Among others the yong Ligdamon was one this man fell to Siluie a Nymph indeed amiable enough but not for him who had formerly set his mind otherwhere And certainely it was his good fortune to bee absent then for hee would neuer haue done the fained homage to Siluie that Amasis commanded and that might haply haue wrought him some disgrace for you must know gentle shepheard that he was brought vp very young among vs being not aboue ten yeeres of age when he was placed heere for the rest so faire direct in all his actions that there was not a woman that thought not well of him and aboue all Siluie being very neere his age At the beginning their ordinary conuersation ingendred the amity of a brother to a sister such as their knowledge was capable to receiue By degrees as Ligdamon grew in age so likewise he encreased in affection so that his childhood changing into a state more settled about the age of foureteene or fifteene yeeres he beganne to change his will into desires and by little and little his desires into passions and yet he liued with that discretion that Siluie had neuer knowledge that her selfe caused this desire When he attained to some good vnderstanding and that he knew his euill he iudged within a while what small hope there was of healing not one of Siluies humours being likely to be hid from him So that the ioy and liuelinesse which was in his countenance and all his actions were turned into sadnesse and his sadnesse into so heauy a melancholy that there was no body but might perceiue the alteration Siluie was not one of the last that asked him the cause but she could draw out nothing but broken answers In the end seeing him continue still in this manner of life one day when she beganne to complayne of his small amity and reproching him that she had obliged her to conceale nothing from her she heard that he was no more able to restraine himselfe but that a deepe sigh escaped from him in stead of answer This brought her to be of opinion that loue might be the cause of his euill And see if the poore Ligdamon did not discreetly carry his actions since she was neuer able to imagine her selfe to be the cause I beleeue well that the humour of this Nymph which shrunke not a iot from this purpose might be in part the occasion For hardly do we thinke of a thing estranged from our owne intents But it must be confessed that heerein his wisedome was great and his coldnesse also that it could so wholy couer the heate of his affection She then pressed him more then before that if it be loue she promised him all the assistance and all the good offices that might be hoped for from their amitie The more he did to auoyde it the more she desired to know it in the end not being able to defend it any longer he protested to her it was loue but he had made an oath neuer to name the party For sayd he to loue is a great presumption in me but constrayned by so many beauties it may be excused and to dare name her what excuse can couer the discouery of my rashnesse Is this the friendship presently answered Siluie which you beare me Truly replyed Ligdamon I haue done it and your commandement also which I beseech you set before your eyes and this glasse which will make you see what you desire to know At that word he tooke vp that which hung at her girdle and held it before her eyes Think you how she was surprised incontinently knowing what he would say and she hath since sworne to me that she thought at first it had beene Galathee of whom he would haue spoken In the meane time that he had stood to behold her she stood as rauished to consider his simplicity in choller against him but much more against her selfe seeing well she had drawne this declaration by force from his mouth Notwithstanding her high courage would not suffer her to make any long defence for the lustice of Ligdamon For at an instant she lifts her selfe vp and without speaking to him departs full of despite that any durst presume to loue her arrogant beauty that iudgeth none worthy of it The faithfull Ligdamon stayed but without a soule and as an insensible Statue In the end comming agayne to himselfe he went as well as he could to his lodging out of which he went not some good time because the knowledge which he had of the small loue of Siluie touched him so to the quick that he fell sicke so that there was small hope of life when he resolued to write her such a letter The losse of my life was not of force sufficient to discouer vnto you the rashnesse of your seruant without your expresse commandement yet if you iudge that I must die and hold my peace say also that your eyes must haue had lesse absolute power ouer me For if at the first summons which their beauty made me I could not defend my selfe from giuing them my soule how hauing beene so often vrged could I haue refused the acknowledgement of that gift yet if I haue offended in offering my heart to your beauty I am willing for the fault I haue committed in presenting to such merits a thing of so small valew to sacrifice vnto you my life without sorrowing for the losse eyther of the one or of the other sith they be no more pleasing vnto you This letter was brought to Siluie when she was alone in her Chamber It is true that I came in at the same time and indeed well for Ligdamon for behold the humour of this fayre Nymph She had conceiued so great a despite toward him after he had discouered his affection that not only she blotted out the remembrāce of the amity passed but so lost her will that Ligdamon was like a thing indifferent to her So that when she heard that euery one despaired of his recouery she was no more moued at it then if she had neuer seene him I that particularly obserued it could not tell what to iudge of it but that her youth made her easily lose the loue of men absent But when now I saw her refuse that which one deliuered her in his behalfe I knew well that they needed no bad messenger between them This was the cause that I took the letter that she had refused and which the young boy that brought it by his masters commaundement had left on the table She then lesse heedfull then she would haue beene ranne after me and intreated me not to reade it I will see it sayd I and it be but for the deniall you make Then beganne she to blush and said Reade it not good sister binde me to you for it I coniure you by our friendship And what shall that be then answered I if it may suffer you to conceale any thing from me Thinke you that if it allow
caused to fight with other beasts Now this Druyde demaunded them to keepe this fountaine and enchanted them in such sort that although they were set at liberty yet could they not leaue the entry of that Caue but onely when they were to seeke their foode For in that while there stayed but two and euer since they haue done no hurt to any but those which attempted to go to the fountayne but they assayled them with such fury that there is no likelihoode that any will hazard himselfe For the Lions are so large and terrible they haue their clawes so long and so piercing so nimble and swift and so animated to this defence that they doe deedes incredible On the other side the Vnicornes haue their hornes so poynted and so strong that they will pierâ—e a very rocke they strike with such force and swiftnesse that no man can auoide them As soone as this guard was thus ordered Clidaman and Guymantes departed away so secretly that Amasis nor Siluie knew nothing vntill they were farre off They went to seeke out Meroue and Childericke For they haue told vs since that since they were so equally handled by their loue they would try if Armes would fauour them as equally Thus gentle shepheard haue we lost the commodity of this Fountaine which so well discouered the secrets of deceiuing thoughts that if all were as Ligdamon they would not haue made vs lose it For when I knew that Clidaman and Guymantes were gone I counselled him to bee the third assuring my selfe he should be the more fauoured but he made me this answer Faire Leonide I alwaies counsell them that are in doubt of their good or euill that they hazard themselues sometimes to know the truth But would not this be folly for him that hauing neuer conceiued any hope of that he desires to seeke for a more sure knowledge of his disaster As for me I am not in doubt whether the faire Siluie loue me or not I am but too assured of it and when I would know more I neede not aske but of her eyes and her actions Since that time his affection hath still increased like the fire when they lay on more wood For this is the property of that faculty to make that which pleases more delightfull and that which offends most offensiue and God knowes how this cruell hath handled him The time is yet to come that she would looke on him without disdaine or cruelty and for my part I know not how a generous man can haue such patience because indeed the offences which she hath done him touch more of outrage then of rigor One day when he met her going out to walke alone with me because he had a sweete voyce I prayed him to sing he said these verses A Song on a desire VVHat is this ill that troubles me And will not giue me leisure still To finde anayling remedy Alas it is a burning will Which like a flame alwaies aspires To place most high and hard to gaine For that the good I most desire Is it that I cannot attaine Desire hath since first it bred For mother and for sister deere An hasty hope right strong of head That giues possession wel-neere But though of course a womans hart Takes neuer any hold of Loue Desire will not from my soule part Though Hope from â—e haue made remoue But if all Hope be cleane put out Wherefore desire so labour you To bring a greater worke about