of his apostacy I could not complain against him enough and indeed against my self for believing him now did I admire his inconstancy and for his sake condemn the fickleness and perfidy of all men whatsoever Yet notwithstanding I had sworn a hundred times never to care for him again and that though he should return yet never to look upon him yet for all this I could not chuse but ask him by one that I imployed what was the cause of this so sudden separation And she who asked him the question was a woman that waited upon me and in whom I had great confidence during all the time of his addresses unto me Periander said she unto him how comes it to passe that you never see Dorinde nor ask what becomes of her How Dorinde answered he is she alive still Alive said the woman why she is recovered and ready to come out of her chamber Ah Sweet-heart replied Periander you are much mistaken or else does mock me certainly she is dead but has left in her roomâ— a certain ugly woman whom for the Love of her they call Dorinde but the Fair Dorinde whom I Loved is certainly dead and I am so sorry for it as I will not go and see this Dorinde lest the memory of the other should give an occasion of tears Fie fie Periander replied the woman much amazed at his answer is it not enough to seperate your self from her but you must mock at her misery Dorinde as I told you before replied he presently is not in the world What would you have me go and Love her in her grave And as for her that is in her room alas Sweet-heart she is so ugly that I will leave her to whom that will As soon as he had said so he went away and stayed not for any answer Judge Madam whether this was to be endured and yet I must swallow this bitter pill and seem as if I did not tast it But was it not the height of cruelty to strike one that was so deeply wounded before For first my sickness had spoiled my face which was wound enough without the addition of another from a person whom I least expected it A little while after my Father came to see me and not without tears in his eyes to find me so much changed which I perceiving Father said I unto him never afflict your self for the loss of that which could not be long kept but rather I beseech you to rejoyce with me since by the loss of a trifle I am rescued from an ill fortune Upon this I told him all that Periander had done and said then falling down upon my knees I beseeched him that he would not command me to have any more converse with this perfidious man Dorinde said he and took me up I promise you I will not and I command you not so much as to name him unto me who thinks him the most unworthy Cavalier that lives Upon this my Father went away and left me extreamly well satisfied with his promise And from hence forward I began to think more of Merindor then formerly I had as thinking that his behaviour towards me did oblige me to prefer him before any other for though Bellimartes did send often to visit me and was very careful in sending all such remedies as were proper for that disease yet his humour and disposition was contrary unto mine so as I could not for my heart Love him In the mean time I recovered very fast not but that my face was so blasted as I was hardly knowable and when I looked in a glass I admired to see my self and therefore I still kept the door of my chamber shut very close to the end none should enter but such as waited upon me hoping still that time might hapâ—y make some amendment But Merindor whose affection to me seemed to be greater then before and who never stirred out of my anti-chamber with several sorts of musick as I told you before one day when I was alone with that woman whom I sent unto Periander and when the door was but ill shut he entred in upon such a sudden that he was upon his knees before me ere I could see him As fortune was I had a mask upon my face but I could no way hide my eyes but with my hands and they were so blasted that I was ashamed to shew them for I had not time to put on my gloves You may imagine me not a little surprised when I saw him I did my endeâ—vour to get into my Closet but he kneeled so before me and held my knees that I was not able to rise from my seat Oh Merindor said I unto him you are exceeding troublesome unto me and would do me a great pleasure if you would think upon me no more then Periander doth Alas alas answered he do you think to limit the effects of my affection unto the shallow amity of him whom you named Ah Madam pardon me I beseech you if I think his offence not so great unto me as it is unto you Unto me answered I I assure you Merindor if Perianders offences trouble you no more then me you will never complain against him for as for my part I am so far from any memory of his name that whatsoever he does cannot offend me But let us talk of somthing else I beseech you and tell me what makes you so desirous to see me in this condition wherein I am for me thinks you should rather shun all occasions of it then desire it upon this question I caused him to rise and a chair to be set for him because I would not suffer him to kneel Madam answered he the affection of him who loves will never let him rest till he have satisfied his curiosity by seeing her whom he loves and adores and such is mine to you do not imagine I beseech you that I do love you with any reserved thoughts to leave off though you should not be so Fair as you was before such a love deserves not the name and I do esteem rather a treason and not to be entertained into any heart that loves well my affection sets no other term but eternity nor no other condition but to Love Dorinde as she is and as she shall be for the future as well as for the present Now see Wise and Fair Druide how apt one is to judg others by themselves a very dog that is burned will fear the fire yet I lesse wise then those animals after I had been deluded by the supple language of Periander could not chuse but give credit unto the gilded flatteries of Merindor thinking that a man well born and a Cavalier ought above other men to be just and to have his heart in his tongue but I confess that I did partly believe that which I should not have believed at all I began to fancy that I might live happily with him but to tell you truly I did it much out of
she has kept her faith without the least stain though she hath since had so many occasions to hate you she has still continued her love to you and entertaines in her soul those assurances which you gave unto her and though she has had many inducements to cast you quite off yet her heart would never consent unto it being resolved rather to part from her life then those pledges which you gave her of your fidelity These eyes which have been so often idolized by the young Alcidon have been witnesses of many a teare shed for your long absence when I remembred your young promises which now I find to be so false for you never had the least sparke of memory or thought of her unto whom you promised eternal memory Oh Alcidon you shall heare how I have lived since the death of the great King unto whom both you and I were so much obliged and you will confesse if you be not the most unjust man that ever breathed that your silence hath made you unworthy of love but that my affection is still greater then your offence Then she began to repeat all passages since the beginning of our separation unto this meeting not omitting any circumstance that argued my oblivion wherewith she accused me and on the other side to testifie the memory she had of me she related all the remarkable actions that I had done and after a long repetition of them at which I was amazed that she should know so many particulars I perceive said she that you are amazed I should relate your own life unto you but had you beene as you ought I should have come to the knowledge of them from your selfe and not from others which argues a defect in your affection and your silence is a signe of your shameful forgetfulnesse She had continued thus upbraiding me and in relating both her own life and mine very near two hours and would not suffer me to open my mouth in my own defence nor to answer her At last this offended beauty finding some proofe of the power which she had over me she began to change her countenance and language Now Alcidon said she I permit you to speak being contented with two hours silence in my presence in exchange of two yeares voluntary silence in my absence It argues your abundant goodnesse said I unto her and smiled that you will thus change years into hours Your crime is such replyed she that no punishment can equall it but I will shew my selfe as merciful as I am able to punish you if I will Madam said I unto her I should kisse your faire hands by way of thankes for such extraordinary favours were I not afraid I should be perceived but I lay my heart at your feet in testimony of my gratitude I doe most ingenuously confesse Madam the fault wherewith you charge me But if your goodnesse would be pleased to let me tell you the occasion and reason why I was so long silent perhaps you would thinke me as worthy of commendations as of blame Since I have pardoned you said she and given you leave to speake you may say what you please and I wish you may shew such reasons as may perswade me that you are in no fault Let me say then continued I that you may well conceive I grieved extreamly at the death of a Master who loved me so exceedingly and raised me by his favours above the reach of all Court Envy Now I should have extreamly offended against his memory and the offence would have been thought high ingratitude if I should have entertained the least kind of contentment in my soule Times of mourning injoynes us unto sad habits and forbids any thing of joy or content Now the poor and disconsolate Alcidon was forbidden all manner of happinesse and deprived himselfe of all that came from you Madam who was and is his only joy and felicity To satisfie then both my duty and my affection I made choice of so bidding my selfe the honour of hearing from you to the end nothing should divert me from my sadnesse which was then seasonable But Loves knowes and that miserable heart which loves and adores you knowes that in the midst of my bitter sorrowes none grieved me so much as that I was distanced from your presence and memory Two things principally may argue the truth of this unto you First if I had not truly loved you my age would not have permitted me to live so long amongst so many faire Ladies without love Secondly as soone as I had in some sort forgotten my sorrowes for my great losse my continuall thoughts of you would never let me be in quietnesse untill I had the honour of seeing you The danger of the journey nor the distance from the great Euricke whose favours shine upon me as fast as those did from Thorismond could not hinder me Now Madam I prostrate my selfe at your feet resigning unto you all my affections all my thoughts my heart and soule beseeching you to receive them not as any new offering or fresh acquisition but as yours from my infancy my Destiny my Master and my heart did give me unto you I shall receive your excuse said she unto me as they use to receive a debt from a bad pay-master though the money be a little too light and I will beleeve what you say upon condition that none of your future actions give me any cause of doubt When I would have answered I was hindred by the Lady of the house who came to tell us it was Supper time therefore we referred the rest of our discourse till after it was done And it was no sooner ended but I out of civility falling into discourse with one of her Sisters she came unto us and having separated me a little from the rest we fell into talke where we left with so much contentment unto me that I must needs confesse my joyes were never greater Thus we spent part of the night at last bed time forcing us to part we advised upon a more safe place of meeting and being constrained to depart in the morning it was now long before we could resolve upon the place At the last she said unto me but in a very doubtfull manner I am loath Alcidon to put you into any danger but since you are so urgent upon it I will tell you that I have a Sister married within five or six Leagues of this place where we might very well meet were it not that my brother in law is an Enemy unto King Euricke yet were there no other difficulty but that we might find a remedy but as ill lucke is he hath invited a great Company to the marriage of one of his Sisters so as all things seeme contrary unto us I do not think there is one of any quality in all the Province which is not an enemy unto the King your Master I must confesse Father I found much danger this way but when I considered
love this Cavalier who complaines thus of me I should neither be in these feares wherein I am nor he in the danger wherein he is I answered her If you speak from your heart Madam then cure me of the malady which proceeds from your selfe and never doubt that I can receive any harme as long as I am in the honour of your favour Delia then smiled and said I perceive that when you have been together a little the pain of the one will be changed into contentment and the feares into confidence But lest fortune should hinder your designes speak as low as you can and I will go and sit by the Candle seeming to read that I may put it out if any chance to come or else I will fall in talk with them and tell them how you doe without bidding enter But Cavalier said she and addressed her selfe unto me Remember the promise which you made when I opened the door unto you and admitted you unto this adventure which was to performe the conditions then proposed and if you be worthy of the name of a Cavalier you will keep your word You have kept your promise so well with me answered I that I were a most unworthy recreant if I did not the same with you Then said she unto me you are obliged according to the conditions established not to attempt any thing upon any occasion nor for any respect or reward whatsoever against the honour of the Ladies who are here but on the contrary you ought to be contented with those favours which they confer upon you not seeking or desiring any greater I will sooner sheathe my sword in my heart answered I then entertain a thought against this ordinance Every Cavalier of honour is obliged unto it by his very Name for that respect is due as unto one of the principal statutes of love I ever thought answered Delia of Alcidons discretion and I doe exceedingly rejoyce you doe thus second my thoughts since the law had not been established but for you How said I not established but for me was it made onely to restrain my indiscretion Is it thought that I am more impudent than any of the Knight errantry That is not the reason said she unto me but is it not reason this constraint should be established for you onely in this adventure which you terme the adventure of perfect love since you onely are permitted to attempt it But since before you have done you are to deal with a fiercer Champion then I am I will leave you together with your enemy lest you should complain of disadvantage Upon this not staying for my answer she went away and sat down with a book in her hand and left my fairest mistresse and me together as she said she would At which I being transported with abundance of contentment after I was set down upon the bed by her I tooke her hand and kissing it many times I said unto her Madam I am most sensible of my extreame obligations and my life is too little a price to be paid for such a happinesse Did you knoâ— what paines I have taken said she to give you this testimony of my good will doubtlesse you would set a good value of esteem upon it For though my sister does now shew her selfe so stout in the matter yet believe me Alcidon she is not alwaies so and it was not weak perswasions which could make her consent unto it Oh what artifice and tricks have I used to deceive not onely my brother in law but all his kindred and friends or indeed all the whole Province Consider Alcidon what a strange resolution I had in putting my honour and your life into so great a danger For to permit your coming into this place is no lesse Madam said I and kissed her hand if you consider my extream affection unto you Love and You were unjust if you did not answer it by extraordinary proofes of your good acceptance and I doe confesse that this is above my merit though it doe not equall my affection For it is such that most certaine death cannot make me start from your service Alcidon answered she if your affection be such as you say I wish it may continue as long as I live But I doe much feare the love of a young heart Madam said I unto her doubts use to enter into the soules of those who are not well grounded in their Faith and these in you give me more cause to fear weaknesse of affection on your side for the principal effect of true love is to remove out of the Lover all manner of mistrust of the person loved and it is impossible to love one whom they mistrust By this replyed she you may know the grandure of my affection since having so many occasions to doubt you yet is it still stronger then all those doubtfull occasions and makes me still give you such testimonies of my good will Yet Madam said I unto her give me leave to say in mine owne defence that you doe wrong my love in taxing it with youngnesse for I am twice ten years of age Ah Alcidon said she before any good assurance can be you had need be twice twelve At this I laughed and said that Madam were indeed requisite in those who love common beauties but for you and I time is not so much to be insisted upon for our ties and obligations are as strong now as they will be foure yeares hence She would have replyed when Delia began to cough as an advertisement that she heard some coming presently after her brother in law came to the doore unto whom she made a signe with her finger and went as softly to him as she could as if she were afraid to wake her sister her brother in law asked her how Daphnide did She complained a long while said she unto him and now she is fallen asleep What said he will you not come downe and dance to what end did you else dresse your selfe in that habit I hope brother answered she that my sister will be well after she has slept a while and if she be I will come and finish our designe with the rest but if she continue ill we must deferre it until another time and if you will come up againe about halfe an hour hence I shall tell you more upon this her brother in law went away and she came unto us to tell us what he had said and when I desired her to defer it until to morrow she answered me I perceive Alcidon that you are all for your selfe and care not for the interests of another so you can enjoy your opportunities as long as you stay you care not what becomes of us when you are gone You doe not well said Daphnide to make this construction of what this Cavalier said for I am most confident he has more care of us then so but if he love us as I beleeve he does he will not take it ill if we leave
nothing but truth it is reason you should know it from her since she accuseth me and would have me punished T is true said Delia it is your part to speake first I shall let you understand it in few words replyed she for our discourse was not long he spake these words unto me How Madam doe you command me to live I answered him I would not have you live as you have done for the time past for if you doe I shall never pardon you after I have given you such testimonies of my good will He answered this is a most strange command and I doe vow that I will never obey it and when I charged him with his disobedience you entred and hindred me from knowing what he would answer Then Delia turning towards me Has Daphnide told the truth said she Yes my Judg answered I and upon these words I require justice as for the injury she offered in calling me perfidious and Traytor I say nothing because you heard them and besides that they are but consequents of the first offence But said Delia which way hath she offended you For Cavaler answer unto these questions doe you not prosesse your selfe a lover of this Lady Yes answered I so that when I cease to love I cease to live Then replyed Delia do you not know that it is one of the principallest laws of Love for a Lover to obey the person loved Yes answered I and so the commands be not contradictory to his affection as if she should command him not to love her she is not to be obeyed T is true replyed Daphnide for every thing doth naturally fly that which would destroy it but how can you excuse your selfe as not offending against this Precept in this occasion where you have not onely thought the command which she made that you should love her to be strange and hard but also has vowed to disobey her My Judge answered I I did protest it and I vow and protest it still and with this resolution that if I could die and die againe aâ— many times as I have lived houres since my first birth I would rather chuse all those deaths then not vow and protest it You hear said Daphnide being extreamly angry how he speaks and judge whether he does not deserve punishment My Judge said I and smiled let my Mistresse command me to fight against a whole Army of men let her appoint me to cast my selfe into the fire nay if she please let her presently put a dagger through my heart I will immediately obey her And to let her see what dominion she has over me let her put me to what test she pleases for I am sure she cannot command me any thing be it never so dangerous or full of difficulty but my love will prompt me immediately to obedience Doe you not remember that when you first admitted me entrance and enjoyned conditions upon me how I promised to performe them all provided they did not contradict my love I doe remember it answered Delia Then my Judge replyed I methinkes you should not take it ill that I should make this vow and protestation of disobedience unto my Mistresse for had I done otherwise I had been perfidious and a Traytor both to her and Love I asked her how it was her pleasure I should live I would not have you live answered she as you have done for the time past Now if I did love her for the time past as much as a heart could love in commanding me not to love her as I did for the time past is not this to command me not to love her and should I not be disloyall and perfidious if I should obey such a command No no Madam I cannot doe it I loved you when I was a Child I have continued it when I was a man and shall love you till death nothing can divert me from this resolution it is so rivitted in my heart that it will never out as long as I live nay it will be found in my heart after my death Delia then began to smile and said I see that Love is a Child and a little thing will set him a crying my sentence is this I doe ordaine first that all differences shall cease then that Alcidon as a punishment for his fault in answering Daphnide so peremptorily that he would disobey her that presently he doe kisse the hand of his Mistresse and that Daphnide as a punishment for commanding him a thing which she would not have done had she rightly understood it that she shall kisse Alcidon as a testimony of her repentance This judgement was executed to my great contentment and we spent all the rest of the night in such pleasant discourse as when I heard a clocke strike me thought that it did not make quarters of hours I should never make an end should I relate all the discourse we had amongst us I will therefore onely tell you that being ready to depart after I had deferred it as long as possibly I could I took the hand of my fairest Mistresse and kneeling downe I said thus unto her I am now Madam upon the last minute of my happinesse for Delia and the time forceth me to depart I perceive that neither of them are sensible of my passion and for ought I perceive you who are the cause of it are as insensible as they Alcidon answered she doe not complaine of me but consider that if I did not love you I should never run the hazard of my honour and your life which is dearer to me then my owne and you thinke that the passion which blinds my eyes unto all these considerations must needs be very great Madam said I unto her this is it which most amazeth me that since you have already done so much for me you should now doe so little Then her Sister being at a little distance doing something in the Chamber Daphnide answered me Remember Cavalier that the conditions betwixt Delia and you at your first entrance into this adventure were that you should not be too importunate in your demands but to be patient and persevere At this word she held her hand unto me which with a sigh I devoutly kissed Then said I unto her all that I have to doe is to pray unto the great God Saturne who is the Governour of time that he will make it passe away quickly so as I may arrive at my happinesse before my death otherwise that if I must never arrive at it then that my life may quickly passe so as I may not live and languish too long in paine Live Cavalieâ—â— said she unto me and live contentedly and consider that I doe love you These were the last words she then spoke unto me for the clocke strucke twelve which was the hour of my departure by appointment And Delia lest he who stayed for me at the doore should be perceived would not let me stay any longer Besides I was so extreamly grieved that the
