he but they be not about me to morow by dawn of day if your flocks feed in these pastures I will bring them you wherein you shall read my passions whiles I feele them iudge my patience when you read it til when I bid farewel So giuing both Ganimede and Aliena a gentle good night he resorted to his lodge leauing them to their prittle prattle So Ganimede said Aliena the forrester being gone you are mightily beloued men make ditties in your praise spend sighs for your sake make an idoll of your beauty beleeue me it greeues mee not a little to see the poore man so pensiue and you so pittilesse Ah Aliena quoth she be not peremptory in your iudgments I heare Rosalynde praisd as I am Ganimede but were I Rosalynde I could answere the Forrester if he mourne for loue there are medicines for loue Rosalynde connot be faire and vnkind And so Madame you see it is time to fold our flocks or else Coridon will frown and say you will neuer proue good huswife With that they put their sheepe into the coates and went home to her friend Coridons Cottage Aliena as merry as might bee that she was thus in the company of her Rosalynde but shee poore soule that had Loue her loadstarre and her thoughtes set on fire with the flame of fancie could take no rest but being alone began to consider what passionate pennance poore Rosader was enioyned to by Loue and Fortune that at last shee fell into this humour with her selfe Rosalynde passionate alone AH Rosalynd how the Fates haue set down in theyr Sindde to make thee vnhappy for when Fortune hath done hir worst then Loue comes in to begin a new tragedie she seeks to lodge her sonne in thyne eyes and to kindle her fires in thy bosome Beware fond girle he is an vnruly guest to harbour for entring in by intreats he will not be thrust out by force and her fires are fed with such fuell as no water is able to quench Seest thou not how Venus seekes to wrap thee in her Lahorynth wherein is pleasure at the entrance but within sorrowes cares and discontent she is a Syren stop thine eares at her melodie she is a a Basiliscke shutte thine eyes and gaze not at her seast thou perish Thou art now placed in the Countrey content where are heauenly thoughtes and meane desires in those Lawnes where thy flocks feed Diana haunts be as her Nymphes chast and enemie to Loue for there is no greater honour to a mayd than to account of fancie as a mortal foe to their sexe Daphne that bonny wench was not turned into a Bay tree as the Poets fain but for her chastitie her fame was immortall resembling the Lawrell that is euer greene Follow thou her steps Rosalinde and the rather for that thou art an exile and banished from the court whose distresse as it is appeased with patience so it would be renewed with amorous passions Haue minde on thy forepassed fortunes feare the worst and intangle not thy selfe with present fancies least louing in hast thou repent thee at leisure Ah but yet Rosalynd it is Rosader that courts thee one who as he is beutifull so hee is vertuous and harboureth in his minde as manie good qualities as his face is shadowed with gratious fauours and therefore Rosalynde stoope to Loue least beeing eyther too coy or too cruell Venus waxe wroth and plague thee with the reward of disdaine Rosalynde thus passionate was wakened from her dumpes by Aliena who sayde it was time to goe to bed Coridon swore that was true for Charls Waine was risen in the North. Whervppon each taking leaue of other went to their rest all but the poore Rosalynde who was so full of passions that she could not possesse any content Well leauing her to her broken slumbers expect what was performed by them the next morning The Sunne was no sooner stept from the bed of Aurora but Aliena was wakened by Ganimede who restlesse all night had tossed in her passions saying it was then time to go to the field to vnfold their sheepe Aliena that spied where the hare was by the hounds and could see day at a litle hole thought to be pleasaunt with her Ganimede therfore replied thus What wanton the Sun is but new vp as yet Iris riches lies folded in the bosome of Flora Phoebus hath not dried vp the pearled dew and so long Coridon hath taught me it is not fitte to lead the sheepe abroad least the deaw being vnwholesome they get the rot but now see I the old prouerbe true he is in hast whom the deuill driues and where loue prickes forward there is no worse death then delay Ah my good page is there fancie in thine eye and passions in thy heart What hast thou wrapt loue in thy looks and sette all thy thoughts on fire by affection I tell thee it is a flame as harde to be quencht as that of Aetna But nature must haue her course womens eies haue faculty attractiue like the feat retentiue like the diamond they dally in the delight of faire obiects til gazing on the Panthers beautiful skin repenting experience tel them he hath a deuouring paunch Come on q. Ganimede this sermon of yours is but a subtiltie to lie stil a bed because either you think the morning cold or els I being gone you would steale a nappe this shift carries no paulme and therefore vp and away And for Loue let me alone ile whip him away with nettles set disdaine as a charme to withstand his forces and therefore loake you to your selfe be not too bold for Venus can make you bend nor to coy for Cupid hath a piercing dare