be as firme in my obstinacie as you are in your importunitie The shepherd would have replyed but he was interrupted by many shepherds comming towards them So as Amarillis for a conclusion said unto him in a low voice you will do me a great displeasure Alcippe if your resolution should be knowne I can be contented to know your follies but should be much displeased if any other should know them Thus ended my Fathers first discourse with Amarillis which did infinitly angment his desire of serving her As they went along the way they met Celion and Belinda who were observing two turtles billing and making Love unto each other not caring a straw who saw them which gave Alcippes an occasion to remember the last commands of Amarillis and to sing these verses and because his voice was very good every one did lend a silent eare A Song upon the Constraints of honour Loook yonder on the open Loves of those two billing turtle Doves See how this happie little paire in Love what libertines they are They kiss and care not who doth know it but to the envious world do show it The Lawes of honour so unjust like fettred slaves observe we must This bugbeare Honour which affrights fond Lovers in their free delights Will not allow them any blisse unlesse they steal their happinesse While these free Lovers of the Aire what eyes do see them doe not care But Love and kisse and take a pride in that which honour bids us hide Honour 's a Tyrant then and we are slaves whilst turtle doves are free Since this time Alcippes was so transported with Love that he knew no Limits And Amarillis on the contrary shewed her selfe all Ice unto him and one day when he was desired to sing he made this his subject thus put into verse Upon the Coldnesse of Amarillis Her heart is Ice her eyes all flame mine all contrary to the same I 'me Ice without within all fire my hearts inflam'd with hot desire Love I beseech thee change designe and thaw her heart or else freeze mine At this very time as I told you before Alces was a professed servant unto Amarillis and being a shepheard of very excellent qualities also held to be exceeding wise the Father of Amarillis inclined more unto him then unto Alcippes because of his turbulent spirit On the contrary the shepheardesse loved my Father better because their humours were more sutable which her Father knowing and being unwilling to use any violence or absolute authoritie over her he conceived that time and absence might worke an alteration in her and therefore resolved to send her awhile unto Artemis sister of Alces who dwelt alone by the River of Allier When Amarillis understood her Fathers mind she resolved to acquaint Alcippes with her good will unto him before she went and to that end writ these lines The Letter of Amarillis unto Alcippe Alcippe YOur resolutenesse hath surpassed mine and mine also far surmounted my selfe as to accquaint you that tomorrow I am gone And if you will meet me today where we parted yesterday I will there bid you adieu AMARILLIS It would be too tedious Madam to tell you all the particular passages betwixt them let it suffice to tell you in short that they met at the place appointed and there it was where my Father received the first assurance of the Love of Amarillis there she perswaded him to quit a shepherds life as unworthy of a noble spirit promising him to be most constant to her resolution of loving him After they were parted Alcippes engraved these verses upon a Tree in the wood Alcippes upon the Constancy of his Affection When Rocks remove and Rivers backwards run when Marble melts and Glowewormes dim the Sun And when Impossibilities are done then may my heart my Amarillis shun When it is knowne what is Eternitie when Gnats o're Eagles getts the victorie When Fire doth freeze and the vast Ocean's dry then may my Love to Amarillis die VVhen Swans and Snow are Metamorphos'd black when Starres do fall and the two Poles do crack When loving Turtles do their Mates for sake Then may my Love to Amarillis slake VVhen in the Orient Sun and Stars do set when mortals in a bagge the wind doe get VVhen Steele the attracting Loadstone will not meet then Amarillis may I thee forget VVhen Shippes do saile full ' gainst the blasting wind when Light is darknesse Angells are unkind VVhen Heavens dissolve and Time an end does find then Amarillis thou art out of mind When she was gone and when he began to resent the horrour of absence he went to the same place where he bad adieu unto his shepherdesse and sighed out these verses severall times In absence of Amarillis Fair Amarillis and the Sun do hold exact comparison And both alike dispenseth light by presence and by absence Night What glorious Summer is it here when she is present in our Sphere How like to winter lookes the day when she her Rayes does not display When shee 's not present I 'me undon as Earth in absence of the Sun With Owles and Bats and Birds of night I sit and sigh away delight And am society for none but such a sad companion Since absence was my dismal doome my heart alas was not at home My eyes two Fountaines are which vie with Lignon which should first be dry All faculties do droop and mourne till Amarillis do returne But when the day shall dawne that she within our Hemisphere shall be Then VVinter's gone and Summer's come I 'le bid my heart a welcom home I 'le wipe all teares from swelled eyes my Batts and Owles I will despise And with the joviall birds in spring to her an Antheme I will sing But he not being able to abide in that place where he was wont to see her he resolved whatsoever came on 't to be gone and as soone as he sought for an occasion he found it to his hearts desire A little before the Mother of Amasis died and Preparations were in hand to entertaine her in the great Citie of Marselles as their new Lady with abundance of Tryumph This solemnity did draw thither out of curlositie most of the Country and amongst the rest my Father obtained leave to be one from hence did spring much of his miserie He was in the prime of his age faire beyond any in the Country his hair flaxen which naturally curled in rings and which he wore very long in briefe Madam he was such a one as I beleeve Love did chuse out for a marke of revenge and thus it was There was a certain Lady which had seen him and loved him in such a secret disguise that we could never know her name When he came first to Marselles he came as a shepherd but in a very handsom mode and to the end he should not run into any extravagancyes as he did in his owne Hamlet his Father sent two shepherds with him as guardians the
most true that she did love him and did give him so many proofs of it as he had been but a very shallow man had he not seen it And though she would have dissembled it with me yet I do know that she drew him in by such artifices and hopes of her goodwill towards him that I seeing demonstrable assurances given him did think her wholly his But he does most justly merit this punishment for that perfidie which he hath used towards a Nymph whose beguiled affection had just cause for revenge which Love at the last did execute upon him The truth is he is the basest impostor the most ungratefull and the most unworthy to be loved that is under heaven for his ingratitude and if he do resent that pain which others have endured for him he deserves no pitty Adamas seeing her so exasperated against Polemas asked her who that Nymph was which he had deceived for said he to her she must needs be one of your friends since you are so sensible of the offence which was done unto her She now saw that her passion had carried her too far and that she had unawares bolted out a thing which had been kept long a secret yet having a quick wit she so dissembled the businesse as Adamas took no notice of it Do you not know Daughter said Adamas that the aimes of all men is to overcome and compasse the designe which they attempt and the amitie which they shew unto you women when they love you is but to make the way more easie You see Leonida all Love is but a desire of something which is wanting that desire being sadded and cloyed is no more desire and there being no more desire there is no more love and therefore those that would be loved long are those that give least satisfaction unto the desires of their Lovers But said Leonida she whom I do speak of is one of my intimate friends and I know she never treated Polemas but with all the coldnesse she could That replied Adamas did stifle desire for desire is nourished by hopes and favours As a Lamp when Oyle is wanting doth extinguish so does desire die when that which should nourish it is taken away Thus does many Loves die some by too many some by too few favours But let us returne unto the discourse betwixt Galathea and you What was it which she did say unto you She said thus answered Leonida If Polemas had been so discreet as to measure himselfe aright as he was presumptuous in loving me he had taken these favours as flowing from my courtesie and not love But this is nothing to the passage that happened at that time for I had no sooner made an answer unto Polemas but Lindamor according to the order of the Dance came and stole me away and so dexterously that Polemas could not avoid it nor by the same means answer me but with his eyes but truly he made such a sourâ— face at me as I could not for my heart but laugh as for Lindamor he either took no notice of it or else would not make it appear but presently after he talked to me after such a manner as was enough to make Polemas mad had he heard it Madam said he is not this a fatall exchange What do you mean said I unto him I mean said he that in this Dance I have stolne you and in the very truth you have stollen my soul and my heart Then blushing at this I returned this seeming angry answer Fie Lindamor what strange language is this do you not consider who you are and who I am I do so Madam said he and that does invite me to this language for are not you my Lady and I your servant Yes answered I but not so as you do intend it for it is your duty to serve me with reverence and not love or if it be with any affection it must be such as proceeds from your duty To which he presently replyed Madam if I do not serve you with all humble reverence never was any deitie reverenced by any mortall but this reverence must be either the Father or the Child of my affection and call it what you please I am resolved to serve you to love you and to obey you your merits your perfections and my own fate has made me eternally yours he that sees and does not love you deserves not the name of Man and Clidaman's Lottery though it was some cause yet was it only a cover of my soules affection These expressions were uttered with a vehemency as made it plainly appear that his heart and tongue agreed and I beseech you observe one pleasant passage for said Galathea to me I never took any notice of this affection thinking it to be only in jeast and I never had perceived it untill the jealousie of Polemas did hint it unto my thoughts but ever since I have so set my thoughts upon Lindamor and I have sound him as well capable of causing love as jealousie and Polemas ever since that time hath so displeased me in all his actions as I could hardly endure him On the contrary all Lindamors actions did seem so plausible unto me as I wondred that I should observe them no sooner so as the jealousie of Polemas did quench my love of him and transferred my affection upon Lindamor This change had such an operation upon Polemas as ever since caused him to look asquint upon me and I am sure my eyes did not look upon him as they were wont When Galathea spoke thus against him I was not at all sorry by reason of his ingratitude but on the contrary the more to prejudice him I said thus unto her I do not at all wonder Madam that Lindamor should win more upon you than Polemas for their qualities and parts are not comparable and every one that sees them are of the same judgment you are It is true indeed I do foresee much jangling will arise first betwixt them two and secondly betwixt you and Polemas And why said Galathea to me do you think he has such an influence upon my actions or Lindamors That is not it Madam that I do mean said I unto her but I am so well acquainted with the humour of Polemas that he will try all manner of waies leave no stone unturned and will conjure both heaven and earth to ingratiate himselfe unto that happinesse which he hath lost and will commit such grosse follies as will be visible unto all but such as will not see them and such as will offend both you and Lindamor No no Leonida answered she if Lindamor do love me he will do as I shall command him and if he do not love me he will never care what Polemas does And as for Polemas I know how to order him Upon these words she commanded me to draw the Curtain and took her rest at least as well as these new designes would permit her But when the Ball was ended
health Madam answered the Shepheard who did not well understand this language If I must desire mine owne health it shall be only to render you service in exchange of so many favours which you are pleased to conferre upon me But for my part I must thinke of no other course but returning to the woods and Pastures otherwise the solemne vow which our Fathers have made unto the Gods will accuse us to be unworthy children of such Fathers What vow is that sad the Nymph The History of it would be too long replyed Celadon but in short this Madam All those about the Rivers of Loire Turan Argent and all the rest of the Rivers have severall yeares with one accord assembled in that great Plaine which is neere Mount Verdum and considering the Inconveniences which ambition and desire of rule in that people called Romans hath brought upon all their Neighbours they do all by mutuall consent sweare to fly all ambition for ever and they and their children to live peaceably in the habit of shepheards And ever since it hath been observed so pleasing was this vow unto the Gods that whosoever broke this oath did never prosper And amongst us my Father is the most remarkable example So as now seeing the will of heaven is to have us live in rest we have a new ratified this vow with so many sacred oathes as he that breakes it shall be most detestable I do professe answered the Nymph I am very glad to heare this for I never knew before the reason why so many good and antient families have forsaken Townes and spend their dayes in woods and solitary places But Celadon if your condition will permit you I shall be very glad to heare you relate the fortune of your Father Alsippes and why he betooke himselfe to that kind of life which he had so long laid aside for I am most confident it is most worthy of knowledge Then the shepheard though not very well yet constrained himselfe to obey her and began thus The History of Alcippes Madam you command me to relate the most intricate story in the world and in which one may learne that whosoever contrives the hurt of another must prepare himselfe for a great part of it In obedience therefore to your commands I shall briefly tel you what I have gleaned from the ordinary discourse of him unto whom all the things hapned for to make us more sensible of our happinesse in living at rest my Father hath often related unto us his strange fortunes Be pleased to know then Madam that Alcippes being educated by his Father in the simplicitie of a shepherd had ever a Genius far different from his education and any thing that smelt of a Town pleased him much better then a Field So as when he was a little boy his delight was in assembling other boys together and setting them into order and do what the grave Signiors could he would still be teaching them how to arme themselves and shoot in bowes The Ancients of our village who observed his actions did Prophesie great troubles to ensue upon their country and that Alcippes was of too turbulent a spirit to be kept within the compasse of a shepherd When his age became more virile he fell in Love with the shepherdesse Amarillis who was then secretly corrted by another shepheard called Alces And Alcippes having so good a conceipt of himselfe that he thought any shepherdess would bid his affection welcome whensoever it was offered he resolved not to use much artifice in declaring himselfe so as meeting her at one of the Sacrifices unto Pan. as she was returning home to her village he said unto her I could never have believed my selfe so weake as not to resist the blowes of an enemy who hath wounded me and never thought upon it She answered him that he who wounds against his will ought not to be called an enemy But I do find it otherwise answered he and therefore I may very well give this name unto you who I replyed she I was never so either in thought or act for I ever set a great valew upon your merit This is one of the wounds you give me said he but I see you can carry Love in your eyes and in your mouth but will not harbour it in your heart The shepherdesse then finding her selfe surprised and that he did meane matter of Love she answered I do set such a value upon your vertue Alcippes as I ought to do but as for any Love whereof you speak beleeve me I have none for any either in my eyes or heart especially for such pittyfull spirits as can content themselves to live like Savages in woods It is not the election of love but my destinie which makes me yours replyed the shepherd and such a resemblance of humor there is betwixt us that I have borne a most deadly hatred unto a shepherds life which you scorne so much even from my very cradle I do protest that if changing my condition will promote me into your favour I wil immediatly quit my flock and sheephooke and live amongst men not amongst Salvages You may change your condition answered Amarillis but not me for I am resolved to be still so much my selfe as not to give my affection unto another If therefore you would have us live as formerly we have done leave off this discourse of affection and Love and talke of such things as we were wont else thinke it not strange that I banish you my presence since it is impossible that Love and the Civilitie of Amarillis should dwell together Alsippe not expecting such an answer was so confounded that it was a long while before he could answer but being come to himselfe he was perswaded that it was the bashfullnesse of her age and sexe not want of any good will to him made her give such an answer And therefore he answered whatsoever you are pleased to be or say I shall never be any thing but your devoted servant And if the command you have imposed upon me were not incompatible with my affection you may most confidently beleeve that nothing in the world can make me disobey But I beseech you excuse and suffer me to continue my designe which is onely a testimony of your merit for whether you will or no I am resolved to prosecute it The shepherdesse then turning her eye smilingly upon him I know not Alsippe said she unto him whether this be for some wager or out of willfullnesse that you speake thus It is both answered he for I have laid a wager with my desires to overcome you or to die and this resolution is changed into obstinate willfullnesse since nothing can divert me from that oath which I have taker I should have been very glad answered Amarillis if you had made choice of some other marke for your importunities Nay nay said the shepherd all this cannot make me alter my designe Then think not much replyed Amarillis if I
last since his time of stay was but short he thus said unto me My Astrea for so he phrased me alwaies in private I shall leave with you my Brother Lycidas from whom I will never conceale any of my thoughts he knowes how I have vowed my selfe unto your service I beseech you promise me if it be your pleasure I should depart with any joy that you will receive as from me all the services which he shall do you and by his presence renew the memorie of absent Celadon And truly he had good reason to make this request unto me For Lycidas during his absence was so diligent to observe his Brothers commands that many thought that he succeeded his Brother in the affection which he bore unto me this was the reason why Alcippes after he had kept him three yeares out of this Country did call him home in a confidence that so long a time had worne away that light impression of Love which had a little entred into his green heart and that he being now grown more wise would weane Lycidas also from my affection But his returne was an extreame assurance of his fidelitie absence could not extinguish the ardency ot his Love no nor all the so much admired Romane beauties could ever startle him He intreated me by his Brother that I would give him leave to come unto me Oh Heavens how gladly did he come when I gave him licence I think I have his Letters about me for alas I have kept them better then him then pulling a little bundle out of her pocket like unto that which Celadon used to carry or in imitation of him and in which she very charily preserved those which came from him she took the first for she kept them in order as they came unto her then after she had wiped away her pearly teares she read these words Celadons Letter unto Astrea Fair Astrea MY patience hath vanquished my exile and heavens grant also that it may vanquish all hinderances of our happinesse I departed with so much sorrow and returne with so much joy That not dying neither in going nor coming it manifests that one cannot dy with too much delight nor of too much sadnesse Permitt me I beseech you to wait upon you that I may relate my fortunes unto her who is my only happinesse Fair Diana it is impossible to remember all the discourse we then had unlesse I should open those wounds again which are more dolorous to me then death During Celadons absence Artemis my Aunt and Mother of Phillis did come upon a visit unto us and brought with her this Fair shepherdesse Phillis And because our manner of living seemed more pleasant unto her then the shepherds of Allier she was pleased to stay with us which beleeve it was no small contentment unto me for her humours were very pleasing unto me and I have passed over many tedious hours with her When Celadon returned his judgment was so good and he liked her so well as I may truly say he was the cause of the great League which ever since hath been twixt her and me At this time he arrived at the age of seaventeen or eighteen and I at fifteen or sixteen and began to manage matters with more prudence so as to disguise our loves I did intreat him or rather indeed constraine him to be very familiar with all shepheardesses which could pretend unto any shadow of Beauty to the end his applications unto me might be taken rather as common then particular I say I constreyned him unto it for he did severall times upon his knees begge for a revocation of this command and alas he had good reason so to do for he did too well foresee that from hence would proceed the cause of his death Excuse me wise Diana if a few due teares interrupt my discourse since I have so much sad cause for them as it were impiety to stop them Then after she had dryed her eyes she began her discourse again And because that Phillis was most commonly with me it was unto her that he first made his addresses unto according to my command I could scarsly forbear my smiles especially when Phillis beleeved him to be in good earnest and treated him as it is the custome to treat such as begin the like addresses I remember that when he was once very sharply treated he sang this Song which he composed upon this subject A Song CLose by a River cleare whose bankes were clad With Mossie cussions and a channell had Which like a Serpent wreathed and did glide A long a lovely plaine with swelling pride Did sit a Shepheard chanting it in verse And with his Pipe did these sad Lines rehearse Cease Fair one Cease cease once your cruelty Let me enjoy one day before I die The torments I endure for loving you Are greater farr then is for hatred due If gods be good and infinitly kind Then Love and Hate a difference will find Is 't possible a pure and perfect Love Should never never any pitty move Are animals insensible as stones Which never moved are with sighes and groanes Those amorous glances of your winning eyes Have oft encourag'd up my hopes to rise And since they swell with promises so fair If they do violate they perjured are Oft have they told me that your stony heart Would melt and from severitie depart Each charming part of your fair face did say In their false Language they would ne're betray But how Does shepheardesses eyes out vie The glistering Court in all its falsitie Can they who live and only haunt the fields Use any art but what plaine nature yeilds Has rurall beauties found a subtile art Though not their faces yet to paint the heart Are these the Doctrines that your Schoole affords Only to flatter and to give good words No no my Fair one these are fallacies And far unsutable with your fair eyes Learne to be kind and banish cruelty This cometh neerest to a Dietie Beauty that bringes not sweetnesse with it might Be likned to an eye that wanteth sight To her that has no Love and yet is fair A Corps without a Soul I will compare I do very well remember said Phillis and interrupted her how his addresses unto me made you laugh for commonly his discourse was only a few fragments of words so disordered as they could hardly hold sense And commonly when he would name me his thoughts so run upon you that he would call me Astrea But see the variety of severall inclinations I know very well that Celadon had some advantages of nature above Lycidas yet I thought though I knew no reason for it Lycidas to be much more agreeable unto my fancy Sister said Astrea to her you bring into my memorle a discourse which once he had concerning you and this fair shepheardesse said she and turned towards Diana Fair shepherdesse said he to me the wise Belinda and Artemis your Aunt are infinitly happy in two Daughters
he would say at last he heard him break out thus Why should I be so simple as to love this wethercock in the first place her beauty cannot much move for she has so little as all she has cannot merit the name of Fair moreover there are no other considerations that can help out her merits or retaine any man of parts in her service Again her affection is all that can possibly oblige me and that is of such a mutable temper as if she have any impression of Love in heart I beleeve it is but like unto wax and wax so soft as will easily take any new impression and deface the old at the most if I do love her I must confesse it is meerly because I think she loves me This shepheard had gone on his discourse had not a shepheardesse overtaken him who it seemes followed after him and sitting down by him thus began to say Come Corilas come what new disgust is it that makes you thus pensive ' The shepheard returned as disdaining an answer as he could and never so much as turning his head towards her answered thus I am thinking what a trick of Legerdemaine you have used to get away from them whom even now you loved why Corilas said she can you think I Love any but your self Than you Said the shepheard can you think I beleeve you Love me What then do you beleeve of me said she I beleeve you are a foole said he to love one that hates you You have a very strange opinion of me said she And you said Corilas have strange effects in yourself Oh heavens said the shepheardesse what kind of a man have I met withall I have more reason to say in so meeting with Stella answered he what kind of a woman have I met withall For never was any more incapable of amity then you you I say who delights in nothing more then deceiving those who trust you who imitates Hunters that with abundance of toyle does hunt the game and then gives it as a reward to the dogges There is so litele reason in all you say said she as those have lesse that wil stay to answer you I wish said the shepheard that I had alwaies as much reason in my soul as there is at this time in my words then should I not grieve so much as I do Afterwards both of them being silent a long while at last she began to sing and thus in singing to expresse her self unto him Also he because he would not sit mute without returning answer thus replyed unto her The Dialogue between Stella and Corilas Stell COme shepheard come and tell me why For want of Love thou dost me fly Cor. Because to follow such a light And ayrie spirit is a flight Which must be followed with wings And men do never use such things Stell I do remember well the time When Loving me you thought no crime Cor. Of passed time no talking spend He lives but ill that does not mend Time past is past recovery And so with it my memorie Stell To Love I fear you do not know Only can make a loving show Cor. Why do you lay on me the blame When you are guilty of the same You Love by false opinions voice And not by any prudent choice Stell By heaven I Love you and lament You unto changing thus are bent Cor. Where once my Love becomes a due I am unalterably true And think me not in Love like you Who every day does love a new Stell No no I find thee faint and hollow And can a new affection follow Cor. If any time you pleased me Then did I think you fair to be T' was only thought the troth is this You did no beauty e're possesse Stell Perfidious Lover canst thou find A heart to kill her that is kind Cor. You charge me when your self offends Must he that 's injur'd make the mends But I ne're Lov'd and tak 't from me What never was will never be Stell Nay once you lov'd me but ' its strange That you so cruelly can change Cor. When loving you a crime I find 'T is wisdom sure to change my mind Repentance late is better farre Then never turne when one does erre Stell T is fitter far you did regret Your infidelity so great Cor. What you call infidelity Discretion is and policie And this is all that can be said All Love betwixt us two is dead The shepheardesse seeing he had all his replyes so ready she left off her singing and said thus unto him why Corilas is there no manner of hope in you No said he no more then there is in your fidelity Never think that all your flattery and fair language can make me change my resolution for beleeve it I am most firmly fixed It is meer vanitie to make use of any armes or charmes against me they are all too weak I would advise you Stella to imploy them and your time upon some other who not knowing you will not perhaps sleight you as I do Noveltie is pleasing you know and perhaps you may meet with some whom heaven having a designe to punish may Love you The shepheardesse was in good earnest nettled at this yet turning it into a seeming Jeast she smiled and said Oh Corilas I cannot chuse but laugh at your cholerique humor but ere long I shall see you in a better mood Nay I know replyed the shepheard that it is your humour to laugh at those who love you but I assure you that you may laugh long enough at me before I do Love you Thus these two enemies parted and Adamas knowing by their names of what families they were he had a desire to know more of their businesse and calling Corilas by his name he came unto him and causing him to sit down by him he thus said my Son for so I may call you out of the affection I ever had unto your familie you need not be sorry that you have spoken so freely unto Stella before me I am very glad to see you so discreet but I do desire to know further of your businesse to the end I may give you my faithfull advice As soon as Corilas saw the Druide he remembred that he had often seen him officiating in severall Sacrifices but since he had never spoke to him before he had not the confidence to relate the passages twixt Stella and him that he was ever willing that all the world did know the Justice of his cause and the perfidy of Stella which Adamas perceiving by way of encouragement told him that he was partly acquainted with the businesse already and that to his comfort many did speak in his behalfe I am afraid Father said Corilas that the trifles of our villages will be very tedious unto you No No replyed Adamas a relation of this businesse will much please me and time also will be well imployed by so spending away the heat of the day The History of Stella and Corilas
Lindamor observing the discontented looks of Polemas when he took Galathea from him he had an opinion that he did love her yet having never observed it by any former passages he resolved to ask him and if he did finde him in love then to disswade him from it and this he thought himselfe obliged unto by their former friendship therefore comming unto him he desired to speak a word with him in private Polemas being as subtle as ever was any did colour his countenance with a glosse of good will and said What is it which Lindamor is pleased to command me Oh Sir said Lindamor I never use commands where intreaties may prevail and at this time I will make use of neither but only as a friend ask you a question which our friendship obliges you to answer Be it what it will replied Polemas you may be certain I shall answer you with as much freedome as you can desire It is this then said Lindamor After I had served Galathea a good while according to the Ordinance of Clidaman I was at last forced to do it by the commands of Love for the truth is after I had served her according to the dispose of fortune who cast me upon her great merits she had such an influence upon my affection as I did ratifie it by the dedication of my self unto her and therefore must assume to my selfe so much boldnesse as to say that I do love her yet that friendship which is betwixt you and me being contracted long before this love began I resolved to tell you that if it be so that you do Love her and have any pretentions unto her I hope that I have so much command over my selfe as to make a retreat and make it appeare that my love is lesse then my friendship and that the follies of the one ought to give place unto the wisdome of the other Tell me therefore freely how your soul is affected to the end the lawes of friendship between you and me may be observed My intention is not to discover your secrecyes and since I do thus ingenuously open my selfe unto you I conceive you need not feare doing the like for it is not out of any curiositie but onely a desire to preserve our friendship that I ask you this question Lindamor spoke unto Polemas in such a dialect as did become a friend but like an ignorant lover that thought such a thing as a friend was to be found in matter of Love But Polemas the Grand dissembler answer'd thus Lindamor this fair Nymph you speak of deserves the Love and adoration of the whole universe but as for me I have no pretentions unto her But withall I must tel you that for matter of Love I conceive every one ought wil do what he can for himself Lindamor did now repent himself of his courteous and civill language since he had received such an od answer and resolved to do what he could to advance himselfe into the favour of this Nymph yet he answered him thus Since Polemas you have no pretentions unto her I will endeavour to preferre my selfe unto a happinesse which to recede from would be death it selfe unto me For my part said Polemas my pretentions unto her in matter of Love are only with an eye of reverence and respect such as we are all obliged to render unto her For my part replyed Lindamor I do honour Galathea as our great Lady and also do Love and adore her as my fairest Mistris I do think my fortune may wel pretend unto such a height as to cast my eyes upon her and do conceive it is no offence unto a Divinity to Love her With such discourse as this they parted both of them very ill satisfied with one another but upon different grounds for Polemas was stung with jealousie and Lindamor displeased at the perfidie of his friend from this day they lived at a distance for though indeed they were alwaies together yet they did hide and disgnise their desigues and actions one from another but Lindamor did not neglect a minute that could be imployed to make his affection appear unto this fair Nymph and certainly he did not lose eyther his time or paines for it was so aceptable unto her that though much love did not appear in her eyes yet she was ful of it in her heart and because it was a hard matter to conceale so great a fire but some flame will be flashing out do what they could therefore Galathea resolved to talke to Lindamor as little as possible she could and to devise some way or other for conveying letters secretly betwixt them And in order to that her designe was upon Flurial Nephew unto the Nurse of Amasis and Brother unto hers whose good will unto her she had been long accquainted with for he being the Gardiner at Mount-Brison as his father was before him when Galathea was brought thither to walk he would often take her in his armes and gather her what flowers she pleased and you know that such infant amities as are suckt in with the milk do become almost naturall also she knowing that all old people are covetous she was so liberal unto him that she made him wholly hers One day when she was got some distance from us she called him unto her as if the businesse was to enquire the names of some flowers which she had in her hand and after she had asked him severall such questions she said thus unto him in a low voice Come hither Flurial dost thou Love me Madam answered he I were the vilest varlet that ever breathed if I did not Love you above all the world May I be sure of this thou sayest said the Nymph May I never live a minute replyed he if I had not rather neglect my duty to Heaven then to you How Said Galathea without any exception suppose it were a thing that would offend Amasis or Clidaman I care not whom it would offend said Flurial if you Madam command it I will never enquire further for I am wholly yours and though my Lady do pay me my wages yet it is from you that my service is conferred upon me and besides I have ever from your very Infancy so loved you that I did at the very first dedicate my self wholly unto you But Madam I beseech you why so many words I shall never be truly happy untill you put me to the tryall Then said Galathea to him hark thee Flurial if thou continuest in that resolution and wilt be secret thou shalt be the happiest man alive of thy qualitie and what I have done for thee in times past is nothing in comparison of what I intend for the Future but be sure thou beest secret and remember that if thou beest not I shal become thy most mortal enemy and assure thy self nothing lessthen thy life shal satisfy me Go unto Lindamor and do as he shall direct thee and beleeve it I will reward thy vice beyond thy