This will but shew small vertue true And she is alwaies flinty hard Without or fauours or regard So though my Hope be fully dead Yet will Desire lift vp his head He had no sooner ended but Siluie takes him vp thus Ha! tell me Ligdamon since I am not the cause of your euill why doe you lay it on mee It is your owne desire which you should accuse for it is it that makes you trauaile in vaine The passionate Ligdamon answered Desire indeed is chat which tormeÌ„ts me but it is not that which shuld be blamed but that which giues it birth and that is the vertues and perfections of Siluie If the desires replied she be not irregular they torment not and if they be irregular and goe beyond reason they ought to be borne of another obiect then of vertue and are not the true children of such a father since they resemble him nothing Till this time answered Ligdamon I neuer heard say that any disauowed a child for not resembling his father and yet the extreme desires are not against reason for is it not reasonable to desire all good things according to the degree of their goodnesse and so an extreme beauty should bee reasonably loued in extremity so that if they must be blamed in any thing a man should not say they are against reason but beyond reason Let this suffice replyed this cruell I am not more reasonable then reason therefore it is that I will not auow for mine that which exceedes At this word not to leaue him the meane to answer shee turned to meete some of her companions that followed her One time when Amasis returned from that little place of Mont-brison where the pleasure of the garden and solitarinesse had stayed her longer then she meant the night came on her before she came to Marsellis And because the euening was cold as we went I asked him on the way of purpose to make him speake before his mistrisse if he felt not the cold and humidity of the euening Whereto he answered that of long time the cold nor heate outward had done him hurt And asking him why and what his receit was To the one he answered me I oppose my burning desires and to the other my frozen hopes If it be so sayd I suddainly whence came it that I haue so often heard you say you burne and sometime that you freeze Ah! answered he with a great sigh Courteous Nymph the euill whereof I complaine torments me not outwardly but inwardly and yet so deepely that there is no secret part of my soule so retired where I feele not the griefe For you must know that aboue all other that the fire and colde are incompatibles alike But I haue had within my heart continually the fire on a flame and the colde frozen and onely feele the discommodity without any mitigation Siluie could hold no longer from making him feele her accustomed cruelties but till that word was ended Yet me thoght she wold scarce giue him the leisure to bring forth that so full of enuy she was to make him feele her stings when turning toward me with a smile she sayd disdainefully casting her head on his side Oh! how happy is Ligdamon to haue both cold and heat when he will at least he hath no cause to complaine nor to feele many discommodities for if the cold of his hope freeze he may chafe himselfe with the heate of his desires if his ouer-ardent desires doe burne him he may coole himselfe
â—ongue will pardon nothing no not that which is not That men haue not spoken of it answered Diane I am more bound to our good intent then to our discretion and for the affection of the shepheard you may iudge what it is by the discourse which I shall make But the heauens which knew our pure and cleane intents would fauour vs from that good houte The first time that I sawe him was on the day we celebrate to Apollo and Diane when he came to the game with a sister whom he resembled so much that they held on them the eyes of the greatest part of the assembly And because she was neere of kinne to my deare Daphnis as soone as I sawe her I embraced her and I welcomed her with a face so open that from that time she thought her selfe bound to loue me her name was Callyre and was married on the coast of Furan to a shepheard called Gerestan whom she had neuer seene vntill the day whereon she was married which was the cause of the little loue she bare him The entertainement which I vsed to the sister gaue occasion to the brother to tarry by me so long as the sacrifice lasted and by fortune I know not whether I should call it good or euill for him I set out my selfe that day as well as I could thinking by reason of my name that this feast concerned me more particularly then others He that comming from far had no other knowledge of the shepheards nor shepheardesses then that which his sister gaue him for sooke vs not all that day so that in some sort thinking my selfe bound to entertaine him I did what I could to please him and my labour was not vnprofitable for from that time this poore shepheard gaue birth to an affection which neuer ended but with his death And euen yet I am assured that if in the graue they haue any remembrance of the liuing hee loues me and in the very ashes conserues the pure affection hee swore to me Daphnis tooke note both of the day and the deed being that night in bed because that Filidas not being well could not come to the games she told me it but I reiected this conceit so long that she said I see wall Diane that this day wil cost me many prayers and Filander much paine but howsoeuer it happen you shall not be quite exempted She vsed to warre on me with such assaults because she perceiued I feard them this was the cause that I stayed not to giue her answer So it was that this aduertisement was cause that the next day me thought I found some apparâ—â—e of â—hat which she had told mee After dinner wee vsed to gather together vnder some trees and to daunce to the voyce where we sate downe in a round and spent the time with the discourse which we liked best of that wee might disquiet our selues in that assembly as little as possibly we could It fell out that Filander being vnknowne but to Daphnis and me came and sate betweene her and mee and attending to knowe whereto all the troope would resolue not to be dumbe I beganne to enquire of that which I I thought he could best answer which Amidor taking heede of entered into so great iealousie that forsaking the company without shewing the cause hee went singing this Towne-song hauing before cast his eyes on me to make it knowne that it was of 〈…〉 e he meant to speake A TOWNE-SONG Of Amidor THat man shall haue hâ—â— in the end That serues her last in place of friend Of heart that hundred time is moued More shifting then the nimble winde Who thinkes himselfe to be beloued May not be held for wise of minde For he shall haue her in the end That serues her last in place of friend The weather-cocke to all winds moues That stands on top of Tower tall So she to euery proffering lone Turnes both her heart her head and all For he shall haue her in the end That serues her last in place of friend The Hunter doth not much esteeme That which he takes though fat it were Th' inconstant ouerpasseth him Disliking such as hold her deare But he shall haue her in the end That serues her last in place of friend As one naile driues another forth The last that comes into her grace Shall of the first for all his worth Right suddenly vsurpe the place Therefore shall he haue her in th' end That serues her last in place of friend I had had sufficient command ouer my selfe to stay me from giuing knowledge of the displeasure which this song brought me had it not bene that euery one looked on me and without Daphnis I could not tell what would haue become of me But she full of discretion not staying for the end of this song interrupted it in this sort addressing her selfe to mee A MADRIGALL Of Daphnis on the loue which she bare to Diane SInce at your birth beauteous Diane Loue made you Loadstoone of all harts Why should they say that I profane Such beauty when my loue imparts Worship to you by destiny If Loue that is most absolute Of likenesse growes as it is sayd Then ours should be of strongest sute Since you and I one sexe are made And that I might better hide my blushing and make them thinke I tooke no heed to the words of Amidor as soone as Daphnis had made an end I answered her thus A MADRIGALL Of the same substance VVHerefore should it be thought so strange That being as you are a maide My Loue on you should be so stayde If Louer to be loued change The change in me were not so hard A shepheardesse to shepheardesse As shepheardesse vnto a shepheard After we had euery one as we sate on a rowe sung some verses and Filander who had a good voyce when it came to his turne sayd this with a good grace STANZA'S Of Philander on the birth of his affection THat his desires are great and his attempts in vaine His Loues full of great fires and fuller much of paine That loues and cannot finde requitall of desire Or if he be belou'd he takes but small delight Vnlesse he might haue hope or if he hope oh spight It is but to the end to set him more on fire Thus on my cradles head by fatall ordinance Hard Destiny it selfe did nine sad times pronounâ—e What should infallibly accompany my dayes Vpon the right hand heauen thick clouded thunder had And since I knew too well that these presages sad Cast eye on my designes and follow them alwaies Then be not you amaz'd if after this decree My Loue commencement take when I your beauty see That if I must be beat out of designe fore-told It to my solace is that men shall guilty finde The Loue of my hard Fate and praise my faulty minde Saying A heart that 's base durst neuer be so bold So when the thoughtfull care of an vnfertile Loue Consumes it selfe in beames
