the first I was so vnaccustomed to make such answers that I assured my selfe shee would take small pleasure in them yet that I might deny him nothing I assayed to acquit my selfe the best I could At this word setting himselfe on one of his knees because we were set round taking one of my hands he beganne in this sort I should neuer haue thought faire mistrisse considering so great perfections in you that it should be permitted to a mortall to loue you if I had not proued in my selfe that it is impossible to see you and not to loue you but knowing well that heauen is too iust to command you a thing impossible I haue held for certaine that it pleased you should bee beloued since it suffered you to bee seene On this beleefe I haue fortified with reason the hardinesse I had to behold you and in my heart blesse that weakenesse which as soone subiected me to you as my eye was turned on you Now if the lawes ordaine that to euery one is to be giuen that which is his thinke it not euill faire shepheardesse that I giue you my heart since it is so acquired by you that if you refuse it I will disauow it for mine At this word he held his peace to heare what I would answer but in such a fashion that had hee not beene in the habit he wore hardly might one doubt he spake in earnest And not to contradict that I promised him I made him this answer Shepheardesse were the prayses which you giue me true I might haply beleeue that which you tell mee of your affection but knowing well that they be but flatteries I cannot beleeue but that the rest are dissimulation This too much wounds your iudgement sayd he to me to doubt of the greatnesse of your merit but with such excuses you are accustomed to refuse the things which you like not of I may truely sweare by Teutates and you know well I will not beperiured that you neuer refused any thing that was giuen you from a better nor more intire good will I know well answered I that the shepheards of this countrey are accustomed to vse more words where there is lesse truth and that they keepe among them as a thing approued that the gods doe not harken to nor punish the forswearing of the amorous if it be the peculiar fault of your shepheards I referre my selfe to your knowledge but I that am a stranger should haue no part of their blemish no more then I commit their fault and yet from your owne more cruel words must I draw some satisfaction for my selfe for though the gods doe not punish the oathes of Louers if I be not as it seemeth you make doubt of the gods will not forbeare to send mee the chastisement of periury and if they doe forbeare you shal be constrained to confesse that not being punished I am then no dissembler and if I be a lyer and am not punished you must confesse that I am a Louer And therefore on which side soeuer your fayre spirit turneth it selfe it knowes not how to deny that there is no beauty on earth where Diane is fayre and that neuer beauty was beloued as yours is of that shepheard that lies at your knees and in this case implores the succours of all the Graces to draw one from you which hee thinkes he merits if a perfect Louer euer found merit If I be faire replyed I I referre it to the eyes which behold me with sound iudgement but you cannot deny that you are periured and a dissembler and I must tell you Callire that the confidence with which you spake to mee like a man makes mee resolue neuer to beleeue words since being a woman you know so well to disguise And why Diane said he then smiling interrupt you so often your seruants discourse Do you wonder that being Callire I speake to you with such affection Thinke that there is no weakenesse of condition that shall euer make me diminish but it must rather be an occasion of preseruing it both more violent more eternall since there is nothing which so much diminisheth the heat of desire as the inioying of that which is desired and this not being to be had betweene vs you shal alwaies euen to my coffin be beloued and I alwaies a Louer And yet if Tiresias after he had beene a woman became a man why may not I hope that the gods may do me as great a fauour if it pleased you Beleeue me faire Diane since the gods doe nothing in vaine there is no likelihood that hauing placed in mee so perfect affection they will suffer me to labour in vaine and if nature haue made me a woman my extreme loue will make me such as shall not bee vnprofitable Daphnis who saw that this discourse went sharpely on and that it might be dangerous that this Louer should suffer himselfe to be carried so farre as to speake the thing that might discouer him to Amidor interrupted him saying Without doubt Callire your loue shall not vnprofitably be bestowed so long as you serue this fayre shepheardesse no more then the candle which spends not it selfe in vaine so long as it giues light to them that are in the house for all the rest of the world being but to serue this fayre you shall haue well bestowed your time when you haue spent them in her seruice But let vs change our discourse said Amidor for see here comes Filidas who will take no pleasure to heare it though you be a woman And presently Filidas came who made vs all rise to salute him But Amidor that passionately loued the fained Callire when his cousin arriued made that vse of the time that stealing away with Filander from the company and taking her vnder the arme began to speake thus Is it possible faire shepheardesse that the words you vse to Diane be true or haue you onely spoken them to shew the beauty of your spirit Beleeue me Amidor answered he I am no dissembler and I neuer said any thing more truely then the assurance which I haue giuen her of my affection and if in any thing I haue failed in the truth it was because I spake lesse then I feele but heerein am I to bee excused since there bee not wordes good enough to conceaue Whereto hee answered with a great sigh Since it is so faire Callyre I can hardly beleeue but you will much better conceiue the affection is borne you since you feele the same blowes wherewith you wound others more then them that are altogether ignorant and that shall be the cause that I will not goe to seek out other words to shew you what I suffer for you nor other reasons to excuse my boldnesse then those you haue vsed in your speech to Diane onely I will adde this consideration to the end you may know the greatnesse of my affection that if the blow which cannot bee auoyded must be iudged according to
then my age would allow of And that was the cause that when I was come to 18. or 19. yeeres I found my selfe engaged to serue her But for that my humor was not to care much for this vaine-glory which the most part of them which trade in Loue will arrogate to themselues that is to be esteemed constant the good countenance of Carlis tyed mee more then this imaginary duty From thence it came that one of my greatest friends tooke occasion to diuert me from her his name was Hermante and without any heede of mine was become so amorous of Carlis that hee tooke no contentment but to be neere her I who was young neuer perceiued this new affection as I had but two little craft to finde it since the subtillest in that mystery are scarce able to do it Hee was older then I and by consequence wiser so that he knew so well to dissemble that I doe not thinke that any at that time suspected him But that which brought him most discommodity was that the parents of this shepheardesse desired there might be a marriage betweene her and me for that they were of opinion that it would be for her aduantage Whereof Hermante being aduertised especially knowing by the speech of the shepheardesse that indeede shee loued me he thought she would withdraw from me if I began to withdraw from her Hee well found out as I told you that I would change as soone as occasion was offered And after he had considered with himselfe how he might beginne this designe he thought that working in mee an opinion of my greater worth he might maâ—â—me neglect for vncertainty that which was most assured to me Hee brought it about very easily for besides that I beleeued him as my friend this good could not be very deare vnto me which befel me without paine made me beleeue I might compasse any thing of the best if I would bestow the study Hee on the other side knew so well to perswade me that I held for certaine that there was not a shepheardesse in all Carmage that would not more willingly entertaine me then I would make choyce of her Assured by this beleefe I thrust Carlis wholly out of my soule after I had made election of another whom I iudged the worthier and without doubt I deceiued not my selfe for she had beauty enough to winne loue and wisedome to carry it her name was Stilliane esteemed among the fairest and wisest of all the Iland otherwise lofty and such an one as I must haue to put me out of the error wherein I was And see what my presumption was Because she was serued by many and they all lost their time I beganne to woo her the more willingly that the world might take better knowledge of my merit Carlis which truely loued me was astonied at this change not knowing what cause I might haue but she must needes suffer it She did much to recall me and at the first vsed all forts of allurements which she could think of which I tooke no heede of to returne I was in the deepe seas there was no meane to come backe to land so readily But if she tooke displeasure at this separation she was fully reuenged on him that was the cause of the euill for conceiting to my selfe that as soone as I assured Stilliane of my loue shee would more willingly giue her selfe to me at the first time I met her to talke within an assembly which was purposely made dauncing with her I said Faire shepheardesse I know not what your force is nor with what charmes your eyes furnish themselues so it is that Hylas sees himselfe now so much become your seruant that no man can bee more Shee thought I mocked her knowing well the loue that I had borne to Carlis which made her answer smilingly These discourses are they of those that you learne in the schoole of faire Carlis I would haue answered when acording to the order of the dance there were that separated vs and I could not come neere her afterward howsoeuer I laboured it so that I was constrained to stay vntill the assembly brake vp And seeing her goe with the formost to withdraw themselues I aduanced my selfe and tooke her by the arme Shee at the first beganne to smile and after said Is it vpon resolution Hylas or commandement that this night you haue enterprized thus on me Why answered I make you this demand Because said she I see so small likelihood of reason in that you do that I can not suspect but from those two occasions It is said I for them both for I am resolued neuer to loue but the faire Stilliane and your beauty commaunds me to loue none other I beleeue answered she that you thinke not that you speake to me or that you know me not and that you may no longer deceiue your selfe know that I am not Carlis and that I call my selfe Stilliane I must be much deceiued answered I to take you instead of Carlis for she is too imperfect to be taken for you or you for her And I know too well for my liberty that you are Stilliane and it were more for my rest that I knew lesse Wee were come as farre as her lodging and yet could I not find whether she liked of it or no. The next morning it was no sooner day but I went to seek out Hermante to tell him what befell me In the euening I found him yet in his bed And seeing me somewhat moued How now fayd he what newes Is the victory obtained without combat Ah my friend answered I I haue found out one I may talke to she disdaines mee she mockes me she sends me at euery word to Carlis to be short she vses me like a Mistris He could not hold from laughter when he had heard all the discourse at length for he expected no lesse But knowing well my changing humour hee feared I would goe backe to Carlis and that she would entertaine me which was the cause that he answered me Did you hope for lesse from heâ— Would you thinke her worthy your loue if not yet knowing in truth that you loue her she should giue her selfe to you How may she giue credite to a few words which you haue vsed hauing heretofore heard so much or that you sweare the contrary to Carlis Vndoubtedly it were a very easie conquest that she should shew herselfe vanquished for so small a fight But said I before I am beloued of her if it be needfull that I tel her what I haue done to Carlis when should this be by your aduice Truely answered Hermante you little know what belongs to Loue you must learne Hylas that when one sayes to a shepheardesse I loue you especially when they make some demonstration she doth not so easily beleeue it for that it is the custome of shepherds well bred to haue it of courtesie and it seemeth their Sexe for the weakenesse of it binds men to serue
