the arme that gaue it the beauty of Diane whose wound you feele being much lesse then yours must haue wrought lesse hurt in you then yours in me And yet if you loue with so great violence consider how Amidor ought to be vsed of Callire and what his affection may be for he knowes not how to declare it better then by the comparison with yours Shepheard answered hee if the knowledge which you haue of the loue I beare to Diane haue giuen you the boldnesse to speake to mee in this fashion I must beare the punishment which my want of consideration deserues in speaking so openly before you but so likewise are you to regard that being a woman I cannot by that discourse preiudice her honesty but you doe mine in talking so to mee who haue an husband that will not beare with patience this wrong if hee vnderstood it But besides since you speake of Diane to whom in truth I am intirely giuen I must tell you that if you will that I should measure your affection by mine according to the causes which wee haue to loue I do not thinke you loue much since that which you name beauty in me may not in any sort retaine that name being by hers Faire shepheardesse said Amidor I neuer thought one could offend you in louing you but since it is so I confesse that I deserue chastisement am ready to receiue what you shall award It is true you ought also to adde to the same punishment al that I shal deserue in louing you the rest of my life for it is impossible I shuld liue without louing you And do not think the displeasure of Gerestan shal euer diuert me he that feares neyther hazzard nor death will neuer dread a man But for that which touches you I confesse I haue failed in comparing you with Diane being without doubt ill proportioned on her side It is true that it is not as of a thing equall but as of the lesse with the greater and being of opinion that that which you feele may giue you more knowledge of my payne I haue committed this error wherein if you pardon me I protest neuer to fall into it againe Filander which loued me in good earnest and was of opinion that Amidor did so likewise could hardly brooke to heare him speake of mee with such misprize if he had not had a purpose to discouer what it was but desiring to clearē himselfe and thinking he found a good occasion hee had so much power ouer himselfe that without making shew of it hee sayd What is it possible Amidor that your mouth should vtter those words which your heart giues the lye so strongly to Thinke you that I know not well that you are a dissembler and that long since your affection hath beene for Diane My affection replyed he as surprized let neuer any loue me if I loue other shepheardesse then you I say not but sometimes I haue beene one of her friends but her vnequall humour sometimes all on fire sometimes cold like yce hath so remooued me that at this time she is indifferent vnto me How sayd Filander dare you say so since I know that indeed she hath loued you and doth yet loue you I deny not sayd Amidor but she hath loued me and going on somewhat smiling I will not sweare she loues me not yet but I can suffer it well so she be not beloued of me and I leaue all the care to her This which Amidor spake was much after his humour for it was his vsuall vanity to desire that men might thinke he had great good fortunes and for this cause it was his manner to make himselfe of purpose so familiar with them he conuersed with that when he would draw backe he could with his smile and cold laughter make men beleeue what he listed of them At this bout Filander found out his craft and had it not beene that he feared to discouer himselfe he found himselfe so touched with my wrong that I thinke he had reprooued him for his lie yet could hee not forbeare to answer him sowrely enough Truly Amidor you are the most vnworthy shepheard that liues in so good company you haue the courage to talke in this sort of Diane to whom you haue professed so much goodwill and to whom you are so much obliged What may we hope we that come short of her in merit since neyther her perfections nor her friendship nor your alliance can curbe your tongue For my part I suppose you to be the most dangerous person liuing and who desires quietnesse must be carefull to shunne you as a disease most contagious At this word he left him and came to seeke vs. His visage so inflamed with choler that Daphnis knew wel he was displeased with Amidor who stood so amazed at this parting that he knew not what to doe Afterward in the euening Daphnis enquired of Filander of their discourse and because shee loued mee and iudged that shee could not choose but encrease the loue which I bare the fayned Callire in the morning she told it me with that sharpenes against Amidor so cōmodiously for Filāder that I must confesse that since I could not easily hold my selfe from louing him when I acknowledged to my thinking that his good wil had bound me to him But Daphnis who knew well that if I loued him then it was because I thought him to be Callire and daily counselled him to discouer himselfe to me saying that at the first I would reiect him and be angry but in the end things should be so orderd and for her part she would labor in that sort that shee hoped it might be brought about But shee had not so strong perswasions that they could giue him courage which made Daphne resolue to do it her selfe without his knowledge fore-seeing well that Gerestan would haue his wife home and then all this craft would be to no purpose In this resolution one day when she found me alone after some ordinary discourse But what shall become in the end sayd she of this folly of Callyre I beleeue verily you will make her lose her right minde for she loues you so passionately that I thinke she cannot liue If Filidas goe one day forth to lye abroad and you will one night come out of your chamber you shall see her in that case that I haue often found her in for almost euery night that is fayre she spends them in the garden and pleaseth her selfe so with her owne imaginations that I can scarce draw her but with force to her rest I would gladly sayd I giue her some comfort but what would she haue of me Do not I render her loue for loue Do I not expresse it sufficiently in all mine actions Want I any kinde of courtesie or duty towards her It is true but replyed she if you heard her discourses I thinke not but you would haue compassion and I beseech you that without her
I know not what may fall out her eaâ—ter and I referre my selfe to that that shall bee but for that which is yet there is no likelihood Now Polemas seeing that I heard what he would say and that I harkened to it with patience being there by made the more hardy not marking that I liued with others in the same sort is gone so far that he knows not what he does he is so much beside himselfe And indeede this night he daunced with me some while at the first so chiding that I was constrained without thinking of it to aske him what the matter was Shall it not displease you said he if I discouer it No answered I for I neuer aske for the thing I would not know Vpon this assurance he went forward I must tell you Madame that it is not in my power not to be offended at the actions which I see ordinarily before mine eyes and which touch me so to the quicke that if I had as great assurance as I haue suspition I know not if there were any thing able to keep me aliue In sadnes I was yet so simple that I knew not what he would say yet thinking his loue had tied mee to some sort of curiosity I asked what actions those were that touched him so to the quicke Then pawsing a little and looking stedfastly on me he sayd Is it possible Madame that without fiction you aske me this And why answered I would you not haue me do so Because added he it is you whom all these things concerne and it is from you that they proceed and then seeing that I spake not a word for I knew not what he would say he beganne togoe on and told mee I would not haue you dissemble in this businesse without blushing For resolutely I will enforce my selfe to tell you though the discourse cost me my life You know Madame with what affection since the heauens made me yours I haue indeuoured to giue proofe that I was truely the seruant of the faire Galathee you can tell if euen vntill-now you haue knowne any action of mine tended to other end than your seruice If all my dessignes haue not taken that poynt for their marke and if all my desires arising from thence haue not shevved themselues satisfied and contented I assure my selfe that if my fortune deny me to deserue any thing more in seruing you yet at the least she will not refuse me this satisfaction from you that you will confesse that truly I am yours and no others but yours Now if this be so iudge what griefe I ought to haue after so much time spent not to say lost when if there be any reason in Loue I ought with greater reason to haue expected some reward of my affection I see another fauoured in my place and an inheritour as I may say of my goods before my death Excuse mee for speaking in this manner the extreme passion drawes these iust complaints out of my soule which though it would yet can it not longer be silent seeing he that triumphs ouer me hath got the victory rather by destiny than merit It is Lindamor of whom I speake Lindamor whose seruice is the more happily receiued of you by that that he is to giue me place both in affection and faithfulnesse My griefe is not to see him more happy than he durst wish for but indeed to see him so at my cost Excuse me Madame I beseech you or rather accuse the greatnesse of my affection if I complayne since it is but a more manifest proofe of the power which you haue ouer your most humble seruant And that which makes me speake so is that I note you vse towards him the same words and the same fashion of treaty that you did towards me at the first breeding of your goodwill and when you permitted me to speake to you and that I might say to my selfe you knew mine affection This putteth mee so farre besides my selfe with such violence that hardly can I commaund ouer these furious extremities which you put me to and which the offence bringeth to my soule and can produce no effects of discretion He would haue sayd more but the passion wherein he was so suddenly tooke from him his voyce that it was impossible for him to hold on longer If I were offended at his words you may iudge for they were both rash and full of vanity and not to be borne with yet that I might not giue knowledge of this brabble to them that haue eyes but to spie the actions of others I was compelled to make him an answer a little lesse eager than I had done had I beene else-where and I sayd Polemas that which I am and that which you are will not suffer me to doubt that you are my seruant so long as you stay in the house of my mother and performe the seruice of my brother but I cannot wonder enough at the follies which you mixe in your discourse in talking of heritage and of your goods In that which is from my loue I know not by what right you pretend yours My intention Polemas hath bene to loue you and esteeme you as your vertue deserues and you are not to imagine beyond that And for that you talke of Lindamor get out of that error for if I vse him as I haue done you you are to thinke I will doe so to all those that heereafter shall merit it without other designe greater then to loue and esteeme him that deserues it in what subiect soeuer it be found And how madame said I then interrupting her thinke you this a gentle answer I know not how you could haue honestly sayd more for indeed it must be confessed hee is arrogant but yet it may not be denied but this arrogancy is bred in him vpon some shew of reason Of reason answered the Nymph prese ntly What reason can he alledge Many Madame replied I but to conceale them all but one I may say to you that truely you haue allowed him to serue in a more peculiar manner then any other That is said Galathee for that he pleased me more then the rest of my brothers seruants I confesse it madame said I and seeing himselfe so farre in your good graces how could he hope for lesse then to bee beloued of you Hee had heard talke of so many examples of loue betweene vnequall persons that hee could not flatter himselfe lesse then to hope the same for himselfe which he heard spoke of others I remember that vpon that subiect he made verses which he sung before you it is some while since you commanded him to conceale his affection they were these A SONNET VVHerefore if you loue me Feare you the world should know Then honest Amity What can make fairer shew The spirits vertuons It each to other ties And far from humane hearts Expelleth vanities But if your choice be such That you displeased are And that you thinke me vile Vnworthy such
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
without doubt this little god happily for some wager which he hath made with his mother hath not forborne one tricke which alwayes ought to be vsed for old age to make so faire a wound Or if it be not for a wager it is to make vs see in this old thing that the dry wood burns better and more easily then the greene or to shew his power on this old hostesse of tombes it pleaseth him to make proofe of the burning of his torch with which it seemes he hath giuen a new soule and to speake in a word whom hee hath made to rise againe and come out of the coffin The fourth Table BVt let vs passe to the other See a night well represented see how vnder the darknesse of these shadowes these mountains appeare so as they shew but a little and so that in effect one cannot iudge what it is Marke how the starres seemes to twinckle see the others so well disposed that one may know them See the great Beare looke how the iudicious workman though she haue twenty seuen starres yet he representeth clearely but twelue and of these twelue yet he makes but seuen clearely shining See the little Beare and consider that for that these seuen starres are neuer hidden though it hath none of the third magnitude and loure of the fourth yet he makes vs see them all obseruing their proportion See the Dragon in which he hath well set the thirty one starres but he hath not shewed them so well as the thirteene fiue whereof as you see are of the fourth magnitude and the eight of the third Behold the crowne of Ariadne who hath her eight starres but there are but sixe of them that are well seeneâ— yet see on of them shining brighter then them all You may see on the other side the Milky way by the which the Romaines hold that the gods come downe into earth and mount backe into heauen But these clouds are well represented which in some places runne through the Skie with great largenesse and in others onely like a light smoake and some allouer and as they be more or lesse raysed are more or lesse bright Now let vs consider the history of this Table see Mandrak in the midst of a circle a white rod in her right hand a booke all greasie in the other with candle of virgins waxe and thicke spectacles on her nose Looke how she seemes to mumble and how she holds her eyes turnd after a strange fashion her mouth halfe open and making a countenance so strange with browes that show she trauels with affection But haue regard how the foot arme and left shoulder are naked that is for that it is the side of the heart these fancies that you see about are diuels which by the force of her charmes she hath constrained to come to her to know how she may be beloued of Damon They tell her of the affection which he beares to Fortune that there is no better meane then to perswade him that this shepheardesse loues elsewhere and to do it more easily she must for this time change the vertue of the fountaine of the truth of Loue. Before you passe farther consider alittle the workemanship of the picture see the effects of the Candle of Mâ—ndrake among the darknesse of the night She hath all the left side of her face bright and the rest so darke that it seemes to be of a different visage the mouth halfe open seemes within to be bright so farre as the opening will suffer the light to enter And the arme which holds the Candle you may see neare the hand very darke because the booke which shee holds shadowes it and the rest is so bright aboue that it makes the blacknesse shew the more beneath And with the like consideration may bee obserued the effects which the Candle giues among the diuels for they all according as they are turned to it are brighter or darker And see another great peece of art in this picture which is distance for the perspectiue is so well obserued that you would thinke that this other accident which he would represent on the other side is out of this table and farre distant from it and yet this is Mandrake that is in the fountaine of the truth of Loue. But to make you vnderstand all know that sometimes before a faire shepheardesse daughter to a learned Magitian fell secretly in loue with a shepheard which her father perceiued not were it for that the charmes of Magicke can do nothing ouer the charmes of loue or were it that altogether attenâ—iue to his study he cast not his eye on hâ—â— So it was that after an hot burning amitie for that in loue there is nothing more insupportable then disdaine and this shepheard neglecting her for that he had long time beene vowed elsewhere she was brought to that passe that by little and little the fire increasing and her strength diminishing she came to die her fathers knowledge not being able to succour her Whereat the Magitian being very sorry when he knew the occasion for a marke of her memory euer after changed her tombe into a fountaine which he named the truth of loue because that he that loues if he looke into it shall see his Lady and if he be beloued he shall see himselfe by her or him whom she loues or if shee loue none she appeares alone And this is that truth which Mandrake would change that Damon comming to see and finding his mistresse loued another he should loose like wise the affection he bare her and so she might haue the place free And see how she enchants it what caractars she makes round about what triangles what squares interlaid with rounds beleeue she forgets nothing which was necessary for this affaires toucheth her too neare Beforetime she had by her charmes assembled all her diuels to finde remedy to her euill but for that loue is more strong then all this they durst not vndertake it against him but onely counselled her to worke this treason to these two faithfull louers And for asmuch as the vertue of the fountaine came by the enchantment of a Magitian Mandrake which surmounted in this science all her predecessors may put it out for a while But let vs passe to the Table that followeth The fifth Table THe fifth Table continued Adamas hath two actions The first when Damon came to this fountaine to free him from the paine which a trouble some dreame had brought him the other when deceiued by the craft of Mandrake hauing seene in the fountaine that the shepheardesse Fortune loued another in despaire he killed himselfe Now let vs see how well they are represented See Damon with his speare for he is in the same sort set out as he was wont to go on hunting Behold the way he followes marke with what care his faithfull beast attends his maister for while he lookes into the fountaine it seemes the eyes are so bent towards him
