made what he heard of another the ballance of his owne fortune that they stood a long while striken in a sad and silent consideration of them Which the olde Geron no more marking then condemning in them desirous to set foorth what counsailes the wisedome of age had layde vp in store against such fancies as he thought follies of youth yet so as it might not apeare that his wordes respected them bending himselfe to a young shepheard named Philisides who neither had daunced nor song with them and had all this time layne vpon the ground at the foote of a Cypresse tree leaning vpon his elbowe with so deepe a melancoly that his sences caried to his minde no delight from any of their obiects he strake him vpon the shoulder with a right old mans grace that will seeme liuelier then his age will afford him And thus began vnto him his Ecloge Geron. Philisides Geron. VP vp Philisides let sorrowes goe Who yelds to woe doth but encrease his smart Do not thy hart to plaintfull custome bring But let vs sing sweet tunes do passions ease An olde man heare who would thy fancies raise Philisides Who minds to please the minde drownd in annoyes With outward ioyes which inly cannot sincke As well may thincke with oyle to coole the fire Or with desire to make such foe a frend Who doth his soule to endlesse malice bend Geron. Yet sure an end to each thing time doth giue Though woes now liue at length thy woes must dye Then vertue try if she can worke in thee That which we see in many time hath wrought And weakest harts to constant temper brought Philisides Who euer taught a skillesse man to teach Or stop a breach that neuer Cannon sawe Sweet vertues lawe barres not a causefull mone Time shall in one my life and sorrowes end And me perchaunce your constant temper lend Geron. What can amend where physick is refusde The witts abusde with will no counsayle take Yet for my sake discouer vs thy griefe Oft comes reliefe when most we seeme in trappe The starres thy state fortune may change thy happe Philisides If fortunes lappe became my dwelling place And all the starres conspired to my good Still were I one this still should be my case Ruines relique cares web and sorrowes foode Since she faire fierce to such a state me calls Whose wit the starres whose fortune fortune thralls Geron. Alas what falls are falne vnto thy minde That there where thou confest thy mischiefe lyes Thy wit dost vse still still more harmes to finde Whome wit makes vaine or blinded with his eyes What counsell can preuaile or light giue light Since all his force against himselfe he tries Then each conceit that enters in his sight Is made forsooth a Iurate of his woes Earth sea ayre fire heau'n hell and gastly sprite Then cries to sencelesse things which neither knowes What ayleth thee and if they knew thy minde Would scorne in man their king such feeble show's Rebell Rebell in golden fetters binde This tyran Loue or rather do suppresse Those rebell thoughts which are thy slaues by kinde Let not a glittring name thy fancie dresse In painted clothes because they call it loue There is no hate that can thee more oppresse Begin and halfe the worke is done to proue By rising vp vpon thy selfe to stand And thinck she is a she that doth thee moue He water plowes and soweth in the sand And hopes the flickring winde with net to holde Who hath his hopes laid vp in womans hand What man is he that hath his freedome solde Is he a manlike man that doth not know man Hath power that Sex with bridle to withhold A fickle Sex and trew in trust to no man A seruant Sex soone prowde if they be coi'de And to conclude thy mistresse is a woman Philisides O gods how long this old soole hath annoi'd My wearied eares O gods yet graunt me this That soone the world of his false tong be void O noble age who place their only blisse In being heard vntill the hearer dye Vttring a serpents minde with serpents hisse Then who will heare a well autoris'd lye And pacience hath let him goe learne of him What swarmes of vertues did in his youth flye Such hartes of brasse wise heads and garments trim Were in his dayes which heard one nothing heares If from his words the falshood he do skim And herein most their folly vaine appeares That since they still alledge When they were yong It shews they fetch their wit from youthfull yeares Like beast for sacrifice where saue the tong And belly nought is left such sure is he This life-deadman in this old dungeon flong Olde houses are throwne downe for new we see The oldest Rammes are culled from the flocke No man doth wish his horse should aged bee The ancient oke well makes a fired blocke Old men themselues doe loue young wiues to choose Only fond youth admires a rotten stocke Who once a white long beard well handle does As his beard him not he his beard did beare Though cradle witted must not honnor loose Oh when will men leaue off to iudge by haire And thinke them olde that haue the oldest minde With vertue fraught and full of holy feare Geron. If that thy face were hid or I were blinde I yet should know a young man speaketh now Such wandring reason in thy speech I finde He is a beast that beastes vse will allowe For proofe of man who sprong of heau'nly fire Hath strongest soule when most his raynes do boweâ— But fondlings fonde know not your owne desire Loth to dye young and then you must be olde Fondly blame that to which your selues aspire But this light choller that doth make you bolde Rather to wrong then vnto iust defence Is past with me my bloud is waxen colde Thy words though full of malapert offence I way them not but still will thee aduize How thou from foolish loue maist purge thy sense First thinke they erre that thinke them gayly wise Who well can set a passion out to show Such sight haue they that see with goggling eyes Passion beares high when puffing wit doth blowe But is indeed a toy if not a toy True cause of euils and cause of causelesse woe If once thou maist that fancie glosse destroy Within thy selfe thou soone wilt be ashamed To be a player of thine owne annoy Then let thy minde with better bookes be tamed Seeke to espie her faultes as well as praise And let thine eyes to other sports be framed In hunting fearefull beastes do spend some dayes Or catch the birds with pitfalls or with lyme Or trayne the fox that traines so crafty laies Ly but to sleepe and in the earely prime Seeke skill of hearbes in hills haunt brookes neere night And try with bayt how fish will bite sometime Goe graft againe and seeke to graft them right Those pleasant plants those sweete and frutefull trees Which both the pallate
made such head against him as would haue shewed how soone Courage falles in the ditch which hath not the eie of Wisdome but that Amphialus at the same time issued out and winning with an abundaunce of courage one of the sconses which Basilius had builded made waie for his friend Anaxius with great losse of both sides but especially of the Basilians such notable monuments had those two swords especially lefte of their Maisters redoubted worthynesse There with the respect fit to his estate the honour dewe to his worthinesse and the kindnesse which accompanies friendship made fast by enterchaunged benefits did Amphialus enforce him selfe as much as in a besieged towne he could to make Anaxius know that his succour was not so needefull as his presence gratefull For causing the streetes and houses of the towne to witnes his welcome making both souldiers and Magistrates in their countenaunces to shewe their gladnesse of him he led him to his mother whom hee besought to entertaine him with no lesse loue and kindnesse then as one who once had saued her sonnes life and now came to saue both life and honour Tush said Anaxius speaking alowde looking vpon his brothers I am onely sorie there are not halfe a dozen Kinges more about you that what Anaxius can do might be the better manifested His brothers smiled as though he had ouer-modestly spoken farre vnderneath the pitch of his power TheÌ„ was he disarmed at the earnest request of Amphialus for Anaxius boiled with desire to issue out vppon the enemies perswading himself that the Sun should not be sette before he had ouerthrown them And hauing reposed himselfe Amphialus asked him whether he would visite the yong Princesses But Anaxius whispered him in the eare In trueth saide hee deare friende Amphialus though I am none of those that loue to speake of themselues I neuer came yet in companie of Ladies but that they fell in loue with me And I that in my hart scorne them as a peeuish paltrie sexe not woorthie to communicate with my vertues woulde not doo you the wrong since as I heare you doo debase your selfe so much as to affect them The curteous Amphialus could haue beene angrie with him for those wordes but knowing his humour suffered him to daunce to his owne musicke and gaue himselfe to entertaine both him and his brothers with as cheerefull a maner as coulde issue from a mind whom vnluckie loue had filled with melancholie For to Anaxius he yeelded the directioÌ„ of all He gaue the watchwoorde and if any grace were graunted the meanes were to be made to Anaxius And that