hath since told me his heart was never in his life so swell'd with joy as then for he began to despair of his plot taking effect and seeing the Nymph never came into the Garden he feared that she knew him But when Flurial acquainted him with the resolution that was taken this was such a resurrection of Love as if one should die to make another mourn and revive to make them rejoyce The night being come and every one retired to their lodgings the Nymph did put her selfe into her night dresse and causing me to open the dore she went first and I swear she trembled so that she had much ado to go she told me that she had such an unusuall beating at her stomack as took away all her strength whether it was her being in the dark without light or her going out at an undue time or her apprehension of Lindamor's heart I know not but whatsoever it was she was much unlike her selfe At last growing a little more confident we came to the bottome of the staires where we presently found Flurial who had waited long for us The Nymph went before and going into a Jessemine Arbour which was so close as to keep out the Moon-shine or any sight from the windowes of the house she began to say thus to Fluriall in a great rage 'T is very well Flurial are you grown so stiffe in your own opinions that you will not do what I command you Madam answered he undauntedly it was to obey you that I have failed in this if it be a fault for did not you command me that I should punctually do whatsoever Lindamor commanded me Now Madam besides your command I am obliged by oath unto Lindamor to put his heart into no hands but yours Well said she and sighed where is his heart Here Madam said he if you please to come hither into this corner you will better see it than where you are When she came to the place she saw a man standing upon his feet and without speaking a word bowed himselfe unto her Oh heavens said the Nymph what 's here Flurial see here 's a man Madam said Flurial and smiled it is a heart that is presented unto you How said she a heart Then would she have run away for fear but he took hold of her Gown kissed it and held her I hearing these words came neerer and presently knew him to be the same that Fluriall called Gozen Upon a suddain I knew not what to think I saw Galathea and I my self with two men the one of which was unknown unto us so as we knew not what to do Cry out we durst not fly Galathea could not to put any hopes in our own strength we could not At last all I could do was to lay hold on his hand that held Galathea by the Gown and not able to do more I began to scratch and bite him which I did so upon a suddain that the first thing he saw was his hand bitten Oh sweet Leonida said he then unto me how would you use your enemies if you use your servants thus sharply Though I was almost quite out of my selfe yet me thought I should know that voice and asked him who he was I am said he one that comes to bring Lindamor's Heart unto this fair Nymph Then kneeling down upon the ground he thus addressed himselfe unto her I must needs confesse Madam that this presumption is great but yet not equall unto that affection which produceth it Here Madam is the heart of Lindamor which I present unto you I hope the present will finde as good a reception from the hand of the Donor as from a stranger But if my diasterous Fate do deny me that which Love doth promise me having offended against a Divinity whom I only adore then condemn this heart which here I do bring unto you unto what cruell tortures you shall please for so his pain may please you he will endure with contentment since you do ordain it unto him Now I knew him to be Lindamor and Galathea also but not without abundance of wonder to us both to see at her foot him whom she thought dead and I in lieu of a Gardiner to finde a Cavalier who yielded unto none in all the Country Perceiving Galathea so surprised that she could not speak I began to talk unto him and said Is it so Lindamor that you delight to surprise and affright Ladies this is not an Art that becomes such a Cavalier as you professe your selfe I must needs confesse unto you sweet Nymph said he unto me that it is not a becomming act of a Cavalier but it is of a Lover and I am no lesse Love that instructs all has taught me to be a Gardiner Is it possible Madam said he unto Galathea that this extream affection which you have caused should beso displeasing unto you as you must needs delight more in the death of him that owes it then his life Will not this heart I have brought finde as good a reception alive as dead But if you will needs have me die here 's a Ponyard will do that which no time can ever do for it will put an end to all The Nymph answered nothing unto all this but said Oh Leonida have you betrayed me Upon this she went in to another Walk where she did sit down for she was so much transported out of her selfe as she knew not what she did Then Lindamor did fall upon his knees again and I went to her and said Why Madam do you say I betrayed you how can you accuse me for this I vow unto you that I knew nothing of the businesse but it is Flurial that hath deceived us both But I thank God we are all deceived the better way Thanks be to God here that heart of Lindamor which Flurial promised he is here also ready to do you any service And have you not good reason to be glad of this Treason It would be over tedious to relate all our discourse at this time out at the conclusion peace was made between all parties and so as this Love was tyed with a harder knot then ever it was before but upon this condition that he should at this very houre depart unto the place whither Amasis and Clidaman had sent him This departure went hard yet obey he must and so after a parting kisse of Galathea's fair hand he went away in full assurance to finde her the same he left her But it would be impertinent to particularize every circumstance Lindamor returned to his charge did his businesse and with the permission of Amasis and Clidaman returned unto Forrests where giving a good account of his Commission he was honoured and carrassed according to the merit of his vertue But all this did not halfe so much revive his soul as the favourable aspect which this Nymph did afford him who ever since his last departure so increased in affection to him as Lindamor might well say
Father he could not hold from speaking of it unto his familiar friends and they unto others so as Amaranthe at the last came to hear of it who at the first was much grieved but afterwards seeing her own folly in thinking to make her selfe loved by force she did by degrees fall off resolving to entertain the next motion of marriage that was offered Thus were these Lovers eased of an intolerable burthen but it was to be loadned with one much more heavie Belinde was now at an age full fit for Marriage and Philemon very desirous to see her well bestowed he would have been very glad to entertain Celion but Belinde hating marriage as much as death had charged him not to speak unto her yet promising him that whensoever she saw her selfe forced to marry she would acquaint him to the end that then he might put in for a share of her and demand her in Marriage And this was the reason that Philemon perceiving the coldnesse of Celion he would not offer her unto him In the mean time Ergastes the prime Shepheard of all the Country and one who was generally esteemed for his many vertues did make an overture of Marriage with her and because he would not have the businesse talked of untill he was sure of speeding he who did treat about the matter did carry it so closely that a promise was made of the Marriage as soon as asked for Philemon making himselfe sure of his Daughters obedience did first passe his word and then acquainted her At the first she could not resolve what to do because he was a man whom she had never seen However this lofty spirit that never would sink under the burthen of any misery did presently rouse up it selfe and did not seem the least discontented at it for her own sake which was more than she could do for Celion and now her error of obstinate hatred against marriage must be washed away with tears So it was that to be as good as her promise she acquainted poor Celion that Philemon intended to marry her As soon as Celion had this so much desired permission he did so solicite his Father that the very same day he made the motion unto Philemon but it was too late for which Belinde's Father was very sorry for he loved Celion much better then Ergastes Oh heavens what griefe when he heard the doom of his misfortune he went immediately out of the house and never rested till he found Belinde At his first accost he could not speak but his looks did sufficiently tell what was Philemon's answer Though she stood in as great need of some good counsell as he and strength to support this blow yet she would shew her selfe so stout as not to stoop to any dysaster but she would not shew her selfe so insensible as not to shew how she resented the Shepheards misery but made it appear unto him that it did displease her Whereupon she asked him how her Father relished the motion The Shepheard related the very same answer which Philemon gave adding so many sighs and sad lamentations that she had been a very Rock had she not been moved at them yet she did interrupt him surmounting her selfe with as much vertue as possible and told him that lamentations were only for poor weak spirits and did not become persons of courage and therefore he did both himselfe and her wrong if he used any such expressions Celion said she where is that brave resolution which you said you had armed your selfe withall against all accidents whatsoever except at the change of my affections can any thing else make you stagger Consider that words do no good at all only make those that hear them think worse both of you and me For heavens sake do not stain my honour with that pusillanimity which hitherto I have with so much pain avoided and since there is no better remedy be patient as I am perhaps the heavens will hereafter contrive things better to our contentment then we at this time ought to desire For my part I will avoid the misfortune as much as I can possibly and if there be no better remedy we will resolutely fly from it and leave one another These last words made him almost desperate imagining that her great courage proceeded from the faintnesse of her affection Could I as easily resolve upon this accident as you answered the Shepheard I should think my selfe unworthy of your Love for a hollow faint affection deserves not such a happinesse For a reward of all my services you bid me resolve to lose you and does implicitely bid me not despair if I see you Another's Ah Belinde with what face can you look upon your new friend with what kinde of heart can you love and how can you ever carrasse him since you have promised a thousand times never to love any but me since your heart has so often sworn never to be any but mine Well you do command me to leave you and to obey you I will do so for the last minute of my life shall be the first of my disobedience I pray the heavens you may be as happy in your new choice as I shall be miserable Live and enjoy all contentment with Ergastes and may you enjoy as much good fortune together as I have will to do you service may this new affection swell with all delights and last as long as life whilst I am sure my most faithfull affection will be smoothered with extream griefs Belinde did let Celion speak so long together because she feared that if she spoke her tears would do the office of words and that would argue too little power over her selfe Oh proud beauty that had rather be censured for want of love than resolution But at last finding her selfe confident enough she said thus unto him Celion you think that all this is an argument of your affection but I think the contrary for how can you love me and have such an ill opinion of me If you took this opinion up since this last accident it is to be believed that that affection is not very great which can so suddenly change If you have not an ill opinion of me how can you possibly think that once I did love you and now do not Consider how unlikely it is that Celion whom I loved above all the world and whose humours were ever as agreeable to me as my own should be changed for Ergastes whom I never saw and whom rather then I will marry I will marry a Grave If I be forced it is by the commands of a Father whom neither in duty nor honour I ought to disobey But is it possible you should so soon forget all those vowes and protestations which I have made unto you never to marry How comes this change to passe For if you did love me without marrying me why cannot you love me still without marrying me And when I have a Husband who can forbid me to love a Brother
piercing curiosity of the Sun that it findes a passage between some leaves for some of its rayes Take notice how well the shade and the rayes are represented But certain it is that the Shepheard cannot be surpassed in beauty look wel upon the delicate proportion and symmetry of his face his tall and proper stature and see how every part is painted in the height of perfection although he stoopes a little to reach the water and with his right arme washeth his left yet for all that you may easily perceive his perfect beauty Then cast your eye upon the other side of the River and there you may behold uglinesse in its height as on this side you did beauty for there amongst those dirty Rushes you may see the Sorcerene Mandrague looking upon the Shepheard as he is bathing himselfe see how she is drest as it were in spite of those that look upon her her rufled hair her foul and naked arme and her pittifull petticoat tucked up higher then her ugly knee I believe and so would any that she was going to conjure But see here the strange effects of Beauty This old Hag with one hip in her grave with her little lean wrinckled and meager face and hair as gray as old age could make it she is not ashamed to fall in love with this young and lovely Lad If there be any sympathy in Love as they say there is I wonder where it could be betwixt Damon and her look what an extasy she is in how she lifts up her hoary head and withered hands and intending to smile makes a miserable mouth But be she as ugly as she is she intends to love and court this Shepheard Then lift up your eyes a little higher and see how Venus and Cupid in that cloud looking upon this new Lover do seem as if they laughed at it Certainly this was some wager which that little god had laid with his Mother that he could make this wither'd stump bestir her selfe in Love or if it were not upon a wager it was to shew by this old hag that dry wood burnes better and sooner then green or else to shew his power upon this aged Monument he would try what heat was in his Torch with which it seemes he can inspire new soules and in a word make life revive and come out of the grave The fourth Picture PAsse then unto the next and you shall see night very well represented See how in that gloomy shade some Mountains do a little appear but so as you can hardly tell what they be Observe how these stars do seem as if they twinkled there is Ursa major which though it have seven and twenty stars belonging to it yet the judicious workman has represented clearly unto us but twelve and of that twelve but seven that shine clear There again is Ursa minor And consider that though all these seven stars do never hide themselves yet one of them is of the third Magnitude and foure of the fourth and yet to us they seem all of the same proportion There is also the Dragon unto which belongs thirty and one stars yet thirteen only to be seen five of which are of the fourth Magnitude and eight of the third There again is Adrian's Crown which hath in it eight stars whereof one is more splendent then the rest Behold there the Milkie way by which the Romans say that the gods used to go and come from heaven How well those clouds are represented how in some places they cover the sky with a dusky thicknesse in others lesse as they are more or lesse in height so in clearnesse Now let us consider the Story of this Picture Look upon Mandrague in the midst of a Circle with a wand in her right hand and an old worm-eaten book in her left with a candle of green wax and a pair of rotten spectacles on her nose see how she seemes to mutter her mouth awry her browes like clouds and every action seemes to groan out her affection Observe how her feet her arms her left side is naked being on the same side with her heart All those phantasmes which you see about her are Demons and Spirits which she conjures up unto her by her charms to know of them what she should do to make Damon love her They tell her of his affection unto Fortune and that there is no better way then to tell him that this Shepheardesse loves another and not him and in order to that it is requisite she should presently change the vertue that is in the Fountain of Loves verity Before you go any further observe the art of the Drawer see the effects of Mandrague's candle in the dark how light it is on her left side and how dark it is on the other side of her face as if it were two different complexions Then see what a difference the shadow of this candle makes amongst the Demons some in darknesse some in light as she does turn her selfe Observe again the Painters art in drawing his distances somethings at hand and some afar off Mandrague here is far off at the Fountain of Loves verity But for your better understanding be pleased to know that a little before there was a fair Shepheardesse the Daughter of a very cunning Magician was secretly desperately in love with a Shepheard Whether it was that the charmes of Magick had no influence upon the charmes of Love or that he was so attentive upon his studies that he did not minde her but so it was that after a most extream affection and disdain of the Shepheard she took it so to heart that she dyed and all her Fathers skill could not help her At which the Magician being extreamly sorry when he understood the occasion to eternize her memory he changed her Tombe into a Fountain which he called the Verity of Love because whosoever looked in it he should see his Mistresse and if she did love him he should see her and himselfe together and if she did not love any then she should appear alone And this is the vertue that Mandrague would change to the end that when Damon came to look into the Fountain he might finde that his Mistresse loved another and so his affection unto her might die and she her selfe might possesse it See how she did inchant it what Characters she makes about it what Circles what Triangles and od Figures she useth Before she began to conjure she called all her Divells about her to her aide yet Love being stronger then all they they durst not attempt any thing against him only counselled her to betray these two faithfull Lovers and to forbear that qualitie for a certain time Now since the vertue of this Fountain did sust come unto it by a Magician Mandrague who excelled all her Predecessors in that Science might easily obtain that request But let us passe to the next Picture The fift Picture THis Piece contains two actions The first is Damon
who did most sadly resent the death of her dear Ligdamon When Dinner was done some of the Nymphs had a minde to play others to view the house some to walk in the Gardens and others to fit and discourse in the Chamber of Amasis Leonida seeming as if she would make her self ready for her going with Amasis went out of the Chamber and presently after Lucinde followed and then seeming as if they would walk they went out of the Castle having most of the Shepheards clothes under their Petticoats and when they were got into the thick of the Wood the Shepheard undressed himself and putting on his own cloathes he thanked the Nymph for her good assistance offering her in exchange his life all that did depend upon it Then the Nymph with a deep sigh said unto him Well Celadon have I not performed my promise I pray remember yours also I should think my selfe sayd Celadon the most unworthy man that lives if I did not perform all my promises unto you Then Celadon said she remember what you swore unto me for I am resolved to put you to the Test this very hour Fair Nymph answered Celadon dispose of me as far as I am able as freely as you can of your self for I am fully resolved upon obedience Have you not made a promise unto me replyed the Nymph that I should search into all your life past and if I found any thing which you could doe for me you would doe it And he answering that it was true then Celadon said she I have done as you did bid me and though they say Love be blind yet I have so much light left in me as to know that you ought to continue that love which you have so often promised unto your Astrea for disgusts of love will not allow any one to be perjured or unfaithfull and therefore ye ought not to fail in your duty though they have treated you ill The faults of others can never excuse or wash away our own Love therefore the fair and happy Astrea with as much sincerity of affection as ever you did serve her adore her and more if it bee possible for Love requires extreames in his sacrifice But yet I know that the good offices which I have done you does deserve something And because Love can never be payd but with Love you are obliged to pay mee in the same coyn if no impossibilities doe intervene But since one heart is not capable of any more but one love let me be paid with what it can And since you cannot love me as your Mistris I would have you love me as your Sister and ever hereafter to love mee cheerish me and treat me in that manner Celadons contentment cannot be expressed after hee heard this language for he confessed it was infinitely his own desire And therefore after he had given the Nymph a Million of thanks for her affection hee vowed to receive her as his Sister and under that notion to doe whatsoever shee commanded him And so they parted extreamly well contented and satisfied one with another Leonida returned to the Castle the Shepheard to his voyage shunning all such Plains where he thought he might meet with any Shepheards of his acquaintance And leaving Mount Verdun on the left hand he went unto a little rising ground from whence he could view most of those places where hee was accustomed to feed his Flock where Astrea was wont to come unto him and where they used to shade themselves from the scorching Sunne in the heat of the day Briefly this Prospect presented to his eye all those contentments which hee had been so long deprived of And in contemplation of them hee sate down under a shady tree and sighed out these Verses A Prospect YOnder 's the place my fairest Sun Did bliss mee 'fore the day begun Whilst th' other like a sluggard slept Or out of drousie bed was crept She crown'd with Violet and Rose Did there her early self repose And with her self such light did bring As made those fields appear a Spring The other Sun with his hot rayes Such over-scorching heat displays As dryes and withers every plant And makes the Ploughmans heart to pant My Sun with influence so sweet Such onely as have souls doe greet On those she never heat imparts But burneth onely Lovers hearts Yonder 's the Fountain which doth claim From Sycamors a borrowed Name There did my Shepheardesse Divine Whilst her fair hand was linkt in mine Answer my Love in equal flame Celadon shall ne'r forget the same For there he vow'd to her and swore Eternally her to adore Under yond spreading leaved tree Which shaddowed both her and me Purest vermilion there did seek For harbour in her lovely cheek When she did blush for shame to hear A Shepheard swear that she was fair No no said she to me for I Fair would be onely in thy eye But O thou hollow Rock where we So oft have been in secrecie Where is that Love which we did vow And what becometh of it now Did she and I the gods adore And all in vain their help implore Have I not reason to complain Since she does pay me with disdain And thou old Tree whose barkie leather Defends thee from the stormy weather To thee I doe address my plaint And doe this sad divorce lament How oft did we our Letters hide Within thy old worm-eaten side But now alass too plain I see Both thou and she all changed bee These thoughts and imaginations had kept Celadon longer in that place but for the coming of a disconsolate Shepheard who pittifully lamenting his losse came towards him sighing out these Verses Upon too over-soon a Death YOu that my weeping eyes do see Did you but know what misery Has swell'd my heart In lieu of blaming me you would Adde all the sorrows that you could And take my part Within the gloomy shade of death The fairest that had ever breath Inhabits now VVhy should not destiny so tart As well my body as my heart That place allow No sooner she her self did show Amongst us mortals here below But she was gone So as it seemeth she was sent Onely to make us all lament And her bemoan As loving I vy clings about A wither'd Tree when life is out Even so would I And live contentedly I could If close to her but cling I could Untill I dy Celadon having no mind to be seen by any that could know him when hee spied this Shepheard a good distance off he concealed himself behinde a thick bush and when hee was past he followed him at an unseen distance untill he saw him sit down and then hee crept so neare that hee could heare all his sad complaints The humour of this unknowne Shepheard sympathizing with his own it swelled him with a curiosity to know somthing from him both concerning his own Mistris and his also Therefore going to him he began to speak thus Sad Shepheard I doe
griefe and when any resentments did divert her memory of them her eyes would then six themselves upon no objects but such as were sad which to avoid she kept her selfe most commonly in her Cabin But her greatest affliction was she was deprived of that consolation which is found even in the greatest misfortunes I mean she could not lay the fault upon any but her self nor could she find out any excuse to turn it another way And certainly it had bin absolutely impossible for her to have lived under such a load of griefs if the society of Diana Phillis had not helped her to bear the burthen for the presence of reall friends is doubtlesse one of the most soveraigne remedies that griefe can receive and these two reall friends not being ignorant of it they had so great a care of her that one or both of them were continually with her they would pull her out of her Chamber by force and carry her into the most unfrequented places for unto others they would not lest they should meet with some accidents which might bring Celadon afresh into her memory so as these kinde Shepheardesses did sweeten many an houre and stole many a bitter minute from Astrea Silvander on the other side under pretence of a faigned addresse unto Diana did fall so extreamly in reall love with her as he hath been an excellent example unto all the Country and at his own expences taught them this Doctrine that Love will not be jeasted withall He findes now so many compulsive causes of love in that Shepheardesse as he admires he should be acquainted with her so long and love her no sooner And though this task of courtship which he had undertaken was the Origen of his disease yet he made no complaint because Diana without any offence allowed him liberty to expresse his passion for such was the violence of his love that if it had not been allowed some vent it would have broke him and he could not possibly have lived without it When he consulted with himselfe he plainly saw that he had made a disadvantageous change especially when he remembered how happy he was an absolute Master of himselfe oft did he muster up all his arguments drawn from reason to rid himselfe from this new servitude and when he found that reason was too weak to do it he would arme himselfe with violent resolutions against it But alas look how oft he tryed all these waies so oft did he see that it is in vain for any man to strive aganst the ordinances of heaven and that whoso is wise will rather comply and submit his will thereunto And therefore every morning and night when civility denyed him Diana's company he used to retire himselfe from all manner of company as well because all the world without her was irksome unto him as to consult more freely with himselfe and to consider which way he had best take to effect his desires And though he saw many impossibilities in the pursuit of his affection yet for all that he could fix upon no resolutions which concluded not in advantage of his love If at any time he started a designe to make a retreat Oh how suddenly would his heart give a check unto himselfe If he determined to pursue Oh what difficulties what rubs and how many Martyrdoms did he foresee What shall we do Silvander would he say to himselfe since both pursuit and retreat are equally impossible Then would he say in answer to himselfe Thy best way is to do as the heavens they would have thee Can it be imagined that the heavens would ever have made her so admirably fair but only that all those who see her should love her And since in going both forward and backward thou findest equall impossibility chuse that course which is most agreeable to the will of heaven and to thy selfe She is made so fair purposely to be loved and adored and for my part I will far sooner quit my life then her service What then needs any further consultation since the will of heaven and my own do so well agree upon it As he was in discourse with himselfe he chanced to be neer the pleasant River of Lignon opposite to a Rock which resounded an Eccho that distinctly answered to the last syllable of every sentence And therefore after much turbulency of spirit he roused up himselfe as if awakned out of a dream and said Why should I thus turmoile my selfe in so many ravelled contrarieties The Eccho which inhabits in this place will tell me what it hath heard from the mouth of my fairest Shepheardesse and therefore it is the most infallible Oracle which I can consult withall Then clearing up his voice he began to enquire thus of it ECCHO TEll me where goes my cries and care Thou blabbing Daughter of the Air To the Air. Do'st think my heart which Torments nurse A better End will meet or worse Worse What then doth mean that charming eye Which seemes to love eternally A Lie If so then what will me recover And from my Errour me deliver Leave her How leave her saist thou to another How can I leave her when I love her Love her The best advice that thou couldst frame But did Diana say the same The same Had she but said that she did Love Oh! then I should most happy prove Happy prove And so I should could I but finde That thou wert sure this is her minde This is her minde Although Silvander knew well enough that he was his own Answerer and that the Aire being beaten by his voice into the concavities of the Rock was reverberated into his ears yet could he not chuse but resent great consolation from the auspicious Answers which he received conceiving that nothing was governed by Chance but all by an All-wise Providence and therefore he believed those words which the Rock returned to his ear were inspired into his tongue by some good Demon that loved him so as in this opinion he followed the custome of all Lovers who use to flatter themselves in what they desire and find such hopes out of very bare appearances in which there in no appearance of reason After he had given thanks unto the Genius of the Rocks and to the Nymphs of Lignon he intended to go and present himselfe unto his Shepheardesse at the field of Mercury for there she used to call in her way to Astrea and as he winded his course that way he espied afar off the Nymph Leonida and the generous Paris who hearing his voice turned towards him as well to enquire of the Shepheardesses Astrea Diana and Phillis as to enjoy his good company For though Paris did well enough know what affection he bore unto Diana yet did he love and esteem him very much because he could never believe that that wise and discreet Shepheardesse could prefer him before himselfe by reason of the grandure of Adamas who for his quality of Grand Druide was next unto
