last since his time of stay was but short he thus said unto me My Astrea for so he phrased me alwaies in private I shall leave with you my Brother Lycidas from whom I will never conceale any of my thoughts he knowes how I have vowed my selfe unto your service I beseech you promise me if it be your pleasure I should depart with any joy that you will receive as from me all the services which he shall do you and by his presence renew the memorie of absent Celadon And truly he had good reason to make this request unto me For Lycidas during his absence was so diligent to observe his Brothers commands that many thought that he succeeded his Brother in the affection which he bore unto me this was the reason why Alcippes after he had kept him three yeares out of this Country did call him home in a confidence that so long a time had worne away that light impression of Love which had a little entred into his green heart and that he being now grown more wise would weane Lycidas also from my affection But his returne was an extreame assurance of his fidelitie absence could not extinguish the ardency ot his Love no nor all the so much admired Romane beauties could ever startle him He intreated me by his Brother that I would give him leave to come unto me Oh Heavens how gladly did he come when I gave him licence I think I have his Letters about me for alas I have kept them better then him then pulling a little bundle out of her pocket like unto that which Celadon used to carry or in imitation of him and in which she very charily preserved those which came from him she took the first for she kept them in order as they came unto her then after she had wiped away her pearly teares she read these words Celadons Letter unto Astrea Fair Astrea MY patience hath vanquished my exile and heavens grant also that it may vanquish all hinderances of our happinesse I departed with so much sorrow and returne with so much joy That not dying neither in going nor coming it manifests that one cannot dy with too much delight nor of too much sadnesse Permitt me I beseech you to wait upon you that I may relate my fortunes unto her who is my only happinesse Fair Diana it is impossible to remember all the discourse we then had unlesse I should open those wounds again which are more dolorous to me then death During Celadons absence Artemis my Aunt and Mother of Phillis did come upon a visit unto us and brought with her this Fair shepherdesse Phillis And because our manner of living seemed more pleasant unto her then the shepherds of Allier she was pleased to stay with us which beleeve it was no small contentment unto me for her humours were very pleasing unto me and I have passed over many tedious hours with her When Celadon returned his judgment was so good and he liked her so well as I may truly say he was the cause of the great League which ever since hath been twixt her and me At this time he arrived at the age of seaventeen or eighteen and I at fifteen or sixteen and began to manage matters with more prudence so as to disguise our loves I did intreat him or rather indeed constraine him to be very familiar with all shepheardesses which could pretend unto any shadow of Beauty to the end his applications unto me might be taken rather as common then particular I say I constreyned him unto it for he did severall times upon his knees begge for a revocation of this command and alas he had good reason so to do for he did too well foresee that from hence would proceed the cause of his death Excuse me wise Diana if a few due teares interrupt my discourse since I have so much sad cause for them as it were impiety to stop them Then after she had dryed her eyes she began her discourse again And because that Phillis was most commonly with me it was unto her that he first made his addresses unto according to my command I could scarsly forbear my smiles especially when Phillis beleeved him to be in good earnest and treated him as it is the custome to treat such as begin the like addresses I remember that when he was once very sharply treated he sang this Song which he composed upon this subject A Song CLose by a River cleare whose bankes were clad With Mossie cussions and a channell had Which like a Serpent wreathed and did glide A long a lovely plaine with swelling pride Did sit a Shepheard chanting it in verse And with his Pipe did these sad Lines rehearse Cease Fair one Cease cease once your cruelty Let me enjoy one day before I die The torments I endure for loving you Are greater farr then is for hatred due If gods be good and infinitly kind Then Love and Hate a difference will find Is 't possible a pure and perfect Love Should never never any pitty move Are animals insensible as stones Which never moved are with sighes and groanes Those amorous glances of your winning eyes Have oft encourag'd up my hopes to rise And since they swell with promises so fair If they do violate they perjured are Oft have they told me that your stony heart Would melt and from severitie depart Each charming part of your fair face did say In their false Language they would ne're betray But how Does shepheardesses eyes out vie The glistering Court in all its falsitie Can they who live and only haunt the fields Use any art but what plaine nature yeilds Has rurall beauties found a subtile art Though not their faces yet to paint the heart Are these the Doctrines that your Schoole affords Only to flatter and to give good words No no my Fair one these are fallacies And far unsutable with your fair eyes Learne to be kind and banish cruelty This cometh neerest to a Dietie Beauty that bringes not sweetnesse with it might Be likned to an eye that wanteth sight To her that has no Love and yet is fair A Corps without a Soul I will compare I do very well remember said Phillis and interrupted her how his addresses unto me made you laugh for commonly his discourse was only a few fragments of words so disordered as they could hardly hold sense And commonly when he would name me his thoughts so run upon you that he would call me Astrea But see the variety of severall inclinations I know very well that Celadon had some advantages of nature above Lycidas yet I thought though I knew no reason for it Lycidas to be much more agreeable unto my fancy Sister said Astrea to her you bring into my memorle a discourse which once he had concerning you and this fair shepheardesse said she and turned towards Diana Fair shepherdesse said he to me the wise Belinda and Artemis your Aunt are infinitly happy in two Daughters
five or six daies and therefore she was almost the last of all the visitants though the nearest neighbour I contrived it so that all my friends and neighbours sent both their Sisters and Daughters to my house when we were almost out of all hope to discover what I desired to know this way one came to tell us that Celidea was at the door As fortune was the Physician held him by the arm at that time and his pulse did beat a slower pace than it had done all the day but as soon as ever he heard Celidea named it began to beat as if he were in a most high Feaver The Physician finding this did look him in the face and saw his eyes more quick and lively than ordinary his complexion came into his cheeks and he saw so great an alteration every way as hee would hardly stay till Celidea entred for better assurance but when she entred his pulse then did keep a mad mans time and all parts were different from their ordinary temper Therefore drawing me aside Thamires said he It is not Celidea which enters into the Chamber but it is Calidons Wife if you would have him live Oh heavens how those words pierced me to the heart They struck me dumb I was not able to speak one word Afterwards when I had a little recollected my self I asked him whether considering the condition he was in it were fit to marry him No said he it will be enough if you can procure the Shepheardess to give him some knowledge of her affection and in the mean time you may talk with Clcontine who being wise will not bee against a match so advantageous The Physician went away and left me in a worse condition than his patient Oh what strange contrarieties were in my soul One side bade mee yeeld Celidea unto Calidon for friendship sake Love on the other side forbade the banes But said Friendship unto me Calidon will dy if you doe deny her and there is no Physician but this can cure him And Love answered how canst thou live thy self if thou doest not enjoy her Canst thou not surmount a vain passion said Friendship and be ruled by the Laws of Reason What reason is it replyed Love to dye thy self to make another live Doe you not consider replyed Friendship that Calidon is young and therefore lesse able than thy self to master his unruly passion Wilt thou that art arrived at grave and stayed yeares shew thy self weaker than he or to express it a little better wilt thou buy a little transitory pleasure that is past almost as soon as had at so deare a rate as the death and eternal losse of Calidon Away away change thy minde consider not what thou art but what thou shouldst be Think how the Father of that young Shepheard will reproach thee Did he not with his last dying breath recommend his young childe then in his cradle unto thy indulgent care Didst thou not swear he should be as dear unto thee as thy self Doest thou not remember the many good offices thou receivedst from him Oh Thamires do not buy thy repentance at so dear a rate Repent repent for shame of an act so unworthy an ancient Boyen from whence it is thy boast to be descended and let not thy soul be continually gnawed upon by an evil conscience I must confesse that these considerations had such a prevalency with me as I did once resolve to part with Celidea and resign her unto Calidon But O Madam what extream difficulties did I finde in the execution of it First to the end this young Shepheard might recover his health I begun with him and acquainting him with my knowledge of his disease I shewed him my extream desire of his cure At the first he denyed it unto me but at last hee did confesse it with watry eyes and asked me forgivenesse with so many apparent signes of sorrow that seeing his errour was by a most compulsive power of Love I could not chuse but take his fault upon my selfe But the grand difficulty was to speake unto Celidea for shee was so farre from loving him that shee did down right hate him And certainly this hatred proceeded from an Antipathy in Nature since she had not the least shaddow of any cause for it and the Shepheard had so many excellent good qualities that in all reason they should rather have gotten love than hatred And yet shee would alwaies say unto me that Calidon of all men shee knew should be the last man she would love But being resolved to make this overture so contrary both unto her will and my own I was at an extream puzzle where and how to begin At last I thought it best to break the Ice by degrees for to bid her downright to love Calidon was not the way both in respect of her affection to me and disaffection to him I went therefore to work by degrees and now she was not to be treated as a child I hinted unto her my extreame sorrows for the Shepheard how dear his life was unto me and how I should never enjoy any delights if I lost him That Physicians and all knowing persons told me his malady proceeded from nothing else but sorrow and not knowing what was the cause I could not chuse but desire all them that loved mee to study how to make him merry or at least to finde out the cause of his sicknesse And that she being one whom I loved and honoured most shee was in some sort obliged more than any to endeavour the cure of this Shepheard for my sake Therefore I conjured her by our friendship to see him as often as she could and to carrasse and cheer him up to keep him from that melancholly which would kill him She who did really love me did promise to doe it so oft as she conveniently could And indeed did so which on the one side did content me and on the other did so grieve me as I did thinke I should not live I had a conceit that her familiarity with him would in time engage her to liking of him which afterwards might the more easily make her bee perswaded unto love Shee having no other design did onely as shee promised but did not change her minde However this wrought good effects upon Calidon who receiving so many favourable visits and being so kindly carrassed above his expectation did in a short time begin to recover And though he was not presently cured yet there was apparent signes of amendment Now because that shee was weary of this life and because I saw my design did not take according to my thoughts I intended to oblige her another way I addressed my self unto Cleontine acquainted her with my affection unto Calidon with my intention of making him my Heir I represented unto her the quality of this young Shepheard his virtues and to be brief with the love he had unto Caledon and used all manner of arguments that might advance the
her head a little into the entrance she heard him say thus Now heart begin to hope well for as the snuffe of the Lamp ceaseth to burn when the flame hath consumed all the Oyle so may I hope my miseries will cease having by little and little consumed all the comforts and contentments that I have Oh happy losse how I would cherish thee if by thy means I go out of this miserable life which I lead Oh my dearest Papers how I would blesse the day on which you were ravished from me if my grieving for your losse would end ãâã For alas there is no hopes left that my sorrowes should ever end but with my life Leonida hearing this was moved with much compassion knowing him now to be Celadon and was also surprised with such a sudden joy that though she had a great desire to let him complain on and hearken longer what he said yet she was constrained to go to him with open armes and cry unto him Ah Celadon away with these lamentations and sorrowes you have had too many of them 't is time now to change your course of life and enjoy some pleasant dayes You may easily imagine that Celadon was extreamly surprised when he heard this voice upon a sudden and seeing her come unto him for he had not seen any of a long time and his spirits being wholly retired into his thoughts she had spoken all this before he heard or knew what she said He started up upon a sudden but the life which he had lived and bad food together had so weakened him that he was constrained to sit down again presently Then the Nymph gave him leasure to recollect himselfe and sitting down by him took him by the hand Well Celadon said she unto him did you so impatiently desire to get out of Galathea's hands only to live thus Is it possible our company should be so displeasing to you that you had rather be amongst senslesse Rocks and wild Woods The Shepheard having recollected his spirits did faintly answer You see fair Leonida unto what Love hath brought me and what power you have over those that love you How is it possible said she that Love should make you thus neglect your own preservation Is it possible answered the shepheard that you who vaunts to know what Love is should doubt but that my affection can endure the greatest extremities However replyed the Nymph if I were condemned to die I would at the least ask him that condemned me the reason why I am condemned What better reason can be given said Celadon then that she who has the soveraigne power over me will have it so so as the reason of my ill-being is because my well-being displeaseth her Oh Celadon said the Nymph and pittyed him in what a miserable condition you are See sage Nymph said he how you are mistaken I cannot desire more happinesse then the misery which I endure for can I wish a greater happinesse then to please her If my misery please her can I grieve for it No no I must rejoyce at whatsoever is pleasing unto her Oh happy Celadon said he and in one thing the more happy that Astrea does not know that thou art happy Leonida hearing these expressions stood astonished and looked upon him with admiration At last after she had been a long while mute she said unto him I must needs confesse shepheard that if this be the way to love there is only you amongst all men living that can follow it But shepheard take heed that as many good things are corrupted and spoiled with abuse so your melancholy and obstinacy do not corrupt your affection I care not for all the accidents that can come said the shepheard so my Love be not offended But said Leonida do you love Astrea You aske me a question answered he unto which you are able to give an answer your selfe If you do love her said the Nymph you ought to love all that 's hers and if so then you ought to love your selfe since you are so entirely hers that you are not your own Since I do love Astrea replyed the shepheard I ought to hate all that she hates Astrea hates the miserable Celadon why then fair Nymph should not I Every one said she is obliged to have a greater care of their own preservation then of the love or hatred of any other That Law said the shepheard is good and allowable amongst Men but not amongst Lovers Why said the Nymph do they cease to be Men when they become Lovers If you do mean a man said he that is subject unto all sorts of miseries and inquiotudes I do confesse that a Lover remaines a Man still but if that Man have any will of his own and judges of things as they are and not according to the opinion of another I deny that a Lover is a man since as soon as ever he becomes a Lover he does so dispossesse himselfe of his will and judgment as he neither willeth nor judgeth but as she willeth and judgeth whom he loves Oh the miserable condition of a Lover said the Nymph But much more miserable answered the shepheard is he that loves not since he cannot enjoy the most perfect and highest happinesse that the world affords for the very least of Loves joyes does exceed all others that the world hath without it Is there any pleasure comparable unto those that consist in the thought When a Lover thinks upon the beauty of her that he loves nay when he does but remember any one of her actions nay even the very place where he last saw her do you think he would change his contentment for any diversion in the whole Universe He is so jealous and so carefull to entertain this very thought that lest he should make any a sharer with him he will retire into the most solitary and unfrequented places that he can finde he cares not for the society of men or all the delights that men can devise and use to court with such care so he may but enjoy his own thoughts Now Leonida since the contentment of thoughts are such is it possible the weaknesse of any human heart should think to endure so much blisse as to enjoy the sight of her whom he loves to hear her speak to kisse her hand to hear her own mouth pronounce the word I love you Is it possible he should hear this and not be ravished and be disordered with too much felicity and delight I do not mention those great and last assurances which one receives when he is loved nor those languishments in the breast of the person loved for these are contentments of so high a nature as they cannot be gusted without transport and absolute ravishment out of our selves nor can they be expressed by any words unlesse imperfectly Now tell me fair Nymph whether the condition of a Lover be so miserable now I say when you know what high felicities he does enjoy I do confesse said
assure you I think of nothing lesse How Servant said Phillis and seemed to be troubled will you not have me to be your Mistresse Good shepheardesse said he do not use the word Servant and the word Mistresse so familiarly for they are not seasonable amongst us At what Game said she have I lost you Hylas At the Game of the Fairest answered he Do you not know that it was alwaies my custome to leave those I loved as soon as I found one that was fairer Aske Florice Cyrcenea Palliuice Madonthe and Laonice if I did not so by them If none of these will tell you then ask Phillis your very good friend for if she will confesse the truth she will tell you how I have left her for Alexis who indeed is the fairest and most lovely that ever I saw Every one did laugh heartily at the discourse of Hylas and Phillis amongst the rest who said thus unto him Why shepheard are you then fully resolved to love me no longer It is possible you should quit me for a Druide But my comfort is it will be long before you can have any fruition of your love for Alexis cannot marry untill her time with the Carnutans be expired Hylas smiling and shaking his head at this I assure you shepheardesse said he you tell me a thing that would make me in love with Alexis if I were not so before for ever since I began to look upon women I never loved any yet so but I began to hate her as soon as ever I thought of marriage So as if Alexis be not content with her time I will give her as much more and yet love her Now let me tell you there is an odd kinde of ambition in my love which I must by all means strive to satisfie I have already loved Maides Wives and Widowes I have courted my Inferiours my Equalls and my Superiours I have served fooles crafty ones and good ones I have met with severity courtesy and insensibility to either love or hatred I have tried old ones middle aged and very children I have liked the fair the black and the browne beauties I have made addresses unto some that did love me unto others that did not love me I have tryed all conditions and all humours that can be in women But I must confesse I never courted a Druide or a Vestall before I have been hitherto a Novist in that holy Tribe and I think the gods have sent me this fair Alexis to the end I may make it my boast that I am the most perfect and experienced Lover that ever was None in the Company could forbear laughing Florice she addressed her selfe unto him Hylas said she are you not afeard that Tharamis will blast you with lightning from heaven for offering to court one that is dedicated unto him Oh! Florice said Hylas you that are so religiously devoted unto the gods have not you dedicated your selfe unto Tharamis and yet you have had Theombres in your armes a thousand times and never feared any blasting with lightning from heaven 'T is true said Florice very faintly but things that are absolutely forbidden do more offend the gods then those which are indifferent A very fine excuse indeed said Hylas and well found out pray tell me where do you finde that the gods did ever forbid it If you had ever seen a Druide or a Vestall received into their Orders by their Antients said she you would not have asked me this question Oh Oh said Hylas I do now understand you very well it is the old drie Druides that does forbid them but yet they are no gods It is a Law made only by men men that are old and not able to enjoy the pleasures of youth and therefore are envious and deny unto youth what their age is deprived of Fie shepheard said Tircis mingle not things prophane with things sacred and consider that the gold of Apollo's Temple which cost us Gaulians so dear was dedicated unto him by men Oh my good friend Tircis said Hylas how long is it since you became so amorous You I say who were not wont to be contented with the Living but would rake the Tombes and Monuments for one whom it pleased the gods to take unto themselves from amongst men you that were not wont to be conversant amongst the living but the dead do you now come to talk of the gods and of things that belong to living men Oh Hylas said Tircis and sighed how infinitely you wrong me I do confesse that I do love Cleon and I shall rather lose the memory of my selfe then of her and her perfections But wherein do I offend the gods or in my duty towards men Would it not be infinite ingratitude to the gods not to honour their most perfect work And he were not a man that would not love or forget that thing which above any in the world is most worthy of love and memory Thus these Shepheards discoursed whilst Lycidas related unto Phillis and the fair Astrea what he had seen in the house of Adamas and how fair Alexis was Truly said he I hope that I may without offence tell you that she is the very perfect resemblance of my dear and dead Brother when he was in his greatest beauty for I did never in all my life see two faces no nor any Glasse represent a more exact resemblance Is it possible said Astrea So true said Lycidas that I know no difference between them but in their habit and to tell you truly me thought Alexis to be a little fairer of the two Oh heavens said Astrea can you favour me so far as to help my eyes unto this long'd for sight Then turning to Diana and whispering her in the ear I promise you Sister said she that if I can obtain the favour I will go with her and turn Druide Oh god Sister said Diana never think of such a sad separation or else resolve to take Phillis and me with you Oh said Astrea that is too unreasonable for it would be too great a wrong unto Silvander and Lycidas Diana would have replyed but Astrea made a signe unto her to be silent lest they should be heard After this all the Company retired to their own homes resolving to visit Adamas and the fair Alexis within three daies after A terme which Astrea thought to be an age so extreamly did she long for a sight of this so much beloved resemblance In the mean while Celadon was as impatient for a sight of her The end of the two first Tomes of Astrea according to the Originall FINIS
I was afraid you had retained some thoughts for your self therefore I was so reserved but since thaÌks be to the fates it is not so I wil in this business put you to the tryal of friendship I know that the hatred which succeeds Love is alwaies measured according to the grandure of its predecessor and that you once loving this shepheardesse and now comming to hate her your hatred will be far greater then if you had never loved her Yet understanding from Stella her self that I can never arrive at my desires but by your meanes I do conjure you Lysis by our friendship to aide me either by advising or speaking for me or any other way I will take it as a most extream proof of your fidelity Lysis was extreamly surprised at this desire expecting any other prayer froÌ me then this by which besides his dislike from this of speaking unto Stella he had lost a freind whom he loved most Yet he answered thus unto me Corilas I will do as you desire you can expect no more from me but still remember that in messages of Love such persons should be imployed as are not hated Thus poor Lisis in lieu of a lover became a messenger of Love a difficultie which his affection to me made him undertake and he had full intentions to serve me though afterwards he changed his mind but the violence of his Love must plead his excuse for Love hath a most predominate power over men and truly his affection to me is to be both commended and admired since he was once willing to part from her he loved to let me enjoy her One day watching an opportunitie of speaking unto her he found her at home by herself none being by to interrupt their discourse then calling to memorie the affronts he formerly had received he so armed himself against her charmes as Love at this time could have no hope of overcomming And though the shepheardesse studied alwaies to tryumph over him yet he did so oppose his spleen against her and his freindship to me that at this combate he was conquerer Before he began to speak she went to meet him and pumped for some of her affected language What new happynesse is this said she that hath brought back my long'd for Lysis to me What an unexpected favour is this Come come since you are returned I will begin to hope againe for I dare swear that never since you left me have I enjoyed a minute of content to which the shepheard answered More eloquent then faithfull shepheardesse I am better satisfied with this your ingenuous confession then if I had not been offended at your in fidelity but let us leave off this kind of discourse and forget it for ever answer me only to such demands as I shall make unto you Are you still resolved to deceive all those who shall ever Love you For my part I must beleeve you are for none of your humours are unknowne unto me but I came to see and ask how many adorers you have and whether you did not say and protest and swear unto them that none should ever be deceived by you for if you did certainly they are in my predicament and rank The shepheardesse did not expect these reproaches yet she answered him and thus Shepheard though you came only with designes to wrong me yet I give you thanks for the visit and confesse that you have reason to complaine against me I complaine answered he no I pray you let that alone I will neither wrong you nor complain against you but am so farre from it that I will rather commend your humour for had you seemed to love me any longer I had been longer deluded And I pray God the losse of your Love bring me no more hurt then it doth sorrow you shall never heare that I complain of you for injurie and truth cannot subsist together no more then you fidelity can but take this for a most certain truth that you are the most deluding and ungrateful shepheardesse in all Forrests Me thinks discourteous shepheard answered Stella that this language would become any other mouth better then yours Then Lysis began to addresse himself in another dialect Hitherto said he I have borrowed my language from the just anger of Lysis but now I will borrow it of one that hath more to do with you then Lysis hath that is from a discreet shepheard who loves you and who values nothing upon earth comparable to your favorable acceptance of him his services She thinking that Lisis mocked her answered him thus Leave off this discourse Lysis it is enough that you once did Love me without any reviving of the memorie of your errors 'T is very true said the Shepheard they were errors indeed that moved me to love you out you erre as much as I did if you think that I do love you now or that I speak for my selfe No no I speak in behalfe of poor Corilas who is so wholly your devoted as nothing can draw him off I told him how I had tried you and what little assurance there was to be found in your soul and words I swore unto him that you would certainly deceive him and that I was sure you would keep me from being forsworn But the poor miserable loving thing is so blinded as he thinks what I cannot obtain his merits can and yet to undeceive him I told him that merit was the greatest impediment to obtain any thing from you And to the end you may believe what I say I pray read this Letter which he hath sent you But because Stella would not read my Letter Lysis did open it and read it aloud unto her The Letter of Corilas unto Stella Fairest Shepheardesse IT is most impossible that any eye should look upon you and not love and as impossible to love you and not be extream in his affection If you please but to consider this truth when this paper shall be presented unto your most lovely eyes I assure my selfe that the grandure of my pain will out of pitty finde a pardon for aspiring unto such a height as your merits though this presumption does justly merit punishment In expectation of your doom I beseech you give my thoughts leave to kisse your fair hands a hundred thousand times not being able within the compasse of that number to include those sorrowes which the deniall of this supplication will give me nor those joyes which will swell me if you receive me as most truly I am Your most affectionate and most faithfull Servant Assoon as Lysis had read this Letter he went on with his discourse Come Stella said he what death must he die or how must he live For my part I pitty him with all my heart and wish you could do the like I pray consider how bitter your deniall will be to him This discourse did touch this Shepheardesse to the quick and seeing how far Lysis was from loving her she
him it will be hard for me to get into your favour But my friend Hylas I believe you are much mistaken for though I see she daignes to cast her eye a little upon you yet am I very confident of her amitie for out of a sound judgment I do know that she will alwaies make choice of the better To which Hylas answered Perhaps you think vain-glorious Shepheard that you have some advantage of me but I pray where does it lye none can see it nor does my Mistresse believe it What kinde of a silly thing is he that never had the courage or confidence to love and serve above one Mistresse and that too so faintly and simply as you would swear he mocked her whereas I that have loved as many Beauties as I have seen I have been bid welcome by them all What pittifull service is to be expected from him that knowes not where to begin But I that have courted and served all sorts of all ages conditions and humours I can turn and winde and do any thing to please or displease And for a proof of what I say I pray give me leave to catechise him a little that you may see his sillinesse Then turning towards Silvander he asked him what that was which would most oblige a fair Shepheardesse to love It is said Silvander to love only her And what is it said Hylas which will most please her It is answered Silvander to love her extreamly Do you see said Hylas what a simplician this is Why this is the way together scorn and hatred for to love her only gives her an occasion to think that it is for want of courage that you dare not attempt to love any else and therefore she will scorn such a faint hearted Lover whereas did you love all you look upon she would not think you come to her because you knew not whither to go else but she will then prise you the higher and will be obliged to love you especially if you particularize her above any other and tell her some stories which you have gleaned from others then once a week come and professe your service or may be oftner if a good occasion require this will render you more pleasing and invite her to cherish your company This is the way fond Novice to oblige her unto love but to pule and please her continually is the only way to make her look asquint at you Nothing is so tiring and tedious as these huge and extream affections such as love so must needs be perpetually imprisoned never at liberty alwaies present continually talking to her she cannot stir a foot but you must do the like To be briefe you are abominably troublesome to her But the Devill of all is if she chance to be at any time ill and do not smile upon you nor please you forsooth then must you put the finger to eye and cry cry tears insomuch as you force her to flie you Do you think this to be the way to make her love you No no it is in Love as in all things else the Mean is the best Measure so as to avoid all these frivolous follies the only way is to love but indifferently and the best way to please her is to be pleasant merry and jocund and above all never to be mute before her This Silvander is the way to make a Shepheardesse love you and to get her favour And you fairest Mistrasse may by this see how to value my affection She would have answered but Silvander beseeched her to give him leave to speak And then he did examine Hylas upon these Interrogatories What is it Shepheard that you desire most when you do love To be loved again answered Hylas But when you are loved replied Silvander what do you desire or expect from this amity that the person whom I love answered Hylas do prize me above all others that she trust me and endeavour to please me Do you use poyson to preserve your life said Silvander how can you ever expect she should trust you when you are not faithfull unto her Oh said Hylas she shall never know it Then I see said Silvander that you will do that by treachery which ought to be done with sincerity As long as she does not know that you love another she thinks you faithfull and so you shrond your selfe under this false shadow You talk of scorn can any thing provoke a generous spirit more unto it than to imagine that this man whom I see so submisse at your feet adoring you should have his lips blistered with the kisses of others and those eyes which seem to adore you ready to sparkle love at every woman they look upon What should any woman of any Soul have any thing to do with a thing common He will do no more for you than he will for any one that has the resemblance of a woman when he speaks to you his minde is a hundred Leagues off and is thinking of such a one that a thousand to one is ten thousand degrees your inferiour the words he makes use of are some fragments gleaned from another such as his heart never ownes Oh! how horrid a scorn deserves such a man As to the next point which he urged to obtain love by which is To be jolly and galliard and alwaies laughing Truly that is a principall quality for a Buffon or one that has nothing at his heart but for a Lover to be of that temper is absurd unlesse Hylas such a Lover as your selfe Again you say that a mean in Love is the best but let me tell you that he who is but halfe faithfull is not faithfull at all and he that loves not in the highest point of extremity does not love one jot he who can be indifferent and love all alike cannot love one as he ought to do Valourand Love are resemblant and he that can measure them or thinks any greater than his own is neither valiant nor a lover worth a Rush So Hylas you see that to injoyn a mediocrity in Love is to impose an impossibility And when you love so you do as those melancholly fools do that think they are expert in all Sciences and know nothing 'T is just your case in thinking you love when you doe not But be it so that one can love a little Do you not know that Amity hath no other Harvest but Amity and all that is sowed is onely to reap some fruit How can you that sow but a little ever expect to reap much Ah Hylas you little know what belongs to Love For those effects which belong to an extream love and which you call Troubles are so indeed to such as you who know not how to love but such as are really and in good earnest in love and know what sacrifices and duties belong unto the Altars of Love they are so far from calling those effects troubles as they think them felicities and perfect contentments But Hylas I
wish thee joy with all my heart since I can doe no more I hope thou wilt take my wish in good part and in requital of my love I pray thee tell me whether thou doest know Astrea Phillis and Lycidas and if thou dost then tell me all thou knowest of them Kinde Shepheard answered hee thy civil language obliges me to pray that thou mayst never have any such occasion of sorrows as I have And I will freely tell thee all I doe know concerning those persons you mention although my own grief forbids me to meddle in any other businesse but my own It is about a month or six weeks since I came into this Country of Forrests not as many doe to try what the Fountain of Loves verity will shew me for I am but too certain of my sad fate but by the commandment of the gods who from the fertile banks of the famous Siene sent mee hither with assurance that I should here finde a remedy against my miseries And ever since I came I have taken up my lodging in such Villages as seemed most agreeable to my condition and humour with a resolution to stay as long as the heavens shall permit me This design hath moved me to enquire of all the Shepheards and Shepheardesses of these parts I am able to satisfie you in any thing you desire to know of them All I desire to know said Celadon is to be satisfied how they doe All of them said he are well but they are all troubled very much at one act of blind and fickle Fortune and that is at the losse of one Celadon a Shepheard altogether unknown to me who was the Brother of Lycidas This lost Shepheard was so loved and esteemed of every one that he is generally lamented by all especially by those three persons whom you named unto me It was conceived that this Shepheard was a devoted servant unto Astrea and it was the enmity of their Parents which hindered them from Marriage How is it reported said Celadon this Shepheard was lost It is variously reported answered he Some speake as opinion leads them others according to circumstances and appearance and some as others doe report So as it is divers wayes related As for me I came hither into these quarters the very same day he was lost and I doe remember that every one was so affrighted at the accident as none knew how to make a perfect relation of it In conclusion and that is the best received opinion because Phillis Astrea and Lycidas themselves doe say it that this Shepheard sleeping close by the River side he fel in and Astrea also but her clothes did save her Celadon imagining that they had prudently invented this report to take away occasion of talking ill upon the accident he was very glad for his feares alwayes were that reports would reflect much upon Astrea's honour and therefore hee asked him further But what doe they think said he is become of this Shepheard That hee is dead answered the sad Shepheard And I assure you Astrea takes it so sadly that though shee puts the best face of it she can yet every one saies it is almost incredible that shee should be so much changed however for ought I see she is so fair that except Diana hinders her I never saw any fairer except my dearest Cleon and indeed they three may well be compared together Every one said Celadon will speake well of his own Mistris and Love has a quality not onely to blind but to change the eyes of Lovers so as there was never any Lover that thought his Mistris ugly This answered the Shepheard were something if I were in love with Astrea or Diana but since I am ever incapable of that I may be a competent judge And you who seem to doubt of this Shepheardesses beauty you must needs be either a stranger or else some ill-willer I am neither of those two said Celadon but truly I am the most miserably afflicted Shepheard that is in the whole world I shall never grant that said Tircis unlesse you except me For if your misery proceed from any thing else but Love the pain cannot be so great as mine since the heart is the most tender part we have and is most sensible of any sorrows And though your misery doe proceed from love yet it must needs submit unto mine for of all the miseries in love despair is the most intolerable disdain anger hatred jealousie absence or any thing is short of death for this pale Goddesse with her fatall hand does cut away both hope and life so as I the most miserable amongst all men living doe complain of a misery without any remedy or hope Celadon answered with a deep sigh Oh Shepheard how much doe you erre in your opinion I doe confess that the greatest miseries are those which doe proceed from Love of which I have had a full experience But I cannot by any means allow that those miseries which are without hope are the most sad nor indeed doe they deserve to bee resented for it is a meer act of folly to weep for a thing which cannot bee helped And Love answered hee what is that but a meer folly I will not enter upon that said Celadon before we have done with the other for that alone will take up much time But I pray tell me Doe you lament this death out of love or not Certainly out of love answered he If it be out of love answered Celadon then I have heard Silvander and all our learned Shepheards say that Love is nothing but a desire to enjoy that beauty which you find in the person loved 'T is very true said the stranger Then replyed Celadon Will any reasonable man desire a thing which cannot bee had No certainly said Tircis Then said Celadon the death of Cleon ought to be the cure of all your grief for since you confesse that desire never ought to be where there is no hope of obtaining and that Love is nothing else but a desire Death which puts you out of all hopes to enjoy ought by consequence to put you out of all desire and desire being dead all Love should die with it The sad Shepheard answered that whatsoever he said he was sure that his misery was most extream and because he would not revive the memory of his dead Cleon hee would not argue the matter any longer onely thus farre hee said Shepheard that which comes under sence is more certain than that which is onely in opinion And therefore all those reasons which he alleged could not convince him of that which he was so sensible of So recommending him unto the tuition of Pan Celadon and he parted And Solitude being most suitable to a Lovers thoughts Celadon went on through the Woods untill hee came to the Bridge of Boutresse and passing over the River there he was in doubt which way to wend but this was his full resolution to obey Astrea who had forbidden him to
Amasis the most honoured by all the Country never considering that Love useth not to measure by the Ell of Ambition or Merit but by opinion only Silvander whose education in the Phocencian and Massellian Universities had compleatly civilized though the meeting of Paris was but halfe pleasing to him yet he turned to the Nymph and him to salute them I need not ask you said Leonida unto him and smiled what thoughts entertained you in this solitary place for I am sure that Diana was the chiefe But I would gladly know why you do prefer the thoughts before the fight of her and what occasions does invite you from her presence I will not deny Madam said he unto her but that those pleasing thoughts whereof you speak were my deer companions as well in this place as every where else when I am absent from Diana But that I should think them more deer unto me then the sight of her give me leave to tell you that though it ought to be so yet I have not obtained so much Mastery of my selfe and though you now see me without her it is only to passe away more sweetly in contemplation those houres which her râpast does constrain me to be absent from her And indeed I was just now going unto her at the field of Mercury for now 's the time she useth to be there in her way to Astrea and my intention was to wait upon her And we answered Leonida came with resolutions to spend the remainder of this day with those fair Shepheardesses and therefore I beseech you Shepheard conduct us thither and by the way tell us why the thoughts of her you adore ought to be more dear unto you then her presence which is the first cause of them For my part I conceive it so discordant to reason that I cannot imagine how it should be Silvander in obedience to her commands shewing a Path-way which was a nearer cut thorough a great Meadow began thus to reply The question Great Nymph is of no such great difficulty to be understood if it be but taken as it ought for it is most certain that the eyes are the doores by which Love first enters into our soules If any doe fall in love upon report of beauty and perfection of absent parties that is either a love not lasting nor violent being rather a shaddow than any real love or else the soul which received it had some grand defect in it self for reports having commonly as many falsehoods as truths that judgement which builds upon any such uncertain foundation cannot bee found nor proceed from a well-tempered soul but as that which produceth a thing is not the same which gives it nutriment and makes it grow up to perfection so it may be rightly said of Love Our Ewes bring forth their Lambs who at first doe seek a little nutriment from their Milk yet it is not that Milk which brings them up unto perfection but it is a more solid nutriment which they receive from the grasse which they feed upon So likewise the eyes may conceive and produce a green infant-affection but there must be something more solid and substantial to make it grow unto perfection and that must be by a knowledge of the virtues beauties merits and a reciprocal affection of the party loved Now this knowledge does take its originall indeed from the eyes but it must bee the soul which must afterwards bring it to the rest of judgement and by the testimonies both of eyes and eares and all other considerations concoct a verity and so ground upon it If this verity bee to our advantage then it produceth in us such thoughts whose sweetnesse cannot be equalled by another kinde of contentment than the effects of the same thoughts If it be onely advantageous to the party loved then doubtlesse it doth augment our affection but yet with violence and inquietude and therefore no question but absence doth augment love so it bee not so long as that the very image of the party loved be quite effaced Whether it be that an absent Lover never represents unto his fancy but onely the perfections of the person loved or whether it bee that the understanding being already wounded will not fancy any thing but what pleaseth it or whether it be that the very thought of such things does adde much unto the perfections of the party loved Yet this is infallibly true that he does not truly love whose affection does not augment in absence from the person loved For my part answered Leonida My judgement is much different from yours and I have ever been of opinion that absence is the greatest and most dangerous enemy which Love hath Presence replied the Shepheard is without comparison much more as wee may see by dayly experience for you shall find a hundred loves that change in presence for one in absence and to demonstrate that presence is more enemy unto love consider that if one absent cease loving its cessation iâ without any violence of strugling and the change is onely because the memory is by degrees smothered with oblivion as a fire is with its own ashes but when love breaks off in presence it is never without a noise and extream violence and which is a strange argument âo prove my assertion converts that love into a greater hatred than if the love had never beân And that proceeds from this reason A lover is alwaies either loved or hated or held in a degre of indifferency if he be loved as abundance is apt to glut so love being loaden in presence with too many favours grows weary If hee be hated then hee meets with so many demonstrations of that hate every minute as at length he is forced to ease himself If hee be in a degree of indifferency and finds his love still slighted he will at length if he be a man of any courage make a retreate and resist the continuall affronts which are put upon him whereas in absence all favours received cannot by their abundance glut since they do rather set an edge upon desire And the knowledge of hatred entring into our souls onely by the ear the blow smarts not so much as that which is received by sight and likewise disdain and slight bee much more tolerable in absence than in presence doubtlesse therefore absence is much more fit to preserve affection than presence is I must needs confesse answered the Nymph that there happens many accidents in presence which destroyes love that absence is exempted from But for all that you cannot perswade me but that I must needs think the sight of the party loved does augment love much more than by not seeing her for carresses and favours are the food of love and those which are conferred in presence are far greater and more sensibly obliging than any others I thought Madam answered the Shepheard that I had already sufficiently answered your demand but since it is your pleasure to desire more clear reasons I
hand she broke it in pieces Thus said she is our love to one another for ever broken and never to piece again She had no sooner spoken these words but she ran away with a piece of the chain in her hand and left the other in mine who was in such an extasy that I was not able to speak one word by way of excuse nor follow her one step I must confesse Madam that these words did sting me to the very heart and when I did seriously consider what good reason she had to speak them I could not lay the blame upon her but wholly upon my selfe However I kept my selfe still constant to my resolution of endeavouring the contentment of Calidon He knowing that I had spoken of it unto Cleontine and hearing the report of their Marriage publickly divulged he did not much wonder that his Shepheardesse should never see him but when Cleontine came to visit him conceiving it but fit for her so to do since their Marriage was so much spoken of so as in a few nights he recovered his former health and got out of his bed and a little after out of his Chamber In the mean time Celidea was much perplexed and having no other hopes but in the tender affection of her Mother since she saw I had gained Cleontine assoon as ever she saw her she fell down upon her knees and would not rise untill she had obtained a promise never to marry her against her will Celidea was so exceedingly contented with this assurance as shcould not rest untill she had advertised us of it thinkinking her desires not compleatly satisfied till then It is very hard to say great Nymph whether I was more sorry or more pleased for on the one side I feared Calidon's relaps and on the other I was glad that none should enjoy Celidea But when I saw Calidon though something sad yet in health I must confesse that I was extreamly pleased at Celidea's repulsing him and did in my heart commend her prudence and resolution for I had a conceit that all she did was only to reserve her selfe for me not imagining her anger against me was so high as utterly to extirpate the affection which she bore unto me so as recollecting my selfe I did confesse that the injury which I had done her was not with a designe to extinguish my love unto her for I never had any such intention nor could ever hope to be so much Master of my selfe but only had a minde to sacrifice it unto Calidon's health So then must the act which I would have done be phrased for my aim was only at the saving of his life and not at the satisfaction of his pleasures These considerations being often in my minde Love began to be more violent in me then ever and easily it might for having resigned this fair one unto Calidon only to save his life and seeing that he lived still though she was not his self I conceived that my quitting her having wrought its intended effect I might very justly fall on upon my own score as I fell off for Calidon's Upon this account I went to the shepheardesse I shewed her the reason why I dealt so with her and why I did now dedicate my selfe wholly to her service befeeching and conjuring her to pardon and forget the fault if she thought it to be one To be briefe I used the best arguments and eloquence I could devise to advance my cause but I found her to be so exceedingly altered that all my arguments excuses and reasons could not move her more then they could a Rock nor obtain the least glance of a favourable look upon me As fortune was whilst I was speaking to her Calidon comes in and thinking to finde me a very good second he advanced towards us to speak to her for himselfe but when he heard my words never man was more amazed he durst not then apbraid me with breach of faith and abusing him but stepping back three or foure paces with folded armes Oh heavens said he is there any loyalty in any man living Is it he that brought me up lie whom I call Father and he who hitherto hath done me all indulgent offices is it he I say that puts a dagger into my heart and sends me to my grave Unto which I returned a faint answer shewed him the reasons why I quitted Celidea and why I did again apply my selfe to her But Love did so transport him into such violent raptures that there could be no bitter invective wherewith he did not asperse me But the shepheardesse did laugh at us both Nay nay said she never strive for Celidea for neither of you have the least share in her Not you said she and turned to Celidon for I never did love you Nor you said she and turned to me because you are extreamly unworthy of that love which once I did bear unto you Then she left both in a confused amazement We also parted And ever since that shepheard hath continued with one of his Kinsmen and never came at his own Cabin Three Moones have changed since this separation and do both he and I what we could we could not obtain one good word from her but the more violent we are in our loves the more violent she is in her hatred In the mean time such is my extream affection to her that it will not admit of the least diminution but does still more and more encrease so as did she but know it I do believe that since she did love me before out of an opinion I loved her she would love me much more now because I do love her now much more than I did then and more than any man living can Thus Thamires ended his relation and after a while of silence he began again Now Madam said he as chance was we met this shepheardesse upon the banks of the River Lignon and because love continues in us and disdain in her we both of us shewed her the best reasons we had to convince her that she ought to love one of us I pleaded that it was I upon whom her election ought to be Calidon on the other side whom I have so much obliged by many good offices he very opinioatively maintaines that it belongs to him Now knowing that your wisdome can much better understand reason then I can expresse I would with all my heart to put an end to our long dissentions for we are already grown the common talk of our Town that you great Nymph would be pleased to hear our reasons and arguments from our own mouths and ordain what you shall conceive to be just for I shall most freely submit my selfe unto your judgment It would be a work well worthy of your selfe it would be acceptable to the gods and would infinitely oblige us all unto you Leonida thanked him for the pains he had taken in the relation of of the matter and did assure him that if he and all those
ever I saw you I loved you as if I were forced unto it by some interior power which it was impossible to resist But perhaps said the Shepheardesse when I knew you did love me did I use any art to cherish it or augment it by any fresh favours No said he my affection did beginne without you continue without you and augment without you I mean without your contributing any thing unto it but by being your self But on the contrary the first time you knew it for though I did not discover it by my words yet I knew you did perceive it Oh what harsh treatment did I receive from you And what extreame dislike have you since shewed So as if I be as you say a Monster of Love I am so because it is a thing most monstrous that a Lover should so long preserve his affection maugre so many rigorous affronts and causes of hatred for I may safely say that every one of your actions towards me deserves no other name but of Rigour and Hatred So as it is apparent when you came to visit me in my sicknesse your design was to save my life onely that afterwards you might murder me more cruelly Then Celidea replyed thus You see great and wise Nymph by Calidons own mouth that if hee did love me it was without any contributing to it by me unlesse by being my self and against that what remedy can I invent What would he answer if I should ask him these questions before the Throne of Reason and your self Since Shepheard I never did consent unto any of your addresses why would you have me participate in your own troubles shame and errours Is it not enough that I have all this while endured your importunities without revenge You doe love me you say and because you love me I must love you again But pray hear what Reason saith You have loved Celidea and in loving her you have offended her and what other recompence can you expect from her but hatred The truth is Shepheard that being unwilling to be revenged of you as in reason I might I contented my self with hating you in my very soul and for Thamires his sake I pardoned the rest If you doe object that I doe know of your love by your teares and by your sicknesse Alasse this does not oblige mee one jot the more to love you but rather to hate you more extreamly Tell me Calidon since Thamires hath taken so much care to bring you up in literature and travails in what part of the world have you seen it decent for a young maid as I am to love or suffer her self to be loved If it bee not the custome in any place of the world but where Vice is held for Virtue doe you not infinitely offend in tempting mee to that which is contrary to my duty You love me you say because you cannot chuse but doe so Good friend how am I obliged unto you for doing that which you cannot chuse but do You do excuse your selfe to Thamires for loving me against his will by saying that you are not to blame because you are forced unto it Can you think your self exempt from blame in sinning by compulsion and do you think your selfe worthy of recompence for being forced unto a thing whose contrary deserves a recompence Either confesse your selfe culpable towards Thamires or else cease seeking a recompence for your forced service But if you do love me against my will am I to be punished for it Did I ever entreat you to it did I ever give you any occasion You say No. Will your love be any contentment or advantage unto me Shall I become more fair more vertuous or ever the better by it Oh heavens Calidon where are your wits Are you mad to ask a recompence where a punishment is deserved Or rather what an impudent affront is this before this great Nymph to demand ââvour and wages of me in lieu of a pardon and in lieu of repenting for your faults I believe you will say that I should not have flattered you in your errour nor kept you alive when you were sick by giving you good language But Calidon have I not good cause to say you are an ungratefull man and does not acknowledge the good office I did you in misconstruing of it and taking it in another sense then you ought Did a guilty person ever finde or think his Judge too milde or sweet or did any offendor ever complain that in lieu of punishment he received favour and courtesy Because I wished not your death am I blamable for saving your life You accuse me for having pitty upon you and shewing favour instead of revenge and would have me punished for it Judge Madam how his understanding is out of the way and how he takes reason the wrong way But Shepheard neither blame me nor commend me for my act since according to your own argument it was an act forced upon me which ought neither to be recompensed nor punished It was my affection to Thamires who conjured me unto it by all the obliging arguments he could devise which induced me unto it I see Calidon that you do smile that I should say it was my affection unto Thamires which moved me to treat you in that manner because you conceive that she who a little before did declare her selfe such an enemy to Love cannot now well say that Love had such an influence upon her soul But Shepheard you are much mistaken if you think that in being an enemy unto Love I am so also unto Amity and friendship or void of that vertue which makes us think of things as they ought to be I have heard say great Nymph that one may love two manner of wayes the one according to reason the other according to desire That which hath reason for its rule is called vertuous and honest Amity and that which suffers it selfe to be transported with desire Love With the first of these we do love our Parents our Kindred our Friends our Country and both in generall and particular all those in whom any vertue shines As for the other those that are infected with it are transported and distempered as with a frenzy Feavour and do commit so many grosse faults that the name of it is as infamous amongst persons of honour as the other is good and laudable I shall without a blush then confesse that I did love Thamires but withall I must tell you it was for his vertue If Calidon do ask me how I can distinguish and discern between these two kinds of affection since the one does commonly appear in the habit of the other I shall answer him that the wise Cleontine teaching me how to behave my selfe in the world did give me the difference Daughter said she my age hath furnished me with experience in many things and hath taught me that things are the most certainly known by their effects and the better to discern after what manner we