night when supper was ended wherein Amphialus woulde needes himselfe waite vpon him he caused in Boates vpon the Lake an excellent musicke to be ordered which though Anaxius might conceiue was for his honour yet indeede he was but the Bricke-wall to conuey it to the eares of the beloued Philoclea The musicke was of Cornets whereof one aunswering the other with a sweete emulation striuing for the glorie of musicke and striking vpon the smooth face of the quiet Lake was then deliuered vp to the castle walles which with a proude reâ—erberation spreading it into the aire it seemed before the harmonie came to the eare that it had enriched it selfe in trauaile the nature of those places adding melodie to that melodious instrument And when a while that instrument had made a braue proclamation to all vnpossessed mindes of attention an excellent consort streight followed of fiue Violles and as many voyces which all being but Oratours of their maisters passions bestowed this song vppon her that thought vppon another matter THe Fire to see my wrongs for anger burneth The Aire in raine for my affliction weepeth The Sea to ebbe for griefe his flowing turneth The Earth with pittie dul his center keepeth Fame is with wonder blazed Time runnes away for sorrow Place standeth still amazed To see my night of euils which hath no morrowe Alas all onely she no pittie taketh To know my miseries but chaste and cruell My fall her glory maketh Yet still her eyes giue to my flames their fuell Fire burne me quite till sense of burning leaue me Aire let me drawe thy breath no more in anguish Sea drown'd in thee of tedious life bereaue me Earth take this earth wherein my spirits languish Fame say I was not borne Time hast my dying hower Place see my graue vptorne Fire aire sea earth fame time place show your power Alas from all their helpes I am exiled For hers am I and Death feares her displeasure Fie Death thou art beguiled Though I be hers she makes of me no treasure But Anaxius seeming a weary before it was ended tolde Amphialus that for his part he liked no musick but the neighing of horses the sound of trumpets and the cries of yeelding persons and therefore desired that the next morning they should issue vpoÌ„ the same place wher they had eÌ„tred that day not doubting to make them quickely a wearie of being the besiegers of Anaxius Amphialus who had no whit lesse courage though nothing blowne vp with pride willingly condiscended and so the next morning giuing false alarum to the other side of the campe Amphialus at Anaxius earnest request staying within the towne to see it garded Anaxius and his brethren Lycurgus and Zoilus sallied out with the best chosen men But Basilius hauing bene the last day some what vnprouided now had better fortified the ouerthrowne sconse and so well had prepared euery thing for defence that it was impossible for any valour from within to preuaile Yet thinges were perfourmed by Anaxius beyonde the credite of the credulous For thrife valiantly followed by his brothers did he set vp his banner vpon the rampire of the enemie though thrise againe by the multitude aduauntage of the place but especially by the comming of three valiant Knights he were driuen downe againe Numbers there were that day whose deathes and ouerthrowes were excused by the well knowen sworde of Anaxius but the rest by the length of time iniurie of Historians haue bene wrapped vp in darke forgetfulnesse onely Tressennius is spoken of because when all abandoned the place he onely made head to Anaxius till hauing lost one of his legs yet not lost the harte of fighting Lycurgus second brother to Anaxius cruellie murthered him Anaxius him selfe disdayning any further to deale with him But so farre had Anaxius at the third time preuayled that now the Basilians began to let their courage descende to their feete Basilius Philanax in vaine striuing with reuerence of authoritie to bridle the flight of astonishment and to teach Feare discretion so that Amphialus seeing Victorie shewe such a flattering countenaunce to him came out with all his force hoping that day to end the siege But that fancie altered quicklie by the suddaine comming to the other side of three Knights whereof the one was in white armour the other in greene and the third by his blacke
great beastes as for the weakers good He chose themselues his guarders for to bene Gainst those of might of whom in feare they stood As horse and dogge not great but gentle blood Blith were the commons cattell of the fielde Tho when they saw their foen of greatnes kilde But they or spent or made of slender might Then quickly did the meaner cattell finde The great beames gone the house on shoulders light For by and by the horse faire bitts did binde The dogge was in a coller taught his kinde As for the gentle birds like case might rewe When faloon they and gossehauke saw in mewe Worst fell to smallest birds and meanest heard Whom now his owne full like his owne he vsed Yet first but wooll or fethers off he teard And when they were well vs'de to be abused For hungrie teeth their flesh with teeth he brused At length for glutton taste he did them kill At last for sport their sillie liues did spill But yet ô man rage not beyond thy neede Deeme it no glorie to swell in tyrannie Thou art of blood ioy not to see things bleede Thou fearest death thinke they are loth to die A plaint of guiltlesse hurt doth pierce the skie And you poore beastes in patience bide your hell Or know your strengths and then you shall do well Thus did I sing and pipe eight sullen houres To sheepe whom loue not knowledge made to heare Now fancies fits now fortunes balefull stowers But then I homewards call'd my lambkins deare For to my dimmed eyes began t' appeare The night growne old her blacke head waxen gray Sure shepherds signe that morne should soone fetch day ACcording to the nature of diuerse cares diuerse iudgements streight followed some praising his voice others his words fit to frame a pastorall stile others the strangenes of the tale and scanning what he should meane by it But old Geron who had borne him a grudge euer since in one of their Eclogues he had taken him vp ouer-bitterly tooke hold of this occasion to make his reuenge and sayd He neuer saw thing worse proportioned then to bring in a tale of he knewe not what beastes at such a sport-meeting when rather some song of loue or matter for ioyfull melody was to be brought forth But said he This is the right conceipt of young men who thinke then they speake wiseliest when they cannot vnderstand themselues But little did the melancholike shepherd regard either his dispraises or the others praises who had set the foundation of his honour there where he was most despised And therefore he returning againe to the traine of his desolate pensiuenesse Geron inuited Histor to answere him in Eclogue-wise who indeed hauing bene long in loue with the faire Kala and now by Lalus ouergone was growne into a detestation of mariage But thus it was Geron. Histor. Geron. In faith good Histor long is your delay From holy marriage sweete and surest meane Our foolish lust in honest rules to stay I pray thee doo to Lalus sample leane Thou seest how friske and iolly now he is That last day seem'd he could not chew a beane Beleeue me man there is no greater blisse Then is the quiet ioy of louing wife Which who so wants halfe of himselfe doth misse Friend without change playfellow without strife Foode without fulnes counsaile without pride Is this sweet doubling of our single life Histor. No doubt to whom so good chance did betide As for to finde a pasture strawed with golde He were a foole if there he did not bide Who would not haue a Phoenix if he could The humming Waspe if it had not a sting Before all flies the Waspe accept I would But this bad world few golden fieldes doth bring Phoenix but one of Crowes we millions haue The Waspe seemes gay but is a combrous thing If many Kalaes our Arcadias gaue Lalus example I would soone ensue And thinke I did my selfe from sorrow saue But of such wiues we finde a slender crew Shrewdnes so stirres pride so puffes vp the hart They seldome ponder what to them is due With meager lookes as if they still did smart Puiling and whimpring or else scolding flat Make home more paine then following of the cart Either dull silence or eternall chat Still contrarie to what her husband sayes If he do praise the dog she likes the cat Austere she is when he would honest playes And game some then when he thinkes on his sheepe She bids him goe and yet from iorney stayes She warre doth euer with his kinsfolke keepe And makes them fremb'd who friends by nature are Enuying shallow toyes with malice deepe And if forsooth there come some new found ware The little coine his sweating browes haue got Must goe for that if for her lowres he care Or els Nay faith mine is the lucklest lot That euer fell to honest woman yet No wife but I hath such a man God wot Such is their speech who be of sober wit But who doo let their tongues shew well their rage Lord what bywords they speake what spite they spit The house is made a very lothsome cage