both that they sware so firme a league betweene them that they neuer after separated and this was the first day that Astrea came out of her lodging So that these her two faithfull companions were now with her but they were no sooner set down but they might perceiue farre off Semire who came to finde her This shepheard had long time beene amorous of Astrea and knowing that she loued Celadon thought that he was the cause of his bad successe beeing now perswaded that hauing driuen away Celadon he might easily obtain his place he came to seeke her out that he might beginne his designe but he was much deceiued for Astrea hauing found out his craft conceiued such an hatred against him that when shee spyed him shee would lay her hand ouer her eyes that she might not see him and desired Phillis to tell him from her that he should neuer present himselfe to her And these words were spoken with such a change of looke and so great a vehemency that her companions easily found out her great stomake which more readily incensed Phillis against the shepherd When he heard this message hestood so confused in his thoughts that it seemed he could not moue At last ouercome enforced by the acknowledgement of his error he said Discreete Phillis I protest the heauens are iust in giuing me more sorrow then an heart is able to beare since they cannot equall their punishment according to mine offence hauing beene the cause of the breach of the fairest and most intire loue that euer was But that the gods may not more rigorously chastise me tell this faire shepheardesse that I aske pardon both of her and of the cinders of Celadon assuring her that the extreme affection which I bare her without more was the cause of this fault that banished from her and from her eyes iustly offended I may goe lamenting all my life long At this word hee went away so vncomfortable that his repentance mooued Phillis to some pittie and beeing come backe to her companions shee told them his answer Alas sister sayd Astrea I haue more reason to fly this wicked man then to weepe iudge you if I ought not this is he without more that hath beene the cause of all my sorrow How sister said she is Semire the cause of your sorrow Hath he such power ouer you If I durst tell you his wickednes sayd Astrea and mine owne folly you would say that he hath vsed the greatest Arte that the craftiest spirit could inuent Diane knowing that that was the cause that she spake no more plainely to Phillis for that it was yet but eight or ten dayes that they grew to that familiarity said to them that it was no part of her purpose to take any thing from them by constraint And you faire shepheardesse said shee turning to the sad Astrea giue me occasion to thinke that you loue me not if you be more reserued to me then to Phillis for that though it be not long that I haue inioyed the good of your familiarity yet are you to be no lesse assured of my affection then of hers Phillis then answered I assure my selfe that Astrea will alwayes speake as freely before you as before her selfe her humor being not to loue by halues since she hath sworne to be such she hath nothing in her soule to conceale It is true continued Astrea and that which held me from saying more was onely for that the putting the weapon againe into the wound will but poyson it Yet so it is replied Diane that oftentimes you must vse the weapon to heale it and for me I thinke that to speake freely of the disease to a friend is to make him a party and if I durst desire you it would be a great satisfaction to know what your life hath beene as my selfe also will not make it dainty to tell you mine when you shall be desirous to know it Since you will haue it so answered Astrea that you haue a mind to partake in my sorrowes I will so that afterwards you impart to me of your contentments and that in the meane time you suffer me to vse that breuity in the discourse which you desire to vnderstand from me and truly an history so vnfortunate as mine will not please but by being short And being all three set in a round she began to speake in this manner The History of Astrea and Phillis THey that know what it is when friendship or hatted passe from father to son may well conceiue Celadons fortune and mine and without doubt may affirme that they be not deceiued For faire Diane I beleeue you haue often heard speech of the old hatred betweene Alce Hippolite my father and mother and of Alcippe and Amarillis the father mother of Celadon their displeasures accompanying them euen to their graue which hath beene cause of so great trouble among the shepheards of this Country that I assure my selfe there is no man ignorant of it along the shore of the cruell and dishonoured Lignon And yet it seemeth that Loue to shew his power of persons so opposite would vnite two so straitly that nothing could breake the lines but death For hardly had Celadon reached to the age of foureteene or fifteene yeeres and I of twelue or thirteene but that at an assembly which was had at the Temple of Venus which is on the top of this mountaine seated in the Plaine right ouer against Montsur about a mile from the Castle of Monbusor this young shepheard sawe me and as he hath told me since he had long before conceiued a good liking vpon the report which was made of me But the let which I told you our fathers tooke from him all meanes and I must tell you that I do not thinke he bare a greater liking then did I for I know not how when I heard speech of him my heart danced in my belly and this was but a presage of the troubles which since befell mee on that occasion Now at the instant when he saw me I know not how he found matter of loue in mee so that within a while after hee resolued to loue me and to serue me And it seemeth that at this first view both the one and the other of vs was at this passe that wee must loue so that as often as it was told mee that hee was the sonne of Alcippe I found a certaine change in my selfe which was not ordinary and thenceforth all his actions began to please me and much more agreeing to my liking then of all the other yong shepheards of his age and for that as yet he durst not come neere me that speech was denied him his lookes at his commings and goings spake to me so often that at last I knew he had a longing to tell me more and to effect it at a game that was kept at the foot of the mountaine vnder the old elmes that yeelded a pleasant shade he vsed such
and honour them And on the contrary vpon the least shew of mislike which one giues them they quickly thinke they are hated because loues are naturall but enmities are not so and they that goe against nature it must be on a resolute designe whereas they that follow that way seeme to do by custome Therefore Hylas I tel you that you shall more easily make Carlis beleeue you hate her vpon the least euill will you shew her then you can perswade Stilliane you loue her And because you may see she hath on her heart that you loue Carlis beleeue me that that which you haue to doe of most necessity is to giue her knowledge that you no more loue this Carlis which you must do by some action known not onely to Carlis but to Stilliane and many others To be short faire shepheardesse he knew so wel to turne me on euery side that at last I writ to the poore Carlis this letter The Letter of Hylas to Carlis I Write not at this bout Carlis to tell you that I loue you for you haue beleeued it but too well but to assure you that I loue you no more I know certainly you will be amazed at this declaration since you haue alwayes loued me almost beyond my desire But that which drawes me from you is I must confesse your misfortune that will no longer continue to you the pleasure of our amity or rather my good fortune which will haue me no longer stay at so poore a thing And to the end you may not complaine of me I bid you farewell and giue you leaue to take it as you thinke good for you are to haue no more hope in me By fortune when shee receiued this Letter she was in very good company and Stilliane her selfe was there which so much misliked this action that there was none in all that troope that blamed mee more Which Carlis vnderstanding I pray you sayd she to her binde me for euer and make him an answer For my part sayd Stilliane I shal be a good Secretary and then taking paper and inke in the presence of all the rest wrote thus to me in the name of Carlis The answer of Carlis to Hylas HYlas thy arrogancy hath beene such that thou art perswaded thou art beloued of mee and the knowledge which I haue of thy humour and my will which haue alwayes iarred are such that they haue kept mee from louing thee so that all the loue which I haue borne thee hath beene onely in thy opinion and such was my vnhappinesse and thy good fortune and heerein there is nothing of certainty but that indeed when thou thoughtst thou wert beloued of me thou were deceiued I sweare vnto thee Hylas by all the merits which thou thinkest thou hast and which are not in thee which are a greater number than those that disable me from being worthy of thee The aduantage which I pretend in all this is to be exempted heereafter from thy importunities and not to be vtterly vnthankefull for the pleasure thou hast done me in this I cannot wish better for thee nor for my selfe but that the heauens would make thee alwayes hold on this resolution to my contentment as they haue giuen thee the will to reiect me for my importunities In the meane time liue content and if thou hast asmuch as I being freed from so combersome a burden beleeue me Hylas it shall not be small I must not lie the reading of this letter touched me a little for I knew well in my conscience I had done wrong to this shepheardesse but the new affection which Stilliane had bred in me suffered me not to stay long and at last howsoeuer it was I cast the fault on her For sayd I in my selfe If she be not so fayre nor so louely as Stilliane is it I that am guiltie Let her complayne to them which haue made her of lesse perfection And for my part what can I contribute but to be sorry and bewayle with her her pouerty But this ought not to hinder me from adoring and desiring the riches of another With such reasons I endeuoured to chase froÌ„ me the compassion which Loue had made in me And thinking I had no more to do than to receiue Stilliane who by this time mee thought was wholly mine I desired Hermante to carry to her a letter in my behalfe and withall I let him see the Letter I writ to Carlis that she should no more doubt her He that truely was my friend in euery point that concerned Carlis made not dainty and taking a fit time when shee was alone in her lodging as he preâ—ented to her my Letters hee sayd smiling to her Faire Stilliano if the fire burne the foole that comes too neere it if the Sunne dazle the blinde that dares looke full on it and if the sword giue death to him that receiues it into his heart you must not thinke it strange if the miserable Hylas comming too neere you is burned if daring to behold you he be dazled and if receiuing the faral stroke of your eyes he feele the mortall wound in his heart He would haue gone on but she all impacient interrupted him Cease Hermante you labour in vaine neither Hylas hath worth enough nor you perswasioÌ„ sufficient to giue me the will to change my contentment for his Nor wish I my selfe so much euill nor so much good to Hylas that I will consent to mine owne vnhappinesse by beleeuing your words It suffices me Hermante that the humour of Hylas is knowne to mee at anothers cost without mine owne triall And it should be enough to you that Carlis is weakely deceiued though you serue not as an instrument for the ruine of some other If you loue Hylas I loue Stillaine much more and if you will giue him the counsell of a friend counsell him as I counsell her that is that shee neuer loue Hylas say to him likewise that he neuer loue Stilliane And if hee will not beleeue you assure your selfe to his confusion hee shall employ his time in vayne and for the letter which you present me I will make no difficulty to take it hauing so good defences against his weapons that I feare not a whit the blowes At this word vnfolding my letter she read it aloude it was at last but an assurance of my affection by the Conge which I had giuen to Carlis for her sake and a right humble supplication that she would be pleased to loue me She laughed after she had read it and turning to Hermante asked him if he were willing she should make an answer And he answering that he desired it passionatly she willed him to haue a little patience and she would go write It was thus The answer of Stilliane to Hylas HYlas see how weakely founded your dessignes are you would that in consideration of Carlis I should loue you and there is nothing that pronokes me more to hate you than the memory which
thus to you I would not haue you thinke that I haue diminished this good will for it shall accompany mee to my graue and yet it may be you would do it if I had not forewarned you but bind me by beleeuing that my life and not my amity may diminish These words put Celion into much paine not knowing whereto they tended at last hee answered that hee attended her will with great ioy and great feare with ioy for that he could imagine nothing more beneficial to him then the honor of her commandements and with feare for that he knew not for what cause she threatned him yet death it selfe could not be vnwelcome to him if it befell him by her commandement Then Bellinde held on Since besides your sayings at this time you haue alwayes giuen mee that witnesse of this assurance which you make mee that with reason I cannot doubt I will make no more difficulty not to intreate but to coniure Celion by all the amity with which he fauours his Bellinde to obey her at this time I will not command him a thing impossible much lesse draw him from the affection which he beares me rather on the contrary I will if it may be that he encrease it more and more But before I passe further let me know I beseech you if euer your amity hath bene of other quallity then it is now Celion then shewing a countenance lesse troubled then that which before the doubt had constrained him to haue answered that he began tâ—â—â—ope well hauing receiued such assurance that to satisfie her demand hee would againe auow that hee hath loued her with the same affections and passions and with the same desires that youth did vsually produce in hearts transported furthest by loue and that therein he would not except any one that since her commandement had such power ouer him it had got the like ouer his passion that his sincere amity had so far surpassed his loue that he did not thinke hee should offend a sister to loue her with that mind On my faith brother replyed the shepheardesse for so I will hold you the remainder of my life you so bind me by liuing thus with mee that neuer any of your actions euer got more ouer my soule then this But I cannot see you longer in paine Know then that that which I would haue of you is onely that preseruing inuiolably this good amity which you now beare me you place your loue on one of the fairest shepheardesses of Lignon You may say this is a strange office for Bellinde yet if you consider that she of whom I speake would haue you for her husband and that she is after you the person whom I most loue for it is Amaranthe I assure my selfe you will not wonder at it She hath intreated and I command you by all the power I haue ouer you She made haste to giue him this coÌ„mandement fearing that if she staied long she should not haue the power to resist the supplications which she foresaw What thinke you faire Nymph became of this poore Celion he grew pale like a dead man and so besides himselfe that hee could not for a good while bring forth a word At last when he could speake with such a voyce as they haue that are in the midst of punishment he cryed out Ah cruell Bellinde haue you preserued my life till now to take it from me with such inhumanity This commandement is too cruell to let me liue and my affection too great to let mee die without despaire Alas suffer me to dye but let me die faithfull that if there be no meane to recouer Amaranthe but by my death