that wil make you crie Peccaui And that is it quoth Aliena that hath raised you so earlie this morning And with that she slipt on her peticoat and start vp and assoone as shee had made her ready and taken her breakfast away goe these two with their bagge and bottles to the field in more pleasant content of mynd then euer they were in the Court of Torismond They came no sooner nigh the foldes but they might see where their disconted Forrester was walking in his melancholy Assoone as Aliena saw him she smiled and sayd to Ganymede wipe your eyes sweeting for yonder is your sweet heart this morning in deep prayers no doubt to Venus that she may make you as pitifull as hee is passionate Come on Ganimede I pray thee lets haue a litle sport with him Content quoth Ganimede and with that to waken him out of his deep memento he began thus Forrester good fortune to thy thoughts and ease to thy passions what makes you so early abroad this morne in contemplation no doubt of your Rosalynd Take heede Forrester step not too farre the Foord may be deep and you slip ouer the shooes I tell thee flyes haue their spleen the antes choster the least haires shadows and the smallest loues great
desires Tis good Forrester to loue but not to ouer loue least in louing her that likes not thee thou fold thy selfe in an endlesse Laborinth Rosader seeing the faire shepheardesse and her prettie Swayne in whose company he felt the greatest ease of his care hee returned them a salute on this maner Gentle shepheards all haile and as healthfull be your flocks as you happie in content Loue is restlesse and my bedde is but the cell of my bane in that there I finde busie thoughtes and broken slumbers heere although euery where passionate yet I brooke loue with more patience in that euerie obiect feedes mine eye with varietie of fancies when I looke on Floraes beauteous tapestrie checkered with the pride of all her treasure I call to minde the faire face of Rosalynd whose heauenly hue exceeds the Rose and the Lilly in their highest excellence the brightnesse of Phoebus shine puts mee in minde to thinke of the sparkeling flames that flew from her eyes and set my heart first on fire the sweet harmony of the birds puts me in remembrance of the rare melody of her voyce which lyke the Syren enchaunteth the eares of the hearer Thus in contemplation I salue my sorrowes with applying the perfection of euery obiect to the excellencie of her qualities She is much beholding vnto you quoth Aliena and so much that I haue oft wisht with my selfe that if I should euer proue as amorous as Oenone I might finde as faithfull a Paris as your selfe How say you by this Item Forrester quoth Ganimede the faire shepheardesse fauours you who is mistresse of so manyâ— flockes Leaue of man the supposition of Rosalynds loue when as watching at her you roue beyond the Moone and cast your lookes vpon my mistresse who no doubt is as faire though not so royall one bird in the hand is worth two in the wood better possesse the loue of Aliena then catch frinously at the shadowe of Rosalynd Ale tel thee boy quoth Ganimede so is my fancy fixed on my Rosalynde that were thy mistresse as faire as Laeda or Danae whom Ioue courted in transformed shapes mine eyes would not vouch to entertaine their beauties and so hath Loue lockt me in her perfections that I had rather onely contemplate in her beauties then absolutely possesse the excellence of any other Venus is too blame Forrester if hauing so true a seruant of you shee reward you not with Rosalynd if Rosalynd were more fairer then her selfe But leauing this prattle now ile put you in mynd of your promise about those Sonnets which you sayd were at home in your lodge I haue them about mee quoth Rosader let vs sit downe and then you shall heare what a Poeticall fury Loue will in fuse into a man with that they sate downe vpon a greene banke shadowed with sigge trees and Rosader fetching a deep sigh read them this Sonnet Rosaders Sonnet In sorowes cell I layd me downe to sleepe But waking woes were iealous of mine eyes They made them watch and bend themselues to weepe But weeping teares their want could not suffice Yet since for her they wept who guides my hart They weeping smile and triumph in their smart Of these my teares a fountaine fiercely springs Where Venus baynes her selfe incenst with loue Where Cupid bow seth his faire feathred wings But I behold what paines I must approue Cure drinkes it drie but when on her I thinke Loue makes me weepe it full vnto the brinke Meane while my sighes yeeld truce vnto my teares By them the windes increast and fiercely blow Yet when I sigh the flame more plaine appeares And by their force with greater power doth glow Amids these paines all Phoenix like I thriue Since Loue that yeelds me death may life reuiue Rosader en esperance Now surely Forrester quoth Aliena when thou madest this Sonnet thou wert in some amorous quandarie neither too fearfull as dispairing of thy mistresse fauours nor too gleesome as hoping in thy fortunes I can smile quoth Ganymede at the Sonettoes Canzones Madrigales roundes and roundelaies that these pensiue patients powre out when their eyes are more full of wantonnesse then their hearts of passions Then as the fishers put the sweetest bayt to the fairest fish so these Ouidians holding Amo in their tongues