Wherein the birde doth neuer sing but cry With such a will as nothing can asswage Dearely the seruants doo their wages buy Reuil'd for ech small fault sometimes for none They better liue that in a gaile doo lie Let other fowler spots away be blowne For I seeke not their shame but still me thinkes A better life it is to lye alone Geron. Who for ech fickle feare from vertue shrinkes Shall in his life embrace no worthy thing No mortall man the cuppe of suretie drinkes The heau'ns doo not good haps in handfuls bring But let vs pike our good from out much bad That still our little world may know his king But certainly so long we may be glad While that we doo what nature doth require And for th' euent we neuer ought be sad Man oft is plag'de with aire is burnt with fire In water drownd◠in earth his buriall is And shall we not therefore their vse desire Nature aboue all things requireth this That we our kind doo labour to maintaine Which drawne-out line doth hold all humane blisse Thy father iustly may of thee complaine If thou doo not repay his deeds for thee In granting vnto him a grandsires gaine Thy common-wealth may rightly grieued be Which must by this immortall be preserued If thus thou murther thy posteritie His very being he hath not deserued Who for a selfe-conceipt will that forbeare Whereby that being aye must be conserued And God forbid women such cattell were As you paint them but well in you I finde No man doth speake aright who speakes in feare Who onely sees the ill is worse then blind These fiftie winters maried haue I beene And yet finde no such faults in womankind I haue a wife worthie to be a Queene So well she can command and yet obay In ruling of a house so well shee 's
boldenes and the little reuerence I doe you impute it to the manner of my country which is the inuincible Land of the Amazons My selfe neece to Senicia Queene thereof lineally descended of the famous Penthesilea slaine by the bloudie hand of Pyrrhus I hauing in this my youth determined to make the worlde see the Amazons excellencies aswell in priuate as in publicke vertue haue passed some daungerous aduentures in diuers countries till the vnmercifull Sea depriued me of my company so that shipwrack casting me not farre hence vncertaine wandring brought me to this place But Basilius who now began to tast of that which since he hath swallowed vp as I will tell you fell to more cunning intreating my aboad then any greedy host would vse to well paying passengers I thought nothing could shoot righter at the mark of my desires yet had I learned alredye so much that it was against my womanhood to be forward in my owne wishes And therefore he to prooue whether intercessions in fitter mouths might better preuaile commaunded Dametas to bring forth with his wife and daughters thether three Ladies although of diuers yet all of excellent beauty His wife in graue Matronlike attire with countenaunce and gesture sutable and of such fairenes being in the strength of her age as if her daughters had not bene by might with iust price haue purchased admiration but they being there it was enough that the most dainty eye would thinke her a worthye mother of such children The faire Pamela whose noble hart I finde doth greatly disdaine that the trust of her vertue is reposed in such a louts hands as Dametas had yet to shewe an obedience taken on shepeardish apparell which was but of Russet cloth cut after their fashion with a straight body open brested the nether parte full of pleights with long and wide sleeues but beleeue me she did apparell her apparell and with the pretiousnes of her body made it most sumptuous Her haire at the full length wound about with gold lace onely by the comparison to shew how farre her haire doth excell in colour betwixt her breasts which sweetlye rase vp like two faire Mountainettes in the pleasaunt vale of Tempe there honge a verie riche Diamond set but in a blacke horne the worde I haue since read is this yet still my selfe And thus particularlie haue I described them because you may know that mine eyes are not so partiall but that I marked them too But when the ornament of the Earth the modell of heauen the Triumph of Nature the life of beauty the Queene of Loue young Philoclea appeared in her Nimphe-like apparell so neare nakednes as one might well discerne part of her perâ—â—ctions and yet so apparelled as did shew she kept best store of her beauty to her selfe her haire alas too poore a word why should I not rather call theÌ„ her beames draweÌ„ vp into a net able to haue caught Iupiter when he was in the forme of an Egle her body O sweet body couered with a light Taffeta garment so cut as the wrought smocke came through it in many places inough to haue made your restraind imagination haue thought what was vnder it with the cast of her blacke eyes blacke indeed whether nature so made them that we might be the more able to behold bear their wonderfull shining or that she goddesse like would work this miracle with her selse in giuing blacknes the price aboue all beauty Then I say indeede me thought the Lillies grew pale for enuie the roses me thought blushed to see sweeter roses in her cheekes and the apples me thought fell downe from the trees to do homage to the apples of her breast Then the cloudes gaue place that the heauens might more freely smile vpon her at the lest the cloudes of my thoughts quite vanished and my sight then more cleere and forcible then euer was so fixed there that I imagine I stood like a well wrought image with some life in shew but none in practise And so had I beene like inough to haue stayed long time but that Gynecia stepping betweene my sight and the onely Philoclea the chaunge of obiâ—ct made meere-couer my sences so that I coulde with reasonable good manner receiue the salutation of her and of the princesse Pamela doing them yet no further reuerence then one Princesse vseth to another But when I came to the neuer-inough praised Philoclea I could not but fall downe on my knees and taking by force her hand and kissing it I must confesse with more then womanly ardency Diuine Lady said I let not the world nor these great princesses maruaile to se me contrary to my manner do this especiall honor vnto you since all both men and women do owe this to the perfection of your beauty But she blushing like a faire morning in May at this my singularity and causing me to rise Noble Lady saide she it is no maruaile to see your iudgemeÌ„t much mistaken in my beauty since you beginne with so great an errour as to do more honour vnto me then to them to whom I my selfe owe all seruice Rather answered I with a bowed downe countenaunce that shewes the power of your beauty which forced me to do such an errour if it were an errour You are so well acquainted saide shee sweetely most sweetely smiling with your owne beautie that it makes you easilie fall into the discourse of beauty Beauty in me said I truely sighing alas if there be any it is in my eyes which your blessed presence hath imparted vnto them But then as I thinke Basilius willing her so to do Well said she I must needes confesse I haue heard that it is a great happines to bee praised of thâ—m that are most praise worthie And well I finde that you are an inuinciblâ— Amazon since you will ouercome though in a wrong matter But if my beauty bee any thing then let it obtaine thus much of you that you will remaine some while in this companie to ease your owne trauail and our solitarines First let me dye said I before any word spoken by such a mouth should come in vaine And thus with some other wordes of entertaining was my staying concluded and I led among them to the lodge truely a place for pleasantnes not vnfitte to flatter solitarinesâ—e for it being set vpon such an vnsensible rising of the ground as you are come to a prety height before almost you perceiue that you ascend it giues the eye Lordship ouer a good large circuit which according to the nature of the countrey being diuersified betwene hills and dales woods and playnes one place more cleere an other more darksome it seemes a pleasant picture of nature with louely lightsomnes and artificiall shadowes The Lodge is of a yellow stone built in the forme of a starre hauing round about a garden framed into like points and beyond the gardein ridings cut out each aunswering the Angles of the Lodge at the end of