which he answered very little and sighed much The day after I tooke my time so conveniently as I found him almost all alone and then after I asked him how he did he answered me with tears in his eyes and in a feeble and languishing tone Why Madam said he doe you aske me any questions concerning that disease which you your selfe have caused you must needs know it better then I or all my Physicians Alcidon answered I I doe indeed know part of your disease which is that of your minde but I am altogether ignorant of your corporal disease and it is that which I am most affraid of for as for the other I am confident you will quickly recover Ah Daphnide said he unto me with a deep sigh I see by this that you have most care of that part which least does merit it for if there be any thing in me which is commendable it is this soul with which I have not onely loved you but even adored you with such a pure and entire affection as I believe none but your selfe could sleight it as you do This answer replyed I argues your disease but have all the care you can for the cure of your body and you will finde that the disease of your soule is not mortal at least if there be any sparke of â—â—ason yet remaining in you I doe know answered he that the disease of my soule is not mortal for our Druids tell us that the soul never dies but is immortall but since the disease of my body will not cure the disease of my soule I will further it with my own hands ere long that I may no longer look upon a person with the eyes of love who has so little in her soule I perceive replyed I that you are deeply wounded and your greatest paine is in your opinion you thinke that the addresses of the Great Eurick have such an influence upon me that they will extinguish that affection which I have promised unto you Is not this your disease Alcidon Doe you not think you have reason to complaine against me and your fortune which was to love a person so wavering and inconstant To this he answered very faintly Did you as well know how to cure as to find out my disease I should confesse you to be an excellent good Physitian It is as easie to cure it replyed I as to know it And to begin tell me Alcidon how came you to know that I doe not love you is it not by those answers which I have given unto the King and by suffering my selfe to be seen and courted by him But lay aside your Passion a little and consider who King Eurick is who I am and in what times we live in You see Eurick is a great Prince who is able to doe what he will against whom Cities Provinces nay whole Kingdomes are not able to resist when he is pleased to turne his Arms against them Doe you think that love is not as strong a passion in him as his ambition Can you believe that I am able to resist his force more then so many millions of persons you know that I am his subject that I dwell in the Country which he hath conquered and in a time when he thinks all forfeited unto him Can you thinke me well advised if I should disdaine and reject him Doe you think he would suffer me to live quietly in his Dominions if I should treat him so especially knowing from your own mouth my love unto you He would also accuse You of all the harsh treatment that he received from Me. Is it possible your passion should so blind your eyes as not to see that the onely remedy is this which I have used Into what a strange fury would his disdained love turn if it should besleighted the name of hatred is too low some new phrase which signifies hatred must be invented before it can be rightly expressed hatred anger rage fury desire of revenge nay tyranny and cruelty will not signifie his Disgust Then Alcidon consider into what a condition I should have brought you my self also if I had taken that course the least you could have expected is banishment out of all his Dominions and the least that I could look for is a thousand wrongs and affronts which neither you nor I could ever have endured without death or revenge see into what extremities we should have brought ourselves and what contentments we may well hope for by living thus confess my counsel to be the best since it secures us from all danger and makes a way for us to live happily together and with more contentment than ever we did Alas Madam answered he how easie a thing it is to know that all these reasons are but meer excuses for did you intend as you say why did you conceal the matter from me why did you not discover it at the first but made use of so many shifts and delusions as may well be called treachery of which I had never known unlesse I had made the discovery by a meer accident I shall in this confesse the very truth answered I I thought you to be so farre from this opinion that I thought it to no purpose to tell you but to use you as children are used who are sick they sweeten the edges of the Cup which holds the bitter medicine and so tempt them to take it the more easily and by this meanes preserve their lives assuring my selfe that you would not take it ill when you knew my intention but would relish both the benefit and the medicine Alas said he unto me with a deep sigh a medicine more bitter and difficult to take and endure than the disease is of which you would cure me All sick people answered I when Medicines are presented unto them do say as much as you but when they find the good effects and recover health then they commend both the medicine and Physician and reward them with a thankful Fee and I hope that ere long you will do the like He would have answered but was prevented by a great company of Cavaliers who came to visit him and presently after I left him with them not fully satisfied in his mind but so disposed that my arguments began to worke with him and because I desired his recovery above all things I saw him againe two or three dayes after and used such arguments that he considering the state of things and that there was no remedy he consented I should continue so with Eurick upon which I made a promise unto him that as he was the first I ever loved so should he be the last and that I would love him until I was in my Grave That the affection which I bare unto Eurick might be called Reason of state and that which I bare unto him might be called Love of heart These Reverend Father were the remedies which I used to cure this sick man and they had such an operation
she was silent and said not a word more But Hylas observing this and having an opinion that if any would divert Astrea he might the more easily talke with Alexis he made a signe unto Calidon which made him more confident than usuall and therefore after an humble reverence unto the Shepherdesse he tooke her arme pretending he would helpe her to walke The Shepherdesse seeing there was no remedy turned her head towards Alexis and said thus I see that bad examples are sooner followed than the good and I must now recall that advantage which I gave unto the Shepherds of Lignon Alas said Alexis and shooke her head if our lives had none of these bitter wormwoods we should be but too happy she spoke this in so low a voice that neither Hylas nor Calidon heard her yet the cold entertainment which this shepherd received from this shepherdesse did make him thinke that she had much rather be alone with the Druide but seeming to take no notice of it he continued on his designe so as now there was none without a Companion but Silvander But Laonice who still nourished a spirit of revenge against him and sought for an occasion of doing him some signall displeasure ever since the day that by his judgement she lost Tircis seeing him thus alone she thought now that she had met with a fit opportunity she knew already what affection he had unto Diana and what affection Diana had unto him For their loves being great it was impossible to hide it from her who kept a very observant eye over all their actions Therefore seeing him alone and very pensive she went unto him and put on a face far different from her heart Shepherd said she I see so many signes of sorrow painted in your face as I cannot chuse but thinke that perhaps you are in love Shepherdesse answered Silvander I have so many severall occasions of sorrow as you need not aske me whether Love be a cause I thinke said she you have no new occasions for of late dayes you are more contented than usuall but will you give me leave to tell you what I thinke The cause of your melancholly proceeds either from a disease present or from a disease absent You must explane the Riddle answered the shepherd before I can returne an answer I meane replyed Laonice since you would have me speake cleerly that either griefe present torments you seeing another in your roome with your Mistresse or else the good which is absent for I know that you doe love Madonthe Sage shepherdesse said Silvander I see you are a great Propheresse For it is one of these two that does torment me but perhaps said he and smiled not so much as you imagine Sometimes in such diseases said Laonice one is apt not to think themselves so ill as they are but in good earnest Silvander which of these two is it that most troubles you Which doe you thinke said Silvander If I should tel you my opinion said Laonice perhaps you would not confess it Were it a crime to love said Silvander I must confesse I had no reason to confesse but since it is rather a vertue or at the least an action which in it selfe is neither good nor bad why should you thinke I will not confesse it since in denying a truth I should commit a greater sinne Most true shepherd replyed Laonice for every one who would be esteemed good ought above all things to be very carefull they never injure the truth and therefore Silvander tell me upon your reputation does not the absent good trouble you more than the present evill Silvander had no mind of making his affections knowne unto this stranger if possibly he could avoid it and therefore with a smile answered her I cannot chuse but admire at the quicknesse of your sight discreet Laonice for I durst have sworne that none had taken notice of these things but I beseech you how came you to this knowledge Silvander said she content your selfe with this that all these dissimulations which you use to Diana may perhaps amuze Thersander but not such as have with my eyes observed your actions All those that live about the delectable River of Lignon have their hearts so possessed with their owne passions as they never observe anothers have no eyes for any but for them they love But I who have nothing else to doe but to observe the actions of all I doe plainly see that Madonthe does please you more than Diana but be not sorry that I know it for perhaps it will not be unserviceable to you Madonthe loves me and I think she will be easily induced unto any thing I shall perswade I know what it is to love and which way to compasse the contentments of it and I promise you to aide and serve you in all I am able Silvander could not chuse but laugh to heare her talke thus and to confirme her in the opinion which she had conceived he beseeched her to be silent and above all not to acquaint Madonthe least it should offend her and so ruine his whole designe he thanked her for her kind offers which he would not refuse but would not make use of at that time for severall reasons which hereafter should be made knowne unto her Silvander thought himself very subtle in this but Laonice who seemed to beleeve him began to contrive the mischiefe which she intended him upon it and which since she made him pay so dear for In the mean time Paris and Diana were entred deepe into discourse for this young man was so inflamed with a violent affection unto this shepherdesse as he could never rest but when he was with her Certainly if she had intended to love any she would have pitched here but since the death of Filander she would never suffer love to take any hold of her affections thinking none worthy to be Successor unto such a shepherd as Filander If she did afterwards love Silvander it was not out of designe but upon a surprize which the merits and addresses of that shepherd made upon her so as the good will which she had unto Paris was no more than as a sister unto a brother and so farre she thought her selfe obliged by the affection he had unto her and she was hindred from any farther by the affection she bare unto the memory of the courteous Filander yet he whose affection had no limits to render unto her all possible testimonies of his love he resolved to try his fortune and thinking this opportunity to be good he would not let it slip leading her therefore by the arm he drew her a little from the rest and whilst every one was busied in their owne various conceptions he spoke thus unto her I cannot chuse but wonder fairest Diana that all my endeavours to doe you all service should not let you see the great affection which I have unto you or if you do see it I wonder more that it should
as she took extream delight in her company and Diana was glad also to be thus rid of Paris as well because she did not love him as because love made her think very well of Sylvander and she could not permit her eares to hearken unto any words of affection which came from any mouth but of that kind Shepherd Leonide then went to meet Paris and the two Shepherdesses went towards the disguised Druide whom they found looking upon an old willow which time had decayed and which retained no more of it self but a hollow bulk and a withered bark Oh Willow said Alexis to her self what is become of these letters which I trusted thee with all And why dost thou not render me the same good offices thou wert wont in assuring me of my Shepherdesses good will For thou seest me now with no less love nor less affection then I had at that time Oh beloved Willow I know thy meaning for had the heart of my Fairest Shepherdesse retained the memory of my services thou vvouldst have still retained those characters vvhich vvere the dear testimonies of her good will but I see that time has vvorn both thee and them out of her thoughts had she spoken these words any louder the Shepherdesses had heard them but as luck was she expressed them unto her self only in thought And because they were unwilling to interrupt those pleasing imaginations vvhich they thought she fancied they stopped and vvhen the Druide vvalked they did the like not vvith any intention to discover any thoughts of her soul but only lest they should divert her by their presence from that which she thought most pleasing Alexis then thinking her self alone continued on her thoughts and likevvise her vvalk along the River side until she found a Tree on her right hand where two dayes before her unfortunate accident she had engraved some verses which testified vvith how much constraint she courted the Shepherdesse Aminthe and casting her eyes thereupon Oh how this sight did vvound her memory Perhaps the reading of those vvords had made her speak something so loud as to be heard by those Shepherdesses which followed her if by fortune Sylvander at the same time had not a far off began to sing and the voice came so distinctly towards them that Alexis turning her head that way espied the Shepherdesses close by her shee vvas sorry to see them so neer and perceive them no sooner fearing lest her passion had made her utter some vvord or use some action vvhich might discover vvhat she desired to conceal But that which most troubled her vvas her eyes vvhich vvere full of tears and which being so surprised she could not hide yet faining not to see them she turned the other way and vviped her eyes as well as she could and then setting a good face upon it she came unto them and bad them good morrow calling them sluggards and faining she could not sleep because the pretty birds began to sing so sweety at her chamber-window It was rather Madam answered Astrea because they troubled you No indeed answered Alexis for I took so much delight in their Musick that I could not chuse but rise to hear them more plainly as I walked by this River side and I think the time so short that it seems not above a quarter of an hour since I came hither But Madam answered Diana you have slept so little that I fear it will do you some injury It is true indeed answered Alexis and you may see my eyes have done pennance for it but I was so much delighted in hearing the warble of these pretty birds and in taking the fresh ayr that it is impossible to receive any harm The best remedy will be replied Astrea to go to bed betimes at night that you may enjoy your rest and sleep before the day do break and before these little chanters of the wood begin to sing and then we shall Madam be glad to bear you company and carry you unto places which are better furnished with this kind of harmony Alexis offered to reply when Sylvander began to sing and because they spied Phillis coming towards them they stayed for her whilest Sylvander sung Phillis being come unto them after she had saluted the Druide and her company Madam said she how do you like this Shepherds voice I like it very well answered Alexis and think him to be a very well accomplished Shepherd and a very perfect lover Madam answered Diana and both smiled and blushed perhaps you may be mistaken in your judgement of him for the Shepherds of Lignon do often hide dissembling souls under the innocent habit which they wear Perhaps indeed replied the Druide that this may be so in some but I am most confident I am not mistaken in my opinion of this Shepherd Tell her Madam said Phillis and interrupted her that she her self thinks the same and that if the Shepherdesses of Lignon were not greater dissemblers then this Shepherd she would not have spoken so as she did Sister replied Diana I am much beholding to your rallary for speaking thus of me in the presence of this Druide you will infuse a strange opinion of me into her Do not fear said Alexis and smiled that these words can make me believe any thing of you but good I know the virtue and merits of Diana very well besides dissimulation is sometimes so necessary unto our sex as it may well be taken for a kind of virtue But since we have gone so far give me leave to tell you out of my affection to you what Phillis hath formerly said unto your dear friend here upon the same subject Madam answered Diana you will do me an honour in it but the worst is I fear it is nothing worthy of your paines which you can tell me that concerns my self I make no doubt wise Shepherdesse said Alexis but you have often heard the same which I shall tell you but because we are all oftentimes partiall in our causes and because the advice of friends will do no harm I will tell you what discourse Astrea and I had yesterday concerning you and I shall desire Phillis also to give her advice because I know you have a great confidence in them both Upon this she related unto Diana all the considerations which they had upon Sylvanders love and after they had all concluded that it was no fiction nor by reason of the wager but reall and in good earnest she continued thus Now Fair Diana it concerns you to consider well upon it as for Sylvander to love or not to love you does not depend upon him he has but the choice of these two wayes either to grieve or to live happily with you even as you shall appoint But upon you does depend not only his misery and his happinesse but your own also And though I may believe that perhaps you are not sensible of those torments which his love inflicts upon him yet I conceive