when their thoughtes come at hap hazard write that they bee wrapt in an endlesse laborinth of sorrow when walking in the large leas of libertie they only haue their humours in their inckpot It they find women so fond that they will with such painted lures come to their lust then they triumph till they bee full gorgde with pleasures and then flye they away like ramage kytes to their own content leauing the tame foole their Mistresse full of fancie yet without euer a feather If they misse as dealing with some wary wanton that wants not such a one as themselues but spies their subtiltie they ende their amors with a few fained sighes and so theyr excuse is their mistresse is cruell and they smoother passions with patience Such gentle Forrester we may deeme you to be that rather passe awaâ— the time heere in these woods with wryting amorets then to beâ— deeply enamoured as you say of your Rosalynde If you beâ— such a one then I pray God when you thinke your fortunes â—â— the highest and your desires to bee most excellent then that yoâ— may with Ixion embrace Iuno in a cloude and haue nothing bâ—â— a marble mistresse to release your martyrdome but if you be truâ— and trustie eye-paynd and heart sick then accursed be Rosalynde if shee prooue cruel for Forrester I flatter not thou art worthiâ— of as faire as shee Aliena spying the storme by the winde smile to see how Ganymede flew to the fist without any call but Rosader who tooke him flat for a shepheards Swayne made him this answere Trust mee Swayne quoth Rosader but my Canzon waâ— written in no such humor for mine eye my heart are relatiues the one drawing fancy by sight the other enterteining her by sorâ—row If thou sawest my Rosalynd with what beauties Naturâ— hath fauoured her with what perfection the heauens hath graced her with what qualities the Gods haue endued her then woulâ— thou say there is none so fickle that could be fleeting vnto her Iâ— she had been Aeneas Dido had Venus and Iuno both scoldeâ— him from Carthage yet her excellence despight of them woulâ— haue detained him at Tyre If Phillis had been as beauteous or Ariadne as vertuous or both as honourable and excellent aâ— she neither had the Philbert tree sorrowed in the death of dispaiâ—ring Phillis nor the starres haue been graced with Ariadne but Demophoon and Theseus had been trustie to their Paragons I wil tel thee Swayne if with a deep insight thou couldsâ— pierce into the secert at my loues and see what deep impressionâ— of her Idea affection hath made in my heart then wouldst thoâ— confesse I were passing passionate and no lesse
couered with a green mantle to shrowd her from the Sunne a chaplet of roses from vnder which appeared a face full of Natures excellence and two such eyes as might haue amated a greater man than Montanus At gaze vppon this gorgeous Nymph sate the Shepheard feeding his eyes with her fauours wooing with such piteous lookes courting with such deepe strained sighs as would haue made Diana her selfe to haue beene compassionate at last fixing his lookes on the riches of her face his head on his hande and his elbow on his knee he sung this mournefull Ditttie Montanus Sonnet ATurtle sate vpon a leauelesse tree Mourning her absent pheare With sad and sorry cheare About her wondring stood The Citizens of Wood And whilest her plumes she rents And for her loue laments The stately trees complaine them The birds with sorrow paine them Each one that doth her view Her paine and sorrowes rue But were the sorrowes knowne That me hath ouerthrowne Oh how would Phoebe sigh if shee did looke on me The loue sicke Polypheme that could not see Who on the barraine shore His fortunes doth deplore And melteth all in mone For Galatea gone And with his piteous cries Afflicts both earth and skies And to his woe betooke Doth breake both pipe and booke For whom complaines the Morne For whom the Sea Nymphs mourne Alas his paine is nought For were my woe but thought Oh how would Phoebe sigh if shee did looke on me Beyond compare my paine yet glad am I If gentle Phoebe daine to see her Montan die After this Montanus felt his passions so extreame that he fel into this exclamation against the iniustice of Loue. Helas Tirant plein de rigueur Modere vn peu ta violence Que te sert si grande dispense C'est trop de flammes pour vn cueur Esparguez en vne estincelle Puis fay ton effort d'esmoûoir La fiere qui ne veut point voir En quel fu je brousle pour elle Execute Amour ce dessein Et rabaisse vn peu son audace Son cuer ne doit estre de glace Bien que elle ait de Niege le sein Montanus ended his Sonet with such a volley of sighs and such a streame of teares as might haue moued any but Phoebe to haue granted him fauor But she measuring all his passions with a coy disdaine and triumphing in the poore shepheards patheticall humors smiling at his martyrdome as though loue had beene no maladie scornfully warbled out this Sonet Phoebes Sonnet a replie to Montanus passion Downe a downe Thus Phyllis sung by fancie once distressed Who so by foolish loue are stung are worthily oppressed And so sing I. With a downe downe c. When Loue was first begot And by the mouers will Did fall to humane lot His solace to fulfill Deuoid of all deceipt A chast and holy fire Did quicken mans conceipt And womens brest inspire The Gods that saw the good That mortalls