With hear-say pictures or a window looke With one good dawnce or letter finely pend That were in Court a well proportion'd hooke Where piercing witts do quickly apprehend Their sences rude plaine obiects only moue And so must see great cause before they loue Therfore Loue arm'd in hir now takes the fielde Making hir beames his brauery might Hir hands which pierc'd the soules seau'n-double shield Were now his darts leauing his wonted fight Braue crest to him hir scorn-gold haire did yeeld His compleat harneis was hir purest white But fearing lest all white might seeme too good In cheeks lipps the Tyran threatens bloud Besides this force within hir eies he kept A fire to burne the prisoners he gaines Whose boiling heat encreased as she wept For eu'n in forge colde water fire maintaines Thus proud fierce vnto the hearts he stept Of them poore soules cutting Reasons raines Made them his owne before they had it wist But if they had could shephookes this resist Klaius streight felt groned at the blowe And cal'd now wounded purpose to his aide Strephon fond boy delighted did not knowe That it was Loue that shin'de in shining maid But lickrous Poison'd faine to her would goe If him new-learned manners had not stai'd For then Vrania homeward did arise Leauing in paine their wel-fed hungry eies She went they staid or rightly for to say She staid in them they went in thought with hyr Klaius in deede would faine haue puld a way This mote from out his eye this inward burre And now proud Rebell gan for to gainsay The lesson which but late he learn'd too furre Meaning with absence to refresh the thought To which hir presence such a feauer brought Strephon did leape with ioy iolitie Thinking it iust more therein to delight Then in good Dog faire field or shading tree So haue I sene trim bookes in veluet dight With golden leaues painted babery Of seely boies please vnacquainted sight But when the rod began to play his part Faine would but could not fly from golden smart He quickly learn'd Vrania was her name And streight for failing grau'd it in his heart He knew hir haunt haunted in the same And taught his shepe hir shepe in food to thwart Which soone as it did batefull question frame He might on knees confesse his faulty part And yeeld himselfe vnto hir punishment While nought but game the selfe-hurt wanton ment Nay eu'n vnto hir home he oft would go Where bold and hurtles many play he tries Her parents liking well it should be so For simple goodnes shined in his eyes There did he make hir laugh in spite of woe So as good thoughts of him in all arise While into none doubt of his loue did sinke For not himselfe to be in loue did thinke But glad Desire his late embosom'd guest Yet but a babe with milke of Sight he nurst Desire the more he suckt more sought the brest Like dropsy folke still drinke to be a thyrst Till one faire eau'n an howr ere Sun did rest Who then in Lions caue did enter fyrst By neighbors prai'd she went abroad therby At Barly brake hir swete swift foot to trie Neuer the earth on his round shoulders bare A maid train'd vp from high or low degree That in her doings better could compare Mirth with respect few words with curtesy A careles comelines with comely care Self-gard with mildnes Sport with Maiesty Which made hir yeeld to deck this shepheards band And still beleue me Strephon was at hand A field they goe where many lookers be And thou seke-sorow Klaius them among In dede thou said'st it was thy frend to see Strephon whose absence seem'd vnto thee long While most with hir he lesse did kepe with thee No no it was in spite of wisdomes song Which absence wisht loue plai'd a victors part The heau'n-loue lodestone drew thy iron hart Then couples three be streight allotted there They of both ends the middle two doe flie The two that in mid place Hell called were Must striue with waiting foot and watching eye To catch of them and them to hell to beare That they aswell as they Hell may supplie Like some which seeke to salue their blotted name With others blott till all do tast of shame There may you see soone as the middle two Do coupled towards either couple make They false and fearfull do their hands vndoe Brother his brother frend doth frend forsake Heeding himselfe cares not how fellow doe But of a straunger mutuall help doth take As periur'd cowards in aduersity With sight of feare from frends to fremb'd do flie These sports shepheards deuiz'd such faults to show Geron though olde yet gamesome kept one ende With Cosma for whose loue Pas past in woe Faire Nous with Pas the lott to hell did sende Pas thought it hell while he was Cosma fro At other end Vran did Strephon lend Her happy-making hand of whome one looke From Nous and Cosma all their beauty tooke The play began Pas durst not Cosma chace But did entend next bout with her to meete So he with Nous to Geron turn'd their race With whome to ioyne fast ran Vrania sweet But light-legd Pas had gott the middle space Geron straue hard but aged were his feet And therfore finding force now faint to be He thought gray haires afforded subtletie And so when Pas hand-reached him to take The fox on knees and elbowes tombled downe Pas could not stay but ouer him did rake And crown'd the earth with his first touching crowne His heels grow'n proud did seme at heau'n to shake But Nous that slipt from Pas did catch the clowne So laughing all yet Pas to ease some dell Geron with Vran were condemn'd to hell Cosma this while to Strephon safely came And all to second barly-brake are bent The two in hell did toward Cosma frame Who should to Pas but they would her preuent Pas mad with fall and madder with the shame Most mad with beames which he thought Cosma sent With such mad haste he did to Cosma goe That to hir breast he gaue a noysome blowe She quick and proud and who did Pas despise Vp with hir fist and tooke him on the face Another time quoth she become more wise Thus Pas did kisse hir hand with little grace And each way luckles yet in humble guise Did hold hir fast for feare of more disgrace While Strephon might with preatie Nous haue met But all this while another course he fet For as Vrania after Cosma ran He rauished with sight how gracefully She mou'd hir lims and drew the aged man Left Nous to coast the loued beauty ny Nous cri'de and chaf'd but he no other can Till Vran seing Pas to Cosma fly And Strephon single turned after him Strephon so chas'd did seme in milke to swimme He ran but ran with eye ore shoulder cast More marking hir then how himselfe did goe Like Numid Lions by
though it were barred by their enuious apparell yet as a perfect Magnes though but in an iuorie boxe will thorow the boxe sende foorth his imbracing vertue to a beloued needle so this imparadised neighbourhood made Zelmanes soule cleaue vnto her both thorow the iuory case of her body and the apparell which did ouer-clowd it All the bloud of Zelmanes body stirring in her as wine will do when suger is hastely put into it seeking to sucke the sweetnes of the beloued guest her hart like a lion new imprisoned seeing him that restraines his libertie before the grate not panting but striuing violently if it had bene possible to haue leapt into the lappe of Philoclea But Dametas euen then proceeding from being maister of a carte to bee doctor of a coach not a little prowd in himselfe that his whippe at that time guided the rule of Arcadia draue the coach the couer whereof was made with such ioints that as they might to auoid the weather pull it vp close when they listed so when they would they might put each ende downe and remaine as discouered and open sighted as on horsebacke till vpon the side of the forrest they had both greyhounds spaniels and hounds whereof the first might seeme the Lordes the second the Gentlemen and the last the Yeomen of dogges a cast of Merlins there was besides which flying of a gallant height ouer certaine bushes woulde beate the birdes that rose downe vnto the bushes as Falcons will doo wilde-foule ouer a riuer But the sporte which for that daie Basilius would principallie shewe to Zelmane was the mountie at a Hearne which getting vp on his wagling winges vvith paine till he vvas come to some height as though the aire next to the earth vvere not fit for his great bodie to flie thorow vvas now growen to diminish the sight of himselfe and to giue example to great persons that the higher they be the lesse they should shovv vvhen a Ierfaulcon vvas cast of after her vvho streight spying vvhere the pray vvas fixing her eie vvith desire and guiding her vving by her eie vsed no more strength then industry For as a good builder to a hie tower vvill not make his stayre vpright but vvinding almost the full compasse about that the steepnes be the more vnsensible so shee seeing the tovvring of her pursued chase vvent circkling and compassing about rising so vvith the lesse sence of rising and yet finding that vvay scantly serue the greedines of her hast as an ambitious bodie vvill go far out of the direct vvay to vvin to a point of height vvhich he desires so would shee as it were turne taile to the Heron and flie quite out another way but all was to returne in a higher pitch which once gotten she would either beate with cruell assaults the Heron who now was driuen to the best defence of force since â—light would not serue or els clasping with him come downe together to be parted by the ouer-partiall beholders Diuers of which flights Basilius shewing to Zelmane thus was the richesse of the time spent and the day deceassed before it was thought of till night like a degenerating successour made his departure the better remembred And therefore so constrained they willed Dametas to driue homeward who halfe sleeping halfe musing about the mending of a wine-presse guided the horses so ill that the wheele comming ouer a great stub of a tree it ouerturned the coach Which though it fell violently vpon