I may sacrifice my self most willingly for her health the change of this commandement shall be no lesse witnesse that I am beloued of you then whatsoeuer you shall be able to do to me Bellinde was moued but not changed Celion sayd shee let vs leaue all these idle words you shall giue me lesse occasion to beleeue what you say to me if you will not satisfie the first request which I make you Cruell presently sayd the afflicted Celion if you will that I change this amity what power haue you more to comand me but if you wil not that I chaÌ„ge it how is it possible to loue vertue and vice and if it be not possible why for proofe of my affection will you haue a thing which cannot be Pitty thought to ouercome her and though she had â—uch paine for the griefe of the shepheard yet was it some contentment which could not be paralelled to know her selfe so perfectly beloued of him that shee loued so deare and is may bee might haue got something ouer her resolution had it not 〈◊〉 that she would put from Amaranthe all opinion that shee was attainted with her euil though she loued the shepheard and was well beloued yet she enforced her pitty which already had brought forth some teares into her eyes to returne into her heart without giuing knowledge that it was come and in the end that she might not fall againe into the same paine she went away and at her departing she sayd Account of me as pleases you I am resolued neuer to see you vntill you haue effected my praier and your promise and thinke that this resolution shall ouer-liue your obstinacy If Celion were besides himselfe seeing himselfe so farre from all consolation and resolution he may iudge that hath loued So it was that hee stood two or three days like a man lost running into the woods and flying from all those whom formerly he had conuersed with At last an old shepheard a great friend of his fathers one indeed that was very wise and who had alwayes loued Celion passing well seeing him in this case and doubâ—ing there was no passion strong enough to worke such effects but loue so sifted him on all sides that he made him discourse his paine where to he gaue some asswagement by his good counsell for in his youth he had often passed thorow the same straights And at last seeing him a little tractable he mocked at him for that he had such paine for so small a matter telling him that the remedy was so easie that hee might be ashamed that it should bee knowne that Celion esteemed wise by euery man and a person of courage should haue so little vnderstanding that hee knew not how to resolue in an accident that was not very difficult or at the worst could not dissemble and then hee went on But it had bene fit that at the beginning you had made these difficulties for so she shall thinke your affection extremee and this shall tie her to loue you the more but since you haue made that demonstration it wil suffice that to content her you make shew of that which shee commands This counsell at last was receiued of Celion and executed as it was propounded It is true that he wrote this letter to Bellinde before Celions letter
couered with teares Stanzaes on the death of Cleon. THe beauty which to cinders death doth turne Despoyling it of mortall state so soone Like lightning mounts and doth like fire burne So short a life hath so great beauty wonne Those eyes late authors of sweete vndertakings From more deare Loues are clos'd for euer fast Faire eyes that were of such a wondrous making That none beheld but lou'd them e're they past If this be true beauty from vs departs Loue vanquish'd weepes that conquered heretofore And she that gaue life to a thousand hearts Is dead yet liues in my heart euermore What good henceforth is worthy of our loue Since perfectest is soonest ranisht still As shaddow doth after the body mooue So euery good is seconded with ill Cleon it seemes thy destiny hath sworne Euen in thy East to finish vp thy day And that thy beauty dead as soone as borne Should meete her coffin in her cradles way No thou diest not it is much rather I Since all my life I liuing tooke from thee If louers life in thing beloued lie I hauing lou'd thee thou reuiu'st in me So if I liue Loue giues the world to know That his command he can to death impart Or being God his mighty power to shew Makes Louer liue without or soule or heart But Cleon if the will of Fate be so Of humane frailty that the smart you trie Loue wils to yours my fortune equall grow You by my plaints I by your death doe die Thus I powre forth my plaints that new life brings Death to surprise my sorrow being lame And my two eyes changed to lasting springs Bewaile mine ill but cannot lesse the same When Loue with me to shew compassion Laments this faire losse whence my paines dâ—still Drâ—e saith he teares mourne in another fashion So much all teares are lesser then our ill Licidas and Phillis were very curious to know the griefe of this shepheard if their own would haue giuen them leaue but seeing he had as much need of consolation as themselues they would not ioyne another mans euill to their owne and so leauing the other shepheards attentiue to finde it out they held on their way no man following them for the desire euery one had to know what this vnknowne company might be Licidas was not gone far before they heard another voice some good way off which seemed to come towards them and they willing to harken were hindred by the shepheardesse who held the shepheards head in her lap with these complaints Well thou cruell well shepheard without pitty how long shall this obstinate humour of thine indure against my prayers How long hast thou determined that I should be disdained and contemned for a thing that is not and for the sake of one dead I should bee depriued of that which cannot profit it Consider Tyrcis consider thou Idolater of the dead and enemy to the liuing what the perfection of my loue is and begin at last begin to loue the person that liues and not them that are dead whom you must leaue in rest to God and not disquiet their happy cinders with vnprofitable teares and take heed lest in holding on thus you draw not on you the vengeance of your cruelty and iniustice The shepheard not turning his eyes to her answered coldly Would to God faire shepheardesse I might be suffered to giue you satisfaction with my death for to free you and my selfe also of the payne wherein we are I would choose it rather then my life but since as you haue told me this were but to increase your griefe I beseech thee Laonice enter into thy selfe and consider how small reason thou hast to make my deare Cleon dye twice It is sufficient since my mis-hap will haue it so that she hath once paid the tribute of her humanity then if after her death she be reuiued in me by force of my loue why cruell will you haue her dye againe by the forgetfulnesse which a new loue will cause in my soule No no shepheardesse your reproaches shall neuer haue such power ouer me to make me to consent to so wicked a counsell because that which you call cruelty I name faithfulnesse and that which you thinke worthy punishment I iudge it to deserue high commendation I haue told you that in my Tombe the memory of my Cleon shall liue by my bones that which I haue sayd to you I haue a thousand times sworne to the immortall gods and to this faire soule which is now with them and thinke you that they will suffer Tyrcis to goe vnpunished if forgetfull of his oath he become vnfaithfull Ah! I shall sooner see the heauens cast forth their lightning on my head then euer offend either my oath or my deare Cleon. She would haue replied but that then the shepheard that went on singing interrupted them by comming vpon them with these verses The Song of Hylas IF she disdaine me then adew I leaue the cruell with her scorne Not staying till the morrow morne Before I chuse a mistrisse new It were a fault my selfe to pine By force to draw her loue to mine They for the most part are so wise They make no reckoning of our loues Wherein their heart a fire moues But that the flame must not arise So that we kindle other fires While we pursue our owne desires The ouer-faithfull vow-keeper Abused by his loyalty Loues beauty stuft with cruelty Seemes be not I doll worshipper That from an Image nothing strong Neuer findes succor for his wrong They say Who open passage leaue To be importunde euery day At last must giue himselfe away But so we little good receiue When we may easly meete some one To be importunate vpon These Louers lo that faithfull are Are alwaies full of dolorous feares Deepe sighes complaints and showring teares Are commonly their daintiest fare It seemes the Louers chiefest part Is onely to weepe out his heart A man how can you call him well That manly honour layd aside Cries like a boy cannot abide Apples losse or Wall-nuts-shell May you not rather call him foole That loues such displing in Loues schoole But I who all such follies flye That nothing bring with them but care By others harmes warn'd to beware Doe alwaies vse my liberty And am not discontent at all That they doe me inconstant call At these last verses the shepheard was come so neere to Tyrcis that he might discerne the teares of Laonice and because though they were strangers yet they knew one the other and to busie them a while by the way the shepheard knowing the sorrow of Laonice and Tyrcis rowsed himselfe to accost them in this manner O desolate shepheard for by reason of this sadde time of life such was the name that euery man gaue him if I should be like you I should thinke my selfe most vnhappy Tyrcis hearing him speake rose vp to answer him And I Hylas if I were in your place how might you call me vnhappy
but on words onely but for my part I finde that he that offends howsoeuer it be is an enemy and therefore I may well giue you that name To me replied she I would neyther haue the deed nor the thought for I make too great account of your merit See adioyned the shepheard one of the blowes wherein you offend mee more in telling mee one thing for another then if truly you would acknowledge in me that which you say for that I hold my selfe wronged by you in asmuch as you say you fauour me But I see well you thinke it enough to beare Loue in your eyes and in your mouth without giuing him place in your heart The shepheardesse then finding her selfe surprised as not hauing vnderstood his speech of loue answered him I make account Alcippe of your vertue as I ought and not beyond my duty and touching that you talke of loue beleeue it I will haue it neyther in mine eyes nor in my heart for any man and much lesse for those base spirits which liue like Sauages among the woods I know well replyed the shepheard that it is not the election of Loue but my destiny which compels me to be yours since that if Loue ought to arise from the resemblance of humour it would be very hard that Alcippe should not be for you who from his Cradle hath hated this countrey life and protesteth vnto you if I must change my condition to haue a part in your loue from hencefoorth I forsake the Sheephooke and my Flockes and will liue among men and not among Sauages You may well answered Amarillis change your condition but not make me change being resolued to be neuer lesse mine owne then I am now to giue place to any stronger affection if you will wee should continue the life which we haue led for the time past change this discourse of affection of Loue into that you were wont to vse to me heretofore or else thinke not strange that I banish my selfe from your company it being impossible that Loue and the honest Amarillis should remaine together Alcippe that lookt for no such answere seeing himselfe so far from his hopes was so confounded that he staid somewhile before he could answere In the end being come to himselfe he began to perswade himselfe that the bashfulnesse of her age and sexe and not want of good will towards him had made her hold this course Therefore it was that he answered her Whatsoeuer you thinke of me I shall neuer be other then your seruant and if the commandement you giue me were not disagreeing with my affection you were to thinke that there is nothing in the world that might make me contradict it you must then excuse me and suffer me to hold on my purpose which is but a testimoniall of your merit and wherein will you nill you I am resolued The shepheardesse turning her eyes sweetly towards him I know not Alcippe said she whether for a wager or out of obstinacy you talke thus It is answered he for both for I haue laid a wager with my desires to conquer you or to dye and this resolution is changed into obstinacy there being nothing that can diuert me from the othe which I haue made I would be well pleased replied Amarillis that you had taken any other for the But of such importunities You may name my affections sayd the shepherd as it pleaseth you yet shall not this make me change my mind Nor you must not thinke much replied Amarillis if I be as firme in my obstinacy as you in your importunity The shepheard would haue answered but that hee was interrupted by many shepheardesses that came to them So that Amarillis for conclusion sayd very softly to him You may do me a displeasure if your purpose be knowne for I am contented to know your follies and it will be small pleasure that any others should vnderstand it So ended the first discourse betweene my father and Amarillis which did but encrease the desire in him to serue her for nothing addeth so much to Loue as honesty And by fortune in the way this company met with Celion and Bellinde who were stayed to behold two turtles who were cheering making loue each to other no whit afraid to see many about them Then Alcippe remembring the commandement which Amarillis had giuen him could not hold from sighing out these verses A Sonnet of the restraint of Honor. VEnus deare birds doues louing ouer all That double without end your kisses true And tyrde with cares do still by them renew Now your sweete peace and sometime your sweete brall When I behold you rest or stirre your wings As rauisht with the ease wherein you are O God then vs how be you happier far That freely'nioy the sweets your true loue brings Your fortune giues you leaue freely to shew The thing which we must hide that none may know By lawes vniust which honor graunteth vs Faint honor that makes vs turne our owne foes For cruell reasonlesse she wills it thus That stealth in Loue alone with pasport goes After this time he so suffered himselfe to be transported with his affection that there was no bound which he ouer-passed not and she on the contrary shewed her selfe alwaies more cold and icy to him and one day when he was requested to sing he sayd such verses A Madtigall on the coldnesse of Amarillis HEr heart of yce her eye all fire And mine directly contrary I freeze without but inwardly I scorch with flame of my desire Alas that Loue hath chosen to possesse My heart and thâ—eies of my faire shepheardesse Gods grant that once it may be well reuerst I in mine eyes she haue it in her brest At this time as I told you Alce made suite to Amarillis and because he was a right honest shepheard and esteemed wise the father of Amarillis inclined rather to giue her to him and not to Alcippe because of his turbulent courage and on the contrary the shepheardesse better loued my father because his humour came neerer to hers which the wise father well perceiuing and not willing to vse any violence nor absolute authority ouer her he thought that farre distance might diuert her from this will and so resolued to send her for some time to Artemis the sister of Alce who dwelt about the bankes of the riuer of Allier When Amarillis knew the deliberation of her father as alwaies they endeuour to things forbidden she tooke a resolution not to goe away before she had giuen Alcippe assurance of her good will in this dessigne she wrote these words YOur obstinacy hath ouer-passed mine but mine shall likewise ouer-passe that which constraines me to aduertise you that to morrow I goe away and that this day if you may find me on the way where we met yesterday that your loue can content it selfe with words it shall haue occasion to bee there and adieu It would be ouer-long Madame to tell you