did approue With kind and holy mood Began to talke of Loue. Downe a downe Thus Phyllis sung by fancie once distressed c. But during this accord A wonder strange to heare Whilest Loue in deed and word Most faythfull did appeare False semblance came in place By iealousie attended And with a double face Both loue and fancie blended Which make the Gods for sake And men from fancie flie And maidens scorne a make For sooth and so will I. Downe a downe Thas Phyllis sung by fancie once distressed Who so by foolish loue are stung are worthily oppressed And so sing I with downe a downe a downe a. Montanus hearing the cruell resolution of Phoebe was so euergrowne with passions that from amorous Ditties he fel flat into these tearmes Ah Phoebe quoth he wherof art thou made that thou regardest not thy maladie Am I so hatefull an obiect that thine eyes condemne mee for an obiect or so base that thy desires cannot stoope so low as to lend me a gratious looke My passions are many my loues more my thoughts loyaltie and my fancie faith al deuoted in humble deuoire to the seruice of Phoebe and shall I reape no reward for such fealties The Swaines dayly labours is quit with the euenings hire the Ploughmans toyle is eased with the hope of corne what the Oxe sweates out at the plough he farneth at the cribbe but infortunate Montanus hath no salue for his sorrowes nor any hope of recompence for the hazard of his perplexed passions If Phoebe time maye plead the proofe of my truth twise seauen winters haue I loued faire Phoebe if constancie be a cause to further my sute Montanus thoughts haue beene sealed in the sweete of Phoebes excellence as far from change as shee from loue if outward passions may discouer inward affections the furrows in my face may discouer the sorrows of my heart and the mappe of my looks the griefs of my mind Thou seest Phoebe the teares of despayre haue made my cheeks full of wrinckles and my scalding sighes haue made the ayre Ecchoher pittie conceiued in my plaintes Philomele hearing my passions hath left her mournfull tunes to listen to the discourse of my miseries I haue pourtrayed in euerie tree the beauty of my Mistres the despaire of my loues What is it in the woods cannot witnes my woes and who is it would not pittie my plaints Only Phoebe And why Because I am Montanus she Phoebe I a worthles Swaine and she the most excellent of all faires Beautifull Phoebe oh might I say pittifull then happy were I though I tasted but one minute of that good hap Measure Montanus not by his fortunes but by his loues and ballance not his wealth but his desires lende but one gratious looke to cure a heape of disquieted cares if not ah if Phoebe cannot loue let a storme of frownes end the discontent of my thoughts and so let me perish in my desires because they are aboue my deserts onely at my death this fauour cannot be denied me that al shal say Montanus died for loue of hard hearted Phoebe At these words she fild her face full of frowns and made him this short and sharpe reply Importunate shepheard whose loues are lawlesse because restlesse are thy passions so extreame that thou canst not conceale them with patience Or art thou so folly-sicke that thou must needs be fancie-sicke in thy affection tyed to such an exigent as none serues but Phoebe Wel sir if your market can be made no where els home againe for your Mart is at the fayrest Phoebe is no lettice for your lips and her grapes hangs so high that gaze at thē you may but touch them you cannot Yet Montanus I speak not this in pride but in disdaine not that I scorne thee but that I hate loue for I count it as great honor to triumph ouer fancie as ouer fortune Rest thee content therfore Montanus cease from thy loues and bridle thy lookes quench the
ful of wrath he breathed out this censure vnto her before the Peers that charged her that that night shee were not seene about the Court for quoth he I haue heard of thy aspiring speeches and intended treasons This doome was strange vnto Rosalynd and presently couered with the shield of her innocence she boldly brake out in reuerent tearms to haue cleared her self but Torismond would admit of no reason nor durst his Lords plead for Rosalynde although her beauty had made some of them passionate seeing the figure of wrath pourtrayed in his brow Standing thus all mute and Rosalynde amazed Alinda who loued her more than her self with griefe in her hart and teares in her eyes falling down on her knees began to intreat her father thus Alindas oration to her father in defence of Rosalynde IF mighty Torismond I offend in pleading for my friend let the law of amitie craue pardon for my boldnesse for where there is depth of affection there friendship alloweth a priuiledge Rosalynd and I haue beene fostered vp from our infancies and noursed vnder the harbour of our conuersing togeather with such priuate familiarities that custome had wrought an vnyon of our nature the sympathie of our affections such a a secret loue that we haue two bodies and one soule Then maruell not great Torismond if seeing my friend distrest I finde my selfe perplexed with a thousand sorrowes for her vertuous and honourable thoughts which are the glories that maketh women excellent they he such as may challenge loue and race out suspition her obedience to your Maiestie I referre to the censure