that you may make question of my good will yet if the care I haue had to instruct your youth haue not giuen you sufficient knowledge of it I would you should take notice of it because I desire to do for you You know that my sonne Azahyde who tooke you and brought you to mee hath a daughter whom I loue as my selfe and because I determine to passe the few dayes behinde in quietnesse and tranquillity I haue a purpose tomarry you to her and to giue you so good a part of my wealth that I may liue with you so long as it pleaseth God And thinke not that I haue had this purpose on a sudden for it is long since I prepared for euery thing In the first place I was desirous to know what your humor was euen when you were a childe to iudge if you could frame your selfe to be with me for that in such an age there could be but little art and so might we see as naked all the affections of a soule and finding you such as I wished Azahyde to be I thought good to settle the repose of my last dayes vpon you and for that cause I put you to study knowing well that there is nothing makes a soule more capable of reason than the knowledge of things And during your long absence from me I haue determined to marry my young daughter to you who to please me desires it almost as much as my selfe It is true she would gladly know who and of what place you are And to satisfie her I haue enquired of Azahyde many times in what place he tooke you but he hath alwayes told me that he knew nothing but that it was at the riuer of Rosne of the prouince of Viennois and that you were giuen by one that brought you two dayes iourney for exchange of some armors But it may be you can remember better for you might be about fiue or sixe yeeres of age and when I asked him whether the cloaths which you then wore might not giue some coniecture of what parents you were descended he answered no for that you were then so young that hardly could one iudge by your habit of what condition you were So that my sonne if your memory doe not helpe you herein there is no body can free vs of this paine So the good old Abariel held his peace and taking me by the hand besought me to tell him all that I knew Whereto after all the thankes I could giue him as well for the good opinion he had of me as for the nourture hee had giuen me and for the marriage which hee propounded I made him answere that in truth I was so yong when I was taken that I had no remembrance neither of my parents nor of my condition This is replyed the good old man somewhat combersome yet we will not let to proceed further prouided you like of it not greatly caring to speake with Azahyde but to know your good will And when I had answered him that I were very ingratefull if I did not wholy obey his commandement at that instant causing mee to go aside he sent to seeke out his sonne and to tell him his purpose which before my returne hee knew of by his daughter and the feare of losing the goods which Abariel would giue vs made him so much to dislike it that when his father spake to him of it hee so long reiected it and with such reasons that in the end the good old man not being able to get his consent told him frankely Azahide if you will not giue your daughter to whom I will I wil giue my goods to whom you would not and therefore resolue to agree to Siluander or I will chuse him to be mine heire Azahyde who was very couetous and fearing to lose that good seeing his father in these termes came better to himselfe and besought him to giue him some few dayes space to think of it whereas his father being a good old man easily condescended desiring to do all things with gentlenesse and after told me of it yet he needed not haue done it for I perceiued so much by the eyes and speech of his sonne who began to deale so roughly with me that I could hardly endure it Now during the time that he had taken he commanded his daughter who had a better minde then hee on paine of death for he was a man of blood and murther to make shew to the old man that she was sorry her father would not satisfie his will and that she could not helpe it but with her disobedience that she was ready to marry me secretly and when it was done time might worke her fathers content and this he had in purpose to procure my death The poore wench was much entāgled for on the one side the ordinary threatnings of her father whose mischieuous nature she knew too well egged her on to play this part on the other side the loue which from her childhood shee bare me with held her So it was that her tender yeeres for shee had not passed aboue halfe an age would not let her haue resolution enough to denie and so al trembling she came to vse that speech to the good man who receiued it with that confidence that after hee had kissed her fore-head twice or thrice at last he resolued to put it in practice as she had sayd and enioyned me so peremptorily that notwithstanding all the doubts I had in it I durst not contradict it Now the resolution was taken in such sort that I was to climbe thorow a window into the chamber where I must marry her secretly This Towne is seated on the vtmost bounds of the Allobroges on the side of the Heluecians and it is on the banks of the great lake Leman in such sort that the waues beat vpon the houses and then disgorge themselues into Rosne which passeth thorow the middest of it The meaning of Azabyde was because their lodgings were that way to draw mee vp with a cord halfe the height of the wall and then to let me fall into the lake where being drowned they might neuer heare more newes of mee because that Rosne with his swiftnesse would haue carried me farre off or touching on the hard rocks I might haue beene so bruised that no man could haue knowne me And without doubt his designe had taken effect for I was resolued to obey the good Abariel had it not beene that the day before this was to be done the poore wench that was commanded to shew me good countenance that I might be the more abused moued with compassion and out of horrour to bee the cause of my death could not hold from discouering it to mee all trembling saying to mee a little after You see Siluander in sauing your life I procure mine owne death for I know well Azahyde will neuer pardon me but I had rather dye an innocent then liue guilty of your death After I
must doe in loue as in other things the mediocrity is onely commendable so that you loue after an indifferent fashion to auoyde all those troublesome importunities neither yet is this sufficient for to please her it is not enough not to displease but you must haue some allurements which may be louely and that is to be pleasant cheerefull to be alwaies ready to tell a merry tale and aboue all to be neuer silent before her Thus Siluander must be binde a shepheardesse to loue vs and so gaine her good Graces Now see mistrisse if I may not go for a master and what reckoning you are to make of my affection She would haue answered but Siluander interrupted her beseeching her to suffer him to speake And then he questioned Hylas in this sort What is it shepheard that you most desire when you loue To be beloued answered Hylas But replyed Siluander when you are beloued what do you wish for most in this loue That the person whom I loue said Hylas make more of me then of any other that she trust me and endeuor to please me Is it possible then inferrs Siluander that to preserue life you take poyson how will you haue her trust you when you will not be faithfull But said the shepheard shee shall not know that And see you not answered Siluander that you will do that with treason which you should doe with sincerity If she know not that you loue another she will thinke you faithfull and so this dissembling may profit you but iudge if dissembling may doe you as much good as truth You talke of contempt and despite and there is nothing that soonēr brings them both in a generous spirit than to think that he whom now I see before mee on his knees is weary with doing so before a score that may not compare with me that mouth with which he kisses my hand is dried vp with the kisses it giues to the first hand it meets and those eyes with which he seemes to commit idolatry to my face are yet sparkling with the loue of all those that haue the name of woman and what haue I to doe with a thing so common And why should I make much of him when he will doe nothing more for mee then for the first that vouchsafes to looke on him When he talkes to me he thinks it is to such or such an one and the words that he vses hee learned at the schoole of such an one or he comes to studie heere that he may goe vtter it there God knows how soone contempt and despite may make her conceiue this thought and so for the second poynt that to make himselfe beloued hee must loue but a little he must be merry and pleasant For to be iocund and alwayes laughing is fit for a Iester and one of such a mould But for a louer that is for another our selfe O Hylas hee must haue other conditions You say that in all things mediocrity onely is good That is it shepheard that hath no part of the extreme of the meane or defect as faythfulnesse For he that is but a little faithfull is not faithfull at all and he that is is in the extreme that is to say there can be none greater than other in faythfulnesse so it is of valiancy and so it is of loue for hee that can measure it or that can imagine any other greater than his owne loues not So you see Hylas that when you commaund to loue in a meane you set downe a thing impossible and when you doe so you doe like vnto the melancholique fooles that thinke they know all Sciences and yet