ready shee went downe into the garden and would haue none but me with her By the way I asked if it pleased her to make an answer and telling me no Will you Madam that I do it See said she next what would you write That which you command in sayd I. What you will said she so you speake not of me You shall see answered I what I write I haue nothing to doe with it said she I referre my selfe to you With this leaue while she walked I writ in the same alley in a paire of Tablets an answer such as I thought fittelt but shee that would not see it would not haue the patience to let me make an end without reading it while I writ it The answer of Leonide to Lindamor for Galathee DRaw from your euill the knowledge of your good If you had not beene beloued there would neuer haue beene sence of any thing you may not know what your offence is till you be heere present but hope in your affection and in your returne She would not the Letter should be thus but at last I preuailed aboue her courage and gaue my Tables to Fleuriall with the key commaunding him to deliuer them to the hands of Lindamor onely And drawing aside I opened my Tables and added these words without the knowledge of Galathee A Billet of Leonide to Lindamor I Was desirous to haue knowne when you went away the pitty of your euill maketh me tell you the occasion of your disaster Polemas hath giuen out that you loue Galathee and you goe about bragging of it A great courage as here is cannot suffer so great an offence without feeling Let your wisedome direct you in those affayres with the discretion which hath alwayes gone with you that for louing you and taking pitty of your euill I may not haue in exchange matter to grieue for you to whom I promise all ayde and fauour I sent this Billet as I told you to deceiue Galathee and indeed I repented me of it shortly after as I will tell you It was about a moneth after Fleurial was gone when behold there comes a knight armed at all pieces an vnknowne Herald with him and to keepe all men from knovvledge of him he had his visor downe By his port euery one iudged of him as hee was indeede And because at the towne-gate the Herald had demaunded to be conducted to Amasis euery one desirous to heare some newes accompanyed him Being come vp to the Castle the Guarde of the towne left him to them of the Gate-house And after they had giuen notice to Amasis they were brought before her who had sent for Clidaman to giue audience to these strangers The Herald after the Knight had kissed the robe of Amasis and the hand of her sonne sayd thus with words halfe outlandish Madam this knight whom you see being borne of the greatest of his countrey hauing knowne that in your Court euery man of honour may demand reason of them that offend him is come vpon this assurance to cast himselfe at your feete and to beseech you that Iustice which you neuer denyed to any may be allowed him in your presence and before all these fayre Nymphs to draw reason from him who hath done him the iniury by the meanes vsuall to persons so wronged Amasis after she had some while thought with herselfe at last answered that it is true that this sort of desence of honour had alwayes beene vsed in this Court but she being a woman did neuer suffer them to come in armes yet her sonne was of age to manage greater affaires than these and she would referre her selfe to that he should do Clidaman without staying for the Heralds replie turning to Amasis said Madame it is not onely to be serued and honored of all those that inhabit this Prouince wherein the gods haue established you the Soueraigne Lady and your Ancestours also but much rather to punish them that are faulty and to honour those that deserue well the best meanes of all is by Armes at the least in those things that cannot otherwise be searched out so that if you abolish out of your estate this most iust fashion of discouering the secret practices of the wicked you giue way vnto licencious lewdnesse that will neuer feare to doe euill so that it may be performed in secret Beside that these strangers being the first that in your time haue had recourse to you haue some reason to complayne to be the first refused So that since you haue referred them to me I will tell you sayd he turning him about towards the Herald that this Knight may frankely and freely accuse whomsoeuer he will for I promise him to assure himselfe of the field The Knight then set his knee to the ground kissed his hand by way of thankes and made a signe to the Herald to hold on Sir sayd he since you doe him this grace I must tell you he is heere in search for a Knight called Polemas whom I desire may be shewed me that I may finish what I haue vndertaken Polemas hearing himselfe named came forward saying in a fashion lofty enough that he was the man whom he sought for Then the vnknowne Knight presented to him a piece of armour and the Herald sayd This Knight would say that he presents you this gage promising that he will be tomorrow by the Sunne rising at the place that shall be appointed to fight with you to the vttermost to prooue on you that you haue wickedly inuented that which you haue sayd against him Herald I receiue said he this gage for though I know not thy Knight yet wil I not leaue to be most aslured to haue iustice on my side as knowing well that I neuer sayd any thing against the truth and let the morrow be the day of triall At this word the Knight after he had saluted Amasis and all the Ladies returned into a Tent which hee caused to be spred neere the towne-gate You may thinke that this put all the Court into diuers discourses especially Amasis and Clidaman who loued Polemas well had much griefe to see him in this danger yet their promise bound them to graunt the field As for Polemas he prepared himselfe as full of courage to the combate without hauing knowledge of his enemy And for Galathee that by this time had almost forgotten the offence that Lindamor had receiued from Polemas besides that shee beleeued not that he knew his euill came from thence she neuer thought of Lindamor nor I neither who tooke him to be an hundred leagues from vs and yet it was he who hauing receiued my Letter resolued to be reuenged in this sort and so vnknowne came to present himselfe as I told you But to make short for I am no great good warriour and so I should if I would particularize this combate talke somevvhat improperly After long combate they had both of them equall aduantage and they were both so loaden with
arte that before I was aware and seeming to bee through want of heed hee got vnder my hand for my part I seemed not to note it vsed him as I did al the others but he on the contrary tooke mee by the hand so that making shewe to cast downe his I perceiued his mouth on mine This act made me blush and making shew not to heed it I turned my head away as hearkening to the brawle we danced This was the cause that he stayd somewhile before he spake to me not knowing as I thinke where to begin At last vnwilling to lose this opportunity which he had so long sought he aduanced himselfe before me and rounded in the care of Corilas that led me in that dāce so loud yet faining to whisper that I heard these words I wold to God Corilas the contention betweene the father of this shepheardesse mine might be ended in vs two and then went to his place And Corilas answered him loud enough Make not you this attempt Celadon for it may bee you neuer attempted any thing more dangerous What hazard so euer it hath answered Celadon aloud I will not deny that I haue spoken giue my hart in pawne In such promises replied Corilas they vse not to offer lesse assurance then that yet within a while after it is gainesaid Whosoeuer reioyneth the shepheard makes difficulties to run such a fortune as you threaten I shal hold him for a man of small courage It is a vertue answered Corilas to be couragious but it is also a folly to be rash By proofe replied Celadon you shall know what I will do and in the meane time I promise you at a word that I will neuer gainesay it And because I made shew not to heed their discourse directing his words to me he sayd And you faire shepheardesse what is your opinion I know not answerd I of what you speake He hath told me sayd Corilas that to draw a great good out of a great euill hee wishes your fathers hatred were changed into loue betweene their children How answerd I seeming not to know him are you the sonne of Alcippe And hauing answered me Yea and moreouer my seruant Me thinks sayd I it were fitter for you to ioyne to some other that may haue more occasion to agree with you then I. I haue heard it sayd replied Celadon that the gods do punish the offences of the fathers on their children but among men it hath not bene the custome which is not for that it is not allowed to your beauty which is diuine to vse the same preuiledges that the gods do but if it bee so you are like then to grant pardon when it is demanded of you Is it so shepheard interrupted Corilas that you begin your combat with crying mercy In this combat answered he to be ouercome is a kind of victory for my part I am willing enough prouided that she wil take the spoyle I thinke they had continued their discourse longer if the dance had held out longer but the end of it separated vs and euery one went to his place Somewhile after they began to propound prizes for diuers exercises which they were accustomed vnto as the Lute to Runne and cast the Barre whereto Celadon for being too yong was not admitted but only to the course whereat he won the prize which was a garland of diuers flowers which was set on his head by the whole assembly with great commendation that being so yong had ouercome so many shepheards Hee without