of your owne eye that since her fathers exile hath smothered al griefs with patience and in the absence of nature hath honored you with all dutie as her owne father by nouriture not in word vttering any discontent nor in thought as far as coniecture may reach hammering on reuenge only in all her actions seeking to please you to win my fauor Her wisedome silence chastitie and other such rich qualities I need not decypher onely it rests for me to conclude in one word that she is innocent If then Fortune who tryumphs in varietie of miseries hath presented some enuious person as minister of her intended stratageme to taint Rosalynde with any surmise of treason let him be brought to her face confirme his accusation by witnesses which proued let her die and Alinda wil execute the massacre If none can auouch any confirmed relation of her intent vse Iustice my Lord it is the glory of a King and let her liue in your wonted fauour for if you bannish her my selfe as copartner of her harde fortunes will participate in exile some part of her extremities Torismond at this speech of Alinda couered his face with such a frown as tyranny seemed to sit triumphant in his forhead and checkt her vp with such taunts as made the Lords that only were hearers to tremble Proud girle quoth he hath my looks made thee so light of toong or my fauours incouraged thee to bee so forward that thou darest presume to preach after thy Father Hath not my yeares more experience than thy youth the winter of mine age deeper insight into ciuil policie than the prime of thy florishing dayes The olde Lion auoides the toyles where the yoong one leapes into the nette the care of age is prouident and foresees much suspition is a vertue where a man holdes his enemie in his bosome Thou fond girle measurest all by present affection and as thy heart loues thy thoughts censure but if thou knowest that in liking Rosalynd thou hat chest vp a bird to pecke out thine owne eyes thou wouldst intreat as much for hir absence as now thou delightest in her presence But why doe I alleadge policie to thee sit you downe huswife and fall to your needle if idlenes make you so wanton or libertie so malipert I can quickly tye you to a sharper taske and you mayd this night be packing eyther into Arden to your father or whither best it shal cōtent your humour but in the Court you shall not abide This rigorous replie of Torismond nothing amazed Alinda for stil she prosecuted her plea in the defence of Rosalynd wishing her Father if his censure might not be reuerst y t he would appoynt her partner of her exile which if he refused eyther she would by some secret meanes steale out and followe her or else ende her dayes with some desperate kind of death When Torismond heard his daughter so resolute his heart was so hardened against her that he set down a definitiue and peremptory sentence that they should both be banished which presently was done The Tyrant rather choosing to hazard the losse of his onely child than any wayes to put in question the state of his kingdome so suspitious and fearfull is the conscience of an vsurper Wel although his Lords perswaded him to retaine his owne Daughter yet his resolution might not be reuerst but both of them must away from the Court without eyther more company or delay In hee went with great melancholy and left these two Ladyes alone Rosalynd waxed very sad and sate downe and wept Alinda she smiled and sitting by her friend began thus to comfort her Alindas comfort to perplexed Rosalynd VVHy how now Rosalynd dismayd with a frowne of contrary fortune Haue I not oft heard thee say that hygh mindes were discouered in fortunes contempt and heroycal seene in the depth of extremities Thou wert wont to tel others that complained of distresse that the sweetest salue for misery was patience and the onely medicine for want that pretious implaister of content being such a good Phisition to others wilt thou not minister receipts to thy selfe But perchance thou wilt say Consulenti nunquam caput doluit Why then if the Patients that are sicke of this disease ran finde in themselues neither reason to perswade nor art to cure yet Rosalynd admit of the counsaile of a friend and applie the salues that may appease thy passions If thou grieuest that being the daughter of a prince and enuy thwarteth thee with such hard exigents thinke that royaltie is a faire marke that Crowns haue crosses when mirth is in Cottages that the fairer the Rose is the sooner it is bitteh with Caterpillers the more orient y e Pearle is the more apt to take a blemish and the greatest birth as it hath most honour so it hath much enuy If then fortune aymeth at the fairest be patient Rosalynd for first by thine exile thou goest to thy father nature is higher prised then wealth and the loue of ones parents ought to bee more pretious then all dignities why then doth my Rosalynd grieue at the frowne of Torismond who by offering her a preiudice proffers her a greater pleasure and more mad lasse to be melancholy when thou hast with thee Alinda a friend who wil be a fathful copartner of al thy misfortunes who hath left her father to