know nothing when you haue an opinion you loue but indeed you loue not But be it so that one may loue a little and know you not that Loue hath no other haruest but loue and all that it soweth is but only to reape that fruit And how would you haue her whom you loue but a little loue you a great deale since it must fall out that what shee gayneth she shall lose a part of that which shee soweth in so ingratefull ground Shee shall neuer know sayes Hylas that I loue so See sayd Siluander the same treason which I reproached you with before And imagine you whereas you say the effects of an extreme loue are the importunities which you haue reckoned that if you render them not shee will not easily coniecture the feeblenesse of your loue O Hylas how little you know in loue These effects which the extremity of Loue brings forth and which you call importunities are such it may be to those that like you know not to loue and neuer approached neere vnto that god Who hath lost his sight but they that are thorowly touched they which do loue in earnest and know what are the dueties and what the sacrifices which they offer at the Altars of Loue So farre are they from giuing to such effects the name of importunities that they call them felicities and perfect contentments Know you well that to loue is to die in himselfe to reuiue in another that it is not to loue himselfe but so much as he is pleasing to the beloued and shortly it is to transforme himselfe entirely if it may be into her And can you imagine that one that loues in this sort can be combred with the presence of him whom she loues and that the knowledge which she hath to be truely loued is not a thing so delightfull that all others in respect of it cannot so much as be tasted And if you had at any time prooued that it is thus to loue as I say you would neuer thinke that hee which thus loues could do nothing but displease when that should not be but onely for this that whatsoeuer is marked with this character of Loue cannot be displeasing and your selfe will confesse that it is so desirous to please that if it commit a fault euen that error pleases seeing with what intent it is done whereas the desire to be pleasing giues such force to a true loue that though he render himselfe not so to all the world yet is he neuer fayling to her whom hee loueth Thence it comes that many which are not iudged in generall more louely then others yet are beloued and esteemed by some one Now you see Hylas if you be not very ignorant that till now you beleeued you loued and yet you did but abuse the name of Loue abuse them whom you thought you loued How said Hylas did I neuer yet loue What haue I then done with Carlis Amarauthe Laonice and so many others Know you not said Silander that in all sorts of Artes there bee some that doe right and others wrong Loue is of that kinde for one may loue rightly as my selfe and wrongfully as you and so one may call me a master and you a marrer of Loue. At these last words there were none could hold from laughter but Licidas who hearing this discourse
giue mee more knowledge than these words too well deliuered to proceed from affection For I haue heard say affection cannot be without passion and passion wil not suffer the spirit to haue so free a discourse But when the time shall haue told me as much as you you are to beleeue that I am not of stone nor so voyd of vnderstanding but your merits are knovvne to me and your loue may moue me Till then hope not of me no more than of the rest of my company in generall The Knight would haue kissed her hand for this assurance but because Galathee looked on Knight said she be discreete euery one hath eye on vs if you do thus you vndoe me And at this word she rose and came among vs that were gathering of flowres Behold the first discouery that they had of their good wils which gaue Galathee occasion to meddle in it For perceiuing what had passed in the Garden and hauing of long time a purpose to winne Polemas she would know that night what was done betweene Leonide and him and because she alvvaies made her selfe very familiar with you Neece and had acquainted her with the particulars of her secrets the Nymph durst not altogether deny the truth of this loue-suite It is true that she concealed what concerned her ovvne will and vpon this discourse Galathee would knovv the very words that they had vsed wherein your Neece satisfied her in part and in part dissembled So it was that she said enough to encrease the purpose of Galathee so that from that day she resolued to be beloued of him and vndertooke this worke with that cunning that it was impossible it should fall out othervvise At that meeting shee forbade Leonide to go on in that affection and after told her that she should cut off all the rootes because she knevv well that Polemas had another dessigne and that this would serue but to delude her Besides that if Amasis came to knovvledge of it she would be offended Leonide who at that time had no more malice than a childe tooke the words of the Nymph as from her Mistrisse without searching into the cause which made her say so and so remained some dayes estranged from Polemas who knevv not from whence it might grovve At the first this made him more earnest in his suite For it is the ordinary custome of yong spirits to desire with more eagernesse that which is hard to come by and indeed he went on in that sort that Leonide had much enough to doe to dissemble the good will she bore him and at last knew so little how to doe it that Polemas perceiued he was beloued But see what Loue had appointed This young louer after he had three or foure moneths continued this suite with the more violence as he had the lesse assurance of the good will he desired as soone almost as hee was certaine lost his violence by little and little loued so coldly that as Fortune and Loue when they beginne to decline fall at once the Nymph perceiued not that shee alone went on in this affection It is true that Galathee who came on was in part the cause For hauing a dessigne on Polemas she vsed such craft and sped so well what by her authority and what with time that one might say shee robbed her insensibly for that when Leonide handled him roughly Galathee fauoured him and when the other fled from his company she drew him to hers And this continued so long and so openly that Polemas beganne to turne his eyes towards Galathee and shortly after the heart followed For seeing himselfe fauoured by a greater than her that neglected him hee blamed himselfe for suffering it without sence and minded to embrace the fortune which came smiling on him But O wise Adamas you may see what a gracious encounter this was and how it pleased Loue to play with their hearts It is some while since by the ordinance of Clidaman Agis was allotted seruant vnto your Neece and as you know by the election of Fortune Now though this young Knight was not giuen to Leonide out of his owne choyce yet he agreed to the gift and approoued it by the seruices which he afterward did performe and that she misliked not was shewed by her actions But when Polemas beganne to serue her Agis as a couetous man that hath his eyes alwayes on his treasure tooke notice of the growing loue of this new Louer and sometimes complayned to her of it but the coldnesse of her answers instead of extinguishing his iealousies onely by little and little deaded his loue for considering what small assurance he had in his soule he laboured to get a better resolution then formerly he had had and so that he might not see another triumph ouer him he chose rather to withdraw farre off A receit that I haue heard say is the best that a soule infected with this euill can haue to free it selfe for as loue at the beginning is brought forth by the eyes so it seemeth that the contrary should be for want of sight which can be in nothing more then absence where the forgetfull couered as with ashes the ouer-liuely representations of the thing beloued And indeed Agis happily attained his purpose for he was hardly gone but loue likewise parted from his soule lodging in the place of it the neglect of this flitter So that Leonide purposing by this new plot to winne Polemas lost him that already was intirely hers But the confusions of Loue ended not heere for he would that Polemas likewise for his part should haue sence of that which hee made the Nymph to feele Almost about the same time the affection of Lindamor tooke birth and it fell out that as Leonide had disdained Agis for Polemas and Polemas Leonide for Galathee so Galathee disdained Polemas for Lindamor To tell the follies of them all would be an hard piece of worke So it was that Polemas seeing himselfe payed in the same money in which hee payd your Neece yet could not lose not hope nor loue but contrariwise searched al sorts of plotting to enter again into her fauor but all in vaine It is true that as he could get nothing more to his owne benefit yet hee hath so wrought that he who was the cause of his euill is not come to bee possessor of his good for whether it were by his cunning practices or by the will of the gods that a certaine deuout Druyde hath imparted to him since that time Lindamor is no more beloued and it seemeth Loue hath a purpose not to suffer the heart of Galathee to be at rest the memorie of the one being no sooner defaced in her soule but another takes place And now behold vs at this houre reduced to the loue of a shepherd who for a shepheard in his quality may deserue well but not to be the seruant of Galathee and yet is she so passionate that if her euill hold on I