any long dreaming tooke it off came to me to set it on my head saying very low See the confirmation of what I sayd I was so surprized that I could not answere had it not bene for Artemis your mother Phillis I had giuen it him againe not for that comming from his hand it pleased me not but because I feared Alce Hippolite would not think wel of it But Artemis that rather desired to quench then kindle these ancient hatreds commanded me to take it and to thanke him which I did so coldly that euery one might well thinke it should not haue bene done but by the command of my Aunt All this day passed thus the next day also the yong shepheard losing no occasion to make his affection appeare to me And because that on the third day they had a custome to represent in honor of Venus the iudgement which Paris gaue of the three goddesses Celadon resolued to thrust himselfe among the maids vnder the habit of a shepheardesse You know well that on that third day about the end of the feast of the great Druide they haue vsed to cast among the maids an apple of gold whereon are written the names of the three shepheardesses whom they thinke to be the most faire in the company with this word Be it giuen to the most faire of the three And that after they haue dressed her which is to represent the person of Paris who with the three shepheardesses enter into the Temple of Beauty dedicated to Venus where the doores being shut shee giueth iudgement of all three when she sees them naked but onely a thinne Lawne which couers them from the girdle-stead almost to the knees And for that once it was abused and that some shepheards had thrust themselues among the shepheardesses it was ordayned by a publique Edict That he that did commit the like fault should without remission be stoned by the Maides at the gate of the Temple Now it hapned that this Youth without consideration of the great danger that day attired himselfe like a shepheardesse and forcing himselfe into our company was taken for a maide and as Fortune would fauour him my name was written on the Apple and Malthe and Stella and when they came to set downe the name of her that bare the personage of Paris I heard him name Orithee which was the name that Celadon had taken God knowes if his soule receiued not all the delight it was capable of when he sawe his dessigne succeed so well In the end we were brought into the Temple where the Iudge being set in his seat the doores being shut and we three onely remayning with him we beganne according to the order to vnclothe ourselues and because euery one must go apart and speake to him and make the offers that the three goddesses had sometimes made to Paris Stelle who was most forward to put off her clothes went first to present her selfe to him whom he beheld some while And after he had heard what she would say he caused her to returne to giue place to Malthe who was got before me for that ashamed to shew my selfe naked I delayed as much as I could the putting off of my clothes Celadon thinking the time long and after he had some short while entertayned Malthe seeing that I came not called for mee In the end not able to delay it no longer I was constrained but O God when
in me certayne sparkles of goodwill to him How Madam said Leonide will you loue a shepheard Do you not remember who you are I do so Leonide said she I remember my selfe well enough but you must also know that these shepheards are as good as Druides or Knights their Nobility is as great as others being all descended from the antiquity of the same stocke so that the exercise where to they addict themselues cannot make vs others then we are from our birth so that if this shepheard be wel borne why should not I think him as worthy of me as any other Finally Madam said she he is a shepheard how euer you disguise him In fine said Galathee he is an honest man how euer you will qualifie him But Madam answered Leonide you that are so great a Nymph the Lady after Amasis of all these goodly Countries wil you haue a minde so base to loue a man borne of the meaner sort of people a clowne a shepheard a fellow of no worth My friend replyed Galathee leaue these reproches and remember that Enone made her selfe a shepheardesse for Paris and when she had lost him she lameuted and wept away in hot teares Madame said Leonide he was the sonne of a King and besides the errour of another ought not to cause you to fall into the same fault If it be a fault answered she I referre my selfe to the gods who haue counselled me by the Oracle of their Druide but that Celadon is not borne of as good bloud as Paris my friend thou hast no brayn if thou sayst so for are they not sprung of one originall Moreouer haue you not heard what Siluie talkt of him and his father You must know that they are not shepheards for not hauing meanes to liue otherwise but to buy by this sweete life an honest quietnesse And how Madame reioyned Leonide haue you also forgot the affection and seruices of the gentle Lindamaur I would not said Galathee that forgetfulnesse should be the reward of his seruices neither would I also that the loue Lought to bear him should be the ruine of all my contentments Ah Madame said Leonide remember how faithfull he hath beene Ah my friend said Galathee consider that this is the way to be eternally vnhappy For my part answered Leonide I shrug with my shoulders at these iudgements of loue and know not what to say but onely that extreme affection and intire fidelitie the employment of an whole age and a continuall seruice should not be so long receiued or receiued deserue to be payd with other money then a change For Gods sake Madame consider how deceitfull they are that tell other mens fortunes that for the most part they are but sleight imaginations which their dreames brought forth for the most part lying that of an hundred accidents which they fore-tell hardly one falls out to be true and for the most part ignorant since busying themselues to know the fortune of another they cannot finde their own And doe not you for the fantasticall discourse of this fellow make so miserable the man that is so deare to you Set before your eyes how hee loues you in what dangers he hath beene thrust into for you what combate he had with Polemas and what his despaire hath bin what griefes doe you now prepare for him and what deathes will you cause him â—oinuent for his destruction if he haue knowledge of this Galathee wagging her head answered her You see Leonide the businesse is not now about the choyce of Lindamaur or Polemas as here to fore but of my wel or euil doing The considerations which you haue are good to you whom my misfortune touches not but by way of compassion yet to me they are exceeding dangerous since it is not for a day but for euer that this misfortune threatens me If I were in your place and you in mine it may be I would aduise you as you doe me But vndoubtedly an euerlasting misfortune terrifies me as for the lyes of these men you speake of I will beleeue for your sake that it may be it will not so fall out yet it may be also that it will fall out and then tell me I pray you thinke you that party for wise that for the contentment of another wil leaue on the ballance it may be all his good or euill If you loue me hold not on this discourse otherwise I must thinke that you respect more the contentment of Lindamaur then mine And touching him make no question but he will seeke his consolation by some other meanes then death for both reason and time are both soueraigne helpes to this fury and indeed how many haue you seene of these great despairers vpon like occasion that some while after haue not repented of their despaires Thus did these faire Nymphs discourse when far off they saw Siluie returne from whom because she was so yong Galathee was desirous to conceale it as I said This was the cause she cut off her discourse so short yet she forbare not to say to Leonide If euer you loued me you would make it appeare to me at this time since it is not only far from my contentment but from my felicity also Leonide could not answere her because Siluie was so neere that she might ouerheare Being come Galathea knew that Celadon was awake for at the doore she heard him grone and sigh And it was true for in a while after they were gone out of the chamber he waked suddenly and because the Sun shone full on his bed thorow the glasse at the opening of his eyes he was so dazeled and confounded with so great brightnesse that he knew not where he was the trauaile of the day passed had so weakned him yet by this time he felt no maner of grief so that calling into his mind his fall into Lignon and the opinion that hee had had a little before of being dead seeing himselfe now in so confused a brightnesse he knew not what to iudge except it were that Loue had taken him vp into heauen for a reward of his faithfulnesse and that which abused him more in this point was that when his sight began to extend it selfe hee saw nothing about him but the deckings of gold and of lightsome pictures with which all the roome was adorned which his feeble eyes could not as yet discerne from counterfait On the one side hee saw Saturne leaning on his sickle with his haire long his forehead rough his eyes hollow his nose hooked like an Egle his mouth dropping with bloud full with the morsels of his children whereof he held one halfe eaten in his left hand in which in the opening which he had made on the side with his teeth a man might see the lights as it were to pant and the heart to tremble A sight indeed full of cruelty for that child had the head writhed ouer the shoulders the arme hanging forward and the legs stretching out