prostrate my selfe upon my knees before you I will not argue the matter with you nor aske whether my torments which I have suffered through my sins be not above the grandure of them since I sinned ignorantly only I beg for pitty Shew your selfe all divine in pardoning and remitting me to my lost felicity for my submission may as well move you to pardon as my unknown offence unto punishment This was the prayer of the sad shepheard not daring hardly to let the words go out of his lips for fear of waking her unto whom they were addressed Then he arose and went neerer to her the better to look upon her As he was deeply in his contemplation Phillis turned her selfe from one side to the other yet not opening her eyes nor waking This put Celadon in such a fright that he ran as fast as he could unto his sad habitation where he no sooner was but thinking upon this encounter and that of the day before he knew not whether he should take it as a good or a bad presage At the last thinking upon that Letter which he put into the hand of Silvander for he supposed Astrea did know of it he resolved to hazard another and therefore to lose no time he went to write it lest he should be too late and the shepheardesses awake He superscribed this as he did the first and went with all haste to the place where he left his shepheardesse but being afraid she should be awake when he came neer her he crept behinde some Trees and looking every way he knew they were still asleep but he found the company was greater then he perceived at the first because then he did not see the shepheards of whom we spoke before and to see whether any of them was of his acquaintance he went gently towards them the first he saw was Silvander Oh faithfull friend said he in a low voice how much am I obliged unto thee for doing more for me then I durst ever ask Then turning his eyes upon the other foure shepheards he knew none of them yet he thought he had seen Tircis heretofore Finding them all thus asleep he went towards the shepheardesses The Sun was already a good height and finding passage through the leaves it began to shine in some places upon them so as if this shepheard had been as impartiall a Judge of Beauty as he was a perfect Lover he could hardly have told unto which of all these he should have given the prize of Beauty But as the long griefs of Astrea had then made her yield something unto Diana so the affection of this shepheard did supply that defect and gave judgment on Astrea's side Then looking particularly upon Astrea he kneeled down and could not chuse but kisse her fair hand afterwards did put the Letter into her breast and being transported with love he could not chuse but kisse her mouth Oh how the shepheard was ravished he had almost quite forgot all fears of waking her and leaned so upon her that she began to awake and opened her drousie eyes when he was halfe risen up and had not the Sun-beams which shined upon her face dazled her eyes doubtlesse she had known him this was the reason she could not see him but as a shaddow and when she began to look after him her hair was so intangld with a few rushes that was under her head that they did hinder her so as she could not chuse but cry out aloud Phillis started up and asked her what the matter was But Astrea was so astonished that she could not speak but still untangled her hair Phillis seeing Astrea up and let a paper fall she arose also and was very officious to take it up following her some twenty paces from the place where they lay Then Astrea sat down under a Tree extreamly pale and ready to swound which Phillis seeing she helped her all she could and when she was a little come unto her selfe Oh dear Sister said she unto Phillis with a deep sigh what is this which I have seen Then she was silent a long while and could not speak for sighing a little after she began with a very great sigh and said Oh Sister I have seen Celadon I mean his Ghost At this word Celadon her voice failed and her tongue could not do its office but she joyned her hands together and listed her eyes up to heaven as if from thence she begged help Phillis seeing her in this condition believed that she had been in some afrighting dream Sister said she unto her there is no credit to be given unto any dreams they are no more but the working of the fancy and imagination upon such subjects as have been seen or thought upon nor are they any presages of things future only images and fancies of things past Ah Sister said Astrea this was no dream I saw him with these eyes and as soon as ever he saw I looked upon him he vanished into aire Perhaps Sister said Phillis you did but think your selfe to be awake for so it often happens in sleep No no said Astrea I was awake And how did you see him said Phillis I was said Astrea betwixt sleeping and waking when I heard some sighing about me even about my face and when I opened my eyes I saw the soul of Celadon before me but Oh heavens how glorious and full of light it was the Sun it selfe had no more splendent lustre And Sister I was even dazled at the sight of it untill I came hither but as soon as ever I did cast my eye upon him he vanished like lightning Oh glorious Soul thou hadst good reason not to let the sight of her fully thee who was so undiscreetly carelesse of thy life How infinitely am I obliged unto thee who having so much reason to hate me yet makes it appear that thy love continues Phillis with much amazement did now believe that certainly it was the soul of Celadon and therefore said thus unto her All we can do for those who are departed this life is to preserve their memory to talk often of their vertues and to render them the last office of pitty which is buriall therefore I am of opinion that it is requisite for your own contentinent and satisfaction of this soul who so much loved you that you do cause a Tombe to be built in which it may rest and to preserve the memory of him amongst us as long as possibly we can That shall I do said Astrea as long as any life is in me But Sister said Astrea would it not be taken ill that I who am not a kin unto him should render him this last office of a Sepulcher What can be said answered Phillis but that his kindred neglecting their duty you have done what they ought to have done Were he alive there might some doubt be made of it but being dead they may well imagine that your past amity which is known as well as your
ASTREA A ROMANCE WRITTEN IN FRENCH BY Messire Honore D'Urfe AND TRANSLATED BY A Person of Quality LONDON Printed by W. W. for H. Moseley T. Dring and H. Herringman And are to be sold at their shops in St Pauls Church-yard Fleetstreet and in the Lower vvalke in the New Exchange 1657. TO THE READER OF all the Books that Mankind hath convers'd with since it was first refin'd by Letters none hath contributed so much to the civilization thereof or gaind that esteeme and Authority with it as those of POETRY by which terme I meane FICTION in the largest extent Under this are comprehended the highest noblest productions of man's wit ROMANCES a kinde of writing so full of charme and insinuation that even Religious worship in the dis-illuminated times of Paganism was oblig'd to it for most of its Ceremonies the strange influence it had over the multitude For what were the Oraâles what all ancient Mythologies what Numa's pretended correspondence with his Nymph Aegeria but so many politick Roâances cunningly advanc'd to create in the minds of the people a feare and veneration of some power above humane Lawes whereby they were deterr'd from those things which were out of their reach and cognizance Hence was it that some stumbled on that Paradoxe That mankinde look't on generally had made greater advantages of Fiction than ever it had done of Truth the one it seemes by reason of her nakednesse finding so much the colder reception the other disguized in the dresses of Witt and Eloquence the noblest entertainement that could be expected from reverence admiration and Idolatry But if Endeavours of this nature were so succesfull and advantageous to piety a civill life in their infancy while they were yet shrowded in Fables and Oracular cheats and ambiguities and lay levell to the capacities of the multitude what may not those contribute that are calculated to the meridian of the most criticall and most ingenious What was before censur'd as extravagance of imagination is now reconcil'd to probability and restrain'd by judgement What falsly ravish'd the eager apprehension into amazement at impertinent and Quixoticall Attempts doeâ now but gently enflame the minde into an aemulation of the perfections a sympathy for the weakeness sufferings it finds represented Thus an excesse of Austerity in some hath reduc'd many to a greater compliance with and submission to Nature and the elevation of the voice in Singing Masters above the note does but direct the Learner to reach the tone This READER is the designe of the worke thou now hast in thy hands Here thou find'st a cleare representation of the Noblest and most generous images of life and such an accompt of the passions and actions of Men as few bookes of this nature afford so plentifull with such variety of excellent discourses and an extraordinary sententiousnesse as deservedly celebrate this above any Author of the kinde Here thou hast a jealous and distrustfull ASTREA a despairing yet faithfull CELADON asickle and unconstant HYLAS and such intricate scenes of Courtship Love Jealousie and the other passions as cannot but raise in âee a consideration of humane Affairs sutable to the severall emergencies But to close up the elogies may be given this worke with the greatest that any of this kind ever receiv'd I shall onely adde âhe judgement of it of the late famous Cardinall of RICHELIEU That he was not to be admitted into the Academy of Wit who had not been before well read in ASTREA J. D. ASTREA The First part Book I. NEere the Antient Cittie of Lyons towards the West lieth that part of the Country called Forrests which in it's little circumference comprehends more varities then the rest of France for being divided into Plaines and Mountaines both of them are so fertile and seated in such a temperate Aire that the soile is capable of whatsoever the industrious Husbandman can expect or desire In the heart of the Country is a most Pleasan plaine circled about as with a strong wall by its Neighbour hills and watered with the River Loyre which from its not farre off originall glides gently through the midst of it without any swelling pride Many other Rivulets doe in divers places bestow their chrystall streams the chiefe of which is Lignon which though extravagant in its course as well as delectable in its Scource runs Meander-like through the plaine neere unto the losty mountaines of Servieres and Chalmasel unto Feures where the Loyre receiving it and swallowing up its name carrieth it as tribute unto the Ocean Upon the banks of these delighting Rivers are continually to be seene abundance of shepheards who though litle beholding to fortune yet by reason of the aires naturall sweetnesse and the Soiles fertilitie do live in abundance of contented happinesse They would never have envied the golden contentednesse of the first happy age had Love let them alone to enjoy that felicitie of which the heavens were so prodigall unto them but slumbering upon the downy beds of ease they became subject unto Loves flattery who presently turned his Authoritie into Tyranny Celadon was one of them who did most feelingly resent it and who was so captivated with the perfections of Astrea that the very odium of their Parents could not preserve him from losing himselfe in her The truth is that if ever happinesse could be found in the losse of ones selfe it was by him in losing himselfe to gaine the favour of the faire Astrea who being assured of his affection did scorne ingratitude and received him and his services with reciprocall affection so that if any changing bee seene in either of them afterwards 't is probable that the heavens did allow it to shew that nothing is more constant then inconstancie which is constant in alteration For these two having lived together most happily the space of three yeares even then when they least feared any dysasterous accident they found themselves betrayed unto the worst of loves misfortunes by the perfidie of Semyres so as Celadon to disguise his affection from their Parents who by reason of an inveterate hatred amongst themselves did strive to thwart their amorous designes did seeme as if his addresses to that shepheardesse were rather out of civill course then any courtship This umbrage was handsome enough if Semyres had not made it his stalking horse to betray Astrea which she since repayed by many a sigh and Teare As Fortune was one day this amorous shepheard rising betimes to bid his thoughts good morrow and leaving his flocke to graze he went to rest himselfe upon the banks of the River Lignon there expecting the appearance of his faire shepheardesse who was not long behind him for she out of too much fancy had scarcely closed her eye that night The Sunne no sooner begun to gild the top of the mountains of I soures and Mârcillies then this shepheard espied a farre off a flock which he presently knew belonged unto Astrea for Melampe a dogge
living left Since we of her bereaft It seems deare Saint your better fate Death did anticipate And lieu of Cradle Coffin sent Since gone as soone as lent No no it is not you did die But it is rather I For only you did animate My soul and life create Both soul and heart and what is mine Eternally is thine Thus Love or'e death gets victorie Since still you live in mee Or else God-like lets Lovers live Yet them no hearts doth give A Sea of Teares from fluent eyes To the I le sacrifise And when those mountaines are growne dry I le come to thee and die Lycidas and Phillis had a good mind to enquire the cause of this shepherds griefe if their owne would have permitted them but finding him to stand as much in need of consolation as themselves they would not add the miseries of another unto their owne And therefore leaving the rest of the shepherds to hearken further they went on their way and none followed them Lycidas was no sooner gon but they heard another voice a far off which seemed to draw neere them and setting themselves to hearken they were interrupted by that shepherdesse who held the head of a shepherd in her lappe and uttered these complaints Fie fie thou obdurate peece of cruelty thou pittilesse shepheard how long will thy heart be marble and eares stopped to my prayers Why should one who is not be preferred before one that is vowed thine Tircis Tircis thou Idolizer of the dead and enemy of the living looke upon my poore affection Love those that are alive and let the dead rest quiet trouble not their happie ashes with thy unprofitable teares take heed thou dost not draw vengance upon thy selfe for thy cruelty and injustice The shepherd not so much as turning towards her coldly answered I wish faire shepherdesse that I could give you satisfaction by my death I would willingly die to rid both you and my selfe from our torments consider I beseech you Laonice that you have no reason to urge me to put my deare Cleon twice to death It s enough she has once paid the debt due to Nature If now she is dead she should once againe revive in me by force of my affection would you have me remove her by entertaining a new love into my soul No no shepherdesse all your arguments are too weake to make me hearken unto any such counsell that which you call cruelty in me I tearm fidelitie and that which you thinke worthy of punishment I conceive deserves exceeding commendations I have already told you that the sacred memory of my Cleon shall live with me in my grave I have vowed it a thousand times both unto her and the immortall gods with whom she is and do you not thinke that they would punish Tircis if he should breake all those solemne vowes and become unfaithfull Yes yes the heavens shall sooner raine Thunderbolts upon my head then I will either offend against my vowes or my deare Cleon. She would have replyed when the shepheard which they heard singing came neere and interrupted her with these verses The Song of the inconstant Hylas If ere my Mistrisse me disdaine then hang me if I ere complaine I le ne're be drowned in puling sorrow but court a new one ere to morrow It is a toile would tire a horse to make a woman Love by force Those beauties which are over wise and our addresses do despise Have at their hearts a fire more hot although so close we see it not Whilst Lovers dote upon such dames Rivals do warme them at their flames It s flat Idolatry by Jove to court a cruell beauties Love Will any man of wit adore Idols that have no help in store A constant lover is but gull'd and by his Loyaltie befoold That simple crue of faithfull Lovers you 'l find them alwayes full of dolors Compos'd of sighes and cries and teares they do both sleep and wake in feares So as a Lovers life is found the worst that breathes upon the ground Such as do child-like Pule and crye when they have lost some foppery Cannot be called by the Name of men who any honour claime A Loving foole is still most fit for such a silly Amourite Such fables I have learnt to fly which nothing bring but misery I can be wise by others follie and ' spite of Love I can be Jollie I Value not a Rush if all the Ladies me unconstant call At this last verse this Shepherd was so neare Tircis that he perceived the teares of Laonice and though strangers yet having a superficiall acquaintance Hilas knowing how it was betweene Laonice and Tircis he addressed himselfe thus unto him Disconsolate shepheard for so every one did call him by reason of his sadnesse If I were like unto you I should thinke my selfe the most pittifull peece of misfortune that lives upon earth Tircis hearing this thus answered And I Hylas were I like unto you I should think my selfe more unfortunate then I am Should I like you replied Hylas drop teares for every Mistrisse that I have Lost I should teare out my eyes before I had done Were you like unto me answered Tircis you would have but one to drop any teares for And were you like unto me said Hilas you would not drop a teare for any That 's the reason replyed the sad shepheard I do think you miserable for if love be the only price and reward of Love never any did love you because you never loved any How do you know answered Hilas that I never loved any I know it said Tircis by your perpetuall changing You and I do differ in opinions said he for I ever thought that the more a workman is exercised in his trade the more perfect he is in it T is true answered Tircis when he workes by the rules of Art but if otherwise he is like unto travellers out of their way the more they goe the more they erre and further from the right way And as the rowling stone never gathers any mosse but rather dirt so your leight inconstancy may get some shame but never any Love You must know Hilas that the wounds of Love are such as will never heale Heavens deliver me from any such said Hilas You have good reason for your prayer replied Tircis For if every time you were wounded with a new beautie you should receive an incurable wound I am afraid there would not be one sound part in all your body Moreover you never can relish any of those sweets and felicities which Love bestowes upon all true Lovers and that miraculously like the rest of his actions for they are cured by the same which wounds like the sword of Telephus which both cuts and heales and I am perswaded that were you once permitted to know the secrets of that god you would presently renounce your inconstancy Hilas at this smiled and said There is very great reason Tircis that you should put your selfe in the
number of those whom Love useth very well but as for my part I do with all my heart quit my share in all his sweets you may keep to your selfe all his felicities and contentments without any feare that ever I shall envie you 'T is now a whole month since first we met and I think we met every day I do not remember that day that hour nay nor that minute in which you were not entertaining your Love forsooth with that good company of teares on the contrary tell me that day that hour or that minute in which you heaâd me bid Love welcome so much as with one single sigh There 's no man whose taste is not quite out of tune as yours is but will find more sweetnesse in the pleasantnesse of my life then in your dolefull sighs and sobs Then turning himselfe towards the Shepheardesse who complained so of Tircis And you faire but unwise Shepheardesse take courage and deliver your selfe from the Tyranny of this unnaturall Shepheard cheere up and live Will you by your patience make your selfe a complice with him in his crimes do you not see that he glories in your teares know you not that your supplications doe puff him up with so much arrogancy as he thinkes you to be highly obliged unto him if he does hearken unto you with disdaine The Shepheardesse with a deepe sigh answered It is an easie matter Hylas for him that is sound to counsell the sick but if you were in my stead you would know that all this advice is in vaine you might find that sorrow would sooner drive my soule out of my body then reason can drive this passion out of my soul For this my beloved Shepheard has such a Soveraigne power over me that his authoritie can command what he pleaseth spare then all your sapient advisements Hylas they will but fester my wounds the more for I am so wholly devoted unto Tircis that my will is not my owne How said the Shepheard your will not your owne to what purpose is it then to Love and serve you The same answered the Shepheardesse that my Love and services are unto this Shepheard That is as much to say answered Hilas that I should lose both all my time and my paines and that if I should professe my affection unto you you would only make use of my words to expresse your affection unto Tircis but since such is your humour and since I have more command over my selfe then you over yours I will only kisse your hand and take my leave for I shall be ashamed to serve such a poore and pittifull Mistrisse Neither you nor I answered she shall receive any great losse by it Were you as sensible of your losse in losing me said Hilas as you shew simplicitie in courting him you would lament the losse of me sooner then desire the affection of Tircis but if you care no more for losing me then I do for losing you I le warrant you neither of our sorrowes shall ever hurt us Then walking merrily away he sung these verses A Song Love having wings will fly away as well as Time and soone decay Then let 's be wise and from us banish the thing which of it selfe will vanish Let 's cut Loves cords and quench its fires with all exorbitant desires That thing let 's voluntary do which time at last will force us to Thus or'e the Gyant Love shall we be victors most triumphantly Had this Shepheard come into the country in a more merry season doubtlesse with more friends but Celadons losse did sit so sadly upon the soules of all that neighbourhood that none was in any mood of rallarie and therefore they left him some returned to their cabins others in farther quest of Celadon some on this side some beyond the River Loire neither tuft nor tree escaped their inquisitive search yet all in vaine for no newes could be heard of him Only Silvander did meet Polemas just at the place where Galathea and the other Nymphes had a little before taken him up And because he Governed the country under the Authoritie of the Nymph Amasis the Shepheard who had often seene him at Marcelles did render him all possible honour and acquainted him with the losse of Celadon at which Polemas was very sorry being ever a Lover of all Celadons familie On the other side Lycidas who was walking with Phillis after a long silence at last he turned towards her well faire Shepheardesse said he unto her what do you thinke of your companion she not yet knowing of Astreas Jealousie did answere him that she could not be much blamed if she upon such a sad accident did shun all company for Phillis thought that he complayned because she went away alone Nay nay replyed Lycidas that 's nothing but I doe thinke her to be the most ungratefull woman in the world and the least worthy of any Love for my brother never intended nor could he Love any but only she she knew it well enough cruell woman that she was the testimonies he gave her were too evident to be doubted he overcame all difficulties he stopt not at impossibilities he valued not the anger of Parents but endured her rigours her cruelties and scorns and all this so long that I beleeve no other but Celadon was able to do it And yet for all this ãâã did most unworthilie change her mind her foolish pretences of hatred and jealousy has eternally exiled him and being grown desperate he did chuse death rather then such a piece of crueltie as she Oh Heavens Lycidas said Phillis in a great amazement what 's this you say Is it possible Astrea should ever commit such a crime It is most certainly true answered the Shepheard she has partly told me as much and I do conjecture the rest by his discourse She tryumphs in the death of my brother and her infidelitie and ingratitude can palliate her crime but I do sweare unto you by all that 's sacred never any Lover was fuller of affection and fidelitie then he I care not whether or no she ever know her error unlesse to vexe and grieve her for now I am as professed an enemy unto her as ever my brother was faithfull Thus Lycidas and Phillis discoursed he being infinitely grieved for the death of his brother and as much offended against Astrea and she very sorry for Celadons death angred at the anger of Lycidas and astonished at the Jealousie of her companion would not apply any extreame remedies at the first but only some gentle preparatives to mollifie him She would not by any meanes that the death of Celadon should cost her Lycidas and she considered that if any hatred was betweene him and Astrea she must of necessitie breake off with one of the two yet Love would not yeeld unto friendship On the other side Astrea was so swelled in teares and suncke in sorrow as having not teares enough to wash away her error nor words
you will And to the end you may not deceive your selfe be pleased to know that you are and shall be coveted by many great and Noble personages where vertues and merits may easily moove you but if you measure your affection by their meritts or their Love and not by what I shall tell you from the supream gods I do Prognosticate that you will be the most miserable woman alive And to the end you may not be mistaken in your choice remember that such a day you shall see at Marseilles a Knight in such a habit who does and will court you for marriage which if you permit then I do pronounce your misery And therefore I advise you to shun such a man and thinke upon him rather as your sad fate then as your servant on the contrary observe well the place which is represented in this Mirror for on such a day at such an hour you shall there meet a man in whose affection the heavens has placed all your felicitie if you can so order it that he do Love you never beleeve the gods againe if you become not more happie then you can desire but be sure that the first of you two who shall meet be the first that shall begin Love This Leonida is as cleere as the Sun at noone and I do already perceive that his predictions are true For I seeing this Shepheard first I must tell you truly I find some sparkes of affection towards him Good heavens Madam said Leonida unto her do you intend to place your Love upon a Shepheard do you not remember who you are I do so Leonida said she and you must know that Shepheards are men as well as Druides and Knights and their Noblenesse is as great as others both being sprung from one and the same originall so as if this Shepheard be well borne why should I not think him as worthy of me as any other The truth is Madam said Leonda disgrace it as you will he is a Shepheard The truth is said Galathea he is a well accomplished man But Madam answered Leonida you who are so high a Nymph Lady after Amasis of all these goodly Countries can your courage descend so low as to Love a man of common ranke a Rustique a Shepheard a man not worth a straw Friend replyed Galathea remember that Enone became a Shepheardesse for Paris his sake and when she lost him She shed many a bitter teare Madam laid Leonida Paris was a Kings sonne and the error of another ought not to move you to the like If it be an error answered she the blame is in the gods who advise me unto it by the Oracle of their Druides but my freind Celadon is not so farre off in kindred from Paris are they not both come from the same originall Did you not heare what Silvia said of him and his Father You must know they are not shepheards out of any want but because they would enjoy that sweet and harmlesse kind of life But deare Madam added Leonida can you thus forget the affection and services of the generous Lindamour I am not willing said Galathea that oblivion should be the recompence of his services but I am unwilling withall that my affection unto him should be the utter ruine of all my happinesse Oh Madam said Leonida I beseech you remember how full of fidelity he hath ever been Oh my friend said Galathea I beseech you consider what it is to be eternally miserable Certainly said Leonida an extream affection a pure fidelitie the imployment of a whole age and continuall services ought not to be so long entertained but merited a better requitall then a change For God sake Madam consider what impostures all these Fortune tellers are they vent for truthes the idle imaginations of their fond dreames they are flat lyars since of a hundred predictions hardly one happens truly they are so foolishly ignorant since for all their businesse in others mens matters they know not their owne fortune will you bee perswaded by the fantasticall talke of this fellow to make that man miserable who hath bin so much yours Look but a little upon his Love consider what hazards he hath run for you how he fought with Polemas what despaire he was then in what torments you now prepare for him and how hee will certainly invent some way of death to himselfe when he knowes it Galathea did shake her head and thus answered Leonida I must not now thinke upon either Lindamor or Polemas as heretofore but upon my owne eternall either happinesse or misery the motives you use are very good for your selfe who will be concerned no further then to a little pittie but for my selfe they are very dangerous since the misery does not menace me for a day but for ever T is true were I in your place and you in mine perhaps I should give the same advice but certainly an eternall misery is very terrible As for the fabulous conjectures of those Divinres which you speak of I will for your sake beleeve that perhaps they will not so fall out and perhaps they will but I beseech you tell me do you think any prudent person will for the satisfaction of another conclude all his happinesse or all his misery upon a perhaps But if you Love me use no more of this discourse for if you do I shall thinke you aime at the satisfaction of Lindamure more then mine And as for him never feare but he will find out a better way of care then death reason and time will temper him how many desparato's have you seene whom a little time has not perfectly cured These two faire Nymphs thus discoursed when they saw Silvia returne and therefore they broke off this discourse but Galathea said thus unto Leonida consider that not only my contentment but all my felicitle is at the stake Leonida could not reply beeause Silvia was so neere as to heare their discourse She being come Galathea understood that Celadon was awake for listning at the dore she heard him sigh and groane T is very true that a little while after their departure from his chamber he did waken and the Sun shining very splendently upon his bed as he opened his eyes he was so dazled that being confused with so great a light he knew not where he was his last dayes paine had much astonished him but at that time he was without any pain so as remembring his fall into the River and the opinion which he had a little before of his being dead and now finding himselfe in such a glorious light he knew not what to thinke unlesss that Love had ravished him into heaven in recompence of his fidelitie and that which most induced him to this opinion was to see the chamber hung with such rich hangings and admirable pictures so lively that his yet weake eye could not distinguish them from substances On the one side he saw Saturne leaning upon her sithe with her dangling long
health Madam answered the Shepheard who did not well understand this language If I must desire mine owne health it shall be only to render you service in exchange of so many favours which you are pleased to conferre upon me But for my part I must thinke of no other course but returning to the woods and Pastures otherwise the solemne vow which our Fathers have made unto the Gods will accuse us to be unworthy children of such Fathers What vow is that sad the Nymph The History of it would be too long replyed Celadon but in short this Madam All those about the Rivers of Loire Turan Argent and all the rest of the Rivers have severall yeares with one accord assembled in that great Plaine which is neere Mount Verdum and considering the Inconveniences which ambition and desire of rule in that people called Romans hath brought upon all their Neighbours they do all by mutuall consent sweare to fly all ambition for ever and they and their children to live peaceably in the habit of shepheards And ever since it hath been observed so pleasing was this vow unto the Gods that whosoever broke this oath did never prosper And amongst us my Father is the most remarkable example So as now seeing the will of heaven is to have us live in rest we have a new ratified this vow with so many sacred oathes as he that breakes it shall be most detestable I do professe answered the Nymph I am very glad to heare this for I never knew before the reason why so many good and antient families have forsaken Townes and spend their dayes in woods and solitary places But Celadon if your condition will permit you I shall be very glad to heare you relate the fortune of your Father Alsippes and why he betooke himselfe to that kind of life which he had so long laid aside for I am most confident it is most worthy of knowledge Then the shepheard though not very well yet constrained himselfe to obey her and began thus The History of Alcippes Madam you command me to relate the most intricate story in the world and in which one may learne that whosoever contrives the hurt of another must prepare himselfe for a great part of it In obedience therefore to your commands I shall briefly tel you what I have gleaned from the ordinary discourse of him unto whom all the things hapned for to make us more sensible of our happinesse in living at rest my Father hath often related unto us his strange fortunes Be pleased to know then Madam that Alcippes being educated by his Father in the simplicitie of a shepherd had ever a Genius far different from his education and any thing that smelt of a Town pleased him much better then a Field So as when he was a little boy his delight was in assembling other boys together and setting them into order and do what the grave Signiors could he would still be teaching them how to arme themselves and shoot in bowes The Ancients of our village who observed his actions did Prophesie great troubles to ensue upon their country and that Alcippes was of too turbulent a spirit to be kept within the compasse of a shepherd When his age became more virile he fell in Love with the shepherdesse Amarillis who was then secretly corrted by another shepheard called Alces And Alcippes having so good a conceipt of himselfe that he thought any shepherdess would bid his affection welcome whensoever it was offered he resolved not to use much artifice in declaring himselfe so as meeting her at one of the Sacrifices unto Pan. as she was returning home to her village he said unto her I could never have believed my selfe so weake as not to resist the blowes of an enemy who hath wounded me and never thought upon it She answered him that he who wounds against his will ought not to be called an enemy But I do find it otherwise answered he and therefore I may very well give this name unto you who I replyed she I was never so either in thought or act for I ever set a great valew upon your merit This is one of the wounds you give me said he but I see you can carry Love in your eyes and in your mouth but will not harbour it in your heart The shepherdesse then finding her selfe surprised and that he did meane matter of Love she answered I do set such a value upon your vertue Alcippes as I ought to do but as for any Love whereof you speak beleeve me I have none for any either in my eyes or heart especially for such pittyfull spirits as can content themselves to live like Savages in woods It is not the election of love but my destinie which makes me yours replyed the shepherd and such a resemblance of humor there is betwixt us that I have borne a most deadly hatred unto a shepherds life which you scorne so much even from my very cradle I do protest that if changing my condition will promote me into your favour I wil immediatly quit my flock and sheephooke and live amongst men not amongst Salvages You may change your condition answered Amarillis but not me for I am resolved to be still so much my selfe as not to give my affection unto another If therefore you would have us live as formerly we have done leave off this discourse of affection and Love and talke of such things as we were wont else thinke it not strange that I banish you my presence since it is impossible that Love and the Civilitie of Amarillis should dwell together Alsippe not expecting such an answer was so confounded that it was a long while before he could answer but being come to himselfe he was perswaded that it was the bashfullnesse of her age and sexe not want of any good will to him made her give such an answer And therefore he answered whatsoever you are pleased to be or say I shall never be any thing but your devoted servant And if the command you have imposed upon me were not incompatible with my affection you may most confidently beleeve that nothing in the world can make me disobey But I beseech you excuse and suffer me to continue my designe which is onely a testimony of your merit for whether you will or no I am resolved to prosecute it The shepherdesse then turning her eye smilingly upon him I know not Alsippe said she unto him whether this be for some wager or out of willfullnesse that you speake thus It is both answered he for I have laid a wager with my desires to overcome you or to die and this resolution is changed into obstinate willfullnesse since nothing can divert me from that oath which I have taker I should have been very glad answered Amarillis if you had made choice of some other marke for your importunities Nay nay said the shepherd all this cannot make me alter my designe Then think not much replyed Amarillis if I
be as firme in my obstinacie as you are in your importunitie The shepherd would have replyed but he was interrupted by many shepherds comming towards them So as Amarillis for a conclusion said unto him in a low voice you will do me a great displeasure Alcippe if your resolution should be knowne I can be contented to know your follies but should be much displeased if any other should know them Thus ended my Fathers first discourse with Amarillis which did infinitly angment his desire of serving her As they went along the way they met Celion and Belinda who were observing two turtles billing and making Love unto each other not caring a straw who saw them which gave Alcippes an occasion to remember the last commands of Amarillis and to sing these verses and because his voice was very good every one did lend a silent eare A Song upon the Constraints of honour Loook yonder on the open Loves of those two billing turtle Doves See how this happie little paire in Love what libertines they are They kiss and care not who doth know it but to the envious world do show it The Lawes of honour so unjust like fettred slaves observe we must This bugbeare Honour which affrights fond Lovers in their free delights Will not allow them any blisse unlesse they steal their happinesse While these free Lovers of the Aire what eyes do see them doe not care But Love and kisse and take a pride in that which honour bids us hide Honour 's a Tyrant then and we are slaves whilst turtle doves are free Since this time Alcippes was so transported with Love that he knew no Limits And Amarillis on the contrary shewed her selfe all Ice unto him and one day when he was desired to sing he made this his subject thus put into verse Upon the Coldnesse of Amarillis Her heart is Ice her eyes all flame mine all contrary to the same I 'me Ice without within all fire my hearts inflam'd with hot desire Love I beseech thee change designe and thaw her heart or else freeze mine At this very time as I told you before Alces was a professed servant unto Amarillis and being a shepheard of very excellent qualities also held to be exceeding wise the Father of Amarillis inclined more unto him then unto Alcippes because of his turbulent spirit On the contrary the shepheardesse loved my Father better because their humours were more sutable which her Father knowing and being unwilling to use any violence or absolute authoritie over her he conceived that time and absence might worke an alteration in her and therefore resolved to send her awhile unto Artemis sister of Alces who dwelt alone by the River of Allier When Amarillis understood her Fathers mind she resolved to acquaint Alcippes with her good will unto him before she went and to that end writ these lines The Letter of Amarillis unto Alcippe Alcippe YOur resolutenesse hath surpassed mine and mine also far surmounted my selfe as to accquaint you that tomorrow I am gone And if you will meet me today where we parted yesterday I will there bid you adieu AMARILLIS It would be too tedious Madam to tell you all the particular passages betwixt them let it suffice to tell you in short that they met at the place appointed and there it was where my Father received the first assurance of the Love of Amarillis there she perswaded him to quit a shepherds life as unworthy of a noble spirit promising him to be most constant to her resolution of loving him After they were parted Alcippes engraved these verses upon a Tree in the wood Alcippes upon the Constancy of his Affection When Rocks remove and Rivers backwards run when Marble melts and Glowewormes dim the Sun And when Impossibilities are done then may my heart my Amarillis shun When it is knowne what is Eternitie when Gnats o're Eagles getts the victorie When Fire doth freeze and the vast Ocean's dry then may my Love to Amarillis die VVhen Swans and Snow are Metamorphos'd black when Starres do fall and the two Poles do crack When loving Turtles do their Mates for sake Then may my Love to Amarillis slake VVhen in the Orient Sun and Stars do set when mortals in a bagge the wind doe get VVhen Steele the attracting Loadstone will not meet then Amarillis may I thee forget VVhen Shippes do saile full ' gainst the blasting wind when Light is darknesse Angells are unkind VVhen Heavens dissolve and Time an end does find then Amarillis thou art out of mind When she was gone and when he began to resent the horrour of absence he went to the same place where he bad adieu unto his shepherdesse and sighed out these verses severall times In absence of Amarillis Fair Amarillis and the Sun do hold exact comparison And both alike dispenseth light by presence and by absence Night What glorious Summer is it here when she is present in our Sphere How like to winter lookes the day when she her Rayes does not display When shee 's not present I 'me undon as Earth in absence of the Sun With Owles and Bats and Birds of night I sit and sigh away delight And am society for none but such a sad companion Since absence was my dismal doome my heart alas was not at home My eyes two Fountaines are which vie with Lignon which should first be dry All faculties do droop and mourne till Amarillis do returne But when the day shall dawne that she within our Hemisphere shall be Then VVinter's gone and Summer's come I 'le bid my heart a welcom home I 'le wipe all teares from swelled eyes my Batts and Owles I will despise And with the joviall birds in spring to her an Antheme I will sing But he not being able to abide in that place where he was wont to see her he resolved whatsoever came on 't to be gone and as soone as he sought for an occasion he found it to his hearts desire A little before the Mother of Amasis died and Preparations were in hand to entertaine her in the great Citie of Marselles as their new Lady with abundance of Tryumph This solemnity did draw thither out of curlositie most of the Country and amongst the rest my Father obtained leave to be one from hence did spring much of his miserie He was in the prime of his age faire beyond any in the Country his hair flaxen which naturally curled in rings and which he wore very long in briefe Madam he was such a one as I beleeve Love did chuse out for a marke of revenge and thus it was There was a certain Lady which had seen him and loved him in such a secret disguise that we could never know her name When he came first to Marselles he came as a shepherd but in a very handsom mode and to the end he should not run into any extravagancyes as he did in his owne Hamlet his Father sent two shepherds with him as guardians the
there came one of these Visigots after a long wandring through many Countries unto Marselles where having made his accustomed challenge he vanquished many of Pimanders Knights whose heads he all cut off and as ensigns of his valour sent them unto a Lady in Spain whom he courted as his Mistriss Amongst he rest Amarillis lost an Uncle who like my Father not relishing a Shepherds life had betaken himselfe to armes As soon as Amarillis heard of this sad Accident she imparted the news by letter unto my Father not with any designe of his comming to her but only to make him a partner in her losse Love which ever prompts a noble soul unto a thousand generous designes would not permit my Father to know of Amarillis losse and sitt still but he resolved immediatly upon revenge Therefore with the Emperors leave he came disguised into Cleantes house who understanding his resolution did endeavour to disswade him but Loves arguments were of more validity then his One morning when Pimander was going to the Temple Alcippes armed Cap a pe presented himself before him and though his helmet was up yet his beard was so grown since his departure that he was not knowable As soon as Pimander understood his businesse he sent an Herald to acquaint the Visigot with it To be short my Father overcame him and presented his sword unto Pimander who was exceedingly glad that this cruell Visigot was vanquished Then not making himselfe known unto any except Amarillis who saw him in the house of Cleantes he returned unto Bizantium where he found his accustomed entertainment Mean while Cleantes desiring nothing more then to see him in Forrests at liberty did discover him unto Pimander who was extreamly desirous to know the name of that man who fought with the stranger Pimander at first was amazed but afterwards being moved by the vertue of this man he asked whether it was possible he should be still alive To whom Cleantes made answer relating all his long voyages and services of so many Kings Oh said Pimander this mans vertue merits reward and not banishment let him returne and assure him that his deserts shall find from me a full reward I freely pardon him all that ever he did against me Thus my Father after he had been seaven yeares in Greece returned into his Country and was much honoured both by Pimander and Amasis who conferred upon him one of the greatest offices about their persons Abundance of any thing cloys and faded desires have no force in them As soon as my Father had tasted the favours of Fortune in a full measure his tast was glutted and he despised them Some good Angell intending to draw him out of that Gulfe in which he had so often been so nigh a shipwrack did inspire him with such considerations as these Come Alcippe would he say unto himself I must take thee under examination what doest thou intend to do Wouldest thou enjoy happinesse before thou dyest If thou wouldest be confident it is not to be found any where but in Tranquillity if in tranquillity then it must be farr from businesse if farr from businesse then far from the ambition of a Court hast thou not had sufficient tryall of its inconstancy Consider well with thy selfe ambition is a desire to command over many and that many hath every one of them the same design as well as thee they propose unto themselves the very same wayes thou dost and ambition is so narrow a passage that only one can keep it so as thou must defend thy selfe against a thousand who will assault thee by a thousand stratagems or else thou must die if thou dost defend thy selfe what tranquillitie what rest canst thou expect Thou must stand day and night upon thy Guard both against friends and enemies if thou dost yeild there is no creature so miserable as a crest-falne Courtier out of favour Consider these things Alcippes thy Father and Ancestors were full as wise as thou art they well considered these things and would never trust themselves upon the mutability of Fortune Returne returne therefore to thy native soil cast off thy Purple and assume thy first habit turne thy speare into a spade and thy sword into a sheephook there thou shalt meet with that tranquillity which thou hast sought for so many years and couldst never find it and which can never be found any where else These Madam were the considerations which brought my Father unto his first Profession Wherein he enjoyed the height of happinesse for he was so much beloved and honored by all his neighbours that they held him for their Oracle yet this was not the end For he was no sooner at home but Love began to open his first wound and Amarillis did cost him more misery then all the rest of his misfortunes Then did he revive that Device which he bore in all his travells which was in French Penne de Gray meaning thereby Peine I'ay in English The misery I endure From this Love of his did grow an inveterate hatred For Alces Astreas Father was also infinitly in Love with Amarillis and Amaril is during my Fathers exile did by the command of her Parents permit it on the other side Alcippe though he had cast off his habit of Chivalrie yet he retained his courage and not being able to admit of any Rivall did often fall foule with Alces who also had courage enough And it was the thought of everyone that if the Parents of Amarillis had not consented to give her unto Alcippes one of them two had died for it But though this marriage stopped all quarrells yet there still remaines such roots of hatred as will never be quite eradicated so as still there is no familiarity between Alces and Alcippes Thus much fair Nymph said he unto Silvia perhaps you have heard in our Town when you were there for I am Son unto Alcippes and Amarillis and Astrea is Daughter unto Alces and Hippolyta Thus Celadon ended his discourse and doubtlesse not without much paine for speaking was troublesome to him and this was the reason he did so abreylate his relation But Galathea was unimaginably satisfied when she heard of what Parents this Shepherd was descended whom she so much Loved As long as day lasted these faire Nymphes so entertained Celadon that had not Astreas change infinitly displeased him he had found no great cause to be weary of them for they were very fair and also full of discretion Yet as the case was with him he could not chuse but desire to be alone and foreseeing that would not be till night which would force them away he wished for it every minute When he was most alone he thought himselfe best accompanied for night being come and the Nymphes retired to their chambers his own thoughts came to accompany him with such cruell Memorandums as made him uncapable of any other companions dismall despaire did look him in the face for if against the unjust
hath captivated She said this as twitting her with the infidelitie of Agis who once Loved her and either out of jealousie or some two monthes absence was quite changed also upbraiding her with Polemas who was stolne from her by another beauty which Leonida understood very well and thus replied I must confesse Sister that my cords are easily untyed and the easier because I would never take so much paines as to tye them faster Celadon hearkned unto their pretty quarrells with much delight and to the end they should not end too soon he said unto Silvia fair Nymph since it seemes you are the cause why this admirable Fountaine cannot be seen I beseech you oblige us so far as to tell us how it came to passe Celadon answered the Nymph and smiled you have businesse enough at home and need not meddle much in that of others but if your Love will allow of so much curiositie Leonida if you request her may perhaps tell you the end as she did undesired the beginning Sister answered Leonida since you permit me to tell the story I Love you so well as I will not let your victories be unknowne especially those which you so much desire should be knowne But because I will not tyre this shepherd I will be as brief as possible I can Not for that reason I beseech you said the shepherd but if you will because she may have time enough to do the like office for you Never doubt that replied Silvia but according as she useth me I shall know how to repay her Thus from their own mouthes Celadon was acquainted with all the particulars of their lives and to the end he might the better hear as they walked they placed him in the mindst and thus Leonida began The History of Silvia WHosoever saith that Love is sufficient to procure Love againe never had any experience either in the eyes or the courage of this Nymph for if they had they would have known that as water runs from the fountaine so the Love of such as Love her run away and never troubleth her If when you have heard the discourse I intend to make you do not acknowledge as much I will freely give you leave to taxe my judgement Amasis the mother of Galathea hath a Son called Clidaman owner of as many excellent qualities as any person of his age and ranke is capable of for he is exquisite at any thing which relates either to Arms or Ladyes About three years agoe to give some testimonie of his gentle disposition and by the permision of Amasis he gave a servant unto all the Nymphs and this not by election but lot for having put the names of all the Nymphs into one basin and the names of all the young Caveliers into another then in an open assembly the basin in which the Nymphs were was presented to the young Gallants and the basin in which the young Gallants were was presented unto the Nymphs Then by the sound of several trumpets the young Clidaman did draw his lot and it chanced to be Silvia afterwards the young Nymph did draw her lot and it chanced to be Clidaman Great were the applaudes which every one gave but the behaviour of Clidaman was most extolled who as soon as he had received his lot went and kneeling down before this Nymph did kiss her fair hand She out of modesty would not have suffered it without the command of Amasis who said it was the least homage she could receive After her all the rest took their chances to some it happned according to their desires and to others not Galatheas fortune fel upon a brave Gallant called Lindamor who then was newly returned from the armie mine fell upon one whose name was Agis the most perfidious and unconstant wethercock that ever was Some of these who took their fortunes did only in appearance like their chances others did with their hearts ratifie what fortune had done and those who were most pleased with their chances were such as before that had conceived some seeds of affection Amongst the rest young Ligdamon was one whose lot light upon Silera a Nymph truly very amiable but not to him who had already disposed of his heart And certainly it was happy for him that he was then absent for he would never have performed that faigned homage which Amasis would have commanded that perhaps would have brought him into disgrace For you must know that he was brought up amongst us and was so faire and handsome in all his actions as every one esteemed him especially Silvia they being both of an age At first their ordinary conversation begot a Love like unto that between Brothers and Sisters such a Love as their age was capable of but as Ligdamon grew in years so he did in affection so as at fourteen or fifteen years of age his wil began to change it self into desires and his desires by degrees became passions Yet he carried the matter so discreetly that Silvia her selfe had never knowne it if she had not forced him unto it Afterwards when he knew his disease and confidered what smal hopes there was of his cure then the mirth and pleasantnesse which was wont to be in his lookes and all his actions was turned into sadnesse and from sadnesse into such lumpish melancholy that every one took notice of the alteration Silvia was not the last of those who asked him the reason but she could draw nothing from him but heartlesse answers At last when she saw his dulnesse continued one day when she was complaining against the coldnesse of his affection and obliging him to conceale nothing from her she perceived that he could not so well constraine himselfe but that a sad sigh came out in lieu of an answer This moved her to beleeve that perhaps Love was the cause of his ill Did not poor Ligdamon carry the matter very discretly all the while in all his actions since she could never imagine her self to be the cause Perhaps the Nymphes humour not liking the businesse was partly the cause however his prudence was great that could conceal such ardent affection Now Silvia begins to urge him more then she did before and told him that if Love was the cause she would contribute all her assistance and do all the good offices he could desire The more he denied it the more desirous was she to know it at last not being able to hold any longer he confessed that it was Love but said that he had sworn never to tell with whom T is most high presumption said he to love her but being compelled to it by such an unresistable beauty I am the more excusable yet should I name her what excuse could I find for my rashnesse The same excuse that your friendship to me hath said Silvia Then Madam replied Ligdamor that and your command together shall plead my excuse do but look in that glasse and you will see what you desire to know Upon this
be known that a man Loves you but you are not afraid to murder a man Come come looke a little better on Ligdamor give him as much hope as may make him recover then afterwards use him as you please so you let him live Write two lines of a little comfort to him I had much adoe to obfaine this favour from her yet I still did threaten to tell all if she did not but after a long debate she writ thus unto him Silvia's Answer unto Ligdamor Ligdamor IF there be any thing in you which can please me it is your life most and your death least the acknowledgment of your fault hath given me full satisfaction and I desire no other revenge for your presumption then the paines you have endured Beware for the time to come Adien and Live And I writ these words at the bottom of her Letter to the end he might hope the more having so good a second Leonida's Postcript in Silvia's Answer LEonida did put the pen into the hand of this Nymph Love would have it so your justice did invite me to it her duty did exact it but her obstinacy made a strong resistance this is the first favour I ever obtained for your live to enjoy it and hope well in the interim This Letter came very opportunely for when he had hardly so much strength as to read it he found a command from Silvia to live and when he was resolved never to use any more remedies yet in obedience to this Nymph he ordered himselfe so as in a short time he mended But for all that this fair peece of cruelty was still as cold as ice towards him when he was recovered the most favorable answere he ever could obtaine from her was I Love you not neither do I hate you let this satisfie you that of all those who serve me you displease me the least When either he or I made any addresses to her she gave us such cruell language as is unimaginable by any but she and insupportable to any but Ligdamor But to abbreviate this discourse Ligdamor loved her and courted her ever since without any other appearance of hope but what I have told you till Clidaman by Lot be-became her servant And had he not known by me that Clidaman fared no better then he in her affection I know not what would have become of him But though this did a little comfort him yet the grandure of his rivall infused some fits of jealousie I remember when once I told him that he need not fear Clidaman he returned me this answer Fair Nymph said he I will ingeniously tell you from whence my jealousie proceeds and judge you whether or no I am in the right I have had such long experience of Silvia as I must needs know that fidelity of affection nor extremity of Love will never move her so as doubtlesse such motives will never move her yet as I have learned from the reverend Adamas your Unckle every one is subject unto some fatall stroke which they cannot avoide when they are once touched by it what can I imagine will subject this fair one except it be grandure and power Therefore I do fear it is the fortune and not the merits of Clidaman will win her his grandure and not his affection will carry her But certainly in this he was in the wrong for neither the Love of Ligdamor nor the grandure of Clidaman could ever move the least spark of goodwill in Silvia I beleeve Love reserves her for an example unto others intending to punish so much disdaine by some unaccustomed way At this time there chanced a very notable testimonie of her beauty or at least the power she had to make her selfe loved Upon that Festivall which every yeare was celebrated the sixth day of the Moon in July on which Amasis was wont to offer a solemne sacrifice as well by reason of the feast as because it was the birth day of Galathea in the midst of the sacrifice there came into the Temple a number of men in the morning amongst them was one so full of noble Majesty as it was easy to imagine that he was Master to the rest He was so sad and melancholy as it was evident somthing did much afflict his soul His habit was deep black trayling upon the ground which did eclipse the handsomenesse of his proportion his head was bare his hair fair and curling as bright as Sun beames which attracted the eyes of every one upon him He came up as farre as the lowest step of the Throne where Amasis did sit and after an humble reverence he retired again waiting untill the sacrifice was ended and whether to his good or bad fortune I know not he seated himselfe directly opposite unto Silvia He no sooner cast his eyes upon her but he knew her though he had never seen her before but for more suerty he asked one of his servants who knew us all who answered only with a deep sigh Afterwards as long as the ceromony lasted he never took his eyes off her At last the sacrifice being ended Amasis returned to her Palace where when audience was permitted him he spake thus MADAM Though the mourning you see in my habit be much blacker in my soul yet it cannot equall the cause but though my losse be extreame yet I do not thinke I am the only loser for you Madam from amongst your faithfull servants are lessed of one who perhaps was not the least affectionate nor the most unprofitable in your service This consideration gave me some hopes of obtaining a revenge of his death against the homicide but as soon as ever I entred into the Temple I lost all my hopes thinking that if the desire of revenge did die in me who am a Brother to the injured it would sooner die in you Madam who have lesse relation to him Yet because I see the armes of my Brothers murderer already prepared against me I shall as briefly as possible tell you the Fortune of him whom I mourn for Though Madam I never had the honour to be known unto you yet I am confident that at the name of my Brother who never lived but in your service you will list me in the catalogue of your most devoted servants His name was Aristander both of us Sonnes unto the great Clemir who in your service did so often visit Tiber Reine and Danube I being the younger by nine yeares as soon as he saw me capable of bearing armes he sent me into the Armie of the great Merovea the delight of men the most pleasing Prince that ever came in Gaule I cannot well tell you why he rather sent me to Merovea then to Thierry King of the Visigots or to the King of the Burgundians Yet I conceave his reason was because I should not serve a Prince so neer your Dominions whom Fortune might make your enemy My fate was this that Childerick his Son a warlike Prince and of great