the side where Zelmane and Gynecia sat yet for Zelâ—anes part she would haue bene glad of the fall which made her beare the sweete burthen of Philoclea but that shee feared shee might receaue some hurt But indeede neither shee did nor any of the rest by reason they kept their armes and legs within the coach sauing Gynecia who with the onely bruze of the fall had her shoulder put out of ioinct which though by one of the Faulkeners cunning it was set well againe yet with much paine was she brought to the lodge and paine fetching his ordinary companion a feuer with him draue her to entertaine them both in her bedde But neither was the feuer of such impatient heate as the inwarde plague-sore of her affection nor the paine halfe so noysome as the iealousie shee conceaued of her daughter Philoclea lest this time of her sicknesse might giue apt occasion to Zelmane whom shee misdoubted Therefore she called Philoclea to her and though it were late in the night commauÌ„ded her in her eare to go to the other lodge and send Miso to her with whom she would speak and shee lie with her sister Pamela The meane while Gynecia kept Zelmane with her because she would be sure she should be out of the lodge before she licenced Zelmane Philoclea not skild in any thing better then obedience went quietly downe and the Moone then full not thinking skorne to be a torch-bearer to such beautie guided her steppes whose motions beare a mind which bare in it selfe farre more stirring motions And alas sweete Philoclea how hath my penne til now forgot thy passions since to thy memorie principally all this long matter is intended pardon the slacknes to come to those woes which hauing caused in others thou didst feele in thy selfe The sweete minded Philoclea was in their degree of wel doing to whom the not knowing of euill serueth for a ground of vertue and hold their inward powers in better forme with an vnspotted simplicitie then many who rather cunningly seeke to know what goodnes is then willingly take into themselues the following of it But as that sweet and simple breath of heauenly goodnesse is the easier to bee altered because it hath not passed through the worldlie wickednesse nor feelingly found the euill that euill caries with it so now the Ladie Philoclea whose eyes and senses had receaued nothing but according as the naturall course of each thing required whose tender youth had obediently liued vnder her parents behests without framing out of her owne will the fore-chosing of any thing when now shee came to appoint wherein her iudgement was to be practized in knowing faultines by his first tokens she was like a yong faune who comming in the wind of the hunters doth not know whether it be a thing or no to bee eschewed whereof at this time she began to get a costly experience For after that Zelmane had a while liued in the lodge with her and that her onely being a noble straunger had bred a kind of heedfull attention her comming to that lonely place where she had no body but her parents a willingnes of conuersation her wit behauiour a liking and silent admiration at length the excellency of her naturall gifts ioined with the extreme shewes she made of most deuout honouring Philoclea carying thus in one person the only two bands of good will louelines and louingnes brought forth in her hart a yeelding to a most friendly affection which when it had gotten
feele the comfort of the morning Turnde to the mortall serene of an euening Klaius Me seemes I see a filthy clowdie euening As soone as Sunne begins to clime the mountaines Me seemes I feele a noysome sent the morning When I doo smell the flowers of these vallies Me seemes I heare when I doo heare sweete musique The dreadfull cries of murdred men in forrests Strephon. I wish to fire the trees of all these forrests I giue the Sunne a last farewell each euening I curse the fidling finders out of musicke With enuie I doo hate the loftie mountaines And with dispite despise the humble vallies I doo detest night euening day and morning Klaius Curse to my selfe my praier is the morning My fire is more then can be made with forrests My state more base then are the basest vallies I wish no euenings more to see each euening Shamed I hate my selfe in sight of mountaines And stoppe mine eares lest I grow mad with musicke Strephon. For she whose parts maintainde a perfect musique Whose beautie shin'de more then the blushing morning Who much did passe in state the stately mountaines In streightnes past the Cedars of the forrests Hath cast me wretch into eternall euening By taking her two Sunnes from these darke vallies Klaius For she to whom compar'd the Alpes are vallies She whose lest word brings from the spheares their musique At whose approche the Sunne rose in the euening Who where she went bare in her forhead morning Is gone is gone from these our spoyled forrests Turning to desarts our best pastur'de mountaines Strephon. These mountaines witnesse shall so shall these vallies These forrests eke made wretched by our musique Klaius Our morning hymne is this and song at euening But as though all this had bene but the taking of a taste of their wailings Strephon againe begā this Dizaine which was answered vnto him in that kind of verse which is called the crowne Strephon. Klaius Strephon. I Ioy in griefe and doo detest all ioyes Despise delight am tyr'd with thought of ease I turne my minde to all formes of annoyes And with the chaunge of them my fancie please I studie that which may me most displease And in despite of that displeasures might Embrace that most that most my soule destroyes Blinded with beames fell darkenes is my sight Dwell in my ruines feede with sucking smarte I thinke from me not from my woes to parte Klaius I thinke from me not from my woes to parte And loth this time call'd life nay thinke that life Nature to me for torment did emparte Thinke my harde haps haue blunted deaths sharpe knife Not sparing me in whom his workes be rife And thinking this thinke nature life and death Place Sorrowes triumph on my conquerd harte Whereto I yeeld and seeke none other breath But from the sent of some infectious graue Nor of my fortune ought but mischieue craue Strephon. Nor of my fortune ought but mischieue craue And seeke to nourish that which now containes All what I am if I my selfe will saue Then must I saue what in me chiefely raignes Which is the hatefull web of sorrowes paines Sorrow then cherish me for I am sorrow No being now but sorrowe I can haue Then decke me as thine owne thy helpe I borrowe Since thou my riches art and that thou haste Enough to make a fertill minde lie waste Klaius Enough to make a fertill minde lie waste Is that huge storme which powres it selfe on me Hailestones of teares of sighes a monstrous blast Thunders of cries lightnings my wilde lookes be The darkned heau'n my soule which nought can see The flying sprites which trees by rootes vp teare Be those despaires which haue my hopes quite wast The difference is all folkes those stormes forbeare◠But I cannot who then my selfe should flie So close vnto my selfe my wrackes doo lie Strephon. So close vnto my selfe my wrackes doo lie Both cause effect beginning and the ende Are all in me what helpe then can I trie My ship my selfe whose course to loue doth bende Sore beaten doth her mast of comfort spend Her cable Reason breakes from anchor Hope Fancie her tackling torne away doth flie Ruine the winde hath blowne her from her scope Brused with waues of Cares but broken is On rocke Despaire the buriall of my blisse Klaius On rocke Despaire the buriall of my blisse I long do◠plowe with plough of deepe desire The seed Fast meaning is no truth to misse I harow it with Thoughts which all conspire Fauour to make my chiefe and onely hire But woe is me the yeare is gone about And now I faine would reape I reape but this Hatefully growne Absence new sprongen out So that I see although my sight empaire Vaine is their paine who labour in despaire Strephon. Vaine is their paine who labour in despaire For so did I when with my angle Will I sought to catch the fish Torpedo faire Eu'n then Despaire did Hope already kill◠Yet fancie would perforce employ his skill And this hath got the catcher now is caught Lamde with the angle which it selfe did beare And vnto death quite drownde in dolours brough◠To death as then disguisd in her faire face Thus Thus alas I had my losse in chase Klaius Thus Thus alas I had my losse in chase When first that crowned Basiliske I knewe Wose footesteps I with kisses oft did trace Till by such hap as I must euer rue Mine eyes did light vpon her shining hue And hers on me astonisht with that sight Since then my hart did loose his wonted place Infected so with her sweet poysons might That leauing me for dead to her it went But ah her flight hath my dead reliques spent Strephon. But ah her flight hath my dead reliques spent Her flight from me from me though dead to me Yet liuing still in her while her beames lent Such vitall sparke that her mine eyes might see But now those liuing lights absented be Full dead before I now to dust shall fall But that eternall paines my soule haue hent And keepe it still within this body thrall That thus I must while in this death I dwell In earthly fetters feele a lasting hell Klaius In earthly fetters feele a lasting hell Alas I doo from which to finde release I would the earth I would the heauens sell. But vaine it is to thinke these paines should cease Where life is death and death cannot breed peace O faire ô onely faire from thee alas These foule most foule desastres to me fell Since thou from me o me ô Sunne didst passe Therefore esteeming all good blessings toyes I ioy in griefe and doo detest all ioyes Strephon. I ioy in griefe and doo detest all ioyes But now an ende O Claius now an ende For euen the hearbes our hatefull musique stroyes And from our burning breath the trees do bende So well were these wailefull complaints accorded to the passions of all the princely hearers while euery one