the composition which was vnder it so that the flame burst forth so suddainely that the Nymphs which were at the doore seeing at the first the Mirrour glister and presently the fire so suddaine and violent tooke such a feare that they returned with great opinion both of my holinesse of the respect to the diuinity which I serue Could this beginning bee better carried then it was No certainly answered Polemas and I thinke well for my part that euery body which had not knowne of it before might be easily deceiued While Climanthe talked thus Leonide harkened to it so rauished from her selfe that she knew not whether she slept or waked for she saw well that all that he told her was very true yet could she not well beleeue that it was so and while she disputed in her selfe she heard Climanthe beginne againe Now these Nymphs went away and I could not know what report they would giue of me yet by coniecture there was no likeli-hood but they would tell to euery one the admirable things which they had seene and as renowne increases alwaies the Court was full of nothing but of me And at that time I had much adoe to continue my enterprise for an infinite company came to see mee some of curiosity others to be instructed and many to know if that which they talked of me was so And I was driuen to vse great cunning Sometimes to auoyd them I gaue out that that day was a mute day for the Deity that I serued another time that some body had displeased it and that it would not answer vntill I had appeased it by fasting another time I set downe conditions for the ceremonies which I caused to vse which they could not performe without some good time and sometimes when all was finished I found matter to say that either they had not well obserued all or that they had done too much or too little and so I made them begin againe and went winning time As for them whom I knew any thing by I dispatched them quickly and that was the cause that others desirous to know as much as the former submitted themselues to what I would Now during that time Amasis came to see mee and with her Galathee After I had satisfied Amasis about that which shee de maunded which was in summe to know what the voyage should be that Clidaman had vndertaken and I had told her that he should runne an happy fortune that hee should be wounded and be in three battels with the Prince of France but that in the end he should returne with all sort of honour and glorie she went from me wonderfully contented and desired mee to commend her sonne to the Deity which I serued But Galathee much more curious then her mother drawing me aside said Father bind me intelling me what you know of my fortune Then I said she should shew me her hand I stood looking on it some-while and made her scratch thrice vpon the ground and hauing set the left foote forward I turned her towards the East and there made her looke vpward I took the measure of her foote and of her hand after that the compasse of her necke and with that measure I measured the girdle in height and in the end looking at once on both her hands I said Galathee you are happy if you knew your houre thrice-happy if you let it not passe either out of coldnes or for loue or wāt of courage But if you make not your self incapable of that good whereto heauen hath destinated you you can not wish to attaine to more happinesse and all that good or all that euill is prepared you by loue Be aduised then to take firme resolution not to suffer your selfe to be intangled with the perswasions of Loue nor the counsell of friends nor commandement of parents which vnlesse you do I thinke there is not any thing vnder heauen so miserable as you shal be O God! said Galathee you amaze me Be not amazed said I for that which I tell you is but to your good and that you may carry your selfe with all wisedome I will discouer vnto you all that the Diuinity that instructed me shal permit but remember to keepe it so secret that you trust no liuing creature with it After shee had promised mee I continued in this sort Daughter for the office whereunto the gods haue called mee suffer me so to name you you are and shall be serued of many great and worthy Knights whose vertues and merits may diuersly excite and mooue you but if you shall measure your affection either by your merites or by the iudgement you shall haue of their loue and fauour and not according to that that I shall declare vnto you you fill your selfe as full of misfortune as any creature out of the graces and fauours of the gods may in any wise bee For I which am the Interpreter of their will and pleasure in telling you this I take from you all excuse of igaorance so that now you are disobedient to them if you doe contrary and you know that the heauens rather demaund obedience and submission rather then any other sacrifice and therefore bethinke your selfe well of what I am to tell you That day that the Bacchanals runne thorow the streets raging and storming full of the Euthusiasme of their god you must be in the towne of Marseilles where many gallant Knights shall see you But take good heede to him that is clothed with cloth of gold and greene and whose whole suite shall be of that colour if you loue him I henceforth bewayle your misfortune and you cannot say other but that you shall be the marke of all disasters and of all misfortune for you shall then feele that which I may not tell you Father answered she somewhat astonished I know a good remedy for this not to loue at all My childe replied I this remedy is very dangerous for that not onely you may displease the gods in doing that which they will not but also in not doing that which they will Therefore take heede to your selfe And how replied she must I behaue my selfe I haue told you heeretofore answered I what you ought not to doe at this time I will tell you what you ought to do It is necessary in the first place that you know that all things corporall or spiritual haue euery one their contraries and their sympathisants from the least we may come to the proofe of the greatest but for the knowledge which you ought to haue this discourse may be vnprofitable and this that I say to you is to no other end but to cause you giue the better heed that as you haue this misfortune contrary to your happinesse so haue you a destiny so capable of making you happy that your felicity can not be expressed and in this the gods will recompence that to which they haue subiected you Since it is so answered she I coniure you father by
went in and as they stood by the fire she began to speake thus In the end shepherd it is impossible I should longer liue with you and dissemble I must put off the maske to al my actions and so you shal know that poore Stelle whom you haue accounted so slitting is more constant then you imagine and desires onely that you should know it that for the satisfaction of the wrongs you haue done mee you would freely confesse you haue wronged me But said shee suddainely breaking off that speech what haue you done with the promise which you haue had of mee in the behalfe of Corilas for if you haue deliuered it him that onely may breake off our affaires who being in the place of Lisis would not beleeue shee loued him and would not be deceiued like him This shepheard being of opinion that shee would doe that for him for which she refused me without difficulty gaue her this promise which hee had alwaies kept most charily and most secretly as soone as she had it she tore it and going neere the fire made it a sacrifice and then turning toward the shepheard smiling shee sayd There is no more for you to doe gentle shepheard but you may hold on your way for it is ouer-late O God cried Lisis finding her practices Is it possible that the third time I should be receiued by one person And what cause haue you said Stelle to say you are deceiued Ah! perfidious and disloyall said he did you not come out to tel me that you would make it plaine that this last fault was to repaire the former and to make proofe that you are constant you layd open your naked heart and intentions Lisis said shee you come alwaies with your iniuries if I neuer loued you am I not constant not to loue you now And haue I not made you see what my heart is and whereto tend my actions but hauing that I would of you I leaue you in peace Beleeue that all the words which you haue made me lose for an houre together was but to recouer this paper and now since I haue it I pray God to giue you the good night What an amazement thinke you was the shepheard in It was so great that without speech or spending further time halfe besides himselfe hee went homeward But certainely he hath had since good occasion to bee reuenged For Semire as I haue told you which was the cause of my euill or rather of my good so I may cal that separation of amity feeling in himselfe yet the displeasure of the first disgrace which she had done him seeing this extreme leuity and considering that it might be she might serue him so he resolued to preuent it and so hauing abused her as we were Lisis and I he broke the treaty of marriage in the middest of an assembly which he had purposely caused to be made which procured many to say that by the same weapon whereby a wound is giuen oftentimes the punishment is receiued Corilas ended in this sort and Adamas smiling said My child the best counsell that I can giue you herein is to shun the familiarity of this deceiuer and to keep your selfe from her practices and to giue contentment to your parents that with great impaciency desire to see you married and when any good proffer is offered receiue it and stay not on these youthful tricks of Loue for there is nothing that can better warrant you from the plots and surprizes of this deceiuer nor