thus shouldest reward me Haue I euer defied or denyed thee as Apollo did after hee had slaine that huge Serpent Python when he mocked at thee and at thine Arrowes as thou flewest in the Ayre that thou shouldest thus wound mee with so vncurable rigour and exasperate thus thy worse then sauadge Tyrannie against mee Ah Mistris deare Mistris behold here before you the most wretchedst creature that euer liued vnder the Cope of heauen the very Anatomie of miserie and the true Mirrour of all misfortunes And belieue I beseech you that the terrours which euery minute of an houre affright his inward soule is farre worse then vglie Death it selfe But iustly am I punished seeing as ouer presumptuous I durst be bolde to flie so high like vnto another Phaeton presuming to adore your more then druine and sacred Beauties Yet sweet Ladie pardon me because LOVE is the cause who was assisted by your faire eyes to make me his base prisoner and abiect bond slaue for euer against whom no force neither heauenly nor humane is able to preuaile Thus was I bolde to pleade like an earnest suter for grace vnto my Ladie I knowing well that I was neuer like to finde so fitte an occasion againe as then I had because I saw she was resolute to enter into a kinde of life farre worse and harsher then anie Monasticall liuing whatsoeuer And therefore I thought with my selfe that seeing I was fully bent and purposed to die I knewe the worst and worse then Death I could not be adiudged Thus you see how desperate persons sometimes helpe themselues although quite contrarie vnto their owne expectation So fought that sicke and diseased Souldier being full of valour vnder his Generall king Antigonus onely because he would be ridde of his disease which did so much afflict him but no sooner was hee cured thereof then that he became a notable Coward as one that was desirous to sleepe in a whose skinne and neuer after would venture in the warres againe The faire Virgin hearing mee thus earnest were it either because shee was loth to leaue behind her she being now readie to depart from vs any cause to conceiue hardly of her or whether it were that my pittifull speeches had moued her vnto remorse and to haue compassion vpon me I know not but I found her nothing so austere nor sower towards me as she was wont to be which I gathered by her indifferent milde answere she replying thus If thy disease Arcas be incurable and that as thou thy selfe thinkest it will hardly be healed why then hast thou bene so obstinate as thou wouldest not in time seeke what thou mightest to haue bene rid of the same Very simple is he who vndertaketh to transport a huge Rocke from one place to an other when it is not by nature to be remoued So if thou seest that my loue can no way be profitable vnto thee why then wilt thou be so selfe-wild as to persist therein it being such an other piece of worke as those Giants tooke in hand when they went about to scale vp to heauen for say I were willing to shew thee what fauour I might yet could I doe thee no good because of my credit assuring my selfe that if thou louest me indeed and as thou so often hast protested thou wilt not desire any thing of me that might ouerthrow me in doing of thee good True loue is of this nature that it
and the first opening of a fault is difficult vnto a vertuous minde but very casie when he shall be permitted to take an habit in the same For so small a trifle and such a thing as can doe thee no good be not I beseech thee the cause that I be esteemed or taken for other then hithereto I haue bene for hare and leane should that tryumph be which thou shouldest purchase by mine honour because my blood should presently make satisfaction for the same Content thee then with what I haue said and thinke that I will not denie thee any thing which may stand with my credit but considering that this which thou requirest may some way impeach the same I cannot iustly yeeld vnto thy demand Leaue then I say once more to importune me for that which will doe thee no good yet will hurt me much and then shall I thinke that thy speeches are true and that thy loue is chaste and vertuous as thou hast hitherto protested This was my Ladies sharpe replie which draue away all my former ioy I had conceiued of hope by reason of her first kinde words so as now my complaints began afresh againe my teares renewed and my sighes came forth faster then they had done before I was so galled with sorrow and so much griped at the heart with this her vnexpected deniall as I could doe nothing but weepe holding downe mine eyes towards the ground as not daring to looke vpon her In the end surcharged and oppressed with contrarie passions I burst out into these wofull tearmes hauing before sent forth thousands of scalding sighes as precursors of the same O cruell Loue O miserable Starres iealous of my good O dismall day wherin I was borne and more then thrise accursed life of mine since I am more wretched then any whatsoeuer liuing After much labour taking and many a yeares sayling the Pilot at length arriueth vnto his Hauen but I Caitiffe that I am finde no end of my torments None giueth succour vnto me neither doth any as much as a little ease me my sicknes encreaseth with the day continueth all night long and yet neuer amendeth Alas alas why died not I at the first when hauing offended you my dearest Ladie you exild me from you louely presence Vnfortunate Shepheard that I was to perswade my selfe to liue and hope the best when I finde no cause but of dispaire and death Ah had I then taken that readie course I had bene now free from these hellish panges which euery minute oppresse my heart and I had bene partaker of those rare beatitudes which the soules of