intertaine fancie with as great delight as the proudest Courtier doth affection Opportunity that is the sweetest friend to Venus harboureth in our cottages and loyaltie the chiefest fealty that Cupid requireth is found more among shepheardes than higher degrees Then aske not if suche silly swains can loue what is the cause then quoth Ganimede that Loue being so sweet to thee thou lookest so sorrowfull Because quoth Montanus the party beloued is froward and hauing curtesie in her lookes holdeth disdaine in her tongues ende What hath she then quoth Aliena in heart Desire I hope Madame quoth he or else my hope lost despaire in Loue were death As thus they chatted the Sunne beeing ready to set and they not hauing folded their sheepe Coridon requested she would sit there with her Page till Montanus and hee lodged theyr sheepe for that night You shall goe quoth Aliena but first I will intreate Montanus to sing some amorous Sonnet that hee made when he hath beene deeply passionate That I will quoth Montanus and with that he began thus Montanus Sonnet Phoebe sate Sweet she sate Sweet sate Phoebe when I saw her White her brow Coy her eye Brow end eye how much you please me Words I spent Sighes I senâ— Sight and words could neuer draw hir Oh my loue Thou art lost Since no sight could euer ease thee Phoebe sat By a fount Sitting by a fount I spide her Sweet her touch Rare hir voyce Touch voice what may distain you As she sung I did sigh And by sighs whilst that I tride her Oh mine eyes You did loose Hir first sight whose want did pain you Phoebes flockes White as wooll Yet were Phoebes locks more whiter Phoebes eyes Douelike mild Douelike eyes both mild and cruell Montan sweares In your lampes He will die for to delight her Phoebe yeeld Or I die Shall true hearts be fancies fuell Montanus had no sooner ended his sonnet but Coridon with alowe curtesie rose vp went with his fellow and shut their sheepe in the folds and after returning to Aliena Ganimede conducted them home weary to his poore cottage By the waye there was much good chat with Montanus about his loues hee resoluing Aliena that Phoebe was the fairest Shepherdice in al France that in his eye her beautie was equal with y e Nimphs But quoth he as of all stones the Diamond is most cleerest yet most hard for the Lapidorie to cut as of all flowres the Rose is the fairest and yet guarded with the sharpest prickles so of al our country lasses Phoebe is the brightest but the most coy of all to stoope vnto desire But let her take heed quoth he I haue heard of Narcissus who for his high disdain against Loue perished in the folly of his owne loue With this they were at Coridons Cottage where Montanus parted from them and they went in to rest Alinda and Ganimede glad of so contented a shelter made merry with the poore swaine and though they had but countrey fare and course loâ—ging yet their welcome was so greate and their cares so little that they counted their diet delicate and slept as soundly as if they had beene in the court of Torismond The next morne they lay long in bed as wearyed with the toyle of vnaccustomed trauaile but assoone as they got vp Aliena resolued there to set vp her rest and by the helpe of Coridon swapt a bargaine with his Landslord and so became mistres of the farme and the flocke her selfe putting on the attyre of the shepherdesse and Ganimide of a yong swaine euerye day leading foorth her flockes with such delight that she held her exile happy thoght no content to the blisse of a Countrey cottage Leauing her thus famous amongst the shepheards of Arden againe to Saladyne When Saladyne had a long while concealed a secrete resolution of reuenge could no longer hide fire in the flax nor oyle in the flame for enuy is like lightning that will appeare in the darkest fog It chaunced on a morning very early he cald vp certain of his seruants and went with them to the chamber of Rosader which being open hee entred with his crue and surprized his brother when he was a sleepe and bound him in fetters in the midst of his hall chained him to a post Rosader amazed at this strange chaunce began to reason with his brother about the cause of this sodaine extremity wherein he had wrongd and what fault he had committed worthy so sharpe a penance Saladyne answered him onely with a look of disdain and went his way leauing poore Rosader in a deepe perplexity Who thus abused fell into sundry passions but no means of releefe could be had wherupon for anger he grew into a discontented melancholy In which humour he continued two or three daies without meat insomuch that seeing his brother would giue him no food he fel into despaire of his life Which Adam Spencer the old seruant of sir Iohn of Bourdeaux seeing touched with the dutie loue hee ought to his olde maister felt a remorse in his conscience of his sonnes mishap and therefore although Saladine had giuen a generall charge to his seruants that none of them vpon pain of death should giue either meat or drinke to Rosader yet Adam Spencer in the night rose secretly brought him such victuals as he could prouide and vnlockt him and set him at liberty After Rosader had well feasted himselfe and felt he was loose straight his thoughts aymed at reuenge and now all being a sleepe hee would haue quit Saladyne with the methode of his own mischiefe But Adam Spencer did perswade him to the contrary with these reasons Sir quoth hee he content for this night go againe into your olde fetters so shall you trie the faith of friends and saue the life of an