ye Gods who both see and heare my unjust sorrowes and my just complaints either bestow a welcome death upon me or else take away the memory of so many displeasures from mee The Gods said the Servant doe use to favour those who by their courage and Prudence endeavour to helpe themselves in their misfortunes and to decline those who losing their heart and courage have recourse only to prayers and weake tears why doe you thinke did they bestow upon you a soule of a higher generosity then upon others doe you thinke it was to make use of it only in prosperity and not to encounter the gusts of adversity Certainely Sir you ought to shew the effects of it upon all occasions especially in adversity to the end that those who â—ee that vertue in you may praise the Gods for imparting so much perfection unto man and considering it in you they may come to the knowledge of the great Giver Will you offer to abuse the favours and the hopes which every one hath in you I have heard some say who knew you in your infancy that you promised a noble courage even from the very Cradle and shewed so much generosity of soule as every one conceived that you would prove an example unto the world of an invincible spirit will you not Sir answer all their hopes and expectations There are some women who thinke it a shame to shrinke at the blowes of Fortune though their natures be pusillanimous and timerous yet being disposed unto vertuous ends they often change their Natures you Sir are a man that very word commands you to be couragious you who are a Cavelier brought up in Martiall wayes and hath looked grim death in the face you who have acquired great reputation in the greatest dangers you I say who are Damon who never started at any difficulty now faint at such an accident as this Will you offer to die before you doe an act worthy not only of a Cavelier but of a common man Halladine Halladine answered the Cavelier these considerations are good in another season or in any other man but my selfe alas what act can I doe which will doe me any good only dying excepted for all others are displeasing unto her for whom only I desire to live Thou knowest that Madonthe is the only aime of all my desires and since all my hopes of her is lost what can I desire but death But Sir said Halladine how doe you know that all your hopes of Madonthe are lost Thou thy selfe said the Cavelier dost know as much give me leave to tell you Sir replyed Halladine that I doe know how the case stands better then you doe for Sir when you commanded me to carry your letter and Thersanders Ring unto her and the Handkerchief full of your blood unto the hellish Leriana by chance I met with them both together and though that divellish wretch who was the cause of all your misery did stand immovable at your message which I declared from you unto them yet I observed Madonthe first to grow pale afterwards to tremble and lastly when shee heard of your death and saw the blood she was surprised with so much sorrow that had she not beene held she had sunke downe so as had I thought you alive doubtlesse I had brought you very good newes from her Oh my friend Halladine said the Cavelier what a weake conclusion dost thou make Didst thou but know the nature of women thou wouldst confesse with me that such alterations in them doe proceed rather from Compassion then Passion for certainly all women are naturally pittifull and compassion is an ordinary effect of their weake soules so as what thou observest in Madonthe proceeded from the pittifulnesse of her Nature But Halladine it is not pitty or compassion but passion and love that I doe desire from her and this thou didst not discover in her soule Alas Sir said Halladiâ—e unto what a miserable condition are you reduced since you your selfe are the very worst enemy that you have I wonder such an accident should worke such an alteration in your judgement Admit the worst that Madonthe does not love you yet if you desire to overcome her and obtaine her favour why doe you not goe where she is but shun all community with mankind or habitable places Since hatred is the higher said the Cavelier for seeing the person hated have I not good reason to shun the sight of Madenthe because she hates me and so being deprived of her whom onely I desire all things else that I see are displeasing unto mee why then shouldest thou thinke it strange that I should disrellish all others since I cannot see Madonthe Good Sir said Halladine what comfort can you expect to finde in Wildernesses and uncoth savage places Death said the Cavelier for that is all the comfort I hope for since it is so said Halladâ—ne is it not better to go and die before Madonthes face that she may see you die for her then to languish away your life amongst Rockes and Caves and solitary Woods where none knowes what you do Thou sayest well Halladine answered the Cavelier but thou knowest that Madonthe is fled away with her darling Thersander and to enjoy him with more security keepes close from any finding them Dost thou thinke that I would not have had recourse unto some desperat act if I had not had such an intention as thou speakest of Upon these words teares hindered his speech and pitty moved Halladine unto the same so as for a while they both stood speechlesse Paris who listned attentively hearing Madonthe named could not at the first imagine it to be her whom he had seen disguised in the habit of a shepheardesse with Astrea and Diana But when he heard Thersander named he made no doubt but that it was she and therefore he hearkned more attentively when Halladine began to speak thus For my part sir said Halladine were your case mine I would never die for one who changes me for another but if the displeasure of it did so far transport me as to resolve upon death I would first send death to the man who is the cause of my losse before me and he should die by no hand but my owne For beside the sweet of revenge I would let her who changed me for him see what a bad choice she had made I would never suffer him to inherit my happinesse after my death Therefore I advise you sir if you be resolved upon death that first you give Thersander his death who is the obstacle of your happinesse and cause of your death I must confesse said the Cavaâ—er that in this thou speakest reason but Halladine thou knowest he conceales himselfe he is afraid of such a designe and to prevent it He Madonthe and her Nurse keep so close as none knowes where they are Whilest he was saying so and whilst Paris was listning with an inquisitive eare the poore distracted shepheard Adrastes came singing
shall treat Calidon in such a sort as I shall drive him out of any such fancy Not but that I know the shepheard is a man of more merit then I deserve but for all that my genius is not agreeable nor can suit it selfe to his How is it possible Madam I should ever believe Calidon loves me when I know he loved Celâ—dea above his own life and this with excesse of disobedience to an Uncle who was unto him in lieu of a Father and from whom he hoped for his estate But I have heard say replyed Alexis that now he is out of this humour and does not love her I believe it true answered Astrea but it was when she had lost her beauty and then his flame extinguished so that as soon as my face changeth his affection to me will change also What a sad disaster would it be to me if I should live to see such a change nay the least diminution of good will to me But Madam continued she with a deep sigh that is not the principal difficulty for perhaps I should hope to keep his mind in due amity having not so low an opinion of my self but that with a little study I should hold him within compasse of duty to me But there is another obstacle in the way which hinders me from ever marrying far greater then all these Yet Madam I dare not trouble you with any such ralations and what would you think of me for being so familiar as to talke unto you of such trivial matters Alexis then shaked her hand and said Did you but know how infinitely I love you certainly you would never speake thus unto me who am infinitely desirous to know your businesse and intentions that I may the better serve you in them whether it be by my own endeavours and by the meanes of Adamas or any other way you shall please to imploy me Madam replyed Astrea I am very sensible of the great honour which you are pleased to confer upon me in your love and thinke it to be so high a happinesse unto me as I value it infinitely above my life but as for the offer you are pleased out of your abundant goodnesse to make unto me concerning Adamas I humbly beseech you never to speake unto him in it because I would not have him imployed in a businesse of so small a consequence and which I can well enough bring to passe my selfe assuring my selfe that I can deal well enough with Calidon I wish you may said Alexis but I am affraid you will find it a difficulty when I looke upon the beauty of your faire face for beauty faire Astrea is Glue or Bird-lime which will never let go those wings which are touched with it Madam replyed Astrea I am not owner of so much beauty or if I were I hope my resolution is stronger then all the violencies and wilfulnesse of Love And be pleased to know that I will die a thousand death rather then I will ever marry since it is the will of heaven or rather my bad fortune so to have it At this word she stopped and pulled out her Hankercher to wipe her eyes for she was not able to withhold her Teares And when she was beginning her discourse againe the coming in of Adamas prevented her who coming into the Chamber by chance and finding this good company there he was sorry that he had interrupted them for there was nothing he desired more then to see Alexis and Astrea together in hopes that this way would remit Alexis into his former condition and consequently that his old age should be very happy and contented according to the Oracle Yet seeming as if his coming in was of purpose and after he had saluted all the shepheardesses he said thus unto Alexis What Daughter in bed yet What will all these faire shepheardesses say seeing you such a sluggard Sir answered Alexis the fault is in my sister who brought them hither without giving me any notice The fault replyed Adamas is in your selfe who are yet in bed and if they served you aright they would pull all the clothes off and teach you to rise sooner in the morning Then Astrea who was risen off the bed in reverence of Adamas Reverend Father said she There is reason why we should rise early because we have flocks to look unto Moreover it is fit Alexis should preserve her beauty without taking any paines You may say what you please replyed Adamas But my opinion is that if she will be fair she must doe as you doe for your beauty may tell her that your Receipt is a very good one Astrea blusht a little and would have replyed if one had not come to acquaint Adamas that Daphnide and Alcidon stayed for him in the great Chamber And therefore he taking the shepheardesses by their hands they all left Alexis to dresse her selfe whilst she went to shew unto this good company the rarities of his house which indeed were curiosities of much admiration After all the Company was assembled together and that to the great contentment of Hylas Alexis was come unto them Adamas thought it best before dinner to shew them the Walkes and the rather because the Sun was masked with many Clouds Every one applyed themselves unto those that best pleased them except Silvander Hylas and Calidon For Paris tooke Diana whom Silvander out of respect was constrained to quit Alexis still was with Astrea which kept Hylas and Calidon from the happinesse of talking unto this feigned Druid and faire Shepherdesse As for Calidon and Silvander they durst not shew the least discontent But Hylas who was not accustomed unto any constraint Mâ—stresse said he as soone as they were out of the house I beseech you let Calidon wait upon Astrea Who then said Astrea shall keepe the faire Alexis company Pray good Shepherdesse said Hylas never take you any care he that cares for the birds of the Aire will not let her be without helpe and for want of a better I will tender my service unto her and at the same time he took Alexis by the other arme Truly said Astrea halfe angry that she could not be alone with Alexis it is easie to know Hylas that you are none of the Shepherds of Lignon for they doe never use to be so impudently bold I doe beleeve it said Hylas and it is very likely that they being Shepherds are not so couragious as I am Methinkes replyed Astrea that since you assume the same habit you should also assume the same courage No no Shepherdesse answered he a Hero is not lesse hardy for having a rusty Sword but on the contrary if examples of vertue have any influence upon Shepherds Calidon whom I see there looking upon you as if he would began Alms would doe as I doe Astrea looked downe with her eyes upon the ground fearing least if this discourse continued that young Shepherd should imitate Hylas and so of one fault she should make two