was a declared enemy to Love yet now must love and adore would you I say have him make his love known But how comes it to passe fair Mistresse said he and addressed himselfe unto Diana that you would not answer unto what I say but seemes as if my discourse did not concern you Perhaps the reason is answered Diana because I must not be your Mistresse above fourteen or fifteen daies If that do trouble you said he you may easily finde a remedy by obliging me by your favours to continue in your service as your beauty and perfections have hitherto most really constrained me Ah Silvander answered Diana let us talk no more of any favours and service since the terme of three Months prescribed for your faigned affection is almost past it would be too great a trouble to you to constrain your naturall inclination any longer Fairest shepheardesse answered Silvander I would not have you believe I do think your service any trouble but I 'le assure you that it is abundance of delight unto me to do any service upto a person of so great a merit insomuch as though my Nature were contrary unto Love more then it is yet should I with abundance of delight continue in such a service Although shepheard you should said Diana and smiled yet it is agreed upon but by one party for though your naturall Genius do incline that way yet you can never hope that I will These words did touch Silvander's heart so to the quick since he perceived by them that he had gained a small influence upon her good-will as he was not able to hide his sad resentments of them but his countenance did plainly discover them by changing colour Which Astrea perceiving How now Silvander said she unto him what does your heart fail you It were strange replyed he if such cruell language from my Mistresse should not extreamly trouble me yet do not think my heart shall ever fail me though she and the heavens have the disposure of all my hopes and life Is not this answered Astrea rather rashnesse in you then courage and are you not too presumptuous in denying such powers No replied the shepheard it is a most true reall perfect and most faithfull love which makes me speak so By these and the like expressions Diana perceived that Silvander did really love her Silvander he did foresee abundance of difficulties and very small hopes unto himselfe And Astrea did conceive that Love had laid a foundation of an exquisite and lasting affection And though they all three had different thoughts yet were they all true as afterwards you shall perceive But Silvander interrupting the subject of this discourse addressed himselfe unto Diana I hope fairest Mistresse said he that this Bracelet of your fair hair which you have made for Phillis is only to be rid of her importunities and if it be so you are obliged to favour Silvander as much as her and lest you should be taxed with partiality you ought to treat us both with equall favour though the affection which you have caused in my soul cannot be equall'd by any other And why not said Astrea taking the part of Phillis since both sour affections do proceed from the same cause one grain of corn produceth severall ears Allthough the cause of our affections be the same said Silvander yet the effects may be different But experience shewes the contrary said Astrea for the affection of Phillis hath obtained that favour which is denyed yours This is not or want of any love answered the shepheard but for want of good fortune yet since the dropping of water upon the hardest Marble will in continuance of time pierce it why may not I as well hope that my Love and fervency of prayers long continued may as well work upon the marble heart of this fair one Then after he had looked upon her or rather adored her a long while be fell down upon his knees If Love my fairest Mistresse said he unto her have any influence upon beauty and if prayers caused thunderbolts to fall out of the band of Jupiter how is it possible that the extream affection of Silvander and his most zealous supplications cannot obtain as much favour as the shallow affection and troublesome importunities of Phillis hath obtained from you If it cannot I may with as much reason say that the way to obtain love is not to love and the way to overcome an obdurate heart is not by prayers and earnest supplications but only by dissimulation and vexing importunities Silvander used many other such expressions as these by which the shepheardesse gathered more assurance that love had taken root in him And Astrea knowing Diana's minde not to be very averse from granting Silvander what he asked would needs oblige them both by one act and therefore joyned her prayers unto Silvander's and she prevailed so with Diana that the Bracelet which was intended for Phillis was bestowed upon this Shepheard yet upon a condition that he should keep it no longer then the end of the terme which he was to serve her which she meant was to end within a few dayes which the shepheard with some difficulty assented unto but remembring that though the time of his faigned service would soon expire yet he remembred also that the time which he was to serve her 〈…〉 earnest would last as long as his life It is impossible to expresse the thankfulnesâ—◠〈◊〉 Silvander's soul but much more his satisfied resentments Let it suffice that he who heretofore was wont to despise all manner of favours from Love and who could not imagine any could finde any contentment in such follies as he called them that he does now confesse that there is no felicity comparable unto this favour which he now resented And when he was in the midst of his sweet imaginations it seemes Love had a minde to compleat his joyes in making the shepheardesse Phillis to enter For he whose happinesse is unknown to any but himselfe cannot be said to be compleatly happy but the more it is known the more happy he is and much the more when this happinesse does not come by Fortune but by Merit Assoon as Silvander saw her he ran unto her and in a most jocund manner shewed her the arme on which he had already put his most beloved Bracelet and passed it often before her eyes saying Here Phillis here is the earnest of my ensuing Victory Phillis who had been seeking Lycidas with a desire to convince him of his jealousie and could not finde him was so sad and so weary as she needed not to counterfeit any anger nor change any countenance to testifie her displeasure and sorrowes which this favour might have caused in her And because Silvander was very troublesome unto her not only in this Act but in being the bellowes which did blow up the jealousie of Lycidas she said unto him in as sharp a manner as she could This earnest shepheard which you shew
me is rather an argument of your little merit then of any ensuing victory for so it is usuall to do only to make all even What do you mean by that said the shepheard I mean replyed she that on that end which is too leight they use to put some weight to counterpoise it untill the journey be ended but when they are arrived there then they throw away that which was only to make an equall ballance So till we are arrived at the end of our terme Diana does wisely ballance that side which is the leighter by her favours but afterwards she will give her judgment without any regard unto the weight of my affection or the levity of your little love And then God knowes on whom the victory you speak of will fall Silvander smiled and answered It is rather the custome of miserable people to be envious and lessen the happinesse of others which they infinitely esteem by their language Phillis without any further reply left him and went unto the two shepheardesses and was extreamly offended at them And because Diana laid the fault upon Astrea and Astrea could not well excuse her selfe Silvander began to speak for them both addressing himselfe unto Diana I beseech you fairest Mistresse said he consider how prudent Love is and how wisely he governes the actions of those he is pleased withall You thought hitherto that Phillis loved you and indeed I know none but have in some sort been deceived by her dissimulations Love who knowes all the interiour faculties of the soul and purposing to undeceive you hath caused you to favour me with this Bracelet of your hair not onely as a mark of my affection but also to discover the hollow affection of this deluder by her jealousie For as it is a thing impossible that two contraries should be at the same time in one place so much more that love and jealousie should be at the same time in one and the same heart Silvander's aim was only to torment Phillis the more for knowing how jealous Lycidas was he doubted not but to trouble her by proposing that Love and Jealousy are inconsistent And she being touched to the quick could not chuse but answer him thus Pray Shepheard what reasons and arguments have you to maintain so bad an opinion Such said he as will make you confesse your selfe of the same at the least if you know what the reason is Love is nothing but a desire and every desire is hot Jealousie is nothing but a fear and all fear is as cold as ice and how can you imagine such a cold Child should be the issue of such a hot Parent We see said Phillis that flint which is cold will send sorth sparks that are hot Most true answered Silvander but fire never produceth cold Yet by your favour replied Phillis ashes that are cold do proceed from fire Yes answered the shepheard but when the ashes are cold the fire is not in them Phillis was almost non-plust at this reply and much more when Diana spoke So likewise said she when cold jealousie begins Love that is hot ends Mistresse replyed Phillis my enemy may well get the victory if he have so good a Second as your selfe Then turning her selfe towards Astrea And you fair shepheardesse said she I may justly think you a very ill friend if seeing me assaulted by two you will not take my part Astrea answered very sadly I do hold it for a thing so certainly true that jealousy may proceed from love as not to bring it into any doubt I will not dispute it lest I should be forced to confess that I my selfe did not love because I was jealous as I do see you are forced to confess that being jealous of Diana you do not 〈◊〉 her or at the least being in doubt whether jealousie may proceed from love you are not well assured whether you love her or no. I do kiss the hand of this fair and just shepheardess said Silvander who without respect of persons speaks with so much truth in my advantage If you be obliged unto me said Astrea then surely you do think that I did speak partially in your favour for none are beholding unto him that speaks truth more then to him that payes a debt justly due Most true answered Silvander if it be taken in the rigour of justice but we do live in an age wherein so few do follow vertue simply and cleerly as we may think our selves obliged unto those that will but acknowledge any benefit although they are obliged unto it But what can you argue against that experience which we daily finde said Phillis unto him For I know a shepheard who after he had loved long and fell into extream jealousie yet afterwards recovering out of it did continue his affection long after Can you say that this was a fire extinguished which produced these ashes It is not impossible answered Silvander but one that is well may fall sick and after that sickness grow well again nor that a fire may be put out and afterwards kindled again Affection that was long hot may be put out by cold jealousie and that jealousie being gone it may become as hot as ever it was before But it cannot be that health and sickness hot fire and cold ashes love and jealousie should be in the same subject at the same time And for a full clearing of this truth let us observe the effects of love and jealousie and by them judge whether the causes from whence they proceed have any conformity together The effects of Love is an extream desire in our soules to see the person loved to serve her and to please her as much as possibly we can The effects of jealousie is a fear to meet her whom we love a carelessness to please her and a disdaining to serve her And who can think such contrary effects can proceed from one and the same cause If we do we must confess that nature will destroy her selfe if she will have contraries to consist together Phillis would gladly have answered but she was so non-plust as she knew not where to begin at which Diana could not chuse but laugh especially when she considered the jealousie of Lycidas And to add more matter for her perplexities she did purposely speak in this manner Jealousie is a signe of love as old ruines are signes of ancient buildings which are the greater the more magnificent the Edifice was And therefore a great jealousie cannot proceed from a little love But as we cannot give the name of buildings unto these ruines so jealousy cannot be called love And if I may judge by my own humour if I did love I should not have power to be jealous And what would you be said Phillis if he whom you should love should love another His enemy answered Diana I would say hate him And though I do foresee that such an accident would displease me yet it would be more for being deceived so long then for
by their countenances that there was no enmity betwixt them having for all their Combat mixed a kinde of sweetnesse and smiling in their eyes and about both their mouths Their Torches which were on each side of them which they had let fall by chance fell one against another so as they united together and made but one by this means added lustre to each other and gave the greater light with this Motto Our Wills are but one Their Bowes were so linked and twisted one with the other that they could not draw them but both together their Quivers which were hung upon their shoulders were full of Arrowes but by the colour of their feathers one might know that those which the one had belonged unto the other because in the gilded Quiver were silver feathered Arrowes and in the silvered Quiver gilded Arrowes The Company had looked long and not understood this piece i the shepheard Silvande at the request of Paris had not interpreted the signification These two Cupids said he do signifie the Lover and the Loved this Palm and Mirtle-wreath doth expresse the victory of Love for the Palme is an emblem of Victory and the Mirâ—e of Love The Lover and the Loved do strive which shall be victorious that is which shall be most loving Those Torches whose flames are joyned together and by this union more splendent doth shâ—w that reciprocall Love doth augment affection The Bowes intertwisted and linked so together that one cannot draw them without the other do teach us that all things are so in commun betwixt friends as the puissance of the one is that of the other so as neither can do any thing unlesse his Companion contribute his which the changing of the Arrowes doth more illustrate One may also see by this conjunction of Bowes and Flames and change of Arrowes and union of two Wills into one that the Lover and the Loved are but one So as I perceive this Picture represents unto us that the endeavours of two Loves to get the victory one over the other their contest is not who should be best Loved but who should best Love giving us to understand that the perfection of Love consists in striving how to Love and not how to be Loved Now if this be so fairest Mistresse said he and turned towards Diana you may see how much you are in my debt I must ingenuously confess said she that after this rate I had rather be in your debt than have you in mine Hylas who stood at the entrance and durst go no further though he had a great desire unto it and the more when peeping in he saw the grassy Altar and Picture upon it And because he could not well see he employed his ear with all attention to hearken unto Silvander's discourse and heard what he said unto Diana I perceive fairest Mistress said Silvander that neither you nor I are represented in this piece since they in it are both Lovers and Loved you are loved but do not love and I do love but am not loved and all this more by ill fortune then by reason There is no difference betwixt us said Diana but in words for I call that reason which you do call ill fortune and yet it is the same thing If all the difference said he were only in words I would not care but the worst is that which you call reason and I ill fortune fills me full of all miseries and its contrary would make me the most happy shepheard in the whole Universe Afterwards he turned towards the Picture and as Diana would have answered I beseech you my Fairest said he do not talk any more of your small affection to me but let me see what is yet more rare in this Picture Then taking her by the hand he read these words thus written in the bottom The twelve Statutes containing the Lawes of Love which upon pain of his high displeasure he commands all Lovers to observe The first Statute HE that 's a perfect Lover and a just And as he ought love infinitely must Extreames in Love allowed are as best Mediums will never make a Lover blest But odious are All Mediocrity Signe is of Treason not fidelity The second Statute Let him th' puissant god of Love adore And let him love some One and not one more Above one Object never let his eye Once look upon or wantonly espie It is decrced by Loves Emperiall Law That he his Blisse from this one Fountain draw The third Statute Unto this fair One and her service he Must dedicate himselfe and liberty He must his heart and all delights resigne To her and only her himselfe consine The rate he sets upon himselfe must be According as she loves him so must he The fourth Statute If he advancement to himselfe does seek Let his ambitious aime be at the cheek Which gave his love a life let him confesse She is the center of his happinesse Which he does only aim at and aspire To set the lustre of her glory higher The fifth Statute Let his affection to his Mistris be So dear so chaste so full of purity As he fruition of her shall despise Before a stain upon her honour rise If hers and his come in comparison Let him prefer hers far before his own The Sixt Statute If any offer to asperse the fame Or cast a blemish on his Mistris name Let him unsheath his anger give the lye To him that offers such a calumny If any dure to put affronts upon her Let him then die or vindicate her honour The seventh Statute Then let his love arrive at such a height As he esteems her 'bove all mortall weight The Sun the Stars and glories of the skies He value must inferiour to her eyes Perfection in the abstract he must deem her And think him guilty that does less esteem her The eighth Statute He must inflamed be with fits of Love So violently hot as they must move His pulse to beat a mad-mans temper He Must sigh must languish and halfe dead must be And ever in such violencies swell As ask him what he ailes he cannot tell The ninth Statute He must forsake his habitation His soul must ever live by love alone He must no being have but on the score Of her whom he does worship and adore So into her transformed he must be As that without her eyes he cannot see The tenth Statute Those daies that in her presence are not past He must esteem as absolutely lost Court all occasions Let him spare no pain To bring him back into his heaven again And whilst his body does a distance finde Let him be present with her in his minde The eleventh Statute For her he must depart even from his reason Bid welcome unto Manacles and Prison In sharpest torments think himselfe at ease So he thereby his fairest Saint shall please And all without expectance of rewards To love her is the honour he regards The twelfth Statute He must not think
read them then altered them according to his own humour and having a quick and ready Wit he changed them thus The twelve Statutes of Love falsified by the Inconstant Hylas The first HE that 's a perfect Lover and a just And true never love infinitely must Extreames in Love are never counted best Mediums will ever make a Lover blest And happy bee All Mediocrity Signe is of prudence and fidelity The second Let him no puissant god of Love adore But let him love some One and many more Above one Object alwaies let his eye Still look upon and wantonly espie It is decreed by Loves licentious Law That he his Blisse from many Fountains draw The third To many fair Ones and their service he Must dedicate himselfe and liberty He must not heart and all delights resigne To one and only her himselfe confine The rate he sets upon himselfe must be As many love him so himselfe must he The fourth If he advancement to himselfe does seek Then let it be in loving every cheek Which can give love a life let him confesse In loving many is his happinesse Which he does only aim at and aspire To make the lustre of his glory higher The fifth Let his affection to his Mistris be So dear so sweet so full of amity As the fruition of her he shall prise Above all stains of honour that can rise If hers and his come in comparison None must be dearer to him than his own The sixt If any offer to asperse the fame Or cast a blemish on his Mistris name Let him conceal his angerâ— give no lye To him that offers such a calumny If any dare to put affronts upon her Let him not die to vindicate her honour The seventh Then let his love arrive at such a height As that his judgment may be pure and streight All Suns and Stars and glories of the skies He value must superiour to her eyes Perfection in the abstract do not deem her Nor think him guilty that does less esteem her The eighth He must inflamed be with fits of Love So temperately hot as they may move His pulse to beat a gentle temper He Must never sigh and pule and halfe dead be Nor ever with such violencies swell As ask him what he ailes he cannot tell The ninth He must not quit his habitation Nor think his soul can live by love alone He must some being have besides the score Of her whom he does worship and adore Not into hor transformed so to be As that without her eyes he cannot see The tenth Those daies that in her service are not past He must not think as absolutely lost Some good occasion may reward the pain Though it ne're bring him to that heaven again And when his body does a distance finde Let him contented be within his minde The eleventh For her he must not derogate from reason Or welcome bid to Manacles and Prison Can he intorments think himselfe at ease Though he thereby the fairest Saint should please Since all without expectance of rewards The honour vain to love her he regards The twelfth He must not think it impossible his Love Should sooner then the firmest Rock remove If any such advice to him shall use Let him as Orthodox the same peruse Who so shall ever such advice o're move He 's far from any Schismatick in Love Hylas made all the haste that possibly he could in altering these twelve Statutes and that the alteration might be lesse discemed he first erased out what he thought fit with the point of his knife then did polish it with the haft of his knife then did write upon it what he had changed and when all was done he set it in its place again and went out unperceived by any so as when they came out he was found sitting at the entry as if he were fast asleep and because sad Astrea going out the first did take no notice of him he lay still and would not stir but when Phillis who came after spied him in this lazy posture How now Hylas said she unto him how have you spent your time whilst we have been viewing the greatest rarities that are in all the Country Faith I have some thoughts answered Hylas rising up lazily and rubbing his eyes which trouble me more then ever I did imagine they could What are they said Phillis I will tell you said he if you will promise to do one thing forme which I shall ask I will not engage my word said she before I know what it is You may do it said Silvander by adding conditions that he shall ask nothing which is unfitting for a wife and vertuous shepheardesse to grant Upon that condition said Phillis I will Know then fairest Mistresse said Hylas that I do believe this place to be really a sacred Grove which is dedicated unto some great divinity for ever since I heard Silvander read the Lawes of Love I have had such inward remorse as I cannot be at quiet within my selfe conceiving that I have hitherto lived in a most grosse errour and contrary unto those Statutes which the god who is adored in this place hath commanded unto all those who will love insomuch as I am ready to abjure my errour and submit my selfe unto the Lawes which he hath ordained There was only one thing which hindred nie from doing it whilst you were within the sacred Grove and I will declare it unto you You know fairest Mistresse that ever since there was any sympathy betwixt my heart and you and since Hylas first called himselfe your servant I never found in all this Country a more contradicting spirit nor an humour more antipathyous unto mine then that of Silvander upon all occasions he hath thwarted me and used all artifice to subvert whatsoever I intend as in that unjust Sentence which he gave against Laonice only because I spoke for her otherwise he could not be so grosse as to prefer one that was dead before so fair and accomplished a shepheardesse Calling these things into my memory and consideration I had a conceit that he read the Ordinances of this god after another manner then they are written and only to crosse me Therefore I do conjure you not only by your promise but the honour you owe unto Love and the deity of this place that you will take so much paines as to fetch me hither those Lawes that I may read them my selfe be satisfied in my doubt of Silvander and follow those Lawes all the rest of my life Is this request uncivill Silvander and unfit to be made unto a wise and vertuous shepheardesse No said Silvander but I rather think it in vain No said Hylas but let us make another promise to one another Promise me before all this Company that you will follow those Statutes which are there written as long as you live and I will do the like I shall said he most willingly for I have long since promised the same unto
it was impossible but some occasions would present themselves which would fit her purpose and in order to that she courted me and followed me as close as my own shadow She having a most notable piercing wit which would dive into the very thoughts of persons she found that Thersander did love me I say this same Thersander whom you see here with me It is requisite sage Shepheardesses that I acquaint you with his condition as for his person you see what it is Be pleased to know therefore that his Father following mine in all his martiall expeditions they were both killed the same day Thierres dyed And this Thersander being brought up of a child in my Fathers house he conceived such affection to me as the difference of our qualities could not restrain him from looking upon me otherwise then he ought and perhaps I might ignorantly be the cause of it for the great inequality betwixt us made me receive his services not as a Lover but as a domestick But Love who is blinde did make him entertain such thoughts as were far from any grounds of reason yet Leriana who was far more subtle then I having cast her eyes upon him and found out his intentions she thought him a fit subject for a begining of her revenge She knew very well that amongst all the bitters of Love there is none so sharp as that of jealousie nor so easily infused into a soule that loves well she began therefore to insinuate her selfe into familiarity with him expressing much good-will unto him offering him all the assistance that lay in her power and briefly did by degrees get him access unto me and opportunities to speak with me But finding that his modesty would not permit him to declare his affection unto me she resolved to infuse more courage into him And in order to that one day when they were together after some far-off discourse to be a prologue unto the main businesse she told him that she and I had often wondered he should never make choice of any Mistress and that I should say I could not imagine the cause that it could not be for want of will for his age would not permit that and therefore it must needs be want of courage though if he did set himselfe out he might get the favour of the fairest Lady in all the Court and therefore that I could see nothing but that or that he thought none worthy of him Thersander who believed her and who was touched to the very soul Alas alas said he both my Lady and you have but ill observed my actions since you have not found out my follies Alas I do love and do love in such a place that it is better for me to sit still in silence then declare it in any hopes of obtaining Slie Leriana knowing his meaning very well yet seeming not to understand him did still turn and winde her discourse so as she got out of him the name of Mandonthe but with so many excuses as she saw it very requisite to continue her designe in infusing more courage into him and therefore she told him That she saw no such inequality betwixt me and him but that he might very well go on that though Fortune did not favour him with any great Estate nor could derive his Pedigree from any great Ancestours yet his vertues did supply those defects and made him equall to me in merit All this she told him to make him the more confident of himselfe and much more which she invented as That she knew by my words that I did very much esteem him nay love him and was weary of Damon for his sake and would often say unto her that Damon was changed into Thersander Thus did she infuse as good a conceipt of himselfe as possibly she could Having thus laid a foundation for her treason she would now found how I stood affected and sometimes naming Damon as if by chance she would still be harping upon Thersander and something in his commendations All this I did not understand for I had never cast any eye upon him And finding me to speak of him as of a person indifferent she had an opinion that I would receive Letters if they were handsomely given unto me The time of the year was at hand when it was customary to present New-years gifts She conceived that a pair of perfumed Gloves would be a handsome cover for a Letter and therefore procured one from Thersander and put it into the finger of a Glove and when she saw her time that the best and most company was with me she presented her New-years gift unto me By fortune Damon was present and because she feared lest meeting with it I should not make it known unto every one she told me that there was a seam unripped and she would mend it Upon this she took that wherein the Letter was leaving the other in the hands of those that desired to smell at it But I finding the Paper in the finger I asked what it was To which she answered that it was the seam which rippeed when I tryed them I who did not understand this piece of subtlety replyed that it could not be so She with incredible impudence answered that she her selfe had ripped it and that I could not have it untill it was mended I perceived that there was something which was to be dissembled amongst so much company but I was too young and simple to apprehend it or to dissemble Yet Damon who had his eyes alwaies upon us and who knew by experience how ingenious Love makes men he presently conceived that there was some Letter in the Gloves which must be concealed from him but he could not devise from whom it should be as for Thersander he was out of all suspition yet now he began to have some thoughts of him For my part though I had a desire to do nothing but what was fitting yet I had a great desire to know what it was which was in this Glove and therefore retired as soon as I could When I was alone I took out the Letter and opening it I found these words Thersander's Letter unto Mandonthe AS being constrained not as esteeming my self worthy I do assume so much boldness MADAM as to call my selfe Your most humble Servant If you will be served by none but such as are worthy of you such then only must have the honour to see you Though we have not merits yet we have desires which are more intolerable to us because they are lesse accompanyed with any hopes But if Love continuing his ordinary miracles shall make an extream affection pleasing unto you I shall then Madam esteem my selfe infinitely happy and you be most faithfully served For I do know that though all the hearts in the world should joyne their forces together to love and adore you yet they could not all equall the grandure of my Passion The flatteries of this Letter did please me but comming from
fair shepheardesse hath done unto that affection which she hath promised me by misinterpreting mine and taking that for an injury which she ought to take for the greatest assurance and demonstration of my affection But Oh great god of Love how dare I complain against her since thou hast commanded me to think all well that she doth I will therefore use no complaints against her for my heart will not give me leave to contradict her in any thing But Oh wise Nymph I will endeavour to let you see by telling the truth that Palemon doth love and that Doris has no reason to believe the contrary And to be as briefe as I can she does confesse that I did love her and that she did love me but why does she upbraid me with any infidelity Her reason is because I was jealous and I confesse I was But if she did love me as she saies she did for loving her why should my affection be pleasing to her and not the effects of my affection If all that looked upon her made me jealous if their conversation their words nay their very lookes made me suspitious was not this a most certain testimony that I did infinitely love her She hath often told me that to doubt of her was to offend her and to make a sinister construction of her Ah great Nymph did this fair shepheardesse know as well how to love as her eyes do to make her adored she would say that this was rather extream love and the high opinion of her which made me doubt her Had I not thought her most worthy to be served by every one I should never have thought that every one had served her And had I not been of that beliefe how could I have been jealous of every one Jealousie therefore Oh fair Doris is not a lesser signe of affection and violent love then sighes and tears are for it hath its originall from the knowledge one hath of the perfections in the person loved but sighes and tears do often proceed from her cruelty only and from the torments which they resent by reason thereof She therefore knowing Oh great Nymph that I was jealous ought she not therefore to encrease her affection in some sort to ballance the weight which mine endured but on the contrary she rewards me with cruelty she her selfe unties the knot of that amity which so many services and demonstrations of a perfect affection ought to have made indissolvable And to give some colourable pretence for all this she alledgeth faintnesse and coldness on my side and negligence and carelessenesse which alas was only in her own opinion She alledgeth that at that time I absented my selfe from her Indeed when I consider this allegation I must confesse that all actions may be suspected when the effects produce contrary semblances or are not known unto those that have interest in them If I should ask you fair Doris what opinion you had of me when my fortune had brought me into your acquaintance I am confident you will say that I loved served honoured and adored you with as much faithfull zeal of true affection as ever any shepheard could And let it not displease you if before this great Nymph and reverent Druide I beseech and conjure you to tell them who that shepheardesse is that ever I adressed my selfe unto except you or you ever heard of If you do not know nor ever heard of any but must needs confesse my affection was never placed any where else why do you complain of me and why should you suspect and put a misinterpretation upon my actions Me-thinks it is but very ill Logick to conclude that Palemon did love me but because he sees me not so oft as he was wont therefore he does not love me Were it not a better piece of sophistry in the Schooles of Love to argue thus Palemon does not see me so oft as he was accustomed but I know there is some urgent occasions which keeps him away Had you been thus compassionate upon the torments I endured in being absent from you and judged others by your selfe you had never so cruelly offended him who did never offend against the affection which he promised But perhaps you will ask me what I did mean by so many minute visits whereas formerly whole daies would not content me I shall tell you Oh sage Nymph and when you have heard me you will not make such a sinister construction of my actions as this fair one doth of my fidelity only I beseech you to consider the kinde of life which I led at that time and amongst what company I lived I can and truly say Oh great Nymph that never man lived a more salvage life then I no not such whose profession is to inhabit amongst Rocks and Desarts excepting only when my affection constrained me once a day to see her for as soon as day began to dawn I went out of my Cabin and shunning all manner of company I did not return untill dark night retiring my selfe sometimes into the most close and unfrequented Caves and other times upon the tops of the highest Mountains so solitarily alone as nothing but my own thoughts could finde me out but they still kept me so good company as they did often invite me unto some such place from whence I might see her habitation thinking the very sight of the happy walls where she dwelt to be no small consolation unto me Nothing could withdraw me from this kinde of solitary life no not the friendship of Neighbours nor duty to Parents nor care of my Flocks nor any thing in the world else but only my desire of seeing her every day once and that in such short visits as to my sorrow alwaies when I returned I thought I did but only go thither and not see her Now my extream affection unto her was the cause why I did not acquaint her with my reason for this kinde of life Now great and wise Nymph it was ever my opinion that he who loves as he ought to do ought to be more tender of her honour whom he loves then of his own contentment The malice of ill disposed men is never so weak nor drousie but it may alwaies finde out some subject to asperse those that are most vertuous And at this time our frequent visits were eyed and gave occasion unto those malignant spirits to spit their venome and talk very broadly and yet so closely that all the diligence I could use could never bring me to know who were the authors of these poysonous Impostures What should I do in such a case To undertake a long voyage I could not because I was not a free Master of my own actions and to cease to love her had been to cease to live Since our great familiarity was it which gave a colour for their calumny what could I better do then stop the black mouthes of scandall by abridging my selfe of my own contentment in not being so