intelligences with our soule to suffer it so freely to come neere his powers without suspition of treason The shepheard soone perceiued it but the affection which hee bare to Astrea which yet exceedingly raged would not suffer him to indure this growing loue with patience That was the cause that hee resolued to take his leaue of Galathee when he began to find himselfe somewhat better But as soone as hee opened his mouth about it How is it said shee Celadon are you hardly vsed by me that you will be gone before you be throughly recouerd And when he answerd it was for feare of troubling her and for some busines he was constrained to returne to his Hamlet to assure his parents his friends of his health she interrupted him saying No Celadon doubt not my trouble so I see you want nothing and as for your affaires and friends without me whose company it seems mislikes you much you shall not be in this paine since you will no longer And me thinks the greatest businesse that you haue to do is to satisfie the obligation which you haue to me that your ingratitude should not be smal if you grudge mee some moments of your life which you hold all of mee Henceforth you must not fet your eies on things so base as your life passed but you are to leaue your hamlets and your flocks to them that haue not the merits that you haue and for the time to come you must place your eyes on me that can and will do for you if your actions alter not my minde Though the shepheard seemed not to vnderstand this discourse yet hee conceiued it easily enough and from that time auoided what hee could possibly to talke with her in priuate But the displeasure which this life brought him was such that almost losing all patience one day Leonide hearing him sigh demanded the cause seeing hee was in place where they desired nothing more then his contentment He answerd her faire Nymph among all miserable men I may hold my selfe to bee the most extremely handled by fortune for commonly they that be in griefe haue permission to complaine and haue the comfort to be moned but I dare not for that my misfortune comes couered with the most of the contrary and therefore in stead of being bemoned I am rather blamed as a man of small iudgement that if you and Galathee knew how bitter the wormewood is wherewith I am fed in this place happy indeed to any other but me I assure my selfe you would take pitty of my life And what want you said she to comfort you At this time sayd he I only want leaue to be gon Would you replied the Nymph I should speake of it to Galathee I beseech you sayd he by whatsoeuer you hold dearest Then it must be as by your selfe sayd the Nymph blushing and not turning her head toward him she went out of the chamber to seeke where Galathee was whom she found alone in the garden and who now began to suspect there was loue on Leonide's part fearing shee nothing forwarded the charge she had giuen her though she remained since all the day from him for that knowing how sharpe the weapons of the beauty of the shepherd were she thought it might as well part two as one yet being constrained to passe thorow her hands she went about to deceiue her selfe as well as was possible and so set on the same countenance toward the Nymph as she had accustomed and when she saw her comming toward her shee raised her selfe to aske how the shepheard did and hauing knowne hee was in the same state she left him she held on her walke and hauing gon some paces without speaking shee turned to the Nymph and sayd But tell me Leonide was there euer man so insensible as Celadon since neither my actions nor your perswasions can giue him any feeling of that hee ought to render me For my part answered Leonide I had rather accuse him of want of spirit and courage then of vnderstanding for I thinke either he hath not the iudgement to know whereto my actions tend or if he know my words he hath not the courage to attempt so high and so how much the loue of your perfections and fauours may raise him to you so much the weight of his owne small merit and condition may abase him But you must not thinke this strange since the Appletree beareth Apples and the Oake Acornes for euery thing brings foorth according to his nature So what can you hope the courage of a villaine can produce but the designes of a weake and base soule I thinke well answered Galathee the great difference of our conditions do worke in him a great respect but I shall neuer imagine if he knew the difference but he hath spirit enough to iudge to what end I vse him with this sweetenesse except it be that hee be so farre engaged to Astrea that he cannot goe backe Assure you Madame replied Leonide it is not respect but sottishnesse which makes him so misprising For I may auerre as you say that it is true he loues Astrea but if he had iudgement would he not contemne her for you who deserue so farre beyond comparison Yet is he so ill aduised that at euery turne when I speake to him of you hee answers me but with griefe for being so farre remoued from his Astrea with such displeasure that one may thinke that his stay here is infinitely troublesome to him And this morning hearing him sigh I asked him the cause He made me answer which would moue the stones to pitty and in the end the conclusion was that I should desire you he might be gone Yes replyed Galathee red with choler no longer able to dissemble her iealousie Confesse the truth Leonide he hath mooued you It is true Madam he hath moued me to pitty and me thinkes since he hath such a desire to be gone you ought not to hold him by force For Loue neuer enters into the heart for the blowes of a whip I thinke not replyed Galathee but he had moued you to pitty but speake no more of it it may be when he is recouerd he shall sooner find the effects of despight which he hath caused to be bred in me then those of loue which he hath wrought in you In the meane time to speake freely let him resolue not to go hence at his owne pleasure but at mine Leonide would haue answered but the Nymph interrupted her No more Leonide sayd shee it is enough content your selfe that I say no more but that this is my resolution So Leonide was forced to hold her peace and to bē gone taking this iniurie so to heart that she resolued to goe to Adamas her vnkle and to take no more care of Galathees secrets who at that time called Siluie that was walking in another alley alone to whom against her former purpose she could not hold in complayning of Leonide from making her
he had a Letter all be-wet with teares which ran downe his face but indeed he slept being likely that while he read the paper the trauell of the way and his deepe thoughts by little and little made him slumber But wee were more certayne when Daphnis more bold then I stowped downe reached mee the Letter wet with teares which found passage thorow the paper badly folded This sight touched me with pitty but much more the Letter which was thus Filanders Letter to Diane THey who haue the honour to see you runne a dangerous fortune if they loue you they are sawcy if they loue you not they are without iudgement your perfections are such that with reason they may neither be beloued nor not be beloued and I being enforced to lie downe in one of these two errours haue chosen that which is most after my humour and from which it is impossible for mee to withdraw my selfe Thinkâ— it not hard faire Diane since none can see you without louing you that hauing seene you I loue you If this boldnesse deserue punishment remember you that I loue rather to loue you in dying then to liue without louing you But why say I I loue rather It is no more in my choice For I must while I liue as well be your true seruant as you know not how to be such as you are without being the most fayre shepheardesse that liues I had scarcely read ouer this Letter but that I found my selfe all on a trembling and Daphnis so softly layd it in the place where she found it that he awaked not and comming towards me and I being hard by Will you suffer me to speake sayd she Our loue answered I giues you all power In truth sayd she I bewaile Filander for it is very true hee loues you and I perswade my selfe in your soule you doubt not of it Daphnis said I he that committed the fault must do the penance If it be so replied she Filander must not for I will neuer confesse it to be a fault to loue you but thinke rather it is an offence not to do it since the fairest things had not bene made but to be beloued and cherished I referre my selfe to your iudgement sayd I if my face may be numbred amongst the things that are fayre But I coniure you onely by our loue neuer to let him know that I take any notice of his intent And if you loue him aduise him not to speake to me for esteeming of you and Callire as I doe I am sorry that I must banish him from our company And you know wel I shall be constrained so to doe if he haue the hardinesse to speake to me of it Then how will you haue him liue sayd she As he liued said I before he sawe me But said she that he cannot do heereafter for that then he was not attached with this fire which now burnes him Let him seeke out the meanes himselfe without offending me by remoouing this fire The fire sayd she that can be quenched is not great and yours is extreme The fire said I how great soeuer it be will not burne him that comes not neere it Though sayd she he that is burnt flie from the fire yet will not the burning leaue him and by flying he brings more smart For conclusion sayd I if it be so I choose rather to be the fire then the burning With such discourses we returned to our flockes and towards night we droue them into our Hamlet where we found Filander to whom Filidas made so good cheere and Amidor also that Daphnis beleeued hee had bewitched them it not being their humour to deale so with others He stayed some dayes with vs during which time hee made no offer of speech liuing with so great discretion that but for that which Daphnis and I had seene we should neuer haue suspected his meaning At last hee was coustrayned to depart and not knowing to whom to breake it hee went to his sister because he loued her and trusted her as himselfe This shepheardesse as I told you had beene constrained by authority to marry and found no other contentment but that which the loue which shee bare her brother might giue her As soone as she sawe him she was curious after the first salutations to know what the cause of his iourney was and he hauing answered her that he came from Filidas shee demaunded what newes of Daphnis and me Whereto hauing giuen satisfaction and hearing him speake with so great commendations of me she told him in his eare I feare brother you loue him more then me I loue her answered he as her merit binds me If it be so replied she I haue diuined well for there is not a shepheardesse in the world that deserues better I must confesse vnto you that were I a man would shee or would shee not I would be her seruant I beleeue sister answered he you speake in good earnest I sweare vnto you sayd she by that which I hold most deare I thinke replyed he if it were so you should not be without businesse for by that that I can iudge shee is of an humour that is not easie to bend besides that Filidas is ready to die of iealousie and Amidor so watches her that she is neuer without one of them two O brother cryed she you are taken since you haue noted these particularities hide it no longer from me and without fiction if it be a fault to loue it is very pardonable And without leauing him she so pressed that after a thousand protestations and so many supplications neuer to be knowne of it he confessed it to her and with words so affectionate that she had beene very incredulous if she had doubted it And when she asked of him how I receiued the declaration O God sayd he if you knew what her humour is you would say that neuer man enterprised a more difficult attempt All that I could do till now was to deceiue Filidas and Amidor that made me beleeue there is nothing in the world so deare to them as I I am come to this that they sent for me purposely to see me and then told her all the discourse which had passed betweene them But said he holding on his speech though I went with a purpose to discouer to Diane how much I was hers yet durst I not respect had such force ouerme which made me despaire euer to performe it vnlesse some long practice gaue me the boldnesse but this cannot be but that Filidas and Amidor will take notice of it So that sister to tell you the estate wherein I am it is very neere to despaire Callire that loued her brother more then any other thing took his griefe so to heart that after she had thought of it a while she said Will you brother that in this occasion I giue you some proofe of my good will Sister answered hee though I be in no doubt yet heyther in this