that if it be not your pleasure to grant the request which he makes then he beseeched you not to read it to the end in his death as in his life he may not resent your cruelty then he presented unto her a Letter which Silvia had refused but for the command of Amasis I have hitherto said Guyamant fullfilled the last will of Aristander it remaines that I prosecute against the murderer but as heretofore I have been obedient to my Brothers commands so Love now commands me to sacrifice my own liberty upon the same Altar which yet reekes with my Brothers blood who when he lived told me that all eyes which ever looked upon you did owe their hearts unto you as a just tribute and that those men were unworthy to live which did not live in your service Silvia a little ashamed at this encounter stood mute a long while and gave no answer so that Amasis took the Letter and telling Guyamant that Silvia should returne him an answer she took her aside and breaking open the seale she read these words Aristanders Letters unto Silvia THough my affection could never render my service pleasing unto you nor my service my affection yet I hope this affection will make you pitty my death or else my death will assure you of my affections fidelitie And that as never any adored one of more perfection so never any loved and adored with more passion The last testimony of it that ere I shall render unto you shall be the gift of that which next your self was most dear unto me and that is my Brother for I am sure he is yours since I have enjoyned him to see you knowing very well by experience that it is impossible to see and not to love you But fair Murderer I beseech you let him not inherit my fortune but use him kindly He who writes this is your dying servant who having more Love to you in his heart then it is able to contain and live will rather die then diminish it Amasis calling Silvia to her asked her what kind of strange cruelties she had used towards Aristander which had brought him to this extremitie The Nymph with a blush answered that she knew not wherein she had done him any wrong I would have you said she entertain Guyamant in his room Then calling both before her she asked him whether he would follow his Brothers inclination He answered yes with all his heart Then said Amasis I shell entreat this Nymph to admit you to his place and to use you better then she did him Guyamant after a very humble reverence unto Amasis offered to kiss the hand of Silvia in signe of servitude but she so slighted the declaration of his affection that unlesse Amasis had commanded her she would never have looked upon him When every one began to retire Clidaman returned from hunting and was told of this new servant unto his Mistris Against which he made such loud complaints that Amasis and Guyamant did hear them and since he could not imagine how this should come about she told him the whole businesse When she had done Clidaman complained more then before that she should suffer a thing so much to his disadvantage and told her that she revoked the decree of Fate which his lot had given him and which none should ever ravish from him and live This language proceeded from a heart full of affection and was uttered with a bundance of vehemency for he did Love Silvia extreamly Guyamant who besides the edge which his new Love had put upon him had so good an opinion of himselfe as not to yeild unto any ' returned an answer addressing his speech unto Amasis Madam said he it seemes some would not have me to be a servant unto the fair Silvia but such are ignorant what Love is otherwise they would never think that your ordinances or the ordinances of all the gods together have power enough to divert the course of affection And therefore I do openly declare that if any shall offer to forbid me that which is already permitted me I shall disobey and rebell It is neither duty nor any other consideration can make me change Then turning towards Clidaman as for you Sir I know what respects I owe you but withall I know what power Love hath over me as the destinies did give Silvia unto you so her beauty did give me unto her Judge you whether of these gifts ought to be most pleasing unto her Clidaman would have replyed but Amasis interiupted him Sonne said she you have no reason to complaine unlesse our ordinances were altred you were commanded to serve Silvia but others were not forbidden to do the same Smells are most odoriferous when stirred and a Lover having Rivals has more testimonie's of his merit Thus Amasis ordained that both of them should serve her And thus is Silvia well stored of servants for Guyamant dressed up his affection in the best trim and Clidaman in envie of him did studie how to outvie him in courtship Ligdamon he served her with so much discretion and respect that least others should take notice of his affection he durst seldome come neer her and in my opinion his courtship was much more pleasing then any of the rest but once beleeve it he was almost past all his patience It hapned that Amasis had a bodkin in her hand which was made in the fashion of a sword and which Silvia was wont to wear in her hair and Clidaman being neer her she gave it unto him to carry unto his Mistris but he kept it all the day purposely to vex Guyamant never so much as dreaming upon Ligdamon but see how one may wound one for another the poyson which was prepared for Guyamant did so neerly reach the heart of Ligdamon that not being able to dissemble he retired to his lodging where after he had a while venomed himselfe by his own thoughts he took pen and writ these verses Upon the Sword of Silvia in the hands of Clidaman Love like a Traytor doth me treat and with a murdering sword Hath given me a sad defeat in her whom I ador'd But justly too I needs must say for being never able My doââ of services to pay which were innumerable He takes a sword and doth me strike and all my hopes doth smother And cunningly he useth me more like a Souldier then a Lover At the lower end of these verses he added these words I cannot chuse fair Leonida but resemble Silvia to the Sun which indifferently doth shine upon the most vile things as well as upon the most Noble He himself brought me this coppie I read it but though I studied yet for my life I could not understand it nordraw any thing from it unlesse that Silvia had given him a great blow with a sword but he left me and went away the most lost and undone man alive Thus you see what a cunning cutter Love is who with such trifling Armes can
of this Nymphs cruelties and Ligdamon's patiences I do relate the faster they come into my memorie When Clidaman as I told you before was to travell Amasis would have the greatest part of the young Gallantry in this Country to go along with him under the conduct of Lindamour amongst the rest Ligdamon being a most accomplished Caveliere he was not omitted But this cruel Mistrisse would not so much as daigne him an Adien but faigned her selfe sick Yet he would by some meants or other first let her know of it and thereup on writ these verses unto me Upon a Departure Since Love will have me live and die Within his scorching flames then why Should I thus fatally depart From her that solely has my heart I answered him The reason of it is fond Boy That thou maist find a fuller joy Dost thou not know the Phoenix came From Ashes when he dyed in flame He had thought himselfe very happy in this answer but this cruell one finding me writing this and being unwilling to do him any good or suffer another she snatcht away the paper by force out of my hand telling me that these flatteries wherewith I fed Ligdamon did make him so full of follie and that he had more reason to complain against me then her Then she writ thus unto him Silvia's answer The Phoenix from the Ashes came But first he died in the flame If Presence ineffectnall prove Absence will never conquer Love Ice will not thaw by cold when heat No conquest over it cold get You may imagine with how much contentment he departed it was a kind of happiness to him that he had been so long beforehand accustomed to such blows and that he remembred this Maxime that the disfavours of a Mistris must often passe for favours I well remember that upon this discourse he thought himselfe the happiest lover in the world imagining that the disfavours of Silvia were arguments that she held him in her memorie that she took him to be her servant and that since she did not treat all the rest of her servants in the like measure it was to be thought that this was the coyne in which she payed such as she esteemed hers and therefore he ought to cherish it since it had her stamp upon it and upon this subject he sent me these Lines A Sonnet My Soveraigne beautie does intend to try The height and depth of my fidelity By things impossible and farre above Performances of any humaine Love And well since she will ha'te so I 'me content For so she 'l see the bottomlesse extent Of my affection which is like a Well That with unfathomable waters swell The more she strives to pumpe and draw me dry The more shee 'l see my Loves eternitie The Fountainwhence I draw affection Is her fair selfe and her perfection Then try me fairest to eternity The more you 'l find I Love the more you try Leonida had continued her discourse had she not seen Galathea comming who after she had been by her selfe alone a long while and not being able any longer to be out of her shepherds sight she dressed her self to as much advantage as her glasse could advise her and so came without any other company but the little Merill she was very fair and worthy to be beloved of any whose heart was not forestalled by anothers affection At this very time Celadons stomack began to be very ill so as they were all constrained to retire and the shepheard went to bed which he kept a long time as being neither very sick nor very well Galathea who in good earnest was in love as long as Celadon's sicknesse lasted she scareely stirred from his bed and when she was constrained to go away either to rest her self or do any other businesse she left Leonida with him and charged her to take all occasions of letting the shepheard know her good-will towards him thinking by this means to infuse such hopes in him as his qualitie might perhaps forbid him And certainly Leonida did not fail her for though she wished with all her heart that Lindamor might thrive in his desires yet since the hopes of her advancement depended wholly upon Galathea her designe was wholly to please and comply with her But Love which often useth to make himselfe merry at the prudence of Lovers and is pleased to thwart their intentions did make Leonida by the conversation of this shepheard to stand more in need of one to speak for her then she to speak for another The shepheard quickly perceived it But his affection to Astrea for all her harshnesse would not permit him to suffer this growing affection with patience This was the reason that he resolved to take his leave of Galathea assoon as he began to be a little better But assoon as ever he mentioned any such offer How Celadon said she unto him has your entertainment by me been so bad that you would be gone before you be recovered And when he answered That it was because he was troublesome to her because of some businesse of her own also to assure his Parents and friends of his health and therefore he desired to return home unto his own Village Then she interrupted him saying No no Celadon never fear any troubling of me and as for your businesse and friends it is no matter me thinks your greatest businesse should be to satisfie your obligations unto me and it will be high ingratitude in you not to spend each minute of that life which you hold of me in my service besides you must not for the time to come cast your eyes upon so low a thing as your life past You must leave your Village and your Flocks to such as want those merits which you have and for the future look upon me who can and will recompence you to the height if your actions do not take away my good-will unto you Though the shepheard seemed as if he did not understand the meaning of this language yet he did and therefore he avoided talking with her in private as much as possibly he could and he did so much disgust this kinde of life that being one day almost out of all patience when Leonida heard him sigh she asked him the reason since he was in a place where nothing was more studied then his contentment Fair Nymph answered he amongst all the miserable wretches of Fortune I may professe my selfe the most coorsly treated for others may grieve and enjoy so much comfort as to complain but this is denyed me for my misery is shadowed with a Mask of happinesse and therefore in lieu of pittie I am rather blamed and taxed for a man of shallow judgment But if you and Galathea knew what bitter wormwood I do meet ãâ¦ã in this place happy truly unto all but me I am confident you would bestow some pitty âpon my life What is it you would have said she that will comfort you Nothing ãâã he unlesse you will get
and Amarillis the Father and Mother of Celadon and how their hatred accompanied them to their graves which have caused abundance of trouble amongst the shepheards of this Country insomuch as I beleeve few or none about the fatall River of Lignon are ignorant of it and yet Love to shew the greatnesse of his power did unite two of these enemy-families so firmly that nothing could dissolve the knots of their affection but only death For Celadon no sooner arrived at the age of fourteen or fifteen yeares and I at twelve or thirteen but at an assembly in the Temple of Venus which is upon the top of a high Mountain neer the Castle of Mount Brison this young shepheard saw me and as he since hath told me he had long before an extream desire of it by some reports he had heard of me but the jarres which were amongst our Parents was the impediment which hindred him and I must ingeniously confesse that I think his desire of it was no greater then mine For I know not why but when I heard speak of him my heart did beat unlesse it was a presage of those troubles which afterwards befell me by reason of him When he first saw me I cannot tell what causes of Love he found in me but so it is that since that time he resolved to Love and serve me and it seemes that at the first enterview we were both strucken with the darts of Love for as soon as ever they told me that he was the Son of Alcippes I perceived a kind of chang in me which was not ordinary then all his actions beg in to please me and seemed much more agreeable unto me then any other young shepheard whatsoever and because he durst not yet approach me also because speaking with me was forbidden him his looks and eys by their turning to fro did utter such language unto me as I knew he desired to say more And indeed at a Braul which was held at the foot of a Mountain under a plump of antient Elmes which cast a pleasant shaddow he carried it so cunningly that without any heed of me and seeming as if it were out of a merry carelessenesse he got me by the hand For my part I seemed as if I took no notice of it but carried my selfe to him as to all the rest but he in taking my hand did stoope with his head as if he would kisse his hand but I perceived his mouth upon mine this did cause some colour to come into my face but I feigning to take no notice did turne away my head as if I only minded the braule which we danced this caused him to stay a while silent not knowing I beleeve how he should begin to speak at last being unwilling to lose such an opportunitie as this which he had long longed for he came very neer me and whispering Corilas who took me out to dance in the eare yet so loud but seeming to whisper that I did plainly heare what he said Oh Corilas said he I wish with all my soul that the quarrells between this shepherdesses Father and Mine might be decided by her and me To which Corilas answered very loud Nay never wish that Celadon for perhaps it is the most dangerous wish that ever you made Let the hazard be what it will answered Celadon very lond I 'le not go from what I have said though I were to give my heart as a pledge And because I seemed to take no notice of their discourses he addressed himselfe unto me and thus said And you fair shepheardesse what opinion have you of this offer I do not know answered I what you speak of He told me replied Corilas that to draw a great good from a great evil he wishes that the inveterate hatred of your Fathers were changed into love amongst their Children How answered I seeming not to know him are you Alcippes Son Yes answered he and more then that I am your most devoted servant Me thinkes said I that it had been more proper for you to have applied your discourse unto some other who may be more agreeable to you then I I have heard say replied Celadon that the gods do use to punish the sinns of the Fathers upon their Children but this is not the use amongst men unlesse your beauty which is divine will assume the same priviledges with the gods and if you do then like them you must give pardon when it is asked how now shepheard said Corilas what Do you begin your combate with crying mercy In such a combate as this answered he to be vanquished is a kind of victory and for my part I am most willing to be so provided she will be pleased to take the spoile I think they had continued their discourse longer had the Brawle longer lasted but at last we parted and every one returned to his place Not long after the shepheards used severall exercises as wrastling running leaping and throwing the barre and a Garland to be given unto him who got the better in the severall activities Celadon as being too young was admitted only unto that of running and did win the Garland composed of divers flowers which was put upon his head by all the assembly with high commendations that being so young as he was he should overcome so many other nimble shepheards He not valuing himself did take it from his head and put it upon mine saying This fair one is in confirmation of what I said before I was so surprised at this that I could not return any answer had it not been for Artemis your Mother Phillis I had given it unto him again not but that coming from his hand it was very acceptable unto me but it was because I feared Alces and Hippolyta would be angry with me But Artemis who desired rather to extinguish then enflame these old grudges did command me to receive it and thank him Which accordingly I did but in such a hollow manner as made every one think I did it only upon my Aunts command All that day was thus spent and the next day also in both which the young shepheard lost no opportunities of manifesting his affection And it was the custome upon the third day in the honour of Venus to represent the judgement which Paris gave of the three goddesses Celadon resolved to put himself amongst the Maides in the habit of a shepherdesse You know that upon the third day after the banquett he Grand Druide has a custome to throw a Golden Apple amongst the Maides upon which are written the names of the three shepheardesses which seem unto him to be the fairest of all the company with this Motto Let this be given to the fairest of the three Afterwards the person that by lot was to represent Paris does enter into the Temple of Venus with the three shepheardesses where the dores being shut judgement is given upon the beauty of these three seeing them all naked except for a linnen
who conferred the prise upon you hath shewed himself a very right Judge of beauty and yet though your cause did merit his sentence you are in some sort obliged unto him I think shepheard answered I in a low voice that he is more obliged to me then I to him for he gave me an apple only which in some degree I deserve and is my due but I gave him his life which for his impudent rashnesse he deserved to lose This is no more then was before resolved answered Celadon for he does not valew his life further then to prostrate it at your feet Were it not more in regard of my self then him replied I I should have punished his impudence but Celadon no more let us leave this discourse and know that the reason why I did not cause you to be punished according to your merits is only because I would not bring my selfe upon the stage and not for want of any will to see you chastised If that be the only reason said he I beseech you tell me what death you will have me die And you shall see that I have as much courage to obey you as I have Love to offend you This discourse would be very long and tedious if I should include every particular But so it was he gave me so many testimonies of his affection that I could not possibly doubt it but still seeming to be all anger I said thus unto him Shepheard consider the emnity that is betwixt our Fathers believe that mine to thee shal be the same if thou dost still thus trouble me with thy follies which for this time thy youth and my own honour moves me to pardon I mentioned a pardon because I would infuse a little courage unto him for the very truth is his beautie and courage and affection did please me but to the end he should not reply I turned from him and went to Stella who was neer me He all astonished at this answer went out of the company so sadly dejected as in a few dayes after he was grown not knowable and kept himself so private that he frequented no places but the most retired and wild partes of our woods Of which I being advertised by some of my companoins who did in a close manner tell me that I was the only cause I began to resent his condition and resolved to find out some way or other to give him a little comfort and because as I told you he shunned all manner of company I was constrained to drive my flock towards that place which he most frequented and after two or three times being there in vaine at last after a long search for him me thought I heard his voice amongst some trees and I was not mistaken For going neerer I found him lying all along upon the ground his eyes sweld with teares and hands held up to heaven which seemed to be immoveable This object moved me to so much pitty that I was resolved to give him a cordiall for his paine And therefore after a whiles consideration and not willing he should think I sought for him I retired a little way from him where seeming to take no notice I began to sing so loud that my voice reached both his eares and his heart As soon as ever he heard me I saw him leap up and turning his eyes towards the place where I was he stood like a statue still in a ravishing admiration Which I observing to give him so much boldnesse as to approch neerer I seemed as if I slept yet held mine eyes halfe open to see what he would do And indeed he did as I did imagine he would for drawing neerer me with a soft and gentle tread he kneeled down as neer me as he could and after a long stay in this posture I still seeming to be fast asleep he stooped down and kissed me Then seeing that he had taken courage enough I opened mine eyes as if he had wakened me And rising up as if in a raging anger thus said unto him Uncivill shepherd how durst you be so bold as thus to interrupt my sleep He with a trembling heart and kneeling still said thus unto me It is your selfe fair shepherdesse that did constrain me and if I have sinned then bright Starre you must dim your Luster and punish your own perfections which are the cause This is alwayes your excuse for your presumption said I unto him but shepheard beleeve it if you continue in this course of offending me I will not endure it If you call it an offence to love and adore you answered he proceed to sentence immediatly and doome me to what death you please for I do make a most solemne vow that I will so offend you as long as my life is in me It is neither the rigour of your cruelties nor the emnity of our Parents no nor all the impediments in the whole universe conspired together shall ever divert me from this resolution But Fair Diana I must abbreviate these pleasing discourses as being not sutable unto my present disasters And will only tell you that being overcome I said thus unto him shepheard what good can you hope for when those who have the dispose of you does disapprove of your beginning How Said he dispose of me Has Alcippe more power over my wil then I have my self You may dispence with your own wil answered I but never with that obedience which is due unto a Father without a most horrid crime The obedience which I owe unto him said he must be confined unto possibilities and it is no fault to faile where power wants to performe but admit I must obey in al things since of two evills the greater is to be avoided I will rather faile in my duty to him who is but a man then in my duty to your fair selfe who is all Divine Our discourse lasted so long and so prevalent he was in it that I was forced to admit him my servant and both of us being too young to shadow our designes with any artifice Alcippe did soone find us out and being loath this amitie should grow up to any higher pitch he resolved to send him upon so long a voyage with good old Cleantes as that absence might wear out this young impression of Love But the seperation did as little good as all the rest of his artifices which he used for Celadon though yet a Boy did so fixe his resolution to overcome all difficulties that though any other would have taken them for torments yet he looked upon them only as proofes of himselfe and called them the touchstones of his fidelitie And because he knew that his voyage would last long he intreated me leave to bid him adieu This leave I granted but Fair Diana had you heard how passionatly he begged me to Love him and the vowes he made never to change doubtlesse you would have concluded nothing more impossible then that this affection should ever decay At
and our Lignon is much obliged unto them since by their meanes it has the honour to have these two fair ones upon their bankes And if I have any judgement they only do merit the amitie of Astrea and therefore I do advise you to love them for by that short acquaintance I have had with them I do foresee you will receive much satisfaction in their familiarity I wish that one of them would daigne to look upon my Brother Lycidas with as much affection as I do And then fair Diana having but little acquaintance with you I answered him that my desire was he should rather become a servant unto Phillis and it hapned as I did wish for ordinarie discourse between them first begot a familiaritie and at last a Love in good earnest between them One day finding fit opportunitie for it he resolved to declare his affection to her and to couch the most Love in the fewest words he was able Fair one said he to her I hope you know your selfe so well as to beleeve that those who love you must needs love you infinitly It must be my actions only which must make my affection known unto you and at the first begge no more then an admittance into your favour Celadon and I were so neer as we could hear this declaration and also the answer which Phillis returned and which indeed was more sharp then I expected from her For she and I did long before know by the eyes and actions of Lycidas that he loved her and she did not dislike of it that at this time she answered him with so much sharpnesse that Lycidas was almost desperate and Celadon who loved his Brother very much being extreamly angry he should receive such a baffle he was halfe angry with me at which I could not chuse but laugh and at last tell him Never be so angry Celadon at this harsh answer which Lycidas hath received Phillis could do no lesse shepheards of these times do too much glorie in the easinesse of their Mistrisses but to the end you may see that I do very well know the humour of Phillis I will undertake to bring Lycidas into favour with her provided he will but practise a little patience and continue on his addresses I must confesse when first I spake unto her she was so shie as I knew not what to think but still hoped and resolved to win her with time But Lycidas he was out of all patience and resolved to give her over and Love her no longer upon which occasion he writ these verses Upon a resolution not to Love WHen I beheld those glorious eyes Triumphant in their Victories I did submit unto their darts As to the only Queen of hearts So lovely did they look and kinde As if no rigour I should finde But when it plainly does appear That cruelty it selfe is there 'T is time to shrink and fall away Rather than Tyranny obey For ever which will only prove Pusillanimitie not Love 'T is true her lustre has such arts As conquer can all human hearts But when resistance cannot doe Then flie and 't is discretion too 'T is better far to make retreat Then stay and have a sure defeat Lycidas had lost all hopes of ever obtaining and therefore as Phillis and I were walking according to our custom by the River side we found him writing with his Sheep-hook these ensuing verses upon a bed of Sand which when he was gone a little further for he saw us not we read The verses were these Upon no hopes of ever being Loved CAn it be thought the wanton winde will stay And whistle ever where it does to day Will any think these Letters in loose sand Can last and to eternity will stand If so then there is hopes my Love may finde Some sure foundation in her fleeting minde Away away with these fond hopes and think That sand and winde and she and all will shrink Afterwards we heard him break out into these dolefull expressions lifting up his eyes to Heaven O ye gods said he if you are angry with me because I do with more devotion adore the work of your hands then I do you I hope you will pardon that error which you your selves have caused Had it been contrary to your will that Phillis should be adored surely you would have made her with fewer perfections or else infused lesse knowledge of them into me Would it not be prophanation to offer lesse affection unto a Divinitie of such superlative excellencies as she is adorned with I believe this Shepheard continued in such discourses but I could not hear them for Phillis forcing me by the arme I went with her And when we were gone a little further I said unto her Stony-hearted Phillis why have you no more pitty upon this Shepheard that is ready to die for you Sister answered she the Shepheards of this Country are so full of dissimulation that their hearts do commonly denie what their tongues do promise And if you do well observe this Shepheard here you will finde him all Artifice and as for those expressions which now we have heard I do believe that when he espied us coming he set himself in the way purposely that we might hear his dissembling complaints otherwise had they not been better spoken unto us then to the aire and senslesse woods Sister said I you have forbidden him any addresses to you Even this answered she is a great argument of his little love to me Is any command of power enough to stop the current of a violent affection Believe it Sister Love that can bend is never strong Do you think I should have loved him lesse if he had disobeyed me But Sister said I unto her he has obeyed you and will you be angry with him for that It 's true Sister replied she he has obeyed me but let me tell you that I hold this obedience for very great disobedience and leaving off his adresses to me argues his passion very indifferent If I had not interrupted her I believe she would have continued her discourse much longer but because I much desired that Lycidas might finde better entertainment for Celadon's sake I told her that this kinde of discourse did become her towards Lycidas but not towards me Towards Lycidas it was allowable by way of tryall and I commended it but towards me it argued too much distrust to conceal any secret of her soul As for my part I would open all my heart unto her and therefore told her that since it was impossible but she must love some or other she could not make a better choice then of Lycidas since she might already gather most certain symptomes of his affection To which she answered that she never did nor would dissemble or conceal any of her thoughts from me but should be extreamly sorry I should have any such opinion of her And since I would have her entertain Lycidas she would obey me And hereupon Celadon
know full well that these titles are most suitable unto yourselfe and your own actions Do you think that because you have got the start and complain first you can therefore palliate your faults and wipe away the wrongs which you have done me me I say not sickle as your selfe is who have more reason to be ashamed of your changing then I have to be vexed at it But that which most vexeth me is that you should charge me with your own faults and counterfeit a good occasion for your own infidelity But 't is no matter he that will deceive his own Brother may well deceive her that is no relation to him And then turning towards me And you Astrea said she unto me you that have stollen away the heart of a Servant from me do you think to keep it any longer then the first new object that shall present it selfe ' No no though I know your perfections have power enough to keep any heart but such a one as is compos'd of feathers and has wings to flie away yet this light Butterflie will give you the slip Phillis replied I you talk of some perfections that should be in me but certainly they are much inferiour unto yours since they are not able to hold Celadon from you Celadon had now a little recollected himself and kneeling down he said unto me It is not my Astrea to undervalue the merits of Phillis that I make these most solemn vowes before all the most sacred gods but to convince you that she did never kindle the least spark of love in my soul and the wrong you have done me in changing is not greater then your taxing my pure affection with inconstancy The story would be too tedious sage Diana should I trouble you with every particular of our discourse But so it was that before we parted we were all so well setled in our senses again that all of us did acknowledge that we had no reason to suspect one another and gave thanks unto heaven for this happy meeting all together without which I believe the roots of jealousie had never been eradicated As for my part I think it was impossible ever to have brought me to reason had I not heard Celadon declare himselfe so Ingenuously before the face of Phillis After this we were more discret but I no sooner got rid of this distemper then I entred into another no lesse daingerous for we could not so well disguise the businesse but Alcippes had a jealousie that the sparkes of his Sons affection were not quit extinguished and had such a curious eye over all his actions as observing how Celadon went every day to the place where we were wont to lay our Letters he himselfe went thither and observing how the grasse was troden by our often going thither a kind of tract did lead him to the very place where I had put a Letter for Celadon the night before it contained these words Astreas Letter unto Celadon YEsterday we all went into the Temple where every one assembled to offer Sacrifice unto Pan I would have said to have kept a holy day had you been there But such is my devotion to you that even divine things themselves without you are displeasing to me I am now so full of common businesse as were it not for the promise I have made to write every day unto you you should hardly have heard from me Receive therefore this only as a testimony that I will for ever keep all my promises to you When Alcippes had read this Letter he put it into the place again and hiding himselfe in hopes that it would be fetched away his Son came presently after and having no paper about him he writ thus upon the back of my Letter Celadon's Letter unto Astrea YOu oblige and disoblige both at once but pardon me if this expression offend you I am not more obliged unto the gods then unto you because you say you Love me but by saying you would not have written unlesse because you had promised this doth infinitly disoblige me for so I become a debtor only to your promise and not to your affection Consider I beseech you that I am not yours because I have promised but because I am purely yours without any other circumstance nor do I wish for any Letters from you which come only upon the conditions which are betwixt us but only such as proceed from your good affection I value them not as matters of Covenant and Marchandise but as testimonies of a pure affection Alcippes yet knew not who the shepherdesse was unto whom this Letter was intended for it named none but see what a spirit of contradiction will do he waited at the least six or seaven houres longer in expectation of her who was to fetch this Letter assuring himselfe that it would be before night It was very late before I came thither as soon as he espied me for feare I should not take the Letter he lay him down as if he were a sleep and I to avoid all suspition turned back and took another way He well satisfied with his paines as soon as I was gone did take the Letter and went home from whence he intended to send his son immediatly because he would not upon any tearms there should be any alliance betwixt us by reason of the deadly emnity that had been betwixt Alces and him but on the contrary intended to marry him unto Malthea the Daughter of Forelle To whose house he sent him During this seperation Olimpia daughter unto the Shepheard Lupeander dwelling upon the confines of Forrest towards the River of Furan came with her Mother unto our Town This good old woman did Love Amarillis very well being brought up together from the cradle and therefore came to visit her This young shepheardesse was not so fair as affected and entertained so good a conceit of her self as she thought that all the shepheards which ever looked upon her were in Love with her And therefore as soon as she came into the house of Alcippe she began to busie her selfe with Lycidas having an opinion that the cruelties which he had used towards her proceeded from Love which as soone as Lycidas perceived he came to ask our advice how he should behave himself And we counselled him to cherish this conceit in Olimpia to the end he might the better umbrage his affection unto Phillis And a little after as ill luck was it happned that Artemis had some businesse close by the River Allier and do what we could she carried Phillis with her During this separation which was sixe or seaven Monthes the Mother of Olimpia returned and left her Daughter with Amarillis in hopes that Lycidas would Marry her because for ought she could see he loved her very well And being an advantageous March for her the Mother advised her to trim her selfe up in as amarous a dresse as possibly she could and I assure you Fair Diana she did trick up her selfe
interrupted him in this manner Me thinks Lysis said she if Corilas were in such a minde as this paper speaks him he was very ill advised to employ you since your mediation is more like to procure him hatred then love and you rather a messenger of war then peace Stella it 's true answered he he was very ill advised in his choice but if he had shewed as much judgment in the rest of his actions as in this he would not have stood in need of your help he has had tryall of your dissimulations he knowes what force your charmes have and what friend could he have made choice of without the danger of a competitor unlesse my selfe whom you hate even unto death But let us leave this discourse and pray tell me plainly and in good earnest whether or no you will shew him any favour for the truth is I dare not return to him unlesse I carry a good answer with me unto which I do conjure you both by his affection that now is and mine that was Unto this the Shepheard added so many arguments and importunate prayers as the Shepheardesse believed him to be in good earnest and her own naturall disposition did easily encline her to it for it is the custome of such as easily love to believe as easily that they are loved but Lysis at this time could obtain no further from her then that the affection of his cousin for want of his should not be disagreeable unto her but time should advise her farther And since this Lysis has severall waies so solicited her that he got from her as much assurance as he desired and because he was well acquainted with her levitie he obtained from her a promise in writing under her hand and knew so well how to turn her that he obtained of her whatsoever he desired Thus he returned to me and gave me an account of all he had done except of this promise for knowing Stella's humour he alwaies doubted she would deceive him and that if he shewed me this paper it would imbarque me the more and be harder to get me off All this was unknown unto Amintha from whom Stella concealed it more then from any other After I had received so much assurance as I could desire no more and after I had given her all humble and hearty thanks I began by her permission to take orders for the marriage and spake it very freely and openly though Lysis alwaies foretold me that in the end I should be deceived But the very shadow of that good which we desire does so flatter us that we lend but a deaf ear unto any that shall tell us the contrary Whilst this Marriage was preparing and publickly divulged Semires who as I told you discontinued his addresses by reason of Lysis and me he being netled with the discourse which went of him resolved at what rate soever to infinuate himselfe into her favour with a designe to quit her afterwards and make it appear that this separation proceeded from himselfe There needed no great artifice to bring this about for her sickle humour according to its fleeting temper did at the very first assault quit me for Semires as a little before she had quitted Semires for me But for all that the promise which she had given under her hand and which she could not deny did exceedingly stick in her stomack At last the Marriage day being come and I had assembled together all my Parents my Friends and Neighbours I held my selfe so sure as I thought upon nothing but bidding them welcome But she whose thoughts were quite another away when we came to the very point of Marriage she started back and formed excuses far worse then her first at which I was so extreamly offended that I went away without ever bidding her adieu and ever since I held her in such disdain that she could never infinuate her selfe again into my esteem Judge reverend Father whether or no I had good reason to hearken to her and whether those who speak in my disadvantage be not wrongly informed Truly answered Adamas she is a woman that is unworthy of her name and I do wonder since she has deluded so many that any man will ever trust her Nay Sir said Corilas I have not yet told you all for after every one was fallen from her except Lysis all her artifice was how to get the promise which he had out of his hands because she saw that it was a great thorn in her side Therefore with an impudent and dissembling brow she thus spoke unto him Is it possible Lysis said she you should have lost all that affection which you have so often vowed unto me Is there no spark of love yet left in you In me said Lysis no I 'le sooner die Upon this word he went out of the house but she followed him so close as she got hold of his hand and holding it between hers she brought him back in such an amorous posture as any would have judged them to be very loving and though he knew her deluding humour well enough yet could he not chuse but be pleased with her flatteries although he gave no faith unto them and therefore thus said unto her Oh heavens Stella why do you so abuse those favours which the heavens have so prodigally bestowed upon you Did but that fair body contain a soul that had any neer resemblance unto it who could possibly resist it She who knew well enough what charms were in her carresses did use all the artifice of her eyes mouth tongue and all the invention she had to make him melt insomuch as he was almost out of himselfe And at last she came out with these words Lovely Shepheard said she if you be the same Lysis who was once so sweetly affectionate unto me I beseech you hearken unto these words and believe them and if you do finde any cause of complaint I will make it evidently appear that this which you esteem as a second fault was committed only as a remedy for the first which I will repair with all possible and desirable satisfaction These smooth words wrought upon Lysis and did overcome him yet not to shew himselfe so simply weak he answered thus Stella I am so incredulous of all you say as I believe not a syllable and if I knew any thing which would displease you I would do it If you would displease me said the Shepheardesse then come into the house With that intention I will answered he Thus when they were entred into the house and stood neer the fire she began thus Now Shepheard will I unmask the Riddle of all my dissimulations with you and make it most apparent that poor Stella whom you have accounted such a leight huswife is much more constant then you imagine her and will let you plainly see that in satisfaction of those wrongs you have done me that you have reason to confesse them and be sorry But said she upon a
suddain what have you done with that promise which once you had of me in favour of Corilas for if you have given it unto him it will extreamly crosse our designes Who could possibly imagine but that after all this she had loved Lysis So this Shepheard having an opinion that she would do that for him which she had refused me he restored back unto her that promise which he had so closely kept from me Assoon as ever she saw it she took it and tore it all in pieces then threw it into the fire Afterwards turning towards Lysis laughing she thus said unto him Honest Shepheard you may now be gon when you please I know none that will hinder you and it is very late Oh heavens cryed out Lysis seeing himselfe over-reached is it possible I should be so simple as to be gulled three times by one and the same person What reason have you to say said Stella that you are gulled Oh! most perfidious woman said he did you not tell me that you would make it appear that your second fault was committed only to give satisfaction for the first and to shew me that you were constant you would discover your very heart and intentions to me Lysis said she you are still harping upon the wrong string pray tell me wherein have I wronged you if I did never love you am I not constant in not loving you still And do I not discover my heart and intentions to you since now I have gotten that from you which I desired I give you free libertie to go home in peace Could you think that all my words which I have given you for this houre together tended to any other purpose but to get this paper from you and now I have it I will bid you good-night good Lysis You may imagine what crestfallen Shepheard Lysis was when he heard all this he was so damped that he sneaked away and never gave one word But since this Semires revenged all our quarrells and he who as I told you was the cause of my misery or indeed my happinesse for so may my separation from her be called he I say resenting still the first affront which she put upon him and considering her extream levity as Lysis and I were served so served he her and broke off the Marriage with her in the midst of the Congregation which gave many an occasion to say That often she who hurts another receives her punishment by the same armes Thus Corilas concluded and Adamas in a smiling manner said thus unto him The best counsell I can give you is to fly this deluder to beware of her fallacies and to please your Parents who do so much desire to see you married When any good match is offered take it and never insist upon the circumstances of Love for nothing will sooner wash off these istains which this giddy woman has cast upon your honour nor sooner purchase esteem amongst your neighbours then to marry your self not by Love but by Reason for that is the greatest action of your life Upon which depends all the happinesse or misery of man Upon these words they parted towards their severall homes for it began to be late Againe Leonida not finding Adamas at home she went away again as soon as ever she had dined and because she was resolved to stay all that night with those fair shepheardesses which she had seen the day before out of a desire she had to be more intimately acquainted with them she went to the place where she found them before and there she espied one a farre off but could not discerne who it was yet drawing neere she perceived it to be the same she looked for She might very well esteem this as a happy meeting for all these shepheardesses as chance was were come out of the Town purposely to pass away all the rest of the day together to the end they might more freeely impart their secrets unto each other out of the reach of all eares So as Leonida could never have come in a more opportune time to satisfie her curositie then she did and stealing neer them she heard Astrea say unto Diana Now wise shepheardesse I hope you will performe your promise unto Phillis and me in acquainting us with your story since we have imparted ours unto you Fair Astrea answered Diana my promise doubtles obligeth me unto it but much more the amity that is betwixt us knowing well that amongst friends it is a crime impardonable to conceale any corner of their soules from each other the only reason why it is so long before I have given you that satisfaction beleeve it dear shepheardesse was because time and leasure would not permit it And though I am certain that I cannot relate the follies of my youth unto you without many blushes yet that dificulty will easily be over come when I consider that it is to please you Why should you blush at all answered Phillis since it is no crime to Love If it be not one replied Diana yet it is such a shadow of one and so resemblant as one is oft taken for the other Such as are so deceived answered Phillis sure have very ill eyes T is very true indeed said Diana but this is our misery that there is more bad eyes then good ones we shall be very angry said Astrea if you think ours such The Love I beare unto you both answered Diana may assure you that I cannot make a wrong judgement of you and I dare trust you with my very soul But should I impart my self so freely unto some I should find my actions meet with a wrong construction And therefore since it is your pleasure and command that I should relate my life unto you I do conjure you both by all the sacred Lawes of friendship never to speak of it again Then both of them protesting to bury all in eternall silence she thus began her discourse The Historie of Diana IT will be very strange Fair and discreet shepheardesses if this discourse which you desire should be related do not prove tedious unto you since the relation I shall make has not so many words it it as it hath cost me teares but since it is your pleasure I should revive the sad remembrance of them I beseech you give me leave to make it as short as I can I do assure my selfe that though you have never seene either Celion or Belinda yet you have heard that they were my Father and Mother and perhaps have heard of the crosses which they met withall for the Love of one another which shall spare me the relating of them though they were presages of my ensuing miseries And be pleased to know that after the heats of Love were a little cool'd by marriage to the end they might not be idle they began to look narrowly into the businesse of their estate and had envolved themselves into so many suites of Law as they were forced to compose some
last when he thought his hair was reasonably well grown he returned to Gerestan and told him that he had already broken the Ice of the businesse but Daphnis did think it expedient to see his Neece before she spoke in the businesse and likewise that Amindor also saw her and therefore she thought the best course was to let Callirea carry her thither and she to shew her selfe as complaisant as she could unto Amindor and the rest Gerestan who desired nothing more then to be rid of his Neece did hearken unto this proposition with a very willing eare and did peremptorily command his wife to make her self ready for the voyage who to make him more eager upon it did seem to be a little unwilling and shewed some signes of sorrow to part from her Husband saying that such businesse as this might be wel enough effected without her and that it would take up a great deale of time which might better be spent in her houshould affaires But Gerestan who would have her will to yeeld to his in all things was so extreamly hot upon the matter that three dayes after she departed with her Brother and her Neece The first dayes Jorney was to Filanders where they changed habits which so well fitted each other that even those in their company could not perceive the change And I must confesse I was deceived as wel as they and found no manner of difference betwixt them But well might I be deceived when Philidas was who looked upon him with the eyes of Love which they say are more observant then all the eyes of Linx for as soon as they came she left the faigned Callirea I mean Filander and carried the true into a chamber to rest her self All the way as they came Filander instructed his Sister in all passages and how she should find the persons with whom she was to transact now though Callirea was resolved to undergo all difficulties for her Brothers contentment yet thinking Philidas to be a man it went much against the hair of her mind to talk with her As for us when Daphnis and I were retired we treated Filander with all the civilities that are used amongst women I mean such as either amitie or privacie requires which that shepheard did receive with much Jollitie and as he hath since sworn to me he was almost transported besides himselfe Had I not been a meer child in matter of observation certainly his actions and behaviour would have discovered him unto me but the truth was shee did counterfeit the matter so exceeding well that Daphnis was deceived as well as I while we retired into our chambers after supper Callirea and Philidas did walk into the chamber I know not what their discourse was but ours was nothing but assurance of amitie and cordiall expressions of affection which Filander used in such a passionate way as it was easie to judge that though she would have said nothing yet he could not be blamed for want of any good wil but for the want of boldnesse For my part I was extreamly free in my expressions also for beleeving him to be a woman I thought my selfe to be obliged unto it by his expressions of good will to me by his merits and by the kindred of her and Daphnis From this time Amindor who before bore me much good will began to change his affection to love the faigned Callirea And Filander fearing his demeans would not please this young man did strive as much as possibly he could to comply with him and the fleeting humour of Amindor would not let him receive such favours without being in Love Which I do not at all think strange For the beauty the judgement and deportment of Filander was such as that he came nothing short in the perfections of a woman so as he might well delude any man Observe what a wanton Love is and how he sports and spends his time He made Philidas who was a woman to love a woman and Amindor who was a man to love a man and that so extream passionatly that this very particular was subject enough to discourse of Filander he knew how to play the woman most admirably and Callirea did so well counterfeit her Brother and neither of them wanted prudence to carry out the matter That cold demeanure which Callirea shewed unto me removed all causes of jealousie out of Philidas and besides Philidas did love her and I must confesse that seeing her so fall off from Philidas from Daphnis and from me we had an opinion that Filanders mind was changed at which I much rejoyced by reason of the amity I bore unto his Sister Seaven or eight dayes were thus spent and none did think them one jot too long for every one of us had a particular designe But Callirea who feared lest her Husband should be angry at this long stay did solicit her Brother to make known his design unto me telling him that it was not likely I should refuse his service since he bad been so familiar with me But for all that he had not yet the confidence to declare himselfe Yet to delude Gerestan he desired her to go unto her Husband in that dresse wherein she was assuring her that he could not finde any difference between them and to let him understand that by the advice of Daphnis she had left Callirea with Philidas to treat with Amindor about the marriage of his Niece This proposition at the first did astonish his Sister for her Husband was a piece of angry flesh and the least disgust would move him unto passion At the last her desires to content her Brother in every thing did move her to yield unto the motion And to render this excuse more colourable they did speak unto Daphnis concerning Amindors marriage which for divers considerations she rejected but knowing that this businesse was their pretence under which they got leave to come this journey and without which they never had obtained it Daphnis who was well pleased with their company did communicate the matter unto me and we all agreed that the best way was to seem as if the project were feasible And in order to that Daphnis did write unto Gerestan advising him to let his Wife to stay a little longer amongst us the better to effect the businesse and that she hoped all things would be brought to a happy issue Upon this Embassie and thus clad Callirea went unto her Husband who being beguiled by her dresse as well as the rest he took her for her Brother and liked the cause of his wifes stay so well that he willingly consented unto the motion upon those termes Judge fair Shepheardesses whether I might not well be deceived since her own Husband was and could not distinguish them Now Filanders affection grew to that height that he could no longer conceal it do what he could and therefore he told me that though he was a woman yet he could not chuse but be extreamly in
into your hand so as you must either become my friend or else I must die Know therefore Daphnis that here you see before you Filander in the habit of his Sister and that love in me and compassion in her hath caused us thus to disguise our selves Afterward he related unto her his extream affection his compliance with Amindor and Philidas the invention of Callirea her resolution to go unto her Husband in a mans habit and in short all the passages with all possible demonstrations of love So as though Daphnis did wonder at the bold attempt of him and his Sister yet she saw the grandure of his affection which might well lead him unto such follies Yet had she been of their counsell at the first she would not have advised unto this enterprize but seeing things did hit so happily she resolved to aid him all that possibly she could and to spare no pains nor care to effect his desires After which promises with many assurances of amitie she gave him the best advice she could which was to insinuate himselfe by degrees into my affection For said she the very word of Love does more offend a woman than the thing it selfe doth and it is alwaies very welcome unto any so the name of it be hid Therefore I think them to be well advised who do make themselves loved of their Mistresses before ever they speak of Love for Love is a thing displeasing only in the name though in it selfe it be agreeable unto all And therefore that you may finde a more favourable reception from Diana you must not so much as name Love no nor to let her see it but must carry the matter so discreetly that she may first love you as soon as ever she shall know that you love her for she being once embarqued she cannot afterwards retire to the Port although she should see a storm in coming Me thinks hitherto you have carried it with very much prudence but you must still continue it The seeming to be in love with her although you seem a woman is to very good purpose for certainly any Love that is once suffered will in the end produce a reciprocall return We see that we do many things with much facility which would seem full of difficulty if the custome of doing them did not render them easie unto us Meats unaccustomed are often at the first disgusted which afterwards are pleasant by use An ear that is accustomed to Musick will tune the voice higher or lower unto a right harmonious cadency when one that is not used to the Art will make a jar So a Shepheardesse who often heares the well tun'd talk of a Lover will in time make her soul ply unto the harmoy of it and in time will incline insensibly to the resentments of Love my meaning is she will love the company of that person and by little and little begin to pitty his pain and at last before she be aware will love him Judge Filander by these instructions whether or no I love you and have pitty of you since I do discover unto you the secrets of our School and receive this advice as an earnest of what I desire to do for you With such discourse as this the day beginning to draw on they returned into the house laughing at the love of Amindor who took him for a woman And falling asleep again to recompense the last nights losse they did lie in bed long in the morning which gave the young Amindor an opportunity of surprising them and had not I entred at the same time into the chamber I believe the jugling had been discovered for he going to the supposed Callirea's bed-side his love began to be a little too licentious and his rash indiscreet hands had like to have gon too far but Daphnis desired me to take him off to part them which I did with no small contentment to Filander who by way of thanks kissed my hand so affectionately as if I had any sense in me I might have known him to be really in love Afterwards bidding them good morrow I carryed Amindor away with me that they might have time to dresse themselves And because they intended to put their proposed designe into execution presently after dinner when we all according to our custome assembled under a shade of trees to enjoy the cool air although Amindor was there yet Daphnis conceived the opportunity to be good for to hear such discourse in his presence â would remove all manner of suspition and he would not think it strange if afterwards he should by chance hear Filander speak like a man unto me Daphnis then beckening unto Filander to the end he should second her in the designe she thus said unto him What is it Callirea that makes you so mute in Diana's company The reason is answered he because I am thinking what wishes I should make that might make me more servicable unto my Mistresse and amongst the rest I had one which I think I ought not to desire What is it said Amindor It is said Filander that I were a man that I might render more acceptable service unto the fair Diana Why said Daphnis are you in love with her Yes answered Filander and infinitely more then I am with all the world besides I should sooner wish said Amindor that you were a woman again both for my sake and for Philidas It is not the consideration of either of them said Filander shall make me change my wish Why said Daphnis do you think that Diana would love you better I should hope so said Filander and the Lawes of Nature would oblige her to it unlesse as in her beauty she transcends her power so she should in her humour disdain her ordinances You may think what you please of me said I unto him but if you will believe me there is not a man upon earth that I do love more then you Also replyed he there is none that breathes which is more devoted to your service then I But fair Diana that happinesse you mention will last no longer then untill you shall discover the poornesse of my merit or untill some better object present it selfe Do you think me replied I of such a wavering temper It is not Fairest that I think you guilty of the sin of inconstancy replied he but it is because I am conscious that the fault is in my selfe The fault is more on my side answered I And upon this word I did embrace him and kisse him with as much sincere affection as if he had been my sister Hereupon Daphnis smiled in her selfe to see me so deceived But Amindor jealous as I think of us both did interrupt us I think said he that all this is in good earnest and that Callirea does not dissemble I dissemble said he Heaven punish me more then ever perjury was punished if ever any love was more passionate or sincere than mine to Diana If you were a man said Daphnis