owne nature sauing onely Man who while by the pregnancie of his imagination he striues to things supernaturall meane-while hee looseth his owne naturall felicitie Be wise and that wisedome shal be a God vnto thee be contented and that is thy heauen for els to thinke that those powers if there bee any such aboue are moued either by the eloquence of our prayers or in a chafe at the folly of our actions caries asmuch reason as if flies should thinke that men take great care which of them hums sweetest and which of them flies nimblest She woulde haue spoken further to haue enlarged and confirmed her discourse when Pamela whose cheeks were died in the beautifullest graine of vertuous anger with eies which glistered foorth beames of disdaine thus interrupted her Peace wicked womā peace vnworthy to breath that doest not acknowledge the breath-giuer most vnworthy to haue a tongue which speakest against him through whom thou speakest keepe your affection to your selfe which like a bemired dog would defile with fauning You say yesterday was as to day O foolish woman and most miserablely foolish since wit makes you foolish What dooth that argue but that there is a constancie in the euerlasting gouernour Woulde you haue an inconstant God since wee count a man foolish that is inconstant He is not seene you say and woulde you thinke him a God who might bee seene by so wicked eyes as yours which yet might see enough if they were not like such who for sport-sake willingly hood-winke themselues to receaue blowes the easier But though I speake to you without any hope of fruite in so rotten a harte and there bee no bodie else here to iudge of my speeches yet be thou my witnesse O captiuitie that my yeares shal not be willingly guiltie of my Creators blasphemie You saie because we know not the causes of things therfore feare was the mother of superstitiō nay because we know that each effect hath a cause that hath engendred a true liuely deuotion For this goodly work of which we are in which we liue hath not his being by Chaūce on which opiniō it is beyōd meruaile by what chaūce any braine could stumble For if it be eternall as you would seeme to conceiue of it Eternity and Chaunce are things vnsufferable together For that is chaunceable which happeneth and if it happen there was a time before it happned when it might haue not happened or els it did not happen and so if chaunceable not eternall And as absurd it is to thinke that if it had a beginning his beginning was deriued from Chaunce for Chaunce could neuer make all things of nothing and if there were substaunces before which by chaunce shoulde meete to make vp this worke thereon followes another bottomlesse pitt of absurdities For then those substaunces must needs haue bene from euer and so eternall and that eternall causes should bring forth chaunceable effectes is as sensible as that the Sunne shoulde bee the author of darkenesse Againe if it were chaunceable then was it not necessarie whereby you take away all consequents But we see in all thinges in some respect or other necessitie of consequence therefore in reason we must needs know that the causes were necessarie Lastly Chaunce is variable or els it is not to be called Chaunce but wee see this worke is steady and permanent If nothing but Chaunce had glewed those pieces of this All the heauie partes would haue gone infinitely downward the light infinitely vpwarde and so neuer haue mett to haue made vp his goodly bodie For before there was a heauen or a earth there was neyther a heauen to stay the height of the rising nor an earth which in respect of the round walles of heauen should become a centre Lastly perfect order perfect beautie perfect constancie if these be the children of Chaunce let wisedome be counted the roote of wickednesse But you will say it is so by nature as much as if you saide it is so because it is so if you meane of many natures conspiring together as in a popular gouernemēt to establish this faire estate as if the Elementishe and ethereall partes shoulde in their towne-house set downe the bounds of each ones office then consider what followes that there must needes haue bene a wisedome which made them concurre for their natures beyng absolute contrarie in nature rather would haue sought each others ruine then haue serued as well consorted partes to such an vnexpressable harmonie For that contrary things should meete to make vp a perfection without a force and Wisedome aboue their powers is absolutely impossible vnles you will flie to that hissed-out opinion of Chaunce againe But you may perhaps affirme that one vniuersal Nature which hath ben for euer is the knitting together of these many partes to such an excellent vnitie If you meane a Nature of wisdome goodnes prouidence which knowes what it doth then say you that which I seeke of you and cannot conclude those blasphemies whith which you defiled your mouth mine eares But if you meane a Nature as we speake of the fire which goeth vpward it knowes not why and of the nature of the Sea which in ebbing and flowing semes to obserue so iust a daunce and yet vnderstands no musicke it is but still the same absurditie superscribed with another title For this worde one being attributed to that which is All is but one mingling of many and many ones as in a lesse matter when we say one kingdome which conteines many citties or one cittie which conteines many persons wherein the vnder ones if there be not a superiour power and wisedome cannot by nature regarde to any preseruation but of themselues no more wee see they doo since the water willingly quenches the fire and drownes the earth so farre are they from a conspired vnitie but that a right heauenly Nature indeed as it were vnnaturinge them doth so bridle them Againe it is as absurde in nature that from an vnitie many contraries should proceede still kept in a vnitie as that from the number of contrarieties an vnitie should arise I say still if you banish both a singularitie and pluralitie of iudgement from among them then if so earthly a minde can lift it selfe vp so hie doo but conceaue how a thing whereto you giue the highest and most excellent kind of being which is eternitie can be of a base vilest degree of being and next to a not-being which is so to be as not to enioy his owne being I will not here call all your senses to witnes which can heare nor see nothing which yeeldes not most euident euidence of of the vnspeakeablenesse of that Wisedome each thinge being directed to an ende and an ende of preseruation so proper effects of iudgement as speaking and laughing are of mankind But what madd furie can euer so enueagle any conceipte as to see our mortal and corruptible selues to haue a reason and that this
spite All waywardnes which nothing kindly brookes All strife for toyes and clayming masters right Be hence aye put to flight All sturring husbands hate Gainst neighbors good for womanish debate Be fled as things most vaine O Himen long their coupled ioyes maintaine All peacock pride and fruites of peacocks pride Longing to be with losse of substance gay With retchlesnes what may thy house bâ—tide So that you may on hyer slippers stay For euer hence awaye Yet let not sluttery The sinke of filth be counted huswifery But keeping holesome meane O Himen long their coupled ioyes maintaine But aboue all away vile iealousie The euill of euils iust cause to be vniust How can he loue suspecting treacherie How can she loue where loue cannot win trust Goe snake hide thee in dust Ne dare once shew thy face Where open hartes do holde so constant place That they thy sting restraine O Himen long their coupled ioyes maintaine The earth is deckt with flowers the heau'ns displaid Muses graunt guiftes Nymphes long and ioyned life Pan store of babes vertue their thoughts well staid Cupids lust gone and gone is bitter strife Happy man happy wife No pride shall them oppresse Nor yet shall yeeld to loathsome sluttishnes And iealousie is slaine For Himen will their coupled ioyes maintaine Truly Dicus sayd Nico although thou didst not graunt me the price the last day when vndoubtedly I wan it yet must I needes say thou for thy parte hast soong well and thriftelie Pas straight desired all the companie they would