frequently with her For I thought my selfe obliged to preserve her honour and reputation at any rate whatsoever If she complain that I did not acquaint her with this untill now she may as well complain against my extream love of her for the reason why I did not impart it unto her was because I was loath to make her a partner in my sorrowes for I know that she who was ever so carefull to keep her honour free from all calumny could not endure to hear of these without extream vexation and sad resentment Now great Nymph I beseech you to consider by this most true relation whether such effects are usuall amongst vulgar affections and from thence you may perceive the quality of mine and being such as gives a manifest proof of its grandure why may I not and with reason aske as well some proofes of hers since love is never requited but with love again As for the businesse of Pantesmon which she alledgeth as a great matter of complaint against me I conceive my apprehensions of him did not proceed from an ill grounded jealousie as she termes it but from abundance of reason for this shepheard as she her selfe confesseth being such a one as he is it was probable she would rather love him then scorn him Moreover the friendship betwixt her Brother and him was no small ground for my suspitions but especially the favourable eye which she cast upon him which indeed was such as knowing of my jealousie she was more to be blamed for behaving her selfe so then I for thinking so And indeed their Marriage was openly spoken of so as from hence I had strong grounds for jealousie and she to cleer her selfe had good reason to do as I requested If friendship have a priviledge above love she might well have denyed my request if it have not why should she think it strange my love should desire a preheminency above that amity which she had unto her Brother From hence it was great Nymph that all our miseries had their originall for when I was angry with her for the countenance which she gave unto this shepheard she answered me that her Brothers affection unto him was the cause of it But when I replyed that the report of her Marriage unto him was so common as it was impossible I could endure to hear it What would your fantasticall suspicion answered she with an angry look have me to do You may call it what you please said I unto her but I shall never be at rest untill I see him banished from you Well said she with a more angry eye I will give you satisfaction this time but I wish this may be the last of your odd humours she expressed her selfe in such a manner as made me more suspect her then if she had denyed me with some handsome excuse This made me resolve to look more narrowly into the matter and trust unto no eyes but my own Oh most unhappy diffidence Oh what an abominable resolution was this which hath cost so much sorrow such extream torment and so many tears In order therefore unto this designe I spied out a time when Pantesmon went unto her Chamber for as fortune was either for displeasure or for some ill disposednesse she kept her bed that day And going up a back pair of staires which conducted to her Lodgings I came through a Lobby into a little Closet which had a dore over against her bed Such was my misfortune as I could through the key-hole see all they did but being at too far a distance I could not hear one word I saw and too plainly for my contentment this shepheard sit by her bed-side I saw him take her hand and kisse it several times I saw him talk bare-headed and at last kisse her lip without any resistance and for ought I could observe she answered him with no words of anger Oh heavens what a dagger was this to my heart I knew not what to do with my selfe I knew not how I should suffer this and live But such was my extraordinary affection unto her that though I had these bitter resentments yet it made me constantly to endure any thing which I thought pleasing unto her Pantesmon went away and I also he very ill satisfied with me and I absolutely mad at him Thus did Love drive us both away Now I beseech you great Nymph tell me Would you have thought I had loved her had not this gone to my very soul Could my resentment be lesse then to retire my selfe or Could it be carried with more discretion then never to speak of it unto any I do confesse I did endeavour to regain my liberty and when I found abundance of difficulty in unloosing the cords wherewith she held me I said severall times to my selfe That I would cut those I could not untie And when I was thus striving with my selfe it is true she sent one of her friends unto me But what could I think of her message more then that it was a continuation of her delusions Could I possibly give the lye unto such dear witnesses as my own Eyes So being full of anger I made that answer which she thus complaines of which was That one Nail drives out another Now since I had a beliefe that she had thus ungratefully betrayed me how could I give her a milder check I was obliged unto as much by the Lawes of my affection which would not let me lie now no more then before If she took it in any other sense then I intended it her innocence was the cause of it and my error made me say so She does not know of any other Love that ever driv my love of her out of my heart and yet my fears of displeasing her hath even untill this time deprived me of my greatest contentment When I at any time resolved to upbraid her for all this Love which had ever a great prevalence in my soul restrained me and gave me a check telling me that this would too much offend her whom I once loved so well that it was not handsome to twit her with her faults and make her ashamed of them but that I should be well contented with being loose from those perfidious obligations in which I had been so long entangled Oh! this advice was most pernicious unto me for doubtlesse had I at the first told her what I had seen she would have related unto me all that she had done and so I should have received as much satisfaction happinesse and contentment as I have since suffered torments and miseries But absenting my selfe wholly from her it was long before I knew that Pantesmon had left her And the worst was I durst not so much as enquire lest I should hear something which would encrease my griefe At last my love being stronger then my resolution or my anger I did by degrees go neer her and at the very first sight forgetting all the wrongs which as I thought I had received
thousand times that you would never desire any more to compleat your happinesse If your selfe be the cause of it then you do me wrong to dispose of that which is mine without my knowledge for whatsoever is yours is by donation mine accquaint me how the matter is and I will consider whether or no I can allow of these humours in the meane while I forbid them How imperiously does this Shepherdess carry it said Galathea She doth not injure him said Silvia since she told him as much at the first And truly if it be she whom I suppose it is She is one of the fairest and most admirably qualified persons that ever mine eyes beheld her name is Astrea and that which induceth me to beleeve it is she is this word Phillis for those two Shepherdesses are intimate companions And though as I told you her beauty be beyond al comparisons yet it is the least amiable quality in her for she is so ful of severall perfections as her beauty is the least considerable This discourse was but a wider opening of Galatheas wound since stil greater difficulties appeared in the accomplishment of her designe And being unwilling to impart any more unto Silvia she tyed up the papers and went to bed not without a croud of various thoughts which sleep by degrees did compose As soon as the day dawned litle Merill went out of the Shepherds chamber who had done nothing but lament all the night long and Galathea having commanded him to have a very strict observance over all the actions of Celadon and to make a report unto her he went out to accquaint her with his observations Galathea was awake and talking aloud with Leonida litle Merill knocked at the dore and came in Madam said he not a wink of sleep have I got all this night for poor Celadon is even at deaths dore for want of those papers you took from me yesterday and seeing him in such lamentable despaire I could not chuse but comfort him a little by telling him that you had them How Replied the Nymph knowes he that I have them Yes Madam said Merill and he told me that he would ask you for them for he has a great esteem of them had you heard as I did how he lamented the losse of them it would have forced your heart to pitty him Good Merill said the Nymph tell me what he said Madam replied he after he had enquired whether I saw his papers and I told him that you had them â—he turned to the other side as if distracted and said Now are all things at the very worst and after a while silence thinking me in bed and a sleep I heard him sigh and say aloud Oh Astrea Astrea must banishment be the recompence of all my faithfull services If thy affection be changed why dost thou blame me to excuse thy selfe If I have been faulty why is not my fault made knowne unto me Is there no Justice in Heaven nor pitty in thy heart If therebe why do I find no favour from either that I might either dy or obey Astreas comwand Oh most cruell command if I should die would it not argue rather deficiency of Love then excesse of courage Then he paused a while and afterwards began again But whither would my flattering and truycerous hopes transport me Dare ye once againe appear unto me what shadow of any hope can possibly be after so much time spent after so many services performed so much affection expressed so many disdaines endured and many impossibilities vanquished Must absence be the pittifull reward of all these No no hope rather for a favour from a grave than from her After much such like discourse he was silent a long while then turning himselfe in bed I heard him begin his lamentations which continued untill day and all were complaints against one Astrea whom he accused of change and cruelty Galathea knew so much of Celadons estate by Astreas Letters and by Merills report that it had been better for her if she had been more ignorant yet flattering her selfe she imagined that Astrea's scorne might happily make the way more easie to accomplish her desires But those are Novists in the School of Love who know not that Love never dies in a noble generous heart and that the root of it is never quite pulled up Yet in this hope she writ a note and put it amongst the Letters of Astrea afterwards giving the bundle to Merill Here Merill said flie carry this bundle unto Celadon and tel him that I wish I could as well render him all the contentments which he wants If he be well and desires to see me tel him I am not wel this morning She said this to the end he might have the more leasure to peruse his papers and to read that which she had writ Merill he went away and Leonida being in another bed she did not see the bundle nor hear the message which Galathea sent but as soon as he was gone she called her into the same bed then began thus to talke You know Leonida what discourse we had yesterday concerning this Shepherd since that I have met with more intelligence then I could have wished you heard what Merill said and what Silvia reported concerning Astreas perfections so as since the Fort is taken I foresee a double difficultie in getting it againe yet I find that this happy Shepheardesse hath much offended him and a generous heart cannot brook a disdain with out a resent Madam answered Leonida I could wish with all my heart you could extinguish all these kind of thoughts for if you continue in them you will wrong your selfe exceedingly do you think it possible to carry it alwaies secretly what a blame will it be unto your honour if it should be knowne The whole course of your actions will be measured by it what would you think of another that should lead such a life You wil answer me perhaps that you do no ill Oh Madam it is not enough for a person of your quality to be free from crime but they must be also free from scandall Were he a man worthy of you I should with some patience allow of it but Celadon though he be the chiefe of the Country yet he is a Shepherd and not known for any more and this vaine opinion of happy or unhappy can it so far bewitch you and so degenerate your spirit as to equall sheep-keepers clownes and halfe-savages with your selfe For Heavens sake Madam consider these things and be your selfe Leonida had continued on if Galathea in a great rage had not interrupted her I told you before said she that I wil not allow any more of such moral doctrine I am resolved When I ask your advice ehen give it mean time no more of this discourse unlesse you will incurre my displeasure Upon this she turned away to the other side of the bed in such a fury that Leonida knew she had much displeased
hath captivated She said this as twitting her with the infidelitie of Agis who once Loved her and either out of jealousie or some two monthes absence was quite changed also upbraiding her with Polemas who was stolne from her by another beauty which Leonida understood very well and thus replied I must confesse Sister that my cords are easily untyed and the easier because I would never take so much paines as to tye them faster Celadon hearkned unto their pretty quarrells with much delight and to the end they should not end too soon he said unto Silvia fair Nymph since it seemes you are the cause why this admirable Fountaine cannot be seen I beseech you oblige us so far as to tell us how it came to passe Celadon answered the Nymph and smiled you have businesse enough at home and need not meddle much in that of others but if your Love will allow of so much curiositie Leonida if you request her may perhaps tell you the end as she did undesired the beginning Sister answered Leonida since you permit me to tell the story I Love you so well as I will not let your victories be unknowne especially those which you so much desire should be knowne But because I will not tyre this shepherd I will be as brief as possible I can Not for that reason I beseech you said the shepherd but if you will because she may have time enough to do the like office for you Never doubt that replied Silvia but according as she useth me I shall know how to repay her Thus from their own mouthes Celadon was acquainted with all the particulars of their lives and to the end he might the better hear as they walked they placed him in the mindst and thus Leonida began The History of Silvia WHosoever saith that Love is sufficient to procure Love againe never had any experience either in the eyes or the courage of this Nymph for if they had they would have known that as water runs from the fountaine so the Love of such as Love her run away and never troubleth her If when you have heard the discourse I intend to make you do not acknowledge as much I will freely give you leave to taxe my judgement Amasis the mother of Galathea hath a Son called Clidaman owner of as many excellent qualities as any person of his age and ranke is capable of for he is exquisite at any thing which relates either to Arms or Ladyes About three years agoe to give some testimonie of his gentle disposition and by the permision of Amasis he gave a servant unto all the Nymphs and this not by election but lot for having put the names of all the Nymphs into one basin and the names of all the young Caveliers into another then in an open assembly the basin in which the Nymphs were was presented to the young Gallants and the basin in which the young Gallants were was presented unto the Nymphs Then by the sound of several trumpets the young Clidaman did draw his lot and it chanced to be Silvia afterwards the young Nymph did draw her lot and it chanced to be Clidaman Great were the applaudes which every one gave but the behaviour of Clidaman was most extolled who as soon as he had received his lot went and kneeling down before this Nymph did kiss her fair hand She out of modesty would not have suffered it without the command of Amasis who said it was the least homage she could receive After her all the rest took their chances to some it happned according to their desires and to others not Galatheas fortune fel upon a brave Gallant called Lindamor who then was newly returned from the armie mine fell upon one whose name was Agis the most perfidious and unconstant wethercock that ever was Some of these who took their fortunes did only in appearance like their chances others did with their hearts ratifie what fortune had done and those who were most pleased with their chances were such as before that had conceived some seeds of affection Amongst the rest young Ligdamon was one whose lot light upon Silera a Nymph truly very amiable but not to him who had already disposed of his heart And certainly it was happy for him that he was then absent for he would never have performed that faigned homage which Amasis would have commanded that perhaps would have brought him into disgrace For you must know that he was brought up amongst us and was so faire and handsome in all his actions as every one esteemed him especially Silvia they being both of an age At first their ordinary conversation begot a Love like unto that between Brothers and Sisters such a Love as their age was capable of but as Ligdamon grew in years so he did in affection so as at fourteen or fifteen years of age his wil began to change it self into desires and his desires by degrees became passions Yet he carried the matter so discreetly that Silvia her selfe had never knowne it if she had not forced him unto it Afterwards when he knew his disease and confidered what smal hopes there was of his cure then the mirth and pleasantnesse which was wont to be in his lookes and all his actions was turned into sadnesse and from sadnesse into such lumpish melancholy that every one took notice of the alteration Silvia was not the last of those who asked him the reason but she could draw nothing from him but heartlesse answers At last when she saw his dulnesse continued one day when she was complaining against the coldnesse of his affection and obliging him to conceale nothing from her she perceived that he could not so well constraine himselfe but that a sad sigh came out in lieu of an answer This moved her to beleeve that perhaps Love was the cause of his ill Did not poor Ligdamon carry the matter very discretly all the while in all his actions since she could never imagine her self to be the cause Perhaps the Nymphes humour not liking the businesse was partly the cause however his prudence was great that could conceal such ardent affection Now Silvia begins to urge him more then she did before and told him that if Love was the cause she would contribute all her assistance and do all the good offices he could desire The more he denied it the more desirous was she to know it at last not being able to hold any longer he confessed that it was Love but said that he had sworn never to tell with whom T is most high presumption said he to love her but being compelled to it by such an unresistable beauty I am the more excusable yet should I name her what excuse could I find for my rashnesse The same excuse that your friendship to me hath said Silvia Then Madam replied Ligdamor that and your command together shall plead my excuse do but look in that glasse and you will see what you desire to know Upon this
he took up a little glasse which she wore and held it before her eyes You may imagine how she was surprised at this and she hath since swore unto me that she verily beleeved it to be Galathea whom he adored Whilst he stood amazed in contemplation of her she stood amazed at her own simplicity she was very angry with him but more with her selfe that she should be so simple as to force this manifesto of Love from him Yet all her haughty spirit would not permit her to condemne Ligdamor but she did rise up upon a sudden and without a word went away full of rage that any mortall durst presume to Love her Proud beauty that thinks none worthy of thee Faithful Ligdamor stayes still but without soul like an immoveable statue At last recollecting himselfe he got to his lodging as well as he could out of which he stirred not a long time for Silvias cold entertainment of his affection did so pierce his heart that he fell sick and when none hoped for any life he writ this Letter unto her Lygdamors Letter to Silvia Madam THe losse of my life had not been sufficient to discover unto you the rashnesse of your servant without your expresse command If you conceive that it was my duty to die and he silent then you must consider that your fairest eyes ought to have lesse power over me for if at the very first summons their beauty forced me to surrender up my soul what power is able to resist when they do peremptori ie command Yet if I have offended in offering my heart unto your beauty a thing of so poor a value unto a Deitie of so much merit I will in satisfaction of the fault sacrifice my life unto you and never so much as grieve for the losse of it since it displeased you This Letter was brought unto Silvia when she was alone in her chamber but I came in immediatly after and indeed happily for poor Ligdamor For observe the humour of this Nymph she conceived such a hatred against him ever since he discovered his affection to her as their former friendship is not only out of mind but she hates him and is so carelesse of him that when she heares any lamenting desparing of his recovery she is no more moved then if she had never seen him I who particularly took notice of it did not know what to think unless that her youth might make her forget absent persons but at this time when I saw her refuse the Letter which came from him then I knew there was some fallings out betweene them Therefore I took up the Letter which she refused and which the boy who brought it had by his Masters command left upon the table Silvia lesse subtile then she might have been ran after me and desired me not to read it I am resolved to see it said I though for no other reason but because you forbid it Then she began to blush and said deare sister do not read it I beseech you oblige me and let it alone I conjure you to it by our friendship what can the businesse be answered I which you thus conceale from me Beleeve it Silvia if you use any dissimulations to hide your matters from me it will fill me so full of curiositie as to discover you Why sister said she may I not hope well in your discretion No more said I then I can in the sinceritie of your affection After a long wrangling about this Letter I made her sweare to tell me all upon condition of secrecy Then she told me what I have told you concerning Ligdamor and at this very hour said she he troubles me with his Letters but what have I to do with his complaints or rather dissimulations Nay answered I they are not dissimulations but truthes Suppose they be said she what have I to do with his follies You are obliged answered I to help such miserable men as you have throwne downe a precipice What helpe can I bring said she must I not live in the world Why is he where I am Would you have me run away when he comes in presence Let him keep at home and I shall never trouble him All these excuses answered I are of no validitie for doubtlesse you are an accessary if not a principal in his misery had you fewer perfections were you lesse amiable did you not a use so much care in your dresse beleeve it he had never been brought to this extremity Very good said she and laughed you are very pleasant in charging me with these faults what would you have me to be if you would not have me to be what I am Do you not know Silvia answered I that whosoever sharpens a sword in a mad mans hand is culpable of all the harme he doth That beauty which the heavens hath bestowed upon you so liberally hath had a sharp edge set upon by you so as no eye can look upon it without a wound may not you be justly taxed with all the murders which your cruelty commits Silvia you ought not to be so faire and full of perfections unlesse you studie to make your selfe as good as you are fair and get as much sweetnesse into your soul as heavens have put into your face but alas you are so farre from healing that you are full of nothing but rigour and cruelty The reason why I was so passionate in defence of Ligdamor was besides a relation of kindred never any knew him but loved him and I had heard unto what a pittifull condition he was brought Then after much discourse to this purpose I opened the Letter and read it aloud that she might hear it But it had no more operation upon her than upon a stone which I much wondred at and perceived that I must use some violent remedies which did induce me to tell her that whatsoever came on it I would not have Ligdamor perish Well Sister said she since you are so pittifull I may cure him It is not upon me answered I that his cure depends but you but I assure you if you continue towards him as formerly you have I shall spite you with a very notable displeasure For Amisis shall know it and I will tell it to every one I meet In short I Love Ligdamor and will not see him dye if I can hinder it You say very well Leonida said she in a fret these are the good offices I ever expected from your friendship My friendship said she shall be as much to you as him and shall be for you against him if he were in the wrong Here we made a long pause and spoke not a word At last I asked her what her resolution was What you will said she so you will not publish the follies of Ligdamor for though I cannot be charged with any crime yet I should be sorry the businesse should be divulged Oh Silvia cryed I out this is an excellent humour you are afraid it should
this my discourse is that I do think very fit to finde out some good remedie and that I can conceive no better expedient then the interposition and mediation of my Uncle who by his prudence and good counsell may happily do some good upon her Sister answered Silvia I do extreamly like your advice and that you may have more time to bring Adamas unto her I will return and tell her that I have been at the house of Adamas but found neither him nor you 'T is very well replyed Leonida and it will not be amisse if we go and rest our selves under some hedge that it may seem as if you had been longer seeking me Also to tell you truly I am so tired that if I will get to my journeyes end I must sleep a little Come then said Silvia and believe it is a good work for your selfe if you can get Celadon from amongst us for I do foresee by Galathea's humour that his stay here in a little time may cause you a great deal of displeasure And so looking about for a convenient place where they might passe away part of the day they spied a place on the other side of Lignon which seemed to be very fit for that purpose so as passing over at the Bridge of Botereux and leaving Bonlieu the house of the Vestalls and Druides on the left hand and walking down the River they came to a handsom thicket of wood where they both slept together As they were thus reposing themselves Astrea Diana and Phillis did accidentally drive their flocks unto the same place and never seeing the Nymphs they sat down by them And as that friendship which reseth out of adversitie is often more firme then that of prosperitie so Diana had contracted a most firme league with Astrea and Phillis since the disaster of Celadon and such a correspondency was grown between them that they were every day together And certainly Astrea stood in need of all consolation for almost at one and the same time she lost Alces her Father Hippolita her Mother Hippolita died of a fright when she heard that Astrea was fallen into the water and Alces dyed for griefe at the losse of his deer Wife But these losses were a kinde of comfort unto her for under the umbrage of mourning for her Father and Mother she could lament the losse of Celadon Now as I told you before Diana the Daughter of prudent Belinda to perform the rites of neighbourhood did go often unto Astrea and found her humours so pleasing and she hers and Phillis both that they vowed eternall friendship and never since could seperate This was the first day Astrea came out of her Chamber since her sad disasters and she was no sooner set down but she espied Semires coming towards her This shepheard had been long in love with Astrea and knowing that she loved Celadon he caused this sedition betwixt them conceiving that if he could once get rid of Celadon then he should with ease step into his steed And now he came unto her in hopes to advance his designe but he was much mistaken for Astrea having smelt out his subtletie she conceived such an inveterate hatred against him that assoon as she saw him she put her hand before her eyes as unwilling to look upon such a base impostor and desired Phillis to go and tell him from her that she could not endure his company These words were pronounced with so much vehemency as her companions plainly perceived her great animositie against him which made Phillis more hasty in running towards this shepheard When he heard this message he was so Planet-struck as he seemed absolutely immovable At last being conscious and stung with the bitter sense of his own errour he said unto her Discreet Phillis I must needs ingenuously confesse that the heavens are most just in punishing a heart with more griefe then it is able to endure I cannot chuse but sadly say that the chastisement cannot equall the offence since I have destroyed the most perfect league of friendship that ever was But to the end the gods may stop their vengeance I beseech you tell that fair shepheardesse I most cordially beg a pardon both from her and the ashes of Celadon and assure her that the extream affection which I bore unto her was the only cause of my fault But I will go and all my life long lament I have offended her and those fair eyes which are so justly incensed against me After these words he went away so dismally dejected that his repentance moved some pitty in the heart of Phillis who being returned to her companions related all his answer unto them Alas alas dear Sister said Astrea what sad cause have I to flie from this fatall villain for 't is he he only that is the cause of all my miserie How Sister said she Semires the cause has he had such power over you If I durst relate his villanie and my own simplicitie said Astrea I should tell you that he hath used the most cunning artifice that ever any subtle wit could invent Diana believing that it was by reason of her that she would not speak more clearly unto Phillis since their familiarity was not above seven or eight daies old she turned towards the sad Astrea and said Fair Shepheardesse you will give me occasion to think you do not love me if you use lesse freedome towards me then towards Phillis for though I have not been so long happy in your acquaintance as she hath yet you may be as confident of my affection as of hers Phillis then answered I assure my selfe that Astrea does speak as freely before you as to her own selfe for she cannot be halfe a friend and since amitie is vowed betwixt your I believe she will open the very closset of her heart unto you Most certainly I will said Astrea but the reason why I would speak no more of that sad businesse was only because I would not too much vex a wound with too much rubbing upon it If that be all replied Diana I should think that free imparting a misery unto a friend is halfe the cure and if I durst use so much free boldnesse as to desire it nothing would give me greater satisfaction then to know the Historie of your life which in requitall I will repay with a relation of my own whensoever you shall command it Since it is your desire replied Astrea I shall make you a sharer in my miserable storie but with much brevitie unlesse it were fuller of good fortune then it is So all three sitting round she thus began The History of Astrea and Phillis THose who are of opinion that loves and hates do hereditarilie descend from Father to Son did they but know what hath been Celadons Fortune and mine doubtlesse would confesse themselves mistaken For Fair Diana perhaps you have heard of the implacable emnitie that was between Alces and Hippolyta my Father and Mother and Alcippes