happie Louers enioy for euer Sacred and Religious Diana since you adiudge me vnworthy of any small fauour at your hands and that without yeelding to agree vnto so little a matter you are desirous of my end yet at the least doe thus much for me as to permit me to die in leiu of all my troubles before thy beautious face This I beg at your hand for default of that other curtesie which you iudge me vnworthy of for although you haue denied me the first yet I hope you will agree vnto the secod otherwise I vow after I haue a hundred thousand times tearmed you by the name of Cruell I will most desperately lay violent hands vpon my selfe crying out that you haue bene the cause of mine vntimely ouerthrow Graunt me then one of my requests the last of which you cannot well denie because it costeth you nothing What hurt can this be vnto you any way but rather good when you shall doe so charitable a deed vnto the common-wealth as to permit him to die who is vnprofitable vnto the same Without licence from you I neither may nor will take this bloodie course in hand seeing I hold my life from you and that you alone and none but you haue puissance ouer me Linger not then to yeeld vnto my desire for if you thinke that my trauailes past haue merited any reward you cannot better recompence them then to graunt me death which is the onely thing I couet seeing I must be depriued of your cheerfull presence as one not worthy to enioy it As the Hunter is amazed hauing lost the tracing of the Deare which he hunteth his dogs being at a bay knoweth not which way to goe nor well what path to take whilest his Hounds barking vpon some dich side round about him he standeth musing what to doe Euen such a one my Ladie seemed to be she seeing her selfe charged with two contrarie demaunds both which she iudged aduersaries vnto her honour which to take she knoweth not well and therefore standeth studying as one sad and pensiue what to say vnto this matter If she should giue me her hand to kisse she feareth least I should foolishly and without wit speake something that might discredit her and if she should suffer me to die she being now readie to giue ouer the world and to become as it were a Religious Nunne she doubted least the world would say she had done it for griefe of me Besides she was vnwilling that I should die vnto whom despite of her selfe she thought her selfe somewhat beholding knowing that death was but a cold recompence for so great loue as I had borne her Much was she perplexed in her minde about this busines my hard fortune did somewhat soften her stonie heart but then againe the respect of her honour did harden it as much but had Loue had but some interest or power in her she had quickly brought these two contraries vnto an agreement but alas he then had not neither is he like euer to haue What should she doe in these two extremities and how should she throughly satisfie and content her honour One while she putteth forth her hand for me to kisse and then vpon the suddaine putteth it backe againe one while she is about to casshire me with rough speeches and then againe she seemeth willing to yeeld vnto my request one while she careth not although I die and then by and by she cannot endure she should be counted so cruell Meane space she seeth me to raine whole riuers of teares and to send forth blacke clouds of scalding sighes whilest with a sobbing heart I thus once more follow mine old sute vnto her What is the reason faire Goddesse that you thus stand lingring through delaies and not suffer this forsaken and abiect wretch to die To what end doth he liue which way can he profite his countrie and what reason haue you to lament his destruction Pronounce pronounce thy faithfull sentence quickly for he attendeth for nothing else to the end he may with a more braue courage wend his way to put in practise the same Speake then and giue our this musing when the Iudge sitteth vpon the life or death of an offender he standeth not studying vpon the same but soone pronounceth his finall iudgement Deliuer then my sentence as a fatall Oracle without delaying any longer for
many Louers haue there bene lesse faithfull then I am and nothing so zealous in loue as my selfe that haue finished their liues when they were depriued of their louing dames and shall not I be as fortunate as they euery way as vertuous as they especially when I haue deserued more then they haue which when I haue done I hope gratious Virgin your chaste soule will doe no lesse then testifie what great respectand dutious affection I bare vnto you vntill my latest gaspe hauing long serued you and yet neuer had any reward at all But what talke I of reward when I desire to die were it onely for this thing in that I durst presume to loue you and yet it is not death that daunteth not at all onely I grieue because I feare I neuer shall finde so sweet a face in the other world with which I may delight me But I am not the first Louer hath bene sent away vnrewarded of his Mistris and yet too great hath my recompence bene in that I haue had that great good hap as to haue seene you whilest I liued and now I must loose you can I doe other then loose my selfe you goe your way and thinke you I shall stay behind Ah then how much are you deceiued for I will die yea I will die although not by your commandement yet because I shall see you no more and this I here protest I am most resolutely minded to doe come whatsoeuer will thereof meane space withdraw thy hand from me which I desire not to kisse since t is with thy displeasure whilest I liued I sought to please thee and now I die I will not seeke to crosse thee Away then with this thy hand too faire for me to touch assuring thee that I am as much