beare witnes that Nico had once in his life spoken wisely for sayde he I will tell it his father who will be a glad man when he heares such newes Very true sayd Nico but indeede so would not thine in like case for he would looke thou shouldest liue but one houre longer that a discreate word wandred out of thy mouth And I pray thee sayd Pas gentle Nico tell me what mischaunce it was that brought thee to taste so fine a meate Mary goodman blockhead sayde Nico because hee speakes against iealousie the filthie traytor to true affection and yet disguising it selfe in the rayment of loue Sentences Sentences cried Pas. Alas howe ripe witted these young folkes be now adayes But well counselled shall that husband be when this man commes to exhort him not to be iealous And so shall he aunswered Nico for I haue seene a fresh example though it be not very fit to be knowen Come come sayde Pas be not so squeamish I knowe thou longest more to tell it then we to heare it But for all his wordes Nico would not bestowe his voyce till he was generally entreated of all the rest And then with a merry marriage looke he sang this following discourse for with a better grace he could sing then tell A Neighbor mine not long agoe there was But namelesse he for blamelesse he shall be That married had a trick and bonny lasse As in a sommer day a man might see But he himselfe a foule vnhansome groome And farre vnfit to hold so good a roome Now whether mou'd with selfe vnworthines Or with her beawtie fit to make a pray Fell iealousie did so his braine oppresse That if he absent were but halfe a day He gest the worst you wot what is the worst And in himselfe new doubting causes nurst While thus he fear'd the silly innocent Who yet was good because she knewe none ill Vnto his house a iollie shepeheard went To whome our prince did beare a great good will Because in wrestling and in pastorall He farre did passe the rest of Shepheards all And therefore he a courtier was benamed And as a courtier was with cheere receaued For they haue toongs to make a poore man blamed If he to them his dutie misconceaued And for this Courtier should well like his table The goodman bad his wife be seruiceable And so she was and all with good intent But fewe dayes past while she good maner vs'de But that her husband thought her seruice bent To such an end as he might be abus'de Yet like a coward fearing strangers pride He made the simple wench his wrath abide With chumpish lookes hard words and secret nips Grumbling at her when she his kindnes sought Asking her how she tasted Courtiers lips He forst her thinke that which she neuer thought In fine he made her gesse there was some sweet In that which he so fear'd that she should meet When once this entred was in womans hart And that it had enflam'd a new desire There rested then to play a womans part Fuell to seeke and not to quench the fire But for his iealous eye she well did finde She studied cunning how the same to blinde And thus she did One day to him she came And though against his will on him she leand And out gan cry ah well away for shame If you helpe not our wedlocke will be staind The goodman starting askt what did her moue She sigh'd and sayd the bad guest sought her loue He little looking that she should complaine Of that whereto he feard she was enclinde Bussing her oft and in his hart full faine He did demaunde what remedy to finde How they might get that guest from them to wend And yet the prince that lou'd him not offend Husband quoth she go to him by and by And tell him you do finde I doo him loue And therefore pray him that of courtesie He will absent himselfe least he should moue A young girles hart to that were shame for both Whereto you knowe his honest harte were loath Thus shall you show that him you do not doubt And as for me sweete husband I must beare Glad was the man when he had heard her out And did the same although with mickle feare For feare he did least he the young man might In choller put with whom he would not fight The Courtlie shepheard much agast at this Not seeing earst such token in the wife Though full of scorne would not his duty misse Knowing that euill becommes a houshold strife Did goe his way but soiourn'd neere thereby That yet the ground hereof he might espie The wife thus hauing settled husbands braine Who would haue sworne his spowse Diana was Watched when she a furder point might gaine Which little time did fitlie bring to passe For to the Courte her man was calld by name Whither he needes must goe for feare of blame Three dayes before that he must sure depart She written had but in a hand disguisde A letter such which might from either part Seeme to proceede so well it was deuisde She seald it first then she the sealing brake And to her iealous husband did it take With weeping eyes her eyes she taught to weepe She told him that the Courtier had it sent Alas quoth she thus womens shame doth creepe The goodman read on both sides the content It title had Vnto my only loue Subscription was Yours most if you will
proue The pistle selfe such kinde of wordes it had My sweetest ioy the comfort of my sprite So may thy flockes encrease thy deere hart glad So may each thing euen as thou wishest lighte As thou wilt deigne to reade and gentlie reede This mourning inck in which my hart doth bleeds Long haue I lou'd alas thou worthy arte Long haue I lou'd alas loue craueth loue Long haue I lou'd thy selfe alas my harte Doth breake now toong vnto thy name doth moue And thinke not that thy answere answere is But that it is my doome of bale or blisse The iealous wretch must now to Courte be gone Ne can he faile for prince hath for him sent Now is the time we may be here alone And geue a long desire a sweet content Thus shall you both reward a louer true And cke reuenge his wrong suspecting you And this was all and this the husband read With chafe enough till she him pacified Desiring that no griefe in him he bread Now that he had her words so truely tried But that he would to him the letter show That with his fault he might her goodnes know That streight was done with many a boistrous threat That to the King he would his sinne declare But now the Courtier gan to smell the feate And with some words which shewed little care He stayd vntill the goodman was departed Then gaue he him the blow which neuer smarted Thus may you see the iealous wretch was made The Pandare of the thing he most did feare Take heed therefore how you ensue that trade Least the same markes of iealousie you beare For sure no iealousie can that preuent Whereto two parties once be full content Behold sayd Pas a whole dicker of wit he hath pickt out such a tale with intention to keepe a husband from iealosie which were enough to make a sanctified husband iealous to see subtleties so much in the feminine gender But sayd he I will strike Nico dead with the wise words shall flowe out of my gorge And without further entreatie thus sang WHo doth desire that chaste his wife should be First be he true for truth doth truth deserue Then such be he as she his worth may see And one man still credit with her preserue Not toying kinde nor causlesly vnkinde Not sturring thoughts nor yet denying right Not spying faults nor in plaine errors blinde Neuer hard hand nor euer raines too light As farre from want as farre from vaine expence The one doth force the later doth entise Allow good company but kepe from thence Al filthy mouth 's that glory in their vice This done thou hast no more but leaue the rest To vertue fortune time womans brest Wel coÌ„cluded said Nico When he hath done al he leaues the matter to his wiues discretion Now whensoeuer thou mariest let her discretion decke thy head with Actaeons ornament Pas was so angrie with his wish being in deede towards mariage that they might perchaunce haue falne to buffets but that Dicus desired Philisides who as a stranger sate among them reuoluing in his mind al the tempests of euil fortunes hee had passed that he woulde doe so much grace to the companie as to sing one of his country songes Philisides knowing it no good maners to besquemish of his comming hauing put himself in their company without further studie began to vtter that wherewith his thoughtes were then as alwaies most busied and to shew what a straunger he was to himselfe spake of himselfe as of a thirde person in this sorte THe ladd Philisides Lay by a riuers side In flowry fielde a gladder eye to please His pipe was at his foote His lambs were him besides A widow turtle neere on bared rootes Sate wailing without bootes Each thing both sweet sadd Did draw his boyling braine To thinke thinke with paine Of Miras beames eclipst by absence bad And thus with eyes made dimme With teares he saide or sorrow said for him O earth once answere giue So may thy stately grace By north or south still rich adorned liue So Mira Long may be On thy then blessed face Whose â—oote doth set a heau'n on cursed thee I aske now answere me If th' author of thy blisse Phoebus that shepheard high Do turne from thee his eye Doth not thy selfe when he long absent is Like Rogue all ragged goe And pine away