more then he Loves me and I vow by all the Nymphs and Deities of the River that I will never Love any else Only one thing Brother I shall request which is that you will promise me upon your Faith never to desire of me any thing which my honour and decency may not allow Let all the torments of Hell fall upon my head answered Andrimartes presently and may Heaven blast all my hopes and desires if ever I do entertain the least thought of offering beyond those Limits which you shall freely allow me When this discourse passed betwixt them Silviana was about thirteen or fourteen years of age and Andrimartes about sixteen or seventeen an age so apt to take all amorous impressions that Love did imprint in their young hearts all the characters of it self so as ever since that time they did both so grow in affection that had not their young and familiar education together been an umbrage for all their amorous actions and shadowed them with a vail of courtesy and long acquaintance certainly many had taken notice of it but since this familiarity did begin when they were little children none did wonder at their kindness unto each other especially both of them being yet but very young Thus they did live together in all possible satisfaction and contentment waiting until such time as they could handsomly procure the consent of their Parents unto a marriage And this happy condition lasted until such time as Childerick did unluckily cast his eye upon this shinning Star for seeing her at a Ball where Silviana was disguised according to the custom of the Romans he took such a liking to her that ever since he loved her most desperately Silviana took notice of it presently and because she thought it would be a sin unpardonable in her if she did not impart all that she knew unto her dear Brother as soon as ever she saw him she acquainted him with all passages Andrimartes was apt to believe it Sister said he unto her it is no wonder if all the World do Love you but must your ambition to be the Mistris of a Kings Son extinguish your affection unto a Brother And must I be the widdowed Turtle left desolate without a Companion Brother said she then unto him and took his hand be assured that you shall never be the Turtle which you speak of until death do ravish me from you and if I thought any such doubt did enter into your soul the affection which I bear unto you would be extreamly angry be confident Andrimartes that death it self shall not alter my affection for I will preserve it unto that second life which our Druides tell us of after this Here Brother said she take this Ring and if you be the same Andrimartes which I take you to be summon me by it either in this or the next life to keep that promise which now I do most solemnly confirm for ever unto you I want words Madam wherewith to express the joyes of young Andrimartes he fell down upon his knees he kissed her hand and the Ring which she gave him a hundred times with a vow to present it unto her at that time when she commanded him Then taking a pin and pricking that finger whereon he wore the Ring he caused it to bleed in several places and making his handkerchief all bloody he presented it unto Silviana Madam said he unto her I do seal the vow which I have made with my blood and I conjure you to restore me this handkerchief when you command me to restore unto you this Ring to the end that by these marks both the living and the dead may know how great the affection is which Andrimartes bears unto Silviana and how happy this affection has been above its merits in meeting with her reciprocal affection Thus did Love link the hearts of these two young Lovers together with faster knots as if all the powers upon earth were not able to unty them But for all that Childerick continued his begun Love which grew to that height that he could not enjoy any contentment nor rest but when he was with her At the first lest Merovius should be advertised of it he hid his passion as much as he could and this was the reason why he durst not in words declare it unto Silviana though all his actions did make it so apparent unto every one as it was a thing superfluous to tell her that which none was ignorant of At the same time taking infinite delight in looking upon her he commanded an Artist to take her Picture unknown unto her thinking that she would not permit it otherwise and the Picture-drawer was so ready to satisfie this young Prince as he took her Picture very exquisitely at two or three times seeing her in the Temple when Childerick saw it he kissed it a thousand times and thinking that his happiness was not compleat unless Silviana did know what â—ewel he possessed and meeting her in the Anti-chamber of the Queen his Mother he took her aside and said thus unto her Fair Silviana I can tel you some news which perhaps you are ignorant of for you think your self to be the only Daughter of your Mother yet let me tell you that you have a Sister Did I think this news to be true Sir said Silviana I should think it the best that ever I heard and think my self much obliged unto you for telling me of it You have good reason to be glad of it said Childerick for though she be not so fair as you are yet she does very much resemble you and because your self shall be judge whether or no I speak the truth pray look upon this As soon as ever Silviana saw it she presently knew it and started to see her self in any other hands then those of Andrimartes and desiring to look upon it he gave it unto her After she had a while looked upon it and not knowing how to get it handsomly from him she threw it into the fire and it was burned before Childerick took notice of it yet she did not cast it into the fire so soon as she repented of her haste when she saw that young Prince stand as if he were planet-struck with amazement and to excuse her self in some sort Oh God Sir said she it was so ill-favouredly done that I could not endure to see my self so ugly Silviana answered Childerick you have angered me to the soul and I cannot tell whether I have patience enough to endure it Sir answered Silviana and blusht I am extreamly sorry for it but the truth is it was so very ill done that I had rather have seen the Picture of death then it Love and anger had now a great debate in the heart of this offended Prince but Love at last triumphing I shall see said he whether that was your reason or no or whether you did it as an affront unto me for if it be as you say then you will
gave them permission to call themselves Lovers and assume unto themselves a title so honourable not knowing the least duties of a right Lover what could they expect but a most severe punishment for usurping a name so much above their merit Now as it is ordinary for those that are guilty of any vice to desire that all others may be of the same die to the end they themselves may not be upbraided they propound four doubts ayming by the first to tax us by the second to excuse themselves and by the two last to be instructed in what they are very ignorant We should return them such an answer as they deserve were it not unto you our Judg that they address their queries and in which we beseech you to inform them not out of any hopes to amend them for the future but to let every one see how far they are out of the right way And in as much as a great blunder is made about some letters which were written unto them we beseech you oh our Judge to command that those Letters may be produced for by their own confession they were written only upon common fame and not as known truths what then must every thing that is taken up in the streets be believed as true Oh Thomantes if such reports may pass for truths I could tell you strange tales of your new affections unto several other Shepherdesses but being only common fame I let them pass without belief and was not this example sufficient for you to do the like And whereas you say that one ought to think nothing but virtue to be in the person loved can I think that you do love me since you do thus upbraid me with levity and inconstancy Thus most just Judge you have heard the Requests which these two Shepherds have made unto you and to the end it may not be said that there was ever upon the banks of Lignon any Shepherds so ignorant in Love as these we do add our Request also that they may be forbidden to usurp unto themselves the honourable name of Lover of which they are so much unworthy and for a punishment of their crimes which they have committed against us that they may bâ— forbidden ever to have the names of Dorissea or Delphire in their memories and that contenting themselves with having so long abused us they may hereafter make their addresses some other way and practice upon others those sapient instructions which you in your wisedom shall give unto them Thus Delphire ended and after a low congie to the Judge she seated her self in her place in expectation of Dianas judgment An universal humming was heard amongst all that heard her some approved and others dis-approved of her reasons but all in generall admired the excellency of her wit and the modesty wherewith she spoke and because Diana thought that none had any thing else to say she began to ask the opinion of the Shepherds and Shepherdesses in private when Filintes and Androgenes stood up beseeching that before judgment they might be heard because they were as much interested in the business as any Diana then sitting down again in her place commanded Filintes to speak for them both and when the murmure was ceased he began thus The Speech of FILINTES JF the greater Lovers be the worst speakers as that fair Shepherdess assures us they are then think it not strange most Wise Judge if according to that maxime Filintes say but little of his love unto Delphire nor of Androgentes unto Dorissea let not defect of language redound unto our disadvantage since from the parties themselves you hear that we have loved Delphire and Dorissea with so much affection and fidelity as that they never found any failer in us nor any remarkable fault For my part I began to love Delphire before Thomantes had any eyes to look upon her and Androgenes served Dorissea when Asphales by his inconstancy shewed himself weary of that glorious service This first affection like to the eldest son deserves the greatest portion and this last of Androgenes as a survivor and a worthy successor deserves the estate and though one of us was the first and the other the last yet both of us have ever since we began lived in such great observance and respect that we have patiently born all those favours which before our eyes were done unto these two inconstant weather-cocks I must needs confess that spleen has somtimes made me conceive some impressions of anger and made me murmure against those hard rigours which that fair one made me suffer but let her self say if she can whether in my greatest fury I expressed any action which was not all love As soon as ever she cast her eye upon me I returned immediately unto my duty and what can this signifie but that my affection was stronger then her rigour And Androgenes seeing Dorissea prefer Asphales before him he continued still with so much discretion and fidelity as is a most strong argument that nothing could divert him from this love and faithful service They say that the dropping of water by continuance of time will wear the hardest marble and will not a most constantly continued service have as great an influence upon the marble of an insensible heart Must we be they who must continually serve without any recompence Must we sow the ground and reap no Corn Will love be ungrateful only unto us And can they be niggardly unto us alone who have served with most fidelity Judge what reason or what Justice is in this Androgenes and I have oftentimes comforted our selves with thought when without reason we saw these two Weather-cocks obtain recompences in lieu of those punishments which they deserved that we must think to fight and strive before we must look to overcome and groan a long time under pain and travel before we tryumph but now we must confess that two things do extreamly astonish us the one is to see these two inconstants tryumph before they travelled and the other is that we cannot overcome the rigour of these cruel ones after so much travail and so long a combate and nothing does strike us into so much admiration as the pretensions not to say presumptions that Thomantes and Asphales have to hope nay ask as their dues to be loved by these two fair ones for if ever love had any cause to revenge the wrongs which are done unto him it is against them they ought to let drive all the arrows of his justice and make them exemplary unto all such as abuse the name of Lovers I am astonished Thomantes that after you had so many favours from Delphire the least of which was enough to fix the heart of Mercury that yet as if they had never been done unto you you should be full of mistrusts full of reproches and never satisfied I cannot chuse but admire Asphales that when you went away you went and was not loved and that when you returned
if there was you would not thus trifle away your time but go presently to the faire Alexis I believe answered Phillis that we shall be there time enough to imploy all your Constancy No no replied Silvander he has all the reason in the world to make haste otherwise there would be some danger lest the end of his love should be before the beginning of our journey Perhaps you think said Hylas that you have given me a notable check in saying that I doe never love any long but I take it as one of the greatest commendations you can give me For good Silvander tell me Is not he that goes as much ground in an hour as another does in a whole day is not he I say the best Footman and a Mason that builds a House in a moneth which another will not undertake under a whole yeare is not he the best Workman If you will make your love a Lackey said Silvander I shall think the faster it goes the better it is But as for your Mason let me tell you Hylas that he who makes most haste is not the best workman but he who does his work the best does best deserve that name for most haste makes worse work and often spoils all Hylas would have replied when all the Company began to set forward towards the Temple of the good Goddesse where Chrysante expected them at Dinner for that venerable Druid understanding their determination and being desirous to visit the faire Alexis she invited them all unto her house that she might make one of their company this request which was honourable unto them was not denyed and therefore Silvander left the inconstant Hylas to wait upon Diana being exceedingly glad of this opportunity of being with her when Paris was not Had the disguised Alexis looked the right way she might easily have seen them come from the field of Mercury for the Grove where she was surveyed the place but her eyes were so fixed upon the place where Astrea dwelt that she stood like a statue expressing no signes that she was alive but onely breathing or rather sighing She had longer stood in this musing posture if Leonide had not diverted her this Nymph not being able to extinguish her flames of affection towards Celadon she was so much delighted in the company of Alexis that she was absent from him as little as possible she could The wise Adamas having the words of Silvia still fresh in his memory though he knew well enough what ardent affection that shepheard had unto the faire Astrea yet did he live in much perplexity knowing very well that his Neece was not so disfurnished of natures gifts but that she might in time worke upon a young heart and make it forget all respects of loyalty and duty This consideration was so strong in him that she would never have permitted this young shepheard to enter his house under the habit name and motion of his Daughter Alexis had not the Oracle made a promise unto him that when Celadon did enjoy his contentment his age should then be happy so as being interested in point of happinesse he chose rather to take so much paines to watch the actions of them both then to lose that happinesse which the Heavens had promised Now because he could not have his eye alwayes upon them in respect his domestique and publique affaires invited him another way he charged Paris to be present with them as much as he could This morning when he heard they were both gone out of the house and that Paris was not with them he went immediately after them and followed his Neece so close as he was in the Grove almost as soone as shee where Alexis had beene along while entertaining her thoughts the noise which the Nimphs made as she came caused Celadon to looke that way and as he turned he spyed the Druide comming unto whom she bore so much respective reverence that though she had rather have beene alone entertaining his thoughts of Astrea yet seeming otherwise she went to meet him and bid him good morrow with a countenance of joy more then accustomed of which Adamas taking notice after his morning salute he told her that her countenance of jollity did presage but a bad conclusion of the day If it please good Father answered Alexis you shall receive contentment by it for as for me I have no hopes but in death and if you did observe me with a merrier countenance then ordinary it is because I thinke my selfe every day neerer the end of that torment which Fortune hath ordained for mee imitating in this those who are in a long and tedious journey who when they come to their Inn at night are pleased to thinke that so much of their paines is lessened the Druide returned this cold answer My dear Child those who do live without hope of comfort in their miseries doe not only offend against the Providence of great Tautates but also against the prudence of them who have the Guardianship of them In this occasion therefore I have a double cause of Complaint against you you have offended both the Gods and Mee as Druide of the Country into whose hands the Oracle hath committed you Father answered Alexis I should be extreamly sorry should I offend either the great Tautates or you and for an explanation of my words give me leave to tell you that my intention was not to doubt either in the Providence of our great Gods or in your Prudence but I doe beleeve it is not the will of the Gods to give me any contentment as long as I live and that my misfortune is so great as it is beyond all humane Prudence to helpe it You must know replyed Adamas that the slighting of a benefit received does often withdraw the hand of the Benefactor and makes it more slacke in conferring then it was before take heed you provoke not the Heavens unto the like for you doe so ill accept of what they have begun to doe for you as you have reason to feare that in lieu of happinesse they will inflict new punishments Doe you not consider that when you had mured up your selfe in a Salvage Rocke the Gods sent Silvander with consolation unto you Then to make their goodnesse more apparent unto you did not he cause Astrea her selfe to come unto you Did you not see her nay almost hear her and the Lamentations she made for you what better beginnings of happinesse could you possibly hope for then these I will not instance the visits of Leonide and my selfe for perhaps they were troublesome unto you but I may well mention the goodnesse of the Gods to you in inspiring mee to bring you unto my house under the notion and habit of my Daughter Alexis for doubtlesse it is her whom Astrea comes to see What more auspitious beginning can you have then this Can you imagine that without the particular aide and assistance of the Gods this habit and disguise
could delude the eyes of so many persons All the people of your owne Towne your friends your familiars have seen you and been deceived your owne Brother himselfe is mistaken but the favours of Tautates rest not here for hee inspired Astrea to come and see you what can you desire more for a prosperous beginning Yet I see such is your ingratitude that still you complain or at least receive not these benefits with a thankefull heart Take heed Child you provoke not a Diety too sarre least they should withdraw these favours and give you a just cause of condolement Father answered Alexis I doe most gratefully acknowledge the goodnesse of Tautates and your indulgent care over mee but still I cannot chuse but complaine for I am yet like unto a poore afflicted man who hath a thousand torments at once upon him though one or two of those torments be taken away yet the rest which remaine are enough to move complaint The Druide was ready to answer when he saw Paris coming towards them who being clad in his shepherds habit made it manifest that Love prompted unto the dresse Leonide also flattering her selfe in an opinion that her beauty needed not to submit unto the beauty of Astrea she used all her art and trimmed up her selfe to the best advantage that Alexis seeing her in that dresse and comparing Astrea with her the artificiall lustre of the one might dimme the naturall simplicity of the others beauty Alexis in her usuall habit seemed to care least for this visit though she had the most interest and because she desired not to be knowne by any shee added nothing to her ordinary dresse besides she knew that her happinesse was to be expected from fortune and not beauty but however she appeared so fair in that simple habit without any artifice that Leonide could not keep her eyes off her After some common discourse Paris who was passionately in love with Diana to make himselfe more pleasing in her eye he assumed the habit of a shepherd and not being furnished with so much patience as to stay till their coming he told Adamas that if it pleased him he would goe and meet those fair shepherdesses who were to visit his Sister and conduct them to the best and neerest way The Druide knowing what affection he had unto Diana and not disallowing it for some reasons which hereafter shall be declared did commend his designe hinting unto him that courtesie and civility of all the vertues did most attract the hearts of people and that it was the naturall quality of persons well borne Paris upon this leave went presently towards Lignon and going down the Hill unto the bridge of Boteresse he followed the River taking into a little path upon his right hand which led him into the Wood where the empty tombe of Celadon was erected and passing on he came unto the Meadow which is before the Temple of Astrea He had no sooner set foot in it but he spyed on the other side of it two Horsemen the one of which was armed he had on his right hand a Gantlet and on the other a Buckler a Plume of black and white which waved over the Crupper of his Horse his Corslet was set with Lions his Sword Falchion like which turned up at the end like to a demi-circle hung by his side in a rich scarfe As soon as Paris perceived him he remembred what hapned unto Diana when Filidas and Filander were slaine and therefore retreated into the Wood yet being very desirous to know more of them he still kept his eye upon them through the thick Wood. He saw that as soone as they were entred into the Meadow and spyed the pleasant Fountaine which is at the entrance into the Temple the Cavelier lighted from his Horse and the other whom he judged to be his Servant ran to him held his stirrop tooke his Horse unbridled him and without any respect unto the place let him eat upon the sacred Grasse Meane while the Cavelier went to the Fountaine dranke of the water and washed his hands and face Paris by his deportment did imagine that his intention was not to offer harme unto any and this opinion made him so bold as to go neerer him yet still concealing himselfe in the thicke Wood so as he unseen came so neere them that he could both heare and see all that they said and did He saw that the Cavalier was both young and faire though extreame sorrow appeared in his face then looking upon his Armes he thought him to be a Gaule and that he was in love for he bore upon his silver Sheild a Tyger feeding upon a Hart with this Motto Thou gav'st me death and I maintaine thy life Perhaps he had observed every thing both longer and better had he not beene prevented by the sighs of this Caveller who looking fixedly upon the Fountaine rowsed himselfe as out of a deepe slumber and lifting up his eyes towards Heaven he taxed his courage with Pusillanimity for supporting so many misfortunes his words were seconded with many a sigh and sighs seconded with showers of teares which trickled downe his cheekes into the Fountaine Presently after lying along upon the ground and letting his arms hang loose he grew pale and his complexion changed so as his servant who kept an eye upon him seeing him in this condition he was affraid least he should swoone he ran therefore unto him cast a little water in his face and recovered him before he lost his knowledge or strength But hee opening his eyes and lifting them faintly up to heaven made such sad Lamentation that his servant could not chuse but sigh which he observing what Halladine said he dost thou sigh Sir said the Servant I sigh more to see suchan alteration in you then for the distaster of which you complain for to be deceived by a woman to be betrayed by a Rivall that virtue should procure envy and that fortune should favour the designes of enemies is not at all strange because it is ordinary But I must needs wonder to see the courage of Damon which hitherto I believed invincible and which hath made him esteemed and feared both of friends and enemies should now shrink at a common accident which inferiour courages are wont to resist A thought of revenge if nothing else methinkes sir should move you to preserve your selfe untill you have found out Madonthe that you might in herpresence call them to an account who are the causes of your displeasure For Gods sake sir consider that a Calumny which is not disproved may well passe for a truth and consequently Madonthe had reason to treat you as she did Paris observed that at the name of Madonthe the Cavelier assumed a little vigour and that looking upon him he answered with a faint voice Ah Halladin didst thou but know what torments are upon me thou wouldst say that I doe want courage since I doe endure them any longer and live Oh