which will make you more esteemed among your neighbours then to marry not so much by Loue as by reason it beeing one of the most important actions that you can euer doe and wherein all the happinesse or misfortune of a man may depend At this word they parted for it beganne to waxe late and euery one tooke the way to his lodging The end of the fifth Booke THE SIXTH BOOKE OF Astrea and Celadon ON the other side Leonide not hauing found Adamas at Feurs went backe the same way she came not staying but the time shee was to dine and because she resolued that night to abide among the shepheardesses which shee had seene the day before for the desire shee had to haue more particular knowledge of them she came backe to that place where shee met them when looking about her shee seemed to see some but not being able to know them for they were so farre off with a great compasse she came as neere to them as she might and then looking on their faces she found they were the same whom she sought for She might bee glad of this meeting for by fortune they were come out of their Hamlet with a purpose to passe the rest of the day together and the better to spend the time they had a meaning there should be no more then they three that they might more freely speake of their greatest secrets so that Leonide could not haue come in a better time to satisfie her curiosity especially since they were but newly come Lying then to listen she heard Astrea taking Diane by the hand say Now is the time wise shepheardesse that you should pay vs that which you promised since vpon your word Phillis and I haue not made dainty to tell you all that you desired to know of vs. Faire Astrea answered Diane without doubt my word shall bind mee to discourse vnto you my life but much more the amity that is betweene vs kowing well that to conceale any thing in the soule from the person wee loue is to bee guilty of a very great fault that if I haue beene so slack to satisfie that which you desire of mee it was for that leasure would not permit mee for though I bee most certaine that I know not how to relate to you my youth without blushing yet it will be easie for mee to ouercome this shame when I shall thinke it is to please you Why should you blush said Phillis since there is no other fault but to loue If it be not replyed Diane yet at least it is a resemblance of a fault and they are so like that oftentimes they are taken one for another They replied Phillis which deceiue themselues so haue a very ill sight It is true answered Diane but it is our misfortune that there are more of that sort then of the good You will displease vs interrupted Astrea if you haue that opinion of vs. The loue which I beare to you both answered Diane may assure you that I know not how to giue bad iudgement For it is impossible to loue that which we esteeme not Moreouer that which puts me to payne is not the opinion which my friends may haue of mee but all the world besides for that with my friends I liue alwayes so as my action may content them and by that meanes opinion cannot be very strong in them but with others it is impossible so that with them reports may greatly preiudice one and for
In beauty other beauties farre As doth the Moone by night deface The brightnesse of each other Starre Though Filander spake these words high enough yet Daphnis heard but some of them by reason she was farre off but taking it somewhat remote she drew toward him without being seene as softly as she could though he were so intentiue to his imagination that had she beene before him he would not haue perceiued it as he since swore to me Hardly had she got neere him but she might heare him fetch a deepe sigh loud enough and after with a lowe voyce say And why will not my fortune haue me as fit to serue her as she is worthy to be serued and why may not she as well receiue the affections of them that loue her as shee giue them extreme passions Ah Callyre how pernitious to my repose hath your disguising beene and my boldnesse punished with a right iust infliction Daphnis heard Filander very attentiuely and though he spake plaine yet could she not comprehend what he meant abused by the opinion that he was Callyre this was the cause that bending an care more curiously she heard him lifting his voyce somewhat higher say But ouer-bold Filander who shall euer excuse thy fault or what great chastisement shall equall thine error Thou louest this shepheardesse and seest not that how much her beauty commands so much her vertue forbids thee how often haue I warned thee and yet thou wouldest not beleeue me Accuse none other of thine euill but thine owne folly At this word his tongue stayed but his eyes and sighes in stead of it beganne to giue testimony what her passion was whereof he had discouered but a little And to diuert him from his thoughts or rather to continue them more sweetly he rose vp to walke as he vsed and so suddenly that he perceiued Daphnis though to hide her selfe she fled away But he that had seene her to know who it was pursued her to the entry of a very thicke wood where he ouertooke her and thinking she had discouered that which he had so concealed halfe in choler sayd What curiosity Daphnis is this to come and spie me out in the night heere It is answered Daphnis smiling to learne of you by craft that which I should not know otherwise and herein she thought she spake to Callyre not hauing yet discouered that it was Filander Well held on Filander thinking to be discouered what great newes haue you learned All sayd Daphnis that I desired to know Will you then sayd Filander satisfie your selfe with your curiosity As well answered she as you and you are like to finde hurt of your deceit For this keeping about Diane and this great affection which you make shew of to her will bring you in the end but trouble and displeasure O God! cryed Filander Is it possible I should be discouered Ah discreet Daphnis since you know so well the cause of my abode heere you haue in your hands my life and my death but if you will bethinke you of what I am and what offices of amity you haue receiued from me when occasion is presented I will rather beleeue that you wish my good and contentment more then my despayre and ruine Daphnis as yet thought she spake to Callyre and had opinion that this feare was because of Gerestan who would take it euill if hee vnderstood that she did this office to her brother and to assure him sayd You ought to be so farre from doubting that I know of your affayres that if you had informed me I should haue yeelded all the counsell and all the assistance which you could desire of mee But tell mee this dessigne from poynt to poynt that your freenesse may binde me more to your seruice than the mistrust you haue had of me gaue me offence I will O Daphnis sayd he prouided that you promise me not to tell it to Diane vntill I giue consent This is a discourse answered the shepheardesse which we shall make to no good purpose to her her humor heerein being more strange then you are aware of That is my griefe sayd Philander hauing from the beginning knowne that I enterprise a dessigne almost impossible For when my sister and I resolued to change habit shee taking mine and I hers I well fore-sawe that all that would be to mine aduantage was that I might conuerse more freely with her for some few dayes so disguised that she might not know me for Filander How interrupted Daphnis all surprized how for Filander and are not you Callyre The shepheard that thought she had knowne it before was halfe mad to be discouered so foolishly but seeing the fault was past and that he could not call backe the words he had spoken thought it to some purpose to preuent her and sayd You may see Daphnis if you haue cause to be sorry for me and to say that I trust you not since so freely I discouer vnto you the secret of my life For that which I will tell you is of that moment that as soone as any other knowes it there is no more hope of health in me but I will rely and so referre my selfe to your hands that I cannot liue but by you Know then shepheardesse that you see before you Filander in the habit of his sister and that loue in me and compassion in her haue beene the cause of our disguising and after went discoursing vnto her his extreme affection the fauours he had of Amidor and Filidas the inuention of Callyre to change habit the resolution to go to her husband attired like a man Briefly all that had passed in this affayre with such demonstration of loue that though at the beginning Daphnis wondred at his hardinesse and at his sisters yet so it was that she lost that wonder when she knew the greatnesse of his affection iudging that they might draw him into more great follies And albeit that if they had called her to thier counsell when they vndertooke the enterprize she would neuer haue aduised them to it yet seeing the effect had sorted to some good she resolued to assist him in all that was possible sparing neyther labour nor care nor art which she iudged fit to imploy and hauing made promise with all assurances of friendship she gaue the best aduice she could which was by little and little to engage me into his loue For sayd she Loue among women is one of those wrongs the words whereof offend more then the blowe It is a worke that none is ashamed to doe prouided the name be hidden So that I hold them the best aduised which cause themselues to be beloued of their shepheards before they speake a word to them of loue So that I oue is a creature that hath nothing rude in it but the name being otherwise so pleasing that there is none offended at it And therefore that Diane may entertayne it it must be without naming it especially without seeing it and