and our Lignon is much obliged unto them since by their meanes it has the honour to have these two fair ones upon their bankes And if I have any judgement they only do merit the amitie of Astrea and therefore I do advise you to love them for by that short acquaintance I have had with them I do foresee you will receive much satisfaction in their familiarity I wish that one of them would daigne to look upon my Brother Lycidas with as much affection as I do And then fair Diana having but little acquaintance with you I answered him that my desire was he should rather become a servant unto Phillis and it hapned as I did wish for ordinarie discourse between them first begot a familiaritie and at last a Love in good earnest between them One day finding fit opportunitie for it he resolved to declare his affection to her and to couch the most Love in the fewest words he was able Fair one said he to her I hope you know your selfe so well as to beleeve that those who love you must needs love you infinitly It must be my actions only which must make my affection known unto you and at the first begge no more then an admittance into your favour Celadon and I were so neer as we could hear this declaration and also the answer which Phillis returned and which indeed was more sharp then I expected from her For she and I did long before know by the eyes and actions of Lycidas that he loved her and she did not dislike of it that at this time she answered him with so much sharpnesse that Lycidas was almost desperate and Celadon who loved his Brother very much being extreamly angry he should receive such a baffle he was halfe angry with me at which I could not chuse but laugh and at last tell him Never be so angry Celadon at this harsh answer which Lycidas hath received Phillis could do no lesse shepheards of these times do too much glorie in the easinesse of their Mistrisses but to the end you may see that I do very well know the humour of Phillis I will undertake to bring Lycidas into favour with her provided he will but practise a little patience and continue on his addresses I must confesse when first I spake unto her she was so shie as I knew not what to think but still hoped and resolved to win her with time But Lycidas he was out of all patience and resolved to give her over and Love her no longer upon which occasion he writ these verses Upon a resolution not to Love WHen I beheld those glorious eyes Triumphant in their Victories I did submit unto their darts As to the only Queen of hearts So lovely did they look and kinde As if no rigour I should finde But when it plainly does appear That cruelty it selfe is there 'T is time to shrink and fall away Rather than Tyranny obey For ever which will only prove Pusillanimitie not Love 'T is true her lustre has such arts As conquer can all human hearts But when resistance cannot doe Then flie and 't is discretion too 'T is better far to make retreat Then stay and have a sure defeat Lycidas had lost all hopes of ever obtaining and therefore as Phillis and I were walking according to our custom by the River side we found him writing with his Sheep-hook these ensuing verses upon a bed of Sand which when he was gone a little further for he saw us not we read The verses were these Upon no hopes of ever being Loved CAn it be thought the wanton winde will stay And whistle ever where it does to day Will any think these Letters in loose sand Can last and to eternity will stand If so then there is hopes my Love may finde Some sure foundation in her fleeting minde Away away with these fond hopes and think That sand and winde and she and all will shrink Afterwards we heard him break out into these dolefull expressions lifting up his eyes to Heaven O ye gods said he if you are angry with me because I do with more devotion adore the work of your hands then I do you I hope you will pardon that error which you your selves have caused Had it been contrary to your will that Phillis should be adored surely you would have made her with fewer perfections or else infused lesse knowledge of them into me Would it not be prophanation to offer lesse affection unto a Divinitie of such superlative excellencies as she is adorned with I believe this Shepheard continued in such discourses but I could not hear them for Phillis forcing me by the arme I went with her And when we were gone a little further I said unto her Stony-hearted Phillis why have you no more pitty upon this Shepheard that is ready to die for you Sister answered she the Shepheards of this Country are so full of dissimulation that their hearts do commonly denie what their tongues do promise And if you do well observe this Shepheard here you will finde him all Artifice and as for those expressions which now we have heard I do believe that when he espied us coming he set himself in the way purposely that we might hear his dissembling complaints otherwise had they not been better spoken unto us then to the aire and senslesse woods Sister said I you have forbidden him any addresses to you Even this answered she is a great argument of his little love to me Is any command of power enough to stop the current of a violent affection Believe it Sister Love that can bend is never strong Do you think I should have loved him lesse if he had disobeyed me But Sister said I unto her he has obeyed you and will you be angry with him for that It 's true Sister replied she he has obeyed me but let me tell you that I hold this obedience for very great disobedience and leaving off his adresses to me argues his passion very indifferent If I had not interrupted her I believe she would have continued her discourse much longer but because I much desired that Lycidas might finde better entertainment for Celadon's sake I told her that this kinde of discourse did become her towards Lycidas but not towards me Towards Lycidas it was allowable by way of tryall and I commended it but towards me it argued too much distrust to conceal any secret of her soul As for my part I would open all my heart unto her and therefore told her that since it was impossible but she must love some or other she could not make a better choice then of Lycidas since she might already gather most certain symptomes of his affection To which she answered that she never did nor would dissemble or conceal any of her thoughts from me but should be extreamly sorry I should have any such opinion of her And since I would have her entertain Lycidas she would obey me And hereupon Celadon
finding her afterwards with me brought her this Letter from his Brother which was indited by my advice The Letter of Lycidas unto Phillis Phillis IT is true that of late I have lodged my love in my heart and would not suffer it to appear either in my eyes or my words If in this I have done amisse then blame your own fair selfe who commanded it And if you do not believe I love you put me to what Test you please and you shall finde it better then by all my weak though reall expressions of words At last wise Diana after many a perswasive argument we brought things to that passe as Lycidas was entertained and ever since all foure of us have found much contentment in our lives and invented many a stratagem to colour our designes both by discourse and by writing one unto another Perhaps you have taken notice of a great Rock in the high way towards Rochell which without much ado cannot be ascended but when one is at the top there is no fear of any eye to discover And because it was neer the high way we made choice of it for our rendevouz if any did meet us we seemed as if we went on in the high-way but when the coast was clear we ascended 'T is true that this Rock being so neer the high way we were in some danger of being heard by passengers if we spoke any thing loud and therefore commonly Lycidas or Phillis were placed as guards to spie when any came And because businesse did sometimes so employ us as we could not every day meet in this place we used to write one to another and we made choice of another place of conveniercy in which we laid our Letters one to another In briefe wise Diana we used all possible waies to conceal our selves and Celadon and I did so seldome converse together in publick as many believed that Celadon's will was wholly changed for assoon as ever he saw Phillis then he made all his applications unto her and she again treated him with all possible complacency Also as soon as Lycidas appeared I left all other company to talk with him so as in a short time Celadon himselfe had a conceit that I loved Lycidas and I believed that he loved Phillis Phillis thought that Lycidas loved me and Lycidas believed that Phillis loved Celadon And thus unawares were we so intangled with these opinions as jealousie began by degrees to kindle amongst us The truth is said Phillis we were then but fresh Schollars in the School of Love for to what purpose was it to conceal a reall love and publish a false one was there not as much cause to fear the divulging of your love to Lycidas as your love to Celadon Sister sister said Astrea when a thing is not we never fear what people think of it But the contrary when it is then the least suspition of it puts all out of order But now continued she and turned to Diana jealousie had so seized upon all foure as I believe our lives had not been long if some good Genius had not inspired us to make all clear in the presence of one another It was now seven or eight daies since we saw each other at our Rocky rendevouz and the Letters which passed 'twixt Celadon and me were so different from the usuall strain as if they were writ by different persons At last as I told you some good Angel having care of us all foure did meet in one place where no other company was And Celadon whose affection had most vigour in it began thus to speak Fair Astrea did I think that time would cure a disease that raignes in me I would wait for that remedje but since I know the older it growes the more it will encrease I am forced to complain against you for the wrongs which you have done me and with more alacritie since I can do it before such Judges as are my peers When he would have gone on Lycidas interrupted him saying that his pain was greater then his Greater said Celadon that 's impossible for mine is extream And mine believe it said Lycidas is without any comparison Whilft the Shepheards were thus debating the matter I was upon Phillis and said Do you see Sister how these Shepheards complain of us Yes answered she but I believe we have greater cause to complain of them Though I am much incensed against Celadon said I unto her yet I am much more incensed against you who under a disguise of friendship which you seemed to bear unto him has drawn him from that affection which he bare unto me so as I may well say you have stollen him from me And because Phillis stood silently amazed at this and knew not what to answer Celadon addressed himselfe unto me and said Ahl fair Shepheardesse but as sickle as fair have you so soon lost the memory of all Celadon's services and your own vowes I cannot so much complain against Lycidas as against you for notwithstanding the consanguinity and amitie betwixt us your perfections might well make him a Traitor and forget his duty but me thinks it should be absolutely impossible that so long a service as mine and such a perfect affection should ever finde the least stain of inconstancy in your soul But admit that all in me was too little to deserve so great a happinesse how can you so far violate and dispence with your vowes as before my eyes to entertain a new affection At the same time Lycidas took Phillis by the hand and with a deep sigh said Oh fair hand to whom I had given up my soul can I live and see thee take possession of any heart but my own my owne I say that did deserve the same happinesse if ever any did deserve it by the most sincere and pure affection that ever was I could not hear any more what Lycidas said because I was constrained to answer Celadon Shepheard Shepheard said I unto him these words Fidelity and Affection are more conversant in your tongue then your heart and I have more reason to complain against you then hearken unto them but because now I do not care for any thing that comes from you I will not take so much pains as grieve at it that office is more fitly yours if your dissembling heart would give you leave to do it But Celadon since things are thus love on love Phillis still and serve her her vertues will deserve it and if I do afford thee a blush it is for anger that I should suffer my selfe to be so grosly deceived and for over-loving one that is so much unworthy of it as thy selfe Celadon was so much astonished at this that he stood stock still a long time could not answer one word which silence gave me leasure to hearken unto that answer which Phillis returned unto Lycidas Lycidas Lycidas said she unto him you that can call me sickle inconstant and I know not what you
indifferent in you both became now particular and Love did furnish his soul with all such passions as usually do accompany it likwise you began to bear him so much good will as to accept of his affection and services above others The first time he ever made any overtures unto you was when Amasis did walk in the gardens of Mount-Brison when he took you by the hand and after a long pause upon a suddain he broke into these expressions Fair Nymph I will no longer dispute with my selfe whether I should or I should not declare the thoughts of my soul unto you for now my soul begins to be angry with me and constraines me to it Here I stopt and said unto her Leonida will you have me repeat the very same words to a syllable that you used in answer to him Beleeve me said Polemas them you run a great hazard to be discovered No no answered Cleanthes and to give a testimonie that I have not lost my memorie I wil repeat unto you the same words But replyed Polemas perhaps I might either forget or mistake them Oh never doubt that said Cleanthes for I beleeve she herself cannot remember her own very words so as having an opinion that I recieved mine from the gods doubtlesse she would have beleeved them the same though you had never been familiar with her But remembring that you served her long and that your services were alwayes well received untill you changed affection and addressed it unto Galathea and upon that reason she took part with Lindamor against you therefore I spoke more confidently of the past passages knowing well that Love wil not let a lover conceal any thing from the party loved but to returne to the purpose she answered me I see you can tell us what you wil but we can believe what we please this she said as being a little nettled in that which perhaps she would have concealed from her companions however I went on True Leonida said I you may beleeve what you please but I am sure tell you nothing but what you know is true you answered Agis as if you did not understand his meaning whatsoever it be Agis said you unto him out with it for dissimulation misbecomes all men especially such as you This advice answered he together which my own passion constraines me to tell your Fair Nymph That the inequality of my merits compared with yours is not able to stop the violence of my affection but if the will of a giver be more to be looked unto then the quality of the gift I dare boldly say that mine is not a despisable sacrifice For the heart which I do give I do give it with all the affections with all the faculties and with all the power of my soul and this so absolutely as hereafter it is not mine I do disavow and renounce it as a thing that does not belong unto me untowhich you answered Agis I shall beleeve these words when time and your services has told as much as your tongue This Leonida was the first declaration of affection which you received from him which afterwards he did prosecute with many addresses and quarrells which he underwent against many when he was jealous It was now the time Leonida when you as you were curling your haire with hot Irons you burned your cheek upon which subject he composed these verses Agis Upon the burning of Leonida's cheeke AS Love was sporting in the fuire And lovely tresses of your haire A sparkle of his fire did seek To kisse the beauty of your cheeke And being full of hot desire He kissed it as hot as fire Judge cruell Nimph by this what pain Poor lovers by Lov 's fire sustaine Since but apittance or a part Of his great fire can cause such smart The scorching Luster of your eyes So full of flaming cruelties Against my heart a hundred sends Whilst only one your cheek offends But had Love bit aright the mark Upon your heart had light the spark Judge cruell Nymph by this what pain Poor Lovers by Loves fire sustain Since but a pittance or a part Of his great flame can case such smart Now Leonida to make it appear that I do know al these things from a Divinitie who never lies and whose eye and eare does look into the very center of all hearts I will tell you one thing which none did ever know but your self and Agis She was now afraid lest I should discover some secret which would anger her and indeed it was my design to make her have that apprehension and therefore with a troubled mind she said thus unto me man of God though I do not fear that you or any other can say any thing which will much prejudice me yet the discovery of secrets is a thing of so tender a concernment as be they touched by never so gentle a hand yet it wil annoy therefore I beseech you let this discourse have an end she uttered these words with so much alteration in her lookes and in such a faint tone as to cheere her up I was forced to say thus you need not think me of so shallow discretion but that I know how to conceale any thing which will offend you and therefore fince you will know no more I know how to be silent also it is time for me to returne to that Divinity who calls me then I did rise up and bad them adieu Then after I had ceremoniously washed my hand in this River upon my knees I said Oh Soveraigne Dietie which resides in this place behold how in this water I wash away and purifie my self from all the prophanitie which the conversation with men might have defiled me withall since I came out of thy holy Temple At this word I washed my hands my head my feet and all parts over so entred into my cabin not speaking a word after unto her and because I did imagine that their curiositie would invite them to come and see what I did I went unto my Altar and kneeling down I let down the plank which had the steel in it and which immediatly fell upon the flint and fired my composition The Nymphs first seeing my looking glasse which cast a very resplendent Luster and after such a flaming combustion upon a sudden they returned home with a great opinion of my sanctitie and reverence towards the Divinitie whom I adored Could matters be better executed then this No certainly answered Polemas for I believe any one that was not acquainted with it might have been deceived as well as the Nymphs Whilst Climanthes talked thus Leonida who heard him was so ravished out of her selfe as she hardly knew whether she was awake or asleep for she found all he related to be very true and yet she could not well believe that it was so But whilst she was thus in dispute with her selfe she heard Climanthes begin again thus Then these Nymphs went away and what reports they made of me
SInce Father you command it so said the Shepheard I will relate the whole matter unto you Stella is the Widow of a Husband which Heaven gave her rather for a name then ought else for besides his sicknesse his age which was above sixtie six had so impaired his strength that he left her a lusty young Widow before she was almost married And the affection she had unto him was not so much as to make her grieve too much for her losse nor indeed was her humour such as to take any thing too much to heart When she saw her selfe ridd of two heavy yokes both almost at once to wit a riddance from an old crasy and peevish Husband and from that strictest observance which is expected from Ghildren to Parents she then began to shew her selfe and ruffle in the world with a great noise And as she was none of those killing beauties that make themselves loved by force so her affectednesse did not at all please any that looked upon her Her age was some seventeen or eighteen an age that is apt to commit much folly when liberty is given unto it This was the reason that Saliam her Brother a very honest and discreet Shepheard not being able to endure the expensive courses which she drew upon him and in some sort to restrain her did get her out of his village into such a place where she might live in lesse danger of scandall in order to which he intreated Cleanthes that he would be pleased to let her accompany his Daughter Amintha because they suited so well in age though Stella had a little the start of her And Cleanthes being content there grew such a familiarity betwixt these two Shepheardesses and they lived such private lives and contented as they were never out of sight of one another Many did wonder that these two being of such different tempers yet they did so well comply but the sweet and loving disposition of Amintha and the supple and easie nature of Stella were the causes so Amintha never crossed the designes of her Companion and Stella never thwarted whatsoever Amintha desired so as they kept such a correspondency together as nothing was hid from each other But at last Lysis the Son of the Shepheard Genetian leaving the frozen valleyes of Mount Luna and coming into our more pleasant plaines and seeing Stella at an assembly in the Temple of Venus when Astrea did carry away the prise of beauty he fell so in love with Stella as I do not well know whether or no it hath not sent him to his Grave And she was so compliant to him as after severall journeyes and messages things were come to that passe as Lysis moved her to marriage unto which she gave as favourable an answer as he could desire At this time Saliant was constrained unto such a far off journey as he knew nothing of this treaty besides she did now take upon her selfe such absolute authority as she did not communicate her matters unto him On the other side Amintha seeing her so soon resolved upon marriage did often ask her whether or no she was in good earnest and told her that it was a matter of so great importance as required very great and serious consideration Amintha answered she never trouble your selfe for I am not gon so far but I can easily make a retreat Mean time Lysis did make himselfe so sure of marriage as that he set down the day invited many of his friends and was at such charges as are usuall upon such occasions But Stella according to the custome of many women who are proud of their own libertie started from her first intentions and broke all off by such unreasonable demands as she knew the Parents of Lysis would never consent unto But his love being above all difficulties and satisfying all her unreasonable demands she was at last forced to break off with him upon no other pretence but the slendernesse of his affection to her You may easily imagine how Lysis resented this affront but however he could not yet master his love And I remember upon this subject he composed these Verses which afterwards he gave unto me Upon Anger against Love IS Anger mad in making me to go Gainst such a fatall and puissant foe Must I conducted be into the field By such a Captain as is sure to yield A Leader in such lamentable armes Gainst love that 's arm'd with arrowes and with charmes Can faint and feeble Anger ever think Victorious Love to conquer and make shrink No no the wafting of his wing will shatter Thy Squadrons all and will thy Bulwarks batter Love hath of anger such infinite of odds As with his fore-works he can conquer Gods Resistance will but add unto his glory And being conquer'd make more sad my story I 'le therefore mercy ask and quarter cry Which if my fairest shepheardesse deny Then triumph in Elizian shades will I And my own death shall be my victory The cause of Stella's change in her affection was the courtship of another Shepheard called Semires which did imprint it selfe very deep in her soul and which Lysis did perceive the last of all men for she did conceal it more from him than any other This Shepheard Semires was of all men that my conversation ever met with the most dissembling and crafty that he was otherwise a man of very excellent parts which caused this Shepheardesse to go against her own promise and reject the match with Lysis and to confer all her favours upon her new Lover who yet did not long triumph in this victory For so it happened that Lupeander making a great Feast at the marriage of his Daughter Olympia Lysis and Stella were invited thither and I being a kinsman unto the Bride I would not sail to be there also I know not whether Love did it cut of revenge or whether it was the naturall giddinesse of Stella's wavering temper but so it was that she no sooner saw Lysis then she had a minde to recall him into her favour and in order to that spruced up her selfe in all her affectednesse which nature had very imprudently been prodigall of unto her But the offended spirit of this Shepheard had armed him with so much courage as to hide all his affection to her though he could not extinguish the flames of love Towards night when every one prepared for dancing and to apply themselves unto those persons most sutable to their liking Stella did so pursue Lysis that he being in a corner of a window he could not handsomely avoid her but was forced to receive the assaults of his loving enemy Semires all this while observing how she pursued Lysis all the evening according to the naturall temper of all Lovers he began to be sprinkled with jealousie knowing well that a candle newly extinguished will soon light again And seeing her so close to Lysis he got so neer as seeming to talk unto another he heard her ask Lysis
of them by mediation of friends Amongst the rest a neighbour of theirs called Phormion did so trouble them that to stop all those gaps their friends advised them to make some alliance with him and because neither of them had any children neither having been long married they both swore by Theutates upon the Altar of Belinus that if they had but one Son and one Dauyhter they should Marry together and this promise was confirmed by so many sacred oathes as he who broke them was the most perjured man in the world A little after my Father had a Son who perished when the Goths and Ostrogoths did ravage this Province A little after that I was born but in such an unhappy houre for me that my Father never saw me he dying before I was born Phormion seeing my Father dead and my Brother lost for those barbarians took him away and either killed him or let him starve for want and that my Uncle Diamis was gone away in displeasure at this losse he resolved if he had a Son to accomplish their former promise It happened a little after that his wife was brought to bed but it was of a Daughter and fearing lest he should have no more children by his wife he caused it to be rumored that it was a Son and carried it so cunningly that none knew the contrary And it was the more easie to be don because none believed that he would use any such tricks also the better to colour the matter he caused her to be named Philidas Whom when she was grown to an age of practising such excercises as young shepheards use she was not ill at them Phormions designe was that seeing me without Father Brother and Uncle to make himself Master of my estate by this dissembled marriage and when Philidas and I were growen bigger then to marry me unto one of his Nephews whom he loved very well and truly he was not frustrated in his designe for Belinda was too religious to be wanting in any duty to her husband But yet she seeing me ravished away and gotten into their hands for presently upon this pretended marriage I was seised into Phormions custody she did so dislike this course as not being able to endure it she left the Country and went into the Lake Lemane to be Mistresse of the Vestalls and Druides of Emenes as the aged Cleontine did Prophesie by her Oracle Meane while I was in the hands of Phormion who presently sent for his Nephew â— upon whom he intended to bestow me whose name was Amindor here did begin my griefes For Phormion his Uncle did let him understand that by reason of our nonage the marriage of Philiduss and me was not so assured but that if we two did not well agree he could well enough break it off and that if such a thing should be he had rather she should marry me then any other therefore he advised him to carry it with so much discretion as none should take any notice of it but still to win upon my affection as much as he could to the end I might bestow my self upon him when I was free This young shepheard did so take this designe to heart as he neglected no manner of courtship and complacency towards me At the same time Daphnis a very handsom and discreet shepheardess returned from the confines of Furan where she had lived many yeares and because we were neigbours our conversation made us such friends as I began to be lesse discontented then I was wont for I must confesse that the humour of Philidas was so displeasing unto me as I could hardly endure her also her feares of my growing more knowing made her so jealous of me that I could hardly speak unto any Things being upon these tearms Phormion fel suddenly sick and was so soon stuffed with a cattarh that he could neither speak nor give any order either about his own businesse or mine Philidas at the first was a little troubled but afterwards seeing that she was absolute Mistresse of her self and me also she resolved to keep up this authority considering that the libertie which the name of Man doth carry with it was much more pleasing then the servitude of our sex Nor was she insensible of that wonder which would be over all the Country when she should declare her selfe to be a woman upon these reasons she continued in the same name and notion which she did when her Father was alive and fearing more then ever lest some should discover what she was she kept me so neer her as she was seldom or never without me But Fair shpheardesses since you must know all my young follies I must first begge your excuses and that you will know I had so great an inclination to Love another way but that my heart was so hardned against Philadis and Amindor as love had not armes or arrowes strong and sharpe enough to peirce so much as my skin But alas it was the shepheard Filander who had my heart Filander who having given me some assurance of his love and now not being has carried with him all that was mine surely said Astrea and interrupted her either Filanders affection was very little or else you did carry it with a great deale of prudence for I never so much as heard of it Which is a thing very strang That it was not talked of answered Diana I am more obliged unto your good intentions then our prudence And as for the affection of this shepheard you may judge what it was by my ensuing discourse And the heavens who know our pure and cleere intentions had a mind to favour them The first time I ever saw him was upon that day which we celebrated unto Apollo and Diana when he came into those sports in the company of a Sister so extreamly like him that the eies of all the assembly were upon them And because he was neerely allyed unto my dear friend Daphnis as soone as I saw her I did so imbrace and carresse her as ever since she thought her self obliged to love me Her name was Callirea and was married unto a shepheard called Gerestan upon the confines of Furan whom she had never seen untill the very day she married him which was a reason why there was but a very flender affection between them My complacence to the Sister gave occasion unto the Brother to stand by me as long as the sacrifice lasted and I cannot tell whether to his good or bad fortune but I had that day dressed up my selfe in my best trim conceiving that my very name upon this feast did more particularly oblige me to it then any other And he being a stranger and having no other acquaintance amongst the Shepheards and Shepheardesses than such as his Sister brought him did not leave us all that day So as I conceiving my selfe in some sort obliged to entertain him I did what I could to please him and my labour was not lost for from that time
this poor Shepheard did begin such affection to me as did not end till he died And I am most confident that if the dead have any remembrance of the living he loves me still and in his ashes preserves that pure affection which he vowed unto me Daphnis took notice of this the very same day and at night told me of it but I did so long reject any such thoughts as she was forced to say thus unto me I see Diana you will not believe me but be assured that Filander does extreamly love you This advertisment did so imprint it selfe in my minde as the next day made me observe somthing which induced me to be of her opinion For in the afternoons we were accustomed to assemble under some shady tree and sitting round to sing It chanced that Filander having no acquaintance but Daphnis and me he did sit down between us which Amindor taking notice of did swell with such a pittifull fit of jealousie that he in a fuming chafe left the company and first looking upon me as if it were I that he meant he went away singing this Catch Amindor's Catch against Levitie God in his mercy may do much and save her But he that commeth next is sure to have her Can any be so blinde As think to get her Love Who wavers like the winde Which wantonly doth rove No God in 's mercy may do much and save her But he that cometh next is sure to have her A Weather-cock can move At every blast of winde And she at any love Can turne her fleeting minde So God in 's mercy may do much and save her But he that commeth next is sure to have her One Nail drives out another And he that next does kisse her Will quite drive out the other And make the first to misse her God in thy mercy I beseech thee make her In Love more constant else the Devill take her I had so much power over my selfe as not to seem any thing troubled at this song and Daphnis out of her discreet affection unto me never staying the end of this Catch did interrupt him and begun another song addressing her selfe unto me The Madrigall of Daphnis upon the affection she bore unto Diana SInce fair Diana I do finde you prove The Center unto which all hearts do move Then why not mine why should I not adore Her that of beautles hath the greatest store And since they say the purest Love of all Hath from resemblance its Originall Then our affections needs must be extream Since both our Sexes are the very same Then the better to cover the colour of my cheeks and to make it seem I took no notice of Amindor's invective Catch assoon as Daphnis had done I answered her thus A Madrigall upon the same Subject WHy such a wonder should it seem that I And you though both be women yet should vie Affection Is 't a miracle to see That women well as men should Lovers be But if impossible Oh then be you The Shepheardesse and I the Shepheard true After us every one sung their own fancies and Filander when it came to his turn he did sing these ensuing Verses with an excellent voice Filander upon the begining of his Love THough I foresaw my expectation high And my desires were swell'd with vanity That Love was full of flaming fire and pain And though I lov'd should not be lov'd again Yet still I hoped and at her I aim'd Only because I would be more inflam'd 'T was so decreed by fate and 't was not I That could anticipate my destinie No wonder then that in obedience Unto this dire and fatall Ordinance I should adore her and I hope no crime A heart that 's base so high could never clime But as the fading Marygold doth die And wither only by the world 's fair Eye So I like it did say Oh! glorious Sun Let me be scorched till my daies be done For in that death this pleasure I shall have No fire but thine could burn me to my grave When as the Phoenix by an art so rare And nature both together doth prepare To make her Cradle in her Tombe she saies Unto the fire wherein her corps she laies By dying in thy flame I will assume My glory out of ashes now my Tombe Many more did then expresse their severall conceptions in verse but I have forgotten them But so it was that me thought Filanders words were aimed at me and I cannot well tell whether it was the hint which Daphnis had given me or the language of his eyes which spoke much more plain then his tongue I cannot tell but either the one or both made me apply this song to my selfe and as these verses did give me a little light of it so his discretion did a little after much more plainly testifie it unto me For it is the principall effect of a true affection to carry it discreetly and never to let it be known but by those effects which cannot be hid This young Shepheard knew of Amindor's humour and love had taught him so much curiosity as to finde out that his jealousy was no lesse than that of Philidas and therefore he conceived that the best way to blinde both their eyes was to court their friendship and Love had made him so subtle and prudent that in the carriage of the matter he did not only deceive Amindor's but almost all eyes else for he would never come where we were but suffered us alwaies to come unto him 'T is true that crafty Daphnis did presently finde it out for said she Amindor is not a man of such agreeable parts as to attract unto him such a well accomplished Shepheard as Filander but there must needs be some farther reach in all Filanders addresses to him she indeed did prompt me to take the first notice of it and I must confesse that his discretion did so please me that if I would suffer any to love me it should be him but the time was not yet come that I could be wounded this way although his actions and carriage did please me and though I did in some fore approve of his designe When we at any time took our leaves of him he would alwaies wait upon us a long way and at parting I never heard such expressions of friendship as he used to Amindor nor such offers of service as he tendred unto Philidas Then would slie Daphnis whisper me in the ear and say All these expressions are meant unto you and you do him wrong if you do not answer him And when he thanked Amindor for any favour she would say Oh what a fool is he to think that these offerings are intended to his Altar And he so well knew how to dissemble that he serued himselfe into the very heart of Amindor And Philidas was so tickled with his high commendations of her as she would often send to desire him he would come see her Heavens knowes how oft he had