themselves with their best art It hapned that day day as if it were done upon design that both he and I were in white And because he would let the King see how willing he was to obey his commands when the Ball began he tooke me out which the King perceiving and observing that the youngnesse of both was such as we had not confidence enough to speak unto each other he began to laugh and say unto those about him I cannot tell who put that couple together but if it was Fortune it appears in this that she is not blind for I thinke they could not possibly be better maâ—cht They are both as innocent as their habits speakes them and I beleeve they have not so much boldnesse as to speak one word And it hapned as the King said for young Alcidon whether out of bashfulnesse or because some sparke of love began to kindle in his soule which kept him in that respect off me did pass away all that night and spoke not one word unto me And I having no designes at that time did study to please the eyes of all in generall and had no particular aimes Ever since this day affection increased and to that height that as his heart was inflamed so his tongue told his disease And I must confesse that his merits and services gave such eloquence unto his language that I was perswaded he did love me and ere long that he did deserve to be loved In the meane time he advanced himselfe so high in the favour of his Master that there was no office about him so great unto which he might not aspire and indeed after he had given him free accesse unto his Person and in all privacies how great soever he bestowed upon him the greatest office belonging to his Crown though perhaps his minority of age was not so fit for it as some other The truth is so many amiable qualities and noble perfections did so much 〈◊〉 his youth that envy it selfe did not blame the Kings choice But oh wise Alamas them is nothing in this world durable Fortune may well be painted with two face one for prosperity another for adversity For this great King in the midst of his owne Kingdome and Forces was most unfortunately killed by a Chyrurgion This wicked 〈◊〉 being to let the King blood whether by chance or villany he so cut the vein that he could not stay the bleeding The King perceiving this accident he took a 〈◊〉 in his left hand and in anger killed the Chyrurgion but that did not help him for he dyed presently after to the great griefe of all his subjects Judge Father whether this suddain death was not terrible unto my Mother and me It caused us to retire as soon as we could into the Province of the Romans where our estate lay fearing some 〈◊〉 in this Kingdome which was deprived of so great a King As for Alcidon his griefe was such as it was believed he would not live He knowes how I resented his sorrowes and grieved for his losse as our amity commanded me yet he had so forgotten both me and all his promises as I never heard of him all that time Unto Thorismond succeeded his brother Thierry who took upon him the Crown of the Visâ—gots with a desire to augment it And to that end hearing that the King of Swedes would needs extend their limits unto Spain he sent him word though he had married his sister that if he would not desist from this enterprise he would oppose him of which Richard making no account for so was the King of Swedes called Thierry passed over the Pirenian hills fought him and was victorious Thierry dying presently after Eurick his brother succeeded him who by his valour quelled all the 〈◊〉 or the people and afterwards seeing that the Romans who called us their ancient friends and confederates would submit unto us as the rest of the Gaules he turned his Armes against us I mean in the Province of the Romans I shall not insist upon particular description of these Victories since they are not pertinent to our discourse But I must tell you that after he had taken the City of the Massilians he besieged Arles because until that time I never heard of Alcidon and he had no more memory of me then if he had never seen me But then as if he was newly waked out of a deep sleep he bethought himselfe and writ unto me You may imagine Father how a young spirit that had a very good opinion of herselfe could resent this long silence which I could not call sâ—om because I valued my selfe at such a rate as I thought I could not be scorned Now thinking very often with my selfe that he cared not for me I vowed a hundred times not to care for him and that though he should return unto me with all imaginable submission yet would I look upon him onely with an indifferent eye I will not deny but this losse was a very great griefe unto my soule and I must confesse I love him so as when I received this Letter from him the memory of his former merit made me break open the seals and I found these words Alcidons Letter unto Daphnide I Cannot tell Madam whether you will know my hand or have yet in memory the Name of Alcidon so long has my misfortune separated me from you and hindred me from keeping my selfe in your memory by any good service If you have yet any memory of me and if the losse of two such dear Masters and if the long imployments in a continuall warre will be admitted as good excuses I beseech you Madam to pardon my long silence until I may with your permission let you know by word of mouth the unfortunate occasions which have all this while deprived me of my chiefest happinesse If your goodness can surmount my hopes and grant me so much favour I beseech you appoint some place which you shall thinke most convenient where I may receive that happinesse and you shall find that Alcidon never was more yours then still he is and that he has yet still preserved himselfe most faithfully for you and you will now find him more able to doe you service then in his green yeares when you did him the honour to admit him your most humble servant These are the flatteries wise Adamas by which love useth to abuse youth I had no sooner read his Letter but though I did very well know the hand yet I could not presently consent to the seeing of him for mistrusting the ayrie leightnesse of men especially young men and most particularly of Alcidon whose unsettlednesse was yet fresh in my memory I would not at the first entreat shew my selfe so very pliable to his request but resolved to let him champ a little upon the bit purposely to sharpen his desire knowing very well that love aspires alwaies most at that which he thinks is forbidden And in this resolution I took pen
live happily and never fear it for I swear by my Crowne that no humane beauty upon Earth can make me commit such a fault Sir said I unto him I must humbly prostrate my selfe at your feet by way of gratitude for I esteeme this favour no lesse than a new life and am sure that if such a misfortune had beene I had been but a dead man Our discourse had not so soon ended unlesse the Chase coming towards us had not forced us away as for me I was the most contented man alive putting full assurance in his words and therefore ever since when he spake unto me I told him freely all passages concerning my passion Some dayes thus passed on and I heard no newes from Alvian which was no small trouble unto me But at the same time the Kings affaires invited him to receive some place which would submit into his hands and therefore he drew out part of his Army towards that quarter where Daphnide dwelt When the King told me his resolution I was ravished with joy and said unto him Now sir I hope you will grace me so farre as to see my Mistresse for we shall passe close by her house with all my heart answered he then we shall see whether she be so faire as you same her to be and if I talke with her I shall quickly know whether you will speed in your hopes The King sets forward and to omit all matters which are not pertinent to my story though in themselves worthy of Chronicle and being within a mile of Daphnides house he told me that he would see her and that in rrspect of the good service which her Father had done him he could doe no lesse being so near her and her Mother but see them I am still afraid Sir said I unto him that this honour which you intend to doe them is mixed with Love What said he and smiled you old fits of folly againe will you not believe what I have promised with an oath had I onely promised I should be onely a deceiver in so doing but having sworn I should be perfidious Come come cast away these foolish thoughts unlesse you are resolved to offend me and on the contrary be confident that I will do all the good offices I can and as you can expect from the best of your freinds Upon this I presently dispatched a messenger unto Daphnide to let her know of the Kings coming and when we were in sight of the house I would have gone before but he commanded me to stay with him because said he to me and smiled I shall be more welcome if I bring you with me than if I come by my selfe Sir said I unto him I believe that Lady has so much judgement as rightly to value the honour which you doe her but Sir take heed lest you lose the title of invincible for I assure you there are strange Captivaters in that house it is the habitation of the Graces Daphnide is accompanied with two sisters who yield not unto any but her selfe and had I not been already engaged there is one Delia who doubtlesse had absolutely captivated me Is that she said the King of whom you spoke to me before Yes sir answerd I and doubtlesse the most accomplished beauty that ever I saw if as I told you before she had not a sister To her then said the King will I addresse my selfe By this time we were come so neare the Castle that the Ladies being upon the bridge the King lighted from his horse to salute them and taking the Mother by the hand he went into the great Chamber where they talked a while and the King enquired of her and her husbands health and whether Wars were not offensive to her In the meane time I talked to the fair Daphnide who though at all times fair yet that day it might be said she surpassed her selfe having added unto her natural beauty so many Graces by her artificial dress as I never saw any so fit to conquer hearts Delia stood next to her and my eyes and heart being fixed in contemplation of their beloved object I stood gazing a long time before I spoke You went away said Delia without a heart and return without a tongue if you lose as much every voyage you will become very ill company Delia said I unto her you are very pleasant but if she who hinders you from being the fairest in the world doe use such Arts I know not what will become of me Who doe you speak of said Daphnide of you Madam answered I who adds so much art unto your Naturall beauty that no eye can look and hope to escape imprisonment I should in favour of Alcidon answered she believe that this might be if every one did look upon me with Alcidons eyes But let us leave this discourse and tell us which way do you take I am sure said I unto her that the way hither is the way of my felicity and my way from you is the way of my hell Nay nay said Daphnide I mean which way does the King go and whither does your Army intend to march I would have answered her but the King called me away Alcidon said he unto me come hither and be a witnesse is not the strong Towne of Arles reduced into our hands Yes certainly sir said I unto him and you must look for other Kingdomes and indeed other Worlds to exercise your Armes in for there is no more to Conquer which I know of They will not believe me replyed the King and therefore I pray relate unto this incredulous Lady how not onely Arles but almost all the Province which is called the Romans is in our hands Oh sir said the good old Lady not but that I did believe what you did say but it is because till now we thought the Towne of Arles impregnable Nay nay replyed the King I will have you understand the whole series of the story to the end that hereafter you may not doubt of what I say Upon this rising up he set me in his place and went to the place from whence I came and because Delia when he came would have retired he pulled her back and talked awhile unto them both I could not possibly heare what they said as well because it was but a little too far off as because I was engaged to talke unto this old Lady But presently after when the King took Daphnide by the hand and carried her the Window I must confesse then I began to doubt and my words did so die in my mouth as if I were soul-lesse I could not chuse but observe their faces and actions and whatsoever I saw made me suspect that which I feared most so as I wished withall my heart for some hot alarm to call away the King from the place where he was I cannot tell how long his Courtship lasted but I am sure it lasted so long that I thought every minute a day At the last the
obtaine that which I could not in another I meane the honour and happinesse of your favour For being alwayes unfortunate when I begged it upon the Land I will try whether the element of Water will prove more favourable unto me And because when I looked upon you my soule was so wholly in my eyes as my tongue forgot its function and I could not speake therefore I present my hearts humble desires unto you in this paper which I would but cannot speake Upon this he presented it unto her and she fearing that if she did refuse it many might take notice of it she tooke it and said thus unto him You have reason Alcidon to thinke that this element will be more favourable unto you than the other if it be true that every thing favours its like for your inconstant humour does not at all resemble the Earth but the Water very much which ebbs and flowes and is never still And to shew you that I am of the same judgement I will bestow upon it this paper in which you say you have writ your desires to the end it may grant your requests assuring my selfe that you being as inconstant as it it will favour you as much as possible it can Upon this she tore the paper all in peeces and without reading it threw it into the Water Oh Madam said Alcidon to her striving to stay her arm can you thus despise the most pure affection that ever was offered unto you Are you not contented unjust beauty that you are to burne my heart by the flames of your eyes but you must also drownd all my desires in this Water before you see them You doe me wrong replyed she in accusing me of injustice since I make my selfe appeare to be most equitable in detaining nothing of anothers and in rendring unto this element which is so inconstant the thoughts and conceptions of the most inconstant heart in the whole Universe Whilst this Cavalier and Clarinta were thus talking the King was discoursing with me yet I was not so attentive to his talke but still I had an eye upon Alcidon assuring my selfe that Clarinta by some action or other would give me some light of what he said and to the end that the King should take notice of them I fixed my eyes upon them and would not answer him And he pulling me by my arme as if he would wake me out of a sleepe I am awake Sir said I unto him pray see what I am observing then I shewed 〈◊〉 Clarinta and Alcidon and as fortune was just at the same time when the Cavalier gave her the Letter so as he saw how she tore it and threw it into the water of which I was very glad to the end he might take notice of this new Love knowing very well that in such matters as these you need onely make them see a little and let jealousie alone to make up the rest Since this day Alcidon followed his enterprise so close that the faire Clarinta thinking this would be a fit meanes to gaine Eurick and to make Amintor lament the losse he had of her she seemed to incline unto him I say seemed for indeed she was then fuller of Ambition then Love and therefore she aimed at Eurickes love and was vexed at Amintor thinking he had left her for some other against which she thought her Carrasse of Alcidon might be very profitable unto her For she knew very well that to reduce an Apostate Lover there was no better way then to make him jealous and to get the affection of a King no better artifice then first to get the favour of his favorites as she knew this Cavalier to be one to the end that they by their good words in the cure of their master might induce him unto love besides which she had as she thought an example of this in me whom she knew Alcidon favoured and she thought that I was advanced unto the Kings favour by this meanes Upon these considerations therefore she began to hearken unto this Cavalier and to conferre some kind of triviall favours upon him of which I was very glad thinking that when the King saw it he would according to his humour be extreamly offended at it and when I could talke unto Alcidon in private I still solicited him to engraciate himselfe further into her favour and to court her as much as he could in the sight of King Eurick which he did so effectually that not onely the King and Amintor but almost all the Court took notice of it though neither Clarinta nor Alcidon had at the first any aimes of making themselves loved in good earnest but onely as conducing to their severall designes which could not be accomplished had they kept their amities in secret because all the effects which they hoped for was to proceed from the knowledge which others were to have of it They continued thus a long while during which Amintor still inveighed against the affection which he bore unto Clarinta his generous soule not being able to consent that his heart should ever love one who as he thought had so basely betrayed him On the other side she who thought that she had more reason to hate him for so unworthily casting her off although she seemed not to care a rush for it yet her soule was so extreamly nettled with spite at it as though she was not able to find revenge so soon as she desired yet she could not defend her selfe from extreame sadnesse which in her face did discover that discontent which her heart would have concealed And as a snow-ball growes bigger for being rowled in the snow so this her displeasure being joyned unto other vexations whereof the life of man is very fertile together with some indisposition of her body she was brought into such a condition as she was constrained to keep her bed where all her pastime was to sigh and lament Amintor was presently advertised of it for by reason of their affinity both their domestiques had much familiarity together But this was not enough to appease the offended spirit of that Cavalier It happened that this faire one growing every day worse and worse he was told one night that she was so very ill as it was feared she would not live until the morning Thus farre he had held out but hearing talke of death he thought it time to render himselfe and therefore without more delay he dressed himselfe by force and though sick yet crawling as well as he could to the lodging of Clarinta he found her in bed yet not in such extremity as was reported She who expected any visit sooner then his and who was much offended at him could not indure his presence without paine thinking that he came to see her onely to delude her more and therefore she rowsed up her selfe with a resolution to anger him as much as she could And in order to this after some common discourse she asked him what newes at Court
victory but I was forced to take up Armes against a new enemy For Eurick being extreamly offended at Clarinta but for some great and prudent considerations durst not make shew of his resentments he resolved to make her repent it and through envy would chastife her by conferring those favours on another which might have been hers could she have been contented to be onely his And in order to this resolution whereas before time his affection was divided amongst three now his intention was to place it all at least all his favours upon one onely Mistress I told you before that when I desired Alcidon to make addresses unto Clarinta there was another Lady whose name was Adelonde unto whom the King had made some signs of goodwill And now in revenge upon Clarinta he devotes himselfe and all his favorable addresses unto her she is now become his and the Courts onely Idol so as though her extraction was much inferiour unto Clarinta's or mine yet such was his designe to preferre her before us both so as I must confesse I was two or three times in a mind to break off quite with him But Alcidon by his wise advice still disswaded me and in this made me overcome both my selfe the King and her so as I may well say that I doe owe all the contentments which I have since received unto him and his patience Adelonde being now raised above all her hopes she still raised her pretensions unto a higher pitch and though all the world did thinke the favours which this great Prince conferred upon her to be very high yet still her desires were higher These insatible desires prompted her to make use of all wayes just or unjust easie or hard to accomplish them And therefore when some of her friends advised her to use some charmes thereby to retaine the wavering minde of this Prince she hearkened unto them Whereupon she gave unto the Great Eurick a bracelet of her haire the lockets whereof were Lions set with stones These Lions had such a quality as whosoever wore them about their arms they could love none but her Perhaps it may not be strange that two such puissant passions as Love and Ambition should tempt her unto this Crime had she rested here and not addâ—d a second which indeed proceeded meerly for want of judgement But she thinking that he would preserve them as precious Gemmes and would weare them continually or at least to make him do so and not give them unto another she told him that a very learned Druid who had a very particular care of him and his Crown knowing what wicked attempts would be against his life and state had made those Lions under such Constellations and with such Art that as long as he wore them about his Arme no enterprise of his enemies should have any effect against him but as often as any enterprise was attempted to his prejudice these Lions would advertise him by scratching his Arm gently with their Clawes But see sage Father how the Heavens doe mock at those who would compasse their designes by unlawful meanes That which this Lady had taken so much paines about to augment and preserve the affection of this great Prince unto her was it which made her entirely lose it For as soon as ever he perceived that she made use of Charmes and Magick he believed that all the inclinations he had unto her proceeded from some Divels and not from her beauty or any merit in her and from that time did so extreamly abominate her as he would never come neere her and when he spake of her he called her his Medea and his Witch I have related this passage Father not as any way relating unto Alcidon or me but onely that you may better know the humour and spirit of the Great Eurick and by that to judge whether I had not great reason to preserve his good will unto me by all manner of prudent subtilty that possibly I could and whether I had not as good reason to impose this task upon Alcidor Now whatsoever I shall relate unto you more concerning this great Prince will not at all concerne the difference betwixt us for since that time we lived together as we did before The King he returned unto me with all manner of submission and sorrow for offending a person whom formerly he had loved Alcidon he â—loved and courted Clarinta before my face never rendring unto me those offices which the affection I had unto him merited and which by the law of Fidelity he was bound to pay had there beene any spark of that virtue in him As for me I bore it out as well as I could and preserved the Kings favours to me with all possible solicitations so as I could with truth say that amongst all my cares none was so great as to see this fickle Alcidon was not ashamed to serve that Lady in my very presence after so many promises of affection and fidelity to me But Father why should I talke any more upon this subject since I now must tell you of this great Princes death and tell it I must since I owe it unto the memory of the greatest and most generous Prince that ever raigned in Gaule Now therefore sage Adamas that the great Eurick finding the affection of Clarinta fickle and that of Adelonda full of foul practices he thought mine onely worthy of himselfe for he saw me keep such a retired decorum in all my wayes as he could not suspect I loved any but himselfe unlesse it was Alcidon of whom he could not entertaine the least spark of jealousie But calling all my actions into his memory and how modestly I had tolerated his various affections and departures and also how sweetly I received him at his returne he came at length to that resolution which I desired and declared that he would marry me and make me Queen as well of his Dominions as of his heart and affections Judge Reverend Father whether I and all my relations had not good reason to deem our selves fully happy But alas I find too well that the heavens are not pleased to let a high happinesse last long For when I was arrived at the very top of all my hopes happinesse and desires when I had made all preparations of joy for the marriage a cursed Assasinate being inspired with a hellish spirit did ravish him from me by a fatall blow which he trayterously gave him to the heart Oh Heavens Can you suffer such a horrid villany to passe unpunished must not such a Monster as this be made an eternall example of horrour to affright all men if there be any so unnaturally wicked from such a cursed act You may imagine in what a sad condition I was when this fatall newes was brought unto me by the outcryes of the People For my part I am not able to tell you how I tooke it for I did not onely lose the use of my reason but also of my senses for