contented with thy good will as if I had enuoyed the greatest pleasure in the world Then once againe I beseech thee let me alone and trouble me no more I bid the world adue and take my last farewell of thee for die I will since t is the onely thing which I desire Diana seeing me looke so gastly began to be afraid of me doubting least I would presently haue laid violent hands vpon my selfe as I sweare vnto you reuerend father I had done but that I found her more tractable and more kinde which was the cause that after she had many times sighed beholding me with a most pittifull and curteous aspect and mourning as it were to see me in so heauie a plight she spake thus mildly vnto me Ah Arcas most faithfull Arcas if thou wilt die for my sake there is no reason but I should be miserable for thee to requite this thy great kindnesse towards me So will I be for thee and such a one doe I wish my selfe to be as long as I shall liue Say not then that thou art the most miserable wretch aliue since Diana is a partaker of thy miserable fortunes who to haue regard vnto her honour and for the loue she beateth vnto thee shall liue most miserable all the rest of her sad life being somewhat comforted in this onely that she cannot suffer for two more worthy subiects As sweet shall be my griefes when I shall thinke of thee as my ioy shall be when displeasing I remember thee not at all I see it is the will of the Gods that things should thus fall out and I will not be repugnant against the same more proofes I haue not to manifest my good meaning vnto thee being hindered through mine honour in leiu whereof I will giue thee a tast of the rest by my continuall Martyrdomes Therefore I coniure thee by that chaste Loue thou hast so long borne me offer no violence vnto thy selfe but stay the will of the heauens for it may so fall out as thou maist perhaps see me once more before thou diest and seeing the houre is now come that without seeing me more I must absent my selfe from thee I will not conceit mine affection from thee for I know thou wilt not seeke thy profit by my hiâderance Too well doe I know and must needs acknowledge thy faithfull and infinite Loue towards me If euer man hath bene worthy of a Ladies Loue then it is thine owne selfe therefore thinke that nothing in the world hath hindered me to make requitall vnto thee as full well thou hast deserued but chaste honour and seeing I cannot doe otherwise let me increate thee haue patience Besides if the assurance of my amitie may comfort thee seeing thou canst not receiue any other consolation at my hands assure thy selfe I loue thee deerly yea deare Arcas dearely doe I loue thee and to giue a most plaine testimonie of the same I will and command thee vpon that power and authoritie which thou hast giuen vnto me ouer thee that thou kisse my hand as thou before desirest and I pray thee most hartily to belieue that I am wonderfull sorie because I cannot giue thee a more ample signe of my Loue vnto thee content thee then with this small fauour of mine and thinke it is greater then it is because it commeth from so willing a minde and from her who wisheth vnto thee more happinesse then she doth vnto her owne selfe O sweete words which as a lushious kinde of poyson infected my soule with true ioy although afterwards they cost me dearely I hauing bought them at too high a rate and yet what could I now desire more But as the fall from an high Tree is farre more daungerous then from a lower and as the afflictions of rich men spoyled of their goods is farre more grieuous then those of the poore because they neuer had any such wealth to loose Euen so these delightfull speeches wrought my miseries to be farre more cruell afterwards vnto mee then if my Ladie neuer had pronounced them Yet did they mee great good as then in respect I enioyed her companie and in that she shewed her selfe so kinde vnto me But alas it was my Fortune and not her fault since none can withstand his hard destinie Meane time I being astonisht and amazed trembling like that wayfaring man when he beholdeth a Snake winding about his legge tooke my Lady by the Lilly-white hand going about with great reuerence to kisse it when a suddaine feare comming freshly into my head that my Diana would mislike of the same made me to forbeare a while Whilst I thus said vnto her Sweet Ladie I beseech you forbeare and let mee after my wonted manner languish away secretly in my sorrowes rather then any discontentment should trouble you at all For too great a plague would that be vnto me if I should liue to behold the ouerthrow of her whom I esteeme more pretiousthen mine owne life and the rather sithence I am predestinate to be vnhappie Let me I pray you be pardoned in this because I know my selfe euery way vnworthie of so rich a curtesie hauing receiued but too much fauour alreadie at your hands
in that you haue vouchsafed to permit me to enioy your more then Angelicall presence thus long and all alone Neuertheles I most humbly thanke you as much for the proffer thereof as if I had enioyed the same I being euery way contented and satisfied as I would my selfe Thus did I excuse my selfe as one vnworthie of so great a kindnesse making daintie of the matter when my Ladie seeming as it were to be angrie that I refused the same and somewhat blushing through Choller thus replyed Well shepheard well I now perceiue that you will not accept of this small fauour because voâ would haue some colour to complaine of mee after my departure from you Willingly I offer it then willinglie accept it for say that anie thing otherwise then well should happen vnto me about this matter yet would not I haue thee to think I loue thee so ill as I would lay anie blame