said Alexis and smiled that my servant had been more religiously devoted unto these sacred Groves and had been the first that would offer himselfe at the Altars so as thinking him gone before me I went after to seek him You saw me when you entred in as I did you said Hylas and if your affection to me had been equall unto mine to you you would have stayed behind them Good Servant said Alexis may I not as well tax your affection in not following me for I should willingly have stayed behind had I known your intention of doing so Nay nay answered Hylas this is but an excuse you might well see that the God of this place was not pleased I should enter if you had looked upon the inscription over the door Then Alexis seeming not to see it before looked up and found written That no prophane persons who were not inspired with a constant love should not enter into that sacred place And what of all this said Alexis his meaning is said Silvander That since he is not inspired with a constant love he dares not set his foot into the sacred place lest he should prophane it and in this Madam he shewes himselfe more religious then a perfect lover Servant said Alexis Is this true which Silvander saith Mistresse answered Hylas Do you desire I should love you Yes said Alexis with all my heart Then said he Lend not any eare unto any such sowers of sedition in love as Silvander Then turning towards him Do you think Silvander said he that I did not enter into this sacred Grove because I was no perfect lover as well as religious What else would you have me thinke said Silvander I think you were afraid of punishment and therefore durst not enter now no more then the first time we came unto it I will not deny answered Hylas but that I do stand in fear of angering the Gods and let me tell you thâ— this my feare is more commendable then your arrogance For is there any who have not a Tincture of some humane imperfections Ah my good friend Dost thou thinke thy selfe unsullied and therefore how 〈◊〉 you be so impâ—â—ent as to set◠〈◊〉 in this forbidden place I confesse my selfe said Silvander subject unto humane imperfections but am not so grosly follied with them as some men are I know thou it 〈…〉 company without common imperfections and yet for all then they 〈…〉 into this sacred place since the condition of their entrance is that there be no fault in their love Now I â—m most certaine there is none in mine for I had rather die a thousand deaths then suffer the lest stain of imperfection in it A very fine fancy believe it said Hylas Good Silvander tell me if there be any such pure pieces in the world as you doe imagine your selfe and if there be any pray tell me where they are You may very well ask where they are said Silvander for I doe believe you know not any though there be many in this place Pray tell me What doe you take Phillis to be She said Hylas is too merry What then of Astrea said Silvander She answered Hylas in too sad What then of Diana said Silvander she replyed he is too wise What do you say unto Alexis said he She said Hylas knows too much Lâ—â—nide continued Silvander she said Hylas knows too much 〈◊〉 too little What faultin Celidea said Silvander Her virtue replyed heâ— is 〈◊〉 unto me What do you say of Florice said Silvander That fine has a jealous 〈◊〉 answered he What of Palanice replyed Silvender She said Hylas does too soon believe that she is loved Of 〈◊〉 said Silvander She said Hylas is â—â—â—soluto What fault in Carlis said Silvander She loved me too much answered he What do you think of Stilliana said Silvander She is too subtile said Hylas What of Dâ—â—phnide continued Silvander That she has lost him answered Hylas who would have made her esteemed more faire What do you say oâ— Lâ—anies said Silvander I say replyed Hylas that I do not love her And of Maâ—â—â—â—he said the shepherd She answered he is too like Diana Oh Heavens said Silvanderâ— Can I propose none in whom you will find no fault You have forgotten one shepherdesse amongst us said Diana and that is Stella Very true indeed said Silvander what do you say of her I must confesse said Hylas then that if she continue pleasing me as well as she hath done this morning I think that I shall find her according to my own mind How how servants said Alexâ—s presently will you quit me for her Hylas after he had thought a little bâ—â—ter with himselfe answered very faintly No no Mistresse I would not quit you but I hope I may let you have some company Why replyed Alexis cannot you content your selfe with me Fie fie I must needs complain of you to all the world 〈◊〉 you are too blame answered Hylas for have you not alwayes told me that our loves should be equall Most true replyed Alexis Then replyed he if it be equall you should let me love another besides your selfe since you doe the same Whom do you see me love said she besides your self Whom said Hylas What 〈◊〉 you doing all the day upon this Country wench called Astren Oh servant said Alexis she is a womanâ— Well then said Hylas may not I also love a woman Servant said Alexis if you were a woman as I am it were then allowable to love a woman but since you are not I have great reason to be jealous I beseech you Mistresse said Hylas let 〈◊〉 law be equall betwixt us No said she I can never consent unto so much wrong to my self And believe in Mistresse said Hylas I will not lose any of my priviledges I peâ—â—cive said Diana there is like to be a divorce betwixt you For my part said Astrea I shall be 〈◊〉 gaâ—â—ner by it which way soever it be for if they do break off I shall possesse that 〈◊〉 one to my selfe alone and if they doe not yet since she 〈◊〉 Hylas to love Sreâ—â—a I shall have the more opportunities of talking with her whilst he is entertaining his new Mistresse And for my part said Hylas I shall be also a gaâ—â—er By it for if we be divorced then I shall be free and if we continue then I shall have 〈…〉 to love me 〈…〉 of one I perceive said Alexis that the losse will be onely 〈◊〉 For if Hylas doe cease loving me I shall lose the friendship of a person whom I value an a high rate of esteem and if he do still love me with a condition of loving another I shall have but one half of a servant whilst Stella has the other 〈◊〉 as which way soever the wind blow it will be against me But servant is there no meanes to make you 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 Stella from having a share Alexis spoke this in such a resenting manner as one would have thought her in
Alciron who could not endure to see his friend in such torment had not interrupted him with intentions to give some comfort The Gods Tirintes said he unto him do know our weakness and imperfections and out of their infinite goodness will excuse and pardon them But they will not endure the crime of those who will make them guilty of their own errors Therefore dear friend Do not by any such blasphemies provoke their just anger against thee Oh my dear friend replied Tirintes with a deep sigh since they do know our imbecilities and imperfections and will pardon them doubtless they will not impute that crime for which you reprehend me for it is weakness only which makes me commit it protesting that my intention was not to transgress their commandment but when I could not obey them And to make it appear that it is so good Alciron tell me who is he that can love such a most amiable piece less then I do And in loving her so passionately who can blaspheme less then I if it be blasphemy to say that I cannot chuse but love her Oh Tirintes replied Alciron Do not flatter thy self in thine own fault for this passion which you say is so potent in thee is indeed only thy own Will which if thou wouldest surmount thou hast power enough to do it I do confess said Tirintes coldly that it does depend upon my own will But do you not see that I cannot will any thing but what she please So then it seems said Alciron you will cease to be a man that you may become a Lover If being a man said Tirintes be not to love Silvanire I neither am nor will be a man Not to make use of Reason replied Alciron is not to be a man and can there be any thing more unreasonable then to cease loving ones self to love another Is not self preservation the great and principal law of Nature Oh dear friend said Tirintes let me not see the greatness of my wound I hope it is not incurable but you take the course to make it more desperate But the stone is thrown it is resolved upon that I will die in loving Silvanire and be assured that I wish for nothing now but to end this life quickly for here I hope for no mitigation of my pain And I conjure you Alciron to promise that when I am dead you write this Epitaph upon my Tomb Here lies he that was murdred by the Fairest Eyes under Heaven I hope that one day this cruel Fair One will in these few words read my affection and her own cruelty and the Gods to my satisfaction move her unto some repentance Oh how happy should I be if in the other life I hear one say that her Fair Eyes was once wet or that one single tear did trickle down her Fair Cheek Fie fie Tirintes said Alciron why this talk of death and Tombs Love is the God of life and nothing can ruine his empire but death Live live man though it were for nothing but to preserve a faithful Lover for this Silvanire whom you Love so well and for my part I will promise you that if you will follow my directions and do as I bid you I will quickly give this Fair One unto you Oh Alciron said Tirintes impossible promises never oblige those unto whom they are made this which I do promise replied Alciron is no impossibility provided you will but do as I say then he continued thus Tirintes said he I desire as much as I do my own life to see you rid of this tormenting passion but since I see all perswasions are in vain I promise to give you this woman in a very short time she shall be so much your own that it shall be long only of your self it you do not dispose of her according to your own will do not think it a thing impossible for you shall presently find it effected and confess that I never promised but I performed In order to this within a few days after he came unto him again and brought him a Mirrour in which he forbad him to look and assured him that if by any artifice he could so contrive it as Silvanire might cast her eye upon it certainly she were his own How said Tirintes is it an enchantment No answered Alciron but it is a natural power which is in this glass and what effects will it cause asked Tirintes Nay nay said Alciron be not too inquisitive be contented she shall be yours And what said Tirintes will she Love me Still too much curiosity answered Alciron can you not be contented that she shall be yours But Tirintes take special heed that neither you nor any other whomsoever look into it for the consequence will be very bad and if you should before you are aware cast your eye upon it come presently unto me that I may remedy the fault which you shall commit Tirintes took this Mirrour with much contentment and thanks and to lose no time went presently unto Silvanire unto whom he presented the glass with many supplications she would be pleased to take it And because she made some question whether she should receive it from him as thinking it not handsome for any maid to take any thing from a young Shepherd without the knowledg of her Parents he pressed her with so many humble entreaties and arguments of perswasion that at last she would give him that satisfaction but upon condition that she would keep it no longer then she pleased So after she had looked in it and much commended it she gave it him presently back he who saw his design was attained he pressed her no farther but was well satisfied that he had done as Alciron appointed him but his contentment lasted but a while for presently after Silvanire was taken with such a giddiness in her head and such a drowsiness that she fell a sleep and they could not awake her she was troubled above three hours in this manner and none knew her disease The noise presently ran about the Town that this Fair One was poisoned and no hopes of life left in her you may imagine that Aglantes and Tirintes did run with sad hearts to see what the matter was but as soon as Tirintes saw her in that condition he knew it to be an effect of the Mirrour which made him so extreamly angry against Alciron that had he met him doubtless he had dyed for it This villain said he to himself designed her death to deliver me from the affection which I bare unto her but cruel wretch that he is he never considered that my life depended upon hers and that when she dies it is impossible for me to live O thou most inhumane Tiger Couldst thou find a heart to hurt this Fair One Who never thought thee the least hurt Certainly the blackest fiend in Hell was thy Nurse and gave thee suck but Barbarian thou shalt receive a death by no other hand but my own