Adamas and Eurick closed with Clarinta againe would you not then have blamed Alcidon for disobeying your Commandement I thinke I should answered she Hear then your dooms oh Daphnide and Alcidon said the Druid The great Tautates who made the whole world by Love and by Love preserves it would not onely have things insensible should be united and linked together by the bonds of Love but things also sensible and rationall From hence it is that he hath given unto the insensible Elements qualities which linke them together by sympathy Unto Animals he hath given love and desire to perpetuate their kind and unto men reason which teacheth them to love God in his Creatures and the Creatures in God Now this Reason tels us that whatsoever is amiable ought to be loved according to the degrees of its goodnesse and so whatsoever is most amiable and has most goodnesse ought to be most loved Yet in as much as we are not obliged unto this love untill this goodnesse be known unto us it followes by consequence that themore any good is known the more it ought to be loved But since God hath made every thing by love and that the end of every thing is alwayes most perfect we may easily judge that since all good things have Love for their end Love is the best of all things Now knowing this goodnesse of love we are obliged by the Lawes of Reason to esteem it above all things and the more it is known the more we ought to esteem it The Oracle which was given you for composing your difference makes good what I say For it is this Upon a day you 'l see A Fountaine in Forrest Called Loves Veritie Will set your hearts at rest That is In Forrest you shall come to know that you doe really love each other and then your hearts will be set at rest for the Great Tautates who gave this Oracle unto you knowing how religiously you payed what was due both unto Him and Reason did also know that as soon as you were assured of each others affection you would presently thinke it most reasonable to love according to your merits And therefore Daphnide since you see that Alcidon does love you for why should he so passionately desire your love if he did not truly love you And you Alcidon since you see the love of Daphnide towards you for why should she be jeâ—lous of you and Clarinta unlesse her love were the Mother of her jealousie I doe Ordaine or rather the Great Tautates commands you that forgetting all past passages and without any stay to see any other Fountaine of Loves Verity you doe presently unite your affections and revive your ancient loves of each other make it appeare that none loves better then you two for none have more cause since heaven hath infused it into both Upon this Adamas took both their hands and joyning them together said May this union be happy and eternall It is a thing impossible to expresse the joyes of Alcidon or the thanks he gave unto the great Druid but especially unto Daphnide Stiliana and Carlis and Hermantes rejoyed for Alcidons sake for where ever he came he had the happinesse to get all mens love Thus was the dispute betwixt Daphnide and Alcidon composed by the prudence of the sage Adamas Although he conceived the meaning of the Oracle to be That their jealousies of each other should vanish by a sight of this Fountaine yet like a person of deep apprehension judging by their discourse that he should doe them a better office and more sutable to their will in reconciling them he thought it fit to expound the Oracle in this manner and also to advise them to stay in this Country a while to the end that if any suspitions yet remained in them and that if it pleased the Heavens to uncharme the Fountaine they might there be perfectly cured of their malady Whilst these things passed thus in the presence of Adamas the shepheards and shepheardesses who were in the Great Chamber with Leonide and Alexis as soone as the Collation was ended did fall into their severall discourses where they left But Alexis and Astrea for feare of being interrupted did take each other by the arm and walked to the other end of the Chamber which made well for Alexis for by moving she might the better hide the alterations in her face and better excuse her disorderd language Astrea who was no lesse transported to see such a lively resemblance of Celadon and not able to hide her contentment was very glad of this convenience to talke with Alexis walking as well because none could heare them as because she might with more freedom expresse the affection which she bore unto her After therefore they had walked two or three turns neither of them knowing well how to begin discourse Astrea broke silence thus I shall as long as I live Madam observe this day as a Holiday in memory of the high favour which I have received on it in making me so happy as to know you and to expresse my most zealous desires of doing you service The sacred Missletoe which it hath pleased the Great Tautates to make grow in our Hamlet this yeare was an Omen of the happinesse which we were to receive by your coming into this place shewing thereby that the liberall hand of the great God where it bestowes one favour does accompany it with many others The happinesse and good fortune of it said Alexis is all on my side in coming hither at such a season when this sacred Missletoe is to be gathered for that is the cause of my happinesse in seeing you it being one of my greatest desires How Madam said Astrea doe you thinke it your happinesse in wronging us all and me in particular by thinking we came hither onely because of this sacred Missletoe I will thinke said Alexis as you please but give me leave to say that it is at this time the cause of my happinesse in seeing you and though I had not been here yet you would have come to invite Adamas unto the sacrifice of Thanks I doe most seriously protest Madam said Astrea that it is your selfe onely which invited me to come hither for I never in my life had a more earnest desire of any thing than of seeing of you beseeching you to believe that it is not my humour to meddle with any publique matters but I leave them unto our wiser Pastors who takes the cure of them according to their custome and according as they thinke most advantagious for this Country I should be very proud of my selfe said Alexis if I could be perswaded of it for it is a thing which I most wish and prise above any happinesse that ever happened unto me But pray tell me fair shepheardesse in what place is this Missletoe found If the Sun would permit you to looke out of the window answered Astrea I should let you see it from hence I believe said
the wounds were newly given When he was come up unto them and saw these wounds thus fresh and them bloody he began to reprehend them very severely and menace them with the punishments of God and men Doe you think wicked wretches as you are said he unto them that though you should hide this body in the very center of the earth Tautates would not discover it to the sight of all Can you think this blood does not cry to heaven for vengeance and that you can fly into any any part of the earth where justice will not find you How durst you for a little miserable gaine which will deceive you commit such an execrable wickednesse These Fishermen who were not of any wicked temper as afterwards they shewed did bear a very great respect unto this Druid fell down upon their knees before him protested themselves innocent of the blood told him how they drew the body out of the water what their design was that they had no arms to make these wounds and that if they had been guilty they could easily have fled when they saw him coming and passed unto the other side of the River but they stayed still and would stand upon their justification The Good man considering all these circumstances he began to think they spoke truth but the better to know it he came unto my Corps and seeing the wounds so fresh Doe you tell me said he that you are innocent of his death We do sweare it said they by the sacred Missleto Then said the Druid you may doe well to looke out for the Murtherer for doubtlesse he cannot be far from hence and beleeve it if you do not find him out you your selves will be accused for it And because I would not have the innocent punished and the guilty go free where are his clothes which he had when you first found him The Fishermen as if they had been already in the hand of the Judge and never thinking upon their resolution they did not onely produce what the Druid demanded of them but also the money and Rings and all that they found Then the good Druid said unto them Now friends I doe thinke you really innocent since you doe so freely produce these pretious things be certain that God will assist you both in this occasion and all others Then presently falling downe upon his knees and making a signe unto them to doe the like Oh great Tautates cryed he out and lifting up his hands and eyes to Heaven Thou who hast a particular care of men we beseech thee to turne thy vengeance from us for the death of this Man and let thy infinite goodnesse forgive and amend them that did commit this sinne And because my wounds still bled he commanded them to wash me and then do that charitable office which they had begun in burying me According to his command they did wash me then he asked of them a peece of money which he intended according to the Custome when any was buryed to put into my mouth The poore Fishermen did all as he commanded them and the good old Druid weak though he was did take me in his arms and thought that he found some heat in me which made him lay his hand presently upon my heart which he perceived to move and tremble Courage my Children said he I hope this man has life enough to cleere you from the Calumny which may be laid upon you and to lay the fault where it rightly deserves for he is yet warm and I perceive his heart to beat Then letting my head hang a little downe the water came out in great abundance and the good Druid bound up my wounds with Hankerchers as well as he could then he commanded them to make a devise with their Oares whereon they might carry me with more ease and whilst they were working about it the good Druid went to seeke out some hearbs by the bank sides which he knew were good to be applyed unto my wounds and which would a little freshen and invigorate my spirits he was not long about them but bruising those Simples betwixt two stones he put some of them into my wounds and applyed some to my heart and presently the blood stayed Presently after I began to breathe and my pulse came unto me whereof they were all so glad that after thanks unto the great Tautates they carried me upon their Oars into the Cell of this good Druid and laid me upon a good bed where one of his Nephews used sometimes to lye when he came to visit him for as for himselfe his bed was onely a few dry leaves without any order or delicacy I was all the rest of the day and never opened an eye or gave any signe of life but onely my breath and my pulse The next morning about breake of day my eyes opened and I was never in my life more astonished than to see my selfe in that place for I remembred the Combate which I had and my resolution of throwing my selfe into the River but I could not possibly imagine how I should come there I continued long in this thought at last the room growing lighter and the little loophole which was in lieu of a Window being towards the sun rising I looked about and the sight made me wonder more for my Chamber was onely a Cave the roof Rock and Ivie my hangings Seeing all these things as I lay on my bed I endeavoured to raise my self a little the better to consider them but I was not able both in respect of my weaknesse and also by reason of my wounds Bening then forced to lie still as I was and as they had laid me I began to put my hand to the places where I found my paine and finding the Napkins and such other things as they had applyed unto me I was still more amazed Then not being able to imagine how all these things should come to passe I began to think upon such stories as I had heard of concerning Water-Nymphs and Goddesses who dwelt in Rivers almost condemning my selfe of incredulity that I had not believed them and now thought that this place could not possibly be any other then one of their habitations But as a wandring mind does usually rove immediately from one thing to another I presently began to think upon the injuries and ingratitude of Madonthe The memory of which went so near my heart as it forced from me so deep a sigh as the good man of God heard me for he was set at the door attending till it was time to come and see me As soon as ever he heard me he came into the Chamber and without saying any thing after he had a little looked upon me he went and opened the window wider that he might the better see in what condition I was Afterwards coming to me feeling my pulse and my heart and finding me much amended did seem to be very glad of it Then sitting down in a Chaire which stood
time to go unto the Sacrifice he prepared for her a most glorious Chariot and constrained her to weare the Royall Crown causing all the rest of her Companions to wait upon her in great state as if she were already the Burgundian Queen thinking to shake her constancy with such Grandures and Pomp she appeared indeed very faire and lovely and this dresse was not a little addition unto her beauty but for all that the inward disgust of her soule appeared in her face and all her actions The King was so much pleased to see her in this deck as he did imagine her already his wife Thus they passed through the Town and came to the Monument of the two Lovers where the sacrifice was to be offered When they were there and the King Cryseide and all the rest of the Ladies had taken their places the Sacrifices came and the Victimaries brought the white Bulls and the Priests approaching as neare as they could to the Tomb they commanded the Victims to be killed when they were opened and their intralls searched they were found to be â—ound and perfect such as presaged happinesse of which the King was was very glad and told Cryseide that it was an evidence the Gods were well pleased with their alliance She who till then had some hopes in the justice of this unknown God and now seeing her intent frustrated she knew not what to have recourse unto you but despair In that resolution she seemed desirous to see the intralls of the Victim her selfe and asked permittance to go unto them The King who was confident in the Reports of the Priests she was very glad she had such a desire thinking that the sight would make her more inclinable unto him when she saw the will of the Goddesse So being helped down she went unto the place of the Sacrifice seemed very busie in looking upon the Liver upon the Heart and the rest of the Noble parts And whilst the Sacrificers were all very busie in shewing these things unto her she seized upon a Knife yet all bloody wherewith they killed the Victims Afterwards running as fast as she could unto the Tomb of the two Lovers she laid hold upon one of the corners and then lifting up the Knife with a most resolute countenance she said aloud Dost thou see this Knife which I have in my hand magnanimous Prince I will presently run it into my heart if any one offer any force unto me and thâ—n setting the point of it against her breast she continued thus The great God of Heaven and Earth be my witnesse Oh great and invincible King that I do esteem and admire thy person and all that proceeds from thee I see thou art favoured by the Gods loved by thy Subjects honoured by thy Neighbours and feared by the enemies I acknowledge Prudence in all thy actions Generosity in all thy enterprises Justice towards all in generall and a particular love towards me which does not onely oblige me to admire thee and serve thee as all the rest of the world doe but also to esteeme thee and love thee as much as possibly I can Knowing therefore all these things and being sensible of the honour you are pleased to do unto me in such an advantageous marriage It must needs be something that has a great power over my affection and over my duty that can divert my will from accepting of it Would you be pleased Sir to consider this I should hope for a pardon if I doe any thing that displeaseth youâ— for believe it Sir could I dispose of my selfe I should be more willing to content you then you can be to command me But be pleased to know Oh great King that as soon as ever I came out of my infancy the Gods would have me love a Cavalier I say the Gods would have me for had it not been the will of the Gods and had not they written it in the unalterable Role of Destiny doubtlesse this affection would have long since withered away with so many bitter blasts and tormenting stormes of fortune First my Parents who had power over me Next Rithimer whom you know is puissant and now you oh great King would pull me out of the arms of my Husband for so may I call him unto whom I have promised marriage calling both Juno and Hymen for witnesses of our reciprocal oaths and to send just curses upon such as break them If all this be not true may these two faithful Loveâ—s who rest in this Tombe and whose soules are with God and enjoy the reward of their fidelitity may they I say punish me with all the rigour of divine justice But if all I say be true then I dâ—e conjure them by that inviolable love they bore unto each other to shew their power in thee oh Great King by obtaining of the Gods to change and divert thy mind another way Be assured oh Great and generous Prince that this is all thou canst obtaine of me unlesse by force which if thou wilt use then this knife shall send my soule out of my body and leave nothing in thy power but a cold carcasse without either life or love But if thou dost indeed love me and art that Great King who has made all Italy to tremble at the very noise of thy Arms make it now appeare not onely in setting me at liberty but also restoring him unto me whose I am and from whom nothing but death can divorce me If thou wilt get the name of just thou must render unto every one that which is unjustly taken from them And if thou wilt shew thy self magnanimous doe it in surmounting thy selfe thy selfe I say who hitherto has been invincible If all this thou dost not doe then O King expect the vengeance of the Gods who at this very hour doe sit in Heaven and see how thou wilt carry thy selfe in this action and will most certainly either punish or reward thee for it And you oh perfect and blessed soules said she and turned towards the Tombe who perhaps whilst you lived here resented the same miseries that I do have compassion upon me and let mâ— not this day before so great an assembly embrace your Tombe in vain or call upon you without reliefe Thus Cryseide ended and embracing the corner of the Sepulchre she held the knife against her breast ready to strike it to her heart if she saw any offer to pull her from thence All the assembly were infinitely astonished when they heard and saw the resolution of this Lady But the King above all the rest was confounded at the Accident For the Sepulchre of these two Lovers was a sanctuary unto all those who laid hold upon it and received any wrong in matters of Love and was so religiously observed that neither Father nor Mother themselves could recal their own Children when they held by one of the corners The King could not imagine that Cryseidâ— should make this use of it or that