old seruant Tomorrow hath your brother inuited al your kinred allyes to a solempne breake fast onely to see you telling them all that you are mad faine to be tied to a poast Assoone as they come complain to them of the abuse proffered you by Saladyne If they redresse you why so but if they passe ouer your playntes sicco pede and hâ—ld with the violence of your brother before your innocence then thus I will leaue you vnlocke that you may breake out at your pleasure and at the ende of the hall shall you see stand a couple of good pollaxes one for you and another for mee When I giue you a wincke shake off your chaines and let vs plaie the men and make hauocke amongst them driue them out of the house and maintaine possession by force of armes till the King hath made a redresse of your abuses These wordes of Adam Spencer so perswaded Rosader that he went to the place of his punishment and stood there while the next morning About the time appointed came all the guestes bidden by Saladyne whom hee intreated with curteous and curious entertainment
that cares not for thee What Montanus there are many as faire as Phoebe but most of all more courteous than Phoebe I tell thee Shepheard fauour is Loues fuell then since thou canst not get that lette the flame vanish into smoake and rather sorrowe for a while then repent thee for euer I tell thee Ganimede quoth Montanus as they which are stung with the Scorpion cannot be recouered but by the Scorpion nor he that was wounded with Achilles lance bee cured but with the same truncheon so Apollo was faine to cry out that loue was onely eased with loue fancy healed by no medicine but fauour Phoebus had hearbs to heale all hurts but this passion Cyrces had charms for all chances but for affection Mercurie subtill reasons to refell all griefs but loue Perswasions are bootles reason lends no remedy counsell no comfort to such whome fancie hath made resolute therefore though Phoebe loues Ganimede yet Montanus must honor none but Phoebe Then quoth Ganimede may I rightly tearme thee a despairing louer that liuest without ioy and louest without hope but what shal I do Montanus to pleasure thee shal I despise Phoebe as she disdaines thee Oh quoth Montanus that were to renew my griefs and double my sorrows for the sight of her discontent were the censure of my death Alas Ganimede though I perish in my thoughts let not her die in her desires Of all passions loue is most impatient then lette not so faire a creature as Phoebe sinke vnder the burden of so deepe distresse Being loue sicke she is proued hart sicke all for the beautie of Ganimede Thy proportion hath intangled her affections and shee is snared in the beauty of thy excellence Then sith she loues thee so deare mislike not her deadly Be thou paramour to such a paragon she hath beauty to please thine eye and flockes to enrich thy store Thou canst not wish for more than thou shalt win by her for she is beautifull vertuous and wealthy three deepe perswasions to make loue frolicke A liena seeing Montanus cut it against the haire and pleade that Ganimede ought to loue Phoebe when his onely life was the loue of Phoebe answered him thus Why Montanus dost thou further this motion seeing if Ganimede marry Phoebe thy market is cleane mard Ah Mistres q. he so hath loue taught me to honour Phoebe that I would preiudice my life to pleasure her and die in despaire rather than shee should perish for want It shall suffice me to see her contented and to feed mine eye on her fauour If she marry though it bee my martyrdome yet if she be pleased I wil brooke it with patience tryumph in mine owne stars to see her desires satisfied Therefore if Ganimede be as courteous as he is beautifull let him shew his vertues in redressing Phoebes miseries And this Montanus pronounst with such an assured countenance that it amazed both Aliena and Ganimede to see the resolution of his loues so that they pitied his passions commended his patience deuising how they might by any subtiltie get Montanus the fauor of Phoebe Straight as womens heads are full of wiles Ganimede had a fetch to force Phoebe to fancie the shepheard malgrado the resolution of her mind he prosecuted his policie thus Montanus quoth he seeing Phoebe is so forlorne least I might be counted vnkind in not saluing so faire a creature I will goe with thee to Phoebe and there heare her selfe in word vtter that which shee hath discourst with her pen and then as Loue wils mee I will set downe my censure I will home by our house and send Coridon to accompany Aliena Montanus seemed glad of his determination and away they goe towards the house of Phoebe When they drew nigh to the cottage Montanus ran afore and went in and told Phoebe that Ganimede was at the doore This word Ganimede sounding in the eares of Phoebe draue hir into such an extasie for ioy that rising vp in her bed she was halfe reuined her wan colour began to waxe red and with that came Ganimede in who saluted Phoebe with such a courteous looke that it was half a salue to her sorows sitting him down by hir bed side he questioned about hir disease and where the paine chiefly helde hit Phoebe looking as louely as Venus in her night gear tainting her face with as ruddy a blush as Clitia did when shee bewrayed her loues to Phoebus taking Ganimede by the hande began thus Faire shepheard