you must seeke no other witnesse than me in this matter 〈◊〉 and you are not to thinke that the shepheards of Lignon can cloath and vncloath themselues so readily of their affections for they are grosse and therefore heauy and slowe in that they doe But as a nayle the grosser it is and the more weight it holdes the harder it is to be wrested out so the tougher and grosser our affections are in vs the longer they last in our soules so that if you haue seene mee seruitour to this fayre shepheardesse you may see mee so still for we change not euery time we sleepe But if this befall you I say you that haue an hote brayne as well as a balde head and a red hayre bewrayes much you are not to giue the same censure of vs. Hylas hearing as his shepheard speake so frankly and so truly to his humor thought that either Tyrcis had told him somewhat or that he must know it elsewhere and therefore all astonied Shepheard sayd he haue you seene me at any time or where learned you this you speake of me I neuer saw you sayd Siluander but your phisiognomy and your discourse made me iudge that I say For hardly may a man suspect in another that fault whereof he is wholly exempted Of necessity then answered Hylas you cannot be exempted from that inconstancy which you suspect in me The suspition replyed Siluander growes either out of some small likelihood or of the appearance of that which is not but onely in imagination and that a man cannot haue of another without himselfe be spotted But that which I sayd of you is not of suspition but of a certainty Call you that suspition when we heare you say that you haue loued Laonice and leauing her for this second who was heere yesterday with her now you haue left them both for Phillis whom without doubt you will leaue for the first commer whose eies will vouchsafe to look on you Tircis who heard them thus discourse seeing Hylas stand as ouercome beganne to speake in this sort r Hylas you must no longer hide your selfe you are discouered This shepheard hath cleere eyes to see the spots of your inconstancy you must confesse the truth For if you fight against it besides that at the last you shal be counted a liar you being not able to resist for that nothing is so strong as Truth you shall be faine to shew your weakenesse Confesse it then freely to be as it is and to encourage you I will beginne Know gentle shepheard that it is true that Hylas is the most inconstant the most disloyall and the greatest traitour to shepheardesses to whom he promises goodwill that euer was And so added Phillis that he will oblige them whom he loues not at all And Me mistris answered Hylas are you also against me will you beleeue the impostures of these malicious Doe you not see that Tircis finding himselfe bound to Siluander for the iudgement he gaue in fauour of him thinks fit to pay him in some sort by giuing you an euill opinion of me What doth this import sayd Phillis to Siluander What doth this import said the inconstant know you not it is harder to take a place possessed then that which no man holds He would say added Siluander The more you loue him the harder it will be for me to acquire your good graces But my friend Hylas how much are you deceiued so farre that when I see she daines to cast her eye on you I shall be assured of her loue For I know her to be of so good iudgement that shee hath alwayes knowledge to choose the better Then answered Hylas It may be glorious shepheard you thinke to haue some aduantage ouer me Mistris beleeue him not for he is of no worth and indeed what man can he be that neuer had the hardinesse to loue nor to serue but one onely shepheardesse and that so coldly that you would thinke he iested Whereas I loue as many as I see fayre and of them all I haue beene as well entertayned as I would wish What seruice can you hope for of him that is such a nouice that he knoweth not how to beginne But I that haue serued of all sorts of all ages and of all humours know of what fashion and what ought and what ought not to please her and for proofe of what I say suffer me to question him if you would know his ignorance And then turning toward him he went on What is it Siluander that ought most to binde a fayre shepheardesse to loue vs That is said Siluander to loue none but her And what is that continued Hylas that may please her most That is answered Siluander to loue her extremely Now see then sayes the inconstant how ignorantly amorous is this man so farre is that which he sayes from truth that it ingenders contempt and hatred For to loue but her alone giues her cause to thinke that it is want of courage that hee dares not vndertake and so thinking herselfe to be beloued for want of another she will despise such a louer Whereas if you loue in common for the small worth of the thing shee will not thinke when you come to her that it is not for that you know not whither else to goe and this will binde her more to loue you especially if you come to particulars and make it appeare to her that you rely more vpon her and to perswade her the better you tell her all that you know of others and once in the week you bring to her all that you haue sayd and what they haue answered fitting the encounter as occasion requireth to the end you may make her the more pleasing draw her to cherish your company This way yong louer this way shall you binde her to any loue But to please her you must on the contrary flie as from poyson the extremity of loue because there is nothing more grieuous betweene two louers than this so great affection for you that loue in this sort to please your selfe labour to be alwayes neere her to be alwayes talking with her she cannot cough but you must aske her what she ayles she cannot turne her foot but you must doe the like To be short she is almost constrayned to carry you you presse her and importune her so But the mischiefe is if she be sicke sometimes and that she smile not on you if she speake not to you and intertaine you not as she was wont then you fall to whining to teares but such plaints I say as wherewith you so fill her eares that to free her selfe of these importunities she is forced to restraine her selfe and sometimes when she would be alone and locke vp her selfe for a time to her owne thoughts she must be compelled to come see you to entertayne you and tell you a thousand tales to content you Thinke you this to be a good meane to haue her loue you You
could not but more strengthen himselfe thereby in his iealousie which Phillis greatly regarded not thinking she had giuen proofs great enough of her loue so that in reason he was not to doubt it but ignorance knowes not that iealousie in Loue is Iuie that drawes to it selfe the nourishment which should goe to the good branches and good fruit and the greater it is the more it shewes the fertility of the place and the strength of the plant Paris that admired the great spirit of Siluander knew not what to iudge of him and thought that if he had beene bred among ciuill folke he had beene without paralell since liuing among shepheards hee was such that he knew none more gentle That was the cause that he resolued to make friendship with him more freely to enioy his company And to procure theÌ„ to hold on their disputation he turned to Hylas said that he must confesse he had taken the worse part since he stood so long mute He neede not be astonied for that said Diane since there is not so violent a iudge as the conscience Hylas knowes well hee argues against the truth and it is onely to flatter his fault And though Diane held on this discourse some while yet Hylas answered not a word being busie in beholding Phillis who when she was neere Licidas entertained him coursely enough and because Astrea would not haue him ouer-heare what she said to him she diuers times interrupted him vntil at last she constrained him to say If Phillis be so importuned I will not loue at all Truely shepheard said she expressely to hinder him from harkening if you bee as vngracious to her as vnciuill to vs shee will make no great account of you And for that Phillis without taking heede to this dispute held on her discourse Diane said to her What Phillis doe you thus shew the duty you owe me Will you leaue mee then to entertaine a shepheard Whereat Phillis surprized answered I would not mistrisse this errour should displease you for I was of opinion that this goodly discourse of gentle Hylas would haue kept you from heeding mee who in the meane time was giuing order to an affaire that this shepheard spoke of to mee and indeede she lyed not for she was much busied for the coldnesse shee â—ound in him It were good then Phillis said Diane with the words of a true mistrisse you thinke to pay all your faults with excuses but remember that all these defects are but small proofes of your little loue and that in time and place I shall remember in what fashion you serue me Hylas had taken Phillis by the waste and not knowing the wager of Siluander and her was amazed to heare Diane speake so therefore seeing her ready to beginne her excuse he preuented her saying Who would say faire mistrisse that this glorious shepheardesse would handle you thus coursely will you yeeld to her in any thing Commit not this fault I beseech you for though she be faire yet haue you beauty enough to make you a part and which it may be giues no place to hers Ah! Hylas said Phillis if you knew against whom you speake you would rather choose to be mute the rest of your life then to be prouided of a word that might displease this faire shepheardesse who in the twinkling of an eye may if you loue make you the most vnhappy mâ—n that euer loued On me said the shepheard she may rayse or cast downe open or shut her eyes but my misfortune no more then my happinesse shall neuer dependâ— neither of her eyes nor of her whole face and yet I loue you and will loue you If you loue mee added Phillis and I haue any power ouer you shee hath much more for I may be moued either by your loue or by your seruices not to vse you hardly but this shepheardesse being neither loued nor serued of you will neuer haue pitty And what neede haue I sayd Hilas of her pitty Yes certainely replyed Phillis you want her mercy for I will nothing but what she wills and can do nothing but what shee commands for behold the Mistris I loue whom I serue and whom I adore so that she is all my loue all my seruice and all my deuotion Now fee Hylas whom you haue offended and what pardon you are to sue for Then the shepheard casting himselfe at the feete of Diane all astonied after he had a little be held her sayd Mine owne faire Mistris if he that loues may behold any other thing then the subiect beloued I might well haue seene in some sort that euery one was to honor and do reuerence to your merit but since I haue mine eyes closed against al other things but my Phillis you shuld shew too great cruelry if you pardoÌ„ not the fault which I confesse for which â—â—ry you mercy Phillis that was sorry to be thus pâ—stred with this man that she might talke with Lieidas as he had desired made haste to answer him before Diane and to tell him that Diane would not pardon him but with condition that he should tell them the suites and aduentures which hee had had since hee beganne to loue for it was impossible but the discourse would be very pleasing since he had serued in so many sorts the accidents must needes be accordingly Truely Phillis sayd Diane you are a great diuiner for I had a purpose neuer to pardon him but with that condition and therefore Hylas resolue to do it How sayd the shepheard will you constraine me to tell my life before my Mistris and what opinion will shee haue of me when shee shall heare say that I haue loued aboue an hundred that to some I haue bid farewell before I left them and left others before I sayd any thing to them when shee shall know that at one and the same time I was diuided among many what will she thinke of me Nothing worse then shee now thinkes sayd Siluander for she will then but iudge you inconstant as she doth already It is true sayd Phillis but that you may not enter into this doubt I haue businesse elsewhere whither Astrea shall go with me if she please and in the meane time you shall obey Diane's commandement At this word she tooke Astrea by the arme and with-drew to the side of the wood where Licidas was euen now gone and because Siluander had ouerheard her answere to Licidas he followed afarre off to see what his meaning was whereto the euening somewhat serued his turne that he might not be seene for it waxed late besides that he went behind the bushes hiding himselfe so that hee followed them at pleasure vnseene and came so fitly that he heard what Astrea sayd to her what humor is this of Licidas to desire to speake with you at this howre and in this place hauing so many other commodities that I know not what he meanes to choose out so vnfit a time I know not