do you think you could expresse your passion in the language of a man Though I must confesse said he that my wit and eloquence is but very shallow yet I beleeve I should not stand mute upon such an occasion for my extream affection would prompt me supply all other defects I beseech you fair one ' said Amindor let us see how you could behave your selfe upon such an occasion If my Mistris will give me leave said Filander I will but yet upon condition that she will grant me three requests The first is that she will answer unto what I shall ask her The second that she will not think what I shall present unto her under another person then Callirea to be fained but take them as most reall and true though impuissant passions And the last is that she will never permit any but my selfe to serve her in this kind I seeing every one delighted with the motion and also really loving Filander under the notion of his Sister did answer him that for his second and last request they were granted as soon as desired but as for the first I was so unaccustomed to answer all questions as I was sure they would be but unpleasing Yet because I would not be refractory in any thing I said that I would acquit my selfe as well as I could Upon this word he took me by the hand and began thus I could never have beleeved Fair Mistris considering the transcendency of your perfections that any mortall durst have loved you had I not experimentally found in my selfe that it is impossible to look upon you and not Love But knowing the heavens to be more Just than to impose impossibilities upon any I tooke it for granted that they would have you loved because they suffered you to be seen In this beleefe I assumed the boldnesse to look upon you which I had no sooner done but my heart immediatly submitted The Law permits one to goe and dispose of their own take it not ill Fair shepheardesse that I give you my heart which if you refuse I shall for ever disavow it to be mine Here he stopped to see if I would answer him but in such a manner that had not his habit disguised him I could not have doubted but that he was in good earnest And because I would be as good as my promise I answered him thus Shepheardesse were all these high applauds which you bestow upon me true perhaps then I should think they proceeded from your affection to me but knowing them to be meer flatteries I must needs think the rest no better then dissimulation This Fair one said he does too much disparage your judgement for it is impossible to make any doubt of your perfections and merit but I rather think that perhaps you are used with such excuses to deny such things as you are not pleased to grant But I am able and with all truth to swear by Teutates and all that 's holy and you may know I am not forsworne that you did never in all your life refuse any thing that was given you with a more sincere and perect good will I do know very well answered I that the shepheards of this Country are accustomed to such language as has little truth in it nor do they think that the gods will punish all the perfidious oathes of seeming lovers Whether or no it be the peculiar vice of your shepheards said he I referre it unto your knowledge But for my selfe who am not of this country I am not guilty either of their shame or crime but will out of your most cruell words draw some satisfaction to my selfe If the gods do punish the oaths of perfidious lovers and if I be guiltiy then the gods will send the punishment of perjurie upon me and if they do not then you must be forced to confesse that since I am not punished I am no lyer And if I be no lyer then you must confesse I am your lover So let your wit turne it which way you will it cannot be denyed but that you are the fairest upon earth or else there is none in it and that your beauty is infinitly adored by that shepheard who presents himselfe before you and who implores your favour which he thinks he may merit if a most perfect love could ever do it Whether I am fair or no replyed I I will be judged by any indifferent eyes but how ever you cannot deny that you do dissemble and are perjured and I must tell you Callirea that these expressions which you have used as a man shall make me resolve never to credit any words since you being a woman do know how so wel to dissemble Why Diana do you interrupt the discourse of your Servant said he and smiled do you wonder that Callirea should expresse so much affection to you No no it is absolutly impossible to diminish or increase for it is most violent shall be eternall I will in spite of opposition love you Love you to my grave and in my grave also if it be possible as Tirisias being a woman became a man why may I not hope that the gods may as well change me Beleeve it Fair Diana that since the gods never made any thing in vaine it is not likely they should inspire me with a most perfect affection to no purpose Daphnis seeing this discourse went a little too farr and was daingerous because this Lovers passion had a little transported him and might discover him unto Amindor she did interrupt him and said Doubtlesse Callirea your love is not in vain since it is imployed to serve this shepheardesse no more then a candle consumes it selfe in vaine which gives light unto all about it For all the world adores her as well as you and you do most excellently imploy your time if it be in her service Come come said Amindor let us leave this discourse see where Philidas comes who though he be a man yet he will take no delight in it Then Philidas came and every one rose to salute him But Amiâ—dor who was pittifully in love with the disguised Callirea when his cosin came tooke an opportunitie to draw her aside Then taking her by the arme and seeing none within hearing began to say thus unto her Is it possible fair Callirea that the language wherein you expressed your selfe unto Diana should proceed from your heart Or did you use them only to shew the acutenesse of your wit Beleeve me Amindor answered Filander I am no lyer and the expression of my affection to her was the very thoughts of my heart and if there be any want of truth in it it was only want of words to expresse my resentments Unto which with a deep sigh he answered thus Since it is so fair Callireâ— and that you are sensible of the same wounds I cannot but thinke you can be also very sensible of that affection which others bear unto you And therefore I shall use
me suspect those assurances which heretofore you have given of your affection for it may be that you would deceive me in your Love as it seemes you do your selfe in mine Shepheardesse answered Lycidas were my affection of the common strain as to consist more in shew then realitie I should condemn my selfe for suffering the violence of it to transport me beyond the limits of reason but since it is not of so low an ebb but as you know did flow like an Ocean you must think such an extream love is never without some fears though they have no cause those fears do turn themselves into jealousie and jealousie into grief or rather into such a frenzie as you may perceive in me Whilst Lycidas and Phillis were talking thus thinking these words were heard only by themselves and that Trees have no ears Silvander was behind a Tree and lost not a syllable Laonice also who was asleep there she wakened at the beginning of their discourse and knowing them both was very glad she was there so opportunely assuring her selfe that before they parted they would impart many secrets unto each other which she might employ to their ruine and it happened according to her hopes for Phillis hearing Lycidas say that he was jealous asked him Of whom and Why Oh Shepheardesse answered the wounded Lycidas do you ask me this question I beseech you tell me from whence proceeds all that faint and hollow coldnesse which you have used towards me of late and that great familiarity with Silvander unlesse your affection to me had been withdrawn and conferr'd upon him Ah Shepheardesse you must not think but my heart is very sensible of such blowes since it hath resented those from your fair but false eyes how came you to fall off from me why would not you speak as familiarly unto me as you were wont where is all the care which heretofore you used in enquiring how I did and your griefe when I was at any time absent You can remember when the name of Lycidas founded sweetly in your ears and I do remember when out of the abundance of your heart you named him when you should have named another But now who but Silvander Silvander is in the same heart and tongue where Lycidas had once a considerable room but now the veriest stranger in all the Country is preferred before him that is still the same Lycidas that ever he was and was born only unto Phillis whom he now suspects The extream displeasure of Lycidas did force out so many words as Phillis could not put in one by way of interruption for if she opened her mouth to speak he still continued on with more vehemency not considering that the more he complained the more his misery encreased and that if any thing could cure him it was that answer which he would not hear And never considering that it was his torrent of words which hindred the Shepheardesse from answering he conceived that her silence proceeded from her guilt so as every action that she used did more and more augment his jealousie The Shepheardesse all this while was so amazed and offended that she had not time to convince him of his error but though something dark he saw her blush at least thought so which then did put him out of all taking that for granted now which he did but doubt of before Thus after he had called upon the Gods that were just punishers of all infidelitie he ran away from her through the wood and would not hear her when she call'd him back she followed intending to convince him of his error but it was in vain for he ran so fast as she quickly lost the sight of him in the thick wood In the mean time Laonice was very glad that she had discovered this affection and to see so good a beginning of her designe and therefore she retired Silvander on the other side seeing Lycidas was so apt to be jealous he resolved for the future to be the bellowes that would blow it into a greater flame and would seem as if he loved Phillis in earnest the next time he saw him with her Leonida in the mean time came to the house of Adamas and letting him understand that Galathea had extraordinary businesse with him he resolved to set out as soon as the Moon began to shine which would be about an houre before day and accordingly they did so When they were come to the bottom of the Hill and had only a long plain to go through before they came to the Pallace of Isaure the Nymph at the request of her Uncle began to relate the businesse thus The History of Galathea and Lindamor DO not wonder I beseech you Father for so she called him I should entreat you to hear me with patience and when you see occasion to remember that it is the very same Love which is the cause of all this which in former times has driven you upon the like if not stranger accidents I durst never have spoken to you about it had I not had both permission and a command to do it But Galathea whom the business concerns doth earnestly desire since she hath made choice of you for the Physician to cure her that you should be acquainted with it both the beginning and progress and that it may be kept secret from all the world The Druide who knew what reverence was due unto his Lady for so he reputed her did answer that his Prudence taught him to conceal any thing that concerned Galathea and therefore any promise concerning that was superfluous Upon that assurance said Leonida I shall acquaint you with the businesse It is a long time since Polemas first begun to love Galathea To tell you how it came to passe is to no purpose but so it was he did love her This love proceeded so on that Galathea her self could not be ignorant of it but did many times in private make it appear that his service was not displeasing unto her And truly he was a man of very high deservings As for his Pedigree it is as you know derived from the ancient Line of Surieu which in Noblenesse is not inferiour unto Galathea her self As for his Person he is very handsom every way so composed as to move Love Above all he is a great Scholar and in any Learning can silence the greatest Doctors But Father all these things are known unto you better than I can relate them But so it was that these qualities did so recommend him unto the consideration of Galathea that she was more favourable unto him than unto any in the Court of Amasis yet it was with so much discretion that none could ever take any notice of it Then Polemas having such a favourable wind did sail so contentedly in the sea of his hopes as no man could live more happily than hee But this inconstant Love or rather inconstant Fortune would have Polemas as well as the rest of the world feel the
heard him with patience also observing that I did not expose my selfe so freely unto any other he is grown so bold that he knowes not what he does so much is he transported besides himselfe This very night he danced with me in such a dull musing manner that I could not chuse but rashly ask him what he ailed Shall it not displease you said he unto me if I should tell you No said I for I never use to ask a thing which I would not know Upon this he went on I cannot chuse Madam said he but be extreamly sad at some passages which are very frequently in my eyes and which touch me so to the quick that had I but halfe as much assurance as I have suspition I know nothing that is able to keep that life which yet is in me I do prorest I was so ill advised that I could not imagine what he meant yet conceiving that his former amitie obliged me a little unto a farther curiosity I asked him what passages those were which touched him so to the quick Then looking ghastly upon me a long while Is it possible Madam said he upon a suddain you should ask me any such question Why not answered I Because replied he all these things are addressed unto you and it is only from you that they do proceed Then seeing me stand silent for I did not know his meaning he begun to walk and say I do wonder you should not blush and I must tell you as much though at the rate of my life You know Madam with what zealous affection I have striven to make my self appear a most reall servant unto Galathea ever since the heavens devoted me to become hers you may well say that hitherto you never saw the least or greatest of any action that did not tend unto your service that was the mark which all my thoughts did aim at so as unlesse fortune be extreamly averse unto me you cannot chuse but afford me so much satisfaction at the least as to confesse that I am solely yours and none but yours And since it is so I beseech you judge how great my griefe must needs be when I see contrary to all reason in Love and when I might well have expected some reward for my affection when I say I see in my room another Favourit and heir possessed of my estate before I die I beseech you excuse the expression which flowes from the extremitie of my passion and forceth just complaints from my soul which cannot any longer hold silent seeing one triumph over me that hath got the victory more by destiny than merit It is Lindamor I mean Lindamor I say whose services you entertain and favour above mine my griefe is not to see him so happy as he himselfe can wish but to see him happy in my raine I beseech you Madam excuse me or rather excuse the grandure of my affection if I do complain since it is only an argument of that power which you have over your most humble servant I speak thus to observe unto you Madam that you use the very same language and treat him in the very same manner you were wont to use towards me at the beginning of your goodwill to me and at that time when me thought you knew my affection This puts me beyond all patience and so much beyond my selfe that I am not able to command those extravagancies which proceed from my soul and transport me beyond the limits of my discretion He would have talked on but his violent passion did so stop his breath that he was not able to continue any longer Judge you whether I was not much offended at these words for they were so full of vanitie and rashnesse as were not to be endured yet because I would not give any knowledge of it into such who have no eyes but to prie into the actions of others I was forced to give him an answer lesse tart than otherwise I should and said thus unto him Polemas whatsoever you are and whatsoever I be I never doubted but that you were my servant as long as you dwelt in my Mothers house and did my Brother any service but I must needs wonder at those foolish termes you use in your discourse of Heir and your Estate truly I know not by what night you can pretend so much unto my amitie as to call it youre My intentiond Polemas were ever to love and esteem you according to your merits and never with you any more And as to what you say concerning Lindamor let me draw you out of that error for if I did behave my selfe towards him as I did to you I would have you think I did no more then what I will do unto all such as shall merit it for without any further designe I must and will love and esteem worth wheresoever I do finde it Why Madam said I unto her and interrupted her do you think this to be so mild an answer I cannot tell how in any civility it could have been more sharp 'T is true I must confesse that he is a little too presumptuous but it cannot be denied that this presumption in him is not without some colour of reason Of reason said the Nymph presently why what reason can he alledge for it Very many Madam said I unto her but to be silent in all but one I must tell you that you have permitted him to serve you with more particularitie then any other It was replyed Galathea because he pleased me better then any of the rest of my Brothers servants I confesse it answered I and therefore when he saw himselfe more favoured than any other could he hope for lesse than to obtain you love He hath heard of many examples of Love between persons of unequall degree and might therefore very well flatter himselfe with the like hopes and I do remember some Lines which he composed upon this subject and sang them before you when you commanded him to conceal his affection The Lines were these A Sonnet WHy Fair one should you ever finde A fault for being known so kinde Is any thing but Deitie So glorious as Amitie Why should you such a vertue smoother As linketh soules to one another All enmitie from human hearts When it begins to shine departs But if proud Beauty you complain And as inferior me disdain Consider Dido she did deem A Pirate worthy of esteem Poor Paris but a common Swain Yet his Oenone he did gain Diana had compassion Of her belov'd Endymion Love never lookes at Grandure high Or values Inequalitie A Sheephook and a Scepter are Within the compasse of compare Degrees are equall all 's alike Where hearts do once affection strike Then Adamas asked her this question How comes it to passe Leonida said he that this Galathea by her words seemes to sleight Polemas and yet by these Verses one would judge she loves him and that he cannot endure she should dissemble it Father answered Leonida it is
by his Brother Diamis who presented them unto her under a colour of presenting her with some fruit She would often return him such satisfactory answers as he had some reason to be contented with And this affection was carried with so much prudence as few perceived it Amaranthe her selfe though she was continually with them had been ignorant of it had she not accidentally found a Letter which her companion had lost And see I beseech you the consequences of it with this Note That it is very dangerous for any young soul to come neer the fire of Love Till now this Shepheardesse never had the least resentment of any love no nor so much as any minde of being loved but as soon as she saw this Letter whether out of envie to her companion whom she thought no superiour in beauty or because she was of that age which is most apt to take fire or whether this Letter contained such hot and servent expressions as would thaugh a piece of Ice so it was that she began to swell with desire not only to love but to be loved again by this Shepheard And then she read over the Letter again severall times which was thus penned Celion's Letter unto Belinde Fair Shepheardesse IF your fair eyes were as full of truth as they are of motives to love the sweetnesse which at the first they do promise would then make me adore them with as much contentment as they do now produce in me vain hopes but they are so far from making good their deluding promises as they will not so much as confesse them and are so far from curing my wounds as they will not so much as say they are the causers of them The truth is they can hardly deny them if they do but consider that no other Beauty but theirs could ever make them so great However as if you intended to make your cruelty to equall your beauty you ordain that affection which you inspired may cruelly die in me Oh heavens was there ever such a mercilesse Mother as to murder her own child But I that am more dear of any thing that comes from you than of my life will never suffer such a piece of injustice and therefore I am resolved to carry this affection along with me to my grave hoping still that heaven considering my patience will once move you to be as pittifull unto me as you are now dear and hard-hearted Amaranthe read over this Letter severall times and ere she was aware sucked in the sweet poyson of Love as a weary person by degrees falls asleep If her imagination brought the face of this Shepheard before her eyes Oh how full of beauty and handsomnesse she fancyed him His behaviour and mind was agreeable his wit rare and every part so exquisite as she thought her companion infinitely happy in his love Then would she read the Letter over again and when she came to the end of it she flattered her desires being blown by the bellowes of vain hopes with an opinion that Belinde did not yet love him but that she her selfe might perhaps easily get him but this poor fond Lover never took notice that this was the first Letter he writ unto her and that since this much alteration might be Belinde's friendship sometimes gave her a check but love presently surmounted friendship In conclusion she writ this Letter unto Celion Amaranthe's Letter unto Celion YOur Perfections may well excuse my error and your Civility may as well receive that affection which I do offer unto you May I perish if I love any that is inferiour unto you but such is your merit as I make it my glory to love you and my shame to stoop so low as to love any other If you do refuse this offer it will be for want of will or courage and which of the two soever it be it will be more dishonourable to you than me that you refused me She gave this Letter her selfe unto Celion who not imagining what it should be as soon as he came to a private place he read it but not with more wonder than scorn and had he not known her to be the dear friend of his Mistresse he would not have daigned her an answer yet fearing left she should some way or other prejudice him he sent her this Letter by his Brother Celion's Answer unto Amaranthe I Cannot tell what is in me that can move you to love me However I do think it to be as great an honour that such a Shepheardesse should daigne to look upon me as I do think it a misfortune that I cannot receive such an happinesse Oh! that it would please my Destinies to let me give my selfe unto you Fair Amaranthe I should think my selfe the happiest man alive if I could live in your service but since it is not in my power I beseech you excuse me and blame neither my wit nor my courage for that which is hindred by a compulsive Necessitie It would be abundance of happinesse and glory unto me to be in your favour but it would be as much griefe unto you to finde a continuall impediment in my affection so as I am forced most humbly to beseech you even by your vertue to temper your too hot passion by a moderate affection which I shall with all my heart entertain for there is no impossibility in that but whatsoever is in me that is within the compasse of possibility is wholly at your service This answer had been sufficient to have diverted her if Love of its own nature were not like unto Gun-powder which the more it is restrained the greater force it hath Her apprehensions did oppose against these difficulties some shadowes of reason as that Celion could not so soon cast Belinde off that it would argue too great a levity in him if he should upon the very first Summons deliver up the Fort. But time told her to her cost that this was but a meer shadow of reason for ever since that day this Shepheard did to disdain her that he shunned her company and often chose rather to be without Belinde ' then have hers with it Now perceiving her selfe to be imbaâ—qued upon a Sea so full of dangers as was impossible to avoid a Ship-wrack and finding her selfe not able to brook so great a displeasure she grew so sad as she shunned all company and places where any pleasure was to be found and at last fell sick in good earnest Her dear friend Belinde came presently to visit her and not dreaming of any thing desired Celion to come with her but the sight of a happinesse which one cannot have augmenteth the desire of it the more and this visit did but more fester the disease of Amaranthe Night being come all retired to their lodgings except Belinde who was very much troubled at her companions misery though she did not know what it was for when she asked her any question she was answered only by sighs at which Belinde
was astonished And at last a little offended at her she said I did not think Amaranthe that you had loved Belinde so little as to conceal any thing from her but I see I was deceived And whereas hitherto I could say that I loved you now I can only say that I love a dissembler Amaranthe whose mouth was closed with very shame when she saw Belinde alone with her and being prompted unto it by the violence of her affection she resolved to make tryall of the most desperate remedies that might cure her disease Laying shame aside therefore as well as she could she opened her mouth two or three times to declare the whole businesse but the word died as soon as it was on her lips all the could do was to profer some interrupted words but at last holding her hands before her eyes as not daring to look her in the face whom she spoke unto My dear Companion said she unto her for so they called one another our friendship will not permit me to conceal any thing from you knowing very well that whatsoever is spoken unto you will be ever kept as secret as if locked up in my own heart but I beseech you excuse an extream error which to satisfie the Lawes of friendship I am forced to open unto you You ask me where my pain is and from whence it proceeds Know that it is Love which ariseth from the perfections of a certain Shepheard But alas being at this word overcome with shame and sorrow she turned her head to the other side and was silent but turned her silence into a torrent of tears Belinde wondred and knew not what to think but to cheer her up I could not believe said she unto her that a passion so common unto every one should so much trouble you To love is a thing most ordinary but to love the perfections of a Shepheard argues an act of judgment I pray tell me who this happy Shepheard is Amaranthe fetched a sigh from the very root of her heart and said Alas alas this Shepheard loves another But who is he said Belinde Since you will needs have it said Amaranthe it is your Celion I say yours my friend for I know he loves you and disdaines me Excuse my follies I beseech you and without notice taken leave me alone to endure my own torment The wise Belinde hearing this was so ashamed of her companions error that though she loved Celion as well as possible yet she resolved upon this occasion to render a strange testimony of her friendship and turning towards Amaranthe said thus unto her Truly Amaranthe I am extreamly troubled to see you thus transported with this affection And though our Sex has not an absolute authority over Love yet thanks be to the gods seeing you in this condition I have and wil give you a cleer testimony of my being your faithfull friend I do love Celion I will not deny it yet it is as a Sister may love a Brother But I do love you also as my Sister and will have him to love you more then me for I know he will obey me Rest therefore your selfe contented rely upon me and when you are well recovered you shall see how much Belinde is yours After much other such discourse night called upon Belinde to retire leaving Amaranthe so full of contentment as forgetting all sorrow in a few daies she recovered her former beauty In the mean time Belinde was not a little troubled but seeking for an opportunity to acquaint Celion with her designe at last she met with one as fit as she could desire By fortune she found him playing with his Ram in that great Plain where Shepheards do commonly feed their Flocks this Animall was the leader of the flock and was so well taught that he seemed as if he understood his Master when he spoke unto him in which the Shepheardesse took so much delight that she stayed longer there at last she would try whether the Ram would obey her as well as him and he seemed much more obedient What do you think Brother said she unto him of the acquaintance betwixt your Ram and me I think fair Shepheardesse said he that he is yours if you will be pleased to do me the honour to accept of him but it is no wonder he should be so obedient unto you for he knowes that if he had not I should have disowned him for mine having heard me often say and sing that All I had was more yours than mine 'T is very well said the Shepheardesse I will try whether I have so much power over you as you seem to give me and will not only command but earnestly entreat a thing from you There is nothing answered the Shepheard which you may not more absolutely command Then Belinde seeing this fit opportunity began to open her minde thus Since that day we first began our friendship Celion I have ever thought my selfe obliged to love and honour you more than any person living and I would not have you think I do intend to lessen this love for it shall accompany me to my grave and yet perhaps you would make it diminish did I not advertise you before hand that my life and my friendship shall lessen together These expressions made Celion admire not knowing what she intended At last he told her that he waited to know her pleasure in much joy and much fear Joy because he could think upon no greater honour then her commands and Fear because he knew not what she meant yet death it selfe should be welcome if it came by her command Then Belinde went on thus You have ever as well as now given me such full assurance of your obedience that I cannot doubt of it and therefore I shall not only intreat but conjure Celion by all the amity he bears unto Belinde that he will obey her in this one thing I will not impose any impossibilities upon him nor to lessen the love which he bears unto me but on the contrary would have him rather to augment it But before I go any further I pray you let me know whether your affection was ever of any other quality then it is at this time Then Celion looking more cheerfully than before answered That heretofore he did love her with such affection and passions and with the same designes that youth useth to produce in hearts most transported with Love and in this he would not except one that did exceed him but since that her commands had such power over him as he hath moderated his passion and his friendship has so surmounted his love as he hath had no thoughts of her but such as would not offend a Sister I protest Brother replyed she for so I will hold you to be as long as I live you could never have obliged me more than by this Know then what it is I do desire from you only this that preserving still inviolably this affection which you do now bear
wave as it begun Is like my Sorrows that doe flow Upon my soul woe after woe As like a Vagabond it wanders Murmuring it self into Meanders So I must glide away and rove Murmuring against my Fate and Love Whilst this Shepheard was thus talking to himself and so troubled at this dysaster as he talked loud enough to be heard a long way off Belinde who had not forgot the time and place of appointment as soon as ever she had rid her self of her company shee came unto him so troubled at the thought of losing him as she could not so hide her sorrows but some appeared in her face Ergastes who was that morning got up betimes to walk by fortune spied her afarre off and seeing shee was by her self as if she sought for some close place hee had a minde to see whither shee intended to goe and following her at a distance he saw she went towards the Fountaine of Sicamours then looking a little further hee saw though it was very early a Flock feeding Ergastes not being ignorant of all passages betwixt his Shepheardesse and Celion had a conceipt that it was his Flock and that Belinde was going unto him Although hee did not suspect the Chastity of his Mistris yet he was easily induced to beleeve that she did not hate him imagining that so large a Courtship had never been if it had been disagreeable unto her And so to satisfie his curiosity as soon as he saw her amongst the Trees so as she could not perceive him he crept nearer and hid himself in a bush from whence he could see the Shepheardesse sitting upon the grassie seats about the Fountain and Celion upon his knees before her Oh how he was startled as soon as he saw this Yet because he would hear what they said he crept close under the hedge which was about the Fountain and so heard every syllable what the Shepheardesse said What Celion said shee is this your profession to please mee Hath this accident more force upon you than the power which you have given me hath Where is your courage Celion or indeed where is your affection Have you not out of your love to me surmounted greater difficulties than this Where is your affection What is become of those resolves which you once professed Would you have me beleeve that you have lesse affection unto me now than at that time Oh Shephead rather rob mee of my life than of that good will which you long since have promised unto mee How comes it to passe that hitherto I have had as much power over you as I could desire And why should I have any lesse for the future Ergastes heard also what Celion answered Is it possible Belinde said hee that you can make any question of my affection or the power you have over me Can you be so forgetfull of all those testimonies which I have rendred you of it And must I survive that good opinion which you ought to have of mee Can you Belinde tax mee in any of my actions or ever doubt of my obedience unto all your commands I pray before you doe entertain any such ill opinions of mee aske Amaranthe what she thinks Nay ask Belinde her self if ever she imposed any difficulty upon mee which my affection has not surmounted Even at this very time when I see you are giving your selfe unto another I am ready to leave you in the arms of one more happy than my selfe by putting an end to my dysasterous love and banishing my selfe for ever from you Alasse can you say that this is any want of affection or will to obey you since I doe resent it more dismally than death it self Oh Shepheardesse what strange misunderstandings are betwixt you and me For if you doe doubt of my affection because I support this dysaster and live I will tell you that your extreme resoluteness is too certain an argument of your small affection But to what purpose should I retain any hopes of you since another O fatal word another must enjoy you At this word the poor Shepheard without any strength or thought leaned upon Belinde's knee and there swooned Whether Belinde was toucht to the heart at this I leave you to judge fair Nymph since she did love him as well as was possible to love and seemed onely as if shee did not resent this sad separation When she saw him in this swounding fit and thought there was no witness but the Sicamours and Fountain she would not conceale from them what shee had kept so secret from her all companions Alass said she and held up her hands Oh ye soveraigne powers either deliver me from this misery or from my life either remove this cruel dysaster or let this cruel dysaster remove me Then casting her eyes upon Celion and thou O too faithfull Shepheard said shee who hadst not been so miserable if thou hadst not loved me Oh that the heavens would either give thee that contentment which thy affection deserveth or else take mee out of the world since I am the onely cause that thou endurest these miseries which thou doest not deserve Then pausing a while she went on O how hard a thing it is to love well and be wise both together I know very well that my Father has good reason to bestow me upon the prudent Shepheard Ergastes because the Alliance is convenient for him but alass what 's that to mee as long as my love and affection lookes another way I know Ergastes deserves very well and I could never hope for a more advantageous match than him but how should I give my selfe unto him when as Love hath disposed of me unto another Reason is on my Fathers side but Love is on mine And not a love newly begun but a love even from my cradle by a long continuance hath so insinuated it self into my soul that he is more my soul than my soul it self is Oh heavens Is it possible to lose my soul and live Tell me Belinde wilt thou not be utterly undone when it is gone As she uttered these words a river of tears ran from her eyes and fell upon the hands and cheeks of the Shepheard who coming to himselfe by little and little caused the Shepheardess to be silent and wipe away her teares from her eyes lest hee should take any notice of them And changing her countenance and voice spake thus unto him Shepheard I must needs confesse I am very sensible of your pain and did I doubt of your affection I were the most ungreateful person in the world But alass what will my acknowledgements and sensibilitie avayl since heaven hath subjected mee unto the will of him who gave mee my being Would you wish me to requite him with disobedience But admit I should suffer my affection to transport me beyond my duty Will that Celion set us in any more tranquillity Can it be any contentment unto you if you doe love me to see me grieve and mourn