left the battaile Polemas had neuer confessed that you or any other should haue heard O poore Lindamor how must I bewaile thy fortune And what is it thou canst doe when thy most notable seruices are offences and iniuries But well Madame it may be you shall not haue long time to vse these cruelties for a most pittifull death may bring end to your mistakings and his punishment and it may be euen now when I speake he is no more and if it be so the Nymph Galathee is the onely cause Why doe you accuse me said she Because replyed I that when you would haue separated them and in recoyling your knee touched the ground hee would haue helped you vp in the meane time that courteous Polemas whom you commend so much wounded him in two or three seuerall places out of that aduantage where I saw the blood make the ground red but if hee dye for this it is lesse euill then that he receiues from you for seeing himselfe mistaken hauing done his endeuour this me thinks is a displeasure to which no other can be equalled But Madame may it please you to remember that heretofore you haue sayd to me in complayning of him that to blot out these speeches of Polamas he knew no other remedy hee was to serue himselfe of sword and blood And now hee hath done that which you iudged he should doe and yet you finde it not well done If Siluie and some other Nymphs had not interrupted vs before I had left off my discourse I had well aswaged this great minde of the Nymph but seeing so many persons we changed our talke And yet my words were not without effect though shee would make no shew of it to me but by a thousand passages I found the truth for from that day I resolued neuer to speake to her more of him vnlesse she asked me some newes She on the other side looked that I should speake first and so more then eight dayes passed without speech But in the meane time Lindamor was not without care to know both what was said of him in Court and what Galathee thought of him He sent Fleurial to me for this cause and to giue me word in a letter He did his message so well that Galathe◠tooke no notice of it his Billet was thus The Billet of Lindamor to Leonide MAdam who doubts of my innocency shall bee no lesse guilty against the truth yet if the closed eyes see not the light though without shadow it shine on them I may be suffered to doubt that my Lady for my misery hath her eyes shut against the brightnesse of my iustice bind mee by assuring her that if the blood of my enemy cannot wash away the staine with which he hath gone about to defile me I wil voluntarily adde thereto mine own that I no otherwise preserue my life which is hers but that her rigour shall make mee ready to render it I enquired particularly of Fleurial how he fared if there were any that knew him and I vnderstood that hee had lost much blood and that much hindred his healing but there was no danger that to bee knowne it could not bee because the Herald was a Franke of the army of Meroue who kept about the banks of Rhine at that time and they that attended him were not suffered to go out of doores and that his Aunt and Sister tooke him but for the knight that fought with Polemas whose valour and liberality wonne them to serue him with that care that they were not to doubt but he would be better that hee had commanded him to come know of me what the bruite was in the Court and what he was to do I answered him that hee should carry to Lindamor that all the Court was full of his valour though he were vnknowne that for the rest hee should looke to his healing and that I for my part would bring what I could to his contentment Thus I gaue him mine answere and told him the day before your departure When Galathee comes into the garden inuent some occasion to go to see your Aunt and take leaue of her for it is necessary for our busines that I speake with you againe He failed not and by fortune the next day the Nymph being come toward euening into the garden Fleurial came to make his reuerence and would speake with her but Galathee that thought it was to giuer her letters from Lindamor stood so confused that I saw her change colour and looked pale like death And because I feared Fleurial would perceiue it I came forward said to her Madam here is Fleurial that would go to see his Aunt because she is sicke and desires you to giue him leaue for some few dayes Galathee turning her eies and words to mee asked what her disease was I thinke answered I it is so many yeeres passed that it takes from her all hope of recouery Then she turned to Fleurial and sayd Go and returne quickly but not before she be well if it be possible for I loue her well for the speciall good will which shee hath alwayes borne mee At this word she held on her walking and I set my selfe to speake to him and shewed in my gesture more then indeed of displeasure and admiration that the Nimph might note it at last I told him See Fleurial you 〈◊〉 sacrer and wise thereon depends all our good or all your euill and aboue all do what Lindamor shall command you After he had promised me he went his way and I disposed my countenance the best I could to sadnesse and displeasure and sometimes when I was in place where the Nymph only might he are I fained to sigh and lift vp mine eies to heauen and strike my hands together and to be short I did al I could imagine to giue her some suspition of what I would She as I told you that looked alwayes when I should speake of Lindamor seeing I sayd nothing but on the contrary auoided all occasions and in stead of that pleasant humor which made mee bee esteemed of among my companions I had but a troubled melancholy by little and little began to bee of opinion that I would giue it her but not all for my purpose was to make her beleeue that Lindamor going from the combat was so sore wounded that he was dead that pity might obtaine that of that glorious soule which neither affection nor seruices could Now as I told you my plot was so well fitted that it fell out as I did fore cast for though she would dissemble yet could she not choose but be as liuely touched for Lindamor as any might be And so seeing me sad and mure she imagined either he was in very hard case or some thing worse and felt her selfe so pressed with this vnquietnesse that she could not possibly longer hold out her resolution Two daies after that Fleurial was gone she made me come into her cabinet and seeming to
him and giue him the most cruell displeasure that any might haue O Lindamor how vayne are these thy propositions At this time Clidaman being departed with Guymantes to seeke the aduentures of armes and then hee went to the army of Merone and though hee went priuately yet his actions made him well enough knowne and because Amasis would not haue him stay there in that sort she leuied all the forces she could make to send to him and as you know gaue the charge to Lindamor and kept Polemas for gouerner vnder her of all her prouinces vntill the comming of her sonne which she did as well to giue satissaction to these two great personageÌ„s as to separate them a little for euer since the returne of Lindamer they haue had some brabble together were it for that there is nothing so secret which in some sort is not discouered and for that Polemas had some coniecture that it was hee against whom he fought or that loue only was the cause so it was that all men knew how little good will they bare each to other Now Polemas was wel content and Lindamor went away with no ill wil the one that he might be neere his Mistrisse the other that hauing occasion to do seruice to Amasis he might thereby binde her hoping by this way to make easie the passage to that good which hee aspired But Polemas that knew by the eye how much hee was out of fauour and contrarily how many fauours his riuall had receiued hauing now no hope neither in his seruices not in his merits ran to subtilty And behold how he sets vp a man but the most crafty and deceitful that euer was in his mistery whom without acquainting any in the Court he caused secretly to see Amasis Galathee Siluie Silere me and all the other Nymphs and not only shewed him their face but told him what he knew of theÌ„ all namely the things most secret whereof being an old Courtier hee was well informed and after desired him to faine himselfe to be a Druid or great diuine Hee came into that great wood of Sauigneu neere the faire gardens of Mont-brison where by asmall riuer where he might passe ouer he made his lodging and tarried there some while seeming to be a great diuiner so that the bruite of him came to vs and specially Galathee went to him to know her fortune This crafty companion could so well play his part with such circumstances and ceremonies that I must confesse the truth I was deceiued as well as others So it was that the conclusion of his cunning was to tell her that the heauens had giuen her by influence the choice of a great good or a great euill and it was wisedome to choose That both the one and the other was to proceed from that which shee should loue and if she neglected his aduice she should be the vnhappiest woman in the world and contrarily most happy if she made a good election that if she would beleeue him he would giue her so certaine knowledge both of the one and the other that she had no more to do but to discerne them And looking in her hand and after on her face hee sayd Such a day being within Marsellis you shall see a man clad in such a colour if you marry him you are the most miserable in the world Then hee let her see in a mirrour a place which is by the riuer of Lignon said You see this place go at such an houre you shall finde the man that shall make you most happy if you marry him Now Climanthe