all this patience what will all these delayes do me good Shall I die before I discover my maladie to the Chirurgeon Then staying a while he began again with a most profound sigh Why should I fear that she will banish me her presence and doom me to death for if I should die it is a comfort to shorten such a miserable life and my death would satisfie for the fault I have committed if death do not fall upon me from the incensed brow of the fair Diana will not the violence of my affection cause it What then should I do and what shall I say unto her Alas I would not offend her if I could possibly help it And why should I keep silence since my death will give her most certain knowledge What then shall I offend her Ah! alas injury and amitie are never together Rather die there 's an end But if I should die do I not deprive her of the most faithfull servant ever that she had Is it possible I should offend in adoring her I will then tell her and at the same time open my breast that the sword may more easily punish my crime if she condemn me to it Thus then will I say unto her Here fairest Shepheardesse here is Filander in the habit of Callirea who in lieu of begging your favour lookes for nothing but your sury Revenge your selfe then Oh fairest and punish him and be confident that if his death will please and satisfie you it is most welcome to him Faire Shepheardesse when I heard Filander thus expresse himselfe my amazement was so great that I knew not what in the world to do I was so vexed and trembled so extreamly that I would have gon away and never have looked upon this impostor any more But Daphnis to compleat her treason held me by force and as I told you being neer this Shepheard he turned his head at the noise which we made and thinking it was only Daphnis he came unto us But when he spied me and thought I heard him Oh heavens said he what torment is little enough for me Oh Daphnis who could ever have expected this treason from you At this he ran away as if he had been distracted though Daphnis called him two or three times by the name of Callirea but fearing to be heard by others and more fearing that Filander might do some hurt unto himselfe she left me alone and followed him saying unto me in an angry manner at parting Well Diana if Filande do perish you will resent it as long as you live Judge fair Shepheardesses if I was not astonished at this accident But so it was that I could not hit the way out of the Garden a long time at last groping on every side and recollecting my spirits I found my Chamber where lying me down upon my Bed and trembling I could not close an eye that night As for Daphnis she searched for Filander so long that at last she found him more dead than alive and after she had chid him for not closing with so good an opportunity and yet assuring him that I was not so much troubled at the accident as he was he took a little heart to himselfe but yet not so much as to embolden him the next morning to come out of his Chamber I on the other side was extreamly offended against them both and was forced to keep my bed lest I should make my displeasure seen unto those about us and particularly unto the Niece of Gerestan but as good fortune was she had no more wit then there was need of so as we did easily hide from her this scurvy businesse which was almost impossible to do especially for Filander who had her company almost continually Daphnis she was not a little busied in the matter and perplexed for at the first I would not look upon her and her excuses but at the last she did so overcome me that I promised to forget the injury she had done me yet vowing that Filander should never look me in the face again and I do think he had gone away without a sight of me had he not feared the danger which Callirea would have incurred for she had a Husband that was extreamly perverse and peevish and it was this very consideration that restrained him But for all the arguments that Daphnis could use I never stirred out of my bed feigning my self sick for five or six daies And had I not heard that Philidas and Amindor with Callirea were returned I had no seen him of a long time but my fears that Philidas would take notice of it and lest thâs secret should come to be divulged all over the Country I did resolve to see him upon condition that he should never make the least shew of what was past though I had not so much power over my selfe as not to shew my displeasure âhe promised me that he would observe my commands and kept his promise for he durst not so much as turn an eye towards me and if he did at any time by chance give a glance upon me it was in such a submissive manner as did assure me his love was extream Presently after as fortune was Philidas Amindor and the disguised Filander came into my Chamber where the windowes being close we could the better hide the disorders in our faces Filander had acquainted his Sister with all passages and that was the reason that the stay of Philidas was not so long as he intended for she telling him that her Sister was sick they returned But this discourse would be very tedious if I should not omit many of our triviall quarrells But so it was that Callirea being acquainted with all passages sometimes turning them into rallârie and sometimes into seriousnesse she so brought it about by the assistance of Daphnis that I consented unto Filanders stay untill his Sisters hair was grown unto its length again knowing that it would ruine both her and my self if I should hasten her returne And so it fell out as Daphnis did well enough foresee that during the time Callirea's hair was growing the discreet carriage of Filander and the knowledge of his great affection began so to flatter me as I did of my selfe excuse his disguise so as before he went he obtained what he so much desired which was that I would forgive and forget his Imposturisme and promised him that as long as he kept himselfe within the compasse of his duty I would accept of his good will and cherish his merit as it deserved His contentment upon this did much confirm my opinion of his affection for it was so great as he could not dissemble it Whilst we were upon these termes Philidas whose love did still increase now resolved to discover himselfe unto the disguised Filander and in order to this one day when they were walking together under a shade of Trees in the Garden she spoke thus unto him Well Filander said she cannot all my affection to you
as they could not chuse but send forth signes of their too much joy Cleon's discretion was such that she conferred no more favours upon Tircis in the eye of the world than ordinary but being jealous of her honour she desired him to counterfeit a love unto me to the end all eyes might be upon me and off her and me sooner than any other it being long observed that I loved him He who was all obedience unto whatsoever Cleon commanded did accordingly apply himself unto me Oh heavens when I think upon the sweetest expressions he used unto me I cannot chuse though they were all false but cherish them and wish since I can be no otherwise happy that I were so deceived again And certainly Tircis had no hard task to perswade me that he loved me For I did not think my selfe so disagreeable but that a long continued practice together with my endeavours to please him might work upon him at which the vain-glorious Cleon did oft make her selfe sport with Tircis but had Love been just and turned the love of Tircis to me into earnest her mockery might have lightt upon her selfe This life of dissimulation was so tedious to him that he was not able to endure it any longer and had not Love blinded the eyes of all Lovers certainly I should have perceived it as well as most did who saw us together but I would not lend any believing ear unto them no more than unto my most mortall enemy And because Cleon and I were very familiar this subtle Shepheardesse was afraid lest time should discover my error unto me which to prevent she invented this stratagem Her designe was as I told you before to conceal that affection which Tircis bore unto her under his cloak of seeming to love me and it was effected accordingly for every one talked aloud of the love of Tircis unto me But Cleon as I told you before fearing this stratagem would be discovered did invent another full as subtle as the other She advised Tircis to make me believe that the world talked very broad of our amitie and put wrong constructions upon it and therefore it was necessary to stop all scandalous tongues by prudence and in order to that he would counterfeit a love unto Cleon and tell her said she that you make choice of me rather than any other because of your conveniency in being neer me and speaking to me I who was all sinceritie and no subtletie did think this counsel to be very good so as from thence forwards with my permission when we were all three together he talked with Cleon as he was wont without any difficultie And certainly it was good sport to them and would have been to any other that had known the dissimulation For when I saw him so officious about Cleon I thought he had all that while but mocked her and had much adoe to forbear laughing On the other side Cleon observing my actions and knowing how I was deluded she could hardly contain her thoughts of mirth But see how good natur'd I was I did extreamly pitty her for the griefe she would resent when she came to know the truth But alas afterwards I found that the pitty belonged unto my selfe and who as well as I might not as well have been deceived for Love assoon as ever he takes entire possession of a soul does presently expell all diffidence of the party loved And this dissembling Shepheard did personate his part so well that had I been in Cleons room perhaps I should have doubted whether he acted a fiction or a truth Sometimes when he was betwixt us both and had given Cleon some notable demonstration of affection presently he would turn to me and ask me in my ear whether he did not act his part well but his grand craft rested not in such a trifle I beseech you hear what an Arts-Master he was in his Art he talked with Cleon in private more often then with me he would kisse her hand be down upon his knees two houres together before her and never hid any passage from me for the reasons aforesaid But in publick he never stirred from me and courted me with so much dissimulation that most had the same opinion of our Loves which he did upon designe desiring that I only should see his courtship unto Cleon because he knew I did not believe it but would not by any means that any others should be witnesses And when I told him that we could not remove that opinion which the people had of our amitie and that none would believe he loved Cleon then would he answer me Why how should they ever believe a thing which is not no nor well enough dissembled But said he whatsoever we do we must deceive Cleon let others think what they will for if she be but handsomely deluded our designe is almost compleated Hereupon he desired me that I would speak unto her in his behalfe and become as it were his confident She said he who has that opinion already will the more gladly receive the messages that you shall bring and so we shall live in more assurance and freer from all suspition Oh! what a miserable fortune do we often follow For my part I thought that if Cleon did believe I had loved this Shepheard I should destroy that beliefe by desiring her to love him and by speaking for him as his confident But Cleon knowing the discourse between the Shepheard and me and living in a kinde of constraint she thought that by this means she might most conveniently receive all her Messages and Letters from him and therefore she bade the proposition which I made unto her very welcome and after this treated me as one she loved And thus I was made use of only as a Letter Carryer between them Oh Love what a misery didst thou put me upon But I am not the first who has done the like offices for another in thinking to do it for themselves At that time the Franks the Romans the Goths and the Burgundians being all up in Armes we were constrained to live in Townes and there being a huge concourse of people from all parts also wanting their Country-accommodations a pestilent disease did so raign in the Town as most of the people died of it so it chanced that Cleons Mother was infected and though the disease was so contagious that hardly either Parent or kindred would stay with the party infected yet such was the naturall affection of Cleon to her Mother that she would never part from her but would still stay notwithstanding all the perswasion of friends who told her that she offended the gods in running into a wilfull danger unto whom she still returned this answer If you love me never use any more of this discourse for do I not owe my life unto her who gave me mine and will the gods be offended with me for helping her who taught me to serve them In this pious and filiall resolution
me tell you Hylas that all those reasons which you have instanced for a proof that the loving party ought to be loved again though they be fals yet shall be allowed as good But how can you conclude from them that Tircis ought to betray the amitie of Cleon by beginning a new love of Laonice These are impossibilities and contradictions Impossible because none is obliged unto more then they can do How would you have this Shepheard love when he has no will You laugh Hylas when you heare me say he has none Faith I do so said Hylas I pray what has he done with it He that loves answered Phillis doth give his soul it self all its faculties unto the party loved and so by con equenee his wil is not in his power But this Cleon replyed Hylas being dead has nothing and therefore Tircis ought to to take his own again Ah Hylas Hylas answered Phillis you talke like an ignorant in Love for such gifts as are disposed on by Loves authoritie are for ever irrevocable Pray then said Hylas what is become of this will since the death of Cleon The lesse followes the greater replied Phillis if pleasure be the object of the will if that cease to be a pleasure where 's the will And so it hath followed Cleon if Cleon be not then there is no will for he had never had it but for her But if Cleon be in some certain place as our Druids hold that she is then this will is in her hands so contented in the place where she is that if she her selfe would chase it away she cannot returne it to Tircis as knowing well it would be in vain but it goes into the grave and rests with her beloved Ashes this being so why do you tax the faithful Tircis with ingratitude if it be in his power to love any other Also you do not only require things impossible but also things in themselves contraries for if every one ought to love the party that loves why should he not then love Cleon who never failed him in amitie And as for the recompences which you demand for the Services and Letters which Laonice carried pray let her remember the contentment she received by them and how merry she made herselfe as long as this fallacie lasted who otherwise would have droned out a dull and melancholy life So as if she balance the payment which the service I assure my selfe she will think her selfe very well payed You say Hylas that Tircis deceived her but I say it was no deceipt but a just punishment of love who returned her own blows upon her selfe for her intention was not to serve him but to delude Cleon. Thus Silvander have I briefly answered the false reasons of this Sheapheard and there remaines no more but to make Laonice confesse that she injured Tircis in her unjust pursuing of him which I shall easily do if she will be but pleased to answer me Fair Shepheardesse pray tell me do you love Tircis Shepheardesse answered she all that knowes me knowes I do If he were forced to be absent replyed Phillis and another in the mean time should court you would you not change affection No answered she for I would still hope he would returne If you heard that he would never return said Phillis would you then cease to love him No certainly answered she Then Fair Laonice answered Phillis think it not strange that Tircis who knowes that his Cleon is in heaven that she sees all his actions and rejoyceth in his fidelity should not change the affection he bore unto her nor let this distance of place seperate their loves since all the hindrances of life could never do it Do not beleeve what Hylas said that none ever returnes over the River Acheron many that have been beloved of the gods have both gone and come and who knowes but Cleon who was adorned with so many excellencies of soul may find the same favour from Love Oh Laonice were but your eyes permitted to look upon Divinitie you would see that Cleon to defend her own cause is in this place and whispers these words into my eares which I utter in her defence Then would you confesse that Hylas was in the wrong when he said that Tircis was mad to love her cold ashes Me thinks I see her in the midst of us and in lieu of a fragile body subject unto humane accidents she is cloathed with glorious imortality and chiding Hylas for the blasphemies he had breathed against her What wouldst thou answer Hylas if thy happy Cleon should say thus unto thee Wilt thou offer O thou inconstant wretch to stain my Tircis with thy own insidelity If he did heretofore love me dost thou think it was my Body If thou shouldst answer Yes I would then reply that then he ought to be condemned to love the ashes which I have left in my Coffin as long as they will last For a Lover never ought to retreat from a Love once begun If thou dost confesse that it was my Soul he loved which was my principall part then Oh thou fond and unconstant sinner why should he now change his will since she is now more perfectly glorious than ever she was Otherwise such is the misery of the living I should be jealous I should be vexed and I should be seen by many eyes as I am by his But now I am delivered from such mortall imperfections and am no more capable of any infirmities And wouldst thou Hylas with thy sacrilegious perswasions divert him from me in whom I only lived upon earth and by a most barbarous cruelty endeavour to give me a second death Oh! most horrid to hear These words wise Silvander do make such a Turring sound in my ears as I do believe they will make your heart resent them as well as mine And therefore to let this divinity argue the cause in your soul I will be silent only let me hint thus much unto you that Love is so just as you your selfe ought to stand in awe of his punishing hand if Laonice's pitty rather then Cleon's reasons should move you At this word Phillis made a low congee intimating thereby that she had no more to say in the behalfe of Tircis Laonice offered to answer further but Silvander would not suffer her saying that now she was to hear the sentence which the gods would pronounce by his mouth Then after he had weighed the reasons on both sides he pronounced this Doom The Judgment of Silvander THe principall point in the cause debated before us is to know whether Love can die by the death of the party loved Unto which I say that the Love which is perishable is not right Love for it ought to follow the subject which gave it life and therefore those who love only the Body ought to enclose their love of that body in the same Coffin where it is but such as love the Soul ought with their love to flie
will tell you what it is to love It is to dye in ones self that he may live in another Never to love any thing but what is pleasing and agreeable unto the party loved The will must be absolutely transformed into a Mistris And can you think that one who loves thus will ever be troubled with the presence of her whom he loves The knowledge she hath of being loved is a thing so infinitely pleasing as all things else in comparison of that have no relish And if you do but know what it is to love you will never think that he who loves can do any thing to displease All his actions are marked with the sweet character of love and cannot be displeasing If he chance to commit any fault the fault it self pleaseth considering with what intention it was committed The very desire of being amiable has such vigour in a right Lover as though he cannot chuse but be rough to all the world in general yet will he be sure to smooth and spruce up himself towards her he loves And from hence is the reason that many who are not at all rellished by most in general are yet loved and esteemed by some one in particular Do you see Hylas that hitherto you have been ignorant in the Laws of Love and have only abused the Name of it and deceived those whom you thought you had loved How said Hylas Have I not loved all this while What then have I done unto Carles Amuranthe Laonice and a hundred more You must know said Silvander that in all sorts of Arts there are both good and bad proficients in them And so in Love for some do love well as I do and some ill as you So as I may be termed the Master and you the Changling of Love At this every one smiled except Lycidas who hearing all this discourse grew higher in his jealous apprehensions which Phillis did not observe thinking it rather an effect of his affection to her since in reason he could never doubt her One that is ignorant and knows not that Jealousie in Love is a sucker which draws unto it self that nutriment which should go into the branches and good fruit does not know that the greater it is the more doth it argue the kindness of the place and vigour of the plant Paris who admired the neat wit of Silvander did not know how to judge of him but thought that were he more conversant amongst civilized people he would be unparaleld since living amongst Shepheards he was such as he found him And therefore he resolved to contract friendship with him to the end he might more freely enjoy his company and to make them proceed in their disputation he addressed himself unto Hylas and said unto him It seems Hylas your cause is naught since you are so mute and has not a word more to say in the defence of it No wonder said Diana for I beleeve he is pricked in conscience Hylas knowing that he argued all this while against the truth only to put a handsom gloss upon his fault he would not reply a word but looked very attentively upon Phillis who was got near unto Lycidas and talked with him in a low voice and because Astrea would not have him hear what she said she did often interrupt him and so often as she forced him to say that if Phillis were as troublesom as she was he should not love her Truly Shepheard said she purposely to keep him from hearing If you should be as uncivil to her as you are to us she will make no great accompt of you And because Phillis never heeding this talk continued on her discourse Diana said unto her what Phillis is this all the duty you will pay unto me Will you let me go and entertain a Shepheard in discourse To which Phillis upon a sudden answered No no I beseech you Mistris but pardon my error for I thought that the jolly discourse of Hylas would have kept you from taking any notice of me who in the mean time was talking of a business which this Shepheard desired some satisfaction in And indeed she spoke but truth for she was much troubled at the faint and cold behaviour of Lycidas Well well Phillis answered Diana in the language of a real Mistris you alwaies think to cover your faults with excuses but pray take notice that these frequent negligences are so many testimonies of your small affection and that when time and place serves I shall remember how you use me Hylas had the hand of Phillis in his and not knowing how things were betwixt Silvander and her he wondered to hear Diana say so and therefore seeing her ready to begin an excuse he interrupted her saying What does my fairest Mistris say unto this imperious Shepheardess who treats you in such coorse language Will you yeeld unto her in any thing Commit no such sin I beseech you for though she be indeed fair yet you have beauty enough to make your party good enough with her if not excell her Oh Hylas said Phillis did you but know against whom you use this language you would rather bee dumb all your daies than displease this fair Shepheardess who did you love her were able with the least glimpse of her eye to make you the most wretched thing that ever loved Make me so said the Shepheard No no she may doe what she will with her eyes open or shut them and never hurt me my misery or happiness depends not upon her flames neither in her eyes face nor any part else but I doe love you and more than that inspite of her will love you If you do love me said Phillis and I have any power of you then surely she hath much more I may be moved by your affection and services not to treat you ill But this fair Shepheardess having no services or love from you will have no pitty upon you What have I to doe with her pitty said Hylas am I at her mercy Yes certainly said Phillis you are at her mercy for my will is her will and I can doe nothing but what she is pleased to command She is the Mistris whom I do love serve and adore So as she and she onely is all my affection all my service and all my devotion See therefore Hylas how you have offended her and what mercy and pardon you stand in need of Then Hylas throwing himself at Diana's feet after a little time of consideration thus said unto her Fair Mistris ormine if he that loves could have eyes to see any thing but the thing loved certainly I had seen that it is the duty of every one to honour and reverence your merits But since my eyes were shut against all but my fair Phillis I shall think you too full of cruelty if you doe not pardon a crime which I confess and beg a mercy for Phillis who had a mind to be rid of this man that she might talk unto Lycidas
too much believed that but it is to assure you that I will never love you any more I am sure you will wonder at this declaration since you alwaies loved me more then ever I desired I must be plain and tell you that it is your bad fortune which cannot keep within the compasse of our amitie and my good which will not let me stay any longer where it is not worth the staying And to the end you may not complain of me I bid you adieu and give you free liberty to make the best of your fortune you can for of me there is no hopes When she received this Letter she chanced to be in very good company and as fortune was Stilliana her selfe was there amongst them and did so much disapprove of this action as none in all the company more which Carlis perceiving I beseech you all said she unto the company oblige me so far as to help me with an Answer for me For my part said Stelliana I will be the Secretary Then taking Pen Inke and Paper she writ as altogether indited in the name of Carlis The Answer of Carlis unto Hylas HYLAS Too great a conceipt of your selfe is it which perswades you that I do love you and the knowledge I have of your humour together with my own will which never relished you is it which ever kept me from loving you so as all the affection I ever had have or shall have to you is only in your own conceit And therefore if you do think that either my bad fortune or your good did consist in any Love I had unto you you were most grosly mistaken I do swear unto you Hylas by all those merits which you think you have and have not that I never cared a straw for you And this advantage I shall get by all this that for the future I shall be freed from being troubled with you And because I will not be quite ungratefull for the pleasure you have done me in this I shall wish the heavens will continue you in this resolution to my contentment as before they put you upon me to my trouble In the mean time live contentedly which if you doe as well as I shall being delivered from such a trouble believe it Hylas you are happy and so farewell This Letter I must confesse did a little nettle me for my Conscience told me I had wronged this Shepheardesse but my new affection unto Stilliana would not let me acknowledge it but did prompt me to lay the fault upon her for said I to my selfe Since she is neither so fair nor pleasing as Stilliana why should I any longer love her Am I to be blamed for her imperfections For my part I cannot mend her all I can do is to condole with her her poverty but yet that shall not hinder me from desiring and adoring the riches of another Upon these motives I endeavoured to drive Carlis from my heart and thinking that now I had nothing to do but to court Stilliana whom I thought already mine I desired Hermantes to carry a Letter from me to her and also to shew her a Copy of that I writ unto Carlis to the end she might not question my love to her Hermantes being truly my reall friend in any thing which related not unto Carlis did without any difficulty take it upon him and chusing a convenient time when she was alone in her lodging presented my Letters unto her and smilingly said thus Fair Stilliana if the fire do burn him that shall approach too neer it if the Sun do dazzle that eye which dares look upon its lustre and if the Sword do wound him that thrusts it to his heart you must not wonder if the miserable Hylas comming too neer you be scorched if in beholding you he be dazled and if in receiving the fatall dart of your fair eyes he resent the mortall wound in his heart He would have gone on had not she in a furious impatiency interrupted him No more no more good Hermantes said she you trouble your selfe in vain Hylas has neither merit enough nor you eloquence sufficient to perswade me unto any minde of changing my contentment for his nor do I wish my selfe so much ill nor Hylas so much good as to believe your words 'T is well Hermantes that I am acquainted with the humour of Hylas at the cost of another and not mine own it is too much that Carlis hath been so basely deluded by him and let him not make you instrumentall in the ruine of another As you do love Hylas so I do love Stilliana and if you will advise him as a friend counsell him as I do never to love Stilliana nor Stilliana to love Hylas and if he will not believe you assure him that all his labour will be lost And as for this Letter which you bring me from him I care not if I do take it for I am so well armed against him that I do not fear his charmes Upon this she opened the Letter and read it aloud It was only an assurance of my affection that I had quitted Carlis for her sake and an earnest imploring her to love me When she had read it she smiled and turning towards Hermantes asked him whether he would have her return an Answer and he answering that he did passionately desire it she said she would and did in these Termes Stilliana's Answer unto Hylas SEe Hylas what a simple man you are in thinking I should Love you because you have left Carlis whereas there is nothing could more invite me to hate then that You say you do love me Truly if any other more just then your self had said it perhaps I should have beleeved him because I do in some sort deserve it but I do assure you and beleeve it that I neither do nor will Love you for it would argue in me a most simple judgement to love any such contemptible humour as yours If you think this Language a little too ruffe and harsh consider Hylas that I am forced to it to the end you may never expect the least quittance of any love from me Carlis has told me the mind of Hylas and Hylas may now tell her mine if he please If this answer please you thank the importunity of Hermantes for it And if it do not blame your selfe that deserves no better Hermantes had not seen this Letter when he gave it unto me and though he imagined that it would prove some cold and faint deniall Yet he did not think she would have been so sharp but he did not wonder at it so much as my selfe for I was almost stark mad tearing the Letter in peeces and throwing it upon the ground then recollecting my selfe a little I pulled my hat over my browes looked upon the ground crossed my armes over my breast and walked in the chamber without speaking a word unto Hermantes He stood all the while like a stock and still fixed his eyes
sharpness of those Arrows which are shot from his Bow You may remember the time when Amasis permitted Clidaman to bestow servants upon us all Upon that occasion Love like swarms did rise both in Court and Country amongst the rest Lindamor's lot did fal upon Galathea His merits also were very high yet she did look as shily upon him as the ceremony of that Festivall would permit her But he who perhaps had before that some such intention though he durst not let it break out beyond the limits of his discretion was very glad of this occasion under which he might veyl his real passions as under a fiction As Polemas did stomack this new Amity at the first so the progress of it proved much more vexatious to him Though Galathea did receive him with some shew of sweetnesse by way of common courtesie and after the example of all the other Nimphs yet this in any reason could not be offensive to him because she was obliged to it both by the Law and the example of others But when this Courtship went further than the bounders of courtesie and civility then did he perceive it to be in good earnest and then did he resent such pangs of Jealousie as are usuall in a soul that is really in love Galathea for her part never thought of any such thing or at the least did not beleeve it was so far on But occasions which like drops of rain do follow one another did so apparently appear that Polemas might well be excused for suffering himself to be wounded by so sharp a Sword as Jealousie Lindamor was Generous and Noble and adorned with all desirable qualities that a person well born could possible be as courtly amongst Ladies as brave in Martial matters and as full of Courage and Valour as any that our Court produced many years He had arrived to the age of five and twenty yeares before ever he felt any such effects as Love useth to produce in hearts of his age Not but that he was of his natural inclination a much devoted servant unto Ladyes but being continually exercised in businesses much different from idleness he had not leisure to let Love sow any seeds in his soul for ever since hee was able to bear Armes moved by a Generous instinct which invites Noble spirits unto dangerous enterprizes he was perpetually in Wars where he did most heroickly signalize himself Afterwards coming to see Clidaman and to pay that homage unto which he was obliged at one and the same time he devoted himself unto two To Clidaman as his Lord and to Galathea as his Lady comming to Court without any design upon either But the sweet affability of the young Clidaman and the merits of the fair Galathea were Loadstones of such attractive virtue as did draw him to their service Thus did Lindamor begin to love and so that he could not umbrage his affection under the veil of courtesie and complement Polemas as one that had interest did presently perceive it yet being friends he seemed to take no notice but stil courted his friendship to the end he might ruin him by Artifice as afterwards he attempted And having as I told you made profession of amity already unto him it was the more easie to continue it At this time Clidaman began to affect Tilting and Justs wherein for a beginner he got some honour But Lindamor was the man that still carried away all the glory and applause of all At which Polemas was so stung at the heart that he could no longer dissemble his grudge so as hee would needs have a turn with him at Tilting thinking that he being elder and having a stronger Arm he might wel enough undertake his Rival and get the glory but he proved to be only a foil unto Lindamors lustre The last day of the Bacchanals when the young Clidaman held a Turnement in maintaining the beauty of Silvia Guyemant and Lindamor did get as much glory as mortal men could do but especially Lindamor who had the favour and good fortune that though Galathea was not the Judge yet In spite of Love shee gave sentence against Polemas The Nimph whose eyes could hardly look upon any but Polemas could not now chuse but highly applaud Lindamor And observe how Love does play and mock at the Prudence of Lovers that which Polemas imagined would get him the advantage of Lindamor did most hurt him and made him almost his inferiour for every one spending their judgments and comparing the actions of the one with the other did finde such a difference between them that it had been better for him to have sit quietly at home That same night Lindamor inspir'd by some good Genius which makes me believe that there are some daies fortunate some unfortunate declared himselfe in good earnest a Servant unto the fair Galathea and such opportunities did fall upon him as he could not wish for better For dancing a kinde of a Dance which the Franks had newly brought out of Germany in which every one catched her whom they most fancyed Lindamor guided by Love but as I think thrust upon it by Fate did steal away Galathea from Polemas who being more intent upon his discourse than dancing never heeded it but went presently and twitted the Nymph with her affection unto Lindamor She who did not yet think Lindamor to be in earnest was much offended at his discourse and took his language so ill that it made Lindamor more pleasing unto her also thinking upon some revenge for his jealousie I am the freer to speak it for none was better acquainted with all these passages than my selfe who was destined to be a witnesse of all the businesse For assoon as all were retired to their lodgings Galathea in bed she commanded me to stay by her hold a Candle whilst she read some Letters of importance which came to her This night desiring to be alone she dismissed all the rest of the Nymphs and when they were all gone she commanded me to shut the dore afterwards she made me sit down upon her Bed then after a little smiling to her self she said thus unto me I cannot chuse but laugh Leonida at an encounter which I met with this night at the Ball you know that Polemas has long professed himself my servant and let me tell it unto you from whom I wil conceal nothing that as long as he behaved himself towards me with honour respect his service was not displeasing unto me but I received him into more favour then any other in this Court yet not out of any love on my side I will not say but perhaps love did flatter him with some hopes of obtaining what he desired but the very truth is I never yet found any thing in him which could force me so far as Love I know not what may be in the time to come but hitherto there is no likelyhood of it Now Polemas seeing I allowed him freedome of talk and
Lindamor observing the discontented looks of Polemas when he took Galathea from him he had an opinion that he did love her yet having never observed it by any former passages he resolved to ask him and if he did finde him in love then to disswade him from it and this he thought himselfe obliged unto by their former friendship therefore comming unto him he desired to speak a word with him in private Polemas being as subtle as ever was any did colour his countenance with a glosse of good will and said What is it which Lindamor is pleased to command me Oh Sir said Lindamor I never use commands where intreaties may prevail and at this time I will make use of neither but only as a friend ask you a question which our friendship obliges you to answer Be it what it will replied Polemas you may be certain I shall answer you with as much freedome as you can desire It is this then said Lindamor After I had served Galathea a good while according to the Ordinance of Clidaman I was at last forced to do it by the commands of Love for the truth is after I had served her according to the dispose of fortune who cast me upon her great merits she had such an influence upon my affection as I did ratifie it by the dedication of my self unto her and therefore must assume to my selfe so much boldnesse as to say that I do love her yet that friendship which is betwixt you and me being contracted long before this love began I resolved to tell you that if it be so that you do Love her and have any pretentions unto her I hope that I have so much command over my selfe as to make a retreat and make it appeare that my love is lesse then my friendship and that the follies of the one ought to give place unto the wisdome of the other Tell me therefore freely how your soul is affected to the end the lawes of friendship between you and me may be observed My intention is not to discover your secrecyes and since I do thus ingenuously open my selfe unto you I conceive you need not feare doing the like for it is not out of any curiositie but onely a desire to preserve our friendship that I ask you this question Lindamor spoke unto Polemas in such a dialect as did become a friend but like an ignorant lover that thought such a thing as a friend was to be found in matter of Love But Polemas the Grand dissembler answer'd thus Lindamor this fair Nymph you speak of deserves the Love and adoration of the whole universe but as for me I have no pretentions unto her But withall I must tel you that for matter of Love I conceive every one ought wil do what he can for himself Lindamor did now repent himself of his courteous and civill language since he had received such an od answer and resolved to do what he could to advance himselfe into the favour of this Nymph yet he answered him thus Since Polemas you have no pretentions unto her I will endeavour to preferre my selfe unto a happinesse which to recede from would be death it selfe unto me For my part said Polemas my pretentions unto her in matter of Love are only with an eye of reverence and respect such as we are all obliged to render unto her For my part replyed Lindamor I do honour Galathea as our great Lady and also do Love and adore her as my fairest Mistris I do think my fortune may wel pretend unto such a height as to cast my eyes upon her and do conceive it is no offence unto a Divinity to Love her With such discourse as this they parted both of them very ill satisfied with one another but upon different grounds for Polemas was stung with jealousie and Lindamor displeased at the perfidie of his friend from this day they lived at a distance for though indeed they were alwaies together yet they did hide and disgnise their desigues and actions one from another but Lindamor did not neglect a minute that could be imployed to make his affection appear unto this fair Nymph and certainly he did not lose eyther his time or paines for it was so aceptable unto her that though much love did not appear in her eyes yet she was ful of it in her heart and because it was a hard matter to conceale so great a fire but some flame will be flashing out do what they could therefore Galathea resolved to talke to Lindamor as little as possible she could and to devise some way or other for conveying letters secretly betwixt them And in order to that her designe was upon Flurial Nephew unto the Nurse of Amasis and Brother unto hers whose good will unto her she had been long accquainted with for he being the Gardiner at Mount-Brison as his father was before him when Galathea was brought thither to walk he would often take her in his armes and gather her what flowers she pleased and you know that such infant amities as are suckt in with the milk do become almost naturall also she knowing that all old people are covetous she was so liberal unto him that she made him wholly hers One day when she was got some distance from us she called him unto her as if the businesse was to enquire the names of some flowers which she had in her hand and after she had asked him severall such questions she said thus unto him in a low voice Come hither Flurial dost thou Love me Madam answered he I were the vilest varlet that ever breathed if I did not Love you above all the world May I be sure of this thou sayest said the Nymph May I never live a minute replyed he if I had not rather neglect my duty to Heaven then to you How Said Galathea without any exception suppose it were a thing that would offend Amasis or Clidaman I care not whom it would offend said Flurial if you Madam command it I will never enquire further for I am wholly yours and though my Lady do pay me my wages yet it is from you that my service is conferred upon me and besides I have ever from your very Infancy so loved you that I did at the very first dedicate my self wholly unto you But Madam I beseech you why so many words I shall never be truly happy untill you put me to the tryall Then said Galathea to him hark thee Flurial if thou continuest in that resolution and wilt be secret thou shalt be the happiest man alive of thy qualitie and what I have done for thee in times past is nothing in comparison of what I intend for the Future but be sure thou beest secret and remember that if thou beest not I shal become thy most mortal enemy and assure thy self nothing lessthen thy life shal satisfy me Go unto Lindamor and do as he shall direct thee and beleeve it I will reward thy vice beyond thy
to continue his Letters unto me To this I answered nothing And when she saw me a long while silent she said thus unto me What 's the reason Leonida you do not answer me have I not good reason for all my complaints Madam said I unto her will you give me leave to speak my minde freely With all my heart said she Then said I unto her I must tell you that I think you to be reasonable in all things but in looking for reason in Love for you must know that to reduce Love unto the Lawes of justice and reason is to take away its principall prerogative which is to be a subject only unto its selfe so as I conclude that if Lindamor have failed in matter of Loving you he is to blame but if he have failed only against the Lawes of reason and prudence then it is you that deserve to be punished for offering to bring Love which is free and commands all others under the servitude of a Superior But why said she I have heard that if Love be laudable it is vertuous and if so then it is subject unto the Lawes of vertue Love answered I is above that vertue whereof you speak and gives Lawes unto it self without any subserviency unto any But Madam since you command me to speak freely I beseech you tell me are not you more culpable than he is of that whereof you accuse him and of matter of Love For say he were so bold as to tell it that he loved you you your selfe is the cause of it since you permitted him Though I had answered she yet out of discretion he should have concealed it Then said I complain of his indiscretion and not of his Love but believe me he hath more occasion to complain against your love since upon the very first report and before you can justly tax his affection you have repulsed that Love he bore unto you Excuse Madam the freedome of my language if I tell you that you do him the greatest wrong in the world in treating him thus and condemning him before he have answered for himselfe and is convinced of his crime She stayed a good while before she answered and at last said thus unto me Well Leonida there is time enough to make him amends when he returnes not that I am in any minde to love him or let him love me but then I shall tell him wherein he is faulty and in that satisfie you and oblige him to trouble me nomore unlesse he be impudence itselfe Perhaps Madam said I unto her you may deceive your selfe in thinking that his return will be time enough for all this for did you but know the violencies of Love you would never think delaies unto a Lover so tolerable as unto others therefore the least you can do is to see his Letter That is to no purpose answered she But to satisfie you give it me Upon this she took it and found it thus penned Lindamor's Letter unto Galathea BEfore it was love now despair that dictates to my pen which must if it bring me no comfort be changed into a Sword so will it be a thorough though a cruel cure This white paper which you have sent me by way of Answer is an emblem of my innocency and argues you had no accusation against me to write in it yet alas it is a too plain Assurance of your disdaign for from whence else could your silence proceed If there do yet remain in you any memory of my faithfull service let me out of pitty beg from you a Sentence either of life or death I am now departing the most desperate forlorn man that ever had once any reason for hope This alteration in Galathea's courage was an effect of Love for I plainly perceived her heart to melt but withall it was no small argument of her high spirit for since she would not give any knowledge of it unto me and not being able to hold her countenance which grew pale she did so tie up her tongue that she did not utter one word which did argue any inclination to bend but went out of her Chamber into the Garden and spake not one syllable of this Letter for the Sun began to grow low and her maladie which was a disease of the minde might better divert and solace it selfe abroad than in bed so as after she had sleightly dressed herselfe she went into the Garden and would have none but me with her I asked her by the way whether she pleased to return any answer unto his Letter And she answering No Will you then Madam said I unto her be pleased to give me leave to write unto him You said she what will you write What you please to command me said I. Nay what you will said she so you will not mention me You shall see Madam what I will write said I unto her Having gotten this leave whilst she was walking I writ in an Arbour what I thought most pertinent and least offensive But she that would by no means see it yet could not have so much patience as to let me finish but she read it whilst I writ Leonida's Answer unto Lyndam or in the behalfe of Galathea DRaw from your misory the knowledge of your happinesse if you were not loved but set at a small esteem you should not have known so much you cannot know your offence untill you be present but however I bid you hope well in your affection and your return She did not like the Letter should run thus but I did over-rule her and gave it unto Fluriall with a command to deliver it into no hand but Lindamors only but drawing him aside I opened the Letter and added these words unknown unto Galathea Leonida's Postscript unto Lindamor I Understand that you are gone very pitty of your misery moves me to acquaint you with the occasion of your disaster Polemas hath published that you do love Galathea and that you do make it your common boast Such a high spirit as hers cannot put up so great an offence without resentement The same prudence you were wont to be a Master of must canduct you in this businesse Because I do love you and pitty your misery I cannot chuse but grieve for you unto whom I promise all the favour and assistance that I can I sent him this hint as I told you unknown unto Galathea but believe me I did afterwards repent it as I shall tell you It was now above a Month since Fluriall went when there arrived a Knight armed Cap a peâ and a Herauld of Armes with him and the better to disguise himselfe his face was covered The Herauld at the Gates of the Town desired to be conducted unto Amasis and every one out of curiosity to hear what newes went along with him The Guards of the Town did let them in and after Amasis was acquainted they were conducted unto her who had sent for Clidaman to entertain these strangers After the
hath since told me his heart was never in his life so swell'd with joy as then for he began to despair of his plot taking effect and seeing the Nymph never came into the Garden he feared that she knew him But when Flurial acquainted him with the resolution that was taken this was such a resurrection of Love as if one should die to make another mourn and revive to make them rejoyce The night being come and every one retired to their lodgings the Nymph did put her selfe into her night dresse and causing me to open the dore she went first and I swear she trembled so that she had much ado to go she told me that she had such an unusuall beating at her stomack as took away all her strength whether it was her being in the dark without light or her going out at an undue time or her apprehension of Lindamor's heart I know not but whatsoever it was she was much unlike her selfe At last growing a little more confident we came to the bottome of the staires where we presently found Flurial who had waited long for us The Nymph went before and going into a Jessemine Arbour which was so close as to keep out the Moon-shine or any sight from the windowes of the house she began to say thus to Fluriall in a great rage 'T is very well Flurial are you grown so stiffe in your own opinions that you will not do what I command you Madam answered he undauntedly it was to obey you that I have failed in this if it be a fault for did not you command me that I should punctually do whatsoever Lindamor commanded me Now Madam besides your command I am obliged by oath unto Lindamor to put his heart into no hands but yours Well said she and sighed where is his heart Here Madam said he if you please to come hither into this corner you will better see it than where you are When she came to the place she saw a man standing upon his feet and without speaking a word bowed himselfe unto her Oh heavens said the Nymph what 's here Flurial see here 's a man Madam said Flurial and smiled it is a heart that is presented unto you How said she a heart Then would she have run away for fear but he took hold of her Gown kissed it and held her I hearing these words came neerer and presently knew him to be the same that Fluriall called Gozen Upon a suddain I knew not what to think I saw Galathea and I my self with two men the one of which was unknown unto us so as we knew not what to do Cry out we durst not fly Galathea could not to put any hopes in our own strength we could not At last all I could do was to lay hold on his hand that held Galathea by the Gown and not able to do more I began to scratch and bite him which I did so upon a suddain that the first thing he saw was his hand bitten Oh sweet Leonida said he then unto me how would you use your enemies if you use your servants thus sharply Though I was almost quite out of my selfe yet me thought I should know that voice and asked him who he was I am said he one that comes to bring Lindamor's Heart unto this fair Nymph Then kneeling down upon the ground he thus addressed himselfe unto her I must needs confesse Madam that this presumption is great but yet not equall unto that affection which produceth it Here Madam is the heart of Lindamor which I present unto you I hope the present will finde as good a reception from the hand of the Donor as from a stranger But if my diasterous Fate do deny me that which Love doth promise me having offended against a Divinity whom I only adore then condemn this heart which here I do bring unto you unto what cruell tortures you shall please for so his pain may please you he will endure with contentment since you do ordain it unto him Now I knew him to be Lindamor and Galathea also but not without abundance of wonder to us both to see at her foot him whom she thought dead and I in lieu of a Gardiner to finde a Cavalier who yielded unto none in all the Country Perceiving Galathea so surprised that she could not speak I began to talk unto him and said Is it so Lindamor that you delight to surprise and affright Ladies this is not an Art that becomes such a Cavalier as you professe your selfe I must needs confesse unto you sweet Nymph said he unto me that it is not a becomming act of a Cavalier but it is of a Lover and I am no lesse Love that instructs all has taught me to be a Gardiner Is it possible Madam said he unto Galathea that this extream affection which you have caused should beso displeasing unto you as you must needs delight more in the death of him that owes it then his life Will not this heart I have brought finde as good a reception alive as dead But if you will needs have me die here 's a Ponyard will do that which no time can ever do for it will put an end to all The Nymph answered nothing unto all this but said Oh Leonida have you betrayed me Upon this she went in to another Walk where she did sit down for she was so much transported out of her selfe as she knew not what she did Then Lindamor did fall upon his knees again and I went to her and said Why Madam do you say I betrayed you how can you accuse me for this I vow unto you that I knew nothing of the businesse but it is Flurial that hath deceived us both But I thank God we are all deceived the better way Thanks be to God here that heart of Lindamor which Flurial promised he is here also ready to do you any service And have you not good reason to be glad of this Treason It would be over tedious to relate all our discourse at this time out at the conclusion peace was made between all parties and so as this Love was tyed with a harder knot then ever it was before but upon this condition that he should at this very houre depart unto the place whither Amasis and Clidaman had sent him This departure went hard yet obey he must and so after a parting kisse of Galathea's fair hand he went away in full assurance to finde her the same he left her But it would be impertinent to particularize every circumstance Lindamor returned to his charge did his businesse and with the permission of Amasis and Clidaman returned unto Forrests where giving a good account of his Commission he was honoured and carrassed according to the merit of his vertue But all this did not halfe so much revive his soul as the favourable aspect which this Nymph did afford him who ever since his last departure so increased in affection to him as Lindamor might well say
told his Niece that he did very much desire the same but knew not how The way said she is the easiest in the world Get the habit of a Nymph put it upon him he is young and has not a beard this way he may get out unknowne who helped him nor can Galathea tell whom to blame Adamas found this invention to be good and the sooner to put it in execution would presently go and get this habit made under colour of going to fetch some Physick for Celadon letting Galathea to understand that though he was out of a Feavour yet he was not out of danger to relaps which he could easily prevent and did communicate the designe unto Silvia who did very well approve of it so he would not stay too long before his return Celadon was no sooner awake but Galathea and Leonida went into his Chamber under pretence of seeing how he did Adamas perceiving how assiduously indulgent these Nymphs were did think delay to be very dangerous and after some ordinary questions concerning his disease he turned towards Galathea and desired her to give him leave to enquire of some particulars which he durst not do before her Galathea supposing it to be something that related to his sicknesse withdrew and gave Adamas an opportunity to acquaint the Shepheard with his designe and promised him to return within two or three daies at the furthest Celadon conjured him unto it by all possible intreaties knowing that without him his imprisonment would last long After he had assured him that he would he took Galathea aside and told her that though the Shepheard was at that present very well yet there was great fears of a relaps and therefore it was requisite to prevent it in order to which he would go and provide such Medicines as were proper for it and return again The Nymph was very glad of this for on the one side she desired the Shepheards cure and on the other the presence of Adamas began to be very troublesome unto her foreseeing that she could not be so free with her friend Celadon in his presence Adamas knew her minde well enough however assoon as dinner was done he went his way leaving the Nymphs in perplexity enough for all three had different designes and each of them aiming at their severall ends of necessitie they must deceive one another And this was the reason that they were commonly all three about his bed together but especially Silvia purposely to keep them from talking with him in private but for all her vigilancy Leonida found a time to tell him the resolution of her and her Uncle and had this further talk with him I hope Celadon said she unto him that when you are at liberty you will not be so ungratefull as to forget this good office but will then consider of it and of the affection which now I do bear unto you at least you will remember the injuries I have received from Galathea for your sake And if Love which in any other would produce a reciprocall love again have not the same effects in you yet I shall be extreamly glad to hear from your mouth that I am not disagreeable unto you Celadon who already knew of this growing affection had a desire to stifle it in the cradle but fearing lest if he should displease her she should fall off from that course which she had resolved upon with her Uncle he would give her such an answer as should still keep her in the same minde and therefore said thus unto her Fair Leonida what a strange opinion would you have of me if forgetting Astrea whom I have so long served I should begin a new affection unto you I speak very freely to you because I know you are not ignorant of my devotion to her Oh Celadon answered Leonida you need not hide it from me for I know as much of your affairs as you your selfe does Then Fair Nymph answered Celadon since you do know it so well how can you think I should force my love from her that has the sole power of my soul my life my selfe and all I have I pray look upon all the actions of my life and then tell me how I should give you satisfaction and what I should do Leonida could not hide her fears at this discourse yet being wise and considering how against her duty it was to live in this manner also that all would be in vain she resolved to become a Mistresse of her own will but this being a work of greater difficulty than to be done as soon as thought upon she thought it best to take a little time and consult with her pillow upon it In this resolution she spoke thus unto the Shepheard Celadon said she I cannot now take that counsel with my self which is necessary I had need to have a little time to muster up all the powers of my soul before I can resolve Their discourse had continued longer had not Silvia interrupted and said unto Leonida Doe you not know Sister said she that Flurial is come and hath so escaped the guards of the gates and came to Galathea before any of us knew of it Hee gave her some Letters I know not from whence they came nor from whom but I am sure they made her change colour two or three times Leonida presently imagined that it was from Lindamor and therefore she left Silvia with Celadon and went to Galathea to be satisfied Silvia then seeing her selfe alone with him shee began to talke so kindly unto him that if any there could have made him in love doubtless it had been she And see how Love is pleased to thwart our designes The other two Nymphs who courted him with all possible artifice to make him in love could not do it and this who never aimed at it did come nearer the mark than either of the rest By which is to be observed That Love must bee free and will not be obliged by any but it self and whom it pleaseth Whilst Celadon was in these thoughts Silvia who thought upon nothing but occasions of discourse because she was much pleased with his conversation and delighted to hear him speak she said thus unto him You cannot believe Shepheard how much I am pleased with your company and I swear that if Galathea be of my mind we will have more of it than formerly we have for I finde by you there is abundance of delight to bee taken in your villages and in your honest freedom since you are exempted from all ambition and by consquence from envy and doe live without any artifice and slander which are the four Pests of our Court-life Wise Nymph answered the Shepheard all this is most true if we were out of the power of Love but you must know that the very same effects which Ambition produceth in Courts Love does produce in the Country the envy of a Rival is no less than a Courtiers and the Artifices of Lovers and Shepheards are
wave as it begun Is like my Sorrows that doe flow Upon my soul woe after woe As like a Vagabond it wanders Murmuring it self into Meanders So I must glide away and rove Murmuring against my Fate and Love Whilst this Shepheard was thus talking to himself and so troubled at this dysaster as he talked loud enough to be heard a long way off Belinde who had not forgot the time and place of appointment as soon as ever she had rid her self of her company shee came unto him so troubled at the thought of losing him as she could not so hide her sorrows but some appeared in her face Ergastes who was that morning got up betimes to walk by fortune spied her afarre off and seeing shee was by her self as if she sought for some close place hee had a minde to see whither shee intended to goe and following her at a distance he saw she went towards the Fountaine of Sicamours then looking a little further hee saw though it was very early a Flock feeding Ergastes not being ignorant of all passages betwixt his Shepheardesse and Celion had a conceipt that it was his Flock and that Belinde was going unto him Although hee did not suspect the Chastity of his Mistris yet he was easily induced to beleeve that she did not hate him imagining that so large a Courtship had never been if it had been disagreeable unto her And so to satisfie his curiosity as soon as he saw her amongst the Trees so as she could not perceive him he crept nearer and hid himself in a bush from whence he could see the Shepheardesse sitting upon the grassie seats about the Fountain and Celion upon his knees before her Oh how he was startled as soon as he saw this Yet because he would hear what they said he crept close under the hedge which was about the Fountain and so heard every syllable what the Shepheardesse said What Celion said shee is this your profession to please mee Hath this accident more force upon you than the power which you have given me hath Where is your courage Celion or indeed where is your affection Have you not out of your love to me surmounted greater difficulties than this Where is your affection What is become of those resolves which you once professed Would you have me beleeve that you have lesse affection unto me now than at that time Oh Shephead rather rob mee of my life than of that good will which you long since have promised unto mee How comes it to passe that hitherto I have had as much power over you as I could desire And why should I have any lesse for the future Ergastes heard also what Celion answered Is it possible Belinde said hee that you can make any question of my affection or the power you have over me Can you be so forgetfull of all those testimonies which I have rendred you of it And must I survive that good opinion which you ought to have of mee Can you Belinde tax mee in any of my actions or ever doubt of my obedience unto all your commands I pray before you doe entertain any such ill opinions of mee aske Amaranthe what she thinks Nay ask Belinde her self if ever she imposed any difficulty upon mee which my affection has not surmounted Even at this very time when I see you are giving your selfe unto another I am ready to leave you in the arms of one more happy than my selfe by putting an end to my dysasterous love and banishing my selfe for ever from you Alasse can you say that this is any want of affection or will to obey you since I doe resent it more dismally than death it self Oh Shepheardesse what strange misunderstandings are betwixt you and me For if you doe doubt of my affection because I support this dysaster and live I will tell you that your extreme resoluteness is too certain an argument of your small affection But to what purpose should I retain any hopes of you since another O fatal word another must enjoy you At this word the poor Shepheard without any strength or thought leaned upon Belinde's knee and there swooned Whether Belinde was toucht to the heart at this I leave you to judge fair Nymph since she did love him as well as was possible to love and seemed onely as if shee did not resent this sad separation When she saw him in this swounding fit and thought there was no witness but the Sicamours and Fountain she would not conceale from them what shee had kept so secret from her all companions Alass said she and held up her hands Oh ye soveraigne powers either deliver me from this misery or from my life either remove this cruel dysaster or let this cruel dysaster remove me Then casting her eyes upon Celion and thou O too faithfull Shepheard said shee who hadst not been so miserable if thou hadst not loved me Oh that the heavens would either give thee that contentment which thy affection deserveth or else take mee out of the world since I am the onely cause that thou endurest these miseries which thou doest not deserve Then pausing a while she went on O how hard a thing it is to love well and be wise both together I know very well that my Father has good reason to bestow me upon the prudent Shepheard Ergastes because the Alliance is convenient for him but alass what 's that to mee as long as my love and affection lookes another way I know Ergastes deserves very well and I could never hope for a more advantageous match than him but how should I give my selfe unto him when as Love hath disposed of me unto another Reason is on my Fathers side but Love is on mine And not a love newly begun but a love even from my cradle by a long continuance hath so insinuated it self into my soul that he is more my soul than my soul it self is Oh heavens Is it possible to lose my soul and live Tell me Belinde wilt thou not be utterly undone when it is gone As she uttered these words a river of tears ran from her eyes and fell upon the hands and cheeks of the Shepheard who coming to himselfe by little and little caused the Shepheardess to be silent and wipe away her teares from her eyes lest hee should take any notice of them And changing her countenance and voice spake thus unto him Shepheard I must needs confesse I am very sensible of your pain and did I doubt of your affection I were the most ungreateful person in the world But alass what will my acknowledgements and sensibilitie avayl since heaven hath subjected mee unto the will of him who gave mee my being Would you wish me to requite him with disobedience But admit I should suffer my affection to transport me beyond my duty Will that Celion set us in any more tranquillity Can it be any contentment unto you if you doe love me to see me grieve and mourn