ready shee went downe into the garden and would haue none but me with her By the way I asked if it pleased her to make an answer and telling me no Will you Madam that I do it See said she next what would you write That which you command in sayd I. What you will said she so you speake not of me You shall see answered I what I write I haue nothing to doe with it said she I referre my selfe to you With this leaue while she walked I writ in the same alley in a paire of Tablets an answer such as I thought fittelt but shee that would not see it would not haue the patience to let me make an end without reading it while I writ it The answer of Leonide to Lindamor for Galathee DRaw from your euill the knowledge of your good If you had not beene beloued there would neuer haue beene sence of any thing you may not know what your offence is till you be heere present but hope in your affection and in your returne She would not the Letter should be thus but at last I preuailed aboue her courage and gaue my Tables to Fleuriall with the key commaunding him to deliuer them to the hands of Lindamor onely And drawing aside I opened my Tables and added these words without the knowledge of Galathee A Billet of Leonide to Lindamor I Was desirous to haue knowne when you went away the pitty of your euill maketh me tell you the occasion of your disaster Polemas hath giuen out that you loue Galathee and you goe about bragging of it A great courage as here is cannot suffer so great an offence without feeling Let your wisedome direct you in those affayres with the discretion which hath alwayes gone with you that for louing you and taking pitty of your euill I may not haue in exchange matter to grieue for you to whom I promise all ayde and fauour I sent this Billet as I told you to deceiue Galathee and indeed I repented me of it shortly after as I will tell you It was about a moneth after Fleurial was gone when behold there comes a knight armed at all pieces an vnknowne Herald with him and to keepe all men from knovvledge of him he had his visor downe By his port euery one iudged of him as hee was indeede And because at the towne-gate the Herald had demaunded to be conducted to Amasis euery one desirous to heare some newes accompanyed him Being come vp to the Castle the Guarde of the towne left him to them of the Gate-house And after they had giuen notice to Amasis they were brought before her who had sent for Clidaman to giue audience to these strangers The Herald after the Knight had kissed the robe of Amasis and the hand of her sonne sayd thus with words halfe outlandish Madam this knight whom you see being borne of the greatest of his countrey hauing knowne that in your Court euery man of honour may demand reason of them that offend him is come vpon this assurance to cast himselfe at your feete and to beseech you that Iustice which you neuer denyed to any may be allowed him in your presence and before all these fayre Nymphs to draw reason from him who hath done him the iniury by the meanes vsuall to persons so wronged Amasis after she had some while thought with herselfe at last answered that it is true that this sort of desence of honour had alwayes beene vsed in this Court but she being a woman did neuer suffer them to come in armes yet her sonne was of age to manage greater affaires than these and she would referre her selfe to that he should do Clidaman without staying for the Heralds replie turning to Amasis said Madame it is not onely to be serued and honored of all those that inhabit this Prouince wherein the gods haue established you the Soueraigne Lady and your Ancestours also but much rather to punish them that are faulty and to honour those that deserue well the best meanes of all is by Armes at the least in those things that cannot otherwise be searched out so that if you abolish out of your estate this most iust fashion of discouering the secret practices of the wicked you giue way vnto licencious lewdnesse that will neuer feare to doe euill so that it may be performed in secret Beside that these strangers being the first that in your time haue had recourse to you haue some reason to complayne to be the first refused So that since you haue referred them to me I will tell you sayd he turning him about towards the Herald that this Knight may frankely and freely accuse whomsoeuer he will for I promise him to assure himselfe of the field The Knight then set his knee to the ground kissed his hand by way of thankes and made a signe to the Herald to hold on Sir sayd he since you doe him this grace I must tell you he is heere in search for a Knight called Polemas whom I desire may be shewed me that I may finish what I haue vndertaken Polemas hearing himselfe named came forward saying in a fashion lofty enough that he was the man whom he sought for Then the vnknowne Knight presented to him a piece of armour and the Herald sayd This Knight would say that he presents you this gage promising that he will be tomorrow by the Sunne rising at the place that shall be appointed to fight with you to the vttermost to prooue on you that you haue wickedly inuented that which you haue sayd against him Herald I receiue said he this gage for though I know not thy Knight yet wil I not leaue to be most aslured to haue iustice on my side as knowing well that I neuer sayd any thing against the truth and let the morrow be the day of triall At this word the Knight after he had saluted Amasis and all the Ladies returned into a Tent which hee caused to be spred neere the towne-gate You may thinke that this put all the Court into diuers discourses especially Amasis and Clidaman who loued Polemas well had much griefe to see him in this danger yet their promise bound them to graunt the field As for Polemas he prepared himselfe as full of courage to the combate without hauing knowledge of his enemy And for Galathee that by this time had almost forgotten the offence that Lindamor had receiued from Polemas besides that shee beleeued not that he knew his euill came from thence she neuer thought of Lindamor nor I neither who tooke him to be an hundred leagues from vs and yet it was he who hauing receiued my Letter resolued to be reuenged in this sort and so vnknowne came to present himselfe as I told you But to make short for I am no great good warriour and so I should if I would particularize this combate talke somevvhat improperly After long combate they had both of them equall aduantage and they were both so loaden with
talk of another matter sayd to me Know you how Fleurials Aunt doth I answered that since he went I knew nothing Truely sayd she I would be very sorry if the old woman should not do well you haue reason sayd I Madam for she loues you and you haue had many seruices of her which are not yet fully acknowledged If she liue said she I will do it and after her I will remember Fleurial for her sake Then I answered Both the seruices of the aunt those of the Nephew deserue some good recompence and especially Fleurial for his faithfulnesse and affection cannot be bought It is true sayd she but because you speake of Fleurial what great matter had you to say to him or hee to you when he went away I answered coldly I recommended mee to his aunt Recommendations sayd she were not so long then she came neerer me and layd her hand on my shoulder Tell truth continued shee you spake of some other thing And what might it bee replied I if it were not that I had no other businesse with him Now I know sayd she that at this present you dissemble why did you say you had no other businesse with him and haue had so much for Lindamor O! Madam I little thought you would haue remembred a man so vnfortunate and then holding my peace I fetched a deepe sigh What is the matter sayd she that you sigh tell me true where is Lindamor Lindamor answered I is no more then earth How cried shee out Lindamor is no more No indeed answered I the cruelty which you haue vsed towards him hath rather slaine him then the strokes of his enemy for going from the combat and knowing by the report of many the euill satisfaction which you had of him he would neuer suffer himselfe to be dressed and because you haue such a desire to know that was it that Fleurial told mee whom I commanded to assay if he could wisely withdraw the letters which wee haue writ him to the end that as you haue lost the remembrance of his seruices by your cruelty so might I consume in the fire the memories which might remaine O God sayd she what is that you tell me Is it possible he should be so lost It is you sayd I that may say you haue lost him for his part hee hath gained by dying since by death hee hath found rest which your cruelty will neuer permit him while hee liued Ah! Leonide sayd she you tell me these things to put mee to paine confesse the truth hee is not dead Would to God it were so sayd I but for what cause should I tell you I answere his death or life are indifferent to you and specially since you loued him so little you may be glad to be exempted for the importunity he would haue giuen you for you are to beleeue that if he had liued hee would neuer haue ceased from giuing such proofes of his affection as that of Polemas Indeed then sayd the Nymph I am sorry for the poore Lindamor and sweare vnto you that his death touches me more to the quicke then I though it would but tell me had he neuer no remembrance of vs at his end and did hee not shew to be grieued to leaue vs See Madam sayd I a question which is not vsuall He died for your sake and you aske if hee remembred you Ah! that his memory and his sorrow had not bin too great for his helth I beseech you talke no more of him I assure my selfe he is in the place where he receiues the