Oh Tirintes Tirintes Canst thou know who did this damned act and live or breath without revenge This Shepherd in this mind went as fast as ever he could to seek Alciron transported with so much fury that had he met him he had never told who hurt him In the mean time Silvanire grew worse and worse and none looked for any thing but death Amongst those that were in the Chamber and who sadly resented this loss was the sad Aglantes whose grief was so great that he swooned almost as soon as she Menander also and Lerice whose hopes and comfort was in this Fair Daughter seeing her in this sad condition they repented that they had lived so long and accused the Gods of cruelty in bestowing so many rare endowments upon Silvanire and depriving them of her so soon all eyes that saw her in this state were turned into tears in such abundance that nothing could be heard but sighs groans and great lamentations At the last she being in extream agony and not looking to live she forced her self to speak thus unto her Father and Mother who stood sighing and sobbing by her bed side Father said she I am afraid lest the Gods should be offended at your excessive sorrow for my death you know better then I call tell you that life is not more natural then death and those who begin to live begin it with a condition to dye why then should you be sorry that I am now ready to pay that debt which all humanes are obliged to pay unto death Perhaps you are sorry the Fatal Sisters have spun the thred of my life no longer and your good nature makes you desire that as you preceded me in life so you might in death But Oh my dear Father consider how good and wise the Gods are who foreseeing the miserable condition of a young woman that is deprived of Father and Mother they would not leave me in this wicked world without a guide if you do but consider this favour which they do me you will acknowledg it to be the greatest they ever gave me But perhaps you will complain that having taken so much care and bestowed so much cost in my education I should now be taken from you when I am best able to render you those services which I ow. I must confess that if any consideration can move me to desire longer life it is this for it is a kind of ingratitude not to desire the payment of that debt which I ow at this word her pain forced her to stop and recover a little strength and she gave leisure unto all that heard her to admire her wisdom and courage thinking her to resemble a Candle which gives greatest light at the last end this consideration forced so many sighs and tears from all that heard and saw her as they were not able to speak so as when she had recollected a little strength she spoke again unto Menander and Lerice in this manner I have many things to say but my end which I perceive approacheth does hinder me only I beseech you both my dear Father and Mother to conform your selves unto the divine will of God and assure your selves that I should depart from hence more contentedly then ever I lived were I but eased of two burthens which extreamly oppress me Menander then forcing himself to speak discharge your heart my dearest child said he unto her and assure your self that as never Father had a better child then I so never child had a Father who loved her more then I do you This permission said Silvanire is the only thing that can make me leave this life with contentment which since you are pleased to allow I shall tell you Father and Mother also that I was extreamly troubled having received so many favours and benefits from your goodness and having been hitherto so unhappy in my return of that service which I ow unto you both as I shall grieve in my very soul if your good natures does not make it appear that you accept my good will and desires in recompence of so many infinite services which I ow. Then Menander kissed her and with flowing eyes said your good desires sweet child are accepted far above the duty or service which you ow great God be praised said she but alas dâ—â—e I discharge my self wholly Indeed best Father and Mother I want courage and must ask a new permission or else I cannot Lerice and Menander also and all that heard her could not forbear their sighs to see her pain and their admiration to hear her speak even when every one judged her to be at the last gasp all that were about the bed pressed Menander to give her a speedy permission which he freely did and then Silvanire fetched a deep sigh and lifting her eyes up to Heaven to shew her extream contentment and forced her self to utter these weak words You have both of you so often taught me that ingratitude is the most detestable vice amongst humanes as I think the Gods would never forgive me if I presented my self before them stained with that horrid sin Therefore I cannot hide the extream contentment which this your permission brings me since by it I may not only wash away the crime but also the thought that I was guilty of it Then taking a little breath and striving against the violence of her disease she continued thus You see said she and pointed at Aglantes that Shepherd who stands at my beds-feet and who seems to resent my sickness so sadly be pleased most dear Father and Mother to know that ever since the infancy of our days he has had so great affection to me that perhaps not any about the River of Lignon can equal him and yet all this while I do protest I never could observe in him the least action or word that could offend the most modest maid upon earth but the great Gods who know my actions my words and my most secret thoughts are my witnesses and judges whether in all this time I ever let this Shepherd know that his amity and affection was pleasing unto me And yet Aglantes do not think that any scorn was the cause of it for I know you deserve better then what you desire but it was only the duty of a maid as I am which constrained me to use you so Upon this word feeling her self extreamly in pain Oh death said she with a deep sigh I beseech thee stay a little longer and give me leisure to end that discourse which I began Then taking a little breath Oh Aglantes said she though I have been brought up in these Woods and amongst wild Rocks yet am I not so insensible as they your Virtue your Love and your Discretion did work that effect in me which you desired but knowing that my Father had a design to 〈◊〉 me otherwise then with you and being resolved never to dis-obey my Parents I resolved also never to let you know that good
that ever he loved so he ought to be the last is not this true Hylas Consider Carlis said he unto her that every thing wil most certainly return to its first beginning and as the first time that ever I did see you I did not love you so shall I not love you the last time I see you None could forbeare laughiâ—g at the answers of Hylas which continued so long that Alexis and Astrea had time enough to talke but though Alexis might have imployed that time very well yet she was so long before she could begin being hindred by severall considerations that perhaps the opportunity had been lost if Astrea had not begun to speake first For this disguised Druid seeing her before her eyes who had commanded her never to see her fearing to be known by her voice or some other of her gestures was so mute that she durst not open her mouth which Astrea attributed unto the little acquaintance that was betwixt them or else considering that she had beene alwayes conversant with the Virgin Druids she knew not how to talke of Country affaires But the shepherdesse was much mistaken for the reason was because she knew too much and because that face which did represent that of Celadon as well in her memory as before her eyes it made her extreamly desirous to gaine the favour of Alexis which was already but too much gotten and therefore shee was the first that broke silence thus When I doe consider the beauty of your face and the Graces wherewith the heavens have adorned you above all the Beauties of our age I am almost ready to tax them with injustice in depriving this Country so long of that which it produceth most rare and in hiding you amongst the Druid Virgins so farre from us But when I call to mind that the whole Universe is not too good to serve that great God who made it I must confesse that the choice of you was most just being the most perfect peece in the World I wish said Alexis that those perfections which your civility puts upon me were as truly mine as yours are in you that I might in some sort be worthy to serve the great Tautates Idoe not blush faire shepheardesse to heare you use this language which rather puts me in mind of my imperfections then represents unto me what I am I am sorry replied Astrea that you should have so ill an opinion of mee as to thinke that I suppose any imperfections in you For though the heavens have made me a shepheardesse and have given me no more wit then suits with a rurall life yet as the Sunne is seene by all upon whom it shines by some more some lesse according to their Capacities so may I see your Perfections and know them so farre as to admire them though I must confesse that many others unto whom Tautates hath given better judgement may discerne them better but cannot admire them more then I doe I shall not contradict a judgement so favourable replied Alexis only I pray God that when you know me better you doe not revoke it For though neither my intention nor profession will let me be long in this place yet I shall alwayes thinke my selfe exceedingly happy in the favour of all those who resemble you particularly your selfe whose acquaintance I have so long desired and I assure you that this desire will make me leave my Companions with lesse griefe when I know that I shall see Astrea Madam answered Astrea this favour is transcendent For if you have a will to be with us our happinesse is immeasurable or if it be out Complement onely to oblige us yet we are happy in that you entertaine such thoughts in you But I may most truly say that the newes of your coming filled the Country both with joy and sorrow sorrow in hearing of your sicknesse and joy to hear we should be so happy as to see you It is so long before you came hither said Alexis that if any other but you fair shepherdesse had told me so I should not have beleeved it but to let this discourse alone I beseech you tell me how you use ordinarily to spend your time for I am told that the shepherds and shepherdesses of Forrests doe live the happiest of any people in the World It is certainly said Astrea very happy unto such whom Fortune hath not forsaken and you know Madam that those who were once happy when they lose part of what they injoyed are more miserable then those who alwayes were miserable T is true said Alexis but I doe not thinke your rurall and solitary life doth meet with any rubs of Fortune Not so much said Astrea as those who live in Court and in the transactions of the World but as Lakes though lesse then the Sea have their stormes and tempests so it is with us we also have our misfortunes and miseries and for my part I may well say that having within the space of one month lost a Father and a mother my affliction is so great that I am not yet recovered of it Is it long said Alexis since you had this losse About foure or five months since said Astrea and upon this she fetched a deep sigh It is a very sad affliction said Alexis to lose such friends but nothing is more naturall then for Parents to dye before Children and this may be your comfort that they left you at an age wherein you are able to governe your selfe One thing said Astrea doth most exceedingly trouble me which is that I am partly a cause of their death Truly said Alexis you bring it into my memorie that I have heard something concerning it and I thinke they told me that they were drown'd in endeavouring to helpe you out of a water into which you were falne Pardon me Madam said Astrea it is true that I fell into that fatall River of Lignon as I endeavoured to helpe a shepherd who was drowned there and the newes being carried to Hippolita my Mother that I was drowned she was surprised with such a fright that she did never recover it but dyed presently after and my Father for griefe of her followed her Thus was I at once deprived both of father and mother Astrea could not relate these accidents without much griefe and Alexis also seeming as if it were out of compassion I pray said she who was that poore shepherd which was drowned I know not said Astrea sadly whether you heard of him but his name was Celadon brother unto Lycidas whom you see there Was it Celadon said Alexis who was sonne unto Alcippes and Amarillis The same said Astrea I have often heard talke of him said Alexis truly it was a very sad accident I assure you Madam said Astrea that all manner of delights hath been ever since banished out Coasts For when he was alive there was nothing but mirth and jollity amongst us and now such a dulnesse reignes as if it were not the same