better their country in stead of Gaul take the name of Frannce While I was entred into armes among the Franks the Gauls the Romans the Burgonians the Visigots and the Huns my brother was among them of loue armes so much the more offensiue for that they turne all their blowes vpon the heart his disaster was such if now I may bee suffered to cal itso that being bred vp by Clidaman he saw the faire Siluie but seeing her hee saw his death also not hauing liued since that but as drawing towards his tombe t◠tell you the cause I cannot for being with Childerick I knew nothing but that my brother was in extremity though I found al the cōtentments that might be as being regarded of my Master beloued of my companions cherished and honored generally of all for a certaine good opinion they conceiue of me for affaires that fell out which it may be got me with them more authority credit then my age and capacity might merit I could not knowing the sicknesse of my brother stay longer time with Childerick but taking leaue of him promising him to returne very shortly I came backe with the haste that my loue required As soone as I was come many ranne to tell him that Guymantes was come for so they call me His loue gaue him strength enough to lift vp himselfe in his bed he imbraced me with the most intire affection that one brother could do to another It would serue but to trouble you and wound my selfe afresh to recount vnto you the things which our amity wrought betweene vs. So it was that either 2. or 3. daies after my brother was brought to that extremity that he could hardly draw his breath and yet that cruell loue inclined him more to sighing then to the necessity hee had of breathing and in all his raging fits we could heare nothing but the name of Siluie I to whom the displeasure of his death was so violent that I could hardly dissemble wished so much euill to this vnknowne Siluie that I could not hold from cnrsing her which when my brother heard and his affection as yet greater then his disease hee enforced himselfe to speake this Brother if you will not bee my greatest enemy for beare I beseech you these imprecations which cannot but displease mee much more then my disease I had much rather not bee at all then that they should take effect and being vnprofitable what will it auaile you vnlesse it be to witnesse to me how much you hate that which I loue I know well my losse will trouble you and therein I haue more feeling of our separation then of my end But since euery man is borne to dye why with me do you not thanke the heauens which haue chosen me the fairest death and the most faire murderer that euer man had The extremity of my affection and the extremity of the vertue of Siluie are the armes by which her beauty is serued to put me into my griefe and why do you bewaile me wish euill to her to whom I wish more good then to my soule I thinke hee would haue said more but his strength failed and I more wet with teares of pitty then when against Attila I was all on a sweat vnder my armor and my armes sprinkled with bloud all ouer me Brother she that takes you from yours is the most vniust that euer was and if she be faire the gods haue done the iniustice in her for either they should haue changed her face or her heart Then Aristander hauing gotten a little more strength replied to me For Gods sake Guymantes blaspheme no more in this sort beleeue that Siluie hath an heart answerable to her face that as the one is full of beauty so the other is of vertue that if for louing her I die doe not you wonder because that if the eye cannot without dazeling abide the beames of one Sun without cloudy how may not my soule remaine dazeled at the beames of so many Suns which glister in this faire that if I haue scarce tasted such diuinities without death I may haue the contentment of him that dies to see Iupiter in his diuinity I would tell you that as her death giues witnesse that no other had euer seene so much of diuinity as shee so that no man euer loued so much of beauty nor so much of vertue as I. Now I that came from an exercise that made mee beleeue there was no loue forced but voluntary with which men go on flattering themselues in idlenesse said to him Is it possible that one sole beauty should be the cause of your death My brother answered he I am in such extremity that I thinke I cannot answere your demands but said he on taking me by the hand for brotherly loue and for our particular which binds vs yet faster I adiure you to promise me one gift I did so Then he said on Beare as from me this kisse to Siluy and then he kissed my hand and obserue that which you finde of my last will and when you see this Nympho you shall know that which you demand of me At this word with a blast his soule flew vp his body lay cold in my armes The affliction that I felt in this losse as it cannot be imagined but by him that hath beene in it so it cannot be conceiued but by the heart that suffered it and hardly can the word reach that which the thought may not attaine so that without longer abode in bewailing this disaster I wil say Madam that as soone as my dolours would suffer me I haue set my selfe on the way as well to render you the homage which I owe you and to demand iustice of you for the death of Aristander as to fulfill my promise which I made him against his homicide and to present that which by his last will he left in writing to the end that I may call my selfe as iust an obseruer of my word as his affection hath beene inuiolable But at the instant when I was presented before you and that I meant to open my mouth against this murderer I haue found my brothers words so true that not only I excuse his death but desire and require the like This shall bee then Madam with your permission which I will performe and then making a great reuerence to Amasis he chose from among vs Siluie and resting one knee on the ground he said Faire murtherer though on this faire brest there fall but one teare of pitty at the newes of the death of the person which was so much yours you cease not to haue entire honourable victory yet if you iudge that to so many flames which you haue lighted in him so small a drop shall not bee a great asswagement receiue at least the burning kisse which hee bequeaths you when presently his soule turned into this kisse which he set in this faire hand rich indeed with the
chuse but be assured of his affection Where to she answered that she neuer had the thought to dissemble with me and she would be very angry I should haue that opinion of her and to giue me more proofe since I desired she should intertaine Licidas she would obey me when she should know that he loued her as he said That was the cause that Celadon often finding her after with me gaue her a Letter that his brother had written by my aduice A Letter of Licidas to Phillis IF I haue not alwayes loued you let me neuer be beloued of any and if my affâ—â—tion do euer change let my present misfortune neuer change It is true that some-while I haue hidden my loue within my heart so that I haue not suffered it to appeare in my eyes nor words If I haue offended in it accuse the respect I carry you who haue ordained I should doe so If you beleeue not the oath which I haue made you take what proofe you will of me and you shall know that you haue me more yours then I can assure you by my true but most feeble words In the end wise Diane after many replies on both sides we so wrought that Licidas was entertained and from that time we began all foure one life which was not vnpleasing either of vs fauouring the other with the most discretion we could possibly And that we might the better couer our dessigne we inuented many meanes were it to talke were it to write in secresie It may be you haue noted that little rocke that standeth vpon the great way to the Rocke you must needs know that it is painefull to get vp but being there the place is so fenced that a man may be there vnseene of any and because it stands on the hie way wee made choice of it to meete in that none might spy vs and if any mette vs going by wee made shew to be on our way and that neither the one nor the other might go in vaine we put in the morning some bough at the foote of it for a marke that we had somewhat to say It is true that we were so neere vnto the high way that our raysed voyce might easily be heard of them that passed by this was the onely cause that vsually we left either Phillis or Licidas to watch that at what time soeuer they sawe any come afarre off they should cough to giue vs warning And because wee were vsed to write alwayes when we were letted or hindered and could not come to that place wee chose out along that little riuer that runnes by the great way an olde Willow tree halfe eaten for age in the hollow whereof we alwayes layd our letters and that we might more easily make answer wee vsually left some paper and an inkehorne To be short wise Diane we turned on euery side that wee possibly could to keepe vs from discouery And namely wee forthwith tooke this course not to talke together Celadon and I nor Licidas and Phillis so that there were many that thought that Celadon had changed his minde because that as soone as he saw Phillis he would haste to intertaine her and she shewed him all the good countenance she could and I likewise alwayes when Licidas came in place brake company from any other to go talke with him It fell out in successe of time that Celadon himselfe was of opinion that I loued Licidas and I beleeued he loued Phillis and Phillis thought Licidas loued me and Licidas suspected that Phillis loued Celadon in such sort that vnawares we found our selues so cumbred with these opinions that iealousie made vs know that a little shewe will cause him breed in an heart that loueth well Indeed interrupted Phillis we were Louers and Schollers at that time for to what purpose serued it to conceale that we truly loued by making men beleeue a loue that was not since you may as well feare that men should thinke you beare good will to Licidas as to Celadon Sister sister replyed Astrea clapping her hand on her shoulder we feare not when men doe thinke of vs that which is not and on the contrary the least suspition of that which is true giues vs no rest Truly iealousie continued she turning toward Diane so attached vs all foure that I thinke that life had long lasted among vs if some good spirit had not wrought in vs a cleering in the presence each of other Some seuen or eight dayes passed that we sawe not each other in the rocke and that the letters which Celadon and I layd were so differing from those we formerly vsed that it seemed they were differing persons At last as I told you some good spirit hauing care of vs caused vs by chance to meete all foure in that place without other company And the loue of Celadon therein more strong then the rest in that it compelled him to speake first put these words into his mouth Faire Astrea if I thought time could giue remedy to the paine I feele I would referre my selfe to that which it might bring but since the older it growes the more it increaseth I am enforced to seeke out a better by the complaint that I am to make to you of the wrong I receiue and I am more readily brought to it for that I am to make my complaint both before my Iudges and my aduersaries And as he was going forward Licidas interrupted him saying that he was in payne that in greatnesse differed not from his In greatnesse sayd Celadon it is impossible for mine is extreme And mine replyed Licidas is without comparison While the shepheards talked together I turned to Phillis and sayd You see sister these shepheards will complaine of vs. Whereto shee answered me But we haue more cause to complaine of them But yet sayd I although I haue great cause to complayne of Celadon yet I haue more of you who vnder the colour of the friendship you seeme to beare me haue drawne him from that hee made shew of to me so that I may say you haue robbed me And for that Phillis stood so confused at my words that she knew not what to answer Celadon turning to me said Ah faire shepheardesse but fleeting as fayre Is it so that you haue lost the memory of the seruices of Celadon and of your owne othes I complayne not so much of Licidas though he haue fayled in his duty of proximity and amity betweene vs as of you to your selfe knowing well that the desire which your perfections may bring into an heart may make it forget all respect of duty But is it possible that so long a seruice as mine so absolute a power as you haue euer had ouer me and so entire an affection as mine cannot somewhat stay the inconstancy of your soule or in good time if yet all that commeth from me be of so small force how comes it that your fayth so often sworne and the gods so often called
Whereupon Alcippe meaning to make vse of it deuised this crafty tricke I tell you There was a shepheard named Squilinder dwelling on the bounds of the Forrest in an Hamlet called Argental a cunning fellow and vntrusty and who among his other industries knew so well to counterfet all kinde of Letters that the man whom he initated can hardly discerne thefalshood To him Alcippe shewes what he found at the foote of the tree as I haue told you before and causes him to write another to Celadon in my name which was thus The counterfeited Letter of Astrea to Celadon CEladon since I am compelled by my fathers commaundement you may not thinke it strange that I pray you to end this loue which heeretofore I haue coniured you to hold eternall Alce hath giuen me to Corebe and though the match be to my aduauncement yet can I not leaue to feele sensibly the separation of our amity Yet since it is folly to contrary that which must not fall out otherwise I counsell you to arme your selfe with resolution and so to forget all that is passed betweene vs that Celadon haue no more memory of Astrea as Astrea is constrayned from henceforth to lose for dueties sake all the remembrance of Celadon This LeÌ„tter was brought so sinely to Celadon by a young shepheard vnknowne O God! what was he at the encounter and how great was the displeasure that cut his heart Then sayd hee by Astrea It is true that there is nothing of duraÌ„ce in the world since that firme resolution which you haue so often sworne is so readily changed Now you will make me be a witnesse that what perfection soeuer a woman may haue she can not bereaue her selfe of her inconstancie by nature Haue then the heauens agreed that for my greater punishment my life should remaine after the losse of your amity to the end that I should onely liue more extremely to feele my disastor And then falling into a swowne he came no sooner to himselfe but the complaints were in his mouth And that which most easily perswaded him of this change was this that the Letter did but confirme the common report of the marriage betweene Corebe and me He lay all that day on a bed vnwilling to speake to any person and the night being come he depriued himselfe of his companions he tooke to the largest and desolatest wood shunning the meeting of men more like a sauge beast desiring to die farre from the society and companie of men since they were the cause of his sorrow In this resolution hee ranne thorow all the mountaines of Foreste on the side of Ceruieres where at the last he chose a place which he thought least frequented of purpose to finish the rest of his sad and mournefull dayes there The place is called Lapau where riseth one of the springs of the disastrous riuer Lignon for the other spring proceedeth from the mountaynes of Cholmesel Now on the sides of this fountaine he built a prety Lodge where he liued retired more then sixe moneths during which time his ordinary nourishment were teares and plaints It was at that time that hee made this song A SONG Of Celadon vpon Astreat change IT must be that my constancy Hath quite bereaued me of sence If I feele not the iniury Your change hath wrought to my offence And feeling it I should remaine Without recourse to your disdaine For sworne you haue disdained mee For one you scarce had in your eye Because he hath more it may be Of goods and wealthier is then I. Vnfaithfull dar'st thou be so bold To sacrifice to Calfe of gold Where are the othes which we did make Where are the teares that showring fell To gods when we our leaue did take No doubt the heauens did marke them well Though your heart do it now forget Yet your owne month did publish it Periured eyes vnfaithfull flame That louest nothing but to change Let Loue on beauty like the same Of thine for me worke vengeance strange That makes a shew of bearing loue Only the greater flame to moue So ouer-prestwith sad distresse In Loue betraid one'gan complaine When it was told him his Mistresse Did for another him disdaine And thundring heauen for meere pitty Promis'd to venge his amity The wretched downe himselfe he threw Neere Lignon floud and as he sate Vpon the sand with finger drew There ciphers as he vs'd of late This happy cipher oh said he To vs no more will proper be And then a teare chill'd of the paine Which dolour iust thrust in his face Vpon the sand dropping amaine These double ciphers did deface Deface sayd he oh showring teare Them in my heart but not these there Thou Louer that right cowardly So long bewayl'st so dolefully A soule all made of forgery Since thou her change know'st certainly Either thou shortly art to die Or else recâ—â—er presently The solitarinesse of Celadon had beene much longer but for the commandement that Alcippe gaue to Licidas to seeke out his brother hauing a purpose in himselfe since he so well saw how vnprofitable his trauaile was no more to crosse this amity Now Licidas had long sought him but for a chance that befell vs the same day I was vpon the banks of Lignon and held mine eies ouer his streame thinking at that time of the losse of Celadon and Phillis and Licidas talked together some good while when we saw some little balles that lay swimming on the water The first that tooke heed to it was Phillis who shewed it to vs but we could not ghesse what it might bee And because Licidas knew the curiosity of his mistrisse to giue her satisfaction he went as far as he could into the water and so reached with a long branch that he tooke one but seeing that it was but waxe because hee was wet and angry that he tooke such paine for a thing of so small worth hee cast it in a rage against the ground and breaking it vpon a great flint stone it fell all in pieces and there remained nothing but a paper which had beene put therein which Phillis ranne presently to take vp and hauing opened it we read these words Goe paper more happy then him that sends thee to see these shores so much beloued where my shepheardesse dwels and if accompanied with teares wherewith I make this Riuer to swell it chances thee to kisse the sands where her steps are imprinted stay thy course and abide with good fortune where my mishap denies me to be If thou happen to come to her hands which haue taken from me my heart and she demand of thee how I doe tell her O faithfull paper that day and night I turne my selfe into teares to wash away her vnfaithfulnesse and if touched with repentance she wet thee with some teares tell her that by vnbending the bow she can neuer heale the wound which she hath made in her faith my Loue and that my griefes are witnesses both