Mistress see what a fine peece of sophistry my enemy uses to prove that I doe not love you and to make you despise my affection and judge whether she ever so much as heard of such a thing as love Is she not very subtile in accusing me for never loving any but you and that you were the first that ever fettered me If this be a crime I must confesse I never heard of it before and must needs acknowledge my selfe culpable for Mistress you are not onely the first and onely one that ever I loved but more you must also be the last and onely one that ever I will love And if ever it be otherwise let the Sun cover me with eternal darknesse let the Earth which nourisheth me swallow me alive as not worthy to live in it Let the Air become my poyson and may all the elements become my enemies and wise men are all mistaken in their Tenet that whatsoever has a beginning must have an end For Phillis this affection which you have seene begin shall last to all eternity But Phillis I admire you should say that if my affection deserve any reward it is all due unto you You tell me that you were the cause of it and that all which does proceed from it ought to be attributed unto you as the originall cause But shepherdesse take heed lest this being granted it doe not turn to your disadvantage for those who are the cause of any evil deserve punishment And as you say that my Mistress ought rather to laugh then love me so it must consequently follow that she ought to laugh at you and not at Silvander because you attribute all unto your selfe But Philâ—is let that be the left of your feares I doe not meane to quit my just pretensions upon any such tâ—rmes when any one does any thing for another the intention of the doer is to be considered if the intention was good the evill which insues ought not to be laid unto his charge if he be no other way culpable but if the intention was evill he ought not to have any share in the benefit or glory which shall ensue by it this being granted as needs it must let us consider before we either commend or condemne you what your intention was when you propounded this wager We shall not be put unto much pain Mistress before we discover it for she her selfe has told us The fictions said she and the dissimulations once knowne will procure him hatred But Diana knowes that all my Courtships and amorous addresses unto her doe proceed onely from the wager which you made and if all the consequents of it be fictions and dissimulations then you are the cause of them You may observe Mistresse how she thought that I would use onely fictions and dissimulations in this wager Now since it is the Intention which makes the Action either good or bad have I not just cause to say It was you Oh Phillis who by your dissembling wager gave your selfe unto faire Diana but it was my heart which did really give me unto her by the knowledge which it had of her perfections and so by consequence all the punishment which such dissimulations deserve are due unto you and all the favours which a reall and unfained affection deserves are due unto my heart Wish me no more to quit the pretended victory unto you to shew my wit and my judgement my Wit in so hansomly disguising a false affection under the umbrage of a reall love and my Judgement in acknowledging the advantage which you have over me For on the contrary I should shew my self the veriest fool alive if I did counterfeit a love unto her who deserves to be perfectly loved above all the world And I should shew but little judgement if I did not see the advantage which my true and perfect affection does give me over your faigned follies I would have you shepherdesse recant all your reproaches and be the first who shall say That there is no affection be it never so ill begun either by a wager or pastime but may prove in earnest and become reall as mine for an example But oh my enemy all this discourse is but aire and I believe in vain for we are contending with one another for the victory whilst whosoever conquers perhaps may not be the couquerer I make no question but if either of us doe obtaine the victory which we pretend unto that this Chaplet of Flowers at the feet of the faire Diana will be mine But alas Phillis my great feare is and with abundance of reason that it will prove to be neither yours nor mine for all our arguments which we have alleaged to merit her favour may be valid as against one another but not at all in relation to Diana Diana whose transcendent perfections and merits is above all the power of Nature and therefore will not be subservient unto the lawes of Mortalls And then when we say That love ought to be paid with love and that long and faithfull lovers are worthy of reward and acknowledgement This is right and good reason as to men and does oblige them to follow those precepts but not at all Diana For she is one whom heaven has elevated above the degree of mortals and is equall unto Angels To whom then should I addresse my selfe unto what should I have recourse Shall I address my selfe unto Love and have recourse unto Justice by whom all things are equally ballanced and recompenced But alas Love and Justice has nothing to doe with Diana she is above them all Address then thy selfe Silvander and have recourse unto her selfe and waving all other powers and reasons say thus unto her Then he kneeled down before Diana and holding up his hands continued Oh Diana the onely honour of her Country the glory of Men and the Ornament of the whole world Be pleased to look upon a shepherd here before you who does not onely love you and offer at your feet his service and his life but does even adore you and does sacrifice his heart and his soul unto you in a most zealous and devout manner As Nature cannot make any thing which can equal you so Love cannot kindle so great a flame and perfect affection as can equall your merit It hath pleased the great Tautates to advance you so high above all the rest of his works as no extremity of love no sincerity of devotion can in any reason hope for any grace or favour from you or that you condescend so low as to look at my complaints and grievances I doe humbly acknowledge that all human hearts and all mortall services are most due unto you and cannot be denyed you without a sinne But alas we can merit nothing all we can do is to love serve and adore you and when all is done we cannot claim any reward because all is but a just duty Under these Notions and Qualifications I now present my selfe before you
any thing that could offend you As thou sayest thus unto her fall down upon thy knees and present thy naked Breast unto her that if she please she may take that heart which loves and adores her and which cannot rest until it be in her fair hands Upon this Alexis all in a rapture stepped forward as if he did intend to effect his thoughts and perhaps had now discovered himself had he not upon a sudden reprehended himself thus Oh Celadon said he canst thou be thus disobedient unto the command of this Shepherdess Must thou be upbraided with failing in the Laws of perfect Love Hast thou thus long served this Fair one with unstained affection and now by an imprudent and rash Act which will bring thee too late repentance spoil all O Celadon Dost thou not remember these words Go disloyal Lover and never see me again till I command thee Canst thou I say remember this and have so little affection as to dare to disobey No no saâ—d he Die die first and carry to the grave a pure and innocent love without any stain or reproach Upon this with teares in her eyes she went out of the chamber to view those places where formerly she had received so much contentment and to ask an account of all those sighes and desires which she had so often committed to their custody At first she went into the garden through which an arm of the River Lignon runs Then looked upon the Fountain which is in the midst of it over which stands the Goddesse Ceres upon an Arch supported by great Columns and under which is a great Basin resembling a Crown that receives this pleasant source Approching unto this Fountain she there washed her hands and her face as formerly she was wont and looking upon it here is the very place said she where Astrea has so often vowed eternal affection unto me This is the Fountain where taking my hand in hers she swore that she would sooner cease to live then cease to love Celadon Then stepping forward with a trembling pace to the basin which held the water here are the Letters of our Names said he engraved by her own hand Oh ye witnesses of my extream affection and now ye just accusers of the fairest Shepherds in the world why are you not defaced out of this Marble as well as out of her heart Or do you remain here still to upbraid her with her change Then going from this Fountain she went into a little wood of Hasels where the walks are contrived with so many turnings and windings that they will deceive those that walk in them and make them lose their way in going out again This was the place which brought into his memory his past happiness which he now resented so bitterly that his teares did testifie his grief For it was in this little wood where he was wont to talk often with his Fair Shepherdesse when their Parents even weary with crossing their loves did permit them more liberty of seeing each other and talking together then before they used Calling into memory therefore all the passions which she resented in that place and all the vowes of fidelity which she received from her Shepherdesse she could not chuse but wonder that she could forget all the vowes and oathes which she had sworn in that place This thought entertained her a long while not without the company of many a sigh and many a tear and had not her walk conducted her before she was aware unto the side of that arm of the River Lignon which ran about all the Garden she had not so soon got out but the sight of this River did so freshly revive the memory of her former happinesse as she could not chuse but sit down upon the bank and was so much transported out of her self as it was a long time before she knew where she was All this while she did not remember that perhaps Astrea would wake and that Leonide and she not finding her in the chamber would wonder extreamly what was become of her And so it hapned for it being already late enough Astrea wakned and the Sun shining very gloriously into the room she looked towards the bed of Alexis but seeing all the Curtaines open and none in bed she raised her self a little higher in the bed to look a little better and seeing she was not there she could not chuse but sigh so loud that Leonide heard her and asked her whether she was sick No answered Astrea but I am troubled that I cannot see Alexis in the bed where she lay the last night How said Leonide and started up is shee not there Then raising her self a little and finding it true and that the door was open what in the name of Heaven is become of her said she I beleeve said Diana that she is gone to walk before the heat of the day begin Leonide was afraid that the melancholy humour of Celadon might make Alexis take up some new resolution yet least she should discover too much of her thoughts unto these Shepherdesses I beseech you said she unto them let me dresse my self as soon as I can and see if I can find her for if Adamas should know that I let her go alone he would be very angry with me The Shepherdesses rose all out of bed and made such hast that they were ready before the Nimph although she made all the hast that possibly she could And going by Fortune out of the same door which opened into the Garden they went unto the Fountain of Ceres which Leonide found to be a very fine piece and exquisitly wrought From thence they went forward into the grove of Hazels and as if they were guided through that Labyrinth by the thred of Ariadne they came directly to the River side where Alexis was lying upon the ground and as fortune would have it was rising up to view the rest of those places where she had left so many marks of her former contentments and extream affection Astrea spied her first and shewing her unto the Nimph said unto her I think Madam that Diana can divine for see where the Druide is walking all alone upon the banks of the water which runs into that fatal River of Lignon Leonide then seeing that Alexis had no such intention as she feared she was very joyfull but as she was advancing towards her she heard one call upon her and turning her self about she saw it was Paris who seemed a far off very desirous to speak with her and because she knew not what his businesse might be and perhaps it might be such as was not for Diana to hear Fair ones said she I beseech you go you unto Alexis and stay with her whilest I go and see what businesse Paris hath with me The Shepherdesses were very glad of this commission for Astrea longed to see the face of Celadon in that Druide whose voice words and gestures were so resemblant unto that Shepherd
who is to govern a people ought to render himself more wise and more virtuous then the people which are to obey him for otherwise his government will be only by Tyranny which is less safe unto him and more displeasing unto them Upon this Merovius would hearken unto no reply but leaving him he dispatched a messenger presently unto the Queen Methina which let her understand that without more delay she should propound this marriage unto Semnon Duke of Gaul Armorique and to assure him that he would raise Andrimartes unto such a degree as he should have no cause to repent the bestowing his Grand-child upon such a brave Cavalier The Queen who was as desirous to give Andrimartes contentment as the King she dispatched an Ambassador immediately unto Semnon whose consent was easily obtained and who having heard so great a Fame upon the Name of Andrimartes did embrace the motion with many thanks unto the Queen for her desires of such a Match for Silviana thinking himself so obliged both unto her and Merovius for it as he thought himself sufficiently recompensed for all the services he had ever done them and beseeched them to dispose of him and his Grand-child as they pleased Only this he desired that he might see Andrimartes to the end he might be better acquainted with him who was to enjoy Silviana and his estate This answer being received the Queen did presently acquaint her Husband with it who thought it expedient for Andrimartes to make this journey unto the good Duke and the rather because at that time he had either Peace or Truce with all his Neighbours and could best spare him Andrimartes and Silviana hearing of this intended separation though they knew it conduced much unto their future contentments yet their extream affections unto each other could not consent unto it without abundance of grief for whilst he was in the Army she heard from him every day but now the journey was long and they foresaw that the good Duke Semnon would not suffer him to return so soon as they desired yet necessity constraining them Andrimartes departed more desirous to return then to be the possessor of Gaul Armorique I shall not Madam here relate the passages of his reception both by Semnon and his people who understanding the intentions of their Lord did make preparations to receive him with all manner of honour and joy infinitely applauding the election of their good Duke Let it suffice to tell you that after Semnon had welcomed Andrimartes with all manner of magnificence and kept him a while in his Court he did not only grant Silviana unto him as he desired but also proclaimed him his Successor in Gaul Armorique and caused all his vassals and subjects to acknowledg him so so as all the Grandees all the Souldiers and all the Knights received him as their succeeding Lord with great applause Presently after this or a little before Clidemant was come into the Army of Merovius and saw Andrimartes being a witness of his brave exploits So as when this news was divulged in the Court of Merovius it was very welcom unto all the brave Cavaliers Childerick only excepted who was much displeased at it for though he made a shew of the contrary and since his Father had chid him was not so bold as to let his love unto Silviana appear yet in lieu of diminishing it encreased every day not that he had any intention to marry her for he aymed at something higher but his design was to enjoy her in another quality When he heard any commend the choise which Semnon had made for his Grand-child he could not forbear speaking very dis-advantageously of it and charge him sometimes with injustice and sometimes with indiscretion of injustice in depriving his right Successors from his Estate and of indiscretion in submitting Gaul Armorique unto a Frank who was a stranger So as not being able to quench his flaming passion and finding an opportunity of discourse with Silviana he said thus unto her Is it possible Fair Lady you should ever think of marrying Andrimartes Sir answered she is he not a Cavalier of greater merit then I can deserve It seems replied he that you are ignorant in matter of merit since you do not see that the least of your perfections does infinitely transcend all that is in Andrimartes Sir answered she and smiled If I be of such worth as you seem to make me I shall quickly make him rich for I will wholly bestow myself upon him and for my part I shall think my self sufficiently payed if he do but love me and unto that I shall hope to oblige him by the extream affection which I do bear unto him This speaks your judgment to be wonderous weak said Childerick and that your will transports you beyond reason Sir answered she if you think to vex me by such discourse as this you are to blame since my will was alwayes to honour you And if it be to cross Andrimartes I shall wonder since the only ambition of that poor Cavalier is to imploy his life for the propagation of your Crown Fair one answered the young Prince my design is neither to vexe you nor cross him but only to prevent your ruine which I foresee will be if you do not retire your self from this young and indiscreet affection believe it I do not speak without reason and did you consider what good fortune is offered you perhaps you would not thus precipitate your self Sir replied Silviana set your heart at rest and believe this for a most certain truth that all the great advantages in the world shall never divert my affection unto Andrimartes The Queen and the King allow of it Semnon approves of it also and what then can make me backward Why good Silviana replied Childerick do you make no reckoning of my will And do you not think that my consent is also necessary Certainly I do Sir answered she but I cannot think you will ever cross the will of Merovius The Love which I do bear unto you is such said he that if I saw it would be necessary for your good I would cross even Tautates himself But since you care so little for your own good adieu and remember that I am Childerick a Kings Son and one who hereafter will let you see what a fool you are to despise that good will which he offers unto you Upon this not staying for her answer he went away in an angry mood At which she was very sorry not in any consideration of her self but out of fear lest his anger should reflect upon her dear Andrimartes In the mean time Semnon having kept Andrimartes a long while with him and thinking it now time for him to return unto Merovius he dismissed him upon condition that as soon as he was married he should return and bring Silviana with him with a resolution of staying alwayes and taking upon him the care of his Estate and spending the rest of his
not chuse but hate him It seems said Florice that you have a very bad opinion of men Yes replied Dorinde and worse then my words can express for I do believe that there is none no not one single one that can love You will alter your opinion said Palinice when you see Sylvander with Diana I cannot tell what I may do answered Dorinde but I never yet met with any woman who trusted in them that was not deceived When you understand replied Florice how some do drown themselves some banish themselves and others kill themselves by reason of too much passion you will be very hard of Belief if you do not confess that there are men in this Country that can and do love Those resolutions of which you speak said Dorinde are indeed very high but anger may produce them as well as love and who knows but that they were transported with that Passion for believe it Ladies Men are of a very bad Nature they do all by contraries they are a kind of Beasts which never do any good but when they think to do ill Thus as these Shepherdesses disputed they came to the place where Sylvander was whom they found so plunged in his own sad thoughts that for all the noise which they made he never heard them he lay all along his head leaning upon his hand his eyes up to Heaven and upon either cheek a river of tears Dorinde after she had looked upon him in this condition Is this the Shepherd said she in a low voice that never deceived any who trusted in him Why do you ask this question answered Palinice because replied Dorinde if he never did deceive any he weeps because he never did and if he has deceived any he weeps because he has deceived no more This Shepherd said Cercinea has a better reputation then so and is held for a very good man This reputation answered Dorinde is the stalking horse by which men come to deceive us But dear friends observe how a glass shews those things which are on the right side to be of the glass in its left side the best remedy is to do so with them take all that they do or say by contraries and as for the tears of this Shepherd assure your selves my Companions they are but the tears of a Crocadile he can cry and feign till he has gotten one into a belief of him and then he will deceive Nature to our misery has given them power to cry or laugh when they please so it be but to deceive a poor woman that puts her trust in them they are of a most depraved nature and are like unto hunters who make it their delight in taking abundance of paines to catch a poor silly harmlesse Woman that flyes before them The earnestness wherewith Dorinde spoke made her raise her voice so high before she was aware that Sylvander heard her and turning her face towards them he was ashamed they should so surprise him in that condition for such was his warie discretion that he had rather have dyed then give them any knowledg of that real affection which he bare unto Diana therefore to remove all such suspitions he enforced himself to shew them a more contented face then his heart was so as drying his eyes as well as he could and seeming to be doing something else Oh Fair Shepherdesses said he unto them how much am I obliged unto you for diverting me From a melancholy mood There is none of us answered Florice who are not very glad to pleasure Sylvander in any thing and thinks not our walk well imployed since we have met which such a courteous Shepherd and the rather added Cercinea because at the first we were afraid lest we should be a disturbance unto you Oh never answered Sylvander it is impossible but the presence of such Fair and Lovely Shepherdesses should bring me all manner of happiness and contentment The posture in which we found you replied Palinice made us doubt it for every thing will trouble us when we are troubled our self Sylvander now conceived that they saw those tears which he would have concealed and to drive them from any opinion that they proceeded from any Love It is very hard Wise Shepherdesses said he unto them to keep dry eyes when the soul is pressed with any tormenting thoughts for to consider that I know neither who was my Father nor Mother no nor the ground upon which I first breathed nor to have any estate or fortune or any hopes but in my own industry are not these thoughts enough to draw tears from the heart of him who is in that miserable condition Did I not say replied Dorinde that they were not tears of Love Though all my Companions would needs perswade me to the contrary Sylvander then looking upon her and not knowing her but seeing her to be very Fair and Lovely Why Fair stranger said he unto her can you discern tears of Love from others Before you ask that question answered Dorinde you should tell me whether there be any such things as tears of Love Nay rather replied the Shepherd whether there be any else but tears of Love Why said Dorinde do you think one never cryes but for Love I do not only think it said Sylvander but I am sure you will confess it when I have made you understand it That said she can never be at the least I am sure that if one never cry but for Love Dorinde never cryed your beauty and your age answered the Shepherd will hardly excuse you from paying that tribute unless Love be contented which make those only cry who do Love you If some must cry replied she I had rather the lot should fall upon any other then my self yet to return unto what we spoke of before be assured Sylvander that if none ever cryed but for Love then never any man cryed for never any man neither did nor will or can Love This opinion replied Sylvander is much worse then the first and if you please to give me leave it shall be the first that I will make cleer unto you I am afraid answered Dorinde you will but lose your labour because I have had most certain experience of what I say against which no reasons nor arguments be they never so well framed can prevail or work any effect upon me But perhaps answered Sylvander when we haâ—â— examined your reasons and experiences by a true touch-stone you may be convinced of your errour Upon which she was so prepossessed with this opinion that she would needs turn the discourse upon some other subject but her Companions did almost force her to hear what Sylvander would say and then the Shepherd began thus Amongst all the Doctors in the Massilian Schools I learned this lesson never to dispute with those that will deny Principles Tell me therefore Fair Shepherdess whither you do believe that there is any such thing in the world as is called Love I do believe