fortune in loving you but the only reason which reduceth me to give you unto him whose you ought to be Oh wise Belinde is because I will never suffer my contentment to be with your eternall griefe And because I should think my selfe culpable both to god and man if I should be a cause why so pure and vertuous a Love should be broke betwixt you I must also tell you that in thus doing I deprive my selfe of the best alliance I ever could have and shall lose my own content for the satisfaction of yours Me thinks I do in this but what my duty commands me and it will be no small satisfaction unto me to think that if Belinde be contented Ergastes is an instrument of it Only this I shall require and in it you will oblige me that since I am a cause of your reunion you will be pleased to take me in as a Third amongst you two and that I may have the same share in your affection which you promised unto Celion when you thought to have married Ergastes so as both of you may receive me as a Brother I am not able fair Nymph said Celadon to expresse the joy of this disconsolate Shepheardesse nor do I think that she her selfe did know what language to use for the expression of her thanks but taking him by the hand and sitting down by the Fountain side she told him all the whole story that had passed betwixt Celion and her selfe and after a million of thanks she entreated him to go himselfe to Celion for the transport of this sad Shepheard was such that he would not return with any else that should go and seek him because he would never believe this story if he heard it from any other Ergastes who would by all means finish the good work he had begun resolved to go the next morning with Diamis Celion's Brother promising not to return untill he had found him and brought him back Being thus gone and taken the first way their feet light upon they wandred up and down in quest of Celion and long had they looked in vain if he himselfe transported with fury had not returned into Forrests with a designe to kill Ergastes and with the same sword reach the heart of Belinde not being able to live and let another enjoy her In this rage he set forward and because he fed upon nothing but roots and herbs which he found in the high way he was grown so weak that he could hardly walk and had not his rage supported him he would have fallen down needs therefore must he rest himselfe very oft especially in the heat of the day Being thus weak and weary he sat down under some shady Trees close by a fountain and after he had a while resented his affliction he fell asleep Fortune that was now weary with afflicting him had a minde it seemes to make him compleatly happy and directed Ergastes and Diamis just to the same place and by chance Diamis walked first As soon as he saw his Brother he knew him and looking behinde him told Ergastes who being much rejoyced at it would needs go and embrace him but Diamis would not suffer him saying I beseech you Ergastes do not acquaint my Brother too suddenly with this newes lest it should cause his death by excessive joy therefore I conceive it better to let me acquaint him with it by little and little and because perhaps he will not believe me you may come after and confirm him in what I said Ergastes thinking this advice to be good he went behinde some Trees where he could not be seen and Diamis went forward It may be said he was inspired with some good spirit for had Celion seen Ergastes first perhaps his desperate rage might have proved fatall to him As soon as Diamis came up his Brother waked and began to fall into his accustomed complaints and after he had saluted him he said thus I thank the gods Brother that I have so happily found you to deliver a message which Belinde hath sent unto you Belinde said he presently What! can she have any memory of me now she is in the armes of Ergastes Ergastes said Diamis has none of Belinde in his armes and I hope if you have any resolution never shall Do you doubt Brother said Celion that my resolution will fail me upon such an occasion I would say Prudence replied Diamis I fear no prudence will serve answered Celion to alter that course which Destiny hath resolved upon Destiny said Diamis is not so much your enemy as you do imagine nor are your affairs upon such bad termes as you do think them for Ergastes has refused Belinde How said Celion Ergastes refused Belinde It is most certain said Diamis and that you may the more believe it Ergastes himselfe will tell you as much Celion hearing this newes was so amazed that he stood still and could not answer of a long time but at last recollecting himselfe he said thus unto him Surely Brother you mock me No said Diamis I do swear by the great Theatates Hesius and Thamaris and by all that is sacred unto us that I tell you truth and that ere long you shall hear it from Ergastes himselfe Then Celion lifting up his hands and eyes unto heaven Oh gods said he unto what happy end have you reserved me Then his Brother to interrupt him said thus Never talk any more Brother of misery and death but of joy and contentment and above all prepare your selfe to thank Ergastes for the favour he hath done you for I see him coming towards us At this word Celion rose up and seeing him neer he ran to embrace him with as much good will as a little before he intended ill But when he heard the truth of the whole businesse he fell upon his knees before Ergastes and would have kissed his feet I shall omit all their discourse Fair Nymph said Celadon and onely tel you that Ergastes when he was returned gave Belinde unto him and with the consent of him and her father he married her only desiring both Celion and Belinde to accept of him as a third in their sincere affection he devoted himself intirely unto them and would never marry This fair and wise Nymph said Celadon is their Fortune which was extreamly happy unto them all three as long as the gods permitted them to live together for a little while after a Sonne was born unto them whom they named Ergastes because of the affection which they bore unto the kind Ergastes and to preserve him longer in their memory But it hapned that in the cruel Plunder and Ravage which some strangers committed in the Provinces of the Sequanois Viennois and Seguntians this little childe was lost and doubtless dyed for want A few years after they had a Daughter which was called Diana But neither Celion nor Ergastes had much joy of this childe because they both dyed presently after in one day And this Diana
his perjury to him I have long since said he sworn unto the Neustrian Lords to maintain Justice and I am more obliged to keep my first oth than my second The first day passed on I did not think much but when I heard no newes of Lydias I sent a man to enquire of him by him I understood what Lypandas had done and the term he had set And though I did foresee his cruelties yet I resolved to get Lydias out of his hands nothing being so dear unto me as his preservation and by fortune the very same day you took me Prisoner I was going unto him and all the sadnesse you see in me and those deep sighes you have observed to escape from me did proceed not from your imprisonment for that is sweet unto me compared with my expectations of the other but they proceed from my fears that this unworthy Lypandas will put Lydias into the hands of his enemies who gape for his life for of those fifteen daies that were prefixed ten of them are already past so as I am out of all hopes to do this good office for my poor Lydias Upon these words her tears hindred her tongue and she was forced to be silent with so many apparent signes of sorrow that Clidaman was moved unto compassion and to comfort her said thus unto her Courageous Melandre do not let your spirit droop for this but rouse up the generosity of your soul The gods who have preserved you in greater dangers will not let you sink under lesse You may assure your selfe that I will use my utmost power to give you your desired contentment But since I am under a Prince whom I would not displease I must obtain your liberty from him and will promise you to solicite him with all my power So upon these fair promises he went immediately to Childerick and beseeched him he would be pleased to favour him so far as to mediate unto the King his Father for the liberty of this young Prisoner The young Prince who loved my Son and knew that his Father would be glad to oblige Clidaman went presently to Merovea who granted his Sons request Then because the time was short he went immediately unto Melandre and having drawn her aside said thus unto her Sorrowfull Cavalier I hope now you will change that Epithite since better fortune begins to shine upon you The heavens begin now to smile upon you and in testimony of what I say know that now you are at liberty and may dispose of your selfe as you please the Prince of the Franks hath given me the dispose of you and the duty of a Cavalier obliges me not only to give you your liberty but to offer you all the assistance I am able Melandre hearing this unhop't for language did leap up for joy and casting her selfe at his feet did kisse them by way of gratitude and when she saw that she was to pay no ransome which she could never have paid in the compasse of that fifteen daies Noble Cavalier said she you do make it appear that you do know what it is to Love since you are so pittifull unto such as are possessed with it I pray the heavens to make you as happy as you are courteous and worthy of all good fortune Needs would she have gone away that very night but Clidaman would not permit her because it was dark yet the next morning as soon as day did appear away she went and never stayed untill she came at Calice where by good fortune she arrived the very day before the expiration of the time She had made her comming known unto Lypandas that very night had she not been jealous of his perfidie whom she was to deal withall and she stayed untill the morning to the end there might be more witnesses of the wrong he should do her in failing of his promise The day being come and past noon when all the principall men of the Town to honour the Governour came unto his house in comes the sorrowfull Cavalier and presents himselfe unto him At the first he was not known for none had ever seen him but in the Combat where fear had altered his countenance and now every one drew neer to hear what he would say Lypandas said he I come here to summon you to be as good as your promise from the friends and kindred of Lydias otherwise they tell you by mee that they will publish you unto the world for a false and perfidious promise-breaker Stranger answered Lypandas go and tell them that Lydias is yet better then he shall be within these few daies for before this day be don I will transfer him over unto such hands as will revenge my quarrell As for my promise I think my selfe to be absolved from it by putting him into the hands of Justice As for any new conditions I do insist upon my first which is that he with whom I fought do put himselfe into my hands to the end I may have my will of him and release Lydias What will you doe with him said he when you have him When I once have him answered he and when I am to render you an account of my actions then you shall know Since it is so said the sad Cavalier send for Lydias and him whom you desire shall put himselfe into your hands Lypandas who did extreamly desire to be revenged upon his enemy sent for Lydias Lydias who knew this to bee the last day for his terme did thinke this sending for had been to transferre him over into the hands of the Law But though hee did foresee a certaine death yet hee did rather desire it than to see him who had fought in his cause in any danger When hee came before Lypandas he said thus unto him Lydias this is the last day that is prefixed you to bring your Champion into my hands The young Cavalier is come hither to that end which if he do then you are at liberty Melander all this while did so turn her face from Lydias that he could not know her and so said thus Yes Lypandas I have promised and I will perform I would you would be as punctual in all your promises But 't is no matter I am he whom you desire and who values not any cruelty or rigour you can use against me so my friend here may be out of his pain Then every one fixed their eyes upon her and remembring the actions she used when she fought they knew her to be the same Her beauty her youth and her affection moved every heart unto pitty but Lypandas who being extreamly incensed against her commanded her presently to prison and to let Lydias go Lydias seeing himself so infinitely obliged would not suffer it but Melander came to him and said in his ear Go Lydias as for me I know how to get out easily when I will Go and serve Merovea and particularly Clidaman who is the procurer of your liberty and tell him you
are loved consider the actions of those that love us if you finde them to be irregular and contrary to reason vertue or duty flie them as dishonourable if on the contrary you finde them to be moderate and not ramping beyond the limits of honesty or duty then cherish them and esteem them as vertuous This sapient lesson Shepheard teacheth me to cherish the affection of Thamires and to flie yours For what effect does the love of Calidon produce Violencies raptures transports and despairs were never the effects of vertue If the love of Thamires be considered we shall finde it to be all vertue When did he begin to love me At a time when there was no likelyhood any vice could invite him to it How has he continued this affection So as neither duty nor honesty could take the least exception against it But why did he give over For the reasons which he himselfe hath given Whether reason do not appear in all this I refer my selfe Madam unto your judgment These considerations moved me to entertain the affection of Thamires and reject the love of Calidon And this Amity and nothing else did enforce me to visit this Shepheard when he was sick to give him such good words as might recover him and all this as well to satisfie Thamires as out of a naturall compassion which all ought to have one unto another If I did fail in my love to Thamires Calidon for your satisfaction I will confesse it and repent with a protestation to love Thamires no more nor fall into the like fault But I cannot believe that therefore I am obliged to love you for if I should it would be to correct one errour by committing another which is worse Perhaps you will alledge against my defence that having given the whole disposition of my selfe unto Thamires and he transferring me into your hands I cannot contradict his disposall of me This is an excellent conclusion indeed I chuse you for my husband presently after you may give me unto another this is very fine Logick You must know Calidon that the reason why I gave Thamires all the power of my selfe was because I did love him and he loved me and therefore if he have any power over me he must love that is the implicite condition of his power but if he do not then the cause ceasing the effect must needs cease and therefore if he do not love me he hath no power over me But haply you will reply that he swears he does continue loving me still and that it is reason not want of affection which made him transfer me over unto another I must answer both him and you Shepheard that I do not believe him and yet if reason can so well perswade with his affection why should not reason have as much power over my affection Is there any reason I should love him whom nature and reason both forbids me to love Nature forbids the banes for since the first houre I ever saâ— you there was such a contrariety in my heart and such a secret antipathy in it against you that I disliked every thing I saw you do Believe it Calidon what I say proceeds not from any scorn of you but from the very truth I had rather chuse to rest in my grave then live with you not but I do know and confesse you deserve a much better fortune but the reason is because Nature does hold me from you with abundance of violence and without any cause And since it is so upon what pretence can you desire I should be yours since Nature does forbid it and Reason likewise which neverthwarts Nature Go go Calidon live in quietnesse do not wilfully endeavour to make two persons miserable for the truth is you will be as miserable by it as my selfe If you do love me let it suffice that your love is most troublesome to me and do not strive to surcharge me with an intolerable burthen by forcing me to love you And be assured of this that Lignon shall sooner run backward then you shall finde any place in the affection of Celidea This Madam is the Answer which I shall give unto the shallow reasons of Calidon But now I have another more dangerous enemy to encounter withall who has better Armes and who gives more smarting blowes I mean the ungratefull Thamires Thamires whom I did really love and whom I thought had loved me as well as any possibly could But alas what would he have now Can he expect any thing from her whom he hath betrayed into the hands of her most cruell enemy Does he yet hope for any love from her whom he hath most ungratefully wronged Whan colour and upon what ground can he desire me to love him Is it because he did love me or because I loved him This Madam had been some reason at that time but now since he has left loving me and would force me to love another and not himself why does he urge unto me the time past which is not nor ever will return The memory of that time is an argument to hate him the more since I do finde him at this present so unworthy I do confesse I did love him but when he resigned me unto another he did demonstratively shew that he neither did nor does love me And therefore let him not think it strange that since my affection did proceed from his mine should cease as well as his for his was the cause and mine the effect and the cause ceasing the effect must follow Why did he cut up a Tree from which he expected fruit He hath done me more wrong then I him since he was the first offendor and yet I am satisfied I complain not I can quit him with a very good will and cannot wish he should court me again because it is a thing impossible to obtain me What is it he would now have Does he not know that as long as our love was mutuall I was his and he was mine and then by the Lawes of Amity he might dispose of me as his own If he have given me unto Calidon how can he pretend me to be his If he have any thing to require from me he must addresse himself to him unto whom he hath given me if he can have his consent I will afterwards consider what I have to do if he cannot why does he complain of me or ask me for what he has given away He hath sacrificed me as he saith to Calidon's health manifesting thereby that Calidon was dearer unto him than I was and in very good time But can he not be contented that his sacrifice is accepted and that his deer Calidon is recovered from death Would he so sacrilegiously recall what he has dedicated unto the gods Remove Thamires all such thoughts out of your soul lest the gods do punish you for it and do not hope that since I have been offered unto the gods for the health of Calidon I will ever stoop
Phillis do you not see that this sweet word which is so pleasing to you is only pure flattery which my Mistresse is pleased to put upon you to acknowledge in some sort that shallow affection which you bear unto her For since she cannot love you she will give you satisfaction in this coyne In taking you for a Companion she shewes flattery and flattery shewes small affection On the contrary in taking me for her Servant she shewes the good will she bears unto me since I am capable of that favour if any mortall man be Oh impudence cryed out Phillis Oh love answered Silvander Why replyed the shepheardesse do you think your selfe worthy to serve her whose merits are above all mortalls The greatest gods said the shepheard are served by men and are pleased with their service and duty Then why if I be a man as I hope you do not question will you not permit me to serve and adore my goddesse especially since she her selfe requires this holy duty from me Phillis standing mute and considering well of Silvander's reasons she knew not how to answer one word but did really think that Diana did confer a greater favour upon Silvander then upon her and therefore addressing her speech unto her Mistresse said she upon consideration of my enemies reason I finde that he is in the right and that you have conferred more favour upon him than me Is it possible you should do it intentionally If you did I shall have a just occasion of complaint and take it ill he should be so much advanced above his merit I see said Diana coldly that opinion hath a greater power of you then truth and you are guided only by it Within this quarter of an houre you were boasting of the favour which I did you in preferring you before Silvander And now this opinion being changed you complain of the contrary so as I am afraid that your affection also is nothing but opinion No question of it said Silvander for every word she hath spoken is an argument of it Is it any argument of Love Phillis to finde fault with the actions of your Mistresse If they be to my disadvantage said she would you have me to think well of them It were but your duty to conform your selfe and strive to get more love then you have said Silvander Would you have Diana conform her selfe unto your will or ought you to conform your selfe unto hers I wish to the gods said she that I had as much advantage over her as it seemes she hath given you over me If it were so said Silvander pray tell me which of you two should be the Mistresse and which the Servant Truly shepheardesse I do not think you ever received the least scratch in Love's War Astrea who silently heard their difference was at last constrained to say thus unto Diana I think wise shepheardesse that this shepheard will take away from Phillis the use of her tongue No said Silvander it is rather Love for hitherto she thought that she had loved but now she sees the contrary Thus those fair Shepheardesses deceived themselves in the length of the way and the Sun shining very hot they asked Silvander how far it was yet unto the place which he conducted them unto and understanding that they were about the mid way they resolved to rest themselves at the next Fountain or the next good shade they come unto and Silvander told then that they should presently come unto such a one where they should finde a Cherry tree full of ripe fruite In order to this resolution they doubled their pace but meeting with Laonice Hylas â—â—â—cis Manduates and Thirsander they stayed awhile These shepheards and shepheardesses were walking together seeking for cool shades and pleasent Fountaines for they were strangers and having no flocks to keep they passed away the time as pleasantly as possibly they could And intending not to part that day they walked up the banks of the delectable River of Lignon Now these two Companies being met Hylas presently left Laonice and came to Phillis and she left Astrea and Diana and went to him at which Silvander was not sorry thinking himselfe in more absolute possession of his Mistresse Tircis seeing Astrea alone for Thirsander did lead Maduntes he addressed himselfe in a humble manner unto her and offered his service in leading her She having a great esteem of that shepheard especially because there was a conformity betwixt their fortunes did very willingly accept of his offer so as every one had a Companion except Laonice who as I told you formerly having an extream desire to be revenged of Phillis and Silvander all her aime was to watch an occasion of doing them some mischiefe And to compasse her designe she kept a spying eye upon all their actions hearknâ—â— unto all their discourse especially when they spoke low or in secret and when 〈…〉 by their gestures that they spoke any thing affectionately She had formerly 〈…〉 partly a cause of the jealousie of Lycidas and had since learned much of Silâ—â—â—â—â—â— and other shepheardesses yet more from her own suspicions then any else But 〈…〉 much more and became so knowing as it may be said she knew all 〈…〉 as well as themselves Also there being none in the company who suspected her designe she had more free accesse to hear none taking any notice when she 〈◊〉 them After she had 〈◊〉 upon all the shepheards and shepheardesses and 〈…〉 Companion to divert her she got as neer as she could unto Silvander who led Diana 〈…〉 to whom she wished most ill and having already an opinion of their being in love the passionately desired to discover more Diana who had no designe at all upon Silvander though she did wish him better then any shepheard of Lignon did not care whether her words were heard or no And Silvander took no heed because he was so attenive unto what his Mistresse said as he did hardly see the ground he trod upon which gave Laonice a better opportunity to hearken Silvander then assoon as he was alone with his Mistresse Well my fairest said he unto her what do you think now of Phillis and me I do think answered she that Phillis of all persons in the world is the worst lyar and that of all the shepheards I know Silvander is the best dissembler for certainly you can counterfeit a passionate part the best of any living Ah shepheardess replyed Silvander it is an easy matter to counterfeit what one does really resent This replyed Diana is that which confirmes what I say I could never believe that a feigned passion could be glossed with words and actions so resemblant unto truth Ah Diana said he how far short are both my actions and my words of declaring the truth of my affection Could you but see my heart as wel as my face you would have a better opinion of me I must confess the wager betwixt Phillis and me hath been a cause that I have
say will out-weigh So I and Clorian The gods did favour my designe so as Cercenea after some courtship did love me may be as well as I loved her and when you know what assurances of it she did give me I believe you will say as much as I. But because there was some unto whom she owed duty and particularly her Mother she desired me to let her faign as if she loved Clorian because there was already some probability of a Marriage betwixt them being both of one Town and one quality Moreover Clorian being very rich her Mother would doubtlesse like well of the Match whereas if my love unto her had been discovered being a stranger and perhaps had a wife in some other place she would have disallowed of it and perhaps charged her daughter not to see me I was very glad of the motion because I knew not with what language I could put Clorian off any longer having worn out all my excuses till they were thread-baâ—e so as he seeing me so much with Cercenea and yet doing nothing for him began to be in some doubt of me Then I acquainted Cercenea with all passages betwixt Clorian and me and how he had employed me to speak unto her But fairest Mistresse I told her by way of mocking him lest if I should have set forth unto her his affection as it was she should entertain any sparks of love unto him but I did it so dexterously that Cercenea had a greater minde to make use of him as a cloak for her love of me with lesse suspition and told me That her Mother had often proposed him unto her for a Husband and that she knew he had some good will unto her Then I went unto Clorian unto whom I faigned a long Prologue as an introduction of what I intended to say I related unto him the speeches answers and replyes that I made in his behalfe and did assure him that I had made a way for his affection to finde a welcome Oh! what thanks did he give me and what promises to serve me upon the like occasion for which I thanked him but did not desire to be in his hands as he was in mine At the last he took heart and according to my advice he resolved to speak of it unto Cercenea but with more fear and heart-beating then if he were to fight with the most valiant man alive Yet the courage which I had infused into him and assurance that he should be welcome to her did make him surmount those fears which had solong silenc'd him and finding an opportunity he acquainted her with his intentions in the best language he could invent the effect of which was that he bore unto her so much humble respect as without me he never had durst to declare his affection unto her that it was all purity and vertuous desires Truly answered she you have a very good friend of Hylas and you may well think him so and by all meanes preserve such a Jewell for he hath done nothing above a month but continually talk in commendation of you Also you may understand from him that I am not so obdurate as you imagine but does think my selfe obliged to entertain a man of your merit when you come with honest and pure designes of Marriage as your friend tells me you do and therefore I am contented to live with you according to the purity of such affection but I shall be very glad to have Hylas a witnesse of all that passeth betwixt us that he may arbitrate all matters betwixt us I must be briefe my fair Phillis otherwise an age would not serve to relate all the accidents that befell me But be pleased to know that ever since this day Clorian was so far ingaged that he could not retreat and because their Parents began to take notice of it I did acquaint her Mother that Clorian did intend to marry her Daughter and that because I thought it an advantageous Match unto Cercenea I had contributed all my endeavours to bring it about but since I had not yet spoken of it unto his Father and Mother I desired that the businesse might be kept secret Cercenea's Mother knowing Clorian to be rich and well born did heartily thank me for my endeavours and did desire that if Clorian had any such minde he would speak unto her and she would keep it as secret as he pleased but she desired to have that satisfaction from himselfe I assured her he should and accordingly within a few daies after we went unto her again and Clorian told her more then I had done Thus all things went very well for my part I was welcome to the Mother more welcome to Clorian but most of all to Cercenea You see into what a passe I was brought to seem as if I did not love this fair one I was forced to quit my place unto Clorian and to speak for him When there was any company I stood before them that Clorian might unseen kisse her hand but it vexed me to the soul when he kissed her mouth as often he did in my presence And though it did displease me very much and Cercenea more yet we did constrain our selves that she and I might have some opportunities sometimes of privacy For the Mother believing me to be a mediator only for Clorian did give me all the liberty I could desire Nay more I brought her Letters from Clorian and oftentimes did answer them my selfe for she did only write them and god knowes not without much laughter and jearing of him Thus did I live the most contented man alive till Fortune upon a sudden turn'd the wheel and yet it went not so neer my heart as it would anothers because I had so good a receipt against all such maladies The Facchanalian Feasts being at hand to be celebrated Clorian and I resolved to maintain a Tournement Clorian took for his device a Picture of Circe with Circenea's face amongst the Companions of Ulysses with this Motto To her had fewer Charmes But I not daring to declare my selfe as he did I did a little disguise her name and painted a Syren and Ulysses tyed to the Mast of his Ship with this Motto What Bâ—nds would be sufficient I thought that I had done very well and that she was infinitely obliged unto me for it But see the Fate As chance was there was a young Beauty in Lyons whose name was Parthenopea a neer neighbour unto my lodging with whom how ever it came to passe I had no great familiarity for it was not my humour to have any fair neighbours and not to visit them When I was in the Lists those that were curious began to interpret our devices as for that of Clorian every one could easily understand it Circenca's face and the clinch of her name did sufficiently discover it But as for mine none could give it a meaning At the last an old Knight that was upon the Scaffold amongst the Ladies where