vpon thee at all More pleasing is a hurt come by chaunce from a friend then a pleasure or good turne done vnto vs proceeding from an enemie Then if I may doe any thing with thee let mee intreat thee to doe as I will haue thee which if thou wilt not then wilt thou make me to think thou neuer didst affect me The refusall of a gift presented in good will argueth a peruerse minde of him against the giuer that doeth refuse the same Euen so I cannot imagine otherwise of thee but that thou rather hatest mee then louest me truely and therefore doe as thou pleasest But I will call the heauens to witnesse of mine offer proceeding from a pure good will to the ende the blame shall be thine and not mine if hereaster without cause thou shalt exclaime against me Therefore if euer thou meanest that I shall remember thy loue and that I shall thinke thou hast euer affected mee with a chaste and an vnspotted heart then let me intreat thee to accept of this gift which as I knowe it will be pleasing vnto thee so shall it be no way hurtfull vnto me at all Seeing then said I louely Diana that such is thy pleasure I will obey the same whether I liue or die and not a little will I glorie herein that I haue liued to fulfill the will of so great and gracious a Ladie as your selfe swearing by those your Diamond eyes that what mischaunce so euer shall hereafter light vpon mee I neuer will accuse you for the same Wherevpon I gentlie tooke her Iuory soft hand which I kissed bedeawing it with many a louing teare O sweet thought thereof ô pleasing remembrance of that good Fortune and ô sacred memory of that blessed time although they cost me dearely not long after That poore vassall who findeth himselfe punished for presuming to haue hunted within the Parkes of his Lord receiueth not halfe so deepe a conceit of his displeasure as this Fauour made mee afterwards to endure So much was my delight as I seemed to be rauished therewithall nothing in the world being able to haue contented mee so much as that did That thing which a man loueth and hath a minde vnto hee thinketh can neuer be too deerly bought Euen so I found nothing so precious in my thoughts as was those kisses which I then enioyed Alas neuer doe I thinke thereof but that I am ready for to sownd That wicked Tyrant Dennis beeing driuen out of his kingdome of Sicile neuer thought himselfe so wretched when he remembred his vtter ouerthrow as I doe when I call to minde my former life and happines I stood still as a stone sighing and crying out as indeed I had reason for two causes especially The one was the absence of my Ladie the other the losse of that sweete contentment which I then enioyed and was to giue ouer presently But the day now beginneth to be late and therefore I will briefly make an ende of this my more then wofull Tragedie No sooner had I let goe my Ladies hands but that the whole troupe of Nymphes were arriued they all saluting Diana their Gouernesse who was not slowe to returne them the like kindnes againe Alas this was that dismall day which did me both good and bad and all at one time together wherin I may compare her vnto the Viper which being venomous doth sting deadly and yet neuertheles serueth for many necessary helpes and vses For then was it when my Mistris still setled in her first resolution tooke leaue of all the Nymphes her companions to goe and inclose her selfe within some solitarie Cell for none could disswade her from the same althogh with sighes teares she was perswaded to the contrary Whilst I poore wretch being not able to endure to behold so pittifull a departure weeping and crying out like an other Niobe conueyed my selfe behinde a Rocke to bewaile my losse at the more leisure O how heauy were the complaintes I made as then how dolefull the mournings how bitter the laments and how pittifull was the moestfull sound of my dying voice I must needs make you acquainted with some part of them because I haue no other delight then to call to minde these my forepassed miseries Be these then cried I out the last speeches that euer I shall make vnto my deare Mistris and thou most glorious Sunne is it possible that I should be able to behold this blacke gloomy day when thou thy selfe hast hid thy head before times for lesse matter then this If so why then doest thou not now hide thy selfe to the ende thou mayest not view the most wretched Caitiffe that euer liued Who euer knew a bodie to liue without a soule breath or blood no more shall mine do for thou holdest my soule and heart louely Diana The cruell Destinies shall not depriue thee of mee but of my life also In losing of thee I will lose my selfe neither shall mine eyes see any more since they cannot behold thy gracious presence Vnfortunate I that did not a while since go kill my selfe before I was depriued from my chiefest ioy I now liuing to be but a common receptacle for all mischaunces whatsoeuer As possible is it for a man to support vpon his shoulders the huge weight of the Heauens as for mee to beare the absence of thee my sacred Diana Since the nourishment of my life is gone what can mine Eyes behold to see seeing their Sunne is Eclipsed who shall giue light vnto mine heart and how shall my hope flourish greene since all comforts be quite blasted and gone How many Louers haue there bene that haue either dyed with griefe or else haue slaine themselues with their owne swords onely because they haue lost their faire Mistriffes What then should let or hinder mee but that in like manner I may followe their examples The Marchant that hath no marchandise shutteth vp his shoppe and liueth idlely Euen so I hauing lost my Saint must shut vp mine eyes with the sweet slumber of death O blessed Eyes in that you haue