with daily wasting woe Tell me you wanton brooke So may your sliding race Shunn lothed-louing bankes with conning crooke So in you euer new Mira may looke her face And make you faire with shadow of her hue So when to pay your due To mother sea you come She chide you not for stay Nor beat you for your play Tell me if your diuerted springs become Absented quite from you Are you not dried Can you your selues renew Tell me you flowers faire Cowslipp Columbine So may your Make this wholsome springtime aire With you embraced lie And lately thence vntwine But with dew dropps engendre children hy So may you neuer dy But pulld by Miras hande Dresse bosome hers or hedd Or scatter on her bedd Tell me if husband springtime leaue your lande When he from you is sent Whither not you languisht with discontent Tell me my seely pipe So may thee still betide A clenly cloth thy moistnes for to wipe So may the cheries redd Of Miras lipps diuide Their sugred selues to kisse thy happy hedd So may her eares be ledd Her eares where Musique liues To heare not despise The liribliring cries Tell if that breath which thee thy sounding giues Be absent farre from thee Absent alone canst thou then piping be Tell me my Lamb of gold So maist thou long abide The day well fed the night in faithfull folde So grow thy wooll of note In time that richly di'de It may be part of Miras peticoate Tell me if wolues the throte Haue cought of thy deare damme Or she from thee be staide Or thou from her be straide Canst thou poore lamme become anothers lamme Or rather till thou die Still for thy Dam with bea-waymenting crie Tell me ô Turtle true So may no fortune breed To make thee nor thy better-loued rue So may thy blessings swarme That Mira may thee feede With hand mouth with lapp brest keepe warme Tell me if greedy arme Do fondly take away With traitor lime the one The other left alone Tell me poore wretch parted from wretched pray Disdaine not you the greene Wayling till death shun you not to be seene Earth brooke flowr's pipe lambe Doue Say all I with them Absence is death or worse to them that loue So I vnlucky lad Whome hills from her do hemme What fitts me now but teares sighings sadd O fortune too too badd I rather would my sheepe Thad'st killed with a stroke Burnt Caban lost my cloke When want one hower those eyes which my ioyes keepe Oh! what doth wailing winne Speeche without ende were better not
insupportable and yet in deapth of her soule most deserued made it more miserable At length letting her tong goe as her dolorous thoughts guided it she thus with lamentable demeanour spake O bottomles pit of sorrowe in which I cannot conteyne my selfe hauing the fyrebrands of all furyes within me still falling and yet by the infinitenes of it neuer falne Neyther can I ridde myselfe being fettred with the euerlasting consideracion of it For whether should I recommend the protection of my dishonored fall to the earth it hath no life and waites to be encreased by the reliques of my shamed carcasse to men who are alwayes cruell in their neighboures faultes and make others ouerthrowe become the badge of their ill masked vertue to the heauens ô vnspeakeable torment of conscience which dare not looke vnto them No sinne can enter there oh there is no receipt for polluted mindes Whether then wilt thou leade this captiue of thine ô snakye despayre Alas alas was this the free-holding power that accursed poyson hath graunted vnto me that to be held the surer it should depriue life was this the folding in mine armes promised that I should fould nothing but a dead body O mother of mine what a deathfull sucke haue you geuen me O Philoclea Philoclea well hath my mother reuenged vppon me my vnmotherly hating of thee O Zelmane to whome yet least any miserye should fayle me remayne some sparkes of my detestable loue if thou hast as now alas now my minde assures me thou hast deceaued me there is a fayre stage prepared for thee to see the tragicall ende of thy hated loues With that worde there flowed out two riuers of teares out of her fayre eyes which before were drye the remembraunce of her other mischiefes being dryed vp in furious fyre of selfe detestation loue only according to the temper of it melting it selfe into those briny tokens of passion Then turning her eyes agayne vpon the body she remembred a dreame she had had some nights before wherein thinking herselfe called by Zelmane passing a troublesome passage she found a dead body which tolde her there should be her only rest This no sooner caught holde of her remembraunce then that she determining with her selfe it was a directe vision of her fore-appoynted ende tooke a certayne resolucion to embrace death assoone as it should be offred vnto her and no way to seeke the prolonging of her annoyed life And therefore kissing the cold face of Basilius And euen so will I rest sayd she and ioyne this faultye soule of mine to thee if so much the angry gods will graunt mee As shee was in this plight the Sunne nowe climing ouer our Horizon the first Shepherds came by who seeing the King in that case and hearing the noyse Damaetas made of the Lady Philoclea ranne with the dolefull tidings of Basilius death vnto him who presently with all his company came to the Caues entrye where the Kings body lay Damaetas for his parte more glad for the hope he had of his priuate escape then sorye for the publike losse his Countrie receaued for a Prince not to be misliked But in Gynaecia nature preuayled aboue iudgement and the shame shee conceaued to be taken in that order ouercame for that instant the former resolucion so that assoone as she sawe the formost of the pastorall troupe the wretched Princesse ranne to haue hid her face in the next woods but with such a minde that she knewe not almost her selfe what she could wish to be the grounde of her safetie Damaetas that sawe her runne awaye in Zelmanes vpper rayment and iudging her to be so thought certaynely all the spirits in hell were come to play a Tragedie in these woods such strange change he sawe euery way The King dead at the Caues mouth the Queene as hee thought absent Pamela fledde away with Dorus his wife and Mopsa in diuers franzies But of all other things Zelmane conquered his capacitie sodainly from a woman growne to a man and from a lockt chamber gotten before him into the fieldes which hee gaue the rest quicklie to vnderstande for in steede of doing any thing as the exigent required he beganne to make circles and all those fantasticall defences that hee had euer hearde were fortifications against Diuells But the other Shepheards who had both better wittes and more faith forthwith deuided themselues some of them running after Gynecia and esteeming her running away a great condemnation of her owne guiltinesse others going to their Prince to see what seruice was left for them eyther in recouerie of his life or honoring his death They that went after the Queene had soone ouertaken her in whome nowe the fyrst feares were stayde and the resolucion to dye had repossessed his place in her minde But when they sawe it was the Queene to whome besides the obedient dutie they ow'de to her state they had alwayes carried a singuler loue for her courteous liberalities and other wise and vertuous partes which had filled all that people with affection and admiracion They were all sodainely stopped beginning to aske pardon for their followinge her in that sorte and desiring her to be their good Ladie as she had euer bene But the Queene who nowe thirsted to be ridde of her selfe whome she hated aboue all thinges with such an assured countenance as they haue who alreadie haue dispensed with shame and digested the sorrowes of death she thus sayde vnto them Continue continue my friends your doing is better then your excusing the one argues assured faith the other want of assurance If you loued your Prince when he was able and willing to doo you much good which you could not then requite to him doo you now publish your gratefulnes when it shall be seene to the world there are no hopes left to leade you vnto it Remember remember you haue lost Basilius a Prince to defend you a Father to care for you a companyon in your ioyes a friend in your wants And if you loued him shew you hate the author of his losse It is I faithfull Arcadians that haue spoyled the Countrie of their protector I none but I was the minister of his vnnaturall end Cary therfore my blood in your hāds to testifie your own innocencie neither spare for my titles sake but consider it was he that so entituled me And if you think of any benefits by my meanes thinke with it that I was but the instrumēt and he the spring What stay ye Shepheards whose great Shepheard is gone you neede not feare a woman reuerence your Lords murtherer nor haue pittie of her who hath not pittie of herself With this she presented her faire neck some by name others by signes desired them to do iustice to the world dutie to their good king honor to themselues and fauour to her The poore men looked one vpon the other vnused to be arbiters in Princes matters and being now falne into a great perplexitie betwixt a Prince dead