approched I came to the doore where the first that I met with was Leonide and for that she was ready to enter thrusting her backe a little I sayd to her very rudely Leonide the Diuinity which I serue commands you not to profane his Altars At these words she stept backe halfe amazed for my habit of a Druyde made them giue me honour and the name of the Diuinity gaue me feare and after shee was assured she said to me The Altars of your God whosoeuer he be cannot be profaned by receiuing my vowes since I come but to render the honor which heauen demands of vs. Heauen answered I demaunds indeed vowes and honour but not differing from that they ordaine so that if the zeale of the Diuinity which I serue hath brought you hither then must you obserue that which it commaunds And what is his commaundement sayd Siluie Siluie sayd I if you haue the same intent that your companion hath doe you both that which I tell you and then your vowes shall be pleasing to him Before the Moone begin to wane wash your right leg to the knee before day and the arme to the elbow within this riuer that runnes before this holy Caue And then the leg and arme being naked come hither with a garland of Veruine and a girdle of Succorie after that I will tell you what you are to doe to be partakers of the sacred mysteries of this place which I will open and declare to you And then taking her by the hand I sayd Will you for testimony of the graces wherewith the diuinity whom I serue fauours me that I tell you part of your life and what shall befall you Not I sayd she for I haue no such curiosity But you my companion sayd she addressing her selfe to Leonide I haue seene you heretofore desirous to know it Now satisfie your desire I beseech you sayd Leonide presenting her hand to me Then remembring that that you told me of these Nymphes in particular I tooke her hand and asked her if she were borne in the day or night and knowing that it was in the night I tooke her left hand and after I had sometime coÌ„siderd of it I said This line of life clean wel mark'd long shews that you shall liue from the diseases of your body in good health but this little crosse which is in the same line almost at height of the angles which hath two little lines aboue and three beneath and these three also which are at the end of the line of life towards the turning shew in you the diseases which Loue shall giue you which will hinder you from that health of spirit which you haue of body And those fiue or sixe points which like little graines are sowed heere and there on the same line make me iudge that you neuer will hate them that loue you but rather that you delight to be beloued and serued Now marke this other line which takes his root from that we haue already spoken of and passing through the middle of the hand lifts it selfe against the mount of the Moone they call it the naturall Meane those cuttings that you see which skant appeare signifie that you are easily angry with them ouer whom Loue giues you authority And this little starre which turnes against the ground of the pulse shewes that you are full of bounty and sweetenesse and that quickly you will lose your choler But behold this line which we call Mensale that ioyneth with the meanes naturall so that they two make one angle this sheweth you shall haue diuers troubles in plotting for loue which will make your life some-whiles vnpleasing which I iudge the rather considering that soone after the meane failes and that meets with that of life so that they seeme to be the angle of the Mensale and of the other but this tells mee that late or neuer you shall haue the conclusion of your desires I would haue gone on when she tooke away her hand and sayd this was not the thing she demaunded for I speake too much in generall but she would cleerely know what would become of a dossigne which she had Then I answered her The heauenly powers themselues onely know that which is to come but onely that that by their bounty they giue knowledge of to their seruants and that sometimes for the publike good sometimes to satisfie the ardent supplication of them that often importune their Altars and many times to shew that nothing is hidden from them and yet it is the part of a wise Interpreter to tell nothing but what he thinketh necessary because the secrets of the gods are not to be divulged without cause I tell you this that your curiosity might content it selfe that I haue discoursed with lesse cleerenesse then you desire for it is not necessary I should say otherwise vnto you And that you may know that God is not so sparing of his graces but that he talketh familiarly with me I will tell you the things which haue befalne you by which you may iudge how much I know In the first place fayre Nymphs you know I neuer sawe you before and yet at the first meeting I called you all by your names which I did for that I am willing you should thinke mee to know more then the common sort not to the end that any glory should befall me that were too great a presumption but to the Deity which I serue in this place Now you must beleeue that all that I shall say to you I haue learned from the same Master and in this I lyed not for it was you Polemas that told mee it but because continued I it may be the particularities will make me oâ—ex-long it will not be amisse to place our selues vnder these nâ—â—ror trees At this word we went and then I began againe in this sort Truly interrupted Polemaâ— you could not carry this beginning with more aâ—te You will iudge answered Climanthe that the proceeding was with no lesse wisedome I began my speech then in this sort Faire Nymph It may be about three yeeres that the gentle Agis in a full assembly was giuen you for seruant at the beginning you were indifferent for till then the young yeeres of you both was the cause that your hearts were not capable of the passions which Loue conceâ—ued but since that your beauty in him and his suite in you began to kindle by little little these fires whereof Nature gaue the first sparkes in vs at the houre of our birth so that that which was indifferent became particular to you both and Loue in the end formed it selfe and was borne in his soule with all the passions which vsually accompany it and in you a good wil which made you like better of his affection and seruices then of any other The first time that in earnest he made his ouerture was when Amasis going to walke in the faire gardens of Montbrison hee tooke you vnder the
arme after he had stayed some while without speech he told you at last Faire Nymph it is not for nothing that I dispute in myselfe whether I should or whether I should not declare that which I haue in my soule for to dissemble may bee allowed in that which may sometimes bee changed but that which constraines mee to speake at this time shall accompany me euen to my Tombe Here I stayed and sayd to her Will you haue me repeat Leonide the same words which you answered Without lie then said Polemas you put your selfe into great hazard of being discouered Not a whit answered Climanthe and to giue you proofe of perfection of my memory I will tell you the very words But replyed Polemas what if I had forgot to tel them you Oh adioyned Climanthe I doubt not of that but so it is that the subiect of the words was that that you told me she her selfe doth not remeÌ„ber the words theÌ„selues so that out of the opinion that it was a god that had told me she beleeued they were the very same If you had not 〈◊〉 so familâ—ar with her as your secre 〈…〉 affectioÌ„ made you I had not so easily vnder taken it but remembring that you had told mee that you had serued her long and that seruice was well accepted of till the time that you changed affection and that you are become the seruant of Galathee and namely that that was the cause that to do you a displeasure she held on Lindâ—â—â—ors part against you I boldly told her all that had passed at that time knowing Loue would not suffer that one should conceale any thing from the person whom they loue But to come againe to our purpose she answered I am willing you shuld say what you please but we will beleeue what we list This she said as beeing a little pricked with that which shee would should haue beene concealed from her companions I went on Well Leonide you may beleeue what you please for I assure my selfe that I haue said nothing which in your soule you haue not found for true You answered him as seeming not to vnderstand what he would say You haue reason Agis not to hide by dissimulation that which must accompany you so long as you liue otherwise it beeing impossible but it must be discouered you shall be taken for a double person a name which is honourable to no sort of people but much lesse to them who make the profession that you doe This counsell then answered hee and my passion constraine mee to tell you faire Nymph that neither the inequality of your merits to me nor the small good will which I haue found in you could not hinder my affection nor my boldnesse that they haue not raysed me vp to you so that if not the quality of the gift but the will is to be receiued I may say with assurance that none can offer you a greater sacrifice for that heart which I giue you I giue with all the affections and with all the powers of my soule and so all that which after this deuotion is not found to be yours I disauow and renounce it as not appertaining to me The conclusion was that you answered Agis I will beleeue these words when the time and your seruices shall haue told me them as well as your mouth See the first declaration of amity which you had of him whereof afterwards he gaue you such proofe as well by sute hee made to marry you as by the quarrells which he had against many whom hee was iealous of It was at that time that when you would haue frizeled your haire you burnt your cheeke whereupon he made this verse A SONG Of Agis on the burning of Leonides cheeke VVHile Loue did please himselfe to play Within the gold of your faire haire A sparkle of his fiers rare Vnhapp'ly on your cheeke did stay You cruell Nymph may iudge thereon How sâ—re the smart of fire stings Since that but one small sparke alone So much of dolour with it brings Meane while that your eye forth did dart When yet with it the conquest goes So many fires against my heart Your cheeke was hurt by one of those You cruell Nymph may iudge thereon How sore the smart of fire stings Since that but one small sparke alone So much of doloâ—r with it brings While that my heart that flaming was To dart as you had purposed His fire that could no further passe Burned your cheeke in your foules sted You cruell Nymph may iudge thereon How sore the smart of fire stings Since that but one small sparke alone So much of dâ—â—our with it brings And to make it appeare to you that I truely know these things by a diuinity which canot lie whose eie eare perceth euen to the depth of the heart I will tell you a thing on this subiect that no man could know but you and Agis She was afraid I would discouer some secret which would anger heâ— and it was my purpose to giue her that apprehension and that was the cause that she sayd to me much disquieted Man of God though I beleeue not but that you and others may say that on this subiect which imports me yet this discourse is so sensible that it will bee hard to handle it with so gentle an hand but the wound will bleed therefore I beseech you to make an end She vttered these words with such a change of countenance and a voyce so broken that for her better assurance I was constrained to say You are not to thinke me of so small a consideration that I know not how to conceale that which may offend you nor that I am ignorant that the least wounds are sensible enough in that part which I touch for it is to the heart that all these strokes are directed but because you will know no more I will hold my peace And it is time that I goe to the Diuinity that calls me And at that instant I arose and gaue them the good day Then after I had made some shewes of ceremonies ouer the riuer I sayd very loud O soueraigne Deity which abidest in this place behold how with this water I cleanse my selfe and vncloath me of all the prophanenesse which the conuersing among men might leaue in me since I came out of thy holy Temple At these words I dipped my hands thrice into the water and then taking vp in the hollow of the one I receiued it thrice into my mouth my eyes and hands lifted vp to heauen and so went to my Cabbin without speaking to them and because I doubted they had the curiosity to come see what I did I went before the Altar where making a shew to cast my selfe on the ground I drew out the horse haires which taking their effect let the little steele table that stood before the glasse fall which fell so to purpose on the flint that it strucke fire and instantly tooke hold on
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
which of all the world you hold most deare which is your chastity Now mistrisse since there remayneth nothing more to my contentment but onely one poynt by the affection which you haue found in Philander I heartily pray you to grant it mee to the end that this happy soule may goe to expect you in the Elisian fieldes with this satisfaction from you He spake this in broken words and with much payne And I that sawe him in this case to giue him all the contentment he could desire answered him Friend the gods haue not raysed in you so good and honest affection to extinguish it so presently and to leaue vs nothing but sorrow I hope they will giue you yet so much life that I shall make you know that I giue not place to you in loue no more then you doe to any other in merit And for proofe of that which I doe say demaund you that onely thing which you would gladly haue of me for there is nothing that I can or will deny you At these last words he tooke me by the hand and laying it to his mouth I kisse sayth he this hand by way of thankes for the grace and fauour you haue done me and then lifting vp his eyes to heauen O God sayd he I desire of you but so much life as may serue for the accomplishment of the promise which Diane comes to make me and then addressing his speech to me with such paine that he could hardly vtter a word he sayd thus vnto me Now fayre Mistrisse heare then what it is I require of you Since I feele not the anguish of death but for you I coniure you by my affection and by your promise that I may carry this contentment out of the world that I may say I am your husband and beleeue me if I doe obtayne it my soule shall most contentedly goe into what place soeuer it must passe hauing so great a testimony of your goodwill I sweare to you fayre shepheardesses that these words strucke me so to the quicke that I knew not how I was able to sustayne my selfe and I thinke for my part it was onely the desire I had to please him that gaue me the courage This was the cause that he had no sooner ended his demaund but I griping his hand sayd Philander I graunt you that you demaund of me and I sweare to you before all the gods and particularly before the deities which are in this place that Diane giues herselfe to you and that she taketh you both in heart and soule for her husband and in speaking these words I kissed him And I sayd he take you my fayre mistris and giue my selfe to you for euer right happy and content to beare the most glorious name of Diane Alas this word of Diane was the last word he vttered for hauing his arme about my necke and drawing me to him to kisse me he dyed breathing his last vpon my lippes How I looked when I beheld him dead you may easily iudge fayre shepheardesses since I so truly loued him I fell groueling vpon him without pulse and without sence and fell into a swowning so that I came to my selfe without my owne knowledge O God! how liueth my heart since I felt this losse and found that to be too true which so oftentimes he had foretold me that I should loue him more after his death then during life for I haue so liuely preserued his remembrance in my soule that me thinketh I haue him alwayes before mine eyes and without ceasing he sayth to me vnlesse I will be vngratefull I must loue him So I doe O good soule and with the most entire affection that I can and if where thou art there be any knowledge of that which is done heere below receiue O deare friend this good will and these teares which I doe offer in testimony that Diane loueth euen to her coffin her dearest Philander The end of the sixt Booke THE SEVENTH BOOKE of Astrea and Celadon AStrea to interrupt the sad thoughts of Diane But faire shepheardesse said hee who was that miserable wretch that was cause of so great misfortune Alas said Diane why would you I should tell you He was an enemy that came not into the world but to be the cause of my euerlasting teares But yet answered Astrea was it neuer knowne what he was They said replyed she some time after that he came out of certaine barbarous countries beyond the Straits I know not whether I can name the right which they call the pillars of Hercules and the cause that brought him so farre for my mischiefe was that he became amorous of a Lady in those countries who commanded him to seeke throughout Europe to know whether there were any other as faire as she and if he met with any Louer that would maintaine the beauty of his Mistrisse hee was bound to fight with him and to send her his head with the picture and name of the Lady Alas I would it had pleased the heauens that I had not bene so ready to flie when he pursued me to kill me that by my death I might haue preuented that of poore Filander At these wordes shee set her selfe on weeping with such abundance of teares that Phillis to diuert her changed the discourse and rising vp first We haue said she fate long enough me thinks it were good to walke awhile At this word they all three rose and went toward that part of their Hamlet for it was well neere dinner time But Leonide who was as I told you harkening lost not one word of these shepheardesses and the more she heard of their newes the more she desired to heare But when shee saw them goe away without speaking a word of Celadon shee was much troubled yet in hope she might staying that day with them discouer somewhat as before she purposed When she saw them gone a little off she rose out of the bush and making a short turne shee set to follow them for she would not haue them thinke shee had ouer-heard them By chance Phillis turning backward as they were going espyed her a far off and shewed her to her companions who stayed but seeing she came towards them to doe her the duty which her condition merited they returned backe and saluted her Leonide full of courtesie after she had returned them their saluation addressing her selfe to Diane sayd Wise Diane I will this day be your ghâ—st prouided that Astrea and Phillis bee of the company for I came this morning from my vncle Adamas with a purpose to passe all this day with you to know if that which I haue heard of your vertue Diane of your beauty Astrea of your merit Phillis answere the report that is divulged of you Diane seeing her companions referred themselues to her answered Great Nymph it were better for vs haply that you had knowledge of vs onely from report since that is very fauourable on our side yet since it