themselves with their best art It hapned that day day as if it were done upon design that both he and I were in white And because he would let the King see how willing he was to obey his commands when the Ball began he tooke me out which the King perceiving and observing that the youngnesse of both was such as we had not confidence enough to speak unto each other he began to laugh and say unto those about him I cannot tell who put that couple together but if it was Fortune it appears in this that she is not blind for I thinke they could not possibly be better maâ—cht They are both as innocent as their habits speakes them and I beleeve they have not so much boldnesse as to speak one word And it hapned as the King said for young Alcidon whether out of bashfulnesse or because some sparke of love began to kindle in his soule which kept him in that respect off me did pass away all that night and spoke not one word unto me And I having no designes at that time did study to please the eyes of all in generall and had no particular aimes Ever since this day affection increased and to that height that as his heart was inflamed so his tongue told his disease And I must confesse that his merits and services gave such eloquence unto his language that I was perswaded he did love me and ere long that he did deserve to be loved In the meane time he advanced himselfe so high in the favour of his Master that there was no office about him so great unto which he might not aspire and indeed after he had given him free accesse unto his Person and in all privacies how great soever he bestowed upon him the greatest office belonging to his Crown though perhaps his minority of age was not so fit for it as some other The truth is so many amiable qualities and noble perfections did so much 〈◊〉 his youth that envy it selfe did not blame the Kings choice But oh wise Alamas them is nothing in this world durable Fortune may well be painted with two face one for prosperity another for adversity For this great King in the midst of his owne Kingdome and Forces was most unfortunately killed by a Chyrurgion This wicked 〈◊〉 being to let the King blood whether by chance or villany he so cut the vein that he could not stay the bleeding The King perceiving this accident he took a 〈◊〉 in his left hand and in anger killed the Chyrurgion but that did not help him for he dyed presently after to the great griefe of all his subjects Judge Father whether this suddain death was not terrible unto my Mother and me It caused us to retire as soon as we could into the Province of the Romans where our estate lay fearing some 〈◊〉 in this Kingdome which was deprived of so great a King As for Alcidon his griefe was such as it was believed he would not live He knowes how I resented his sorrowes and grieved for his losse as our amity commanded me yet he had so forgotten both me and all his promises as I never heard of him all that time Unto Thorismond succeeded his brother Thierry who took upon him the Crown of the Visâ—gots with a desire to augment it And to that end hearing that the King of Swedes would needs extend their limits unto Spain he sent him word though he had married his sister that if he would not desist from this enterprise he would oppose him of which Richard making no account for so was the King of Swedes called Thierry passed over the Pirenian hills fought him and was victorious Thierry dying presently after Eurick his brother succeeded him who by his valour quelled all the 〈◊〉 or the people and afterwards seeing that the Romans who called us their ancient friends and confederates would submit unto us as the rest of the Gaules he turned his Armes against us I mean in the Province of the Romans I shall not insist upon particular description of these Victories since they are not pertinent to our discourse But I must tell you that after he had taken the City of the Massilians he besieged Arles because until that time I never heard of Alcidon and he had no more memory of me then if he had never seen me But then as if he was newly waked out of a deep sleep he bethought himselfe and writ unto me You may imagine Father how a young spirit that had a very good opinion of herselfe could resent this long silence which I could not call sâ—om because I valued my selfe at such a rate as I thought I could not be scorned Now thinking very often with my selfe that he cared not for me I vowed a hundred times not to care for him and that though he should return unto me with all imaginable submission yet would I look upon him onely with an indifferent eye I will not deny but this losse was a very great griefe unto my soule and I must confesse I love him so as when I received this Letter from him the memory of his former merit made me break open the seals and I found these words Alcidons Letter unto Daphnide I Cannot tell Madam whether you will know my hand or have yet in memory the Name of Alcidon so long has my misfortune separated me from you and hindred me from keeping my selfe in your memory by any good service If you have yet any memory of me and if the losse of two such dear Masters and if the long imployments in a continuall warre will be admitted as good excuses I beseech you Madam to pardon my long silence until I may with your permission let you know by word of mouth the unfortunate occasions which have all this while deprived me of my chiefest happinesse If your goodness can surmount my hopes and grant me so much favour I beseech you appoint some place which you shall thinke most convenient where I may receive that happinesse and you shall find that Alcidon never was more yours then still he is and that he has yet still preserved himselfe most faithfully for you and you will now find him more able to doe you service then in his green yeares when you did him the honour to admit him your most humble servant These are the flatteries wise Adamas by which love useth to abuse youth I had no sooner read his Letter but though I did very well know the hand yet I could not presently consent to the seeing of him for mistrusting the ayrie leightnesse of men especially young men and most particularly of Alcidon whose unsettlednesse was yet fresh in my memory I would not at the first entreat shew my selfe so very pliable to his request but resolved to let him champ a little upon the bit purposely to sharpen his desire knowing very well that love aspires alwaies most at that which he thinks is forbidden And in this resolution I took pen
nothing but truth it is reason you should know it from her since she accuseth me and would have me punished T is true said Delia it is your part to speake first I shall let you understand it in few words replyed she for our discourse was not long he spake these words unto me How Madam doe you command me to live I answered him I would not have you live as you have done for the time past for if you doe I shall never pardon you after I have given you such testimonies of my good will He answered this is a most strange command and I doe vow that I will never obey it and when I charged him with his disobedience you entred and hindred me from knowing what he would answer Then Delia turning towards me Has Daphnide told the truth said she Yes my Judg answered I and upon these words I require justice as for the injury she offered in calling me perfidious and Traytor I say nothing because you heard them and besides that they are but consequents of the first offence But said Delia which way hath she offended you For Cavaler answer unto these questions doe you not prosesse your selfe a lover of this Lady Yes answered I so that when I cease to love I cease to live Then replyed Delia do you not know that it is one of the principallest laws of Love for a Lover to obey the person loved Yes answered I and so the commands be not contradictory to his affection as if she should command him not to love her she is not to be obeyed T is true replyed Daphnide for every thing doth naturally fly that which would destroy it but how can you excuse your selfe as not offending against this Precept in this occasion where you have not onely thought the command which she made that you should love her to be strange and hard but also has vowed to disobey her My Judge answered I I did protest it and I vow and protest it still and with this resolution that if I could die and die againe aâ— many times as I have lived houres since my first birth I would rather chuse all those deaths then not vow and protest it You hear said Daphnide being extreamly angry how he speaks and judge whether he does not deserve punishment My Judge said I and smiled let my Mistresse command me to fight against a whole Army of men let her appoint me to cast my selfe into the fire nay if she please let her presently put a dagger through my heart I will immediately obey her And to let her see what dominion she has over me let her put me to what test she pleases for I am sure she cannot command me any thing be it never so dangerous or full of difficulty but my love will prompt me immediately to obedience Doe you not remember that when you first admitted me entrance and enjoyned conditions upon me how I promised to performe them all provided they did not contradict my love I doe remember it answered Delia Then my Judge replyed I methinkes you should not take it ill that I should make this vow and protestation of disobedience unto my Mistresse for had I done otherwise I had been perfidious and a Traytor both to her and Love I asked her how it was her pleasure I should live I would not have you live answered she as you have done for the time past Now if I did love her for the time past as much as a heart could love in commanding me not to love her as I did for the time past is not this to command me not to love her and should I not be disloyall and perfidious if I should obey such a command No no Madam I cannot doe it I loved you when I was a Child I have continued it when I was a man and shall love you till death nothing can divert me from this resolution it is so rivitted in my heart that it will never out as long as I live nay it will be found in my heart after my death Delia then began to smile and said I see that Love is a Child and a little thing will set him a crying my sentence is this I doe ordaine first that all differences shall cease then that Alcidon as a punishment for his fault in answering Daphnide so peremptorily that he would disobey her that presently he doe kisse the hand of his Mistresse and that Daphnide as a punishment for commanding him a thing which she would not have done had she rightly understood it that she shall kisse Alcidon as a testimony of her repentance This judgement was executed to my great contentment and we spent all the rest of the night in such pleasant discourse as when I heard a clocke strike me thought that it did not make quarters of hours I should never make an end should I relate all the discourse we had amongst us I will therefore onely tell you that being ready to depart after I had deferred it as long as possibly I could I took the hand of my fairest Mistresse and kneeling downe I said thus unto her I am now Madam upon the last minute of my happinesse for Delia and the time forceth me to depart I perceive that neither of them are sensible of my passion and for ought I perceive you who are the cause of it are as insensible as they Alcidon answered she doe not complaine of me but consider that if I did not love you I should never run the hazard of my honour and your life which is dearer to me then my owne and you thinke that the passion which blinds my eyes unto all these considerations must needs be very great Madam said I unto her this is it which most amazeth me that since you have already done so much for me you should now doe so little Then her Sister being at a little distance doing something in the Chamber Daphnide answered me Remember Cavalier that the conditions betwixt Delia and you at your first entrance into this adventure were that you should not be too importunate in your demands but to be patient and persevere At this word she held her hand unto me which with a sigh I devoutly kissed Then said I unto her all that I have to doe is to pray unto the great God Saturne who is the Governour of time that he will make it passe away quickly so as I may arrive at my happinesse before my death otherwise that if I must never arrive at it then that my life may quickly passe so as I may not live and languish too long in paine Live Cavalieâ—â— said she unto me and live contentedly and consider that I doe love you These were the last words she then spoke unto me for the clocke strucke twelve which was the hour of my departure by appointment And Delia lest he who stayed for me at the doore should be perceived would not let me stay any longer Besides I was so extreamly grieved that the