Alciron who could not endure to see his friend in such torment had not interrupted him with intentions to give some comfort The Gods Tirintes said he unto him do know our weakness and imperfections and out of their infinite goodness will excuse and pardon them But they will not endure the crime of those who will make them guilty of their own errors Therefore dear friend Do not by any such blasphemies provoke their just anger against thee Oh my dear friend replied Tirintes with a deep sigh since they do know our imbecilities and imperfections and will pardon them doubtless they will not impute that crime for which you reprehend me for it is weakness only which makes me commit it protesting that my intention was not to transgress their commandment but when I could not obey them And to make it appear that it is so good Alciron tell me who is he that can love such a most amiable piece less then I do And in loving her so passionately who can blaspheme less then I if it be blasphemy to say that I cannot chuse but love her Oh Tirintes replied Alciron Do not flatter thy self in thine own fault for this passion which you say is so potent in thee is indeed only thy own Will which if thou wouldest surmount thou hast power enough to do it I do confess said Tirintes coldly that it does depend upon my own will But do you not see that I cannot will any thing but what she please So then it seems said Alciron you will cease to be a man that you may become a Lover If being a man said Tirintes be not to love Silvanire I neither am nor will be a man Not to make use of Reason replied Alciron is not to be a man and can there be any thing more unreasonable then to cease loving ones self to love another Is not self preservation the great and principal law of Nature Oh dear friend said Tirintes let me not see the greatness of my wound I hope it is not incurable but you take the course to make it more desperate But the stone is thrown it is resolved upon that I will die in loving Silvanire and be assured that I wish for nothing now but to end this life quickly for here I hope for no mitigation of my pain And I conjure you Alciron to promise that when I am dead you write this Epitaph upon my Tomb Here lies he that was murdred by the Fairest Eyes under Heaven I hope that one day this cruel Fair One will in these few words read my affection and her own cruelty and the Gods to my satisfaction move her unto some repentance Oh how happy should I be if in the other life I hear one say that her Fair Eyes was once wet or that one single tear did trickle down her Fair Cheek Fie fie Tirintes said Alciron why this talk of death and Tombs Love is the God of life and nothing can ruine his empire but death Live live man though it were for nothing but to preserve a faithful Lover for this Silvanire whom you Love so well and for my part I will promise you that if you will follow my directions and do as I bid you I will quickly give this Fair One unto you Oh Alciron said Tirintes impossible promises never oblige those unto whom they are made this which I do promise replied Alciron is no impossibility provided you will but do as I say then he continued thus Tirintes said he I desire as much as I do my own life to see you rid of this tormenting passion but since I see all perswasions are in vain I promise to give you this woman in a very short time she shall be so much your own that it shall be long only of your self it you do not dispose of her according to your own will do not think it a thing impossible for you shall presently find it effected and confess that I never promised but I performed In order to this within a few days after he came unto him again and brought him a Mirrour in which he forbad him to look and assured him that if by any artifice he could so contrive it as Silvanire might cast her eye upon it certainly she were his own How said Tirintes is it an enchantment No answered Alciron but it is a natural power which is in this glass and what effects will it cause asked Tirintes Nay nay said Alciron be not too inquisitive be contented she shall be yours And what said Tirintes will she Love me Still too much curiosity answered Alciron can you not be contented that she shall be yours But Tirintes take special heed that neither you nor any other whomsoever look into it for the consequence will be very bad and if you should before you are aware cast your eye upon it come presently unto me that I may remedy the fault which you shall commit Tirintes took this Mirrour with much contentment and thanks and to lose no time went presently unto Silvanire unto whom he presented the glass with many supplications she would be pleased to take it And because she made some question whether she should receive it from him as thinking it not handsome for any maid to take any thing from a young Shepherd without the knowledg of her Parents he pressed her with so many humble entreaties and arguments of perswasion that at last she would give him that satisfaction but upon condition that she would keep it no longer then she pleased So after she had looked in it and much commended it she gave it him presently back he who saw his design was attained he pressed her no farther but was well satisfied that he had done as Alciron appointed him but his contentment lasted but a while for presently after Silvanire was taken with such a giddiness in her head and such a drowsiness that she fell a sleep and they could not awake her she was troubled above three hours in this manner and none knew her disease The noise presently ran about the Town that this Fair One was poisoned and no hopes of life left in her you may imagine that Aglantes and Tirintes did run with sad hearts to see what the matter was but as soon as Tirintes saw her in that condition he knew it to be an effect of the Mirrour which made him so extreamly angry against Alciron that had he met him doubtless he had dyed for it This villain said he to himself designed her death to deliver me from the affection which I bare unto her but cruel wretch that he is he never considered that my life depended upon hers and that when she dies it is impossible for me to live O thou most inhumane Tiger Couldst thou find a heart to hurt this Fair One Who never thought thee the least hurt Certainly the blackest fiend in Hell was thy Nurse and gave thee suck but Barbarian thou shalt receive a death by no other hand but my own
will which I wished unto you and from hence proceeds all those incivilities and discourtesies which you have erceived from me But now since the Gods who are all goodness and wisdom have by my death untied those knots which tyed my tongue as since those who have the power over me do give me leave Know friend that never was any greater affection conceived in the heart of any human then the affection which Silvanire does bear unto you And that I may be cleerly purged from that ingratitude wherewith I might be charged give me a little farther leave Oh my most dear Parents which they permitting and she thanking them she hasted to utter these words Alas said she I can do no more Then holding out her hand unto the Shepherd she said unto him here Aglantes â—ake my hand and my heart in assurance that though I cannot live the Wife of Aglantes yet I will die the Wife of Aglantes and as the last favour I shall ever ask or you give O most honoured Parents I beseech you consent unto it The Father who had another design would not have been so forward if he had thought she would have lived but thinking her even dead he thought it good to let her die contentedly and indeed he had no sooner consented but she turning her head gently towards her Shepherd Oh Gods said she I die but Aglantes I die thine Upon this word she grew speechless and lay as dead in the arms of Menander and Lerice To relate here all the lamentations and cryes of the Father and Mother and principally of Aglantes I conceive it not pertinent for it will easily be imagined they were extream but so it was that they were forced to take them oft her even by plain force and carry them away for grief did enrage Aglantes to remove the occasion of so much sorrow they intended to bury her out of hand without any Pomp or Solemnity and had according to the custom embalmed her had not Alciron prevented them who told them that it was not humane to bury people especially of her quality before they were quite dead at the least quite cold so as upon this they left her without pulling off her clothes in this sad condition Tirintes on the other side he was in raging quest of Alciron that he might open his brest and pull out his heart and so â—e revenged for the wrong he had done him and afterwards with the same sword sacrifice himself upon the Tomb of this Fair One. And doubtless if he had met him he had done so though he was the greatest friend he had but the Prudent Alciron he went to him in bed because he feared the anger which Tirintes might conceive against him At the first when Tirintes saw him enter he roused out of bed to run upon him but Alciron holding the door half open half shut Tirintes said he unto him can you possibly imagine that he who loves you the best of all the world should ever deprive you of that which you hold most dear And yet cruel Tyger said Tirintes and interrupted him the Fair Silvanire is dead Silvanire replied Alciron is alive and I will die the most cruel death your rage can invent if I do not put her into your hands alive and well within this hour if you will let me go where she is Tirintes all amazed at this is not Silvanire dead said he and did not you cause her to be let in the room by her self It is true answered Alciron and smiled but she is left there for you Oh good Gods Alciron said Tirintes Silvanire to be dead and to be for me are two things that cannot hold together I confess replied Alciron that they cannot but to be alive and be yours may Surely said Tirintes you do deceive me why should I deceive you said Alciron or indeed how can I when I offer if you will go with me to put her into your hands alive and well the same hour And if it were otherwise why should I come unto you You see I do not shun you nor fear meeting with you Come come set your mind at rest dress your self and come with me and you shall presently see what I say punctually performed But prethee tell me said Tirintes and shrugged his shoulders can you fetch souls back after they be once wasted over the Stigian Lake Will Charon suffer that No no I cannot answered Alciron but Tirintes know most assuredly that Silvanire is not dead but by a secret virtue of nature which is in that glass which you had of me she is so stupified that every one thinks her so Oh Heavens cryed out Tirintes what wonders do you tell me I tell you nothing but truth replied Alciron and to satisfie your wonder and perplexity know Tirintes that the glass is made of a Stone called the Memphitique Stone which has a virtue to stupifie the senses so extreamly that as soon as it is touched by the eye it presently takes away the understanding And unto this Stone is added some of the bones of a Fish which is called the Torpedo extracted by such art and concocted together that as the Torpedo benums the arm of the Fisher when it touches the hook that is fastned to the line so also as soon as the eyes are touched by this glass they receive a poyson so subtile that first seising upon the brain it dilates a general stupifaction all over the body as every one would think it dead Now Tirintes judge whether I have not reason to complain against you who ever found my extream affection flowing towards you and yet can think I would offer such a mortal displeasure what advantage could you imagine I could draw from the death of this woman If it be so said Tirintes and went neerer him you were to blame Shepherd in that you did not acquaint me with it By that replied Alciron you may better know that I do love you for did I not know Shepherd that thou neither wouldest nor couldest live after thou wert deprived of Silvanire and couldest thou hope ever that thy services or thy merits could gain her I know that having but that only remedy thou wouldst never have used it if I had acquainted thee with all the effects of it consider seriously with your self and answer me should I have told you that as soon as ever Silvanire did look in the glass she would fall into such extremity of pain as she would fall down like dead and being so judged by all that see her they will embowel her and put her into her grave answer me I say Tirintes durst you have executed such an enterprise upon her No no I know what power a person that loves hath to make any such attempts upon the party Loved Tirintes hearing this and knowing that Silvanire was not dead he held out his arms and went to embrace Alciron with such abundance of contentment that he was almost speechless but recovering himself
scars which he had in several places then he beseeched him to consider that for all these he had got nothing but the bare honour of spending in his service both his dayes and estate that true it was he held this honour at a high price and would not exchange it for any recompence he could give But though this was honourable for Bellimartes yet it was not sutable with the grandeur and Majesty of a great King that it should be said he had so long and so faithfully served and served a Master and received no other gratification but the empty sound of being called his servant this would argue that I did not serve a good Master Unto these considerations he added many others which so moved the heart of that generous King as after he had layed the fault upon himself in never asking any recompence to shew some effects of his good will he bestowed upon him the Regiment of stranger Souldiers which for the guard of the Town he entertained in Lyons an office truly so honourable and so beneficial as it was a gratification beyond all his hopes and by which he did thrive so well that in a short time he might without presumption aspire unto the best matches in all the Country All these things fell out whilst I was assiduously courted and served by Periander And because Bellimartes had a mind to settle himself in that Province where he had such a beneficial office he intended to match himself so that he might rather get friends then money for the portion upon this ground he cast his eye upon me and at such a time that I was so much against him as I could never since endure the memory of him At the same time also Merindor being newly returned from travel he did unluckily see me at the marriage of Parthenopea and from that time began also to court me so as Periander found himself more company then he desired 'T is true Merindor did carry the matter much better and with more discretion then Bellimartes who presuming upon the Kings favour and the authority which he had in the Town did at the very first accost me publiquely as thinking that though Periander was more in favour with me yet the advantages of his fortune would prevail with Arcingentorix to make choise of him before Periander This address did inflame the affection of Periander more then ever and he expressed more Love unto me then before he was so netled to think that another should take from him that prey which he had been so long in chase after that he thought time to bestow himself So that he resolved with my consent to make the motion of marriage unto my Father I must confess that I did consent unto it because I did not like Bellimartes his age and his rough behaviour resembling a man in armor did make me almost afraid of him As for Merindor I was not yet acquainted with him for he carried the matter with so much cautious discretion as it was hard to know whether he was in earnest or in jest Periander then to lose no time did motion the marriage unto Arcingentorix and at the first overture submitted himself wholly unto him and desired him to write what conditions he pleased my Father first thanked him for his good will and told him that truly he had yet no thoughts of marrying me since my age required no great haste but yet to make it appear how much he esteemed of his alliance he would promise him within a month to let him know his full resolution All these things could not be transacted so secretly but Bellimartes and Merindor were advertised and therefore they both resolved to cross this treaty as much possibly they could but believing that Arcingentorix would not marry me against my will they thought the best way was to gain me and therefore they declared themselves more openly then before I remember that Merindor in this resolution meeting me one morning in the Temple whither Periander conducted me and went out he kneeled down close by me and said Did you come hither Fair Dorinde to pray unto the Gods or to thank them I did not know how to answer him because I knew not what he meant and therefore after I had looked upon him without giving any answer I returned to my prayers again What means this silence said he again is it a testimony of scorn or is it because you would be importuned Neither said I unto him for I do much esteem Merindor but it is because I do not understand you for what do you mean by prayers and thanks I ask you said he whether you came to pray the Gods that you may marry Periander or give them thanks because they have granted that request before Neither the one nor the other answered I and smiled you are a dissembler said he to say so you are incredulous answered I if you do not believe me Why said he can you deny a thing which is known unto all Why answered I and turned my head the other way why doe you ask me if you know and if you will not believe me I do know that which all knows said he but I do ask you that which you only can tell me tell me therefore upon what consideration do you take this Husband As a daughter should take him answered I who is given her by her Father I wish to God said he and sighed that you took him only out of obedience and not will my will answered I shall be alwayes the will of Arcingentorix but pray tell me Merintor what interest have you in all this that should make you sigh for it Well may I sigh said he for that which I shall never cease weeping upon this I saw his eys began to flow with tears and because he would not as I think let me know any more at that time he went away and spoke not a word leaving me fully assured that he did Love me and that this marriage pierced him to the very heart but all this had no operation upon me because I was already wholly dedicated unto Periander and thought that his merits and affection did oblige me unto it The little account that I made of Merindors displeasure when he went away went so neer his heart that being almost out of all hopes of getting my Love as long as Periander lived he was in two or three minds to fight him and see upon which of the two the lot would fall As he was deeply in this thought a friend of his did meet him in whom he had great confidence Euphrosias for that was the name of his dear and wise friend seeing Merindor walk with his hat pulled over his eyes looked upon the ground and his cloke lapped disorderly about him walking in the streets and never looking upon any he knew that somthing troubled his mind and because he knew that youth and courage are often apt unto too violent resolutions which they may repent