the amazement of the Nymph and all the company he answered to Siluander Gentle shepheard you aske me what brought me and what holdes me in this Countrey Know that it is no other then you and it is you alone whom I haue so long sought for Me answered Siluander how could that be by reason I had no knowledge of you That is in part a cause said he why I seek you If it be so replied Siluander it is a long while since you were with vs who will say that you euerspake to me Because answered Tyrcis I know you not and to satisfie the demand you haue made me for that the discourse is long if it please you I will tell it after you haue againe taken your places vnder those trees which you had before our comming Siluander then turning to Diane Mistrisse sayd he is it your pleasure to sit downe agayne It is Leonide answered Diane of whom you should haue asked that question I know well answered the shepheard that Ciuility commands me so but Loue ordains it otherwise Leonide taking Diane and Astrea by the hand sate downe in the middle saying That Siluander had reason because Loue that hath any other consideration but of it selfe is no true loue and after them the other shepheardesses and shepheard sate in a round And then Tyrcis turning toward the shepheardesse that was with him See the happy day said he Laonice which we haue so much desired that since our first entry into this Country we haue expected with such impatiency It concerneth none more then you that wee get out of this payne as the Oracle hath ordayned Then the shepheardesse without making him other answer directing her selfe to Siluander spake thus The History of Fyrcis and Laonice OF all friendship there is none so farre as I can heare of which is more affectionate then that which is bred in youth because custome which this young age takes hold of by little and little groweth to be changed into Nature which if it be hard to put off they know that endeuour to contrary it I say this to serue my selfe of some kind of excuse then gentle shepheard when you see mee constrayned to tell you that I loue Tyrcis for this affection was almost sucked in with the milke and so my soule raysing it selfe with this nourishment receiues in her selfe as her owne the accidents of that passion and it seemed euerything from my birth gaue agreement to it for wee continued neighbours the friendship betweene our fathers our ages which were very euen and the gentlenesse of the young yeeres of Tyrcis gaue me but ouer-great commodity yet misfortune would that much about that time Cleon was borne in our Hamlet which it may be had more graces then I but out of question with much more better fortune For euen when this Maide beganne to open her eyes it seemed that Tyrcis receiued the flame into his heart seeing that in the very Cradle he tooke pleasure to behold her At that time I might be about sixe yeeres and he ten yeeres old and see how the heauens disposed of vs without our consent From the houre I first sawe him I loued him and from the time he sawe Cleon he loued her and though our liues were such as our yeeres might beare yet were they not so small but there might very well be found the difference betweene vs. Afterward as we grew so did our loue likewise and that to such an extraordinary height as it may be there was not any that might surpasse it In this youth you may weâ—lthinke I went without any great heed taking to his actioÌ„s but growing to more age I noted in him such a want of good will that I resolued to turne another way a resolution which many delights made me conceaue but which no true Louer could execute as I prooued long time after Yet my courage being ofâ—â—â—ded had sufficient power to make me dissemble and if I could not indeed withdraw my selfe intirely yet at least make shew to take some kinde of leaue That which tooke from me all meanes to doe it was that I could not see that Tircis affected any other shepheardesse for all that he did to Cleon could not mooue suspition that it was any thing but childishnesse for that as then she could not be aboue nine yeeres old when she began to grow and that she could feele the tracts of Loue she so remooued from him that it seemed that this withdrawing would haue warranted her against all such blowes But Loue more crafty then shee knew so well to come neere and set before her soule the merits the affection and the seruices of Tircis that at last shee found her selfe in the very middest and so turned on all parts that if she auoyded wounding on the one side the stroke that she receiued on the other was the greater and more deepe So that shee could not flie to a better remedy then dissimulation not to auoyde the blowes but onely to keepe it from the knowledge of her enemy or any other She might well vse this dissembling while it beganne to be but a little scratch but when the sore became great then must shee yeelde and confesse her selfe to be vanquished Thus you see Tircis beloued of Cleon and behold him playing with the honest sweetnesse of an amity though at the beginning he scarce knew what his disease was as these verses witnesse which he made at that time A SONNET O God what ill is this thus tortures me Since time that first I did faire Cleon see I felt within my heart new rising paine Although her eye tooke it from me againe Since by an hot desire I haue beene galde If such a motion may desire be calde Whose iudgement is bewitched in such wise That it my will ioynes to his practices And from that spring my harme beginning takes For this desire so great encreasing makes That I thereby lose both my sleepe and foode In place whereof growes an vnquiet moode That helpes desire to build my seruitude Thus it the ill I feele not vnderstood After Tircis had knowledge of the good will of happy Cleon he receiued it with so great contentment that his heart beeing vnable to hide it he was forced to impart it to his eyes which God knowes how suddainly changed from that they were gaue but too manifest knowledge of their ioy The discretion of Cleon was such that shee gaue no aduantage to Tircis for his duty so that iealousie of her honor perswaded her to make shew of louing me that they which noted her actions might stop at those which were more euident and goe no further to seeke out those which she would conceale She made choyce of mee rather then any other for that she had long before perceiued that I loued him and knowing well it is hard to be beloued and not to loue againe she thought that euery body would beleeue that this friendship not hauing bene long betweene
vs might be thought to grow from the good will which I bare him He that had no designe but that which Cleon allowed presently endeuoured to effect that which shee had commanded him O God when I remember the sweete words which he vsed to me I cannot though they were lyes containe my selfe from entertaining them and thanke Loue for those happy moments wherewith he delighted me at those times and wish since I cannot be more happy that I might at least bee alwaies so deceiued And indeed Tircis found it no great paine to perswade mee that he loued me for besides that euery one easly beleeues the thing they desire me thought it might haue bin so because I did not iudge my selfe to be so vnlouely but that so long a conuersing as ours was might haue gayned somewhat of him especially with the care I had to please him Whereby this glorious Cleon oftentimes passed the time with him but if Loue had bin iust he shuld haue made the deceit fal on her self by suffring Tircis to come loue me vnfainedly yet it fell not out so but contrarily this dissimulation was so vnsupportable that he could not continue it and did not Loue shut vp the eyes of them that loue I could not chuse but haue perceiued it as wel as the greater part of them that saw vs together to whom as to my professed enemies I would giue no credit and because Cleon I were very familiar this cunning shepheardesse feared that time the sight I had might put me out of the errour wherein I was But geÌ„tle shepherd it had bin necessary that I had bin as forecasting as she yet the better to hide herselfe she inuented a sleight which was not euill Her purpose as I haue told you was to shadow the loue which Tircis bare her by that which hee made shew of to me and it succeeded as shee set downe for they beganne to talke somewhat loude and to my disaduantage and though it were but they that looked no further then to apparence yet this nuÌ„ber being greater then the other the bruit ran presently and the suspitioÌ„ that they had before of Cleon died at that instant so that I may say that she loued at my cost But she that feared as I told you lest I should come to discouer the practice would cloke it vnder another and counselled Tircis to let me know that euery body beganne to finde out our loue and to censure it shrowdly enough and that it was necessary to cause it to cease by wisedome and that it was fit he should seeme to loue Cleon that by this diuerting they which talked the worst might reforme themselues And you may tell her said she that you haue chosen me rather then any other for the commodity you haue to be neere her and to speake to her I that was all honest and without craft found this counsell good so that with my permission from that day when we three were together he made not dainty to entertaine Cleon as he was accustomed And indeed it was very pleasing to them and to any other that knew this dissimulation for seeing the suite that hee made to Cleon I thought he â—ested and could hardly hold my selfe from laughter On the other side Cleon noting my fashions and knowing the deceit wherein I thought her to be was extremely pained to dissemble it especially when this crafty companion made certaine winks with her eye which oftentimes were so farre from the purpose that I might accuse the loue shee bare to the shepherd and the contentment that this deceit brought him And see if I were in my right minde that of pitty I felt the displeasure which she should haue when she knew the truth But since I found that I complaine in her person yet may I excuse my selfe for who hath not beene beguiled since that Loue as soone as he gets intire possession of a soule spoyles it presently of all distrust in the person beloued And this dissembling shepheard played his part so well that if I had beene in Cleons place it may bee I should haue doubted his shewes had beene true Being sometimes in the middle betweene vs two if hee laboured to make ouer-great demonstration of his loue to Cleon hee would instantly turne to me and aske me in mine care if he had not done well But his master-fraud stucke not at so small a thing heare you I beseech you whereto it passed In priuate he spake more often to Cleon then to mee he would kisse her hand he would bee an houre or two on his knees before her and would not conceale it from me for the cause I haue told you but generally he would neuer budge from me sued to me with such dissimulation that the greatest part held on the opinion they formerly had of our loues which he did of purpose desirous that I onely should see his courting of her because hee knew well I would not beleeue it but hee would not in any case that they who might iudge rightly should come to the least knowledge And when I told him we could not put out of mens heads the opinion of our loue and that none would beleeue it when it was told me that he loued Cleon How answered he will you haue them beleeue a thing that is not So it is that our plots in despite of the worst conceits shall be beleeued in generall But he that was well aduised seeing an occasion presented to passe yet further sayd to mee That aboue all we must deceiue Cleon and if she were once deceiued we had then almost accomplished our purpose that for this cause of necessity I must speake to her for him and I should doe it confidently She saith he that already hath this opinion will with all her heart receiue those messages which you bring her and so we shall liue in assurance Oh! what a miserable fortune doe we oftentimes runne into for my part I thought that if at any time Cleon beleeued that I loued this shepheard I should make her lose that opinion when I prayed her to loue him and confidently spake for him But Cleon knowing what speech I had with the shepheard and seeing in what restraint she liued iudged she might by my meanes haue messages and especially letters This was the cause that she tooke in good part the proposition which I made her and from that time she treated with him as with the man she loued and I serued to no other vse than to carry letters from the one to the other O Loue to what an occupation didst thou then put me Yet may I not complayne for that I haue heard say that I am not tho first that haue done such offices to others thinking to worke for themselues About that time because the Frankes Romans Gothes and Burgonians raysed a cruell warre we were constrayned to go into the Towne which beares the name of that shepheard that was Iudge to the three goddesses
that Lindamar did came so kindly to mee that I wonder I marked it no sooner I know not whether Polemas by reason of his being crossed haue changed his behauiour or whether the euill opinion which I haue conceiued of him haue altered my eyes when I behold him yet so it is that either mine eyes see not as they were wont or Polemas is no more the man hee was wont to be I must not lie to you when Galathee spake in this sort against him I was no whit sorry because of his ingratitude on the contrary the more to hurt him I sayd I do not wonder Madam that Lindamor is more welcome to you then Polemas for the qualitites and perfections of them both are not equall euery one that sees them will giue the same iudgement that you do of them It is true that heere in I fore-see a great hurly burly first betweene them and after betweene you and Polemas And why sayd Galathee Are you of opinion he hath any power ouer my actions or of Lindamors Not for that said I Madam but I knew the humour of Polemas so well that he will leaue nothing vnattempted and wil remooue heauen and earth to recouer the happinesse that he thinkes hee hath lost and for it he will commit these follies which cannot be hidden but to those that will not see them and so shall you haue displeasure and Lindamor be offended and God graunt it fall not out worse No such thing Leonide answered she if Lindamor loue me he will do as I commaund him if he do not loue me he will not care what Polemas doth and as for him if he passe the bounds of reason I knovv hovv to reforme him leaue that labour to me for I can prouide well enough for that At this word she commaunded mee to draw the curtaine and let her rest if at least these new desseignes would suffer her But at the breaking vp of the daunce Lindamor who had noted what countenance Polemas had made when he tooke Galathee from him had a conceit that he loued her Notwithstanding hauing neuer perceiued any thing by his actions passed he would aske him the question resolued that if he found him in loue he would indeuour to diuert himselfe for that he thought himselfe some what bound to it for the loue he made shew of which hee thought to be vnfained and so going to him desired he might haue a word with him in priuate Polemas who vsed al maner of cunning that a Courtier was capable of paynted his face with a fained shew of good will and said What is it that Lindamor is pleased to commaund of me I neuer vse commoundement said Lindamor where my prayer onely may take place and at this time I neede neither of them but onely as a friend demaund a thing of you which our friendship bindes you to tell me What may it be replyed Polemas since our friendship so bindes me you are to thinke that I will answer you with the same freedome that you desire to know This it is replyed Lindamor that I haue some while serued Galathee as I was tied by the ordinance of Clidaman at last I am constrayned so to do by that of Loue. For it is true that after I had long time serued her by the disposing of that fortune that gaue mee to her her merits haue since so wonne me that my will hath ratified that gift with so great affection that to draw backe would be as much want of courage as it is now arrogancie to say that I dare loue her Yet the friendship which is