present and the evening in things future and the last of these would last so long as they would take most of the night being invited thereunto by the solitude of the place or by the silence of the night or by the pleasure I took in thinking upon my displeasures For Madam life was a thing of so little value to me at that time as there was nothing I desired more then to see the end of it And being now resolved to use no violence against my selfe I wished that some accident or other would be so friendly to me as to doe that good office for me without my contributing unto the homicide of my selfe And I had an opinion that if sorrow increased on as it had done of late it would doe the worke for me so as I suffered this opinion to sway so much in my mind as I could seldome begotten unto my lodging unlesse the good old man or my servant came to fetch me This kind of life was so agreeable to my humour as I was oft in a mind to quit both Arms and Fortune and stay here all the rest of my dayes And in order to this designe I acquainted my servant advising him to retire himselfe with those goods which fortune had given me which I would freely bestow upon him if he would leave me in this place where I would despise fortune and bid her defiance But Halladine in a flood of teares could say nothing else but that nothing under heaven should separate him from me unlesse onely death and that he wished for no greater wealth then to serve me Then presently after he had gotten me to bed and hearing me sigh he came unto me and since he perceived I could not sleep he said thus unto me Is it possible Sir you should harbour such strange thoughts of ruining your selfe Ah my friend said I unto him I shall not be so ruined here but griefe and sorrows will find me out And so they may very well sir said he unto me as long as you doe thus forget your selfe and what you were wont to be in so much as you will not endeavour your happinesse and try if you can restore your selfe unto that state which you have lost Halladine said I and sighed It is the height of imprudence to attempt things impossible Why sir said he should you give the name of impossible unto that which you have not tryed nor has any reason to be so perswaded For my part I have such an opinion of my selfe that any thing which a servant can doe is not impossible and I am much more certaine that whatsoever any Cavalier in Europe can obtaine you can if you will If this Thersander who is the cause of your misery had this consideration he would attempt to remove you from Madonthe And why should not you doe as much for him you were once in her favour and he removed you and believe it sir so may you him for that which has once been done may be done againe Dost thou not know said I unto him that Madonthe loves him Yes said he And did she not once love you But now answered I she wishes me ill Have I not seen sir answered he her scorn him and scorn is much further from love then hatred Hatred replyed I is further from friendship then scorn 'T is true replyed he but there is much difference between love and friendship for Love is more proud and never looks upon things that are despiseable but alwaies upon the rarest highest and most estimable things And this is it which makes me thinke that Madonthe after she had scorned Thersander so much as she did and afterwards did love him so she may as well you against whom she had onely hatred but never the least shadow of scorn Friend replied I It is the love thou bearest unto me moves thee to talke thus in my advantage I talk Sir replied he as any that is without passion may Well said I unto him what is it thou wouldst have me do My affection sir said he is it which moves my tongue and I beseech you sir receive my language as proceeding from thence And since you command me let me tell you I would have you assume the same kinde of life you were wont to live and try if any happy encounter will help you to recover that happiness which is ravished from you For I cannot see how it should any way advantage you to stay here I have ever had an opinion that Madonthe does not hate you or if she doe hate you yet that she does not love Thersander so well as you imagine or if she doe love him yet as she has changed once so she may change againe For I have heard say that the whole world is nothing but change but say she should change and yet believe you dead this change would not availe you at all whereas if she doe but see you it is impossible but she should revive her first sparks of good will unto you Put out a Candle Sir and bring it to another that is light you shall see how suddainly it will light againe The heart of one who once loved is of the same nature when it comes in the presence of the person loved whereas absence puts all hopes out and is the very ruine and death of love Well well Halladine said I unto him we will thinke upon it and see what the heavens will advise us unto then turning me about I seemed as if I had an inclination to sleep and yet it was onely because I would not heare any more disswasions from my solitary humour but the Candle being put out and I not being able to sleep so soone I began to consult and consider upon the reasons and arguments which Halladine urged and finding them upon serious consideration to be very solid and good I was almost in a mind to leave this place being especially invited unto it out of a puissant desire of dying For I hoped that being in quest after adventures I might perhaps meet with one that would bring me to my death Besides this I considered that it was impossible for me to stay long there and not be known since certainly those Fishermen would be blabbing out all they knew of me And being not far from the place where Thorismond kept his Court I could very hardly conceal my self any longer These considerations and some others which I will omit lest I should be too tedious in my discourse did move me to take the advice which Halladine gave And as soon as it was day I walked then told him that I would take his counsell and that he should look out to buy Horses for himselfe and me also to provide me Arms and other things requisite Away he went immediately the gladdest man in the world to see me in this mind and though he made all the haste that possibly he could yet he stayed some twelve or fifteen dayes before he could get my Arms
small advantage marke well Silvander what I say to know the fortunes and humours of those whose favour we desire I was the more urgent with her For I should be thereby the better instructed what will please and what will displease her Hylas said she doe you not know that I am a Prisoner unto King Gondebunt and how much my Companions and I am obliged unto him And I answering that I knew it onely by vulgar report Then answered she I shall acquaint you with those particulars which you desire and you shall heare the most lamentable Adventure that ever befell a poore woman onely I beseech you to be very silent in it and impart it unto none The History of Cryseide and Arimant FOrtune is pleased to trouble not onely Monarchies and great States but also to shew her power upon private persons to let us know that all things under heaven are under her lash the miseries I have indured and the lamentable life I have hitherto led does but too well manifest this truth as you may judg For I being but a poor silly woman yet his study is to crosse me and not to let me injoy a minute of quietnesse never since I had the judgement to disceme betwixt good and evill I am of a Country whose people are called Salasses a place confined by the golden Baltea and the Libices on the East by the Po on the South the Taurinois Centurons and Caturâ—es on the West and the Alpes on the North. This Country is very well known unto the Romans by reason of the many Gold Mines which are in it and for which the Inhabitants of the place have beene forced to revolt so often I have made this description of my Country unto you that you may the better understand what was foretold my Father when I was borne by a female Druide who came out of Gaw into this Country by the command as she said of a great God whose name was unknown unto us and I think it was by him whom you did swear Is it Tautates said I unto her The same answered she whom this woman said was a great God and all others depended upon him Now this female Fortune teller came to my Fathers house at the same time when my Mother was delivered of me And my Father seeing her look very earnestly upon me he asked her what my fortune would be It will be answered she like unto the Country where she is borne This answer was very darke But some yeares after she chanced to come againe unto the same place and my Mother being very inquisitive did presse her to explaine her former prediction To whom she answered that this woman shall have the same fortune which the Country wherein she was borne hath the Romans by reason of the Gold found there have so harrassed the people by wars as it is almost depopulated so as her abundance is the cause of her poverty even so shall this your daughter be very much troubled by reason of her beauty and merit And certainely this Druid was very knowing for I have found ever since that never was woman more crossed by fortune than my selfe as you may judge by the ensuing discourse I was born as I told you amongst the Sallases in a Town called Eporides seated between two great Hils where the golden Baltea runs my Father was called Leander and my mother Luira and though my owne praises be not hansome out of my owne mouth yet that you may the better understand the sequell of this discourse you must know that there was none in all the Country who did not yeild unto my Father in grandure in antiquity of Family in offices which he possessed or in authority which he had gotten as well by his owne merit as by the favour of Honorius and since of Vaelentinian and all those who since him ruled over Italy who advanced him unto that height that if his death had not prevented it when the Empire was in decline doubtlesse he had not only made himselfe Soveraigne Lord over the Sallases but also of the Libices of the Centrons and of the Veragrois This his death was the first blow which I received from Fortune did not resent it for want of capacity For being but nine yeares of age I knew not what it was to lose a Father and to be at the disposition of a mother who was more carefull of her selfe than her Children yet I lived very contentedly till I came to be fourteen of fifteen years old for till then Fortune did not thinke me able to feele the weight of her blows and see how subtilly she undermined me for she gilded over her bitter pils of poyson with a glosse of good knowing very well cruell one as she is that any misery that comes under the shrowd of a happinesse makes it selfe much more sensibly resented In the same Towne where I was did dwell very many Cavaliers for that Gaul which is called Cisaâ—pine is not as it is here for I have heard that here Cavaliers and men of quality doe live in the Country Amongst the rest there was one young Libicinian Gallant who certainly was as much favoured by Nature in all the graces she could bestow as was possible nor did he want any noblenesse of Ancestors nor alliance to the best Families nor any other good quality that could possibly be desired but only Riches and in that he was little beholding to his Father who was all his life more thirsty after the acquisition of Honour than Wealth little considering that the one without the other is like a bird that has good wings yet has such a clog at her foot that she cannot fly This young man did dwell in Eporides by reason of the hatred which Rhithimer bore unto his Father I suppose Hylas you have heard how this Rhithimer though a Goth by Nation yet through his valour and good conduct was made a Citizen of Rome afterward Patrician and lastly Governour of Gaul Cisalpine or indeed rather the Lord of it for his Commission was so large and his authority so absolute that he might be called Lord as well as Governour The Father of Arimant for so was the young man called had most just occasion to feare his Enemy For though otherwayes he was very well accomplished yet he had ever in him the Nature of a Goth And this was the reason why he came into this Towne that he might so much the sooner goe out of Italy in case he was forced to it either by the Centrons by the Veragrois or by the Helvetians This young Cavalier of whom I speake did accidentally see me at a marriage which was kept in the house of one of my Cozens The custom of the Country is that upon such occasion entrance is permitted unto all as freely as into Churches I say that as ill lucke was he saw me there For there he fell in love with me and this love was the scource both of