so is this deceiuer called had eunningly knowne both the day that Lindamor was to depart and the colour of his cloaths and his dessine was that Polemas seeming to go hunt should be at the place which he shewed in the glasse Now heare I pray you how all fell out Lindamor failed not to come forth apparelled as Climanthe had foretold and that day Galathee who had good remembrance of Lindamor stood so astonied that she could not answere to what hee sayd The poore knight thought it was for the griefe of his departure so farre off so that after he had kissed her hand hee went away to the Army more contented than his fortune required If I had knowne she had beene of that opinion I would haue endeuoured to haue diuerred her from it but shee kept it so secret from me that as then I had no knowledge of it Afterward the day drew on that Climanthe had told her that she should finde about the Lignon him that should make her happy Shee would not tell mee all her dessigne onely shee let me vnderstand if the Druyde were true in that which he said that the Court was so empty that there was no pleasure in it that for a while Solitarinesse would be more pleasing that she was resolued to goe to her Palace of Isour as priuately as shee could possibly and that of her Nymphs she would haue but Siluie and me her Nurce and the little Merill As for me that was cloyed with the Court I sayd that it would be fit to withdraw a while and so letting Amasis know that she would take physicke shee might be gone the next morning But it was her Nurce that confirmed her in that opinion for this good old woman that loued her Nurce-child very tenderly easily being drawne to credite these predictions as for the most part all of her age are counselled her to it and pressed her so that finding her already so inclined It was an easie thing to thrust her into this Labyrinth For my part I was neuer more astonied for suppose there be but three persons in this great building But the Nymph which well marked the day that Climanthe had set prepared the euening before to goe thither and in the morning dressed her selfe the most to her aduantage she could and commaunded vs to doe the like In that sort we went in a Coach to the place assigned where being arriued by chance at the houre which Climanthe had sayd we found a shepheard almost drowned and halfe couered with mud and grauell whom the fury of the water had cast on our shore This shepheard was Celadon I know not if you know him who by chance being faine into Lignon wanted of drowning himselfe but wee came so fitly that wee saued him for Galathee be leeuing it was hee that was to make her happy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 time beganne to loue him so as shee thought 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 paine to her vs lay him in the Coach and then to the Palace he all this whiâ—â— not coming to himselfe As then the saâ—â— the fright of death the scratchâ—â— he had in his face kept him that his beauty could not be perceiued And for my part I ourse the Inchanter and Diuine vvhich was the cause we tooke so much paine for I sweare I neuer had the like in my life But after hee came to himselfe and that his face
all times the weakenesse of my affection So that I am enforced by your vertueite beseech you to turne this ouer-ardent passion into a moderate amitie which I entertaine with all my heart For this is not a thing impossible and that which is not so cannot be ouer-hard to me for your seruice This answer had beene sufficient to haue diuerted her if Loue had not been of the nature of powder which is then most violent when it is most restrained For against those former difficulties she opposed some sort of reason that Celion ought not so soone to leaue Bellinde it would be too great lightnesse if at the first summons hee should be gone But Time taught her to her cost to deceiue her selfe For after that day the shepheard disdained her so that he shunued her and often chose rather to be absent from Bellinde than to be forced to see her It was then that so easily she shipped her selfe on so dangerous a sea and so notable for the ordinary shipwracks of them that ventured on them and not long able to beare out this displeasure she grew so sad that shee fled from her companions and the places where in before she delighted and at last fell sicke in good earnest Her deare Bellinde went presently to see her and vnawares desired the shepheard to beare her company But as the sight of the good we cannot get doth but increase the desire so this visitation did but make Amaranthes euill worse The night being come all the shepheardesses withdrew and there stayed but Bellinde with her so sorry for the euill of her companion for she knew not what it was that she tooke no rest and when shee asked her of it for answer she had nothing but sighes Whereat Bellinde at the first being astonied in the end offended with her said I neuer thought Amaranthe had so little loued Bellinde that she could haue concealed any thing from her but by that I see I was deceiued And where as I might haue said heretofore I had a friend I may now say I loue a dissembler Amaranthe who for shame had shut vp her mouth vntill then seeing they were alone and being pressed with such an affection resolued to trie the last remedy which she thought fittest for her defence Casting from her all shame as farre off as she could twice or thrice she opened her mouth to tell her all but her words died so betweene her lippes that this was all she could do to bring foorth these broken words laying her hand ouer her eyes as not daring to looke on her to whom she spake My deare companion sayd she for so they called themselues Our amity will not suffer me to hide any thing from you knowing well that though it be told you what concernes me shal be as carefully kept secret by you as by my selfe Excuse then I beseech you the extreme error which to satisfie our amity I am constrained to discouer to you You aske me what my griefe is and whence it comes know that it is Loue borne from the perfections of a shepheard But alas at this word ouercome with shame and displeasure turning her head another way she held her peace with a torrent of teares The astonishment of Bellinde could not make her coniecture yet to giue her courage to make an end she said I did not thinke that a passion so common to all would haue brought you this trouble To loue is a thing ordinary but that it is from the perfections of a shepheard this happens but to persons of iudgement Tell me then who this happy man is Then Amaranthe taking her speech againe with a sigh drawne from the depth of her heart said But alas this shepheard loues else-where And who is he said Bellinde It is answered she since you will know your Celion I say yours my companion because I know he loues you and that this sole amity makes him disdaine mine Excuse my folly and without seeming to know it leaue me alone to complaine and endure mine euill The wise Bellinde was so ashamed when she heard this discourse of the error of her companion that though she loued Celion as well as any might be loued yet she resolued on this occasion to giue proofe of that she was not And therefore turning towards her she said Indeed Amaranthe I suffer in paine more than I can speake of to see you so transported in this affection for it seemeth our sex will not permit vs so intire an authority of loue but since you are in these termes I thanke God it lights in such a place that I may giue proofe of what I am to you I loue Celion I will not deny it as if hee were my brother But I loue you also as my sister and I wish for I know hee will obey me that he loue you more than mee rest your selfe on mee and reioyce you alone prouided you acknowledge when you are recouered what Bellinde hath beene vnto you After some other like discourse the night constrained Bellinde to withdraw leauing Amaranthe with such contentment that forgetting her sadnesse in few dayes shee recouered her former beauty In the meane time Bellinde was not without paine who studying for some meane to make her purpose knowne to Celion found at last as fit a commodity as she wished By fortune she met him as he was playing with his Ram in the great pasture where the greatest part of the shepheards fed their flockes This beast was the leader of the troopes and so well taught that he seemed to vnderstand his master when he spake to him Whereat the shepheardesse took such pleasure that she stayed long at it At last she would trie if it knew her as well as him but it was much more ready to euerie thing shee willed whereupon drawing aside from the company shee said to Celion What thinke you brother of the acquaintance betweene your Ramme and me It is the pleasantest that euer I sawe Such as it is faire shepheardesse sayd he if you will do me the honor to receiue it it is yours But you are not to wonder that he giues you all obeâ—sance for he knowes well I would else disclame him for mine hauing learned by so many songs which hee hath heard of mee as I passe vp and downe that I was more yours then mine owne This well expresses saith the shepheardesse the obedience of your Ram which I wil not receiue to to bee emploied more for you then mee but since you giue mee so intire power ouer you I will try it by ioyning to a commandement a most affectionat prayer There is nothing answered the shepheard which you may not command me Then Bellinde thinking she had found the commodity she sought for pursued her discourse thus from the day that that you assured me of your amity I iudged the same good will to be in you so also it bindeth mee to loue and honor you more then any person liuing Now though I say