betvveene you and me hauing beene of longer date than this of Loue giues mee resolution enough to tell you that if you loue her and haue any pretention to her I hope as yet to haue that povver of my selfe that I can withdravv and giue proofe that Loue is lesse in me than Friendship or at least the follies of the one shall giue place vnto the Wisedome of the other Tell mee then frankely that which you haue in your soule to the end that neither your friendship nor mine may complayne of our actions That which I say is not to discouer the secrets of your intentions since I lay open to you mine you are not to be afraid that I should know yours besides that the lawes of friendship commaund you not to hide them from me prouided that not curiosity but the desire of preseruing our goodwill makes me demaund it of you Lindamor spake to Polemas with the same freedome that a friend should poore and ignorant Louer that thought he could since it in loue On the contrary the dissembling Polemas answered him Lindamor this faire Nymph of whom you speake is worthy to be serued of all the world but as for my selfe I haue no pretention yet this I will tell you that as concerning loue I am of opinion that euery one for his part should do what he can Then Lindamor repented that he had vsed a language so full of courtesie and respect since he required it so ill Here solued to doe his best to aduance himselfe into the good graces of the Nymph and yet hee answered him Since you haue no such dessigne I am right glad as of the thing most welcome to mee for that to haue withdravvne my selfe it would haue beene a paine to me little lesse than death So farre off aâ— I added Poleman from hauing any pretention of loue that I neuer looked on her but with an eie of respect such as we are all bound to giue her For my part replyed Lindamor I honour Galathee as my Lady but I likevvise loue her as a faire Lady and me thinks my fortune mayayme as high as it is permitted mine eyes to looke and that I shall offend no diuinity by louing her With such like discourses they parted neyther of them well satisfied yet some what differing Polemas out of iclousie and Lindamor for hauing found the vnfaithfulnesse of his friend From that day they liued in a pleasant fashion for they were ordinarily together and yet they concealed their dessignes Yet not Lindamor in apparance but in effect hid himselfe in all hee propounded and purposed to do and knowing well that occasions passed may not be recalled he would not lose a moment of leisure which he employed not to make his affection apparent to the Nimph. In which hee neyther lost his time nor his payne for she liked so well of this good will which hee made shew of that if shee had not so much loue as he in her eyes she had it at the least in her heart And because it is an hard matter to hide a great fire so well but something will discouer it their affections which beganne to burne in good earnest were hardly to be concealed for all the wisedome they could vse This was the cause that Galathee resolued to speake with Lindamor as seldome as she could and to find some inuention for him to
buâ— when she would enter behold a man that cast 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 her feete and without saying any thing kissed her robe O God sayd the Nymph who is this Fleurial see a man Madame said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is an heart that is yours How said she an 〈◊〉 And then she would haue fled away for feare but hee that â—â—ist her to be 〈◊〉 her backe Hearing these words I drew neere and presently I knew it was â—e that Flourial said was his cousin I knew not suddenly what to thinke I saw Galathee and my selfe in the hands of these women the one of 〈◊〉 was vnknowne to vs. What could wee resolue to doe 〈◊〉 wee 〈◊〉 to flye Galathee could not to trust to ouâ— owne 〈◊〉 there was no apparence At last all that I could doe was to castâ—â—â— selfe into the hands of him that held the Nymphs 〈◊〉 not being able to doe more I beganne to scratch and to bite him That which I did was with such speeds that the first thing that he felt was the biting Ah courmous 〈◊〉 said he how do you handle your enemies when you deale so ridely with your seruants Though I were almost besides my selfe yee I almost knew the voyce and asking him who liee was I am sayd her the man that beares the heart of Lindamon to this â—aire Nymph and then not raising him selfe from the earth turning to her he went on I must confesse Madam that this rashnesse is great yet is it no way equall to my affection which hath caused it See the heart of 〈◊〉 which I bring you I hope this present shall be as well accepted from the hand of the giuer as from a stranger yet it my misfortune deny me what Loue hath promised me hauing offended the diuinity whoâ— I only adore condemne this heart which I bring you to all the cruell 〈◊〉 you please for so the paine may satisfie you it shal beare it patiently and with as much contentment as pardon it I easily knew him then to be Lindamor and so did Galathee she seeing him at her 〈◊〉 whom she bewalled for dead and in the place of a Gardiner the Knight that giues place to none in all the Countrey And knowing that Galathee was so surprized I sayd Is it so Lindamer that you surprize Ladyes This is not the act of a Knight especially such as you are I coÌ„fesse said he gracious Nymph that it is not the act of a Knight but withall you cannot deny but it is of a Louer and what am I more then a Louer Loue that hath taught others to spnine teaches me to be a Gardiner Is it possible sayd he turning to the Nymph that this extreme affection which you haue caused is so displeasing to you that you wold haue it end in my death I haue had the hardines to bring you that which you would haue of mine this heart is it not more welcome to you in life then in death Now if it be your pleasure that it die behold here a dagger which may abbridge that which your rigour in time may bring The Nymph to all these words made no answer but Ah Leonide haue you betrayed me and with these words went out into the Alley where she found a seat sit for the purpose for she was so besides her self that she knew not where she was There the Knight cast himselfe on his knees and I came on the other side and sayd How Madame say you you are betrayed Why doe you accuse 〈◊〉 so I sweare by the seruice I haue vowed you that I knew nothing of this act Fleurial hath deceiued me as well as you But God be praised that the deceit is so commodious to cuery one behold one heart of 〈◊〉 which Flourial promised you but see him in a state to do you seruice may you not be glad of this treason It would be too long to tell you all the discourse wee had So it was that at last we made a peace and so that this loue was more strongly tied then euer before yet with condition that for that present he should depart to go whither Amasis and Clidaman had sent him This departure was vnpleasing yet hee must obey and so after hee had kissed Galathâ—â—â— hands without any greater fauour he departed Well hee went in great assurance that at his returne hee might see her at that houre and in that place But to what purpose should I particularize euery thing Lindamor returned to them that being his followers expected him from thence with great â—â—â—gence went where Clidaman thought hee was and by the way hee framed a thousand wise excuses of his stay sometimes accusing the incommodities of the mountaines and sometimes the sicknes which yet appeared in his face by reason of his wounds and thinking that all the while he was absent from from his Lady his businesse was not worth the stay he came backe with the permission of Amasis and Clidaman into Forrests where being arriued and hauing giuen a good account of his charge he was honored and made much of as his vertue deserued But all this went not to his heart in respect of that aspect which he had from the Nymph who since his last departure encreased so her good will that I know not if Lindamor had cause to call himselfe more louing then beloued This suite passed so farre that one night being in the garden he pressed her oftentimes to permit him to demand her of Amasis that he was certaine he had done such seruices to her and her sonne that they would not deny him this grace She answered You may more doubt of their good will then of your deserts you may be lesse assured of your merits then of my good will but I would not that you should speake of it vntill Clidaman be married I am yonger then he I may stay so long You may well answered he but so wil not the violence of my passion at least if you will not agree to this remedy giue mee one that cannot hurt you if your will be as you tell me If I may sayd she without offending my selfe I will promise you After he had kissed her hand Madam sayd hee you haue promised me to sweare before Leonide and the gods that heare our discourse that you will be my wife as I take an oth before them neuer to haue any other Galathee was ouertaken yet fayning that it was partly for the oth she had taken and partly by my perswasion though indeed it were her owne affection she was contented and swearing betweene my hands with condition that Lindamor should neuer come into that garden vntil the marriage were declared and that to preuent the occasion that may make them passe further behold Lindamor the most content that euer was full of al sorces of hope at least of all those that a louer might haue that was beloued and wayting but for the promised conclusion of his desires when Loue or rather Fortune would mocke
promised you continue likewise yours with the same honesty that your vertue promises me otherwise hence forth I breake all familiarity with you and protest neuer to loue you I may as the custome of them that are beloued is abuse you but I vse it not because I freely wish you should know that if you liue otherwise then you ought you are neuer to haue hope in my amity She added yet other words which so astonied Celion that he knew not what to answere Only he cast himselfe on his knees and without other discourse with this submission demanded pardon and then protested to her that his amity proceeded from her and that she might rule it as that which she had bred If you vse your selfe thus replied then Bellinde you shall bind me to loue you otherwise you shall constraine me to the contrary Faire shepheardesse replied he my affection is borne and such as it is it must liue for it cannot die but with mee so that I cannot well remedy it but by time yet to promise you that I will study to make such as you command I sweare it vnto you and in the meane time I desire neuer to be honored with your good fauour if in all my life you knew any action that for the quality of my affection may displease you At last the shepheard consented to bee beloued on condition shee might know nothing in him which might offend her honesty So these louers began an amity which lasted very long with such satisfaction to them both that they had cause to reioyce therein for their fortune Sometimes if the yong shepheard were letted hee sent his brother Diamis to her who vnder the colour of some fruite brought her letters from his brother She often returned answere with such good will that hee had cause to be contented and this affection was carried with that prudence that few perceiued it Amaranthe though she were ordinarily with them was ignorant of it had it not bene that by hap she found a letter which her companions had lost and see I beseech you what the effect was and how dangerous a thing it is for a yong soule to come neere these fires Vntill this time the shepheardesse had not not only the lesst feeling of loue but not a thought to be beloued and as soone as shee saw this letter were it for that she bare some enuy to her companion whom shee esteeâ—â—d not to be the fairer yet she saw her often wooed by this honest shepheard were it for that she was of an age which is proper to such burning that they can no sooner come neere the fire but they feele it were it for that this letter had so liuely heates that she had noyce to resist them So it was that she tooke a certaine desire not to loue for loue it may be would not attache her at the first in extremity but to be loued serued of some shepheard of worth and in this point shee read the letter oftentimes which was thus Celions letter to Bellinde FAire shepheardesse if your eyes were as full of variety as they are to cause loue the sweetnes which they promise at the first would make me adore them with as much of coÌ„tentment as they haue produced in me of vaine hope But so far are they from performance of their deceitfull promises that they will not so much as confesse them and are so wide from healing my hurt that they will not call themselues authors Yet can they hardly deny it if they consider well who she is hauing no likelihood that any other beauty then theirs could do so much And yet as if you had a purpose to equall your cruelty to your beauty you haue ordained that the affection which you haue caused to be borne shall cruelly die in me O God was there euer a more vnpittifull mother But I who held more deare that which comes from you then my life being vnable to suffer so great an iniustice am resolued to carry this affection with me into the graue hoping that the beauens moued at last with my patience will bind you at sometimes to be as pittifull as you are deare and cruâ—ll to me for the present Amaranthe read this letter ouer diuers times and without heed taking dranke vp the sweete poyson of loue no otherwise then one weary suffers himselfe by little to fall asleepe If her thought set before her eies the face of the shepheard oh how full of beauty found she it to be if his behauiour how pleasing did it seeme if his spirit how admirable did she iudge it briefely she saw him so perfect that she thought her companion happy to be beloued of him Then taking againe the letter she read it ouer but not without much pawsing on the subiects that touched her most at the heart And when she came to the end and that shee sawe the reproach of cruell she flattered her desires which lately borne call for foeble hopes as their Nurces with opinion that Bellinde as yet loued him not and so she might more easily winne him But the poore soule heeded not that this was the first letter that he had written to her and that since many things might be changed The amity which shee bare to Bellinde sometimes drew her backe but presently Loue ouertopped that amity At last the conclusion was that she writ such a Letter to Celion Amaranthes Letter to Celion YOur perfections may excuse my errour and your courtesie receiue the amity which I offer you I wish euill to my selfe if I loue any thing more than you But for your merit I make my glory whence would proceed my shame for any other If you refuse what I present you it must be for want of spirit or courage From which of these two it is it shal be as dishonourable to you as to me to be refused Shee gaue this letter her selfe to Celion who not able to imagine what she would as soone as hee was in a priuate place he read it but with no lesse astonishment than disdaine and had he not knowne her to be infinitely beloued of his mistris hee would not haue vouchsafed her an answer yet fearing it might offend her he sent this answere by his brother Celions answer to Amaranthe I Know not what there is in me to moue you to loue me yet I account my selfe as happy that such a shepheardesse will dayne to regarde me as I am vnfortunate in not being able to receiue such a fortune I would it pleased my destiny that I could as freely giue my selfe to you as I am wanting in power Faire Amaranthe I should thinke my selfe the happiest that liueth to line in your seruice but being no longer at mine owne disposition accuse not if it please you neither my spirit nor my courage of that whereto necessity compells me It shall alwayes be much to my contentment to be in your good grace but yet more grieuous to you to note at