who was known brought him to kisse the hands of Merovea and Childerick under the notion of a young Cavalier descended from a noble Family who desired to serve them Hee was received with open Armes especially coming at a time when the enemy did menace them with a Battle But when Lindamor came and it was known who Clidaman was he was honoured and carrassed beyond all expressions for he had already so signalized himself that both friends and enemies did know and esteem him Amongst other Prisoners which he and Guyemant took for they alwayes went out together in any enterprise there was one amongst them that came out of Great Britane so handsome but so sad that he moved Clidaman to pitty him And because his imprisonment made him seem extreamly sad one day he sent for him and after he had asked him several questions of his Being and Quality he asked him the cause of his sadnesse telling him that if it did proceed from his imprisonment hee ought like a man of courage to endure it and thank the heavens that he fell into their hands since he was in a place where he had all civil treatment and that his want of liberty proceeded onely from the command of Merovea who had charged that no prisoners should yet be ransomed yet hee would doe his best endeavour to procure him his liberty The young man thanked him but it was with a deep sigh which Clidaman more wondering at did aske him the cause Unto which he answered Sir this sadnesse which you see in my face and those sighs which so often steal from my breast doe not proceed from my imprisonment which you speak of but from another more strict than it for my ransome will ere long disoblige me from this but nothing lesse than death can bring me out of the other I should also endure it with patience did I not foresee my own death and the ruin of the person who keeps me so close in prison Clidaman did by his speech imagine that it was Love which troubled him and by himselfe considering the pain of his prisoner his pitty moved him to promise him that he would procure his liberty as soon as possible knowing by experience what passions and perplexities of mind useth to accompany them that are deeply in love Sir said hee unto him since you know the power of Love and that your noble Country makes mee beleeve that what knowledge soever you have of mee you will not alter your good will unto mee therefore upon a promise not to discover mee I will tell you a thing which will make you wonder Then Clidaman promising secresie he began thus Cavalier bee pleased to know that this habit which you see mee wear is not my own but Love that is able to metamorphise women into men hath made me assume this dresse for I am not a man but a woman one that is descended from as good a Family as any is in Brittain and my name is Melandre who conducted by strange fortune is fallen into your hands There was a man whose name is Lydias that fled out of his own Country and came to London having killed a man in Duell and to avoid the rigour of the Law was forced to forsake his Country Being in London as it is the custom of our Nation he found so much civility and courtesy that there was not a house of any noble note where he was not familiar and amongst the rest he was as free to my Fathers house as he could be unto his own Now because he intended to stay there untill he could safely return into his own Country he intended the better to conform himselfe unto the British humour where every one has a particular Mistresse to seem as if he were in Love And in this resolution I cannot tell whether good or bad he fixed his eyes upon me and either out of affection or convenience he began to professe himselfe my servant I will not tire you with a long discourse upon those dissimulations those courtships and those oathes that he used unto me But so it was that after a long addresse of courtship for he stayed there two years his handsomness his courtesy his discretion and his valour had such an influence upon me that I did love him without any dissimulation I should blush to confess thus much did I not think you a person that hath tryed the force of Love or to tell you that the beginning of my love was the end of my tranquillity Things being thus it hapned that the Franks after they had gotten the better in so many Battles against the Roman Emperours against the Goths and against the Gaules they turned their Armes against the Neustrians and brought them unto such termes as they were foroed to send unto London their antient Allie to demand aid who according to the Alliance made between them did grant them aid by the consent of the King and States This newes was presently divulged throughout all the Realm and we who were in the chiefe City first heard of it Lydias began to think upon his return the very first houre assuring himselfe that his Countrymen being in need of such as he would easily absolve him from the death of Arontes Yet because he ever promised me that if he went he would carry me with him he concealed his designe from me either as intending to deceive me or else fearing I should hinder his departure Yet as there can be no fire so closely covered but there will be some smoak so he could not so closely hide his hot desire of departure but I heard of it Assoon as I came to the knowledge of it the first time I saw him I took him aside Well Lydias said I unto him are you then resolved I shall not know your intentions of leaving me Do you think my affection so feeble that it is not able to follow the worst of your fortune If your affairs do urge you to return into your Country why should you not let me go with you Ask my Fathers consent unto our Marriage I am confident he will be glad of our alliance for I know he loves you But Lydias do not perjure your selfe so much as to leave me here desolate behinde you for if you do the gods will punish you Unto all this he faintly answered That he had no thought of returning but that he valued his presence with me above all affairs and that I did him wrong to doubt of it but his actions should force me to confess it Yet for all these fair words this perjur'd man went away within two or three daies after with the first Forces that went out of great Brittain and took his time so justly that he came to the Sea-side just as they were Embarquing themselves and so he Embarqued with them We were presently advertised of his departure yet I was so perswaded that he loved me as I was the last that did believe it so as he was gone eight
who did most sadly resent the death of her dear Ligdamon When Dinner was done some of the Nymphs had a minde to play others to view the house some to walk in the Gardens and others to fit and discourse in the Chamber of Amasis Leonida seeming as if she would make her self ready for her going with Amasis went out of the Chamber and presently after Lucinde followed and then seeming as if they would walk they went out of the Castle having most of the Shepheards clothes under their Petticoats and when they were got into the thick of the Wood the Shepheard undressed himself and putting on his own cloathes he thanked the Nymph for her good assistance offering her in exchange his life all that did depend upon it Then the Nymph with a deep sigh said unto him Well Celadon have I not performed my promise I pray remember yours also I should think my selfe sayd Celadon the most unworthy man that lives if I did not perform all my promises unto you Then Celadon said she remember what you swore unto me for I am resolved to put you to the Test this very hour Fair Nymph answered Celadon dispose of me as far as I am able as freely as you can of your self for I am fully resolved upon obedience Have you not made a promise unto me replyed the Nymph that I should search into all your life past and if I found any thing which you could doe for me you would doe it And he answering that it was true then Celadon said she I have done as you did bid me and though they say Love be blind yet I have so much light left in me as to know that you ought to continue that love which you have so often promised unto your Astrea for disgusts of love will not allow any one to be perjured or unfaithfull and therefore ye ought not to fail in your duty though they have treated you ill The faults of others can never excuse or wash away our own Love therefore the fair and happy Astrea with as much sincerity of affection as ever you did serve her adore her and more if it bee possible for Love requires extreames in his sacrifice But yet I know that the good offices which I have done you does deserve something And because Love can never be payd but with Love you are obliged to pay mee in the same coyn if no impossibilities doe intervene But since one heart is not capable of any more but one love let me be paid with what it can And since you cannot love me as your Mistris I would have you love me as your Sister and ever hereafter to love mee cheerish me and treat me in that manner Celadons contentment cannot be expressed after hee heard this language for he confessed it was infinitely his own desire And therefore after he had given the Nymph a Million of thanks for her affection hee vowed to receive her as his Sister and under that notion to doe whatsoever shee commanded him And so they parted extreamly well contented and satisfied one with another Leonida returned to the Castle the Shepheard to his voyage shunning all such Plains where he thought he might meet with any Shepheards of his acquaintance And leaving Mount Verdun on the left hand he went unto a little rising ground from whence he could view most of those places where hee was accustomed to feed his Flock where Astrea was wont to come unto him and where they used to shade themselves from the scorching Sunne in the heat of the day Briefly this Prospect presented to his eye all those contentments which hee had been so long deprived of And in contemplation of them hee sate down under a shady tree and sighed out these Verses A Prospect YOnder 's the place my fairest Sun Did bliss mee 'fore the day begun Whilst th' other like a sluggard slept Or out of drousie bed was crept She crown'd with Violet and Rose Did there her early self repose And with her self such light did bring As made those fields appear a Spring The other Sun with his hot rayes Such over-scorching heat displays As dryes and withers every plant And makes the Ploughmans heart to pant My Sun with influence so sweet Such onely as have souls doe greet On those she never heat imparts But burneth onely Lovers hearts Yonder 's the Fountain which doth claim From Sycamors a borrowed Name There did my Shepheardesse Divine Whilst her fair hand was linkt in mine Answer my Love in equal flame Celadon shall ne'r forget the same For there he vow'd to her and swore Eternally her to adore Under yond spreading leaved tree Which shaddowed both her and me Purest vermilion there did seek For harbour in her lovely cheek When she did blush for shame to hear A Shepheard swear that she was fair No no said she to me for I Fair would be onely in thy eye But O thou hollow Rock where we So oft have been in secrecie Where is that Love which we did vow And what becometh of it now Did she and I the gods adore And all in vain their help implore Have I not reason to complain Since she does pay me with disdain And thou old Tree whose barkie leather Defends thee from the stormy weather To thee I doe address my plaint And doe this sad divorce lament How oft did we our Letters hide Within thy old worm-eaten side But now alass too plain I see Both thou and she all changed bee These thoughts and imaginations had kept Celadon longer in that place but for the coming of a disconsolate Shepheard who pittifully lamenting his losse came towards him sighing out these Verses Upon too over-soon a Death YOu that my weeping eyes do see Did you but know what misery Has swell'd my heart In lieu of blaming me you would Adde all the sorrows that you could And take my part Within the gloomy shade of death The fairest that had ever breath Inhabits now VVhy should not destiny so tart As well my body as my heart That place allow No sooner she her self did show Amongst us mortals here below But she was gone So as it seemeth she was sent Onely to make us all lament And her bemoan As loving I vy clings about A wither'd Tree when life is out Even so would I And live contentedly I could If close to her but cling I could Untill I dy Celadon having no mind to be seen by any that could know him when hee spied this Shepheard a good distance off he concealed himself behinde a thick bush and when hee was past he followed him at an unseen distance untill he saw him sit down and then hee crept so neare that hee could heare all his sad complaints The humour of this unknowne Shepheard sympathizing with his own it swelled him with a curiosity to know somthing from him both concerning his own Mistris and his also Therefore going to him he began to speak thus Sad Shepheard I doe
Leonida prompted by the report of Lycidas was very desirous to know their difference therefore she advanced towards them and after a civill salute invited them in the name of all the company to sit down and rest themselves upon the stairs where they did sit Celidea who was full of civility and knew what reverence was due unto the Nymph and also very glad to avoid the importunities of the two Shepheards she did most willingly accept of Leonida's offer And when all were taking their places Diana came unto them and after all civill salutations she sat down amongst the good company Lycidas not being able to endure that Silvander should sit next Phillis he stole out of the company before any took notice of him and went to entertain his own sad thoughts in the thick of the wood Then Leonida having caused Celidea to sit next her on one hand and Astrea on the other Diana sat next the stranger and Paris next her And because Phillis had taken her place next the sad Astrea Silvander was with Thamires and Calidon and though they did not sit about the statue yet their backs were towards the fair Shepheardesses and could not see them Paris and Phillis did sit a little turning from them yet so as by a little turning their bodies they could both see and speak unto them Being thus ranged Leonida seeing Celidea's modesty would not permit her to speak and intending to inspire her with more confidence she thus broke silence Although fair Celidea you were unknown unto us by sight yet the fame of your beauty hath reached all our ears which swells us all with extream curiosity to know both you and your fortune Lycidas hath partly acquainted us with the difference that is betwixt you and these two courteous Shepheards but since there goes various reports of it we should be extreamly glad to hear the truth from your own mouth Madam answered the stranger I shall be very loath to requite your civility with a tedious History of our dissentions but if the knowledge of it will any way contribute unto your service I shall most freely do it Although the relation and remembrance of things past be nothing pleasing unto me Yet great Nymph I cannot chuse but desire that you might entertain the time with some other and some better discourse Madam said Calidon since this shepheardesse is unwilling to undertake the satisfaction of your knowledge I beseech you impose the task upon me let me be the Relator both in the presence of her and Thamires to the end they may correct me if I deviate from the truth Great Nymph said Thamires since it is I that am most interressed in the businesse it is most reasonable you should receive it from my mouth Upon that account replyed Celidea it belongs most unto my selfe to be the relater for you are both combined against me I finde no reason in that said Calidon for though fair Celidea you are against us both yet both of us are for you And as for Thamires I would have him know that he who has most wrong has most reason to complain And great Nymph it is most peculiarly proper unto me to inform you of the extream injury that is done me for it is I whom the fair Celidea hath injur'd in refusing me and it is Thamires that hath wronged me in offering to ravish that from me which Love hath ordained unto me and he himselfe hath give me To return your own arguments upon your selfe said Thamires it is I that ought to speak being the most injured I that have reason to complain against Celidea because she did once love me and now does not and against Calidon because he is the most obliged unto me and yet the most ungratefull And I great Nymph replyed Celidea have most reason to complain because I am the But at which both their importunities and vexations are shot at and both of them are resolved to vex me to death rather then let me enjoy any quietnesse so as if the party most interressed must most complain it is both their parts to be silent and give me the liberty to tell my dolefull talâ The dispute had lasted longer if Leonida in a smiling manner had not put an end unto it and imposing silence she proposed that the difference might be decided by Lot and all being contented the Lot fell upon Thamires so as all fixing their looks upon him after an humble reverence he began thus The History of Celidea Thamires and Calidon SInce it hath pleased the great Tautates to make choice of me for a relater of the dissentions that are betwixt us I do professe that though it be the custom of all interressed persons to speak only what is to their own advantage yet I will not conceal and disguise the truth in the least manner upon this condition that when every one hath said all they can for themselves I may have liberty to alledge my own reasons apart Be pleased to know then great Nymph that though both Calidon and my selfe do dwell in that Town which adjoynes unto mount Verdun yet we are not of that Country our Fathers and their Predecessors are Boyens who heretofore came out of Gaul with the King of Beloveses and went to seek out new habitation beyond the Alpes who after they had planted themselves there and continued many ages were in the end expulsed out of those Townes which they had built by a people called Romans some being plundred of all their goods went into Hircania others returned into their own ravaged Country our Ancestors came into Gaul and at last linked themselves by Marriages unto the Segusians Thus wise Nymph I do present unto your knowledge that you may the better judge how great the amity betwixt Calidon and me ought to be for being both of us Boyens both descended from the same stock and are Cosens both strangers and heretofore both friends all these circumstances are so many inviting arguments to love one another Also I do ingenuously confesse that I did ever affect him as dearly as if he were my own son I may well be allowed to use that phrase for I have done him the offices of a kinde and good Father having educated him with as much indulgent care as his own Father who was my Uncle could even in his Infancy when he had not so much knowledge as to discern good from bad then and ever since was my indulgency over him This fair Celidea was brought up by the prudent Cleontines a neer neighbour unto my habitation and though she was then of an age far unlikely to cause love being scarce nine years of age yet I must confesse that her Infantine actions did much please me and did take me in such an unaccustomed manner as I suited my selfe to her own young sports and though I was an age of years above her yet I played with her as if I were as young as she How oft have I wisht us of an
this affection to her but it was heaven that forced mee to love her whether I would or no. For I did often absent my self from her and opposed all manner of arguments that reason could suggest against it but that did rather augment than diminish my affection which in the end grew to a most extreame height About this time Calidon returned out of the Boyen Province and was some eighteen years of age or thereabouts He was taller than usually that age allows any handsomly proportioned his complexion for a brown extreamly fair his mind his garb and his discourse was higher than perhaps his quality required but yet not at all proud nor vain-glorious I must confesse that when I saw him so much improved I loved him better than I did before For before I did love him onely in consideration of Consanguinity and upon the recommendation of my Uncle but when I found him to be so amiable so extreamly well accomplished and every way so well improved that I having neither Wife nor Child or then intending to marry resolved to make him my Heir after my death unto all my estate which perhaps was not very inconsiderable And to oblige him unto a reciprocal good will unto me I declared as much unto all my Kindred and Neighbours Now because I did foresee that dwelling in my house it was almost impossible but he should fall in love with the fair Celidea I gave him a most strict charge to look upon her onely with the eyes of a Brother and not of a Lover He protested with a thousand asseverations and oaths that he would obey me in this and all things else and would not doe any thing in the world that should displease me Yet before the Moon had run a full course he was charmed with Celidea and not daring to declare it unto her or me or any else after he had languished a while hee was forced to keep his bed his eyes shrunk into his head his complexion grown yellow and grown so lean and altered as he was not knowable I brought the most knowing and experienced Physicians in all the Country unto him If Fame cryed up any man I spared neither cost nor pains till I got him I caused Sacrifices to be offered upon every Altar of the Country to appease Tautates Hesus Tharamis and Belinus if Calidon by chance had offended them I sent to enquire of every Oracle and Augurer I sent for all the Bardi to come and pray with him I sent also for the best Musicians to try if Musick would allay the Melancholly which oppressed his soul To bee short there was not one sage Sarronide which at my request did not come to visit him and give him wise precepts against grief and sorrow But all these had no operation nor could all the teares which I shed by his beds side get him to tell me the cause of his disease Thus languishing in this manner and no remedies could doe any good upon him there was an old Physician a friend of mine who hearing of my sorrows for Calidon came unto me to comfort me in my affliction and after as good and wise advice as any humane Prudence could give hee bade me resign Calidon and my own will into the hands of Tautates and to believe that if I did it unfeignedly I should receive more comfort than I could from all men living When he was ready to goe away he desired to see Calidon We went both into his chamber he fell into talk with him and considered him very seriously he felt his pulse observed his actions and gestures turned him every way to finde out his disease And after hee had been two hours with him Young man said hee unto him chear up and bee assured that you shall not dye of this disease I have found out the cause and I have known many sick of the same but never knew one dye of it Then going out of the Chamber he took me aside and said thus unto me The age I have attained unto is great and though I have not employed all my time very well yet not all unprofitably I have studyed the art of Physick very long and have attained unto no meane reputation I have been employed by many of the best quality amongst the Boyens the Seguanonans and the Allobrogians Long experience have I had in my Art which makes me speak with more assurance than any that is younger than my self can Let me tell you that Calidons disease proceeds not from the body but the mind and if his body be sick it is because of the near union it hath to his sick mind which makes it resent the pain as if it were its own as we see one friend sensible of the pain of another And though these kinde of maladies be very painfull yet are they not so dangerous as those of the body for the mind is not subject to corruption or dissolution of parts but onely to change its quality I tell you this that you may not despair of the young mans cure whose Malady I think I have very rightly discovered And by all symptomes I finde that he is extreame passionately in Love and is either sleighted or else dares not declare it As soon as ever the Physician said so I presently apprehended that certainly it was with the fair Celidea and because of my forbidding him hee durst not speak of it When the Physician perceived me sad in lieu of rejoycing at the matter hee asked mee the reason to whom I answered that I was more in fear of him than ever because his malady was without the compasse of my cure and he might love one I had no power over or else a stranger or perhaps some enemy and therefore I saw no reason to rejoice There is a remedy said he against any thing but death and therefore never fear but I shall keep Calidon alive and if you will please to give me leave to be with him a few dayes I shall discover well enough whether he be in love with any that has any dependance upon you or with a stranger You cannot hope said I unto him ever to get it from his own mouth No no said he that 's not the way but fear not I shall bring it about Matters of Love be they never so close may easily be discovered if prudent artifice be used But great Nymph I should be extreamly tedious if I should relate every trivial passage therefore for brevities sake I shall onely tell you that this Physician was for seven or eight daies never from Calidons bed side In the mean time he advised me to get all the young Shepheardesses in the neighbourhood to come and see him under pretence of sorrow for his sicknesse As for the Physician hee was alwaies holding him by the arme and felt his Pulse to know when any caused an extraordinary motion in him So it was that Celidea at that time was gone a journey with Cleontine and stayed away
are loved consider the actions of those that love us if you finde them to be irregular and contrary to reason vertue or duty flie them as dishonourable if on the contrary you finde them to be moderate and not ramping beyond the limits of honesty or duty then cherish them and esteem them as vertuous This sapient lesson Shepheard teacheth me to cherish the affection of Thamires and to flie yours For what effect does the love of Calidon produce Violencies raptures transports and despairs were never the effects of vertue If the love of Thamires be considered we shall finde it to be all vertue When did he begin to love me At a time when there was no likelyhood any vice could invite him to it How has he continued this affection So as neither duty nor honesty could take the least exception against it But why did he give over For the reasons which he himselfe hath given Whether reason do not appear in all this I refer my selfe Madam unto your judgment These considerations moved me to entertain the affection of Thamires and reject the love of Calidon And this Amity and nothing else did enforce me to visit this Shepheard when he was sick to give him such good words as might recover him and all this as well to satisfie Thamires as out of a naturall compassion which all ought to have one unto another If I did fail in my love to Thamires Calidon for your satisfaction I will confesse it and repent with a protestation to love Thamires no more nor fall into the like fault But I cannot believe that therefore I am obliged to love you for if I should it would be to correct one errour by committing another which is worse Perhaps you will alledge against my defence that having given the whole disposition of my selfe unto Thamires and he transferring me into your hands I cannot contradict his disposall of me This is an excellent conclusion indeed I chuse you for my husband presently after you may give me unto another this is very fine Logick You must know Calidon that the reason why I gave Thamires all the power of my selfe was because I did love him and he loved me and therefore if he have any power over me he must love that is the implicite condition of his power but if he do not then the cause ceasing the effect must needs cease and therefore if he do not love me he hath no power over me But haply you will reply that he swears he does continue loving me still and that it is reason not want of affection which made him transfer me over unto another I must answer both him and you Shepheard that I do not believe him and yet if reason can so well perswade with his affection why should not reason have as much power over my affection Is there any reason I should love him whom nature and reason both forbids me to love Nature forbids the banes for since the first houre I ever saâ you there was such a contrariety in my heart and such a secret antipathy in it against you that I disliked every thing I saw you do Believe it Calidon what I say proceeds not from any scorn of you but from the very truth I had rather chuse to rest in my grave then live with you not but I do know and confesse you deserve a much better fortune but the reason is because Nature does hold me from you with abundance of violence and without any cause And since it is so upon what pretence can you desire I should be yours since Nature does forbid it and Reason likewise which neverthwarts Nature Go go Calidon live in quietnesse do not wilfully endeavour to make two persons miserable for the truth is you will be as miserable by it as my selfe If you do love me let it suffice that your love is most troublesome to me and do not strive to surcharge me with an intolerable burthen by forcing me to love you And be assured of this that Lignon shall sooner run backward then you shall finde any place in the affection of Celidea This Madam is the Answer which I shall give unto the shallow reasons of Calidon But now I have another more dangerous enemy to encounter withall who has better Armes and who gives more smarting blowes I mean the ungratefull Thamires Thamires whom I did really love and whom I thought had loved me as well as any possibly could But alas what would he have now Can he expect any thing from her whom he hath betrayed into the hands of her most cruell enemy Does he yet hope for any love from her whom he hath most ungratefully wronged Whan colour and upon what ground can he desire me to love him Is it because he did love me or because I loved him This Madam had been some reason at that time but now since he has left loving me and would force me to love another and not himself why does he urge unto me the time past which is not nor ever will return The memory of that time is an argument to hate him the more since I do finde him at this present so unworthy I do confesse I did love him but when he resigned me unto another he did demonstratively shew that he neither did nor does love me And therefore let him not think it strange that since my affection did proceed from his mine should cease as well as his for his was the cause and mine the effect and the cause ceasing the effect must follow Why did he cut up a Tree from which he expected fruit He hath done me more wrong then I him since he was the first offendor and yet I am satisfied I complain not I can quit him with a very good will and cannot wish he should court me again because it is a thing impossible to obtain me What is it he would now have Does he not know that as long as our love was mutuall I was his and he was mine and then by the Lawes of Amity he might dispose of me as his own If he have given me unto Calidon how can he pretend me to be his If he have any thing to require from me he must addresse himself to him unto whom he hath given me if he can have his consent I will afterwards consider what I have to do if he cannot why does he complain of me or ask me for what he has given away He hath sacrificed me as he saith to Calidon's health manifesting thereby that Calidon was dearer unto him than I was and in very good time But can he not be contented that his sacrifice is accepted and that his deer Calidon is recovered from death Would he so sacrilegiously recall what he has dedicated unto the gods Remove Thamires all such thoughts out of your soul lest the gods do punish you for it and do not hope that since I have been offered unto the gods for the health of Calidon I will ever stoop
Nor doe not think that by continuing to love you afterwards I doe commit any sacrilege nor doe prophane any sacred or holy thing since we doe all love the gods themselves The greatest command which they doe impose upon us mortals is to Love them But for Gods sake doe not say that I ask you onely to sacrifice you again for the recovery of some other For my desire is onely to have you again for my own sake I doe confesse my fault and will not insist upon any other argument or reason but my extream affection and will not argue with her any where but before the Throne of Love I doe here prostrate my self upon my knees and vow by all eternity never to rise as long as I live unlesse I be ingratiated into Celideas favour again As he pronounced these words he kneeled down and his eyes flowed with such a River of Tears that all the company did pitty him Celidea her self was a little moved and putting her hand before her face did turn her head the other way Then the Nymph seeing they had no more to say did rise up and taking Paris Silvander and the Shepheardesses aside did ask their opinions upon this difference Their opinions did much vary some to one side some to another At last and after a long and serious debate they all returned to their places and Leonida pronounced her sentence in this manner The Judgement of the Nymph Leonida THree things doe present themselves unto us upon the difference betwixt Celidea Thamires and Calidon The first Love The second Duty The third an Offence In the first we observe three great Affections in the second three great Obligations in the third three great Injuries Celidea hath loved Thamires from her Cradle Thamires hath loved Celidea though he be elder and Calidon hath loved her from the first time hee ever saw her Celidea hath been much obliged unto the virtuous affection of Thamires Thamires much obliged unto the memory of Calidons Father and Calidon much obliged unto the Indulgency of Thamires Again Celidea hath been extreamly offended with Thamires for giving her unto Calidon Calidon no lesse offended with Thamires and Celidea Thamires offended with Calidon for refusing to doe the same courtesie he received And Celidea offended with Calidon for offering to constrain her will and making her to lose him whom she did love All these things being long debated and seriously considered we conceive that as those things which Nature produceth are alwaies more perfect then those that are produced by Art so the Love that comes by a natural inclination is greater and more estimable than those affections that doe proceed from designes or obligations Furthermore those obligations which we receive in our own persons being greater than those in the behalf of another so it is certain that a benefit obligeth more than a memory An offence which hath any tincture of ingratitude it is much more hainous than a bare offence without it and deserves a greater punishment Now we do find that the Love of Thamires does proceed from a natural inclination for commonly such loves are reciprocal and so he loving Celidea he was loved again But so is not the love of Calidon whose sterile affection produceth nothing but hatred and scorn Moreover the good offices which Calidon hath received from Thamires doe render him more obliged than Thamires can be upon the score of an Uncle Again Calidons offence against Thamires having a stain of Ingratitude upon it is much greater than the offence of Thamires against Calidon since Thamires may almost cover it with the name of Revenge or Chastisment Therefore in the first place we doe ordain that the love of Calidon do submit unto the love of Thamires That the obligation of Thamires be esteemed lesse than the obligation of Calidon And the offence of Calidon greater than the offence of Thamires And as for that which concerns Thamires and Celidea we do declare that Celideas obligation unto Thamires is above the offence of Thamires in respect of his pure and innocent love and in respect of his carefull and indulgent education of her so as shee would be ingrateful if she did not think her self much obliged 'T is true his offence is not small when in disadvantage of his affection he would needs satisfie the obligations which he thought he owed unto Calidon And yet in consideration there is no offence but may be pardoned by a person that truly loves we doe ordain with the advice of all those who have heard the difference That the Love of Celidea shall surmount the offence which shee hath received from Thamires And that the Love which Thamires for the future shall bear unto her shall surpasse that affection which hitherto he hath born unto her for such is our Judgement This was Leonida's Sentence which hath since been observed by all three though the poor Calidon received it with so much disgust that but for the extream disdain of Celidea he should hardly have supported it But his malady at this time proved to be his remedy when from a more sound judgement he considered how much he was obliged unto Thamires and how great his folly was in thinking to make Celidea love him by force But at the first these considerations had not so much power upon him as to cut off all his hopes at one blow which the Nymph wisely foreseeing and to avoyd the complaints and teares of this Shepheard as soon as ever she had pronounced the last word of her Sentence she did rise up being partly invited unto it by the night which came on apace and she had no more day left than to carry her unto her Uncles house Therefore after shee had saluted all the fair Shepheardesses she and Paris entreated Silvander to conduct them through the Wood of Bonlieu lest they should lose their way it being very late and too troublesom for the Shepheardesses to accompany her Thus they parted and presently after the Nymph and Paris dismissed Silvander and came unto the house of Adamas as he was ready to goe unto his supper Silvander as he returned left Bonleiu on his left hand a Temple where many Vestals and chast Daughters of Druids doe inhabit under the charge of the venerable Chrisante and hee went through a Wood so thick that though the Moon was up and shined yet hee could not hit his way And indeed his own wandring thoughts as well as the darknesse of the Wood did put him besides his aym For hee was so wholly taken up with Diana that he minded nothing else And walking on he came at last upon an open place where hee saw the Moon she was a little past her Full and shined very clearly The Shepheard fell down upon his knees to adore her and because of the conformity in Names between Diana and her he loved that Starre above all the rest in the Cope of Heaven Having thus adored her and Diana in her hee stood up
was a declared enemy to Love yet now must love and adore would you I say have him make his love known But how comes it to passe fair Mistresse said he and addressed himselfe unto Diana that you would not answer unto what I say but seemes as if my discourse did not concern you Perhaps the reason is answered Diana because I must not be your Mistresse above fourteen or fifteen daies If that do trouble you said he you may easily finde a remedy by obliging me by your favours to continue in your service as your beauty and perfections have hitherto most really constrained me Ah Silvander answered Diana let us talk no more of any favours and service since the terme of three Months prescribed for your faigned affection is almost past it would be too great a trouble to you to constrain your naturall inclination any longer Fairest shepheardesse answered Silvander I would not have you believe I do think your service any trouble but I 'le assure you that it is abundance of delight unto me to do any service upto a person of so great a merit insomuch as though my Nature were contrary unto Love more then it is yet should I with abundance of delight continue in such a service Although shepheard you should said Diana and smiled yet it is agreed upon but by one party for though your naturall Genius do incline that way yet you can never hope that I will These words did touch Silvander's heart so to the quick since he perceived by them that he had gained a small influence upon her good-will as he was not able to hide his sad resentments of them but his countenance did plainly discover them by changing colour Which Astrea perceiving How now Silvander said she unto him what does your heart fail you It were strange replyed he if such cruell language from my Mistresse should not extreamly trouble me yet do not think my heart shall ever fail me though she and the heavens have the disposure of all my hopes and life Is not this answered Astrea rather rashnesse in you then courage and are you not too presumptuous in denying such powers No replied the shepheard it is a most true reall perfect and most faithfull love which makes me speak so By these and the like expressions Diana perceived that Silvander did really love her Silvander he did foresee abundance of difficulties and very small hopes unto himselfe And Astrea did conceive that Love had laid a foundation of an exquisite and lasting affection And though they all three had different thoughts yet were they all true as afterwards you shall perceive But Silvander interrupting the subject of this discourse addressed himselfe unto Diana I hope fairest Mistresse said he that this Bracelet of your fair hair which you have made for Phillis is only to be rid of her importunities and if it be so you are obliged to favour Silvander as much as her and lest you should be taxed with partiality you ought to treat us both with equall favour though the affection which you have caused in my soul cannot be equall'd by any other And why not said Astrea taking the part of Phillis since both sour affections do proceed from the same cause one grain of corn produceth severall ears Allthough the cause of our affections be the same said Silvander yet the effects may be different But experience shewes the contrary said Astrea for the affection of Phillis hath obtained that favour which is denyed yours This is not or want of any love answered the shepheard but for want of good fortune yet since the dropping of water upon the hardest Marble will in continuance of time pierce it why may not I as well hope that my Love and fervency of prayers long continued may as well work upon the marble heart of this fair one Then after he had looked upon her or rather adored her a long while be fell down upon his knees If Love my fairest Mistresse said he unto her have any influence upon beauty and if prayers caused thunderbolts to fall out of the band of Jupiter how is it possible that the extream affection of Silvander and his most zealous supplications cannot obtain as much favour as the shallow affection and troublesome importunities of Phillis hath obtained from you If it cannot I may with as much reason say that the way to obtain love is not to love and the way to overcome an obdurate heart is not by prayers and earnest supplications but only by dissimulation and vexing importunities Silvander used many other such expressions as these by which the shepheardesse gathered more assurance that love had taken root in him And Astrea knowing Diana's minde not to be very averse from granting Silvander what he asked would needs oblige them both by one act and therefore joyned her prayers unto Silvander's and she prevailed so with Diana that the Bracelet which was intended for Phillis was bestowed upon this Shepheard yet upon a condition that he should keep it no longer then the end of the terme which he was to serve her which she meant was to end within a few dayes which the shepheard with some difficulty assented unto but remembring that though the time of his faigned service would soon expire yet he remembred also that the time which he was to serve her ãâ¦ã earnest would last as long as his life It is impossible to expresse the thankfulnesââ ãâã Silvander's soul but much more his satisfied resentments Let it suffice that he who heretofore was wont to despise all manner of favours from Love and who could not imagine any could finde any contentment in such follies as he called them that he does now confesse that there is no felicity comparable unto this favour which he now resented And when he was in the midst of his sweet imaginations it seemes Love had a minde to compleat his joyes in making the shepheardesse Phillis to enter For he whose happinesse is unknown to any but himselfe cannot be said to be compleatly happy but the more it is known the more happy he is and much the more when this happinesse does not come by Fortune but by Merit Assoon as Silvander saw her he ran unto her and in a most jocund manner shewed her the arme on which he had already put his most beloved Bracelet and passed it often before her eyes saying Here Phillis here is the earnest of my ensuing Victory Phillis who had been seeking Lycidas with a desire to convince him of his jealousie and could not finde him was so sad and so weary as she needed not to counterfeit any anger nor change any countenance to testifie her displeasure and sorrowes which this favour might have caused in her And because Silvander was very troublesome unto her not only in this Act but in being the bellowes which did blow up the jealousie of Lycidas she said unto him in as sharp a manner as she could This earnest shepheard which you shew
Phillis do you not see that this sweet word which is so pleasing to you is only pure flattery which my Mistresse is pleased to put upon you to acknowledge in some sort that shallow affection which you bear unto her For since she cannot love you she will give you satisfaction in this coyne In taking you for a Companion she shewes flattery and flattery shewes small affection On the contrary in taking me for her Servant she shewes the good will she bears unto me since I am capable of that favour if any mortall man be Oh impudence cryed out Phillis Oh love answered Silvander Why replyed the shepheardesse do you think your selfe worthy to serve her whose merits are above all mortalls The greatest gods said the shepheard are served by men and are pleased with their service and duty Then why if I be a man as I hope you do not question will you not permit me to serve and adore my goddesse especially since she her selfe requires this holy duty from me Phillis standing mute and considering well of Silvander's reasons she knew not how to answer one word but did really think that Diana did confer a greater favour upon Silvander then upon her and therefore addressing her speech unto her Mistresse said she upon consideration of my enemies reason I finde that he is in the right and that you have conferred more favour upon him than me Is it possible you should do it intentionally If you did I shall have a just occasion of complaint and take it ill he should be so much advanced above his merit I see said Diana coldly that opinion hath a greater power of you then truth and you are guided only by it Within this quarter of an houre you were boasting of the favour which I did you in preferring you before Silvander And now this opinion being changed you complain of the contrary so as I am afraid that your affection also is nothing but opinion No question of it said Silvander for every word she hath spoken is an argument of it Is it any argument of Love Phillis to finde fault with the actions of your Mistresse If they be to my disadvantage said she would you have me to think well of them It were but your duty to conform your selfe and strive to get more love then you have said Silvander Would you have Diana conform her selfe unto your will or ought you to conform your selfe unto hers I wish to the gods said she that I had as much advantage over her as it seemes she hath given you over me If it were so said Silvander pray tell me which of you two should be the Mistresse and which the Servant Truly shepheardesse I do not think you ever received the least scratch in Love's War Astrea who silently heard their difference was at last constrained to say thus unto Diana I think wise shepheardesse that this shepheard will take away from Phillis the use of her tongue No said Silvander it is rather Love for hitherto she thought that she had loved but now she sees the contrary Thus those fair Shepheardesses deceived themselves in the length of the way and the Sun shining very hot they asked Silvander how far it was yet unto the place which he conducted them unto and understanding that they were about the mid way they resolved to rest themselves at the next Fountain or the next good shade they come unto and Silvander told then that they should presently come unto such a one where they should finde a Cherry tree full of ripe fruite In order to this resolution they doubled their pace but meeting with Laonice Hylas âââcis Manduates and Thirsander they stayed awhile These shepheards and shepheardesses were walking together seeking for cool shades and pleasent Fountaines for they were strangers and having no flocks to keep they passed away the time as pleasantly as possibly they could And intending not to part that day they walked up the banks of the delectable River of Lignon Now these two Companies being met Hylas presently left Laonice and came to Phillis and she left Astrea and Diana and went to him at which Silvander was not sorry thinking himselfe in more absolute possession of his Mistresse Tircis seeing Astrea alone for Thirsander did lead Maduntes he addressed himselfe in a humble manner unto her and offered his service in leading her She having a great esteem of that shepheard especially because there was a conformity betwixt their fortunes did very willingly accept of his offer so as every one had a Companion except Laonice who as I told you formerly having an extream desire to be revenged of Phillis and Silvander all her aime was to watch an occasion of doing them some mischiefe And to compasse her designe she kept a spying eye upon all their actions hearknââ unto all their discourse especially when they spoke low or in secret and when ãâ¦ã by their gestures that they spoke any thing affectionately She had formerly ãâ¦ã partly a cause of the jealousie of Lycidas and had since learned much of Silââââââ and other shepheardesses yet more from her own suspicions then any else But ãâ¦ã much more and became so knowing as it may be said she knew all ãâ¦ã as well as themselves Also there being none in the company who suspected her designe she had more free accesse to hear none taking any notice when she ãâã them After she had ãâã upon all the shepheards and shepheardesses and ãâ¦ã Companion to divert her she got as neer as she could unto Silvander who led Diana ãâ¦ã to whom she wished most ill and having already an opinion of their being in love the passionately desired to discover more Diana who had no designe at all upon Silvander though she did wish him better then any shepheard of Lignon did not care whether her words were heard or no And Silvander took no heed because he was so attenive unto what his Mistresse said as he did hardly see the ground he trod upon which gave Laonice a better opportunity to hearken Silvander then assoon as he was alone with his Mistresse Well my fairest said he unto her what do you think now of Phillis and me I do think answered she that Phillis of all persons in the world is the worst lyar and that of all the shepheards I know Silvander is the best dissembler for certainly you can counterfeit a passionate part the best of any living Ah shepheardess replyed Silvander it is an easy matter to counterfeit what one does really resent This replyed Diana is that which confirmes what I say I could never believe that a feigned passion could be glossed with words and actions so resemblant unto truth Ah Diana said he how far short are both my actions and my words of declaring the truth of my affection Could you but see my heart as wel as my face you would have a better opinion of me I must confess the wager betwixt Phillis and me hath been a cause that I have
Palinice and her modesty was such as would have given a check unto any but Hylas from moving any matters of Love unto her Yet before the third visit was paid he acquainted her with his minde and was as familiar as if he had been brought up with her from his cradle You have fair one said he unto her at the very first accost preserved my life and good reason it should be imployed in your service and I will do it though only out of gratitude And not to detract from your first favour which you have done me I beseech you accept this offer of my service and believe that there is no person upon earth that can love you better then I nor whose heart is swell'd with more affection My Companion who was unaccustomed to any such expressions did at the first answer him very coldly but seeing he persisted she grew angry and would not suffer him to use any such language At the last when by his continuall visits she found his humour she did nothing but laugh at him which did not offend him at all for he had this good quality that as he was free with every one so he allowed every one to be free with him However his Love did so increase that my companion did grow weary of him not but that Hylas is certainly a man of much merit and is owner of many qualities which deserve Love but she being a Widow and not intending to marry this courtship could not but be very disadvantageous to her It seemes that the Heavens had pitty upon Palinice and at the same time sent her a Companion and presently after that another to help her to support a burthen so heavie Palinice had a Brother who had been long a devoted Servant unto Cercenea my companion who now sits next me And respect being most in the hearts of those that love most Clorian for that was the name of Palinice's brother had not yet the confidence to acquaint the fair Circenâa with his affection She on the other side was yet too young to discover it by his actions so as Clorian loved and in vain because his love was not known Hylas in the mean time continued his frequent visits unto Palinice and as he said himselfe it being one of Loves chief precepts to get the favour of the kindred friends and servants of the party loved he courted the friendship of Clorian with all obsequious offers he could make which was no difficulty to obtain because the young man was all civility and sweetnesse and had an affection to get the love of all But Hylas being more subtle and crafty as being older and having travelled he faigned what Clorian did in good earnest so as he was only a superficiall friend whilst the other loved him as his Brother and the ensuing story will make this appear For Clorian's affection unto Cercenea daily augmenting and not daring to make it known unto her Hylas took notice of it Cercenea took a journey to see her Father who was sick in a Town within the Country of the Sebusians towards the Allobrogians by reason whereof Cercenea was long absent from our Town and consequently from Clorian And because as I have heard say there is no greater comfort to a true Lover then to think often of the party Loved Clorian did often retire himselfe into a house which he had in that Town that stood upon the top of a hill towards the Sebusians From this place might be viewed the Rosne on one side and Arar on the other and one might also see the Forrest of Mars called ãâã and if the tops of high Trees did not obstruct the eye questionless it might see further from thence then any other place When he turned towards the Temple of Venus Iâ might see as far as the Segusian Mountains when he looked towards Arar he might behold the ãâã and when towards the Rosne he might see as far as the huge hills of ãâã beyond the plains of the Sebusians And certainly it was a most lovly prospect every way It was to this place whither Clorian did commonly retire himselfe and looking towards the Sebusian plains did ravish himselfe with thoughts of his fair Cercenea It hapned that Hylas being very familiar with him and not finding him in the house he made no question but he was gon unto this Mount and being jealous that his Companion was in Love for he knew that this solitude and melancholly musing could proceed from no other cause he went up the stairs as softly as he could and finding the dore halfe open he saw him looking out of that window towards the Sebusians so ravished in his own thoughts that he could not hear it thunder and therefore could not hear the noise which Hylas made in opening the dore and entring but he himselfe spoke so loud that Hylas could hear these words A Discourse unto the Winde MIld Zephyrus that wantonly Amongst all fragrant flowers doth file Filching from them that sweetest are Thou dost by theft perfume the Air. If ever pitty did thee move Waft o're these plaines unto my Love And blow my thoughts into that breast Where they can only finde a rest But carry with thee on thy wing Those amorous Sighs I sadly sing Tel her in this my sad restraint She is my fair and only Saint Those lovely Twins her lips will yield Odors more sweet then all the field But when thou thus perfumed art Return and let me have a part Have I taken you Clorian said Hylas taking him about the neck and kissing him I must confesse you are the closest Lover that e're I knew yet you cannot hide your selfe from me No more I will not said Clorian after a little considering with himselfe for neither at this time nor any other will I ever hide any thing from you I am satisfied almost said Hylas upon condition you will ingenuously confesse what I do already know What is it replied Clorian which you desire to know of me I will not ask said Hylas what your malady is but only from whence it proceeds Oh Hylas said he and sighed you need not ask me who the cause is But I would to the gods you could as easily give me any comfort as I can freely satisfie your curiosity So sitting down upon a Couch he told him of his affection and how the love he bare unto Cercenea was so great as he durst never acquaint her with it When Hylas heard the name of Cercenea he thought he had heard of it before though he could not well remember when or where and therefore he asked him which of all those he had seen was she Since you do not know her name answered Clorian I believe you never saw her for her beauty is such that it is impossible you should see her and not enquire her name and make you remember her But when I calculate the time of your comming unto this Town I believe you never saw her I came said
Hylas at the last Fâast which was celebrated unto Venus Clorian after a whiles consideration answered him That he could not see her unlesse he came that very day because the morning after she went away unto her Father who was sick in the Province of the Sebusians and never returned since Well said Hylas though she be never so fair do you think that she would not be loved Can you believe that those only who are ugly will permit it No no if such should be told they are loved they would think themselves jeer'd I do not think said Clorian that if Beauties bâ told they are loved they will be offended but their modesty may How said Hylas let her be as modest as she can do you think she will be angry at being loved Ah Clorian their modesty is not any sorrow for being loved but only because they doubt whether what is said be true And indeed where is that woman who when she is assured of a mans affection is not extreamly well pleased with it and gives him no testimony of her satisfaction No no Clorian of all the actions which we do next unto those that preserve life there is none so naturall as this of Love And can you imagine women such enemies to Nature that they will hate what is naturall Come come let me give you advice which unlesse you be a very Novice in Love you will follow and finde that I am my Arts Master in such things Let Cercenea know that you do love her and that assoon as possibly you can for the sooner she knowes it the sooner will she love you May be at first she will turne her head aside and bid you talk no more of any Love Perhaps shee'â seem to be in a great fury and will not speak to you But however do you continue and be assured that if you be but assiduous you will win her When they give us these peevish answers and refuse the affection which we present unto them they put me in minde of those Physicians and Lawyers that refuse the Fee yet put out their hand I am older then you are I have run through some parts of the world and let me tell you I have loved many this gives me encouragement to speak the more freely unto you and you must not take any exceptions Be certain that never any faint hearted Lover sped well And in matters of Love no fault is so great as being too respectfull He that will speed well must dare attempt ask begg importune presse take nay he must ravish Did you never know the humour of women Clorian Hearken unto the great Oracle which in our time spoke thus Shee 'l flie away and yet would fain With all her heart be overta'n She will deny yet seem to daunt A Lover when she fain would grant She will resist that you at length May seem to vanquish her by strength For thus her honour does ordain She should resist and yet but faign He that has no courage to do thus let me advise him to take upon him some other trade then that of Love for he will never thrive by it Clorian therefore my counsell is that you do assume so much confident boldnesse as not only to declare your love unto her but to hope that she will love you again so you will but let her know your minde I cannot generous shepheard remember all the documents and amorous advises which Hylas gave but I understand since from Palmice who heard her brother relate them that he did make himselfe appear to be his Arts Master in such things But the conclusion of all was that since Clorian had not so much confidence as to declare his Love unto his Mistresse as soon as she returned which would be within a few daies Hylas should be his Advocate and speak for him Hylas did very willingly accept of the imployment for said he I shall oblige two at once by it to wit Clorian in doing him the good office and Cercenea in bringing her such good newes It hapned that presently after my Companion returned to the Town and though the death of her Father had put her into a mourning habit and though her own sadnesse was suitable unto it yet all her sorrowes had not at all lessened her beauty but had added such a kinde of sweetnesse unto her countenance as invited all that saw her to love her by reason of a certain attractive compulsion which rendred her much more pleasing Hylas in prosecution of his promise no sooner heard of her return but he courted all opportunities to see her in which Palinice was not unwilling to help him because her Brother desired it She who knew nothing of their designe and believed it to be only out of curiosity was glad to satisfie her Brother though she cared not for the company of Hylas As fortune was Cercenea's Mother would offer a sacrifice unto the gods for the soul of her Husband and did invite Palinice as one of her best friends thither she went and with her Hylas But see if he be not as good a friend as a faithfull Lover he no sooner saw Cercenea again but he was deep in love with her I say saw her again because looking upon her he remembered that he had seen her before in the Temple of Venus when Palinice saluted her and because he then found some sparks of good will unto her his first flames did kindle again in his heart as easily as any Sulphure at the fire Looking upon her therefore very seriously he began by degrees to remember that Cercenea was she whom he saw in the Temple and remembring how excellently she could sing and all that Love could make him apprehend at the first sight he quite forgot his promise unto Clorian and thought only how to speak for himselfe Thus you may see how dangerous a thing it is to imploy a Second in such a businesse He accosted her afterwards saluted her And she out of sweet civility returned him a salute again Then both being in the Temple and every one going to their devotion he said thus unto her I see fair Cercenea that the sight of you is fatall unto me and comming hither to be an assistant unto your sacrifices I am become a sacrifice my selfe She who knew not the man or ever heard of him did look him in the face and then after a little consideration she concluded him to be a stranger both by his language and habit because though they were made according to the garb of our Town yet he did wear them in that manner as was plain he was a stranger For strangers though they do disguise themselves in our fashion yet they have some trick or other in their Air by which one may see they are not of the same Country And I do believe that this difference is lesse found amongst the Franks then any other Nation Now Circenea not knowing Hylas she thought that he had taken her for some