answered Clidemant I do not want courage but yet I am not able to resist the power of death Guyemant with tears in his eyes then said unto him I hope that Tautates will not afflict us so much as to ravish from us a Prince so necessary for the happiness of men but will let us enjoy him longer to our happiness and comfort Guyemant answered he we are all in the hands of the great Tautates he may dispose of us as he pleaseth and for my part so he will be pleased to let me leave this life with that good reputation which my Ancestors did leave unto me I shall be well contented and satisfied with the time that I have already lived Then calling Lindamore unto him who was wounded though not so mortally as he and who was all in tears to see his Lord in this extremity You two said he unto Lindamore and Guyemant are the persons in whom I have greatest confidence Guyemant I conjure you to tell Childerick that I do die his servant and am very sorry that I have given no greater testimony of my affection yet tell him that if the services which I have done unto the King his Father have any influence upon him I hope he will not take it ill if you tell him from me that if he do not leave this ignominious life which he hath lived since he was King he must expect a punishment from Heaven And you Lindamore as soon as I am dead or at least as soon as your wounds will permit you carry back all the Segusian Cavalry into their own Country restore them back from me unto the Nymph my Mother unto whose service I conjure you to continue faithful as you have begun desire her not to grieve for the loss of me since it is the will of Heaven to have it so and desire her to comfort her self with this that I have imployed the time which I lived in the way of honour and die without reproach Also tell my dear Sister that if any thing make me unwilling to die so soon it is my desires of seeing her more then any thing else then causing us all to be called for and seeing most of us standing by his beds-side with tears in our eyes he stretched out his hand unto us and commanded us to obey Lindamore as himself but above all to serve you Madam and the Nymph Galathea with all the fidelity of true Cavaliers assuring us that we should receive from you a full recompence for all the services which we had done unto him He would have said something more but his Spirits fail'd him and he dyed in the arms of Lindamore who seeing this for grief fell into a swoon I cannot express our sorrows nor the sorrows of all the Court when they heard of his death the very people of the Town who commonly are very dull in such resentments did lament him and also applaud him to the Heavens saying that the death of this Prince was a great loss unto their Nation and Crown they were sure he never consented unto the Violent Extravagancies and Tyranny of Childerick and doubtless our condolements had been much more but for the imminent peril and danger which presently after did threaten us the fear of our lives forced us to stand upon our guard And at the same time as fortune was all the Lords and Grandees which were assembled at Province not knowing of this accident came all to feel the pulse of the people and finding them to beat after their own tempers and with Arms in their hands they put it into the peoples heads to go and clamor at the Palace Royal with abundance of Drums and Trumpets which making a great noise Childerick began to fear the fury of these mutinies And because he had a great confidence in the valour of Lindamore and in the advice of Guyemant he sent for them both to advise about his safety neither of them both would in this juncture of danger upbraid him with his faults but both offered him their aid and assistance to the hazard of their lives Lindamore though wounded advised to fall presently upon the enemy and counselled the King to die like a King and a man of courage But Guyemant like a wise and prudent Counsellor advised the contrary Sir said he let us not too desperately precipitate our selves till there be no hopes of safety though we were near a thousand men yet we were nothing to the number of the enemy time is the master of occasions and may unexpectedly fit us with them it is wisdom therefore to submit unto time and sail with the wind nothing is now to be done but to use our best endeavours for the changing the mind of this tumultuous people since we see all the Grandees both of Gaul and of the Franks are joyned with them it is to be expected Andrimartes and all his Friends will also comply for he is already sent unto Gillon the Roman likewise with all his adherents will doubtless be stirring and who knows whether Renauld and his Brother the Sons of Clodion will not be fishing in these troubled waters And therefore what good can we ever hope to do by force I advise therefore and Sir if you will follow my Counsell I will engage my life to restore you unto the Crown of your Father I advise you I say to yeild unto the violence of this averse piece of Fortune retire your self out of this Kingdom and rest quiet with Basin in Thuring he is your Kinsman and your Friend he will be glad to have you in his house and ready to assist a great affied Prince In the mean time I call the Gods to witness that when you are absent I will imploy my whole interest and endeavours to reconcile you unto the People and I make no doubt but to effect it if you will follow the advice which I shall give Guyemant had no sooner done speaking but they heard a Trumpet which being come neerer the draw Bridge sounded thrice and afterwards they heard these words uttered in a loud voice The Druides the Princes and all the Cavalry of the Franks and Gaules assembled and united do declare and proclaim GILLON King of the Franks and Childerick a Tyrant and incapable of wearing the Crown of his Father Childerick and Guyemant upon this looked out of the window into the street and they saw Gillon carried according to the custom upon the peoples shoulders with such loud acclamations of the people that Childerick saw Guyemant told him truly and therefore fearing lest his own servants should betray him he retired himself with the faithful Guyemant and after some short discourse together he parted from him carrying with him one half of a piece of gold for a token that when Guyemant sent him the other half he might return into his Kingdom in safety the Figure of this piece being joyned together was on one side a Tower to express constancy and on the other a
will which I wished unto you and from hence proceeds all those incivilities and discourtesies which you have erceived from me But now since the Gods who are all goodness and wisdom have by my death untied those knots which tyed my tongue as since those who have the power over me do give me leave Know friend that never was any greater affection conceived in the heart of any human then the affection which Silvanire does bear unto you And that I may be cleerly purged from that ingratitude wherewith I might be charged give me a little farther leave Oh my most dear Parents which they permitting and she thanking them she hasted to utter these words Alas said she I can do no more Then holding out her hand unto the Shepherd she said unto him here Aglantes â—ake my hand and my heart in assurance that though I cannot live the Wife of Aglantes yet I will die the Wife of Aglantes and as the last favour I shall ever ask or you give O most honoured Parents I beseech you consent unto it The Father who had another design would not have been so forward if he had thought she would have lived but thinking her even dead he thought it good to let her die contentedly and indeed he had no sooner consented but she turning her head gently towards her Shepherd Oh Gods said she I die but Aglantes I die thine Upon this word she grew speechless and lay as dead in the arms of Menander and Lerice To relate here all the lamentations and cryes of the Father and Mother and principally of Aglantes I conceive it not pertinent for it will easily be imagined they were extream but so it was that they were forced to take them oft her even by plain force and carry them away for grief did enrage Aglantes to remove the occasion of so much sorrow they intended to bury her out of hand without any Pomp or Solemnity and had according to the custom embalmed her had not Alciron prevented them who told them that it was not humane to bury people especially of her quality before they were quite dead at the least quite cold so as upon this they left her without pulling off her clothes in this sad condition Tirintes on the other side he was in raging quest of Alciron that he might open his brest and pull out his heart and so â—e revenged for the wrong he had done him and afterwards with the same sword sacrifice himself upon the Tomb of this Fair One. And doubtless if he had met him he had done so though he was the greatest friend he had but the Prudent Alciron he went to him in bed because he feared the anger which Tirintes might conceive against him At the first when Tirintes saw him enter he roused out of bed to run upon him but Alciron holding the door half open half shut Tirintes said he unto him can you possibly imagine that he who loves you the best of all the world should ever deprive you of that which you hold most dear And yet cruel Tyger said Tirintes and interrupted him the Fair Silvanire is dead Silvanire replied Alciron is alive and I will die the most cruel death your rage can invent if I do not put her into your hands alive and well within this hour if you will let me go where she is Tirintes all amazed at this is not Silvanire dead said he and did not you cause her to be let in the room by her self It is true answered Alciron and smiled but she is left there for you Oh good Gods Alciron said Tirintes Silvanire to be dead and to be for me are two things that cannot hold together I confess replied Alciron that they cannot but to be alive and be yours may Surely said Tirintes you do deceive me why should I deceive you said Alciron or indeed how can I when I offer if you will go with me to put her into your hands alive and well the same hour And if it were otherwise why should I come unto you You see I do not shun you nor fear meeting with you Come come set your mind at rest dress your self and come with me and you shall presently see what I say punctually performed But prethee tell me said Tirintes and shrugged his shoulders can you fetch souls back after they be once wasted over the Stigian Lake Will Charon suffer that No no I cannot answered Alciron but Tirintes know most assuredly that Silvanire is not dead but by a secret virtue of nature which is in that glass which you had of me she is so stupified that every one thinks her so Oh Heavens cryed out Tirintes what wonders do you tell me I tell you nothing but truth replied Alciron and to satisfie your wonder and perplexity know Tirintes that the glass is made of a Stone called the Memphitique Stone which has a virtue to stupifie the senses so extreamly that as soon as it is touched by the eye it presently takes away the understanding And unto this Stone is added some of the bones of a Fish which is called the Torpedo extracted by such art and concocted together that as the Torpedo benums the arm of the Fisher when it touches the hook that is fastned to the line so also as soon as the eyes are touched by this glass they receive a poyson so subtile that first seising upon the brain it dilates a general stupifaction all over the body as every one would think it dead Now Tirintes judge whether I have not reason to complain against you who ever found my extream affection flowing towards you and yet can think I would offer such a mortal displeasure what advantage could you imagine I could draw from the death of this woman If it be so said Tirintes and went neerer him you were to blame Shepherd in that you did not acquaint me with it By that replied Alciron you may better know that I do love you for did I not know Shepherd that thou neither wouldest nor couldest live after thou wert deprived of Silvanire and couldest thou hope ever that thy services or thy merits could gain her I know that having but that only remedy thou wouldst never have used it if I had acquainted thee with all the effects of it consider seriously with your self and answer me should I have told you that as soon as ever Silvanire did look in the glass she would fall into such extremity of pain as she would fall down like dead and being so judged by all that see her they will embowel her and put her into her grave answer me I say Tirintes durst you have executed such an enterprise upon her No no I know what power a person that loves hath to make any such attempts upon the party Loved Tirintes hearing this and knowing that Silvanire was not dead he held out his arms and went to embrace Alciron with such abundance of contentment that he was almost speechless but recovering himself