spite against Periander thinking it a full revenge if I gave my self unto another but never thinking that it was a revenge against my self but it was imprudence which commonly is a consequent of little experience did give me this simple counsel which since hath cost me many a tear and much torment The answer that I gave him was this Do you think Merindor that any one who has a design to make themselves loved will say less then you I think said he that those who have the same desires which I have may make use of the same words But said I if all those who have the same desires do speak as you do and all deceive those who trust them what assurance can I have in your words Periander used them a thousand times and even deafned me with his candid language which was only a glosse upon intended treachery If my words replied Merindor were not accompanied with some more assured testimonies I must needs confesse the treachery of Periander might make you suspect all I say But Oh Dorinde I hope I am not so unfortunate but that you have taken notice of my actions and how since the very first day I ever saw you I have devoted my self to be wholly yours 'T is true answered I and I should be very ungrateful if I did not acknowledg that your proceeding and behaviour does much oblige me but with all let me tell you That I think all men make it their glory to deceive those who put any trust in them If so replied Merindor then I protest Madam that henceforward I will not be a man the very name shall be odious unto me and I will abominate the title as much as I do that of Vilain or Traytor Do you speak this in good earnest said I unto him Madam answered he Do you ask this question in good earnest Is it possible you should still doubt of Merindors affection No no Dorinde Do not give your eyes your ears your judgement the lie I am sure they all tell you that Merindor loves you had he been prone to change he might with more reason then Periander who received favours a thousand for one Merindor said I I do confess it and having observed your affection to me ever since you first saw me and continued during all the time of my sickness I have often said unto my self what would he have done if he had found as much good will from me as I have shewed unto that Deceiver Periander But this is not enough to assure me that you will not change for all men by the example of one hath taught me that it is Beauty which they love and not the person of her who has it so as when by any accident this Beauty is gone their love is immediately gone with it Oh Dorinde said he you are an unjust Judge to pronounce sentence against all men in general for the offence of one particular man Do you not see that into what condition soever your sickness hath brought you yet still I love nay even adore you Perhaps said I you may love me yet because you have not seen my face and does not think it so deformed as it is by my sickness But to cure you of your disease I will let you see it upon condition you will lament my loss and afterwards leave me at rest to endure my malady alone Upon this I pulled off my mask and shewed him my face which had no resemblance of what it was before more then the name of a Face This I did with design that he seeing me might not love me any longer and so I should be neither troubled nor deceived then if he did continue loving me I might be assured that my ugliness would never make him change it being impossible I should be worse then I was I observed that as soon as he saw me he stood mute and was much astonished and that tears presently after trickled from his eyes so as he was not able to speak but a little after he began thus I must confess Madam that your disease used you more unkindly then any unless they saw you can imagine but this alteration cannot change my affection to you if you think it does Madam you do wrong me Periander's action is unpardonable but be assured I beseech you that only death and not any accident of Fortune whatsoever is able to quench those flames which your Vertues and your Merits have kindled in the heart of Merindor I do not deny but â—hat it was your-Beauty which first invited me unto you which gave me a will to serve you but since I have had the honour and happiness to be better acquainted with you oh Dorinde I find more lasting invitations and allurements unto Love then any Beauty can be Your Soul you Soul Dorinde your noble and sweet soul is far fairer then ever was your face and therefore as your face first invited me your soul will eternally keep me to your service I should be too long Madam should I relate all the discourse which we had upon this Subject and it is fit I bury them in silence as he did presently after in oblivion But so it was I thought that I had found a man that was not a Deceiver and in that belief I contracted amity with him The way of your behaviour to me said I unto him ever since you first saw me and the assurance you give me that my face does not affright you nor lessen your affection to me does oblige me to esteem and love you more then I thought I could any after such an unworthy falshood as that of Periander and if you do continue as hitherto you have assure your self Merindor that I will love and esteem you as your merits do oblige me Oh Dorinde replied he I am not contented with this promise since your love is to be proportioned according to my merits and therefore I am afraid your love will be but a little No no said I it may be infinite and yet but hold proportion with your merits but to content you I do promise that if you do not Perianderize I will love you as much as you can desire Merindor having this assurance he fell upon his knees took my hand by force and though it was covered with marks of my disease yet he kissed it several times with such abundance of thanks as this action gave me more full assurance of his love then my words could him of my good will and I believe that if my Father had not come he would never have ceased his Demonstrations of Affection and Thanks My Father at his entrance smiled because he either saw him kneeling before me or else some of the Domestiques told him This invited me to tell him all the passages betwixt us and to speak very advantagiously in behalf of Merindor My discourse and my free expressions were so agreeable unto my Father that taking me aside he asked me whether I did really love that
was fully resolved that when all hope was past to kill himself but yet to send Bellimartes out of the world before him he was not the last man that was advertised of this accident and as if a new life had been given unto him he leaped up clapping his hands together and blessing the Fates for this happy fortune then leaving his chamber he made all the haste that possibly he could unto mine where he expressed himself the most joyful man alive and asked an hundred merry questions He asked me how I did after my marriage and whether it was good to be two wives to one Husband and because I knew not well whether I should laugh or cry I said unto him well well Merindor do not mock at me perhaps when you are married you may also find a wife that has two husbands If I have said he the stronger will drive the other out of the house but I fear not any such accident will ever befal me unless it be by you By me answered I Nay Merindor the resolution which I have will free you from that fear for within these few days if my Father will give me leave I will become of those that are to keep in the Sacred Fire How how replied he will you become a Vestal Yes certainly said I purposely to be rid of men amongst whom I find nothing but deceit and pâ—â—fidie You do wrong me said he not to put me out of the general number since I am sure you never saw any action or heard any language from me which was derogatory from my vowed affection or which in any reason could induce you to put me into that rank One indeed replied I does make no number but what do you say of Theombres of Hylas of Periander and of Bellimartes I say answered he that they deserve not only to be razed out of the rank of men but also out of the number of the living But I say that all men ought not to be blamed for them and of all men especially Merindor Oh Madam give me leave to tell you it is most extream injustice to punish a number of innocents for a few culpable and since faults are personal every person ought to bear the burthen of his own punishment I must confess Merindor said I unto him that you are in the right but I am not to be blamed for having found so much falshood and perfidie in all those that ever made any addresses unto me I had good reason to fear the same from all others This Dorinde said he is a second wrong not inferiour to the first for you rank me in the number of those who have deceived you since you cannot exclude me from the number of those who have made addresses unto you Hitherto replied I I cannot say I have been deceived by you but I cannot tell what you may do upon occasion Whilst we were talking thus my Father came into the chamber still much moved at the former accident and seeing this young Cavalier with me Come Merindor said he unto him are you not much offended against my Daughter and me for the fault which the Kings power caused us to commit Sir answered Merindor I am more your servant then to be offended at you but on the contrary I thank the Gods for making the vilany of that wicked man known unto you though let me tell you that if his vilany had been executed the Vilain should not have lived an hour after for I swear by the great God Ifesus this sword should have washed away his crime with his own blood for not one single drop should have remained But Sir thanks be to God that there is no need of such extremities and remember I beseech you for the future that our old Fathers had good reason to say That no man ought to rub an herd which he knows not And Sir there are many in this Province whose Ancestors and Estates are known unto you and who would think themselves honoured and happy in your Alliance And if heaven would make me so happy as to obtain that favour what services said he and kneeled down would I not pay unto you all my life and what love what duty and affection should not Dorinde receive from me Dorinde I say whom you know I ever loved and honoured what accidents soever hapned The good old man who knew how affectionate he alwaies appeared even all the time of my sickness and seeing him still continue his passionate expressions he did believe him But oh Heavens who might not as well have been deceived as he Merindor said he unto him speak freely and ingeniously as you are a Cavalier Are you real or is it only out of your civility and courtship that you use these expressions Sir answered he I cannot commit an act so unworthy of the name I bear as to dissemble or deceive and therefore I do protest and swear that all the words which I have spoke do proceed from the real thoughts of my heart with all sincerity and true meaning else may Bellinus root me and my name out from the number of men If so replied Arcingentorix and that it prove so that Bellimartes has another wife and that your mother do consent unto your desires I do promise you Dorinde for your wife and I do call the Gods to be a witness unto the promise which now I make unto you And I added Merindor do call all the Gods to witness that I do receive this promise as the greatest happiness I can desire for hence forward I do devote my self unto you Sir as my Lord and Father and unto Dorinde as my Lady and Mistress and I do vow and swear unto you both an affection without end and perpetual obedience Who would have thought that heard these solemn protestations expressed which so much freeness but that they proceeded from his heart But alas so they did I confess they did proceed from his heart but it was from the most wicked vile perfidious heart that ever was in any traiterous and perjured man certainly it is enough to expresse him to say that he is a man without any addition of traiterous or perfidious or perjured for I do believe all others that breâ—th upon the face of the earth are so Now this man according to the nature and custom of all others went from us in appearance full of contentment as full as man could be and went unto the Palace to hear more certain news of Alderina and of her marriage at night he returned again and told us that the King having seen the attestations of the Druids and Nobles of Gergovia was highly offended against Bellimartes and had commanded him to depart his Dominions and never to come into his presence again yet some Grandees about Gondebaut were in hope to obtain his Pardon when the King his choller was a little over and so it hapned for a while after they were reconciled by the mediation of Alderina her self who fell
do more then I Good fortune and bad fortune happinesse and misery have their dependency upon my will I must confess oh puissant Shepherdess said Sylvander that if your power do extend it self over others as it has over me Altars will be erected to you However replâ—â—d she you cannot deny but that Sylvander ought to adore me If it were permitted amongst us answered the Shepherd and smiled to adore many Gods Phillis should certainly be an adored Deity unto me but since it is not lawful and that we must acknowledg but one God I hope I shall be excused if I do not render that devoir I am very well contented said Phillis then that you do adore but one Deity in Heaven and another upon earth so I shall replied the Shepherd Tautates in Heaven and Diana upon Earth Oh most ungrateful wretch said Phillis are you not more beholding unto me then to Diana Is not all the contentments you receive from my hand I should be most ungrateful indeed replied Sylvander if I did not acknowledg what is due unto you but I should be much more ungrateful did I equal my obligations I ow unto Diana with those I ow unto you for those I do ow unto you are but consequents of my love to her and those which I 〈◊〉 ow unto her are no consequents nor upon any consideration but love it self without any relation to you And therefore Phillis undeceive your self in this all the benefits which you have done me I take as coming from her for otherwise I would not esteem them benefits I perceive replied Phliis and smiled that all my labour in obliging you is but lost since all my benefits are set upon the score of that Shepherdess What would you have me do said Sylvander for such is my affection unto Diana that I give Heaven no thanks for the life it hath given me unlesse I may serve and adore this Divine Diana unto whom all humane hearts ought to render homage Thus did Diana let Sylvander know that she loved him and ever since this day she was not shie nor made any difficulty to live with him as Astrea was wont to do with Celadon and Phillis with Lycidas so as Sylvander has since oftentimes said that he had never been happy if he had not been first miserable The joy and contentment which might be seen in the eyes and actions of Sylvander was such that Astrea and Phillis did extreamly admire at it and the changing of his complexion and countenance in so short a time was an infallible argument unto them of his real affection As for the disguised Druide she measured the grandeur of Sylvanders joy by her own which she should have received if under the notion of Celadon and not of Alexis Astrea had been so kind as she was unto her But when Sylvander observed the change of habits between Alexis and Astrea I must confess said he with wonder that Phillis has so infatuated my understanding as till now I never found my mistake Oh Sylvander said Phillis assure your self that a woman can deceive a man a hundred wayes when she has a mind unto it and therefore it concerns you to keep my friendship very carefully All the company did fall to laughing and they walked along the River Lignon till they came to the place where Celadon did cast himself into the water which Astrea seeing let us flye said she let us flye away from this fatal place from which me-thinks nothing can come but disasters The Druide knew very well that it was the place where she received those cruel commands which constrained her to turn her self from Celadon into Alexis and it was impossible for her not to give knowledge of some resentment But not being able to imagine that this Shepherdess should call the place fatal for that cause and why my dear Servant said she unto her do you term this place of Lignon fatal Astrea did not answer but looked upon her changed colour and could not chuse but sigh Which Diana perceiving Madam said she unto her Astrea has good cause to call this place fatall because she was very near being drowned there for she fell into the River and but for some happy help which came in opportunely this Country had for ever lost the fairest Shepherdess that ever lived in it I pray tell me said Alexis how chanced that accident Phillis who was unwilling Sylvander should take any notice of Astreas disquiet Mis-fortunes said she and disasters are not to be talked on in a time so full of joy as this but yet they say said Sylvander that the memory of past miseries does bring contentment and are pleasing yes replied Astrea when the miseries which are related do not make miserable again but that for which I give the phrase of fatal unto this place does never come into my memory without infinite grief and see Sylvander whether I have not good reason for it for when I fell from that fatal place into the water poor Celadon desiring to help me was drown'd and some cursed reporter carrying the false news of my death unto my Father and my Mother they both dyed presently after so as I had no sooner bewailed the one but tears began to overswel my eyes for the other Astreas eyes could no longer refrain from tears and certainly they had flowed into a torrent had they not heard a Shepherd singing which diverted Astrea and caused all the company to look that way As soon as Diana had turned her self I am said she very much mistaken if yonder Shepherd whom we see and the company which is with him are not coming hither to look for me what moves you unto that thought said Alexis I will tell you answered she but let us hear what he sings and they being very near also he singing very loud they heard him sing That wheresoever he came he found the representation of him and his Mistris I am not mistaken said Diana as soon as the Shepherd had sung that verse for the Gods have chosen me to Judge a difference which is amongst them yesterday they desired me to undertake the office and I promised them to meet them here at this place this hour happy I am that we light so opportunely both of the place and the time for I swear unto you that I had quite forgot it By that Mistris said Sylvander you may draw assurance that it is the will of the Gods you should take that office upon you since they have so opportunely conducted you Upon this the strangers were so near that Diana out of civility went to salute them a little after Alexis Astrea and Phillis did the same you may see said Diana that I am a person of my word and have brought all this good Company with me not only out of curiosity to know the cause of your coming to me but to help me in the judgement which I am to give unto you We are much ashamed fair and
any thing he took in hand On the contrary Thomantes continuing his courtship of this Shepherdess without the least complaint or murmure every action about this proud Beauty made Filintes jealous who seeing him so patient and judging of things according to his own humour he could not imagine any one should endure the cruelties of her whom he loved with so much silence unless he was tyed unto it by some great obligation so as he concluded very advantagiously for his rival This opinion did torment him so extreamly that one day when he was almost out of his wits he went unto the Shepherdess and though it was long since he had spoke unto her yet at the very first sight he accosted her with this language resolve with your self to see one of these three things come presently to passe For either I must change or you must change or I must die The Shepherdess returned him this faint answer for me to change is a thing impossible that you should die would grieve me and for you to change is of less importance unto me and depends wholly upon your own will Oh Heavens cryed he out is all this cruelty to be endured and yet I must love this insensible woman Upon this he pulled his hat over his eyes and went away more transported with choller then ever he was But as his Spirit was quickly hot so it was quickly cool for when he was in his greatest fury if Delphire did but speak one word unto him he was appeased and seemed as if he had no memory of those offences and wrongs at which he was angry All things thus far went well with Thomantes so as he might well think himself one of the happiest Shepherds about Lignon and I believe Asphales might have said as much had he not been absent for he could not have seen any Shepherd so much in my favour as himself but since that jealousies and by consequence inquietudes have so ravelled their souls as I believe they enjoy but a little rest and we but a little more Thus Wise Shepherdess this is the cause which has brought us hither before you according to the answer of the Oracle Asphales as I told you before was absent and Thomantes was constrained almost by the same destiny to be absent from Delphire and also to go into the same Province of the Romans where Asphales was already Perhaps I should be too tedious in relating all the Discourse of this Shepherd and all his laments a little before his departure but so it was that he gave unto this Shepherdess of possible assurances of a constant and lasting affection his expressions came from him with such an emphasis as if his heart had been in his tongue and those that would not believe them had been as incredulous as that false Shepherd who uttered them was perfidious and who afterwards was quite wafted away with inconstancy He departed with the prayers and sorrows of all that he left behind him And because Eleaman the Wise Pastor would needs out of his affection see him take horse and was not ignorant of the good will which his Son bore unto this Shepherdesse when he saw him a little gone he turned towards her and in a jesting manner said he is gone and none of these fair Maids lament him and because as he spoke those words he had his eyes upon Delphire she smiled which was observed by many and afterwards when Filintes returned for he accompanied Thomantes a little way and was told of this Oh most cruel hard-harted and insensible woman said he can Heaven suffer so much injustice Does all the services which Thomantes has rendred unto you merit no more then to laugh at him when he goes away and when he goes away with so much sorrow to part from you But the best conceipt was he was really offended at the injury which he thought she had done unto his rival And to see the humour of this young Shepherd as long as Thomantes was absent there was not a day wherein he did not put Delphire in memory of him And at any time when he did her any trivial service I wish said he that this were put upon the score of Thomantes But that which is hardly credible is when Thomantes was present Filintes vexed himself and fainted at every sillable which Delphire uttered but when he was absent he took all well and was as patient as if nothing could move him Thomantes who was absent and longed to hear how Delphire did was presently acquainted how Filintes was changed in his humour This news began to gripe him a little at the heart and as fortune would have it he and Asphales meeting in a strange Country they contracted as it is usual a more intimate familiarity then ever they had before so as always one of them was receiving news how squares went at home As ill luck was those who writ unto Asphales did send him somtimes such news concerning Delphire as they fancied and those who gave intelligence unto Thomantes did write of me according to their opinions not knowing what great familiarity there was betwixt them They who took all for truths and did believe what was written Unto Asphales was written that Filintes had so gained the heart of Delphire as now there was no room for Thomantes And unto Thomantes they sent word that since his departure Androgenes was so in love with me as that I had no eyes but to look upon him so as these two poor Shepherds when perhaps they had most cause to be contented they thought they had most cause to complain against us They counselled and consulted together and I am sure not without somtimes talking of our changing humours In conclusion both of them having hasted or rather hudled up their business that they might the sooner look homeward we heard of their return Ericanthe expected her Son with such impatiency that she went as far as the Town of Boen to meet him Delphire that day was not well and therefore intended not to stir out of her chamber Filintes not being able to endure that Thomantes should receive such a displeasure he came to pray and beseech her by all means that she would keep Ericanthe company upon this occasion which he assured her would be very well taken and that for his part he would take it for a very particular obligation and was so very importunate in his desires and supplications as at last he obtained that which none else could But when Thomantes heard from Delphire her self that the favour which he received was by the intercession of Filintes he grew extreamly jealous at it and upon this reason he set himself ever since to observe and watch the actions of Filintes and Delphire more narrowly And so much the rather because his rival was grown very familiar with all the Shepherdesses which stung Thomantes to the heart for he could not imagine that this familiarity could proceed from any thing but Love and