not finding any better in any other place he is forced to rest here It does concern me said Phillis to answer because Hylas is my servant yet believe it I will not answer for his fidelity since I must needs think that having once loved so great a Beauty as yours and falling off that it is not beauty which makes him in Love What then said Hylas can it be An humour of changing said Florice and a certain levity of minde that will not let you continue foure and twenty houres in one opinion Oh! said Hylas you are a partie and therefore your judgment may be suspected If you mean answered she that I am the party offended I do freely forgive the injury and do think my selfe more obliged unto you for your changing then I should have received satisfaction in your constancy And if you think me a party that does pretend any thing unto you believe it Hylas I will with all my heart quit all my pretensions unto any that will have them who if they will receive them they will more oblige me by it then they will finde benefit by the gift You have reason to dispose thus of me said Hylas halfe angry for you may as freely dispose of me as of the stars All this while Paris had addressed himselfe unto Diana whom after he had saluted This said he is a more happy encounter than I could ever have hoped for since I did the least expect you here It is indeed happy for me said Diana since we shall enjoy your company unlesse these fair strangers do deprive us of it At this word she blush'd knowing that Paris loved her As this blush did please Paris so it had a contrary effect in Silvander who knowing that Paris loved her could not defend himselfe against some stings of jealousie when he saw the good reception of his Rivall and this experience taught him to confesse that jealousie might proceed from love The shepheardesse who had no inclination to hate Silvander took notice of it and so did Laonice though the shepheard did dissemble it as well as he could and they had known it better if Astrea had not parted them for desiring most passionately to finish their journey she broke company And because Paris had taken Diana by the arme Silvander went towards Phillis who seeing him comming It seemes said she unto him that we are too too many and that though we were absent they could entertain themselves I cannot deny it said Silvander I must shrug my shoulders patiently and pay this kinde of tribute without murmur When he would have answered farther Hylas came to them and not caring for these strangers ran unto Phillis and lest Palinice Cercenea and Florice as if he had never loved them Diana who could not chuse but admire this humour in him did make a signe unto Phillis by way of wonder Phillis who did esteem him as an excellent man to make sport after she had looked upon him But Hylas said she unto him can I believe you to be in earnest Can you doubt it said he âânce I have left all these whom I did love to wait upon you That is an excellent argument indeed said she but I pray tell me did you ever love these strangers whom you have left to come unto us You may gather as much said he from Florice's own mouth I had some reason said she to ask this question for if you did ever love them how could you finde a heart to leave them so soon in a place where they are strangers Even as I have heretofore left others for them said Hylas so now I do leave them for you and I must needs confesse that if my affection unto you were not much above all termes of civility I should have thought my selfe in some sort obliged to wait upon them Doubtlesse said Phillis you do very much oblige me but I do admire that since you did love them you should now make so little account of them I did love them 't is true said Hylas but I will do so no more my love to them is now dead and me-thinks this should be no such great piece of wonder to see a man free when the cord which tyed him is broken I do believe said Silvander that Hylas did never love these strangers for if he had he would have loved them still since the cords of Love cannot be broken Though they cannot be broken said Hylas yet I am sure they may be untied No said Silvander all Love knots are Gordian knots If they be said Hylas I have a sword as well as he who when he could not untie them did cut them and I am sure I have done so severall times Never believe you did love them said Silvander for if you had you would have loved them still Shall I not believe what I do know said Hylas But to do you a pleasure I will not believe it But pray trouble neither me nor your selfe any further keep your selfe to your own melancholly humour and vex me no more with your impertinent opinions Phillis who was discreet and seeing Hylas in his angry altitudes to interrupt him said thus However Hylas I must needs be angry with you for hindring me from knowing some things which these strangers had begun to relate Mistresse answered he I had rather never have loved them then you should misse of your satisfaction by any means of mine I know answered Phillis that the love you bear unto them and the satisfaction you speak of will not trouble you for since you do not love them now what will it concern you whether you did or did not love them Why my Fairest said Hylas do you not esteem past contentments If my contentment do not continue said Phillis the remembrance of it does but grieve me the more The services then that were done you a week since said he are vanish'd if it be so the worse for Hylas Silvander answered in the behalfe of Phillis Your Mistresse said he does not speak of services but of contentments received and before you complain it is requisite to know of her whether your services be in that rank Hylas answered Those who mistrust their own merits as you do may make that doubt but not I. Silvander who knowes that Love cannot be paid but by Love again and she unto whom I devote mine hath more goodnesse then not to acknowledge it and more judgment then not to esteem it Silvander would have answered but Phillis interposed I do esteem Hylas said she as I ought to do and do acknowledge his merits are very worthy to beloved nor need he think his services are forgotten for he continuing to love me they are all esteemed as present And if this declaration do please him I will request one thing of him which he ought not to deny me unlesse he would have me think that he does not love me Command fairest said Hylas what you please but two things that I die or
shall be impossible said I if I do not Give me the Scarfe replyed she which you took from Parthenopea and in exchange I shall give you another which is better I was very loath to do it and would gladly have come off with an excuse but it was impossible As soon as she had it she put it upon her arme and gave me another which indeed was much better and the same day knowing that I was not in my lodging she went with some of her friends under colour of walking unto my lodging and sent to see if I was not within A servant of mine whom she knew came to her and told her that I was not in my lodging This good company and my selfe said she were desirous of his company to walk with us But prethee do me the favour to go and tell Parthenopea that we stay here for her to that end and in reward of thy service take this Scarfe and wear it all this day for my sake Then she put about his neck that Scarf which I had from Parthenopea This varlet thought himselfe mighty brave and much honoured in this favour and gave her most humble thanks and to shew his ready obedience ran as fast as he could to deliver his message unto Parthenopea who seeing her Scarfe about the fellowes neck she had an opinion that I caused him to wear it in scorn of her and hearing his errând did know very well that it came from Cercenea and that I had given it unto her which did so extreamly offend her that I could never since renew with her and much lesse with Cercenea who absolutely declined me although she plainly saw that I did love her better then I did Parthenopea But practising this Maxime that one must hate them whom they have offended so she knowing her treason to be great she would never conside in me again I was constrained to return unto Palinice but stayed not long for it being then the spring-time of the year these Ladies would many in a company enjoy the sweetnesse of the aire and go into the Country in a Barge up the calm and smooth River of Arar passing away the time one while in musick of Instruments another while in that of Voices and sometimes landing would dance upon the dazie Meadowes As ill luck was I had no acquaintance amongst all this good company but only Palinice and Cercenea however I thrust in amongst them and undertook to entertain them all I saw they all whispered and asked who I was and Palinice had a great deal of trouble in telling my name unto all that asked her But presently after I was as well known as any in the company for holding discourse with the first that did offer any they found my humour so pleasing that all of them desired my friendship As long as the Barge went upward although the River ran so silent as one could not tell which way it ran yet sometimes it would make such a noise against the stream as they could use none but Instruments but when it went downward the waves made only a little dashing against the Barge and then those who had good Voices did sing what came into their fancies Amongst this assembly of Beauties there was many Knights and children of Druides to keep them company and passe away the evening with more delight This was the first time I ever saw Theombres This man had almost passed the Autumne of his age in such a good opinion of himselfe as he thought all Ladies like to die for the love of him For my part I never could observe any taking quality in him yet certainly he had some features which was not displeasing unto some Amongst the rest Florice was one who might come into the catalogue of those who are called Fair Indeed she was fair all her features pleasing but above all her eyes were so sweet and alluring as I must confesse I never saw such her stature was tall and her minde so majestick as one might easily see she was above vulgar extraction and indeed she was of that Family who vaunts to be descended from the great Ariovistes And though this fair Lady was such as there was not one in all the Country but did and ought to yield unto her both in merit and beauty Yet Theombres was more in her affection then any in the Town And because it was long since this Love began and hung in a kinde of languishing continuance Theombres thought it best to awake it by some sparks of jealousie and therefore seemed as if he were in love with a young Beauty called Dorinde who indeed was Mistresse of some beauty but yet yielded in all unto Florice Now Dorinde being gone out of the Town unto one of her Uncles Theombres to continue his dissimulation did alwaies when he sung take Dorinde for the subject and as I remember one Verse of it was that when she departed she vowed to keep him continually in her memory which he took to be so great a happinesse unto himselfe that he would not change fortunes with any Angell in heaven The fair Florice did think her selfe much concern'd in this and it being spoke in her presence she was the more offended and therefore in defence of Dorinde who was some waies allied unto her she answered him in this manner A Song DORINDE did but only play And fool you when she so did say Knowing without a wrong she may False coine to such as false are pay Perhaps the vainesse of your minde Does make you brag that she is kinde To shew that favour you can finde From one so fair and well inclin'd If such a promise shee did vow 'T was only to be rid of you So being but a parting blow Shee 's not oblig'd to think on 't now This retort upon Theombres by Florice did so please me that ever since I resolved to love her and add her unto Palinice and Cercenea And presently after rowing by a very pleasant Meadow it was the generall vote to land in it and enjoy the beauty of the place Some began to sing others to dance and others to gather flowers or to walk Florice was one of those whose Genius was to make Nosegayes and Garlands she had separated her selfe from company and set down upon the grasse perhaps in some thoughts of what Theombres had said I accosted her not with an intention to fall on but to try her and as I found her tractable so to go on or make a retreat also my conceit was that Cercenea being made thereby a little jealous might be moved to repentance but it hapned quite otherwise as you shall understand However I fell upon my knees by her and was very officious in helping her to gather flowers She very civilly took them at my hands but wondred that having never seen me before that I should take so much paines I perceived it well enough but still waited till her words gave me an occasion to let her know
that I loved her My reason why I treated her at such a distance of respect was the grandure and state that she kept which in truth was such that of all I ever loved before I never stood in such reverentiall fear as of her It hapned as I hoped for after she had received many of the flowers which I gathered she told me I had taken too much paines and that I would think her to be uncivill if she suffered me to continue To which I answered That I thought every one obliged to do her all service since she had so excellently well defended her friend in her absence Do you mean Dorinde said she unto me The very same said I in whose person you have obliged all others Truly said she I could not endure the vanity of Theombres for you see what he is and yet he thinks we are all ready to die for the love of him Then certainly said I Ladies must needs be either very loving or of very little judgment for I think him to be rather a remedy against Love then of any capacity to cause it I am clearly of your opinion said she for if I had an inclination to love this man of all men living should be the last I would chuse If you should love him said I it would be a grand offence against the gods who having adorned you with so much beauty you would that way profane it I cannot tell said she what beauty there is in me but I am most sure that I could never love him Cannot you tell what beauty there is in you said I then you cannot tell what all the world doth see but perhaps it is only your modesty which makes you seem ignorant of it No no said she I do really believe that there is nothing in my face which can merit that name you give it But be it what it will pray let 's talk no more of it for more would be out of season and little delighting I shall obey you said I unto her but it shall be with this protestation then that I will never speak again what I think and what you have forbidden to be in my mouth shall as long as I live rest in my heart We had discoursed longer had not the company called us away for they were already gone into the Barge Then she rose up without making any answer and putting her flowers in a corner of her Gown I took her hand and conducted her to her company where not daring to revive the discourse which we left lest I should be too bold for so much forwardnesse in the first declaration of Love is a signe of but little affection I contented my selfe at this time with what I had already said At last the generall genius of the company was all for singing and when it came to my turn I sung these ensuing Verses to assure Florice that all which I had said was true A Song Amorous Oathes FAirest you murder my desires Which yet to none but you aspires I swear by your fair eyes that are More splendid then the Sun by far I swear by my own heart and soul Which you imperiously controul I swear by your own sweetnesse which Does all my faculties bewitch I swear by your disdain and scorn Intolerable to be born I swear by all that amorous fire Which makes men love you and admire By all my hopes and all my fear And all my hot desires I swear I swear by your fair selfe that is The Center of my happinesse I swear by all that life affords And yet you credit not my words Thus fair Phillis was a good foundation laid for since the very first time I saw Florice it was impossible for me to make a retreat yet it angred me that I should lose Palinice as well because I was obliged unto her as because she was really a woman of much merit Moreover the love of Cercenea much grieved me for this young Beauty being offended she sleighted all the reasons I could bring in to convince her However though she did not love me yet it vext her to see that Florice should have a more absolute power over me then ever she could have thinking this to be an argument of her being inferiour in beauty And this was the reason why she did me all the ill offices she could both to Palinice and Florice But so it hapned that her malice did me no harm but did more for me then all my services perhaps of a long time could have done for Florice presently found that Cercenea did speak it out of a passionate partiality and therefore she gave no credit unto her And on the contrary considering and observing my actions more neerly she began to finde them agreeable and by little and little to please her so as Love like a slie and subtle spie did insensibly insinuate himselfe into her soul However I being very desirous to keep my selfe in Palinice's favour I was a little vexed But learn this from me Silvander said he and turned towards that Shepheard that there is none whom women esteem more then those who are in love with them Nor none whom they more despise said Silvander then those that leave them and love another But upon this consideration said Hylas I endeavoured to keep fair with all if it was possible but all in vain for Florice was too full of vanitie and had too over good an opinion of her own merits to entertain a heart in which any other had a share And this proud soul resolving to be sole Mistresse and to love none but me she did one day do me so much favour as to assurence of her love But said I unto her what shall we do with Theombres thinking to upbraid her with him She presently answered me in my own element Let us give him unto Palinice I understood her meaning well enough and therefore I swore unto her never to love any but Florice and that if she would banish Theombres out of her sight I would promise her never to look upon Palinice again Nor because you desire it said she but because he does extreamly displease me I will swear and protest unto you that I will never love him and that if it were handsome I would banish him out of my sight for when you consider that action well you will finde it to be a greater wound unto me then it can be satisfaction unto you Since this time she gave her selfe wholly unto me and I contrary to my own nature did give my selfe wholly unto her and declined all others From morning untill night I never stirred out of her lodging unlesse she went and if any came upon visits they must be persons of great eminency if they did interrupt our discourse At every word I was in her mouth and she in mine and we could not speak unlesse the one called the other as a witnesse Judge yet whether Palinice and Cercenea had not enough to talk off This was
by all the gods not to swerve from it I beseech you generous Paris consider the Natures of most men Before Periander declared his affection unto me I did love Dorinde but much lesse then since And as a fire is augmented by the agitation of the winde so my affection was much more violent being opposed by the affection of Periander This was the reason why I devoted my selfe unto her more then before But having spent some daies in courting her without effect and fearing that Periander being of that Town and having many kindred of good rank should make a farther progresse into her favour then my selfe I resolved to use the subtlety of the Fox where the strength of a Lion would not prevail I had recourse then unto Policie thinking that in Love subtleties were lawfull and just I caused a little Mirror to be made no bigger then the plain of my hand but as rich as possibly Art could make it both in the curiosity of the Gold work and in the Enamell which added much to the value and beauty afterwards I put my own Picture which was drawn to the life between the Glasse and the table of Gold which held it so as when the Mirror was opened nothing could be seen but the Glasse and work about it Afterwards I went to an old woman who got her living by carrying Jewells and other pieces of curiosity unto private houses to sell and told her that I desired to turn this Mirror into Money and therefore she would do me a great pleasure if she could sell it for me She promised she would do her best But I told her that I had present use of money and would let it go at any reasonable rate She answered me that things done in haste were never well done but still she would do her endeavour So she went away with my Mirror yet she was no sooner gone out of my lodging but I sent for her back and told her that my occasions were so pressing as if she could but get halfe the worth or lesse she should let it go but advised her before she went any whither else to carry it into the house of Arcingentorix I know said I unto her that he hath a Daughter whom he loves very well perhaps he will be glad of such a present for her Indeed answered the woman I did intend to offer it unto him before any other because it was long since I was at that house Go then said I unto her and before you carry it any whither else let me know what the Father or the Daughter will give for it I will not trouble you with all the goings and commings of this woman but so it was that my plot took effect and Dorinde bought it as well for its curiosity of workmanship as for the cheapnesse not giving the third part of the worth for it Things being thus ordered about five or six daies after I saw it hanging by her side and she making very much of it Then I thought it requisite to accomplish my plot as soon as I could for it was to be feared that because the glasse was so extreamly thin and fragil it might break and then my picture would be seen to prevent which danger I went unto Periander and asked him Whether he had any thing advanced himselfe into Dorinde's favour To which he very ingenuously answered That he was not one jot more in her favour than the first day he saw her that he knew not whether he should accuse her Nature or his deficiency in Merit or his hard Fortune yet all his contentment was that he saw she treated him as well as any other No no Brother said I unto him do not accuse your own Merits not the Nature of Dorinde for your Merits are much above your Fortune nor is she insensible of Love's Darts but that affection which possesseth her is the cause of all this coldnesse both towards you and all others And to shew you your errour though I know it will vex you at the first yet I will tell you the truth Believe it Brother said I and embraced him that I am in such possession of her as she cannot see but with my eyes The truth is I did never in all my life meet with so close and so discreet a Lover as she is for she is so afraid her passion should be known as she will not in publick so much as look upon me unlesse forced unto it by the Lawes of civility but when we are in private if you did but see how passionately she does carrasse me you would admire the strange command she hath over her selfe in not making demonstrations of it any where else And to the end you should not think this to be a forged tale I will give you such certain knowledge as shall undoubtedly assure you of all I say But I do conjure you by all the sacred Lawes of Friendship since what I shall tell you is only to undeceive you that you do never discover me for it will nothing at all profit you but may ruine me in her opinion Then vowing he would not I continued Did you never take notice of a Mirror said I unto him which of late daies she hath worn by her side And he answering Yes Then know said I unto him she weares it for my sake and the love of me Now to put you out of all doubt the first time you see her take out the glasse and then take out a little paper which is between the glasse and it and you shall finde my Picture There is no question but she will be very sorry that you saw it but however my friendship obligeth me to discover this secret unto you rather then let you run on in your errour Periander hearing this stood as if immovable and stared as if he had seen the face of Medusa But after he had considered upon what I said he concluded that if it was so then he would quit her unto me and absolutely fall off And to know the truth said he though I do not suspect your words yet I would go out of her service by letting her know the cause so as she should not accuse me of levitie So he went immediately unto her lodging where he found Dorinde by her self who stayed at home to entertain two Ladies which intended a visit unto her She who did really love Periander better then all those that courted her did yet make very little shew of it and as soon as she saw him she went to meet him according to her accustomed sweetnesse and civility But he who came with a bad opinion of her and conceiving all her kindnesses to be but dissimulations he began to look upon her and all her actions with disdain Almost as soon as he these expected Ladies came also but went presently away again Periander could not chuse but wonder at her freenesse to him and all others But having no minde to carry any longer in a place
it was because he thought I should be angry at it and all men of reputation will preserve the honour of those who do oblige them but most certainly he loved me more then her since he never spoke of our affection These thoughts made her condemne what she had done and extreamly repent of the fault which she had committed and earnestly desire a reconciliation On the contrary Dorinde justly incensed against me and swelling with anger after a flood of tears flowing upon her cheeks and breast she went into her Closet and vented all the bitternesse and animosity that her sorrowes could inspire into her tongue And as fortune was just as she was wiping the tears from her eyes I came to her house and when she heard me walking she ran and pulled to the dore which she had left open when Florice went out and which her minde being upon other things she had forgot to shut yet she could not do it so suddenly but I saw how red her eyes were with crying and when I wondred both at her tears and that she should deny me entrance she opened her Closet and standing in the dore Perfidious Traitor said she and called me by my name are you come with any designes of injury unto me And because I answered nothing being so surprised that I could not speak Perhaps ungratefull wretch said she you will deny your villany Ah most wicked person said she and shewed me her Letters here are all the testimonies of my too easy beliefe but know that there is not one of thy treasons which is not known unto me and be certain that thou hast made me forever thy most mortall enemy Then she pushed me out of the dore and shut it so suddenly that I could not hinder her Thus fairest Mistris seeing she would not open the dore I went away the most ashamed man in the world but so incensed against Florice that revenged I would be at what rate soever for it was she I knew that took my Letters I saw it was she that gave them unto Dorinde purposely to displease me I did imagine that it was envie or jealousie which made her commit this crime against our amity and conceiving that nothing would more vex her then to seem as if I had quitted her for Dorinde I resolved to break off entirely with her and devote my selfe wholly unto the other The greatest difficulty was to appease Dorinde but I armed my selfe with a full resolution to endure all manner of disdain and anger rather than not be revenged upon Florice Within a few daies after I went in this designe unto Dorinde in her Closet for the displeasure which she had received made her more retired then usuall and offering to shut the dore upon me I fell down upon my knees so suddenly as she could not avoid me then after I had begged a thousand times for a pardon I told her all the truth to wit how Florice having long loved me and to keep our affections more secret she commanded me to faigne a courtship of her which accordingly I did both at the first and when I gave her all those Letters but afterwards comming to love her in good earnest I then gave Florice no more Oh! y ar said she unto me did you not carry her the last which I writ also 'T is true said he that she hath them but she stole them from me and if you will not believe me ask of those who helped her to play the thiefe Then I named two who had seen her steal them and told me of it and therefore when Florice sound her selfe punished by her own invention she acquainted you with all that could break off your affection from me But is not Love just in making her suffer that harm which she prepared for you Why should she make your beauty the cloak for all her designes May the gods never be favourable unto me if I do not hate such things most abominably and if I do not love you above all the world and into whose favour I do desire most to ingratiate my selfe Let not her jealousie and slander of me have a greater influence upon you then my affection hath and let not her anger at my disdaining her for you prejudice me in your good opinion I used many such expressions which at the first did not operate according to my desires and expectance but so disposed her that when I made the theft of Florice manifest unto her she would pardon me And presently after we renewed love upon stâicter obligations then ever before which took me off from Florice as much as if I had never seen her and I did it without any constraint for it is most true she was fairer then Dorinde and of a higher rank and quality yet my anger against her had so changed my eyes as this Beauty did not at all please them but made me sleight her Florice for a while did endure all this seeming not to care a jot what became of me as if all my actions were very indifferent unto her but at length she repented and extreamly grieved that she had so lost me and being assured that I did once love her also thinking that a reall affection could not so easily extinguish she conceived that if she did seem as if she loved some other doubtlesse it would have so much influence upon me as would make me return again unto her And in order to this designe she could not think of any more fit to fool then Theombres because she thought his disposition was amorously inclined and because he had formerly loved her Then she began to carrasse Theombres with all imaginable expressions and shew as if all he said or did did please her especially when I was within compasse of taking any notice and then she would talk to him and whisper as if she had made choice of him for the only Cabinet of all her secrets I presently observed this redintegration and told Dorinde who could not chuse but laugh when she heard how Theombres was embarqued Florice seeing I did not return unto her according to her expectance did the more multiply her favours upon him insomuch as many did dislike her behaviour and acquainted her Parents with it for she was so free and open in the dispensation of her favours as in lieu of hiding them as is usuall she exposed them to the view of every one nay studied how to make them seen otherwise I had not come to the knowledge of it for I never saw her but in publick and when I was with her in any publick place I shunned her Now her Father as I have told you being advertised of this Love did exceedingly reprehend her and much more her Mother who for honour and chastity was an eminent example to all the Country At the first shâ would have glossed the matter with an excuse but afterwards seeing excuses would not do it she did confesse it and said that it was true Theombres
did court her and that she could not chuse but love him But her Mother who could not upon any termes approve of her behaviour did tell her in a very angry manner That Theombres did not give so many testimonies of his love to her as she of her love to him To which Florice in much disorder answered That Theombres did court her in the way of honour and since his End was only at Marriage she could do no lesse then allow of him If it be so said her Father let him acquaint us with his intentions otherwise we shall think you only invented this thereby to excuse your selfe She who had a very reverentiall respect and fear of her Father and Mother and who besides had ever lived in great reputation did think it expedient that Theombres should make some overtures of Marriage unto her Parents yet not intending to go any further then a meer motion for she hoped that it might be easily broken off Therefore she spoke unto Theombres concerning it who was joyed at it beyond all expressions and not to lose a minute of time he entreated two of his Uncles to make the motion unto Florice's Father and Mother which accordingly they did with so many fair offers as they were received as well as they could desire for he was very rich and an advantageous Match unto Florice which being known and considered by her Parents they would not prolong time but did conclude the Marriage that same day and the more willingly because they believed it agreeable unto the liking of their Daughter Thus is Florice's Marriage with Theombres made up all things agreed upon Writings sealed and nothing wanting but a Priest to Marry them But Oh! what a wonder was all this unto Florice when she heard of it Her Father thinking she would be very glad of it would himselfe be the messenger of the newes But when he told her how all things went though she would have faigned yet she could not but broke out into a deluge of tears at which her Father was much amazed How Daughter said he unto her this is very strange does Florice cry at what she her selfe desired I told you Father said Florice all in tears that Theombres courted me in way of Marriage but I never told you that I did desire it Were not you the cause said the Father which moved Theombres to make the motion It was upon your command replied she and not upon my own desire and I did believe you would have given me some time to consider upon it Come come said he in an angry manner you knew well enough how such businesses use to be carried Resolve with your selfe that since they have gone thus far they shall go on What! would you be further courted and give all the world an occasion to talk of you Would you have further time to make me more ashamed No no Florice content your selfe I have blush'd enough for you already when your friends acquainted me with your behaviour and I will prevent it for the future if I can Upon this he left her alone and went to his Wife who hearing what discourse had passed came to her with all the sharp language which she could invent and for a conclusion told her that nothing but death could hinder that Marriage from taking effect and therefore she must resolve upon it Thus poor Florice was in a worse condition than ever for she had not only lost me whom she loved but was likely to be enjoyed by another whom she loved not but hated worse then a death Imagine in what a wildernesse of thoughts she was and what various combats was in her soul In conclusion she resolved that death should be the remedy against all her restlesse afflictions not that she had so much courage as to kill her selfe for the thought of such a cruelty made her to tremble but because she thought her life was not able to endure so many sad and tormenting miseries But see the strange consequents of Love she did not so much grieve for the losse of me and at her being anothers whom she loved not as to think that I should put a bad construction upon that affection which she expressed unto me For though she was angry at me because of Dorinde yet she did love me and excused me for loving her no more accusing her selfe with the offence which she had committed against me Being thus perplexed and since she could not avoid her Marriage with Theombres she resolved to give her selfe so much satisfaction at the least as to let me know that her minde was not changed and that her affection should for ever be the same as I had found it Her Letter was thus written Florice's Letter unto Hylas WHen you look upon this hand perhaps you will remember that you have seen it heretofore when you loved her that writ it and that now so much offended you Consider how great my affection is unto you since after so great an injury I take pen in hand to let you know the condition she is in whom once you so much loved and who loves you still infinitely above all the world maugre all the injuries you have done me Know that by the rigorous Lawes of Marriage I am now going to be anothers and that there is no other remedy unlesse you will this very houre prevent it Assuring my selfe that my Parents woudl be better pleased with your Alliance then that of Theombres unto whom alas I am destined unlesse you do love me as well as I love you When this Letter was brought unto me I was sorry at those frequent reports of this Marriage and though I was resolved to be wholly Dorinde's yet I could not chuse but resent the losse of Florice for I esteemed her lost in the alliance of Theombres And see the subtlety of Love He knew well enough that to assault me openly was in vain because I was still in mine anger and therefore he would go another way with me First he propounded unto me my hatred of Theombres how undeserving he was of this advantage and how happy he would be in Florice Then he represented unto me the beauty and merits of Florice what pitty it was that such a man should enjoy her and brought into my memory all those favours which I had received from her To be briefe he did so imprint these considerations in my soul that ere I was aware I was more in love with her then with Dorinde so as when her Letter came unto my hands and considering with a sound judgment the beauty the quality and the merits of the Writer I did acknowledge that I had done her wrong in quitting her for another much inferiour and repenting of it I intended to return to her again Truth is when I considered the remedy which she propounded to break off her Marriage with Theombres I knew not what to resolve upon for I hated that fatall Tie of Marriage more then I can expresse
see this unhappy Marriage and that my intention was never to return again but since my affection would not give me leave to be so far distant I was constrained to return but arrived in the most unfortunate minute that could be and that it was absolutely impossible I should live unlesse she gave me some assurance that her affection was not changed She as if she never heard him took a Ring off from her finger and put it into his hand This Diamond said she may assure him that it hath lesse constancy then the affection which I promised unto him Now hear I beseech you what hapned That very same night and I believe about the very same houre when Theombres had her in his armes I was in my bed and held my hand upon my breast having the Ring upon my finger I know not how but it cut me and made so deep a wound that my shirt and sheets were all bloody and ever since hath left a mark upon my side neer my heart Oh heavens cryed I out upon a suddain thinking upon the wrong which I had done Florice and Theombres had done me how sensible am I of the offence and injury that is done unto my affection Perhaps I have insisted too long upon these particulars but I beseech you excuse Hylas since he was never so touched to the heart by any other except by you my fairest Phillis Or except any in this Company said she But pray tell us how you left Dorinde Unto which Hylas replyed thus When I was in the depth of my perplexities for indeed I did love Florice as well because she was fair as because I thought Dorinde loved another the heavens helped me out with as good an occasion as I could desire Periander who as I told you was constrained to quit Dorinde unto me and not being able to see me enjoy her was gone out of the Town was at length forced to return as not being able to endure so long out of her sight and though he did foresee his sorrowes would be greater in seeing then in hearing of our affection yet could he not chuse but return thinking it would be some consolation unto his wound to see the hand that gave it And because he came at the first to see me assoon as he came I resolved to give as they say two blowes with one stone to rid my selfe of Dorinde and to oblige Periander Two or three daies passed on and he never talked one word unto me concerning Dorinde and one time being separated from the Company I said thus unto him Periander it is impossible for my affection unto you to suffer my selfe to be a cause of that melancholly which I have observed in your face any longer I love you too well than to see you suffer for my sake You do not doubt of my affection unto Dorinde but you shall lesse doubt of the affection I have unto you And to give you evident testimony that it is not a little I release this Dorinde unto you whom my good fortune took from you and the affection I bear unto you shall surmount the love I bear unto her Receive her therefore Periander from me and be assured that I shall lesse grieve to part with her then to see you thus sad for my sake or be deprived of your presence If ever any condemned person was joyed when a Pardon came Periander was as much when he heard this and yet his discretion and affection unto me made him at the first refuse it but when he saw I persisted in this minde he received it with so many thanks as I was constrained to tell him that she was justly his due knowing very well that he did surmount me in love as my good fortune and cunning surpassed his Then I retired by little and little from Dorinde and Periander on the contrary advanced But in the mean time I attempted upon Florice I found out the means to speak unto her and assured her of my affection To be briefe I contrived it so as there was never better correspondency betwixt us and that which most helped me was the hollow-hearted affection which she bore unto Theombres 'T is true she had alwaies some suspition of Dorinde and therefore after she thought that she had made me hers she told me peremptorily that she would have me so clearly and openly break off with Dorinde as she should never be in any doubt of it afterwards otherwise she should live in a continuall incertainty of my affection and that she had rather part fair with me then live in such continuall apprehensions I desired that my breach with Dorinde might be done by some civill way and least offensive unto her But she would needs have it done by some rude and publick affront and she would not be perswaded otherwise At the last I resolved upon it Upon the sixt of July all the Gallantry of the Town went with the Druides to gather the sacred Misletoe in the Forrest of Mars called Erieu and then Florice charged me to satisfie her request All the Ladies were trimmed in their gayest dresses and every one in the Athenian habit The sacrifice being ended and publick rejoycings beginning I took Periander apart to the end he should not be offended at what I did I told him how I saw Dorinde had some hopes yet in me and therefore she did not receive his service so well as she ought but I would undeceive her and dash all her hopes Then seeing her with Florice and in the midst of the best company I went to her and after some common discourse I said unto her so loud as all about her might hear Now I see Dorinde that what is told me of you is true What 's that said she and smiled little expecting such an answer as I gave That you have replyed I the best opinion of your selfe of any person in the world Then she blush'd and asked me the reason of my judgment Because said I you measuring others by your selfe as you do love all you look upon so you think every one is in love with you and I know you are in that errour concerning me thinking that I am ready to die for the love of you but I would have you know that your merits are too mean to make me such a fool if you think otherwise undeceive your selfe and be assured that Hylas is ashamed he ever loved you or if he was such a fool that he is wiser now Imagine noble Paris how blank Dorinde was For my part I would not exchange a syllable more with her but went away and left her most pittifully out of countenance Ever since Florice was the most satisfied that is imaginable and wholly devoted her selfe unto me And as Theombres stood for a Husband so I enjoyed her as a Friend But Dorinde extreamly incensed against me resolved to do me all the mischiefe that possibly she could and discovering the intimate familiarity betwixt Florice and me she
Did he said Tircis love Astrea I have heard say that there was a most inveterate enmity betwixt their Families The beauty of this shepheardesse answered Silvander was greater then their hatred and since he is dead I hope there is no danger in saying so Nor do I believe there would said Diana if he were alive for he being so discreet and Astrea so wise their affection could not offend any Astrea hearing what they said of her though her eyes were not yet dry she could not chuse but answer them These tears said she which I cannot hide do testifie that Celadon did love me but these Manuscripts do testifie that Astrea hath rather offended against Love then Duty But to give him satisfaction after his death I will ingenuously confesse more then decency would permit me when he was alive and say I did love him Upon these words all the company came to her and Diana shewing her the papers which she had in her hand Is this said she Celadon's writing Doubtlesse it is answered Astrea Then said Diana it is a signe he is not dead Unto which Phillis answered That is it of which we have been speaking but she tells me that Celadon's soul which wonders about the River Lignon did write them Why said Tircis was he not buried That 's the reason said Astrea why he wanders thus for they never made him a Tombe This said Paris was most carelesly done to let so brave a soul as Celadon's suffer so long pain for want of a little care You may see said Tircis how little those that are alive do care for the dead so as I esteem them to be wise who bury themselves alive Indeed said Diana it is very strange that this shepheard so much loved and lamented not only by all his Kindred but by all the Neighbourhood should not have that charitable office done him which many have who are lesse loved Perhaps said Thorsander the gods did so ordain it to the end he should not so soon have that place he had so much loved and being recompensed with his love he had rather stay some while neer her he had adored However I conceive said Tircis that even as our bodies cannot be in the Aire Water or Fire without much pain because being ponderous and heavy they must perpetually be unquiet as long as they are in such pure Elements as have no solidity in them to rest upon so the soul seperated from the body not being in its proper Element as long as it is amongst us is in continuall pain untill it enter into the Elizian fields where it will finde another Earth another Aire another Water and another Fire more perfect proper and suitable unto its nature then unto our dull and grosse bodies And therefore when my dearest and so much loved Cleon dyed I was in a resolution not to bury her that I might have retained her dearest soul the longer about me but our Druides convinced me of that error and told me as I have told you For my part said Sivander since for went of buriall men shall stay some time longer in the place where they dyed I heartily desire all my friends that if I do die in this Country not to bury me that I may the longer look upon my fairest Mistresse for there are no joyes in the Elizian fields comparable unto that blessed vision nor any pains that a soul can suffer by being out of its proper Element but are recompensed by it That would do very well said Tircis if after we be separated from our bodies we did retain our affections but our Sages tell us that our passions are only âibutes of humanity and the gods did bestow them upon us to the end the race of men should not fail but after death soules being immortall and not in a capacity of engendring our Passions and our Loves are lost in it even as our desires of eating or drinking or sleeping But said Silvander if Celadon did write these Papers it is not likely he hath lost his affection love unto this Shepheardesse Who knowes said Tircis but that the gods who are infinitely just were pleased to give him that particular satisfaction in recompence of that pure and sacred affection which he had unto that shepheardesse If so said Silvander why should not I hope to finde the gods as just and favourable unto me as him since my affection shall not yield unto him or any other either in purity or zeal But said Astrea if the gods do shew him this as a favour would it not be impiety to deprive him of that contentment by endeavouring to give him a buriall and so set him out of this world No said Tircis for the gods do favour him in it only as a comfort in the pains which he is continually in being constrained to be absent from heaven so contrary to its nature The Shepheards were thus discoursing when Phillis espied a place which seemed as if some had been upon their knees for such marks were imprinted upon the earth and because it was just opposite to the Altar and she also spying a piece of Parchment close by it she went to see what it was and opening it she found these words A Prayer unto the goddesse Astrea OH great and puissant goddesse although your perfections cannot be equal'd and though all our sacrifices come infinitely short of your merits yet I beseech thee let them be acceptable in thy sight since if you should receive none but such as are worthy of you the gods themselves must be the Victim This which I here most humbly offer unto your divinity is a Heart and a Will which were never dedicated unto any but only your selfe If this offering be acceptable look with the eyes of pitty upon that soul who ever found them full of love and by an act worthy of your selfe ârid it out of that pain in which it hath long languished I do most heartly beg this favour by the name of Celadon if ever the name of your most faithfull and affectionate servant can merit from your divinity so much glorious satisfaction Phillis making a signe with her hand and calling Astrea Come hither Sister said she see what Celadon asks and you will finde what Tircis said to be true Then all comming neer she read aloud this prayer whilst Astrea did accompany every word with a tear though she did strive all that possibly she could to restrain them When Phillis had ended Truly said Astrea I shall satisfie his most just demand and if his Parents will not build him a Sepulcher which they are obliged unto by Consanguinity he shall receive one from me as his friend Upon this word going from that place all the Company went back to Hylas who was not idle all the while for seeing them all very serious and intentive in the other Arbour he came into that where was the twelve Statutes of the Lawes of Love and taking the Picture in his hand he
impossible to return unto their Townes by day light In this resolution then they went on and Silvander not quitting Astrea did shew her the Wood where he found the Letter which caused this voyage This said Astrea is a place very retired to receive any Letters in You will more think it so said he when you are there for it is the most salvage and rude place and the least frequented of any about all the River Lignon So as none could hit the way said Astrea except you and Love For my part said he I know what it is and as for Love I will be silent for I have heard say that sometimes when he would throw flames into a heart he has burnt himselfe and who can tell whether he did not so by the beauty of my Mistris and if any thing cure him it is doubtlesse the Fillet which he hath before his eyes Ah Silvander said the Shepheardesse that Fillet does not hinder but he can see when he pleaseth and his Arrowes hit so right upon the mark they are aimed at as it is not likely one that 's blinde did shoot them I have seen wise shepheardesse said Silvander a blind man who could hit the way unto every house and turn at every turning in the Town having gotten it by a long custome And why may we not well say that Love who is the prime and eldest of all the gods hath by a long accustomacy learned to hit the hearts of men though he be blinde and to shew you that it is more by custome then skill observe that he loves us only in the eyes and yet hits our hearts If he were not blinde do you think he would wound with Love so many unequall persons Superious with Inferiours and Shepheards with Queens But I speak this as a person interested for I that does not know what I am it hath caused me to love Diana whose merits are above the degree of any shepheards and it hath made Paris who is Son unto the Prince of Druides to love a shepheardesse As for your merits answered Astrea you do equall the perfections of Diana and Diana by her vertue doth transcend the grandure of Paris so as the inequality is not so great as to make you accuse Love of blindnesse Silvander stood mute at this reply not but that he could easily have answered but because he was sorry he had by his words given knowledge of his affection and repented of them fearing it would offend Diana if she should know of it But by good fortune his words were well addressed for Astrea knowing what pure and sincere affection he bore unto Diana she would most willingly have left him all assistance And the nature of all such as know how to love well is never to prejudice the Love of another unlesse it be prejudiciall unto their own By this time they were come unto the Wood and therefore Silvander said unto her This wise shepheardesse is the Wood which you have so much longed to see but being already Sun-set we have not time to view it If we do finde in it said she as many rarities as we did in that from whence we came I shall think our journey and time very well imployed With such discourse as this they entred into the Wood and it grew so dark as they could not see one another nor follow but by the voice then going further into the Wood he so lost his way as he was forced to confesse that he knew not where he was The cause of this was a Plant over which he walked which they of the Country do vulgarly call Wander-weed because it hath a quality to make those that tread upon it to wander out of their way and as the common bruit was there was much of it in that Wood. Whether this be true or false I cannot tell but so it was that Silvander and all the Company could not finde their way again all that night though he turned and winded almost through all the Wood and at the last they were all so wildred as they were constrained to follow one another by taking hold of each others clothes for the night was so dark as if it were so purposely to hinder them from getting out of the Wood. Hylas who by chance was got betwixt Astrea and Phillis I begin Mistresse said he to hope well in the service which I have done you Why said Phillis Because said he you are very much afraid to lose me and whereas I was wont to follow you now you follow me 'T is true said she but you must thank Silvander for it whom you say is your greatest enemy I cannot tell said Hylas whether I should more thank him for the favour I receive from you or chide him for the pains I have taken You may judge of that afterwards said Phillis when you have put the pleasures and the pains which you have received both into a ballance I wish Mistris said Hylas that you would hold the ballance and judge which was the heavier Every one did laugh at the good-will of Hylas and Silvander who heard it answered him only thus I confesse Hylas that I am a blind man who leads many others But the worst is said Hylas they are blind only because they trusted too much unto your eyes If you had been out of the Company said Silvander we had not been so blinde Why said Hylas did I put out your eyes No said Silvander but you did take away our means of seeing holding us so long in discourses of your inconstancy and by falsifying the sacred Lawes which did put us upon the night Silvander said Hylas you put me in minde of those who when they had found good Wine did blame it because they were drunk Good friends may the Wine say why did ye drink so much And good friend Silvander why did you hearken to me so long Did I nail your ears to any post No said Silvander there were stronger chaines in that company and place then yours But be it as it will we are now so wandred out of the way either by reason of the night of by going over the plant Wonder-weed as there is no hopes of getting into the way again untill it be day or at the least untill the Moon do shine What 's then to be done said Paris No better course said Silvander then to rest ourselves under one of these Trees untill the Moon do shew her selfe Every one approved of the motion And the shepheards spreading all their Coats upon the ground under the dryest Tree the shepheardesses did sit upon them and so rested altogether till the Moon appeared Although the night was already far spent when these shepheardesses did sit themselves down upon the Coats of the Shepheards yet being unaccustomed to such a Canopy as the Cope of heaven and unused to sit upon the grasse in the night they talked a long while before any sleep did seize upon their eyes And because the horrour of
the night did possesse them with fears they laid themselves close upon an heap Diana being next Mandonthe did ask her what fortune brought her into that Country Wise Diana answered she the story of it is both too long and too tedious let this I beseech you serve for all that the same Love that is so Regent in your Villages hath as great a Soveraignty over Ladies and Knights and it is it which brought me hither into this state although my quality hath raised me above it If it be only your fears of being tedious to us said Phillis I dare undertake for all the Company that this objection ought not to hinder you from giving us a relation of it for we have all longed to have the satisfaction from you And I conceive no time more convenient than now since we are without the hearing of any shepheard The reason said Diana why I in particular do desire it is because those who see us assunder do say that we resemble one another very much so as me-thinks I am as much concerned in your fortune as my own and obliged to enquire after it It would be great glory unto me said Madonthe to resemble such a Beauty as yours but I wish for your tranquillities sake that your fortunes may never resemble mine I am much obliged unto you said Diana for your good will but every one hath their own loads and knowes best where the shoe doth pinch them and others are not concerned further then by way of compassion Therefore I beseech you give satisfaction unto our request Then I beseech you give me leave said Mandonthe to speak in a low voice that the shepheards who are neer us may not hear for I should be extreamly ashamed they should be witnesses of my errours especially Thersander for some reasons which you shall understand by the sequell of my discourse Then she began in this manner The History of Damon and Mandonthe IT is best for me wise and discreet Company to relate the story of my life unto you by night that darknesse may shadow my shame in relating my follies for so must I praise those occasions which made me quit the quality unto which I was born and assume this in which you see me For though I am now in this habit with a sheep-hook in my hand yet I am no shepheardesse but descended from Parents more noble My Father following the fortunes of Thierres had gotten such reputation of a Souldier that in his absence he commanded all his Armies not because he was a Visigot as he was but because he had great authority among the Aquitains This King did so love and honour him that he was obliged to dedicate himselfe wholly unto him in whose service besides the Estate which he inherited from his Ancestors he so enlarged his possessions as there was none in all Aquitain that could vie with him in riches Having lived thus many years his greatest griefe was that he had no other Child but me And though his death was suddain yet it was with so much honour as I hold it to be the best piece of his fortune For after he had raised the Siege of Orleans and pursued Attiles as far as the Cathalaunique Country Thierres Merovea and Etius gave him Battle As fortune was my Father fought that day upon the right hand of his King who had the left Wing and Merovea the Right and almost the whole strength of Attiles was upon Thierres side After a long fight the King of the Visigots was killed and my Father also who after he had received a hundred wounds was found upon the body of his King to defend whom he received those blowes which were made at him which Torrismond his Successor and Son did take so well as he buried his Father and mine both in one Tomb and after the Battle was won engraved most honourable Inscriptions to his eternall memory When my Father dyed I was about seven or eight years of age and began then to resent the rigours of Fortune For Leontidas who succeeded my Father in his Charge and whom Torrismond loved above all the Cavaliers in Aquitain did use such artifice as I was committed unto his Guardianship and almost ravished from my own Mother under a pretence which they called Reason of State saying that having such great possessions and so many places of strength he would see that I married my selfe unto such a one as was very well affected unto the service of Torrismond Thus was I deprived both of Father and Mother the one by death the other by reason of State Yet Fortune was so favourable unto me in the honesty and sweetnesse of Leontidas that I could not desire better offices then those I received from him nor wanted he any thing but the name of a Father But his Wife was of another nature for she used me so cruelly as I may say I could not hate death more then she Now Leontidas his designe was to educate me untill I was at Marriage estate and afterwards to bestow me upon his Nephew whom he intended to adopt his Heir having no Children of his own But constraint being the greatest means to hinder a generous spirit from complacency it hapned so as his Nephew had never any affection unto me nor I to him both of us conceiving our Fortunes so noble as we needed not any additions to make them greater These considerations and some others more secret did hinder our affections unto one another But when I came unto age of more discretion I found greater impediments then these For the Courtship of many young Gallants who addressed themselves with abundance of honour and respect made me think the faint and hollow love of Leontidas his Nephew did dishonour me On the other side he being vexed that I should so sleight him he retreated so as I never saw him but as a stranger of which I was not a little glad And though the respect which every one did bear unto Leontidas by reason of the extraordinary favours which Torrismond shewed him did stave off many from openly declaring themselves yet there was a Cavalier a neer Kinsman unto Leontidas who notwithstanding all those considerations did undertake to serve me though he had but small hopes to obtain At the first he had no designe to embarque himselfe in good earnest but only to keep himselfe out of idlenesse and to make it appear he had both merit and courage enough to love and court the love of her that was esteemed the highest Match in all the Court When this young Gallant began to serve me he was a man without any respect violent and quick and so couragious that the praise of Temerity was more his due than that of Valiant But since Love took him into discipline he changed all his imperfections into so many Vertues and made him so amiable as since he is grown the very pattern of civility and gallantry unto all the Cavaliers of Torrismond His