see this unhappy Marriage and that my intention was never to return again but since my affection would not give me leave to be so far distant I was constrained to return but arrived in the most unfortunate minute that could be and that it was absolutely impossible I should live unlesse she gave me some assurance that her affection was not changed She as if she never heard him took a Ring off from her finger and put it into his hand This Diamond said she may assure him that it hath lesse constancy then the affection which I promised unto him Now hear I beseech you what hapned That very same night and I believe about the very same houre when Theombres had her in his armes I was in my bed and held my hand upon my breast having the Ring upon my finger I know not how but it cut me and made so deep a wound that my shirt and sheets were all bloody and ever since hath left a mark upon my side neer my heart Oh heavens cryed I out upon a suddain thinking upon the wrong which I had done Florice and Theombres had done me how sensible am I of the offence and injury that is done unto my affection Perhaps I have insisted too long upon these particulars but I beseech you excuse Hylas since he was never so touched to the heart by any other except by you my fairest Phillis Or except any in this Company said she But pray tell us how you left Dorinde Unto which Hylas replyed thus When I was in the depth of my perplexities for indeed I did love Florice as well because she was fair as because I thought Dorinde loved another the heavens helped me out with as good an occasion as I could desire Periander who as I told you was constrained to quit Dorinde unto me and not being able to see me enjoy her was gone out of the Town was at length forced to return as not being able to endure so long out of her sight and though he did foresee his sorrowes would be greater in seeing then in hearing of our affection yet could he not chuse but return thinking it would be some consolation unto his wound to see the hand that gave it And because he came at the first to see me assoon as he came I resolved to give as they say two blowes with one stone to rid my selfe of Dorinde and to oblige Periander Two or three daies passed on and he never talked one word unto me concerning Dorinde and one time being separated from the Company I said thus unto him Periander it is impossible for my affection unto you to suffer my selfe to be a cause of that melancholly which I have observed in your face any longer I love you too well than to see you suffer for my sake You do not doubt of my affection unto Dorinde but you shall lesse doubt of the affection I have unto you And to give you evident testimony that it is not a little I release this Dorinde unto you whom my good fortune took from you and the affection I bear unto you shall surmount the love I bear unto her Receive her therefore Periander from me and be assured that I shall lesse grieve to part with her then to see you thus sad for my sake or be deprived of your presence If ever any condemned person was joyed when a Pardon came Periander was as much when he heard this and yet his discretion and affection unto me made him at the first refuse it but when he saw I persisted in this minde he received it with so many thanks as I was constrained to tell him that she was justly his due knowing very well that he did surmount me in love as my good fortune and cunning surpassed his Then I retired by little and little from Dorinde and Periander on the contrary advanced But in the mean time I attempted upon Florice I found out the means to speak unto her and assured her of my affection To be briefe I contrived it so as there was never better correspondency betwixt us and that which most helped me was the hollow-hearted affection which she bore unto Theombres 'T is true she had alwaies some suspition of Dorinde and therefore after she thought that she had made me hers she told me peremptorily that she would have me so clearly and openly break off with Dorinde as she should never be in any doubt of it afterwards otherwise she should live in a continuall incertainty of my affection and that she had rather part fair with me then live in such continuall apprehensions I desired that my breach with Dorinde might be done by some civill way and least offensive unto her But she would needs have it done by some rude and publick affront and she would not be perswaded otherwise At the last I resolved upon it Upon the sixt of July all the Gallantry of the Town went with the Druides to gather the sacred Misletoe in the Forrest of Mars called Erieu and then Florice charged me to satisfie her request All the Ladies were trimmed in their gayest dresses and every one in the Athenian habit The sacrifice being ended and publick rejoycings beginning I took Periander apart to the end he should not be offended at what I did I told him how I saw Dorinde had some hopes yet in me and therefore she did not receive his service so well as she ought but I would undeceive her and dash all her hopes Then seeing her with Florice and in the midst of the best company I went to her and after some common discourse I said unto her so loud as all about her might hear Now I see Dorinde that what is told me of you is true What 's that said she and smiled little expecting such an answer as I gave That you have replyed I the best opinion of your selfe of any person in the world Then she blush'd and asked me the reason of my judgment Because said I you measuring others by your selfe as you do love all you look upon so you think every one is in love with you and I know you are in that errour concerning me thinking that I am ready to die for the love of you but I would have you know that your merits are too mean to make me such a fool if you think otherwise undeceive your selfe and be assured that Hylas is ashamed he ever loved you or if he was such a fool that he is wiser now Imagine noble Paris how blank Dorinde was For my part I would not exchange a syllable more with her but went away and left her most pittifully out of countenance Ever since Florice was the most satisfied that is imaginable and wholly devoted her selfe unto me And as Theombres stood for a Husband so I enjoyed her as a Friend But Dorinde extreamly incensed against me resolved to do me all the mischiefe that possibly she could and discovering the intimate familiarity betwixt Florice and me she
against those who had fallen both at once upon Thersander But this stranger had more noble thoughts and would not let that which was blamable in others be any example unto himself Whilst I was in these thoughts Leotaris and his Brother had both mounted themselves who never considering the courtesie they had received fell both at once upon him but they found a stronger arme to deal with then Thersanders I cannot sage Shepheardesses particularize this Combat unto you for my fears were such as I hardly saw it let it suffice I tell you that this stranger shewed such wonderfull strength and valour that Leriana thought him a devill and not a mortall man After they had fought a while I perceived that though he was single yet he had the advantage of them As for Thersander he was so weak as he was not able to rise But this stranger to the wonder of all the spectators did give the Brother of Leotaris such a fatall blow that he struck his head from his shoulders Leotaris seeing this his fury swelled with revenge But the stranger having now to do with no more but him did wound him in so many places that he was so weak with the losse of blood as he fell from his Horse to the ground and falling with his head foremost the weight of his body and his armes broke his neck The stranger alighting from his horse and seeing him dead he went unto Thersander helped him to rise and set him upon one of the Horses of his enemies and then taking his own he addressed himselfe unto the Judges and asked them if he had any more to do And they answering No Then he required that I should be set at liberty which was commanded that very minute Then he came unto me and asked me if he could do me any further service Yes Sir said I unto him in two things the one to conduct me home and rescue me from the tyranny of those who have ravished me from my dearest Mother and the other is that I may know the name of him unto whom I owe both my life and my honour As for my name answered he I shall take it as a favour if you will not force me to make it known And as for waiting upon you unto the place where you desire to be I shall do it so it may be presently Whilst things went thus on my side in this place the gods did evidence that they never forsake the innocent for it hapned that my poor Nurse having not so much courage as to see me die and thinking it impossible that Thersander could maintain it out against two such Cavaliers she stayed in my Chamber crying and making most lamentable moan Ormanthe who had received all the courtesies she could desire both from her and me was exceedingly moved at it and being very simple without any subtlety she could not chuse but tell her how her Aunt alwaies assured her that I should not die but only desired that I should be beholding unto her for my life to the end I should be a better friend unto her Ah! sweetheart said the Nurse it is most certain our Mistresse must die if Thersander be overcome the King himselfe according to the Lawes cannot save her Alas alas said Ormanthe shall my Lady be burned Nay nay said my Nurse it is too sure Ah me most miserable wretch that I am replyed the Wench how can I ever expect that the gods will pardon me for her death Why said my Nurse are you any waies guilty of her death Oh Mother said Ormanthe if you will promise me to tell no body I will tell you a strange accident And my Nurse promising secresie she told her that it was she who had the Child and told her all that I have related unto you Sweetheart sweetheart said my Nurse presently let us go presently and save her life believe it the gods will be well pleased with it and moreover I will undertake you shall have what you will of my Lady Thus was the truth discovered The Wench followed my Nurse who to be briefe addressed herselfe to the Queen and acquainted her with the whole businesse whilst the stranger was talking unto me The wickednesse of Leriana being thus discovered both by Armes and the confession of this Wench the King commanded she should be burned in the same fire that was prepared for me though she did inveigh against her Niece saying That my Nurse had suborned her and that she was not of age to be a competent Witnesse especially against her above all others because she had chid and chastized her for these vices But all these allegations were invalid the truth was evident enough by the particulars and circumstances which this Wench did speak of and by the report of the Midwife who confessed that she never saw her face Every one began to clap their hands and the people seeing the villany of Leriana began to throw stones at her The King commanded justice should be executed and she seeing her selfe ready to be throwne into the fire being much moved at the memory of all her wickednesse she confessed the truth she desired audience declared all her wicked practices asked me pardon and then voluntarily threw her selfe into the fire where she ended her daies to the contentment of all those who heard of her wicked and malicious waies Whilst these things were thus in agitation the Cavalier who had delivered me desiring not to be known as it is thought retired himselfe and none took notice which way and I not finding him was extreamly grieved he should depart with so few thanks for what he had done I used all the means I possibly could to hear of him but after all enquiry all I could hear was the next morning from a Country man who met him and whom he desired to come unto me from him and let me know that had he not been urged by extream importancy he would have stayed longer and waited upon me whither I had commanded him but he had promised some assistance to a Lady who lived towards the Town of Gergovia and that if I had any more service to command him I might hear of him at the Golden Mount and that he might be known he would not change the Device which was upon his Shield Then asking the man what it was because I was so astonished the day before that I took no notice of it He told me that it was a Tiger feeding upon the Heart of an Human body with this Motto Thou givest me a Death and I maintain thy Life Now discreet Shepheardesses to abridge my story it was ordered that I should be free from the Guardianship of Leontidas because his Wife had begged my Estate and be set clearly at liberty The poor silly Ormanthe since she was only seduced by the subtlety of her Aunt she was shut up in one of those houses designed for such punishments where the women there do live very well only they must
but I can take no delight in seeing her and in seeing her displeased But why said the Nymph do you think she will be displeased with seeing you Because answered the shepheard she hath commanded me never to see her untill she command otherwise How can she command otherwise said Leonida if she never see you nor knowes where you are but thinks you to be dead Ah Nymph said the shepheard Love is a most puissant god and as he has blindely found out a way to banish me her presence he may also finde a way to recall me when he pleaseth Are you then resolved said Leonida not to present your selfe before her I had rather die answered he and therefore let Love do as it lists Upon this he arose purposely to change discourse and taking the Nymphs hand he came to the dore of his Cave but when she saw him in the light and perceiving him so extreamly altered she could not restrain her tears which Celadon seeing Nay nay sweet Nymph said he never grieve at the alteration which you finde in my face for it is a signe that ere long I shall have a long rest It would be too tedious to relate all their discourse But to be briefe all her arguments and perswasions could obtain from him no more then this that he would suffer her to visit him sometimes At the last the Sun being almost set she was constrained to leave him with a promise to see him very often For all Leonida's resolution of not loving Celadon yet could she not extinguish the flames of her first affection to him so difficult a thing it is to expell this passion when it has once taken deep root in a heart which entertains it and therefore this meeting with him was no small contentment unto her but her sorrowes to see him in such a miserable condition were as great and the greater when she thought upon his strange resolution so as her joyes to finde him and her sorrowes to finde him thus did a little puzzle her which to adhere most unto All the way she went she was inventing what course she should take to disswade him from this course of life Sometimes she was in a minde to acquaint the shepheardesse Astrea with it in hopes that her influence might effect it But this minde changed as soon as she considered that this was the way to put her selfe out of all hopes to get his love knowing very well that if Astrea once knew he was alive and could finde him she would give him such sweet demonstrations of her good-will unto him as would blast all her hopes of him Changing therefore this opinion and having heard that Adamas had been a great lover of Celadon's Father she thought it expedient to acquaint him with his course of life assuring her selfe that he would do all that was requisite and fit Yet notwithstanding when she considered that the place where Celadon was was as fit a place as she could wish to enjoy his company alone and to expresse her own passion she conceived the best way was to acquaint none as yet but to try what time would doe and to divert him from his sad thoughts as much as she possibly could and if she found that her presence and artifice could not work upon him then it would be time enough to acquaint her Uncle This then was the course she fixed upon and to effect it she failed not to visit him every day The shepheard knowing that all this could not proceed from any thing but love he was displeased at it thinking that if he suffered so much indulgency from this Nymph he did offend against the promise of fidelity unto his shepheardesse Besides he thought all those houres that were spent in these visits were lost because they kept him from entertaining his own dear and sweet thoughts so as in lieu of growing more joyfull he became more sad which the Nymph perceiving and seeing that he did every day grow leaner and paler she consulted with her selfe and at last resolved to have recourse unto the sage advice of the grave Adamas but to acquaint him with it in such a manner as he should be sure not to suspect any thing to her disadvantage Being therefore one evening in a better humour then ordinary she went unto her Uncle whom she found walking upon a Tarrasse which had the prospect of all that plain from whence she came After salutation the Druide asked her where she left Paris To which she answered that all the shepheardesses were so kinde and civill as to accompany them as far as the Temple of the good goddesse and Paris went to conduct them back again But Father said she I have met with a fine encounter which stayed me so long that I thought Paris would have been back before me What is it said the Druide It is Celadon answered Leonida you must know that since he went from the Palace of Issaures in lieu of going to his kindred and friends he has retired himself into a Cave where he so hides himself from all his acquaintance as every one yet thinks him dead Why said Adamas does he so I believe answered sh that he is very sick in minde and will not live long for he can scarcely go he eats nothing but grasse and is grown so lean and sad as you cannot know him Why think you said the Druide that it is in his minde I conceive so said she because he speaks after an interrupted manner and so little as it is easie to see that discourse displeaseth him I do believe the love he bears unto Astrea is the cause of it If it be so answered Adamas he is the more like unto his Father for Alcippe was once so very much transported with his love unto Amarillis that I did never in all my life see one commit greater follies and therefore it was that he left a Country-life for the Court and continued long in the exercises of Chivalry Is it lawfull for them said Leonida thus to change their quality Child said the Druide neither Celadon nor any of these shepheards about the banks of Lignon nor most of those about the Loire and Furan are of a worse extraction then you your selfe are you must know that their Ancestours made choice of this kinde of life as most sweet and least subject unto inquietudes Indeed this Celadon of whom you speak is your neer kinsman For the House of Laigneau and his did branch both out of one stock so as Lindamor and he are your Cosens in the same degree My Grandfather and the great Grandfather of Lindamor and Celadon were Brothers Leonida hearing how neerly they were allied was astonished fearing lest this consanguinity should forbid the banes of her loving him as Love commanded her to do yet lest her Uncle should take any notice of her fears she said unto him That since they were so neerly allyed they were the more obliged to have a care of him and that the
time we had to be together in free discourse sometimes because of the conveniency of the place we went into yonder Rock which you may see is something neerer us which is hollow and left Lycidas or Phillis as Centinells to advertise us when any passengers came by because being neere a high way we might be heard At one time above the rest we passed over by great stones into this little Isle of Lignon And though we had already taken leave of one another severall times lest we should be surprised for my Father concealed from me the day of my departure yet still we were taking leaves and bidding adieus to the last When we were there and could perceive no body she sat downe upon the ground under a Tree I kneeling before her tooke her hand kissed it washed it with my teares and as soone as I could speake I sayd thus unto her Now my fairest Astrea I must be at a fatall distance from you and will not die because you bid me live but how shall I be able to do it since the very thought of this distance is so intolerable that it is ready to take away my life as oft as I thinke upon you To this she answered nothing but pulled me by the arme and made me sit besides her purposely because I should not see those teares which stood in her eyes and afterwards gushed out And because I expected she should say something I was a while mute she in the meane time wiped her eyes and me thought I heard some imprisoned sighes which she restrained and would not let have a vent lest I should heare them I all this while considering in silence my future fatall misery at last spoke thus unto her Alas my Astrea will you not will you not pitty a poore shepheard whose cruell Father and fate will banish him from you She answered me with a deepe sigh Can you have any memorie Sonne of my past life and make any doubt but that I shall most sadly resent any thing that shall displease you Beleeve it Celadon I will make it apparent that I do love you and shall give cleerer testimonies of it I raised my selfe up to see what testimony this would be that she would give me of her affection but she turned her head the other way and with her fair hand pushed me into the place where I sat before to the end I should not see her teares of which she was in point of honour ashamed Perhaps said Leonide it was her lofty spirit which would not let any know that Love could conquer her Whatsoever it was said Alexis she made it evident unto me that she did love me But why my Fairest Astrea said I unto her do you not command me to stay with you if my absence be displeasing unto you Can you think that the Command of a Father or any thing upon earth can make me disobey what you ordaine Sonne said she then unto me I had rather die then divert you from your voyage It would be too great an offence both against your duty and my owne honour Do not think I make any doubt of that absolute power which I have over you I judge of you by my selfe whom I am sure neither the power of Father authority of Mother desire of Kindred or salutation of Friends shall ever make me do any thing against that affection which my heart has unto you And to the end you may depart from me with some contentment carry this assurance with you I do vow and promise in the presence of all the gods whom I call to witnesse and by this soul which you love so well said she and layd her hand upon her Brest that neither heaven nor earth shall ever make me love any but Celadon nor keep me from loving him eternally Oh most strange Language said Alexis then and sighed strange indeed they should be spoken unto him who since was so out of favour A few dayes after I departed and passed over the affrighting Precipices of the Sebucians Caturgians Bravomecians and Carrocleans as farre as the Seguisians where the very horrour of death did often appeare unto me yet all these were not able to divert me from my thoughts And having passed these I desired to avoyd the dangerous Mountain of Caturiges therefore taking into the Rosne I resolved to go down that Lake whose waves do beat against the ragged Rockes of this hideous Mountaine but alas I found no more comfort by water then by Land but on the contrary was in much greater danger of death by blustering winds and waves dashing us against the Rockes but all this while my thoughts were still the same At the going out of this Lake I crossed through the great wood of Caturiges And after I was past Iseres a River which comes from Centrons I crossed the straight vallyes of Carroclees and Bramovices which conducted me as farre as the Cotian Hills Leonide being very desirous to divert him from his sad thoughts I beseech you said she unto him Relate what you have seene rare in your voyage That answered Alexis would be too long for Italy is the very wonder of the world But I shall relate unto you one very pleasant adventure which I met withall And I beleeve we shall have time enough for it The History of Ursaces and Olimbres BE pleased to know therefore Madam that Alcippes intending to send me far enough from Astrea he commanded me to lay aside the habit of a shepheard that I might be more fit to keepe good company for in those Countryes persons of any quality do all live in great Townes which they call Cittyes where their Pallaces of Marble and magnificence of furniture is able to amaze beholders And none but vile persons and Peasants do live in the Country Yet every one of the Province was extreamly affrighted at the comming of a Barbarian by Sea into Italy who plundered almost all the Province especially Rome I was so extreamly desirous to render my selfe amiable as hoping thereby to make Astrea love me the better as I was strangely swelled with curiosity to learne and enquire of every thing Comming therefore neere the Appennine Hills I heard that there was some Mountaines which burned continually And that I might be the better able to give an account of them at my returne I would needs see them But in my way thither I met with an encounter which gave a stop to my designe For I had not gone up the hills above two thousand paces or two miles as they call them there but I heard a voyce which pittifully lamented and because I had a conceipt that happy it might be some who stood in need of helpe I turned that way as my eare guided me And I had not gone a hundred paces but I spyed a man lying all along upon the ground who not seeing me broke out into these expressions Should I live or should I die amidst so many fatall misfortunes If I
you may be by your choice the most contented Princesse that ever was You say that I began to serve you in the opinion that Valentinian should be your Husband Oh Madam I must confesse that when I first devoted my selfe unto your service I thought my selfe able to support that opinion but since my affection is so encreased that it is absolutely impossible for me to endure it what can you answer me but that your affection is weak since it is not augmented more then it was at first I wonder my fairest Princesse how you can deny your favours unto me who adores you and confer them upon one who does not love you Can you ever consent that your beauty which without all dispute may be the recompence and perfect felicity of any true Lover should be enjoyed by one that disdaines it and does not value it How can you endure his carrasses and not pitty the pain of your poor Cavalier Isidore who heard our discourse and was very desirous to favour us not out of any amity she bare unto me or any desire she had to have any hand in such businesses but out of a hope that this affection might passe so far that perhaps it might break off the Marriage of Valentinian and Eudoxe and to give us more opportunity of talking together she withdrew her selfe into a little Closet in which at the last she fell asleep I presently perceived it though I had my back towards her because passing betwixt the candle I saw her shadow against the wall which made me observe her when she went away The Princesse who was leaning upon her arme in the Couch and was very attentive upon what I said unto her never observed her though she went close by her And because my last words touched her to the quick she stayed a long while before she answered and still looked upon the ground At the last she raised her selfe up and with a deep sigh said thus Oh my Cavalier how cruelly do your words wound my soul But what can I do What will become of me If I do not marry Valentinian what will be thought of me And if I do marry him unto what a torment am I destined At these last words I saw tears trickle down her cheeks and she durst not speak more lest her words should too much betray her own weaknesse These tears moved me to much pitty giving me no small assurance and much augmenting my courage I must confesse kinde Silvander that I never hoped to bring this Princesse unto this but finding more love in her then I did imagine I took upon me more boldnesse then ever I intended I approached therefore a little neerer unto her then before and seeming as if I would only support her drooping head in my breast my mouth was just betwixt her eyes I durst not at the first kisse her only seemed as if what I did was not done intentionally but seeing she said nothing I descended by little and little untill my mouth met hers and because she gave me no check I put my hand into her breast but with so much ravishment that I trembled like a leafe shaken with the winde Since that time I have been in many dangers and severall deep-fought Battles but I was never so sensible of fear as upon this occasion Thus she permitted me this freedome but when I grew to be a little bolder she said thus unto me Fie fie my Cavalier what do you mean Isidore will see you It is long since my fairest Princesse said I unto her she left us alone How said she and started up is not Isidore here she is very much to blame in leaving us alone Why Madam said I we have no businesse for her Perhaps not you replyed she but I have and if you do love me as you say you do be contented with these favours which I have permitted and presse me not to confer more upon you then I ought or can I thought that the presence of Isidore would have restrained you from offering any thing but what decency allowed and could have wished it might have been she and not I that should have given you the check to the end you may see how willing I am to give you full assurance of my affection but since she is gone and since you cannot keep within the limits of what you ought I am constrained to tell you that if you make any attempts against my honour I will permit you but upon condition that I have a naked Dagger in my hand to pierce my heart presently for the fault which you should constrain me to commit If you would have me live then constrain me not I beseech you to permit that which I ought not to do unlesse I die I must confesse these words did put me into such a confusion that rising from the place where I was and falling down upon my knees I protested unto her that I would never seek for any further testimonies of her affection nor satisfaction to my desires greater then those she hath been pleased to shew unto me If you do so said she unto me I will as long as I live allow you the same privacy you have received and this proof of that affection which you bear unto me shall be pleasing unto me knowing that right love can keep within the limits of decency Upon this she took my head in both her hands and kissed me as an earnest of her promise and we spake so loud that we awaked Isidore Now because the night was far spent and the candles almost out Eudoxe called her and asked what a clock it was 'T is time Madam said she that we go to bed for every one is asleep except you Do you think Isidore said the Princesse that Valentinian is not now awake for his Mistresse I know not what he does said Isidore but I am sure if I were in bed I should sleep soundly I answered her That it was in bed where he would finde her What! answered she would you be any where else The Princesse laughed and said unto her What do you think on Isidore I believe you are yet asleep What would you have me do said she and rubbed her eyes Ursaces makes a fool of me Now because it was late Eudoxe rose up kissed me and commanded me to retire which I did but not without using the priviledge of kissing her which she had given unto me And because she saw that Isidore observed her and said nothing Eudoxe said thus unto her What do you look at Isidore I look Madam answered she whether the Bee have much strng you What Bee said the Princesse The Bee in the Garden answered she against which this Cavalier hath so often given you a Receipt Upon this taking the Candle which was upon the Table she lighted me down the stairs into the Court but not before Eudoxe smiled and said unto her Take heed lest being alone with him he do apply the same Receipt unto you
her with an oath that he would never use any force against her But he beseeched her to take his affection into her consideration to forget what he would have attempted and that when Maximus and Eudoxe dyed she should marry him The wise Isidore hearing these words began to take heart to promise him all that he desired and to beseech him he would permit her to depart Upon this Valentinian kissed her hand and with a deep sigh called unto him Heracles the Eunuch whom he trusted most of any in the Court and whose counsell he most followed This Eunuch was a very wicked man nothing pleasing only faithful But he was the most coveteous wretch and the greatest flatterer that ever breathed This was he who carried the Ring of Maximus unto Isidore and conducted her into the Garden Now because the Emperor desired that this businesse might be carried with all secresy that was possible he tooke none with him but this man whom he commanded to stay behind the Arbor and to come unto him when he called Heracles hearing the Emperors voyce ran presently unto him thinking that because Isidore would not consent unto the Emperours will he called him to helpe but when he heard that he was commanded to conduct her back Is it impossible Sir said he that words should so farre prevaile as to let so faire an opportunity to slippe and to let her go without one touch Shall a little feare make you lose so faire an opportunity Do you think she would have given you such sweet language but onely to get out of your hands Do you insist upon what will be said concerning your selfe or her The worst report that can be will be only this that you were infinitly in love with a faire Lady What hurt is there in all that the worst will be but nine dayes wonder Whatsoever you do will be done in secret betwixt you two and what wound will that be to any reputation As for any matter of conscience alas Sir god knowes that though you be Cesar yet you are but a man and will excuse it as a humane slip as well in you as in others If he should pardon none that are guilty of such a crime he would be alone in heaven few mortalls would ever come there lose not therefore such an opportunity which you will repent if you let it slip and make no use of it The wise Isidore seeing the Emperor lend an eare unto the wicked perswasions of Heracles offered to answere unto what he had urged but the Eunuch being afraid did interrupt her thus Sir said he do not hearken unto the voyce of this Syren who speakes onely against her owne conscience and would be glad to be forced unto that which she denyes beleeve it if you let this opportunity slip she will disesteeme you and mock you and if you will give me leave to hold her she will thank me and you shall see whether or no I say true Then offering to lay hands upon her she gave him such a blow upon the face as blood immediately gushed out of his nose but the Eunuch being accustomed unto such encounters and seeing the Emperour said nothing did get behind her and foulded her armes within his so as she could not stirre Then she began to cry out and make the best defence she could but all to no purpose for the Emperour by the helpe of Heracles had what he desired of her Ah Valentinian said she unto him thou hast done an act unworthy of thy selfe and I will dye but I will be revenged Then she fell upon Heracles and with her nailes and teeth hurt him in a hundred places and not being able to do him any more hurt she ran out of the Arbor to seeke for something wherewith she might kill both Valentinian and herselfe but as fortune was she found nothing she still thinking upon this injury would gladly have killed herselfe she struck her selfe upon the face tore her haire and used all the actions of one transported When Valentinian saw her in this condition he began to perswade her to aske her pardon to accuse the Eunuch and promising to do for her whatsoever she would aske She being hardly able to stand for wearinesse and sorrow sat downe upon a seat so much out of her selfe as she was hardly able to speake Valentinian came to her did set himselfe downe by her continued his supplications and told her that her husband knew nothing of it and then related to her how he came by the Ring The Emperour told her this to the end she should not tell Maximus and to give her some consolation in knowing that her husband was ignorant of it for her greatest displeasure was to think that her husband should consent unto it But when she heard that he was innocent she was much better satisfyed hoping now that he would revenge her wrong After she had sat sadly a long while and spoke not a word she constrained herselfe so that Valentinian thought her a little better satisfied for she seemed much contented that Maximus knew nothing of it and conjured him to keep it secret both from him and all the world to the end she might live still in the good opinion of every one The Emperour who did most passionatly love her who but for the Eunuch had never used any force he promised her with a thousand oathes that he would do whatsoever she desired and charged the Eunuch that he should never speake the least syllable of it to any in the world After she had tyed up her haire and dressed herselfe as well as she could she went home where she expected the comming home of her husband whom Valentinian found still at play and had recovered some part of his losses Night being come he went home where he was no sooner come but according to his custome he went to see his wise and deare Isidore she was in her closet all alone so swel'd with teares as when he saw her he was astonished and entreating him to sit downe by her husband said she unto him do not wonder to see me in this condition I have so much occasion for it that I will live no longer but before I die satisfie me so farre as to sweare that you will revenge my death Maximus who did extreamly love this Lady both for her wisedome and beauty he came to her as his custome was to kiss her and to know what it was which so much troubled her But she recoyled and said unto him It is not reasonable Maximus that you should come any neerer unto this defiled body I am not now the same Isidore whom you have so much loved and who never loved any but you I am another woman who dares not call you Husband The most wicked and cruell Tyrant that ever was hath defiled me and I will not live any longer since I am not worthy to be your Wife Upon this she related the whole passage unto him and