did give poison unto the Fair one but it was because I was deceived by the words of him whom I could not suspect to have any such thoughts Let the fair Silvanire tell you how she found Alciron and me about her when she awaked with a Bottle of Water which we cast in her face to awake her All those of Menanders house can testifie that it was Alciron who hindred that Faire One from being embalmed lest it should have hurt her Oh Cloridamantes Could I but be declared innocent of this imposture I would willingly confess all the other crimes which are charged upon me I value not the torments of death a rush so my love and my fidelity be preserved pure and innocent for them do I extreamly desire to carry with me unblemished into the other world Thus spoke Tirintes leaving all the Auditory ravished at his resolute alacrity and pittying his mis-fortune Alciron who could not endure to see his friend thus at the stake and himself the author of the crime Sage Druide said he Tirintes is not only cleer and free from any guilt against Silvanire concerning the glass which I gave unto him but also from all the consequents of it for first though the glass be broken yet the pieces are to be seen and easily tryed whether the composition be mortal poyson or only of a stupifying quality It is compounded of such ingredients as Fossinde hath named here are the pieces and tryal of them if you please may be made then he pulled out his handkerchief wherein he lapped them up when Tirintes in anger against Fossinde broke it Every one turned away their eyes lest they should be tainted by the virtue of this Stone and Cloridamantes himself commanded him to put it up no no said he I cannot believe that either you or Tirintes had any such abominable intention because it is an act so extreamly horrid as it cannot be imagined it should enter into the thoughts of any in this Country but if you have any thing to say which will quit Tirintes of the violence which he offered unto this Shepherdess you may speak it before all this Assembly Then Alciron offered to speak as to that when Tirintes interrupted him Peace peace friend said he unto him for I will dye and happy is he that dyes who cannot live happily Yet I thank thee hartily for thy good will and evidencing that it was not my intention to make Silvanire dye whose life I beseech the Gods preserve to eternity But for all this the affection of Alciron made him begin to speak yet he had no sooner uttered the first word but Tirintes interrupted him again Oh sage Druide said he it is only compassion upon his friend and not the truth which makes him strive for some arguments to defend me for my part I disavow what he says and beseech you not to believe him but to do Justice according to the Law Cloridamantes then after he had imposed silence upon Alciron and the rest he arose from his seat and went to gather the voices of the other seven Druides for when the life of any one was in question they were to call that number at the least to assist them The time which he imployed in taking their votes was very long because there was some difference of opinions concerning the judgement Tirintes being resolved to dye since he had no hopes to obtain Silvanire all delay was tedious unto him Aglantes and Silvanire who thought the pain no less then a death to be separated one from the other they expected the issue of their enterprise with incredible impatience at the last the Druide after a long dispute and debate of the matter came and took his seat then pronounced these words The Judgement of Cloridamantes WE Cloridamantes being established in the absence of Adamas our Arch-Druide by the Great Tautates by Amasis and by all the order of Druids and Cavalry to do Justice in this Country of the Segusians after a full hearing of the difference that is betwixt Menander and Lerice of the one part and Aglantes and Silvanire on the other and also of the accusation preferred against Tirintes for an attempt against Silvanire after a long solemn and serious debate and consideration of the premises We do Sentence and declare that a Father and a Mother have by the Laws of God and Nature all that power and authority which can be had over free persons and that their children in this quality cannot disobey them without offence against Laws both divine and humane but withal we Sentence and declare that children are not born slaves but free for otherwise it were a shame for Fathers to get none but slaves and it would be a most miserable blemish to the Country that it of all Gaul should produce none but people of such vile quality for these causes therefore and for many other just and good considerations us thereunto moving we do ordain publish and declare that marriages be free and that no contract be but with consent of both parties that are to tye themselves together with that holy knot and that the rigour and compulsion of Fathers in such cases be held as tyranny and be null Upon these grounds this contract betwixt Aglantes and Silvanire is declared to be firm and indissolvable all due circumstances and conditions being observed And furthermore as in Justice to Tirintes since slights subtilties and artifices are permitted by the Laws of Love we do publish and declare him free and absolved from the fault which he is charged with by the artifice of the glass but in as much as all manner of force and violence is expresly forbidden by the Laws of Love and since it is averred that he hath made violent attempts upon the person of her whom he loved we do declare him guilty of high Treason against that great God and his Laws and therefore we do doom and condemn him to be thrown down headlong from the Fatal Rock The faces of all the Company were full of great joy and of great sorrow at this Sentence Aglantes and Silvanire and their friends seeing their marriage was declared according to their wishes their joyes were tryumphant on the other side abundance of Shepherds and Shepherdesses grieved for poor Tirintes for he was a very kind and courteous Shepherd and such an accident had not hapned of a long time So as every one was very sorry for him and blamed Fossinde for her bitter and malicious accusation Tirintes himself was the only one who seemed not to be troubled at it for he received the Sentence of death with a smiling and contented countenance and turning towards Silvanire Shepherdess said he unto her I hope that now you are contented and indeed so should I be if I did but go out of this world with a pardon from you Tirintes said she unto him with tears in her eyes if your life were in my power as well as a pardon be assured you should
there is that remedy said he presently all hopes are not gone and without saying any more or hearing me he went so suddenly out of my chamber as made it plain he intended some violent course I called him several times and then run after him as far as the gates fearing left in that fury he should do himself some harm but all was in vain for he was gone out of sight upon a sudden as if he had wings My Father who was not far off hearing me speak so loud he came to me and hearing how this young Cavalier was gone he feared lest he should make some attempt upon Bellimartes and afterwards the King cast all the blame upon us upon this consideration he went unto the house of Bellimartes he let him understand in as discreet a manner as he could all the passage betwixt Merindor and me that if any ill hapned we might be discharged of it Bellimartes who was a man of courage and had all the authority and power in his own hands did answer that the businesse did not trouble him at all and that if Merindor was extravagant he knew how to tame him In the mean time Merindor transported with extream passion did go unto his chamber where shutting the dore he began to walk a great pace so much out of himself as he knew not either what he did or where he was then after he had walked several turns and thinking none could hear he began to speak with a loud voice in this manner Must Dorinde be enjoyed by another and Merindor sit tamely and endure it Can the authority of a Tyrant prevail above all my services and most unjustly take that from me which is my due Is there no remedy against this wrong and I with hazard of life and limb not make use of it And here making a sudden stop he began to say must this depriver of my happiness have it to himself at any other rate then the price of my blood and life No no if I live he must dye that 's positive Dorinde was in the right when she said there was no remedy but death But said he as much enraged as at the first if it be so why do I stay any longer And why do I not put my hand to a work that must inevitably be done Do it then Merindor quickly unlesse thou hadst rather turn the sword against thy self Merindor thought he had been alone in his chamber and that there was none to hear him but wals but as good luck was his Wise and most dear friend Euphrosias being come a little before to seek him was said down upon the bed in expectation of him and falling a sleep did not wake till Merindor began to talk loud so as seeing him in such a fury he was desirous to know the caust and let him empty his heart by the words which he uttered knowing very well that to stop the overflowing of our souls at the first gush will make the deluge bigger and to oppose fury in the first does but inflame it the more But when he saw him ready to go and execute what he had spoken he started up and took hold of his arm desiring him to hear him speak Merindor not knowing whether it was a man or a spirit he was struck with such a fright that his fury was a little cooled but recollecting his spirits and knowing him to be his dear friend Oh my God! said he Euphrosias from whence come you Come come said his prudent friend let us walk a turn togetherâ— and when you have answered me to a few questions I will satisfie your curiosity and wonder Then he continued Is it possible Merindor that the friendship which is betwixt us can suffer you to run into such extream resolutions without imparting them unto me and without making use of me Do you think I do not Love you Or do you take me for such an useless thing that in affairs of this importance I neither will nor can serve you Why said Merindor should you use any such language Because said he I heard all you said and the dangerous resolution which you were going to execute without imparting it unto me Do you think I know not how the King intends to marry Dorinde unto Bellimartes And that her Father consents unto it Why man it is all the Town talk and I came hither to acquaint you if you were not acquainted with it before to the end you might resolve with your self not only unto the Kings will but also unto the will of God against which there is no resistance for Merindor you must know that marriages are made in Heaven and accomplished upon earth How how said Merindor hastily do you say that marriages are made in Heaven There is no doubt on it answered Euphrosias and thereupon it is that so many unexpected marriages come to passe I assure you if it be so said Merindor it may be said that as bad a market may be made in Heaven as in Earth but from this I do not conclude that Bellimartes must enjoy Dorinde and Merindor live It must be concluded replied Euphrosias that whatsoever the Heavens will ordain for you must be done but tell me Merindor what is your design To take away his life answered he that takes away all my contentment But said Euphrosias What will that advantage you Oh said the young Cavalier revenge is sweet Revenge replied the Wise friend is indeed very sweet when it does not make the offence greater but if you should kill Bellimartes the least punishment you can expect is banishment from all places where Gondebaut has any power and if so what will become of your Love unto Dorinde Will not then this revenge make your offence which you receive greater I do not hold him wise who to put one of his enemies eyes out will put out both his own What then said Merindor must I sit down tamely without resentment and see Bellimartes enjoy that which in right ought to be mine I do not say so answered Euphrosias but on the contrary but if you will be ruled by me I hope we shall obtain for you this so much desired Dorinde Do you think that the King is so passionate in behalf of Bellimartes as that he would do you any harm No no it is only to gratifie Bellimartes in a business wherein he does not think any has any interest but Arcingentorix and of him the King makes no account though he be one of the chief in all the Country because he is old and not able to serve him and on the contrary Bellimartes is young and may for you must know that most Princes do with their Subjects as we do with our horses when they are old and unserviceable then turn them to the cart believe it Merindor Princes put a great difference between those that are young and able to serve them and those that are antiquated and cannot This consideration moves me to think that if you