we accidentally met and never in the presence of any many had an opinion that the generous spirit of Damon would not long endure the disdain which I used towards him and that he was quite fallen off from me Leontidas himselfe was also deceived though his Wife who was of a very suspicious nature did still assure him of the contrary and because he did most passionately desire to bestow me upon his Nephew to satisfie his minde he set over me a Woman whose office was to be a spie over all my actions without making any shew of it her name was Leriana and well in years yet of a very pleasing nature but withall as subtle and crafty as ever lived I was not so quick-sighted as Damon for presently he discovered the designe of Leontidas But I finding her to be very good company and one that did strive all she could to please me I could not believe she had any bad intention He continually telling me that she would deceive me and bidding me to take heed of her we resolved to go more subtlely to work And because it was not in our dispose to turn her away we thought it most expedient to seem as if her company was very pleasing and welcome unto us By this artifice we thought we should oblige her not to do all the ill offices she could but to make Leontidas think that we had no designes but what we were willing he should know Oh how well advised had we been if we had put this determination into execution after a more solid consideration Leriana seeing what carrasses I used did shew her selfe so desirous to please me that at the last I began insensibly to love her And she on the other side taking notice of the applications which Damon made unto her did believe that he loved her and this beliefe together with the beauty of this young Cavalier did quickly invite Leriana to love him so as there was none of us but poor Damon who was not deceived yet he payed the dearest for our errours though he knew all this from the first yet could he not help it I shall as long as I live remember the words he used when he said unto me Sister you do love Leriana but take heed she deserve it I am afraid you will finde it when it is too late her designe is naught both against you and me for the Wife of Leontidas sets her over you only as a spie And believe it the carrasses which you have commanded me to use unto her has made her believe that I love her and therefore she wisheth me no harme So much the better Brother said I unto him for I know you cannot be in love with her nor shall I be jealous However the good will she bears unto you will perhaps keep him within compasse and hinder her from doing you any hurt Pray heavens Sister said he it falout so but I am in fear this affection will end quite contrary for it is impossible I should continue my carrasses long unto her then when she finds her selfe deceived and sleighted Oh heavens what mischiefe will she not be apt to do unto me No no said I unto him she can never think to win upon you by force I pray god replyed he that I prove a bad diviner and that she do not do all she can to do us mischiefe I did see that this woman was very kinde unto him but I could not imagine she could be in love with him only thought that her application to him was out of her desire to be complaisant Now though Leontidas did treat me with all possible sweetnesse yet the harsh usage of his Wife made me almost weary of my life I told Damon that he ought to consider the miserable life which I led that I had no contentment but in him nor consolation but in Leriana that I did not think Leontidas and his Wife had any intentions of setting Leriana as a spy or if they did I thought they might be deceived and that this woman thought her selfe so obliged by my carrasses as I am almost sure she loves me Damon seeing me in this opinion could do nothing but shrug his shoulders and durst never since speak of it unto me for fear of displeasing me And see what force this good opinion which we have of a person hath over us I did plainly see her applications unto Damon but could not imagine it was with any bad intentions conceiving it to be only out of complacency Oh how the vizard of dissimulation does disguise vices and makes us mistake them for vertues And upon this ground I was very angry with Damon very often conceiving he did not treat Leriana as he ought since I had told him that I loved her and that this was the least thing he could do for me to make much of those whom I cherished This Damon knew well enough and durst not complain lest he should make the matter worse only nourished in his heart an extream hatred against her which he had much ado to hide On the contrary Leriana did so grow every day in affection to him that seeing he took no notice of it she could not chuse but write a Letter unto him so full of passionate expressions that Damon could not dissemble but did put herso out of hopes as she did not only stifle her love to him but entertained a most deadly hatred in its room Could she have proved what she knew of our affection doubtlesse she would have done it in accusing him unto Leontidas but our happiness was that what familiarity soever was betwixt us I never spoke the least thing of it before her but since that I found her so subtle and crafty as I did believe if she could not have made any proofes yet she would notwithstanding inform but that which restrained her as I thought was her Letter which she writ unto Damon by which Leontidas might have seen her to be but a bad woman yet this consideration was nothing because she might say that she did seem to love Damon only to insmuate her selfe into the more credit And doubtless Leontidas and his Wife had believed her having entertained so good an opinion of her as they thought her to be one of the gravest and wisest Matrous in all Gaul But as I was mistaken in my affection to her so also Damon was much to blame for had he shewed me the Letter which Leriana writ unto him doubtlesse he had shewed me my errour and we had not fallen into those misfortunes in which since we have lived and the reason as I think why he did not was because of his sharp answer which he returned fearing if I saw it I should be angry with him But however he kept it so secret as I knew nothing of it Now Leriana plotting revenge upon this Cavalier she conceived no way would bring it about but such occasions as I should give her thinking that keeping in familiarity with me
the Nymph after she had heard him with admiration that Celadon does love if to love be to be out of his wits and to live only upon bare thoughts Alas I cannot chuse but think his condition extreamly miserable in finding such contentments in such vain imaginations and Chimeraes and I am so far from thinking them felicities as my opinion of the contrary is much fortified But Shepheard let us leave this discourse since I see it will do you no good and tell me how you have lived since I left you Wise Nymph answered Celadon as I have lived since you met me so have I lived since I parted from you for as soon as ever I left you I shut my selfe up in this place expecting untill either Love or Death released me But why Celadon said she do you not go unto your own Town where your friends and kindred do so much grieve for you Astrea said he who has a far greater power over me than either any Parents or friends hath forbidden me ever to see her untill she command and therefore as I told you I have shut my selfe up in this Cell untill either Love or Death release me But if my adored Shepheardesse had commanded me never to see her again doubtlesse I had shut my selfe up in my grave with death And as soon as I came to my selfe again after my fall into the River I knew that Lignon would not give me a death because she did not peremptorily command it but remembering her words and that her banishment of me was not for ever only untill she commanded me to return I have lived in this manner as you see expecting till Love recall me as it seemes she hath promised or else untill death do it for her which shall be welcome unto me in this life which I live But poor deceived shepheard replyed the Nymph how can you ever hope she should recall you as long as she is ignorant where you are Love answered he which conducted me hither knowes the place well enough where I am and does daily visit me and since it is by it that I do hope she will recall me there is no doubt but it will without me let her know the place unto which it hath conducted me If your imaginations replyed the Nymph had an influence upon others as they have upon your selfe all this you say might perhaps be but believe it shepheard the gods will never help those who will not help themselves and do not think that I speak without good reason for I am very certain that if Astrea did know you were alive she would passionately desire your company How fair Nymph said he presently do you know that I know it said she by that sadnesse which sits in her face Perhaps said the shepheard that proceeds from some other cause But where have you seen her since we parted I shall be very glad said she to entertain you with a discourse upon this subject and to relate unto you all that hath hapned since we parted so I can but by it cheer you a little up and rouse you out of this dull kinde of life Believe it said Celadon that the sight of you does bring me more content then any thing in the world could except Astrea and since I am deprived of her your discourse will be very pleasing unto me Then Leonida began thus The History of Galathea SInce Celadon you do desire to know how I have lived since I parted from you which is some fifteen or sixteen daies since I will very willingly make a relation of it unto you upon a condition that if you be weary with the length of the discourse we may break it off and finish it another time when any convenient opportunity shall present it selfe Know therefore that in my return from conducting you I came into the Palace of Issoures at the same time when Amasis was taking Coach to go unto Marcelies and carrying Galathea with her because being desirous to render thanks unto Hesius for the happy successe of her Son Clidaman which he had in the Battle against the Neustrians she would by all means have Galathea with her purposely to render the solemnity more celebrated And because retardment in such actions as these does in some sort resemble oblivion and oblivion ingratitude she departed so soon that she scarcely gave the Nymph time to tell us what we should do with you and though she was extreamly troubled at it yet she durst not let it appear lest Amasis should take notice of it who alwaies held her by the hand not out of any suspition but only the more to carrasse her she being thus constrained to go with her into the Coach all that she could do was to say thus unto me You Silvia and Lucinde come after us in my Coach and follow us with all the haste you can I made a low reverence and shewed by my actions that I did understand what she said but I did not intend to obey her because my aimes were only upon you And though I did well enough foresee her anger yet I preferred the good office which I intended to you above it chusing rather to fail in my duty to that Nymph then in my affection to you However faigning as if my going out were in obedience to my Uncle I met Silvia who was in quest of me and I told her how you was escaped whilst none took any notice of you But I was never in all my life so surprised as when in my return from you I met Amasis and Galathea as they were taking Coach for I had been utterly undone if they had spied me out of the dores But I did addresse my selfe unto my Uncle and Silvia Father said I unto him and smiled and you my dear Companion you must needs both of you help me out in this businesse Daughter answered Adamas never fear any blame for what you have done as long as it is but what you ought to do nor ever grieve upon such occasions the gods upon whom all events depend are so just as they will ever bear you out and if at any time the contrary seem to happen take speciall notice Daughter that it is to redouble the contentment and as if they hapned only to augment your joyes And because it is very expedient you endeavour to preserve your selfe in the favour of your Mistresse Silvia shall testifie that you did not any thing but what she knowes of very well and to make the matter more easie for you I am contented that you shall both of you have some suspition of me for I shall not be sorry that he should think that I do hate any thing which is contrary unto vertue and I would permit you to charge me down-right with the act but that it is necessary I should be something in her esteem only to draw her off from those foolish and false imaginations which Climanthes hath infused into her With such discourse as
it I take you good-will unto me very kindely in spite of the ingratitude which I finde in others But tell me freely and ingenuously I intreat you said she and drew the Curtains did you ever observe that Leonida helped Celadon to escape Madam answered Silvia if she did I must needs say she is the most subtle woman that ever lived for she never stirred one step without me and if you will be pleased to let me tell you what I think I will assure you Madam that if any helped him to escape it was Adamas for I observed that as soon as ever you were set at dinner he took Celadon apart and talked with him very passionately a long time Moreover I observed that after you were gone when he saw us searching all about and much troubled he smiled two or three times and told us that it had been well if Celadon had never come there How said Galathea is it so then that Leonida never consented unto it Madam answered Silvia very discreetly I will not swear she is innocent but I dare swear that I think she is not and that if any be to blame besides that ungratefull shepheard it is Adamas Do not tell me thus said she to excuse your Companion I know that you are very good but had she any advantage over you she would make use of it against you she is the craftiest and most jealous that ever I saw of all those that are about me and especially when I speak of you Madam answered Silvia the consideration of any of my Companions shall never make me fail in the duty which I do owe unto you and as for their envie and jealousie it shall never make me start or recoile from my well wishes unto Leonida for I believe that if she did not love you she would never be jealous of any that comes about you Sweet-heart said Galathea and kissing her I do finde you so discreet for your age as for your sake I will recall Leonida whom I have forbid my house but with this intention that you shall be alwaies neerest unto me and unto you I will impart all my secrets your young years hath hitherto kept me something reserved from you but now I finde that though you be young in years yet you are old in wisdome and discretion and therefore from henceforth keep as near me as you can and though I do not call you yet enter freely into what place soever I am for I would have it so And to the end Leonida should think her selfe obilged unto you send her word what you have done for her and bid her return Madam answered Silvia and making low reverence the honour which you do me is so great that I shall never forget it and shall not think that any merits of my own but only your free goodnesse did invite you to do me this honour I shall receive it as the greatest blessing of heaven and do vow Madam that I will never fail in that fidelity which is owing unto your service more then I will in my duty to the gods themselves And as concerning Leonida would it not be expedient that you stayed untill the day of publick joy when Adamas will be there to the end you may seem as if you remitted the offence for his sake But sweet-heart answered she it is Adamas that I am angry withall for it is he that hath offended me Madam replyed Silvia give me leave to tell you what counsell my Mother gave unto me when I left her Daughter said she unto me whensoever any of your Companions does you any injury remember that you never shew as if you wished them any ill untill you have found the means how to be revenged for if you do it at another season and shew teeth before you be able to bite it will but exasperate them the more against you So Madam you should not shew your selfe displeased at Adamas untill you can make him resent your displeasure lest when he sees himselfe out of your favour he should either say or do something that may more displease you Thus by the prudence of this Nymph Galathea's anger against me was partly mitigated and she resolved to make no shew of any displeasure to my Uncle untill times changed of which Silvia did presently advertise me to the end Adamas might be at the Feasts which Amasis prepared But in the mean time Polemas was not without abundance of vexation for he saw that by every Letter which came from the Army Lândamor was highly extolled and the Trumpet of Fame sounded his name louder then any's else and thereby extreamly eclipsed the glory of his Rivall But that which vexed him to the heart was The Imposture of Climanthes did not operate unto his advantage and not knowing what was become of him he was the most blanked man that ever was yet though he did daily see the Nymph and often talk with her he never seemed to take any notice of it so as one day as Galathea was talking with him to try whether what I had told her concerning the stratagem of Polemas and Climanthes was true he seemed to know so little concerning it that the Nymph believed I had invented all those tricks to the advantage of Lindamor as I heard since by the report of Silvia to whom Galathea imparted every thing However I lived a life in the mean time not disagreeable to my minde had I had the happinesse which now I have of seeing you For Celadon you must know that Paris is so extreamly in Love with Diana as he quitting his former garb is now in the habit of a shepheard and affects no exercises but such as belongs to them Do you mean that Diana said Celadon which is Daughter unto the wise Belinde The same answered the Nymph I assure you said the shepheard she is one of the fairest the wisest and most accomplished shepheardesses that I know and one who deserves a good fortune and I pray unto Tautates that she may enjoy all the good fortune in the world I am of your opinion said the Nymph but I do not believe that she will marry Paris for she has told me that truly she does love and honour him that she knowes what an honour it is he should make any addresses unto her and what a great advantage such a Match would be to her but yet though she knowes not why she cannot love him otherwise then as a Brother and that though she knowes him to be a man of great merit yet she can love him no otherwise How said Celadon and interrupted her does she speak of these things so familiarly unto you I assure you I think it very strange when I remember her humour which was wont to be so reserved and close even from her best beloved Companions Astrea and Phillis that they knew very little of her intentions Oh shepheard answered the Nymph there is great alterations within this three or foure Months since you have been
there for Astrea Diana and Phillis are all one they are alwaies together and since your supposed losse Diana may be said to succeed in your room Moreover if you remember Silvander whom they called the Shepheard without affection he is now so deeply in love that except Celadon none is comparable to him and it came thus to passe Phillis and he fell into some difference concerning their merits and because that shepheard being educated in the Massilian Schooles and having an excellent acute wit did produce better and more valid reasons then that shepheardesse could she out of a pleasant humour propounded that Silvander to give a testimony of his merits should court and serve Diana with as much obsequious observance as if he did really love her The shepheard accepted of the proposition upon condition that Phillis should be constrained to do the same After much discussion Astrea Diana and I did ordain that both of them should court and serve the same shepheardesse and that at the three months end that shepheardesse should judge which of them two had most merits to make themselves loved This being thus resolved Diana was made choice of to be their Mistresse so as since this time Phillis hath acted a passionate part so very well as no shepheard could better acquit himselfe Now see what is the issue of this fiction Silvander who as I told you was all insensibility is become by his counterfeiting so desperately in love with Diana as every one does plainly see that he goes farther then the bounds of a siction and I know that Diana will give her judgment on his side for though she is a shepheardesse of great modesty and wisdome yet it is well enough known that this courtship does not displease her and for my part I must confesse that I know no shepheard except Celadon who is more worthy to be loved And because of this faigned courtship Phillis is almost continually with Diana and Silvander leaves her as seldome as possibly he can Lycidas your Brother thinks that there is a matter of Love betwixt Phillis and Silvander and is so fully perswaded of it as he is so jealous that he cannot endure they should be together And since Phillis cannot banish her selfe from the company of Astrea and since Diana is alwaies with Astrea and Silvander with Diana poor Lycidas not being able to endure it never sees Phillis unlesse at such meetings when he cannot avoid it This is a great alteration indeed answered the sad Celadon and I must confesse they are all much to be pittyed especially Lycidas who is fallen into the very worst disease of Love but I do not think it strange for I know the nature of my Brothers temper was alwaies apt to take such impressions For my part I must protest that we are not Brothers in that I cannot deny but that I was once jealous but I think it is because all Lovers are once in their lives subject unto it as they say little Children are of a certain dangerous malady which never comes unto them but once Phillis also is to blame who having given so many assurances of her good-will unto Lycidas will suffer him to enter into any doubt of her affection but I do believe that she knowing this jealousie of my Brother does proceed from an excesse of Love she suffers it with more patience As for Silvander and Diana I must confesse it is impossible that two subjects for love should be more equally met for as Diana does surpasse Silvander in Beauty and Estate so the vertue and merits of the shepheard do equally ballance the Scales Yet I do infinitely pitty them both for I know them most absolute Masters of themselves and actions but now I know by experience into what a Chaos of confusion and troubles they are plunged so as I must needs pitty them for making such a disadvantageous change Thus wise Nymph we may see that there is no assured happinesses amongst mortalls Celadon answered the Nymph you would be Tautates himselfe if you could perswade them that they are not much happier then before nay Silvander himselfe thinks so whose company is much more pleasant then it was wont to be as I have heard from those who knew him before For my part said Celadon I am of that shepheards opinion for though there be some pains in the life of Love I pray tell me in what kinde of life there is not so as well But if you do consider those contentments which a Lover receives in loving and being loved I believe you will agree with me that there is no happier life then that of Love Ah Celadon said the Nymph with a great sigh how dearly are those contentments bought I refer it unto your own selfe if you would but ingenuously confesse your passion Every one that loves replyed Celadon does not meet with Astrea's But said Leonida since you are of this opinion why do you say you pitty them Because answered Celadon as it is a pleasing thing to conquer so the contrary to be conquered therefore I fear that there being abundance of labour and pains to be taken in Love lest they should be overcome or astonished at the difficulties and retire before they have surmounted them And therefore have I not good reason to pitty those who I see do enter into a danger the issue whereof is so uncertain But I do much wonder how you should know so much of Diana whom I know to be alwaies the most reserved and secret of all our Shepheardesses The love of Paris answered she is the cause of it who hath made me see her ofter then otherwise I should I had a good inclination of my own to go unto your Town in hopes to finde you there and when I was thinking upon some good excuse for it I met with Paris who that night I returned spoke thus unto me Sister said he for Adamas would have us call Brother and Sister do you remember how much contentment we received that night we lay in the Town of Astrea and Diana and how pleasing their conversation was I who knew very well he had been oft there since did answer him thus I do Brother said I but I do believe you have a better memory then I and as I have heard have better reason It is true said he unto me and I cannot deny but that the merits of those fair and discreet Shepheardesses have much invited me to get their friendship and more then I make appear Brother said she you tell me more then I aske 'T is no matter replyed he and smiled I will ingenuously tell any thing unto you in hopes that you will not deny me one request that I shall make unto you and which I do conjure you unto by our friendship Aske what you will Brother said I unto him for I cannot deny you any thing upon that conjuration I beseech you then said he that since you do not return unto Marcelles you will be pleased
to walk sometimes upon the banks of Lignon and passe away some afternoones in the company of those fair and discreet Shepheardesses and give me leave to wait upon you you will think this place here to be very dull having been accustomed so long to the Court but the banks of Lignon have shades so cool and pleasant as it is impossible you should be weary you shall see the silver streams so clear and so filled with all sorts of fishes as you will admire you shall hear all sorts of Birds make the Woods Eccho with a thousand varieties of voices you shall finde such clear cool and curious Fountains as will invite you to drink of them To be briefe said I unto him and smiled we shall meet there the fairest and sweetest Shepheardesses in all the Country 'T is very true said he and I hope all these will invite you to go thither All these invitations said I unto him do not move me so much as the desire you have of going thither you are my Brother and my friend and under that notion I will fulfill whatsoever you shall desire But since your desire is to see those Shepheardesses I would gladly know which of them you love best I mean Astrea or Diana Sister said he you are growne very inquisitive of late I confesse it said I unto him but if you put me to ask the question twice I will say you are grown very secret of late for even now you told me more then I asked But Sister said he which of them do you think I may in justice addresse my selfe unto I understand your meaning said I unto him you think I will say Astrea but Brother take heed lest Diana do not make your desires devour you I protest unto you Sister said he unto me I would with all my heart be in danger to be devoured by my own Dogs as Acteon was upon condition I had the happinesse to see this Diana naked Is it possible said I unto him that you should value your life so little Nay said he I esteem my life at a high rate but I do esteem the sight of so much beauty infinitely higher since I must die and perhaps soon before I can enjoy any contentment equall unto this have I not reason to venter it betimes to enjoy so high a felicity whilst I may For my part answered I though I think these desires a little too loose and extravagant yet I will not blame you but I am afraid they will cost you much pain and sorrow I will venter that said he but Sister tell me freely will you for my sake become a Shepheardesse one houre in the day How do you mean said I unto him would you have me take the habit of a Shepheardesse as you do of a Shepheard No no said he unto me that would be too troublesome to you and nothing conducing to my ends I only desire you to be with those Shepheardesses and let me accompany you I shall do Brother what you would have me said I unto him but take heed this way do not prejudice your designe for in seeing Diana under colour of keeping me company she may perhaps think her selfe not obliged unto you for your visit Diana said he unto me is not a person who insists upon such ceremonious vanities but is able out of her judgment to discern my actions and discerning them commend my discretion This resolution then was fixed upon amongst us and that very night Paris told Adamas that if he thought good of it he would wait upon me the next day a hunting and that I much desired it Whithersoever she please said Adamas unto him for such was my love to her Father as I can never sufficiently acquit my selfe of it unto his Daughter This declaration did answer the expectation of Paris and therefore the next day as soon as we had dined we went down the Hill of Lacquier and passing over the River Lignon at Trelin Bridge we followed the River-side untill we were over against Boutreux we left the Temple of the good goddesse on the right hand and came unto a little rising hill from whence we might see all the turnings and windings of Lignon and the Plaines where the Shepheards and Shepheardesses did drive their Flocks to feed Then by a little path we descended into the plain See Brother said I unto him and pointed with my finger yonder upon the right hand is that tuft of Trees where I first saw Astrea Diana and Phillis and had you been with me in Silvia's room perhaps we had observed more then we did for we being weary with walking we fell asleep and in the mean time these three shepheardesses came and sat down close by us and not spying us doubtlesse they did not sit in silence but as ill-fortune was when we awaked they were gone 'T is true that since I came by my selfe and it was then when you met me and when I heard all the story of Diana Ah Sister said he up on a sudden I remember the time very well it was then when I began to love another above my selfe But Sister I conjure and beseech you by all obligations of friendship to tell me all that you know Does she love any one See said I and smiled how jealous you are already What did it concern you if I knew more Be contented that I tell you what I think is requisite and necessary for you to know Ah cruell Sister said he unto me you use me as they do Children shew them an Apple to make them the more desire it and then not give it them Lovers indeed said I are little different from Children But Sister said he can you not tell me whether she loves me or no It is more to be feared that she will not love you said I unto him then that she will love any other Although you threaten me extreamly said he yet I am more glad of the assurance which you give me that she loves no other then I am sorry for the doubt which you make that she will not love me Why answered I will you not enjoy a good if another have any share with you Before I can give you a full answer said Paris I must make a long distinction of Goods but I will briefly tell you that there are some which the more communicable they are the better they are and others which are more to be esteemed the lesse they are communicable and in this last order must I rank the Goods of Love I think answered I that if I were in a capacity of loving I should be of the same beliefe But let not this fear diminish the favours you receive for you may be most certainly assured that those favoure you receive from her if ever you arrive at that Good they will not be common Now Celadon I have made this long discourse unto you to the end you may judge how deeply Paris is in Love Now I shall tell you
you love If I do love answered he do you think I will displease or disobey her whom I love nay do you think that I do not receive extream contentment and delight in pleasing and obeying her But said the Druide she does not know that you do obey her It is no matter answered he whether she do or no I must do my duty The Druide knew not whether he should esteem him for the acutenesse of his wit in these answers or blame him for the errours he was in but conceiving that his malady was not yet at the height therefore he would not apply any violent remedies untill he had tryed some more milder and therefore after a while of silence he said thus unto him Now Celadon what I have said was because I thought my selfe obliged unto it by the Lawes of friendship and duty of my charge and not to contrary you in any thing only one favour I shall desire from you which I hope you will not deny since it will conduce much unto my contentment You must know that I have a Daughter whom I love above all the blessings which the goodnesse of Tharamis hath bestowed upon me I have long wanted my greatest contentment in wanting her and I am afraid it will be longer before I shall see her again Now the first time I saw you at the Palace of Issoures 't is true I loved you for Alcippe's and Amarillis's sake but much more for your great resemblance of my dearest Daughter therefore I conjure you by her that hath most power over you to be pleased that I may sometimes interrupt your solitude that I may in your face see the Picture of her whom I love above all the world The shepheard who was full of courtesy answered That he would take it for a very particular favour if he would be pleased to take the paines and that he thanked Nature for favouring him so much as to give him a resemblance of any he loved and that if he had not excluded himselfe from all the world he would come to his house and present him his service To be briefe Adamas resolved to visit this shepheard very often hoping by degrees to draw him out of his melancholly Cell True it was that Alexis his Daughter had a little resemblance of this shepheard and she being by their Lawes to stay amongst the Druides Daughters in the Cells of Carnutes untill she was forty years of age Adamas did take delight in seeing Celadon who had a kinde of resemblance of her It had been ordained by Dis Samothes and since confirmed by great Druis the first Institutor of the Druides that those Priests which had any Sons should send the eldest of them unto the Schooles of Carnutes where they spent ten years in learning their Science ten years more in teaching others and ten years more yet they officiated in the publick Sacrifices and Judgments and afterwards they might return to their homes and exercise the charge of Druides throughout all Gaul If they have none but Daughters they are constrained to send their eldest after ten years of age unto the same place where they are instructed do instruct and at last judge as I told you before For the Gaules do build very much upon the judgment of these Female Druides And these times being expired they may return to their Fathers and may marry Now this course being resolved upon Celadon was he that reaped the most profit by it for Leonida did at the first restore unto him those Letters which she stole from him which was a good presage of better fortune having often heard say that as one misfortune seldome comes alone so also one good fortune drawes on another And he being very often visited sometimes by Leonida and sometimes by the Druide he was much diverted from those sad thoughts which would quite have consumed him besides the care of Adamas was such as he sent him victualls very often secretly which much revived his drooping spirits The affection of this Nymph and the goodnesse of Adamas was a happy encounter for Celadon for both of them were carefull of him beyond measure and indeed beyond their duty and quality but the greatest comfort unto this shepheard was that this Nymph furnished him with Pen Inke and Paper because being alone he did employ himselfe much in putting his passionate thoughts into writing which gave him much contentment in the reading them For the wounds of Love are of such a nature that the more they are smothered and kept in the more they fester and talking of them is as soveraigne a remedy as can be received in absence Now Adamas conceived that too much thinking did but fester and rancle the melancholly of this shepheard and therefore he advised him to passe away his time sometimes in the sacred Groves which were neer and there engrave some fancies upon the barks of Trees and furnished him with tooles fit for the purpose This Shepheard having gotten a little more strength and recovered some of his former complexion also reassuming his understanding facultle he was sensible of this good counsell which Adamas gave him to shun this carelesse and idle kinde of life wherein he lived and therefore he took his advice and fell to work Adamas in this did like a good Physitian consider the disease which he was to cure and there seasoned all his counsells with some designes of Love You see Son said he unto him that though according to our Statutes we ought not to erect Temples unto Teutates Hesius Belinus and Tharamis our god yet since the Romans by their Armes brought in strange gods unto Gaul and losing our antient freedome we were constrained to sacrifice after their fashion we have Temples in which our god is adored amongst us and because the custome of it is become a Law it is lawfull for you Celadon to dedicate part of this Grove not only unto the highest and prime divinity but as a most perfect work of that divinity unto your fair Astrea which our great god will as well allow as those Temples that are dedicated by strangers unto the goddesse Fortune unto the goddesse Sickness or the goddesse Fear Therefore said he unto him let me advise you to prime and dresse up this goodly Oake to cut away the thick underwood and make a place which we will dedicate unto Amity At the root of the Oake cast up a bank of grass in form of an Altar upon which I will set a Table which shall be an emblem of Amity When this is finished we will make another more spacious which shall be under that Oak which truly is one most admirable for out of one stock three branches do grow and afterwards reunite themselves into the same bark You see said he unto him that this is a most lively symbol of Teutates Hesius Belinus and Tharamis our god How Father said Celadon you name foure and yet you say our god you should have said gods and I
name would require so much of you As Phillis was thus talking to her she held in her hand the paper which she took up and Astrea casting her eye accidentally upon it and knowing it to be Celadon's hand she asked her what Letter that was which she held in her hand Phillis answered that she took it up seeing it fall from her as she arose I did feel something said Astrea fall from my breast but I was so much out of my selfe that I never minded it Then taking it and reading the Superscription she said it was that Letter which Silvander found That cannot be said Phillis for I have that in my pocket and putting her hand into it she pulled it out What should it then be said Astrea I am sure it is the same hand Then reading it she found these words Celadon's Letter unto the Shepheardesse Astrea IF the occasion of your comming into this place where all that remaines of Celadon yet is was only to see what power you have over him it was too much paines for a thing of so little value If any sparks of compassion brought you hither what services can merit so great a recompence If fortune only without any designe was your conductor it was too kinde unto one that is so miserable So as whatsoever the occasion was there was no reason for it That affection which I had unto you was beyond all bounds of reason and therefore it is most just that reason should disdain him who disdained reason However I thank you as the vam shadow of a man can do for truly âam no more for comming to see what power you have over me for it is one of my greatest desires to live in your memory I thank you also that you would permit pitty to bring you hither for though it be very late yet consolation is better late then never Also I do thank you For âo lowing fortune into this place since I know by it that it was only long of her I did no sooner resent the effects of your sweetnesse This last consideration moves me to say that as you are the fairest Shepheardesse in the whole Universe so since fortune and my own constancy wiââ have it so I am the must unfortunate but the most affectionately faithfull of all your Servants Now did these shepheardesses believe that Celadon was dead indeed and Love made Astrea resolve to render him the last duty of her amity Then she went to wake Diana and the other shepheardesses because it was late when they came they found Silvander looking upon Diana as she slept and gazing like an immovable Statue he uttered these words in a very loud voice Oh! how this fair one deprives me of that rest which she takes her selfe See how many Cupids play about her lovely face Who can chuse but love her and lose that rest which she findes To look upon her and to love her is one and the same thing And if she captivate thus when she is asleep and without designe what is she able to do when shee 's awake and will use her power He spoke thus loud because he was not afraid of awaking her since she commanded him so to do as soon as the Moon shined But Celadon's good fortune would not have it so to the end he might enjoy the happinesse of seeing his Mistresse in that place After Silvander had uttered these words he kneeled down to kisse her hand but fearing to be seen by these two shepheardesses who he saw were not in their places he rose up very sorry he had done so much if he were seen In the mean time these two shepheardesses looked upon him and Phillis who was very desirous to divert Astrea Never trust me Sister said she unto her if this shepheard do not love Diana and is not so subtle as he thinks himselfe I spoke yesterday with Diana answered Astrea very sadly and for ought I could perceive he can expect nothing but much sorrow for she will neither love him nor suffer him to love her That resolution said Phillis may in a short time bring Silvander into the same condition with Celadon and Diana into the same state with Astrea Ah Sister said Astrea Silvander may run that fortune but as long as Diana is free from love her fortune will never be so bad as mine I do confesse replyed Phillis that if she be really exempt from love she is not in that danger but if she be exempt only out of dissimulatâââ what think you then That she will be happy only in opinion said Astrea and in deed and truth miserable But there is no likelyhood of that Diana's humour and Silvander's perfections being such that neither the shepheardesse nor he can be subject unto such dysasters Upon this Phillis took her by the hand and walked towards Diana yet answered her Oh Sister said she you are deceived if you be of that opinion for as concerning the merits of Silvander believe it that when a shepheard has a designe to please he spruseth himselfe up and is quite another man from what he really is And hence it is that we often wonder to see some shepheards loved and welcomed who are thought not at all pleasing or handsome and from hence I believe the Proverb came that Love makes all seem handsome Nay I will say more I never yet saw any shepheard displeasing unto her he courted if there were not some other occasion of hatred then his love for their courtship and desire to please does make them dresse up themselves in the smoothest garb they can purposely to render themselves complaisant as this is the quality of all in generall so more specially in Silvander whose wit and handsome composure by nature may easily supply all defects And as for the humour of Diana her affection unto Philander is an infallible argument that she hath not been alwaies insensible of Love and why may not that which was once be again For my part I do believe Love is as good an Archer as ever he was and has not forgotten the skill he used the first time he wounded her and Silvander may have the same fortune Philander had In this said Astrea you and I do differ in opinion and I do think it impossible Diana should ever love again for I think a Maid who never was in love may easily be allured by the pleasing flatteries of it but impossible that a stayed person who did once love and lost the person loved should ever let love take any root again in her soul And me-thinks the Cypresse-Tree is a right emblem of my affection which when once cut never puts out branch again As soon as she had said so they were come so neer unto Diana that Phillis could make no other answer but this Sister we shall quickly see which of our opinions is the right Whilst these shepheardesses were thus talking Paris Hylas Tircis and Thersander being awakened by Silvander they came to the shepheardesses and
frequently with her For I thought my selfe obliged to preserve her honour and reputation at any rate whatsoever If she complain that I did not acquaint her with this untill now she may as well complain against my extream love of her for the reason why I did not impart it unto her was because I was loath to make her a partner in my sorrowes for I know that she who was ever so carefull to keep her honour free from all calumny could not endure to hear of these without extream vexation and sad resentment Now great Nymph I beseech you to consider by this most true relation whether such effects are usuall amongst vulgar affections and from thence you may perceive the quality of mine and being such as gives a manifest proof of its grandure why may I not and with reason aske as well some proofes of hers since love is never requited but with love again As for the businesse of Pantesmon which she alledgeth as a great matter of complaint against me I conceive my apprehensions of him did not proceed from an ill grounded jealousie as she termes it but from abundance of reason for this shepheard as she her selfe confesseth being such a one as he is it was probable she would rather love him then scorn him Moreover the friendship betwixt her Brother and him was no small ground for my suspitions but especially the favourable eye which she cast upon him which indeed was such as knowing of my jealousie she was more to be blamed for behaving her selfe so then I for thinking so And indeed their Marriage was openly spoken of so as from hence I had strong grounds for jealousie and she to cleer her selfe had good reason to do as I requested If friendship have a priviledge above love she might well have denyed my request if it have not why should she think it strange my love should desire a preheminency above that amity which she had unto her Brother From hence it was great Nymph that all our miseries had their originall for when I was angry with her for the countenance which she gave unto this shepheard she answered me that her Brothers affection unto him was the cause of it But when I replyed that the report of her Marriage unto him was so common as it was impossible I could endure to hear it What would your fantasticall suspicion answered she with an angry look have me to do You may call it what you please said I unto her but I shall never be at rest untill I see him banished from you Well said she with a more angry eye I will give you satisfaction this time but I wish this may be the last of your odd humours she expressed her selfe in such a manner as made me more suspect her then if she had denyed me with some handsome excuse This made me resolve to look more narrowly into the matter and trust unto no eyes but my own Oh most unhappy diffidence Oh what an abominable resolution was this which hath cost so much sorrow such extream torment and so many tears In order therefore unto this designe I spied out a time when Pantesmon went unto her Chamber for as fortune was either for displeasure or for some ill disposednesse she kept her bed that day And going up a back pair of staires which conducted to her Lodgings I came through a Lobby into a little Closet which had a dore over against her bed Such was my misfortune as I could through the key-hole see all they did but being at too far a distance I could not hear one word I saw and too plainly for my contentment this shepheard sit by her bed-side I saw him take her hand and kisse it several times I saw him talk bare-headed and at last kisse her lip without any resistance and for ought I could observe she answered him with no words of anger Oh heavens what a dagger was this to my heart I knew not what to do with my selfe I knew not how I should suffer this and live But such was my extraordinary affection unto her that though I had these bitter resentments yet it made me constantly to endure any thing which I thought pleasing unto her Pantesmon went away and I also he very ill satisfied with me and I absolutely mad at him Thus did Love drive us both away Now I beseech you great Nymph tell me Would you have thought I had loved her had not this gone to my very soul Could my resentment be lesse then to retire my selfe or Could it be carried with more discretion then never to speak of it unto any I do confesse I did endeavour to regain my liberty and when I found abundance of difficulty in unloosing the cords wherewith she held me I said severall times to my selfe That I would cut those I could not untie And when I was thus striving with my selfe it is true she sent one of her friends unto me But what could I think of her message more then that it was a continuation of her delusions Could I possibly give the lye unto such dear witnesses as my own Eyes So being full of anger I made that answer which she thus complaines of which was That one Nail drives out another Now since I had a beliefe that she had thus ungratefully betrayed me how could I give her a milder check I was obliged unto as much by the Lawes of my affection which would not let me lie now no more then before If she took it in any other sense then I intended it her innocence was the cause of it and my error made me say so She does not know of any other Love that ever driv my love of her out of my heart and yet my fears of displeasing her hath even untill this time deprived me of my greatest contentment When I at any time resolved to upbraid her for all this Love which had ever a great prevalence in my soul restrained me and gave me a check telling me that this would too much offend her whom I once loved so well that it was not handsome to twit her with her faults and make her ashamed of them but that I should be well contented with being loose from those perfidious obligations in which I had been so long entangled Oh! this advice was most pernicious unto me for doubtlesse had I at the first told her what I had seen she would have related unto me all that she had done and so I should have received as much satisfaction happinesse and contentment as I have since suffered torments and miseries But absenting my selfe wholly from her it was long before I knew that Pantesmon had left her And the worst was I durst not so much as enquire lest I should hear something which would encrease my griefe At last my love being stronger then my resolution or my anger I did by degrees go neer her and at the very first sight forgetting all the wrongs which as I thought I had received
must needs phrase my past services And though her cruelty hath been such unto me yet must I in some sort excuse her since being engaged unto Palemon perhaps she had offended against her fidelity in doing otherwise But now when thanks be to the Fates she hath quitted him what reason or colour can she have for her cruelty since she tells you that she loved Palemon because she thought it reasonable to love him who loved her Upon her own ground reason and judgment I do appeal unto you great Nymph swearing unto you by her fair selfe for a greater oath cannot be that never did any Beauty cause a greater more sincere or more faithfull love then that of Adrastes unto the fair Doris Thus Adrastes ended his Oration with so many demonstrations of a perfect love as all that heard him were partners in his resentments And the shepheardesse Doris seeing he had said all he could after an humble reverence answered thus Great Nymph I am very sorry for this shepheard 's sake that all he hath said is true for since he loves me so well it grieves me that he should be ill treated yet you may perceive by what hath been said that the fault is not in me but it is himselfe only that pursues his ill fortune The first time he declared his minde unto me we were both so young that neither knew what Love was so as what he said unto me moved me no more then a person who was nothing at all concerned Afterwards he travelled and when he returned he found me not mine own for I had given my self unto Palemon So that as at the first time he might complain of my ignorance in love so at this second he might much more complain of my too much knowledge in it But he has no reason at all to complain against me for shepheard can you complain against me who was not capable of love for not loving you Lay the blame upon Nature accuse those Lawes unto which she hath submitted us all Then can you think it strange I will not love you when my will was not my owne Alas I have but one heart and one soul and one will You may with more reason complain and that me-thinks is the only plea you have that you did addresse your selfe unto me too soon and returned too late You say that I never looked upon you but with scorn but was ever very averse from shewing any favour unto you Truly Adrastes if you rightly interpret my actions you will finde that you are more obliged unto me for that then if I had done otherwise For had you received any satisfaction from me unto what a strange extremity would your love have been driven that was so great maugre all my rigours Consider Adrastes that favours from me would rather have been aggravations then any consolations in your misery Besides I could not have shewed them without much offence unto that sincere affection which I had promised Palemon I must needs confesse that it is just to love one that loves us but I do not say it is injustice not to love all those that have any affection unto us for if it were there would be no fidelity nor assurance in love if it were so you your selfe were obliged to render a reciprocall love unto the shepheardesse Bebliena who is ready to die for you But I mean that a woman being free from all other affection may without blame love him that loves her if there be no other reason of hatred but his love Now this case is nothing resemblant unto that betwixt you and me for I being engaged another way I cannot contract any new affection with you without a ruine of that which I have contracted already Had I dissembled with you or held you in hopes with any smooth language you might with reason complain against me but if I did ever tell you my minde plainly and freely are you not obliged unto me for it Have I not a thousand times over entreated conjured nay commanded as far as I had any power over you that you should extinguish your affection to me And have you not alwaies answered me that you would if you could do it and live And when you did continue on was it not for your own sake and not mine But great Nymph see how that which as I gather from his wordâ he thinks to be his advantage does deceive him Doubtlesse he thinks that my affection unto Palemon was the only cause which kept me from giving entertainment unto his And indeed he no sooner heard of the dissentions betwixt that shepheard and me but presently he was blowne up with hopes to effectuate his desires and to lose no occasions of promoting them he hath ever since that time so importunately pressed me that I may and with reason call him rather my enemy then my friend But he is much deceived in these thoughts and does not consider that if ever this affection of mine do cease I shall with it so cease from ever any other love as I shall never resent any effects of it again Thus ended Doris Adrastes would have replyed but Leonida commanded silence and taking Chrisante Astrea Diana Phillis Madonthe and Laonice aside she asked them their opinions and advice But being long in consultation and the shepheards who were not called to counsell being impatient and could not be idle Hylas addressed himselfe unto Doris I do admire said he unto her that you should be angry for being too rich How do you mean answered she I mean said Hylas that you ought to entertain not only these two shepheards who love you but also as an evidence of your beauty all those that would offer themselves unto you For it is a womans honour to be loved and courted by many besides the benefit she may get by it I do believe answered Doris very carelesly that this would be a good way for those who would be esteemed fair and are not or for such as prefer that vanity before tranquillity and solid contentment If it be a Good to be loved replyed he the more that love you the more good you have And if it be ill replyed Doris the more I am loved the more ill it is True replyed Hylas but how can it be ill to be loved by many They will hate us in the end answered she Yes replyed he if you do not content and entertain them How should one satisfie and content many replyed Doris when it is impossible to satisfie and content one But said Hylas is it not good to have many Servants They will in the end become our enemies said she and in loving me they will more trouble then benefit me You must have a care said he to keep them your friends The paines replyed the shepheardesse is above the pleasure The gods said the shepheard do never think themselves troubled that many should bring offerings unto their Altars Most true answered she but it is a peculiar priviledge of
the gods to do good unto many without any trouble to them Me-thinks said Hylas that since love depends upon the will and since the will does extend it selfe to all it pleaseth there should be no great pains in loving severall persons The Lovers of this age answered she are not contented with matter of will but they would enjoy it in the effects an I therefore I think it impossible that the will should be divided amongst severall persons at one time Every one of them replyed he must but have a part This answered the shepheardesse I do think to be most impossible But suppose it might since the love of one is so painfull what would a great multitude be Then it seemes said he that you will love but one One answered she is too many and therefore I will love none at all And you shepheards said Hylas unto Palemon and Adrastes what do you say to this We said Palemon do make it appear that we think one to be enough How said Hylas must one love but one Nay fewer answered Palemon since we are two and love but one The discourse of Hylas had continued longer if the Nymph had not returned with all her company and stopped him She therefore and every of them taking their places again she spake thus The Judgment of the Nymph Leonida ALthough we do observe in this difference before us severall accidents which seem contrary to one another yet none of them are contrary unto Love for it is not more naturall for Fire to flame and burn then for Love to produce such dissentions amongst Lovers and those who go about to take them away do attempt a thing no lesse impossible then to take away heat from fire or keep it from flaming On the other side considering that he does not love who does not wholly and entirely dedicate himselfe unto her he loves we conceive it to be a kinde of treason to let any other have a share in his affection And though we do expresse our selves only in the Masculine person yet it doth hold as well in the Feminine Therefore all things being long and seriously debated and considered we do conclude that it would be unjust that love should be extinguished by a thing that is so naturall unto it selfe or to divide it amongst many upon any consideration whatsoever And we do declare that these fallings out and little quarrells are only renewings of love and that to divide or change affection is a crime of the highest nature that can be committed against Love Upon this ground we do ordain that Doris shall love Palemon and that Palemon being assured of her affection shall for the future give her some better testimonies of his love then by those of jealousie though we do conclude that jealousie be a signe of love but it is a signe of love as sicknesse is a signe of life for as one cannot be sick unlesse he live so one cannot be jealous unlesse he love but as sicknesse is a signe of an ill tempered life so jealousie is an argument of an ill tempered love Doris shall pardon and receive Palemon into her favour again and forget all former displeasures considering that Love is a most violent passion and makes one commit many things which are not allowed of by him that committed them nor ever would be had he not been infected with that disease And to avoid those displeasures which she hath resented for the time past we do ordain that as Doris shall treat Palemon as the person whom of all the world she loves best so likewise Palemon shall submit himself unto the will of Doris for if he will be free it will at last fall into tyranny And as for the patient and unfortunate Adrastes we do ordain that it shall be in his choice whether he will continue an example of a faithfull and unfruitfull affection by loving Doris still without any hopes of being loved again or whether he will by breaking the cords of his first love by violence by anger or by despair satisfie the affection of her who loves him and is ready to die for him This was the judgment of the Nymph which produced three very different effects in these three persons in Palemon an extream contentment in Doris so great an astonishment as she stood speechlesse but in Adrastes such a suddain stupification of spirits that he fell down as dead So as whilst Palemon in an extasie of joy and with a thousand confused expressions endeavoured to thank his Judge for so favourable a judgment Doris said not a word but fixed her eyes upon the ground as not knowing whether she should be glad or sad and Adrastes lying all along without any sense did move all that saw him unto so much griefe that Doris her selfe did pitty him All the Company flocked about him and lent him all possible assistance When he came unto himselfe again Leonida accompanyed with Astrea and all her Companions left them all three together but they continued so not long for presently after Palemon taking Doris under the arme went towards Mount Verdun and Adrastes following them with his eye and losing the sight of them amongst the Trees Farewell said he you happy and most perfect Lovers go and enjoy both your happinesse and mine whilst I by this most unjust Ordinance do all my life lament the losse of that felicity which you enjoy These were the last words he uttered out of a sound judgment for a long time for ever since his spirits were so troubled that he lost his wits and committed such absurd follies that even such as could not chuse but laugh at him could not chuse also but pitty him Hylas finding no justice in this Judgment which the Nymph had given did maintain his opinion against all those who conceived that this difference could not be better determined And because Leonida Paris were not ignorant of his humour they were very desirous to passe away the time in talking with him and in order thereunto Paris began thus Me-thinks Sister said he that you have done poor Adrastes abundance of wrong and might have well given a milder sentence for him Are not you of that opinion Hylas For my part answered he I believe the heavens had a minde to punish the fool Adrastes for otherwise it was not likely they would have suffered him to be thus condemned but I must needs confesse that his fond and foolish passion does not deserve a lesse punishment You Hylas and I answered the Nymph are of very different opinions for his love unto Doris continued with so much constancy and resolution me-thinks is so far from deserving any punishment that I do much commend him for it and therefore I gave him leave to continue it still if he would A very fine leave indeed said Hylas Why you might as well give him leave to live all his life in misery for my part I think you were very rigorous in it and I am sure