reward of his fidelity and where it may bee hee shall see himselfe reuenged at you cost You are in choler sayd she You must pardon me sayd I Madam but this is the reason that constraines me to speake thus for there is none that can giue more testimony of his affection and fidelity then I and of the wrong you haue done him to giue him so vnworthy a recompence for so many seruices But sayd the Nymph let vs set this aside for I know that in some thing you haue reason but I haue not done so much wrong as you impute And tell mee I pray you by the loue you beare me if in his last words hee remembred mee and what they were Must you sayd I triumph in your soule at the end of his life as you haue done ouer al his actions since he begā to loue you If this must be to your contentment I will satisfie you As soone as he knew that you went about to blemish the honor of his victory and that in stead of pleasing you he hath by this fight got your hatred it shal neuer be sayd he O iniustice that thou shalt for my cause lodge longer in so faire a soule I must by my death wash away my offence Then hee tooke all the clouts which hee had on his wounds and would no more suffer the hand of the Chirurgion his wounds were not mortall but the ranckling brought it to those termes that he perceiued small strength in him to liue he called Fleurial and being alone hee sayd My friend Fleurial thou now lofest him that had great care to do thee good but you must arme your selfe with patience since it is the will of heauen I would yet haue one piece of seruice from thee which shall better please me then that thou euer didst And hauing drawne from him a promise that hee would do it hee continued You must not faile in what I bid you As soone as I shall be dead rip vp my belly and take out the heart and carry it to the faire Galathee and tell her that I send it her that at my death I may keepe nothing that belongs to any other At these last words hee lost both speech and life Now this foole Fleurial that hee may not bee wanting in that which was commanded him by a person whom he held so deare hath brought hither the heart and without me would present it to you Ah! Leonide sayd she is it certaine he is dead Oh God that I knew not his sicknes and you would neuer tell me of it I would haue found some remedy O what a loss haue I sustained how great is your fault Madam answerd I I knew nothing for Fleurial stayed with him to attend him because he had none of his owne but if I had knowne I thinke I should not haue spoken to you of it I knew your mind was so far remoued from that subiect At these words resting her head on her arme she commanded me to leaue her alone to the end as I thought that I might not see her teares which already encreased their drops but hardly was I gone before shee called me backe and without lifting vp her head shee bid mee command Fleurial to bring her that which Lindamor had sent her in what fashion he listed And presently I went out fully assured that the knights affaires for whom I pleaded would fall out
must speake plainely to him O God sayd the Nymph is it possible I am assured that if hee will vndertake it it cannot but all turne to my contentment for his wisedome is so great and his iudgement also that he cannot choose but bring about whatsoeuer he beginnes Madame said Leonide I speake not without ground you shall see If you will serue your selfe by him what will bee Now behold the Nymph the most contented in the world already figuring to her selfe the accomplishment of her desires But while they discoursed thus Silâ—y and 〈◊〉 spent the time about the same businesse for the Nymph who was well inquainted with the Druyde talked of them very openly He that was very wary that he might know if his Neeâ—e had told him true prayed her to tell him what she knew Silay that desired in any case to breake off this discourse did it without dissimulation and the shortest she could in this manner The History of Leonide KNow that the better to instruct you of all that you demaund I am constrayned to touch the particulars of some other besides Galathee And I shall doe it the more willingly for that it may be behoouefull for the time to come that they should not be hidden from you It is Leonide of whom I speake whom it seemes destinies would intangle more than ordinary in the dessignes of Galathee This that I tell you is not to blame her or to make it knowne For telling it to you I beleeue it is no lesse secret than if you had not knowne it You must then vnderstand that it is long time since the beauty and merits of Leonide wanne her after long suite the affection of Polemas and because the deserts of that knight were not so slender but they could procure themselues to be beloued Your Neece was not contented to be beloued but she would also loue but she carried it with such discretion that euen Polemas was long without the knowledge of it I doubt not but you haue loued and that you know better than I how hardly Loue will be hidden so it was that at last it burst out and both knew they were louers and beloued yet was this amity so honest that it would not suffer them to dare to shew it After the sacrifice that Amasis made euery yeere on the day that she married Pimander it fell out that after dinner wee were all in the Gardens of Mâ—nt-brison the more cheerefully to passe this happy iourney she and I to defend vs from the Sunne being set vnder some trees which gaue a pleasing shaddow We were scarcely there but Polemas came to sit by vs seeming that it was by chance he met vs but I obserued that he had some good while followed vs with his eye And because we sate without any words and that he had a good voyce I sayd to him that hee should binde vs much to him if he would sing I will said he if that fayre will commaund me poynting to Leonide Such a commaundement said she would be a great indiscretion but I will make vse of my prayer especially if you haue any new thing I will willingly answered Polemas and moreouer I assure you that this which you shall heare was made but in the time of the Sacrifice while you were in your prayers And how said I is my companion then the subiect of this song Yes in deed answered he and I am witnesse And then he began to sing We sate very attentiâ—e and it may be I had knowne more had it not beene for Leonide who fearing that Polemas would shevv that which she would hide from me suddenly as he had ended took hold I dare lay a wager said she that I can diuine for whom this Song was made and then drawing neere his eare made as if she named some but indeed she bade him take heede what he sayd before me He being discreete drew backe and answered You haue not diuined right I sweare vnto you it is not for her whom you named Then I perceiued she would hide her selfe from me which was the cause that fayning to gather some floures I went from them on the other side yet not without hauing an eye to their actions Now Polemas himselfe since hath told me all but it was after his affection was passed ouer for so long as that lasted it was not in my power to make him confesse any thing Being then alone they took vp againe the discourse which they had left and she was the first that beganne And why Polemas sayd shee doe you iest thus with your friends Confesse the truth for whom are these verses Faire Nymph sayd he in your soule you know for whom they are as well as I. How sayd shee doe you beleeue me to be a diuiner Yes certainely answered Polemas and of those that obey not the gods who speak by their mouth but make themselues obeyed of him What meane you by that enigmaticall speech sayd the Nymph I meane sayd he that Loue speakes by your mouth otherwise your words would not be so full of fire and loue that they can kindle in all that behold them so burning coles and yet you obey him not though he commaund that he who loueth should be beloued for disobedient you worke that they who die of loue for you may well feele you faire but neuer louing nor so much as onely pitifull I speake for mine owne particular that may sweare with truth that in the world there was neuer beauty better beloued than yours of me In saying these last words he blushed and she smiled answering him Polemas Polemas the old souldiers shew their skarres for witnesse of their valour and complaine not at all you that complaine of yours would hardly shew them if Loue as your Generall to giue you a worthy reward should demaund to see them Cruell Nymph sayd the knight you deceiue your selfe for I may onely say to him Loue put away thy skarfe and behold the eyes of mine enemy for he can no sooner open his eies but he shall see the wounds that I beare in my heart not as you say in my complaint but in making it my glory to haue so worthy an Author of my wounds So that you may iudge that if Loue will enter into reason with me I can sooner satisfie him than you for hee can perceiue the blowes which you cannot because that the fire cannot burne it selfe no more are you being insensible of your owne beauties to be so of our teares nor offended where the armes of merit cannot resist if those of pitty at the least abate the sharpenesse of your rigours to the end that they that adore you for faire may commend you for courteous Leonide loued this knight but would not he should know it as yet But she likewise feared that putting him quite beside all hope shee might also make him lose his courage which was the cause that she answered him If your loue be such the time will
helped him besides that hauing knowledge of herbes and of the nature of beasts the beasts profited so well vnder his hands that there is none that desires not to put them to him whereof hee makes so good an account that besides the profit that he makes thereof there are few that gratifie him not with something so that at this houre he is in good case and may call himselfe rich for O faire Nymph we want not much to make vs so for that nature being contented with a few things we seeke after nothing but to liue according to it we are as soone rich as content and our contentment being easily compassed our riches are quickly gotten You are sayd Siluie more happy then we But you told me of Diane I know her not but by sight tell me I pray you who was her mother That is Bellinde answered he wife of the wise Celion who dyed young And Diane sayd Siluie what is shee and what is her humour She is said Celadon one of the fairest shepheardesses of Lignon and if I were not partiall for Astrea I would say shee were the fairest for in truth besides that shee is to the eye shee hath so many beauties in her spirit that there is nothing superfluous nor defectiue Many times three or foure of vs shepheards haue beene together to consider of her not knowing what perfection might be wished for that she had not for though she loue nothing of loue yet loues shee all vertue with so sincere a will that she binds more to her by that sort then others most violent affections And how said Silâ—ie is she not serued of many The deceit answered Celadon which the father of Filidas did her is the hinderance that there are none now and indeede it was one of the most not able that euer I heard of If it were not painefull to you added Siluie I would bee glad to learne it of you and also to know