haue hitherto auoyded and since there is none other remedy pacifie your selfe as I doe and it may be the Heauens will turne all things more to our contentment than at this time wee are permitted to wish for For my part I wil breake this misfortune as much as I can possibly But if there be no remedy yet must not we be without resolution rather let vs part asunder These last words brought the despaire of all making him thinke that this great courage proceeded from small amity If it were as easie for me answered the shepheard to resolue against this accident as you I would iudge my selfe vnworthy to be beloued for so feeble an amity cannot merit so great happinesse Well for end and reward of my seruices you giue me a resolution in the assured losse which I see of you and secretly to say to me that I must not despaire though I see you become anothers Ah Bellinde with what eye will you see this new friend With what heart can you loue him And with what fauors will you entertaine him since your eye hath a thousand times promised that it would looke on none other with loue but me and since this heart hath sworne to me that it could neuer loue any but me and since loue hath destined your fauours to no lesse affection then mine Well you command mee to leaue you to obey you I will doe so for I will not at the end of my life beginne to disobey But that which makes me vndertake it is to know assuredly that the end of my life shall not happen before the end of your amity though I call my selfe the most vnhappy that liues yet I cherish my fortune the more for that it hath presented vnto me such an occasioÌ„ to make my loue knowne to you that you may not doubt of it and yet I shall not be satisfied in my selfe if the last moment that remaines be not employed in assuring you I pray the heauen see what my amity is that in this new election it fill you with as much happinesse as you cause in me despaire Liue happy with Ergaste and receiue him with as great contentment as I haue had will to doe you seruice if my dayes would haue permitted me that this new affection full of pleasures which you promise to your selfe may accompany you to your graue as I assure you that my faithfull amity shall close mine eyes for your sake with extreme griefe That Bellinde let Celion talke so long it was for feare that speaking her teares would doe the office of words and that that would encrease the griefe of the shepheard or that it would giue proofe of the small power she had ouer her selfe Proud beauty that louest rather to be iudged to haue too little loue then too little resolution But at last finding her strengthned enough to giue answer she sayd Celion you thinke you giue me proofe of your amity and you doe the contrary for how haue you loued me hauing so euil an opinioÌ„ of me If since this last accideÌ„t you haue conceiued it beleeue the affection was not great which could so readily suffer a change But if you had no euill opinion of me how is it possible you should beleeue that I haue loued you and that now I loue you no more For Gods sake haue pitty on my fortune and conspire not with her to encrease my sorrow consider what small likelihood there is that Celion whom I loue aboue the rest of the world and whose life pleases me as much as mine owne may bee changed for an Ergaste who is vnknowne to me and in whose place I choose rather to espouse my tombe that if I be forced it is the commandement of my Father whom my honour will not suffer me to contradict But is it possible you should not remember the protestations I haue so often made to you that I would not marry my selfe And you ceased not to loue mee whence hath it this change For if without marrying me you haue loued me why can you not now loue me without marrying mee hauing an husband who can forbid mee to haue a brother whom I may alwayes loue with that amity I ought Good will holds mee neerer to you then is permitted me Farewell my Celion liue and loue me who will loue you euen to my end whatsoeuer becomes of Bellinde At this word she kissed him which was the greatest fauour that hitherto she had done him leauing him so besides himselfe that he was not able to frame a word to giue her answer WheÌ„ he was come to himself that he considered that Loue stooped vnder duâ—y and that there was not a sparke of hope remaining which might shine among his displeasures as a person voyde of resolution he went into the Wood and into the places most couert where hee did nothing but complaine of his cruell disaster what aduice soeuer his friends could giue him He liued in this sort many dayes during which he made the roâ—ks to pitty him And that she who was the cause of his euil might haue some feeling hee sent her these verses STANZA'S Of Celion on the marriage of Bellinde and Ergaste DOe then the heauens agree after such loue After such seruices that you should be Another mans sweete heart and so must prâ—â—â—e His deare delight and dearer moity And that I haue at last for loue most true But memory my sorrowes to renew You once did loue me well what ' vaileth me This amity now it is gone and past If you in others armes embrac'd I see And if for her I be constrain'd at last You now turn'd his to keepe in silence still Displeasures cruell that my patience spill If he had more of Loue or of desart Then I I know not what to say but cry Alas Oh is not this a cruell smart That he should gaine in one dayes space well-ny Without desert what heauens will not behâ—â—uâ— To infinite desires of endlesse loue But oh weake reason duty you will say By her sad lawes compels me to doe thus What duty strong or law more holy may Be found then this that cleerely speakes for vs The faith so often sworne when hand in hand We promised a loue for aye to stand May hand you sayd forthwith grow dead and dry My hand as of a person most for sworne If I be failing in the thing that I Assure or if I any thing haue borne Neerer my heart or else hold ought more deare Then this affection which your faith did sweare Ob cruell memory of passed good Be gone and euer banisht from my minds Since happinesse that in such glory stood Alas I now so much defaced finde Deface it then it is not reasonable Thou be in me that am so miserable Though he made it not appeare in any one of his actions that there remained any hope in him yet he alwaies had some little because the contract of marriage was not yet passed and
to be desirous to know what maketh him so abashed that if you consider the astonishment which is painted in his face you would iudge he had some great cause Mandrake had made him see in a dreame Maradon a young shepheard that taking an arrow from Cupid opend the bosome of Fortune and tooke out her heart He that following the ordinary course of louers was yet in doubt and as soone as it was day ranne to this fountaine to see if his mistresse loued him I beseech you consider his abashment for if you compare the visages of the other Tables to this you shall see the same draughts though the trouble wherein hee is paint the chaunge much Of those two Figures which you doe see in the Fountaine the one as you may plainely know is of the Shepheardesse Fortune and the other you may see is of the Shepheard Moradon whom the Magician made to bee represented rather then another because he knew he had a long time bin a seruant of the shepheardesse and though she vouchsafed not to regard him yet loue which easily beleeues the thing it feares presently perswaded the contrary to Damon beleefe that made him resolue to dy Marke I pray you how this water seems to tremble this is for that the Painter would represent the effect of the teares of the shepheard which fell into it But let vs passe to the second action See how the continuation of this Caue is made and how truly this seems to be more declining This dead man that you see on the ground is the poore Damon who in dispaire thrust his speare through his body The action which he doth is very naturall You may see one leg stretched out the other drawne vp as with paine one arme layd vnder the body as hauing bin surprised by the suddennesse of the fall and not hauing force to come againe to himselfe and the other languishing along the body yet he holds gently the speare in his hand his head hanging towards his right shoulder his eyes halfe shut and halfe turned vp and he that sees him in such a case may well iudge him to be a man in the trances of death his mouth somewhat opened the teeth in some places discouered a little and the passages of his nose shrunke vp all signes of a late dead man Also he hath not figured him as wholly dead but betweene death and life if there be any separation betweene them See here the speare well represented you may see the breadth of the Iron halfe hidden in the wound the staffe on the one side bloody on the other of the colour it was before But how great hath the Painters diligence bene he hath not forgot the nayles which go as weeping towards the end for the nearer the shaft as well the as wood the more they were staynd with blood It is true that through the blood you might know them Now let vs consider the spurting out of the blood issuing out of the wound Me thinkes it is like a fountaine which being led by long channels from some higher place when it hath bene restrained as they open it skips in fury this way and that way for see these streames of blood how well they are represented consider the boyling which seemes to raise it selfe to bubbles I thinke nature cannot represent any thing more truely The sixt Table NOw for the sixt and last Table which contaynes foure actions of the Shepheardesse Fortune The first is a Dreame which Mandrake made her haue The other how shee went to the Fountayne to cleare her doubt The third how shee complaynes of the inconstancie of her Shepheard and the last how shee dyes which is the conclusion of this Tragedie Now let vs see all things particularly See the rising of the Sunne note the length of the shadowes and how on the one side the Heauen is yet lesse cleare See these clouds which are halfe ayre as it seemeth which by little and little flye lifting vp these little birds which seeme to sing as they mount and are of those kinde of Larkes that rise from the deaw in the new Sunne These ill-formed birds which with vncertaine flight goe to hide themselues are of those Owles that auoid the Sunne whereof the Mountaine couers a good part and the other shines to cleare that one cannot iudge that it was other thing then a great and confused brightnesse Let vs goe forward Behold the shepheardesse Fortune asleepe shee is in bed where the Sunne that enters by the window open by negligence discouers halfe her brest She hath one arme carelesly stretched along the side of the bedstead her hand a little hanging from the boulster the other hand stretched along her thigh without the bed and for that her smocke sleeues is by chance thrust vp you may see it aboue the Elbowe there being nothing that hides any of the armes beautie See about her the diuels of Morpheus wherewith Mandrake serues herselfe to giue her a will to go to the fountaines of the truth of Loue. See on this side what she casteth vp for hauing dreamed that her shepheard was dead and taking his death for the losse of his amitie she came to know the truth Beholde how the sorrowfull visage by the sweetnesse of it mooues pittie and makes vs take part in her displeasure because shee no sooner casts her veiwe into the water but she perceiues Damon But alas hard by him the shepheardesse Melide a faire shepheardesse indeed and which was not without suspition of louing Damen yet vnbeloued of him Deceiued with this falsehood see how shee is retyred into the inwarrd parts of the Denne and commeth vnawares to lament her displeasure in the same place where Damon was almost dead Behold her set against the rocke her armes acrosse her brest which choller and griefe made her discouer in tearing that which was vppon it It seemeth that shee sighes and her brest pants her face and eyes lifting vp and asking vengeance from heauen for the perfidiousnesse which shee thought was in Damon And because the transport of her euill made her lift vppe her voyce in her complaynt Damon whom you see by her though hee were euen at the last of all his life hearing the laments of his fayre Shepheardesse and knowing the voyce hee then enforced himselfe to call her Shee which heard these dying words suddenly turning her head went to him But O God what a sight was this She quite forgot seeing him in this case and the occasion shee had to complayne of him shee demaunded who had dealt so fouly with him It is sayde hee the change of my fortune it is the inconstancie of your soule which hath deceiued mee with such demonstrations of goodwill Briefely it is the happinesse of Macadon whom the Fountaine from whence you came shewed mee to bee by you And doe you thinke it reasonable that hee should liue hauing lost your loue that liued not but to bee beloued of you Fortune hearing
So continued Amasis now they liue with such honour and commendations that euery man esteemes more of them then any other in the Army I pray God said Adamas to continue them still in such good fortune And while they discoursed thus they saw comming along Leonide and Lucinde with the little Merill I say Lucinde because Celadon as I told you bare that name following the resolution which Galathee had made Amasis that knew her not asked who she was It is answered Galathee a kinswoman of Adamas so faire and so furnished with vertue that I haue desired him to leaue her with me a while she is called Lucinda It seemes said Amasis she is as demure as fayre I assure my selfe added Galathee that her humour will please you and if you thinke it good she shall come Madame with vâ—to Mâ—rcelles At this word Leonide came so neere that Lucinde to kisse the hand of Amasis aduanced forward and setting one knee on the ground kissed her hand with a fashion so well counterfeited that there was none but tooke her for a maid Amasis raysed her vp and after she had embraced her she kissed her telling her that she loued Adamas so well that whatsoeuer touched him was deare to her as her owne children Then Adamas tooke the word by the end for feare that if the fained Lucinde should answer they might find out somewhat by her voice But hee needed not haue feared for she knew so well to counterfeit that her voyce as well as the rest would haue helped the better to make vp the deceit Yet for this blow shee contented her selfe to allow of the answer of Adamas onely with a low courtesie and after drew backe among the other Nymphs attending for nothing but some opportunity to steale away At last the houre of dinner being come Amasis returned to her Lodging where finding the Tables ready spred euery one full of contentment for the good newes they had dined cheerefully except Siluy who had alwayes before her eyes the image of her deare Ligdamon and in her soule the remembrance that he dyed for her This was the subiect wherewith they spent one part of the dinner for the Nymph was willing ynough they should know that she loued the memory of a man both vertuous and so dedicated to her but withall that being dead she should be no more importuned by him nor he benefit himselfe with this good will After dinner all the Nymphs disposed themselues some to play other to see the House some the Garden others to entertaine the time with diuerse discourses in the chamber of Amasis Leonide without the heeding of any making shew to prepare her selfe for the iourney got out of the chamber and shortly after Lucinde and meeting at the Rendeuous that was giuen them fayning to go walke went out of the Castle hauing hid vnder their sleeues eyther of them a part of the shepheards garments and when they were at the Woods end the shepheard vnclothed himselfe and taking his accustomed habite thanked the Nymph for the great helpe she had giuen him and offered in exchange his life and all that depended on it Then the Nymph with a great sigh sâ—â—d Well quoth she Celadon haue I not kept the promise I made you Doe you not thinke you are bound to performe that which you promised me I should thinke my selfe answered he the most vnworthy that euer liued if I should faile Now Celadon said she then remember what you haue sworne to me for I am resolued now to bring it into proofe Faire Nymph answered Celadon dispose of all that I may as of that which your selfe may for you shall be no better obeyed of your selfe then of me Haue you not promised replyed the Nymph that I should inquire into your life passed and that which I could find you might doe for me you would doe it and hee answering it was true Well Celadon continued she I haue done that which you willed me and though they paint Loue blind yet hath it left me light ynough to know that truely you are to continue the loue which you haue so often promised to be eternall to your Astrea for the precisenesse of Loue will not permit a man to be either for sworne or vnfaithfull And so though one haue vsed you hardly yet must not you fayle in your dutie for another mans error will neuer wash away our fault Then loue the faire and happy Astrea with as much affection and sinceritie as you euer loued her serue her adore her and more if more may be for Loue will haue extremity in his sacrifice but withall I well know that the good offices which I haue done you deserue some remembrance of you and without doubt because Loue cannot pay it selfe but by Loue you shall be obliged to satisfie me in the same money if the impossibilitie contradicted it not But since it is true that one heart is capable but of one true loue I must pay my selfe of that which remaynes Then hauing no more Loues to giue me as to a Mistris I demaund your amitie as your sister and from henceforth you loue me you cherish me and hold me for such The contentment of Celadon hearing these words cannot be expressed for he protested that that was one of the things which in his miserie he found some kind of contentment in Therefore after hee had thanked the Nymph for the amitie she bare him he swore vnto her to take her for his sister and neuer to vse her but as that name commaunded him Then lest they should be found out they separated themselues both well contented and satisfied each with other Leonide returned to the pallace and the shepheard held on his voyage shunning the places where he thought hee might meet with shepheards whom he knew and leauing Mountverdun on the left hand hee passed through the middest of a great Playne that in the end led him to a Coast somewhat raysed and from whence hee might know and marke with his eye the most part of the places where he had vsed to driue his flocke to feede on the other side of Lignon where Astrea came to seeke him where sometimes they auoided the ouer-scorching heat of the Sunne Briefely this view set before his eyes the most part of the contentments which he payed so dearely for at that houre and in that consideration being set at the foot of a Tree hee sighed out these Verses Remembrances THen did my faire Sunne take her rest While the other lazie sleeping lay But when he comes at breake of day With Gilly flowers and â—oses drest To chase away th' affrights of night Then chiefely shines with beames most bright The Sunne that my soule doth adore Carrying the day light as she moues Vnto the Playnes she honours more And whom she going fills with loues Vpon that running Riuers side He shewes himselfe in sundry wise Sometimes with scorching heat he fryes Another while his light he hides And seemes as