to your advantage To his advantage said Diana yes said Sylvander to my advantage so far as by my death to take me out of this misery No no said Phillis it is clearly in favour of Sylvander if Diana will Either I do not understand the words of this Oracle said Diana or else the words of it do not at all relate unto my will But said Phillis if they do relate and depend upon your will will you let this will consent unto his cure Diana made a stop at this and did not answer which gave occasion unto Alexis and Astrea to speak and addressing themselves unto Diana they told her that if this Oracle had any relation or dependency upon her will it was an argument and will that the Gods did command her to consent If the Gods said Diana do command me and Alexis and Astrea desire me I cannot in all reson refuse Will you consent said Phillis unto whatsoever the Oracle would have you I will answered Diana Nay said Phillis I will not trust you without an Oath swear therefore by the God of Lignon and by the Misleto of the New-year that you will consent unto any thing that shall be necessary for the rendring this Oracle advantagious unto Sylvander I do said she provided that I may not contribute any thing but my will Then Sylvander said Phillis rise up thank Diana for the favour she has done you and henceforward esteem your self the happiest Shepherd of all Lignon and hearken how the Gods have pronounced unto you all manner of contentment by this Oracle As for the first verse which tells you that your present pain shall quickly cease there needs no better interpretation then the event which you have already found As to the second which seems such a fatal saying unto you it is delivered in an ambigious manner as most Oracles are the ambiguity rests in this word Marry which has a double sence and may be taken two wayes first we usually say that a husband does marry his wife and secondly we say that the Druide does marry the husband and the wife and it is in this last sence it is to be understood that Paris must marry Diana he shall become a Druide like unto his Father Adamas and it shall be he who shall marry you together But said Sylvander and sighed I must not expect the accomplishment of my desires but in Sylvander's death Ah thou ignorant Shepherd replied Phillisâ— have you not told us a hundred times that he does dye in himself who does perfectly love another And therefore the Oracle does advertise you that you must not expect the accomplishment of your desires but by the death of Sylvander that is by loving Diana so as thou shalt dye in thy self and become her Astrea and Alexis hearing this doubtlesse said they the Oracle is to be thus understood and there wants nothing to make good her promise but adding her will Diana who perhaps was as well pleased with this interpretation as Sylvander could be though she made it lesse appear do you not see said she that I am not concerned at all in the businesse Nay nay said Phillis never deny it for it is plain that the Oracle refers wholly unto you do â—u not see that Sylvander can live in you and dye in himself if you will Love Sister is one of those misteries which cannot be in a single person moreover do you think that Paris can marry you unto Sylvander unless you will Unless you will give the Gods the lie and unless you break your Oath you must make good all that the Oracle would have you which is that you do not only let Sylvander love you but also that you love him so as he may live in you and you in him Ah Sister said Diana and turned a little the other way no no said Phillis and took her by the arm let me hear no more of your ah Sisters there is no middle way to be taken you must either be perjured or do as I say otherwise there is no recovery of this Shepherd Sister said Diana with a becoming blush and holding down her eyes what would you have me do I would have you observe the Oath answered Phillis which you have sworn and promised what did I promise said Diana and smiled you did swear answered Phillis to do all that was necessary to make this Oracle advantagious unto Sylvander 'T is true said Diana and what ought I now to do You must as I told you before replied Phillis love Sylvander in such a manner that he may live in you and you in him That answered she is above my Oath No said Phillis for amity consists in nothing but the will Diana said Alexis and Astrea you must needs give your consent Well said Diana after much importunity since you command me I will this will said Phillis must be a little better explained and say that I will love Sylvander so that hereafter as he lives in me I will live in him Oh Heavens said Diana is not that too much Yes said Sylvander too much for my merit not for his merit of affection replied Phillis nor to satisfie the Oracle Well said Diana I will do all that Alexis Astrea and Phillis would have me but if it be a fault let it be yours and upon the counsel which you give me so be it said Phillis but furthermore I do ordain that for assurance of your words Sylvander by your consent do kiss your hand with a protestation never to depart from your obedience Sylvander fell down upon his knees ravished with too much joy and was so surprised at this unexpected happiness that taking Dianas hand and kissing it it was a long time before he could speak one sillable and looked as if his eyes were dazled with too much light this inexcessive joy did almost take away from him the use of reason but his silence and his raptures had more eloquence in them then he had and better-spoke the grandeur of his affection then his tongue could and had it not been for Alexis and the Shepherdesses who helped him up he had continued long in this amorous extasie not knowing so much as what he did Diana her self was no less moved though she set a better gloss upon it but Phillis who observed all this and helped him to recover come Sylvander said shee unto him must I be still your enemy Do you see how fully I can revenge those wrongs that are done unto me The Shepherd being a little returned to himself I must needs confess Phillis said he unto her that you are the sweetest enemy that ever was and confesse also said she that I have as much power as the greatest Gods for wherein is their power more seen then in the good and bad fortune which they give And have not I when it pleased me made you the most miserable and then when it pleased me the most happy man upon earth What is it that fortune can
not out of habitude yet at the first he seemed to take no notice but dissembled his passion as discreetly as possibly he could Asphales also whose head was full of that news which was written unto Thomantes concerning the affection between Androgenes and me he also made a fair shew and set himself to be a spy over our actions out of which he drew no consequences to my advantage I know not how it came to pass but I being at that time in Ericanthes chamber where there was a great number of Shepherds and Shepherdesses Androgenes desired to talk with me as it is usual at such assemblies for every one to address themselves unto such as they have familiarity withall rather then unto strangers but because I took notice that Asphales observed us being unwilling to give him any occasion of discontent I turned another way and would not speak unto him and see how one is somtimes deceived in their design this action being observed by Asphales it made him suspect all that he saw not and think that all was true which had been written concerning Androgenes and me and the worst was Androgenes observing how I declined speaking unto him in consideration of Asphales he never sought for any opportunity of speaking unto me during all that Assembly but there being a great Looking-glasse upon the table which was fixed to the wall this discreet Shepherd did cast his eyes into it and as fortune was I looked into it at the same time Androgenes shrugged his shoulders as if he complained of my behaviour to him and I not utterly to disoblige him did wink upon him with one eye which perhaps was some contentment to him but I protest it was only out of desire to hide the odd humour of Asphales but as ill suck would have it he took notice of all these signs and supposing thereby that there was some close correspondency betwixt us he was so netled that he went out of the house and was not seen all night Perhaps you will think it strange discreet Shepherdess that Thomantes and Asphales who at their departures had such small shares in our good will should at their returns pretend so absolutely unto them but you must know that they obtained our affections during their absence more then whilst they were continually with us for when they were amongst us and served us we supposed they did it because they saw no greater beauties then our selves but when we heard that after they had seen the world and in it many beauties superior unto ours and yet kept themselves constant unto us we esteemed their affections at a higher rate so as by our Letters to them they knew that their absence obtained that which their presence had denied them This was the reason that the least favour which we shewed unto others seeming unto them a taking away their dues they could not endure we should so much as look upon any but them If we chanced to cast the least glance of an eye upon any one then these Shepherds or rather these Tyrants were ready to flye in our faces and would oblige us to such a constraint as was intollerable but because Delphire and I did not like to be banished from all the world we continued our conversation not only with Filintes and Androgenes but also with any others that addressed themselves unto us the number of which was not small and behaved our selves towards them as was fitting lest we should give occasion unto any of speaking ill of us which they did take so ill that after they had called a counsel amongst them two as if they were to govern and direct us they resolved to put a face of coldness and afterwards to seem as if they loved some others But not knowing whom to chuse for such a business they would only seem to stand as Neuters and be indifferent and for a conclusion they came at last unto down right incivility for so may their behaviours unto us be termed since they did not only leave off addresses and courting us as they were wont but when they met us at any time in Ericanthes chamber or any where else they would not so much as look upon us If at any time we found them in a place where it was impossible for them to turn away their eyes from us it was with so much scorn and they rendred their salutes in such a disdainful manner as was not civil This strange way of behaviour and proceeding caused every one to take notice of it and almost all that heard of it did tax them with inconstancy and levity but they on the contrary maintained that they were the same they were always wont to be that they had not changed but loved us and honoured us as much as ever they did that it was business which they were constrained to follow concerning the estate which belonged to their family which did divert them and hinder them from imploying all their time in those trivial services which they were wont to render Delphire and I must confess oh sage Diana that after we had several times talked together for our fortunes were the same and required the same remedies we resolved to take all manner of excuses from these two wavering minds by retiring our selves from all those who might give them the least umbrage and to do it the more handsomly we took this occasion Eleaman and Ericanthe took great delight in seeing Comedies acted by those in their own house and Delphire as she that had the best wit had commonly one of the best parts It hapned that Delphire in the play was to tell a Shepherd that he was never to hope for any thing in her affection by chance she spied Filintes very near the Theater harkning and admiring her action and conceiving him to be the greatest cause of jealousie in Thomantes when she was to speak unto the Shepherd in the Comedy she turned her self directly to Filintes and as if he had hore a part in the play and said thus unto him I do swear unto thee Shepherd that I can and will sooner die a hundred deaths then love thee cease all thy hopes trouble me no more with thy love for Shepherd I do hate thee The face of Delphire being turned towards Filintes and her eyes and gestures addressed unto him was a cause that not only the poor Shepherd knew her meaning but also Thomantes and almost all the Spectators which caused all eyes to be cast upon him who durst not before all that company let his anger appear A few dayes after when we were upon the banks of the Christal River of Lignon and as we were passing away the time upon the Sands by the River side Asphales Androgenes and many other Shepherds and Shepherdesses were all about me and I writ upon the Sand I LOVE Androgenes looking over my shoulder and seeing what I had writ upon the Sand is it I said he and smiled for whom you writ that word