who this Celion was and who this Bellinde I feare answered the shepheard the discourse will be so long that it will trouble you On the contrary said the Nymph We know not better how to imploy the time while Galathee reades the letters that she went to receiue Then to satisfie your commandement answered he I will doe it as briefly as I can and then hee held on in this sort The History of Celion and Bellinde IT is true faire Nymph that vertue spoyled of all other ornament ceases not to be of it selfe louely hauing so many allurements with which as soone as the soule is touched it must bee beloued and followed but when this vertue meetes with a body that is faire it is not onely pleasing but admirable for that the eyes and spirit are rauished in the contemplation and vision of this beauty which shall bee manifested by the discourâ—â— which I meane to make you of 〈◊〉 Know then that neere the riuer of Lignon there was a very honest shepheard named Philemon who after hee had beene long married had a daughter whom he called Bellinde who comming to growth made as great a shew of beauty in her spirit as might be seene in her body Hard by her house lodged another shepheard called Leon with whom neighbourhood had tyed a strong bond of amity and fortune vnwilling to doe more for the one then for the other gaue him likewise at the same time a daughter whose youth gaue great promise of â—â—ture beauty she was called Amaranthe The friendship of the fathers caused that of the daughters to encrease by frequenting together for they were bred vp together from the cradle and when their age permitted them they led their stlocks alike at night brought them in companies to their lodgings But because as they grew in body their beauty likewise encreased to the view of the eye there were many shepheards that sought their loue whose feruices and affections could not obtaine more of them then that they were receiued with courtesie It fell out that Celion a young shepheard of those quarters hauing lost a sheep came to seek it among Bellindes flock whither it was strayed She restor it with such courtesie that the recouery of his sheep was the beginning of the losse of himselfe and froÌ„ that time he began to feele with what force two faire eies were able to offend for before he was so ignoraÌ„t that the very thoght of it neuer came into his soule But what ignoraÌ„ce soeuer was in him it brought him to that passe that it made him by his wooing know what his disease was and the onely Physician from whom hee was to haue his health So that Bellinde by his actioÌ„s perceiued it almost as soon as himselfe for at the first he knew not what to say his designe was but his affect on growing with his age came to that greatnesse that hee found the discommodity in good earnest and then acknowledged it being constrained to change the pastimes of his youth into a very curious pursuite And Bellinde on the other side though she were serued of many receiued his affection aboue any other yet no otherwise then if he had bene her brother which she made appeare one day when he thought to haue found the coÌ„modity to declare his good will She kept her flocke along the riuer of Lignon and beheld her beauty in the water Whereupon the shepheard taking occasion sayd to her holding after an amorous fashion his hand before his eyes Take heede faire shepheardesse withdraw your eyes from this water feare you not the dangers that others haue runne into by such actions Why say you so answered Bellinde that as yet vnderstood him not Ah then said the shepheard faire and dissembling shepheardesse you represent within this happy riuer more beauty then Narcissus in the fountaine At these words Bellinde blushed and that encreased her beauty the more yet shee answered Since whence Celion haue you wished mee so well without doubt it is well done of you To wish you well said the shepheard it is long time since I did it and you are to beleeue that this will shall be limited by no other termes then that of my life Then the shepheardesse casting down her head on this side said I make no doubt of your amity receiuing it with the same good will that I offer you mine Where to Celion presently answered Let me kisse that faire hand by way of thankes for so great a good and for an earnest of the faithfull seruice which Celion is to render you the rest of his life Bellinde knew as well by the feruour wherewith he vttered these words as by the kisses which he imprinted on her hand that he figured to himselfe his amity of another quality then she meant and because shee would not haue him liue in this error Celion sayd she you are far from that you thinke you cannot sooner banish me from your company then by this meanes if you desire that I should continue the amity I haue
the Wife the rest She smiling said vnto him And how friend Lidias it seemes you haue forgotten the custome you should haue left me my part God forbid said hee wife Ameryne for it is of poyson which I haue chosen to end my life rather then to be wanting in my promise to you and in the affection which I owe to the faire Siluy O God said she is it possible as yet thinking it was her true Lidias but that hee had changed his good will during his absence and vnwilling to liue without him ran with the Cup in her hand where he was that had giuen the Wine mixed for the day before he had caused it to be made at the Apothecaries and before it was knowne what my Master said notwithstanding any forbidding of his because it was the custome they gaue her the full cup which she presently drunke of And then returning to him she said O cruell and ingratefull thou hast loued death more then me and I also loue it rather then thy refusall But if that God which hath hitherto conducted our affections doe not venge me on a soule so periured in another life I shall thinke he hath neither care to heare false oathes nor power to punish them Then euery one drew neere her to heare her reproches and it was then that Ligdamon answered her Discreete Amerine I confesse I haue offended you if I were he whom you thinke I am but beleeue me that am now at the ende of my dayes I am not Lidias I am Ligdamon and whatsoeuer errour may bee of mee at this houre I assure my selfe that time will discouer my iustice And in the meane time I rather choose death then to be wanting to the affection which I haue promised to the faire Siluy to whom I haue consecrated my life not being otherwise able to satisfie both And then hee continued O faire Siluy receiue this will which I offer you and let this last of all my actions be best receiued because it is imprinted with the best character of my faithfulnesse By little and little the poyson gained on the spirits of these two newly married so that they could hardly draw their breath when turning his eyes on me he sayd Goe my friend finish that thou hast to doe and aboue all truly recount what thou hast seene and that death is welcome to me that keepes me from offending the fidelitie which I haue vowed to the faire Siluy Siluy was the last word hee spake for with that word the faire soule parted from the body and for my part I beleeue that if euer louer were happy in the Elisian fields my maister is attending vntill he may see you againe there And how sayd Siluy is it true that Ligdamon is dead without doubt answered he O God cryed out Siluy At this word all that she could doe was but to cast her selfe on a bed for her heart fayled her and after shee had lyen somewhile with her face towards the beds head she prayed Leonide who was with her to take Ligdamons letter and to tell Egide that he should goe to her lodging because she would haue him serue her So Egide withdrew but so affected that he was couered with teares Then would loue shew one of his puissances for that Nymph that neuer loued Ligdamon while hee liued at this time when she heard of his death shewed so great a feeling that the most passionate in loue could not do more It was vpon this speech that Galathee talking to Celadon fayde that hereafter shee would beleeue it is impossible but a woman once in her life must loue some thing for this young Nymph hath vsed such cruelties towards all them that loued her that some are dead for griefe others euen of despaire haue banished themselues from her sight and especially this whom she be wailes dead she hath heretofore brought to that extremitie that without Leonide the same had befallen him then so that I would rather haue sworne loue might rather haue found place in the Ice of the coldest of the Alpes then in her heart and yet you see now whereto she is reduced Madame answered the shepheard beleeue not that it is loue it is rather pitie In truth she must be harder then euer was stone if the report which this yong man hath made haue not touched her to the quicke for I know not who would not in hearing him relate it though one had no other knowledge of him but this onely action and for my part I must say true I hold Ligdamon happyer then if he were aliue since he loued this Nymph with such affection and shee vsed him with as great rigour as I haue knowne for what greater happinesse can befall him then to ende his miseries and to enter into those felicities which doe accompany them What thinke you was his contentment to see that Siluy laments him sorrowes for him and esteemes of his affection but I meane that Siluy that hath dealt so roughly with him And then what is that which the louer desires more then to bee able to giue assurance to the party beloued of his faithfulnesse and affection and to come to this point what punishments what deaths will he refuse At this time when hee sees from the place where he is the teares of his Siluy when he heares her sight what is his happinesse and what his glory not onely for that he hath assured her of his loue but for him to be certen that she loues him O no Madame beleeue me Ligdamon hath no cause to complaine but Siluy for and in time you shall see it all that shee will represent to her selfe shall bee the ordinary actions of Ligdamon the discourse of Ligdamon his fashion his amitie his valour briefly this I dole will bee ordinarily houering about her almost like an auenger of the cruelties with which shee hath tormented that poore louer and repentance which galling her thoughts will be the executioner of the Iustice of Loue. THese speeches were so lowde and so neare Siluy that shee heard them all and that made her burst for anger for she thought them probable At last after she had endured them some while and finding her selfe too feeble to resist so strange enemies shee went out of that chamber into her owne where there were none to let her from teares For hauing shut the dore after her and prayde Leonide to leaue her alone she cast her selfe on her bed her armes acrosse her stomacke and her eyes toward heauen in her memory shee passed through all their life what affection he had alwayes shewed to her how patiently hee bore her rigours with what discretion he had serued her how long time this affection had lasted and in the end said she all this is now enclosed in a little earth And in this sorrow remembring her owne discourses her adues her impatiencies and a thousand small particularities she was constrained to say Hold thy peace memory