that were it my case I would revoke your judgment What judgment would you have given said the Nymph and smiled if you had been in my room I should have contented them all three answered he I am sure said Silvander and interrupted them that this Ordinance proceeds from a solid and well disgested judgment I am sure said Hylas that such as are of Silvander's melancholly temper are not fit to be Judges of Love but if you will solidly and seriously consider the reasons why one should love you will say that I am in the right and that Doris Adrastes and Palemon might have been all three contented and satisfied How could that possibly be said the Numph By ordaining replyed Hylas that Doris should love them both and that both of them should serve her for by this means they would have had what they desired which was that she should love them and she would have been better served There was none in the Company that could refrain from laughing when they heard this judgment especially Leonida Which Hylas seeing It seemes great Nymph said he that I have made you all very merry and that you mock me Nay rather answered she it seemes Hylas that you mock us Excuse him Madam said Silvander for he speaks as he thinks If your thoughts said he unto Silvander almost angry be different from mine you think but very ill and I would gladly know what arguments you have to blame my judgment in this Silvander answered very carelesly Common sense tells us that what many have a share in is entirely possessed by none If many have shares in the love of Doris Adrastes and Palemon can have but their parts and he that has but a part in love has nothing of it at all But why said Diana unto Silvander do you speak thus unto Hylas do you not know how he does not understand that language Truly said Hylas you do very well to put in your vie also for perhaps Silvander alone is not Babell enough to confound all the World Then addressing himselfe unto Leonida Did you ever Madam hear such an absurd opinion said he as this of Silvander's that if one have but a part of a thing he hath nothing at all Will any one think that there is no water in a River because the Sea is not in it I would gladly know what this Common Sense is which teacheth such false Doctrines Silvander answered If Love could be divided and still remain Love as Water may and still be Water I should yield unto you Water is of such a nature that the least drop is Water as well as the whole Sea but Love on the contrary is no longer Love if the least part be wanting and to prove this to be a truth Love does consist principally in an extream affection and perpetuall fidelity if you take either of these parts from it it is love no longer I believe there is none in the Company except Hylas but will confesse it for if the extream be wanting in the affection or if fidelity be wanting it is treason and not love if fidelity be in it and not perpetuall it is not fidelity but perfidie So as Hylas I must conclude that who so hath only one part of Love hath nothing of it at all If it be so that Love is a thing individuall it had been against reason to enjoyne Doris to divide her love partly to Palemon and partly to Adrastes Upon this Paris began to speak Me-thinks Hylas said he that we have reason of our side but Silvander has by his discourse gotten the favourable opinion of all the Company and let me tell you that if you do not answer him I shall acknowledge what he saith Generous Paris said Hylas whatsoever Silvander saies or whatsoever you think yet truth will never change and for my part I am sure experience is more certain then all manner of words for there is no arguing against it Now Silvander has nothing but a few smooth handsome words to prove what he saith but I have found what I say by so many effects and familiar experience that I will never seek any further then my selfe for any arguments For I have loved many at once and say what he will or can I am sure I did truly love them and therefore may not Doris do the same Many replyed Silvander do think they do things when they do them not All Artificers but more especially those that do addict themselves unto the Arts and Sciences which are not Mechanicall have a very great opinion of what they do and very few but think their own works much better and more perfect then any others when as it is apparent they do but deceive themselves and very often great imperfections are seen in them by others Selfe-love is ever blinde but alwaies open to the eyes of others Hylas thinks he loves and that he loves well though he be but a very bad workman and therefore whosoever would love aright and not erre must never take him for a pattern Who then said Hylas my selfe If any answered Silvander believe it Silvander is he See said Hylas one of the greatest pieces of presumption that ever selfe-love produced Do you think none but your selfe can love well I say answered Silvander that my affection is pure and perfect that you cannot tax it with any fault nay more that you cannot name me another that excells me So so said Hylas was ever any so over-weened and arrogant as this shepheard Is he the only one that knowes how to love Came he from heaven Is he the great pattern unto men and gives them the Lawes of Love and can measure the grandure and perfection of our wills Fair Nymph if it would not be too tedious unto you I beseech you give me leave to shew him his error Then cocking his Beaver with one arme a kembow and the other accompanying by its gesture the violence of his speech he spoke thus I observe two things Silvander in your speech the one that your affection is pure and perfect and unalterable the other that I cannot name another more accomplished Can any thing be added unto that which is perfect I am confident you will say No for if it would admit of any addition then it wants something and cannot be perfect That thing unto which nothing can be added must be arrived at its extremity and therefore it must be confessed that whatsoever is perfect is extream Now if your affection be perfect then nothing can be added unto it nor can it be made greater then it is nor more accomplished Now tell me presently What is Love Is it not a desire of beauty and of a good which you want But your love is a desire of a good which you want Therefore it must consequently be confessed that something may be added unto your Love which it hath not Moreover you say that your affection cannot be taxed with any crime If I should ask you whom
it is you do love you would answer that it is Diana If I should aske further who this Diana is you would reply that she is the most perfect shepheardesse in the world Then answer I If this shepheardesse be so perfect as you esteem her are you not very bold in daring to love one that is so full of perfection For there must alwaies be some proportion betwixt the Lover and the Loved and I cannot believe that all your presumption can perswade her that you are so perfect as you think your selfe Perhaps you will charge me with the same fault in loving Phillis who you will say hath much more perfection then I. But I am of a contrary beliefe unto you for I do not hold her for such a one as you do your Diana I do confesse she is owner both of beauty and merit and am I without She has wit so have I She is wise I am no fool She is a shepheardesse I am a shepheard She is Phillis and I am Hylas Is there not an eeven conformity and equality betwixt us So as in answer unto all you can aske I propose it as a more perfect love then yours so as if one desire to love aright Hylas and not Silvander must be the pattern For to what purpose is it to love unlesse to have contentment But what contentment or pleasure can these drooping melancholly Lovers have who are perpetually musing and fretting at their hearts against this Bug-bear and Chimaera of Constancy Diana does Silvander say does not love me alas she loves another and scornes me but for all that I will love and serve and adore her lest I should be taxed with inconstancy Phillis does Hylas say does not love me she loves another and scornes me why should not I change this ungratefull woman for another that will love me and scorn some other for my sake Shall this Bug-bear of being taxed with inconstancy hinder me Ah friends I pray tell me what kinde of Beast is this Inconstancy Who did it ever devour What disease did it ever breed Did any ever die of it How many have you seen in mourning by reason of it No no it is a meer imagination a fancy a chimaera or rather an invention of some subtle Lover who seeing her selfe growne ugly or ready to be changed for some other that was fairer then her selfe did broach this opinion and made it to be thought a mortall sin to be Inconstant Will any man in his witts be thus deluded Can he be so silly as to consume all his life without any comfort Do you call this Love forsooth and Constancy May it not with much more reason be called madnesse and folly What! languish in the lap of an old ugly and ungratefull Mistresse Fie fie it is an errour far unworthy of a man that pretends unto any wit or courage Let not Silvander therefore ask any more wherein I can taxe his Love or where I can finde one that is more perfect for I am confident there is not one in the Company who will not say that Hylas loves and Hylas alone loves as a man of wit and courage ought to do Thus ended this inconstant shepheard so moved with his own arguments that he was as hot as any fire Every one smiled and looked upon Silvander in expectation of what he would say and he to give them satisfaction very sleightly answered thus I thought Madam I should have encountred with a Shepheard in the presence of Ladies and Shepheardesses but for ought I see I shall finde him an Athenian Oratour so much is Hylas transported with his eloquence Yet I wish so confident I am in the goodnesse of my cause that he of us two who shall be condemned may be so severely chastised for speaking so boldly before such sacred Altars as he shall either give his Oration the lie or else be plunged in the River Resne That is not reasonable said Hylas unlesse I had been advertised of it before I began to speak or might have such Judges as I did not suspect of partiality Why said the Nymph do you suspectus Because said Hylas you believe all that Silvander saith to be an Oracle and because he has been a while at the Massilian Schooles you admire all he saies and think him to be alwaies in the right No no Hylas said Silvander never refuse to abide the judgment of this great Nymph and the venerable Chrisante never fear shepheard I see they are not disposed unto rigour and the worst will be but an acknowledgment of your errour And therefore I will begin You say Hylas that there is no perfect love without an acquisition of some desired good because Love is only a desire of some good which it wants But Madam I humbly beseech you before I answer this shepheard to pardon me if for the discovery of his subtleties I use some termes which are not frequently used amongst us Therefore answer me shepheard Does any desire that which they do possesse You will say No because desire is only of something wanting But if Love as you say is only a desire do you not see that to possesse what one desires is to quench Love since none does desire that which they possesse Why said Hylas doth not one love that which they possesse If they do not I had rather you should love and that I should not love to the end you may desire and I may possesse I do not say so said Silvander but I say that Love is not only a desire to possesse as you would perswade but on the contrary possession and enjoyment does rather make it die then live If enjoyment do not make it live replyed Hylas yet it is enjoyment which gives it perfection No neither said Silvander for enjoyment is not at all necessary to make a perfect Love A Diamond is as perfect a Diamond before it be wrought as after the Artist hath polished it For if the perfection of Love did depend upon this Enjoyment it would not be in the power of him that loves to love perfectly since the enjoyment does not depend upon him but upon the consent of another And yet Love being an act of the Will which is guided as the Understanding thinks good and the Will being free in all that it does this act of his Will cannot depend upon any other then himselfe But admit that Love be nothing but a desire must it be concluded from thence that Love may be encreased by the enjoyment of that which one desires If you consider it well you will say that Love is rather lesse by it for our soules do in this resemble a Bow the more the string is stretched with more violence doth it shoot its Arrowes So our soules do shoot out more violent desires when the thing desired is hard to be accomplished than when it is easie and in our power If desires do lessen at things easily accomplished much more when it is glutted And if Love
be only a desire how can you think that desires will be augmented by enjoyment which do diminish and glut them Therefore Hylas do not say that my Love being a desire cannot be perfect without enjoyment And do not accuse of arrogance because there ought to be an equall proportion betwixt Diana and me unlesse you will deny that men may love the gods for then I shall yield unto you But if you confesse that to love the gods be the greatest commandment upon us then I ask you shepheard whether there be a greater disproportion betwixt Diana and me then betwixt Thautates and Hylas And to convince you of your errour it is requisite I explain this secret mystery of Love unto you We cannot love unlesse we do know the thing which we do love Oh said Hylas how false is that position For I do love above a hundred Ladies and Shepheardesses and yet I never knew one of them well for as soon as I found them to be peevish and disdainfull I left them and was angry with my selfe for thinking otherwise of them then I found them This reason answered Silvander ought to make you confesse what I do say For you did love that which you knew not that is having an opinion that they were full of perfections you judged them amiable you loved them but finding out the truth you left loving them and by this you see that the knowledge of the persons was the originall and source of your love and truly if the will from whence love begins be never moved unto any thing but what the judgment thinks good there being no likelyhood that the understanding can judge upon a thing of which it hath no knowledge I do wonder how you can imagine one should love that which he doth not know I do confesse that as the eye may sometimes be deceived so may the understanding and may judge that amiable which is not But yet Love must come from knowledge be it true or false Now this being so have you not learned in the Massilian Schooles that understanding and the thing understood are but one and the same thing What! still harping upon the same string said Hylas are you Diana Silvander as you were the other day Truly Diana said he and turned towards her you are a very pretty Boy And you Silvander said he and turned towards him you are a very handsome Wench Believe me shepheard you are excellent good company and will ere long be as pleasant a Fool as ever was in Forrests Every one began to laugh at this Silvander himselfe could not hold hearing how he interpreted what he had said and his way of speaking and therefore he continued thus You may very well shepheard said he make your selfe merry with me since I had no more wit then to prophane these mysteries by communicating them unto you nor should I have done it had we been alone but I was constrained unto it because I would not leave those that hear us in an errour But though you will not allow what I say for Orthâdox yet perhaps you will hearken unto what your selfe said concerning Phillis I mean that you did alledge the good opinion which you had of your own merits and the merits of Phillis as a good argument and that you did not esteem heâs such but that yours might equall them Now if you had this beliefe of your selfe why will you not allow me to take the same advantage of selfe conceit for I do think that the same proportion that is betwixt the fire and the wood which the fire burnes is betwixt Diana and me Now if you deny this to me good friend why do you take more priviledge to your selfe But I dare with assurance affirme that Hylas does not love Phillis I shall maintain it to be absolutely impossible For the chiefe Ordinance of Love is That a Lover do think all things most perfect in the person Loved And truly it is a Law most just and grounded upon great reason for if a Lover ought to love his Mistresse above all things in the whole Universe ought he not to esteem her above all things since his will directs him alwaies unto that which his understanding tells him is best But it does plainly appear that it is Hylas you love and not Phillis by saying that none loves but for their own contentment Now the pains which Lovers do voluntarily take only in doing service unto those they love does plainly make the contrary appear And have you not heard say that we live more where we love then where we breathe I shall never believe that answered Hylas this is nothing but talk that comes from such idle imaginations as yours Had you said replyed Silvander that the talk came from such a wounded imagination as mine you had said right for the imagination of a Lover is so We see some ready to die upon the wound of one little word upon the cast of an eye nay sometimes upon very suspition Sometimes you shall see a Lover deny unto himselfe all manner of rest and contentment only to enjoy the sight of the party loved for one minute But Hylas did you know what a felicity it is to be a fool in such occasions you would confesse that all the wisdome of the world is not comparable to this pleasing folly Were you able to comprehend it you would never aske what pleasure and contentment those faithfull Lovers whom you phrase melancholly and pensive do receive for you then would know that they are so ravished in contemplation of the party whom they love and adore as scorning all that is in the whole Universe they do not repent of any thing more than the losse of that time which they spend any where else and their soules not being well able to contain the grandure of their contentment they stand astonished at so much treasure and so many felicities which transcends their knowledge Know that the happinesse which Love doth recompense unto faithfull Lovers is the same that he may give unto the gods And these Lovers raising themselves above the nature of men do almost make themselves gods for all other pleasures which you do so highly prise are such only as a bastard-Love does afford unto such Animals as are without reason and such men as are only taken with them they do degenerate from the nature of Men and become almost Animals deprived of all reason Into such a Monster Hylas do you degenerate when you do love otherwise then as you ought such a Monstrositie I say does appear in you since there is no proportion in it and like Monsters it cannot produce its like and to be briefe like a Monster it cannot live long On the contrary my love is every way so perfect as nothing can be added or diminished without an offence to reason for both in grandure and quality I can without any vanity say that it is arrived at perfection In saying that my affection could not be blamed
and Polemas and I must confesse that whosoever would rid me of them would infinitly oblige me For I am sure they will never let me be in any quietness nor suffer Celadon to be neere me And therefore I would try if I could be shut of one by meanes of the other which may be effected by the mediation of Leonide whom I would have you counsell to acquaint Lindamour with all that Climanthe said concerning him but to take especiall care that she do not thinke I have any thoughts of Celadon And to the end she may thinke if I have not quite forgotten that shepherd you may tell her that the presence of Lindamor who is a man of so much Merit will make me forget him by this meanes Lindamor will either destroy Polemas or Polemas him So shall I be rid of one at the least and both if good fortune's favour be so much as that one kill theother I do not desire this should be by death but rather be rid of them some other way But I am so extreamly pestered with them and do love Celadon so well that if there be none other remedy I consent unto it so it be not by my hand or knowne that it proceeds from me I must confesse Sister that when I heard these words I was astonished and resolved to acquaint you not to incite you unto what she desires but rather to divert you I answered the Nymph that it was first requisite to know of Flurial what time Lindamor said he would come which she thought to be expedient and therefore commanded me to call him which I did but before he spoke unto her I charged him not to tell Galathea the time of his comming nor the place where he would be and that if she asked him he should say that he would come much latter then the time he told him Though the fellow had no great matter of wit yet he had some apprehensions which made him stagger at my perswasions yet at last he harkened unto them then I brought him to her and he lyed so confidently that she beleeved him And because she thought it expedient that I should come unto you to get you to write unto Lindamor or at least to let him know what Polemas had done against him I thought good to bring Flurial with me that he might tell you more then perhaps he would me but he feares that you are angry with him for so simply giving your Letters unto Galathea that he dare not come in your sight Now me thinks that though he did very simply in it yet he ought not to be so chid for it as to lose him True said Leonide and perhaps he hath not done so much hurt as he thinkes since by his meanes Galathea hath read Lindamors Letter which I should not have dared to present unto her least she should have banished me as she hath already Assure him therefore that I am not at all angry with him but rather pleased Silvia upon this went out and called for Flurial whom she told what she had done and afterwards brought him unto Leonida who looked upon him very kindly and assured him that she was nothing displeased with him Then asking him every particular of his voyage he began to answere thus I was afraid Madam that I had committed a fault and therefore beseeched Silvia to make my excuse but since thankes be to Cod it proves otherwise I am most heartily glad of it and thinke it to be the greatest happinesse that could come unto me For I have vowed my selfe so much unto the service of Lindamor that though he may perhaps find me failing in my wit and discretion yet never in my fidelity and affection Therefore as soon as I had your commands upon me to go unto him I went with as much haste as possibly I could and came unto a City called Paris where Meroveus then was being returned from the Neustrian Country This City is seated in an Isle so as the walls about it are washed with a River which runs round on all sides of it And so as there is no comming to it but by bridges As soon as he saw me I observed a great alteration in his countenance but he being in bed then and having many persons about him he could not speak unto me nor aske me the occasion of my voyage But when he was alone he called for me and asking what businesse brought me thither I told him that he would be best informed by your Letter Is there none saith he presently from my Lady You will know all answered I by that Letter He changed colour when I said so unto him thinking that certainly there was some great alteration or other in the wind but when he had read your Letter I never saw a man so amaz'd I cannot tell what was in that paper but it was like to have cost him his life I do remember said Leomda the very words they were but short and therefore Sister I would have you heare them that you may acquaint Galathea with them if you think it requisite Leonida's Letter unto Lindamor AS I have heretofore told you that you might trust in me so I must tell you now that you must trust to your self not that the least thought of my affection to your service is diminished but because the subtility of Polemas is such as that it hath taken away all my power to serve you Your business goes so very badly on as you must not expect any good successunless you speedily returne I cannot say any more unto you unless it were by word of mouth it not being fit any but your selfe should know of that which none but your selfe can remedy You gave him said Silvia a very hot alarme and I do not wonder he should blush when he redd it for such newes might very well cause the like effects How could I write any lesse said Leonida is it not true For my part I cannot tell a lie especially to my friends and such as trust in me Your words replyed Flurial were very effectuall By fortune there was none with him unlesse a young man who waited upon him in his Chamber He had such a command over his sorrowes as he restrained his complaints till he had commanded this young man and my selfe to retire and wait in his Wardrobe untill he called for us Then causing the Curtains to be drawn he began to sigh so loud that though the dore was shut yet we could hear him Then I enquired what was the cause of keeping his bed and I understood that it was by reason of some wounds he had received in a skirmish wherein the Neustrians were defeated by the valour of Clidaman and Lindamor and because I was very inquisitive after newes and desired to know all passages the young man made this relation to me I believe Fluriall said he unto me for he knew my name having often seen me in the Gardens of Mount-Brison and in his Masters
go out of the Country After she had considered with her selfe she said That perhaps Leonida is not accessary to Celadon's departure because he went away out of the Country in that manner Truly answered Silvia I believe she never so much as thought of any such thing and I dare answer for her almost as much as for my selfe But if she were not replyed Galathea why should she not come again when you sent unto her from me Madam said Silvia I beseech you give me leave to tell you plainly what answer she gave unto me I do not only give you leave said the Nymph but I command you to tell me Be pleased to know then Madam said Silvia that after she had read my Letter she answered That she knew very well what honour it was to do you any service especially to be about your person not being ignorant that we are all obliged both by nature and your merits to devote both our services and lives unto you But when she considered the strange opinions you have entertained of her and the bad treatment those opinions have caused her to receive from you she had rather lose the happinesse of your presence then to be in danger of farther incurring your disfavour and become the talk of all the Court That a Maid has nothing more deer unto her then her honour and reputation and your suspitious of her have caused many disadvantagious reports to go of her That she alwaies courts occasions to obtain the honour of your favour by all possible services she is able to do yet most humbly beseecheth you not to take it ill that she does not return again At this time when I spake unto her she gave me the same answer adding many vowes and protestations that what she had told you concerning Polemas and Climanthes was true so as I must needs ingenuously confesse that I do believe her Do you think said Galathea that this can be Madam answered Silvia I see no impossibilities in it for it is most certain Polemas does love you and has subtlety enough to invent this trick Now I am the more apt to believe it because the very same day you found Celadon Polemas was seen alone in the same place walking there very long manifesting thereby that he had some designe in it How do you know this said the Nymph I have learned it said Silvia from severall persons being very inquisitive to discover the truth so as enquiring where Polemas was that day I understood at the first that he was not at Marcelles Afterwards searching more narrowly into the truth I discovered he went out of Fours having only one man in his company whom none did know of whom he made very extraordinary much of At last I understood from many that those who searched for Celadon along the River Lignon found him alone walking in the same place where you found the shepheard Truly said Galathea this tale does not a little trouble me so as if it be true I must needs say I have wronged Leonida in treating her as I have for till now I thought this to be a meer trick Madam answered Silvia I assure you that Polemas was long in that place at that time as well as many daies ensuing without any company Now judge you what could his businesse be there I must now confesse said Galathea that Polemas is a knave and could I discover the truth I would make him repent of his knavery Mean time I would have you get Leonida to return unto me assuring her that she shall have my love so she will live with me and you as she ought to do On the other side Leonida as soon as her Companion was gone returned to Adamas relating part of the newes which she heard and handsomely concealing what she thought he might take ill Now because it was dinner time the Druide Alexis and she retired unto their Lodgings Twelve or fifteen daies being past since Alexis left her sad habitation and most of the Neighbours had payed all their civill visits unto Adamas a Servant came and told him a certain number of shepheards came to speak with him amongst the rest one whose name was Lycidas At the name of Lycidas Alexis started Which Adamas observing lest Paris should do the same he sent him to see who they were Paris undertook this Commission with a very good heart because he was in fear of his dear Diana's welfare In the interim Adamas looked upon Alexis saying I am afraid Daughter lest your hatred unto this Brother should discover what we desire so much to conceal It is impossible replyed she but I should be surprised at this unexpected newes therefore if you please I will withdraw into the next Chamber till these shepheards be gone No said Adamas for doubtlesse they come hither to see you Besides it is not good to put Paris himselfe in any doubt Alexis did not reply because she heard the voice of Lycidas at the stairs foot Presently after all the Company came into the Hall where the Druide received them with extraordinary demonstrations of love The most eminent amongst them was Diamis Diana's Uncle Phoceon Uncle to Astrea Lycidas Silvander Coridus Amidor And though Tircis and Hylas were not of that Country yet having sojourned foure or five months in their Towne they came with them for loves-sake and good company Phoceon the mouth of all the rest presented their good affections to the Druide together with their cordiall desires to do him service Afterwards told him that two occasions had principally invited them thither The one to congratulate with him in his joyes of seeing his Daughter Alexis The other to acquaint him that it had pleased the great Tautates to send some Misleto into the Grove belonging to their Town therefore they came to beseech him he would be pleased according to their custome to take so much paines as to come and make a sacrifice of thanks Then the Priest addressed himselfe Sir said he what I shall relate unto you is very strange As I was searching out Misleto for the new year I found things that are no lesse then wonders in the sacred Grove of Hesius Taramis Belinus our great god Theutates First a Temple of Hazells and young Oakes so twisted and plaited to a great Oake in the midest as there is an arched Vault so spacious as to contain many people In the midst is a bank of Grasse in form of an Altar upon which stands a Picture representing reciprocall Amity together with the twelve Statutes of the Lawes of Love Within this we found another Temple dedicated unto the goddesse Astrea Oh Sir I cannot chuse but admire the mystery There are in this two Altars the chiefe of which is Triangular under the most wonderfull Oake that ever was for having but one stock it divides it selfe into three branches then rejoynes themselves into one bark again at the top in such an admirable manner as that they make but one Tree
beauty be the matter said Corilas Phillis is not defective in it She hath lesse then Alexis said Hylas for she is not able to hold me now I have seen the other and therefore I must fairly take my leave of her Silvander who had been long silent seeing Corilas did not reply he undertook the discourse for him It is not any defect in the beauty of Phillis said he which moveth this shepheard to make his retreat but it is his owne naturall inconstancy Very well said Hylas do you call it inconstancy when one goes on step by step unto the place where they intend to arrive No said Silvander And yet said Hylas such a one does set his foot sometimes upon the ground sometimes in the air sometimes before sometimes behinde And is not this inconstancy as well as that which you lay in my dish For intending to arrive at a perfect beauty I do set one foot before another and never leave changing till I arrive at my intended place Even so have I done by all I have hitherto loved untill I found Alexis who I finde to be the most perfect beauty of all This might hold good answered Silvander if you could demonstrate to us that you do merit to love Alexis For as you have gotten the name of Inconstant by loving so many so now you will get the name Presumptuous in loving Alexis Alexis was long silent taking great delight in the discourse of these shepheards but when she heard her selfe so highly commended she thought it fit to speak Did I as much merit the affection of Hylas said she as I am willing to entertain it certainly he should have no small reason to love me Then tuming her selfe in a smiling manner towards Hylas Servant said she unto him take heed lest the language of this shepheard should divert you for you would wrong both your selfe and me if it should It would be a shame for you to attempt an enterprise and so soon give it over and it would be too evident an argument of my little merit if you should so soon quit me But Hylas said Silvander do you not dread the displeasure of Teupates in addressing your selfe unto one who is consecrated unto him Ignorant Silvander said Hylas the gods do command us to love themselves and how can they be angry with us for loving that which is theirs You see said Alexis that this shepheard hath some designe upon us he would cunningly turn you from me by artifice for he knowes well enough that if I will I can leave off that profession which I have taken upon me Whilst these shepheards were thus talking Adamas was entertaining Phocion Diaonis and Tircis and because he esteemed them very much both for their age their vertues and for his designe in making a Match between Celadon and Astrea he did all that possibly he could to bid them welcome And because Tircis was a stranger and had never seen the raritles of his House he asked him if he would take so much paines as to walk and see it And hearing him answer that he did infinitly desire it he took him by the hand and willed Paris to do the like unto Hylas and the rest of the shepheards if they had a minde Alexis with the help of Hylas who led her by the arme followed Adamas with the rest of the Company The House was very fine and furnished with many excellent singularities but because the discourse of it would be too long we will speak no more of it then what is pertinent to our purpose They entred then into a large Gallery which had a prospect of Plaines on the one side and Mountains on the other which made it very delectable and pleasant The sides was Wanscot fretted and betwixt the windowes hung with Maps of the severall Provinces of Gaul At the higher end hung Pictures of severall Countries Kings and Emperours and amongst them the Portractures of severall very beautifull Women The top was adorned with Gold and Azure very richly imbossed with many severall devices Every one fixed their eyes upon that which was most agreeable unto their fancies But Hylas whose heart was all for beauty looking upon a Picture which contained two Ladies See said he two very delicate faces Which of these two should one judge to be the fairer Adamas who heard him That said he on the right hand is the Picture of the Mother in Law and the other on the left the Daughter in Law Both of them were two Princesses as fair and as wise as ever any and as much tossed and turmoiled by the stormes of Fortune as any in our Times This which seemes the more aged is the wise Placidia Daughter unto the great Theodosius Sister unto Arcudius and Honorius Wife unto Constantius and Mother unto Valentiniaen all five Emperours whose Pictures are a little farther off The other is the Picture of Eudoxe Daughter unto Theodosius the Second and Wife unto Valentinian whom Genserio carried into Affrica They were two Princesses said Tircis of great beauties and as great extractions But wherein was their Fortunes so averse I shall briefly tell you replyed Adamas and shall thereby acquaint you with some of these Pieces which you see here Then after a while of silence he began thus The History of Placidia THEODOSIUS the first of that name Emperour of the East one of the greatest Princes the World had since Augustus he had three Children One Arcadius who after him was Emperour of the East Another was Honorius who was Emperour of the West And the third was the wise Placidia whose fortune was so various that we see in her how Vertue is ordinarily crossed For she being at the dispose of her Brother Honorius and he under the government of Stilicon unto whose Guardianship the great Theodosius had committed him during his nonage she was so variously tossed and tormented by severall accidents as if Fortune had made choice of her to shew the power it hath in all human things of which Stilicon was the greatest cause who having great power over the person of Honorius and the whole Empire his ambition aspired at more absolute authority and aimed to make himselfe sole Emperour as when his designes were discovered it did plainly appear He being a man of a deep reach and managing his matters so as might most condure to his desired end and grandure he thought it expedient for him to make use of policy and subtlety where it was impossible for him to compasse it by force His way was therefore at the first to stretch his authority to the highest pitch before he made his intentions known and afterwards to fortifie himselfe by marrying his Daughter unto young Honorius for the very name of Father in Law to an Emperour looked big and procured him a great honour and fear Afterwards he held secret intelligence and correspondency with all such as he thought fit instruments for the advancement of his designe And lastly resolved to weaken the
you the Armes of all Asia of all Affrica and of all the rest of Europe whereof Italy is but a poor pittance Judge great King what likelyhood there is that you or any human upon earth should withstand so many Provinces conquer so many Kings and get to himselfe so many Worlds for so may the Kingdomes and vast extent of the Roman Empire be called so as the ruine of Italy will bring upon you the hatred of god and man Men will revenge the wrong done unto the capitall City upon earth the gods will be offended at the ruine of that Towne which is the miracle of the world and which they have raised to that height to please themselves and astonish men If you will but be pleased to take all these things into your wise and serious consideration you will finde it much better to make your selfe friends and to oblige my two Brothers and their Empires confirming by a good correspondency with them that alliance which is already betwixt you Why Sir did you honour me to make me your Wife Was it to make my two Brothers your enemies was it to ruine my Country was it to see my friends and kindred carried away Captive into a strange Country Oh! What a sad and fatall marriage was this unto me Had it not been much better for me that the first day the Towne was taken had been the last of my life Upon this that wise and prudent Princesse fell down all tears at the feet of Ataulfus and kissed them with so many sighes and groanes as the Kings pitty did surmount the cruelty of his nature so as he took her up kissed her and said unto her Cease cease all your tears and sighes my dearest Placidia I do freely give unto you your City and Country and to make it appear how much I do desire your contentment I do vow and swear by the soul of my dead Father that I will never turne my armes against any of your Brothers whose friendship and amity for your sake I will by all waies court The King of the Gothes thus mollified and vanquished he concluded a Peace with Honorius and went out of Italy into those Provinces which were agreed by Alarick his Predecessor he should have But his people who were of a martiall temper and had lived many years in Armes they could not endure to hear upon any tearmes of Peace and therefore by a publick sedition did put him to death Now was Placidia in no lesse danger then at the taking of Rome for a popular tumult is like a torrent that carries away all that will stop its fury Yet this wise Princesse who foresaw such a danger long beforehand she obliged the prime Officers in the Army by all the good offices that possibly she could imagine and indeed as long as she was amongst them she was honoured and loved more then ever any Queen was This generous spirit did not shrink from her zeal and love unto her Country and her Brothers in the least manner by the death of her Husband but after she had a while lamented her sad mishap she transacted the matter so that a Grandee Prince amongst the Gothes of whose amity she was well affored was chosen King his name was Segerick This new King acknowledging his obligations unto Placidia and thinking the amity of the Roman Emperours very necessary for the establishment of his Crowne he shewed himselfe so affectionate unto it and her as he procured unto himselfe the odium of the Army who presently after did murder him as they had done before Ataulfus But this generous Queen who could never be daunted by any misfortue nor weary with any paines for the good and security of the Empire she brought it so to passe that Vulius was chosen King This Vulius was a great and a wise Commander who having before his eyes the example of two Kings his Predecessors he resolved by prudence to avoyd the like end At his first comming to his Crowne therefore he made a shew as if he were a professed enemy unto the Empire made great preparations against it and faining to be farre out with the wise Placidia he sent to denounce warre against her Brother Who being advertised underhand by his Sister he spread abroad reports of a puissant Army which he would raise against the Goths and so frighted these Barbarians by the aide of Vulius that in conclusion the people demanded peace which was concluded to the great contentment of Placidia Who now seeing the Empire setled and secured on that side desired to be out of their hands and went into Italy Where she was received by her Brother and the people as if she had been a great Generall unto whom the tryumph belonged It seemes now fortune was weary of tormenting this wise Princess And she was so beloved and honoured by every one especially Honorius himselfe as remembring the cares and paines she had taken in delivering the Empire from the Tyrannique Arms of the Goths and how much both he and all Europe was beholding to her They resolved seeing he had no Children to marry her unto one whom he would allie unto the Empire to the end she might after him be Mistresse of those Dominions which she had so long and so prudently preserved In order unto this designe he look't upon one of the greatest Captaines in all the Armie whose valour and wise conduct did render him most worthy of a great command his name was Constantius a man of a very antlent Familiy and high vertue His Picture is next unto that of Placidia in whose aspect you may observe such a grandure of spirit and corrage as is not commone And indeed he was one of the greatest Personages that the Empire had a long time before This was he unto whom Honorius gave his Sister And at the same time sent him into Spaine with a great Armie against the Almaines the Swedes and the Vandals The good King Vulius hearing that Constantius was husband unto the wise Placidia he assisted him with all his forces and followed himselfe in person This was the reason why Constantius at his returne gave Aquitaine unto the said Vulius where he lived quietly and in good corespondency with the Romans This great Constantius got the better of the Almanes killed their King called Acatius and afterwards vanquished the Swedes And doubtlesse the Vandals had been driven out but for the revolt which Attalus had caused in Rome intending to declare himselfe Emperor because Honorius had no Children nor had named any successor For Constantius leaving his Enterprise in Spaine unperfect he came to Rome and seizing upon the rebell he confined himselfe unto the Hippodrome At which Honorius was so well pleased that he made him his associate and declared him Augustus Fortune who commonly seconds one favour with another did so by Constantius So as now behold him a conquerer in Spaine Tryumphant at Rome and an Associate in the Empire One great favour more
her for Isidores sake into the Garden and Isidore being a little weary they seperated Eudoxe continued walking and Isidore went into an Arbour where she found seates of grasse covered over with boughes she had not beene there long but Valentinian who was walking with Eudoxe began to complaine of wearinesse and made that his pretence for going to sit downe in the same Arbour Isidore offered to go out but he held her by the gowne Eudoxe seeing this looked upon me and could not chuse but smile I thinking this to be a fit opportunitie to put my intended resolution into execution I would not let it slippe I smiled therefore as well as she and she asked me why I did so to which I answered very freely that it was because Valentinian had left her to go unto Isidore And why Ursaces said she unto me do not you the same I Madam said I unto her do you think I have so little judgement Me thinkes said she that you ought to do it because it is fitter that you should do her service then Valentinian I know very well Madam said I that there is much more equality betwixt Isidore and me then betwixt Valentinian and her but I must needs confesse that I had rather commit a fault contrary unto that of Valentinian How do you meane said she I meane Madam said I that rather then serve one who is equall unto my selfe as Isidore is I would dye for the love of one who is above me as you are How me answered she do you Ursaces know what you say I say Madam answered I that I had rather dye adoring You then live and love Isidore and that the vast inequality betwixt us could never put me out of this mind since the first day I had the glory to see you Surely said the Princesse you are out of your wits otherwise you would never talke thus to Me. Do not thinke so Madam said I unto her for I am sure I never spoke more truly nor with a sounder judgement She stood still and looked stedfastly upon me and afterwards said Is this language Ursaces in earnest or in jeast I do sweare Madam said I unto her by that service which I owe you that I did never in my life utter words more unfainedly nor with a more resolved will then these and take them as you will hate or treat me as you please I shall never change Ursaces said she unto me I am very sorry for your folly I have esteemed you and your service above any that have been educated under the Emperor my Father But since you are growne so beyond all bounds of reason impudent and quite forgot your duty and distance be assured that if ever you use the same liberty of language againe to me I will make you repent of your rashnesse and acquaint both Valentinian and the Emperor with it Madam answered I did I not feare that those who are in the garden would observe me I would aske pardon upon my knees for my presumptuous crime but I beseech you give me leave to say that all your menaces cannot prevaile with my will this affection is rivetted into it heaven and earth cannot dissolve it and therefore there is no hope that any feare of the Emperor or any consideration of Valentinian can divert me 'T is true I may be silent and languish away for the love of the faire Eudoxe and so I beleive I shall Now for a proofe of this and not to offend you any longer with my impertinent talke I do sweare unto you by that eternall humble service which I owe you that I will never speak to you of it againe But remember this that as oft as I do you any reverence or bid you good morrow my heart then sayes unto you Madam that Ursaces is dying for the love of you and tacitly tells you that you will never have a more faithfull servant then he And when I take my leave of you or bid you good night then do I say how long is it your pleasure I shall be miserable and how long will your rigour last And to begin said I sadly to her permit me to take my leave of you and bid you good night Upon this I made a low reverence and retired lest I should too much offend her with my words but as I went I observed that she turned the other way and smiled which gave my heart no little hope Thus kind stranger have I lived ever since with her never making any semblance of what was past except by my good morrowes and good nights which when none could see her she would often answere with a ââake of her head as if she were still offended at the memory of that which I hinted unto her Above sixe Months passed on this manner and all the while she shewed not the least kind of any reception of my affection At the last I vanquished one morning when Valentinian was leading her to the Temple I went to her and making an humble reverence I said good morrow Madam At which she smiled and turning towards me Ursaces said she your good morrowes are very kindly accepted Oh heavens how can I expresse my joyes I protest I never hoped for any happinesse especially when nothing was talked of but the mariage of Valentinian and her Yet I understood since how that which I believed would have ruined my hopes was that which obliged her more unto me For she perceiving how his affection to Isidore encreased and all his expressions unto her were onely to please the Emperor she resolved to entertaine my love rather then to be the wife of an Emperour and to accept of my service since Valentinian was wholy devoted unto the service of Isidore I knew her resolution presently after for upon the first opportunity which presented it selfe she told me that my constancy and Valentinians affection unto Isidore had overcome her And that if I did continue still in my discreet behaviour she would continue her affection to me So as ever since that day she permitme to call her in private my Princess and she called me her my Cavalier Judge Silvander whether ever man was more happy then my selfe For Eudoxe was absolutely the fairest Princess in the whole world aged about scaventeene or eighteen yeares and never loved any one but I. Whilst we lived thus in this manner Honorius who marryed the Daughter of Stilicon dyed without Issue And because a Roman whose name was John his Principall Secretary was elected Emperour by the meanes of Castinus and Aetius the Emperour Theodosius intending to make his cosen Germaine Valentinian Emperour of the West he would send him thither with his Mother Placidia I made a florish as if I were desirous to make one in this voyage but indeed my desires were to stay for the gaurd of Eudoxe For though the desire of glory did invite me into Italy yet love kept me at Constantinople by stronger tyes for this faire Princess did
so second her promise as her affection was no lesse to me then mine to her At the first I believed her intention was not to go so farre But love in this resembles death for as one cannot dye so one cannot love by halves Now as I was pumping for a good excuse to stay at home the Emperour received inetlligence of a great Army which was marching towards Constantinople This newes invited many to stay who otherwise in point of honour and duty would have gone under the conduct of Artabures who carryed a very great Army by Sea having with him Aspar his Son a very valiant and fortunate Commander as afterwards he made it evidently appeare by taking John in Ravenna and delivering his Father Now though I was not jealous of Valentinian for all Eudoxe's favourable aspect upon him because I knew it was onely to please Theodosius yet I seemed as if I were and seemed to rejoyce very much at his departure I shall not now relate unto you the voyage of Valentinian for I believe you have heard it by many But so it was that after all things were set in good order in the West he returned to Constantinople Where he was received by Theodosius as if he were his Sonne And by the solicitation of Phacidia who stayed in Italy the marriage of the faire Eudoxe was concluded upon It is imposible I should expresse my sad resentments upon this occasion I could not believe it and was so surcharged with feares and sorrow that but for Eudoxe I had not been able to have supported them But she who was wise and prudent though it grieved her to the very soul that she was to be his whom she did not love yet she surmounted her sorrow by resolution And because she saw in what paine I lived she gave me the opportunity of speaking to her in her closset when none was present but Isidore whom she did infinitly love Well my Cavalier said she unto me I see you still doubt of my affection and complaine against me My fairest Princess said I unto her had I not been accustomed to receive more favour from you than I can any way merit you might have had some reason to say so now when I do receive so high a one as transcends all degrees of gratitude to acknowledge sufficiently But why will you not give me leave to complaine of my fortune who shewing me the good which she may give me gives it unto another whose merits in matter of love are inferiour unto mine my Cavalier answered she live contentedly and be assured that Ursaces enjoyes all that a violent affection can obtaine And what favour I shew unto any other is more out of duty then love and since it is so what reason have you to complaine against your fortune My reason for it replyed I is as great as my obligation unto you for this assurance Why my fairest Princess should I not complain of her who in lieu of favouring my affection does deprive me of that which onely can bring me unto the happinesse which I desire Oh Cavalier said she you do offend me What would you not have loved me but onely to obtaine that of me which my duty desires you What did you think of me and how little did you love me if you have so bad an opinion of me I was not able to answer her seeing how she took it but kneeling down with a deep sigh I stopped my mouth by holding her hand upon it At the last I rose up again and answered her I must needs confesse my fairest Princesse that I do love you more then you would and more then reason would but who can love you lesse I must confesse that neither reason nor duty can measure the grandure of my affection and if I do offend you in it I beseech you pardon me considering that to love you lesse would be to prophane your beauty Also I beg your pitty who have so much courage yet want so much merit And yet you might well winke at these faults if love had a little more force in you I do not understand you said she unto me Alas replyed I how hard a matter it is to make you understand it by my words if love will not make you conceive it But I mean my Princesse that if love had a little more power over you this duty which you speak of would have lesse the too-happy Valentinian would enjoy what he is in quest of and I what I desire Oh Cavalier said she with a deep sigh did you but know the resentments of my soul and what restraint it is in you would know that Love hath as much power over me as it can have over any heart If I do deny you any testimony of this power consider my birth and unto what Lawes it obliges me Had I been the Daughter of the Athenian Leontine as my Mother was I might have disposed of my selfe and my affection but being Daughter unto the Emperour Theodosius Grandchild unto the Emperour Arcadins and having Theodosius the great unto my great Grandfather do you not see I am not my owne but theirs who gave me my beeing It is the Tribute of humanity and the Law of divinity to submit unto Emperours and Grandure Reason of State as well as Love is to be considered This is no newes either to you or me we both foresaw this long since and when I first set my eyes and affection upon you it was still with a resolution to marry Valentinian I am confident you had the same thoughts the first day you began to love me What is it then which now troubleth you What accidents have hapned which should divert us from our first principles These words touched me so to the quick that I could not permit her to go on without interruption Can you think Madam said I unto her that these are considerations of Love Can love be confined to any Lawes of duty Oh heavens how infinitely are you and I mistaken You in thinking that you love and I in thinking that you loved me Then stopping a little I began again when I saw she offered to speak The Lawes of Love Madam are far different from those you mention and if you would know what they are read them in me and you will finde that as the great inequality which is betwixt us could not keep me from lifting up my eyes so high as my fairest Princesse so it should not divert you from looking so low as your poor Cavalier for there is no more difference betwixt you and me then betwixt me and you And as to what you alledge concerning your birth since it is so high that it is in the superlative degree and can admit of no higher then you are why should you not in lieu of looking at Grandure which can receive no addition in you cast your eyes upon your own contentment to the end that as you are by birth the greatest Princesse in the world so
token of his desire shewed unto her the Ring of her Husband She giving credit to the Messenger and suspecting nothing went and was conducted into the Garden being told that the Empresse was there Being brought into the most retired place of all the Garden you may imagine how astonished she was when she saw her selfe in the hands of Valentinian She began presently to look very pale upon it and to tremble The Emperour seeing it took her by the hand and would have carried her to sit downe in an Arbour which was in the midst of the Garden but seeing her selfe alone with him she refused to enter yet he taking her by the arme forced her in and shut the dore after them Oh heavens Silvander in what a terrible affright was poor Isidore when she saw this violent beginning it was as great as if she had been brought to the place of execution But the Emperour thinking to vanquish her by fair words and thinking that no woman would deny him he sat down by her and spoke in this manner I make no doubt fair Isidore but you think this stratagem which I have used very strange and perhaps are angry with me for it but I hope when you consider the violence of my affection how long it hath continued and how neither my owne reasons nor your rigour can quench it I hope I say that you will pardon my boldnesse that you will not think this action strange but will render my affection some satisfaction before you depart from hence Every thing does invite us to it first my unequal'd affection next the quality of him who loves you who being Emperour you may aspire unto the Empire if you will render me as much satisfaction as my love deserves and lastly the consideration of Maximus may move you unto it since you may see by his Ring that he does not only consent unto it but desire it What then my fair Isidore should hinder you from giving satisfaction to my longing desires Then offering to kisse her she turned her head the other way and would not permit him but beseeched him to sit down and hear her desiring if it were possible to overcome him by sweetnesse I must needs confesse Sir said she unto him that I am infinitely amazed to see my selfe alone with you in this dark and solitary place and so much against my minde since upon it depends the ruine of my honour and my life but I have a great confidence that you will do nothing against reason or my will especially when I do consider who you are and who I am Considering you as your selfe why should I fear being in the hands of the great Valentinian Son to the generous Emperour Constantius the most accomplished of any that ever wore the name of Cesar Valentinian I say whose Mother was the wise Placidia the honour and patterne of all Ladies Can you think great Sir that I am affraid of you whose wisdome is known throughout all the world and whose prudence every one admires also one from whom Justice is generally expected I should shew my selfe too ignorant of my Emperour's excellencies did I doubt his goodnesse or fear any harm from him in this solitary place where I am alone with him No no I dare trust my selfe any where in the hands of my honoured Emperour but I must needs confesse I think it strange that I should be brought hither by the consent of Maximus It vexeth me to the soul that he should thinke me so unworthy and that I should have one to my husband who is the very shame and scorne of men Now Sir I will not aske what it is you would have of me nor what occasion brought you to this place That Traytor who is the owner of this Ring and your owne discourse does but too plainly tell it But I do most humbly beseech you great and good Sir to consider that I have no more honour when this is gone and if you love me let me live worthy of great Cesars love Consider Sir that you trample under your feet the honour and the life of her you love and will so much injure your owne honour and reputation as well as mine as I know it will be impossible for you to repaire it againe You tell me that in rendering you this satisfaction I may pretend unto the Empire Oh heavens can you think me worthy so much as to live after so great a crime and staine unto mine honour If you do beare any good will unto me preserve me unstained untill you can make me such as you say and stay till it shall please the gods to bring it to passe If there be any truth in your words that you do love me And if you do love me never offer that which will make me exteamly hate you Can you imagine I shall ever love him that ravisheth away my honour which is much dearerto me then my life No no Sir I never can But I beseech you think upon Constantius your Father think upon Placidia your Mother and think upon God who hath miraculously seated you in the Throne he hath given you power to vanquish John by the hand of young Aspar John I say who otherwise had possessed the Empire he hath overcome for you the valiant Castinus by the valour of Artabures who a little before was a prisoner in Ravenna he hath subjected unto you the Prudent Aetius by the meanes of those who hardly knew you He hath defeated Boniface the Usurper of Affrica he hath made the Puissant Genserick King of the Vandals your friend To be briefe what has not this great God done for you And how thankfull ought you to be unto him Now Sir the very same god who has done all these for you does at this very instant see you and observes what cause you will give him either to continue his favours or to send you punishments Consider what miserable accidents and fatall tragedies have heretofore besalne this Empire upon the like occasions as this Oh most omnipotent Diety rather showre downe all thy thunderbolts upon me and hide me in the profundity of the earth then suffer me to be any cause of moving thy wrath against this Emperour Upon this she kneeled downe and continued And you great Sir I beseech you rather put me to death then ravish from me that which makes me worthy of your love or before you make me instrumentall to bring the odium both of god and men upon you Now Sir shew that you are truly Cesar and be as well a commander over your passions as you are victorious over your enemyes Valentinian seeing her upon her knees he tooke her up and was so moved with her expressions as he was ashamed of what he had done and wished that he had never attempted it Her words did so flow with reason as fast as her eyes with teares so as working upon her good nature they forced him into a resolution of overcoming himselfe and promised