if loue were not more strong than nature or fancie the sharpest extreame my immodesty were the more my vertues the les for nature hath framed womens eyes bashfull their harts ful of feare theyr tongs ful of silence But loue that imperious loue where his power is predominant then he peruerts all wrests the wealth of nature to his owne wil an instance in my selfe fayre Ganimede for such a fire hath he kindeled in my thoughts that to finde ease for the flame I was forced to passe the bounds of modesty seek a salue at thy hands for my harms blame me not if I be ouer beld for it is thy beauty if I bee too forward it is fancie the deepe insight into thy vertues that makes me thus fond For let me say in a word what may be contained in a volume Phoebe loue Ganimede at this shee held downe her head and wept and Ganimede rose as one that would suffer no fish to hang on his fingers made this reply Water not thy plants Phoebe for I dopity thy plaints nor seek not to discouer thy loues in teares for I coniecture thy truth by thy passions sorrow is no salue for loues nor sighs no remedy for affection Therfore frolick Phoebe for if Ganimede can cure thee doubt not of recouery Yet this let me say without offence that it greeues mee to thwart Montanus in his fancies seeing his desires haue been so resolute his thoughts so loyall but thou alledgest that thou art forst from him by fate so I tell thee Phoebe either some starre or else some destenie fittes my mind rather with Adonis to die in chase than be counted a wanton in Venus knee Although I pitie thy martyrdome yet I can grant no marriage for though I held thee fair yet mine eie is not fettred loue grows not like the hearb Spattanna to his perfectiō in one night but creeps with the snaile yet at last attaines to the top Festina Lenter especially in loue for momentary fancies are often times the fruits of follies If Phoebe I should like thee as the Hiperborei do theyr dates which banket with them in the morning throw them away at night my folly should be great thy repentance more Therfore I wil haue time to turn my thoghts and my Loues shall growe vp as the water Cresses slowly but with a deepe roote Thus Phoebe thou maist see I disdaine not though I desire
were more prodigall in deciphering the riches of their bounties Wise he was as holding in his head a supreme conceipt of pollicie reaching with Nestor into the depth of all ciuil gouernement and to make his wisedome more gratious he had that salemingenii and pleasant eloquence that was so highly comâ—ended in Vlisses his valour was no lesse then his witte nor the â—roke of his launce no lesse forcible than the sweetnesse of his tonâ—ue was perswasiue for he was for his courage chosen the principâ—ll of all the Knights of Malta This hardy Knight thus enrichâ— with vertue and honour surnamed Sir Iohn of Burdeux hauing passed the prime of his youth in sundry battailes against the Tirkes at last as the date of time hath his course grewe aged his haires were siluer hued the map of his age was figured on his forhead Honour sate in the furrowes of his face and many yeares were pourtrayed in his wrinckled lineaments that all men might perceiue his glasse was runne and that Nature of necessitie chalenged her due Sir Iohn that with the Phenix knewe the tearme of his life was now expired and could with the Swan discouer his end by her songs hauing three sonnes by his wife Lynida the very pride of all his forepassed yeares thought now seeing death by constraint would compel him to leaue them to bestow vpon them such a Legacie as might bewray his loue and increase their insuing amitie Calling therefore these yong Gentlemen before him in the presence of all his fellow Knights of Malta he resolued to leaue them a memoriâ—l of all his fatherly care â—nseâ—ting downe a methode of their brotherly dueties Hauing therefore death in his looâ—es to mooue them to pittie and teares in his eyes to paint out the depth of his passions taking his elâ—est sonne by the hand he began thus Sir Iohn of Burdeaux Legacie he gaue to â—is Sonnes OH my Sons you see that Fate hath set a period of my years and Destenies haue determined the final ende of my dayes the Palme tree waxeth away ward for hee stoopeth in â—is height and my plumes are ful of sicke feathers touched with age I musâ— to my graue that dischargeth all cares and leaue you to the world that increaseth many sorrowes my siluer haires conteneth great experience and in the number of my yeares are pende lowne the subtleties of Fortune Therefore as I leaue you sone fadingâ— pelfe to counterchecke pouertie so I will bequeath yon â—nfallible precepts that shall lead you vnto vertue First therefore into thee Saladyne the eldest and therefore the chiefest piller of mâ— house wherein should bee ingraued as wel the excellency of thyfathers qualities as the essentiall forme of his proportion to theâ— I giue foureteene ploughlands with all my Mannor houses and richest place Next vnto Fernandine I bequeath twelue ploughlands But vnto Rosader the youngest I giue my Horse my Armour and my Launce with sixteene ploughlands for if the inwarde thoughts be discouered by outward shadowâ—â— Rosader wil exceed you all in bountie and honour Thus my Sonnes haue Iparred in your portions the substaÌ„ce of my wealth where in if you be as prodigall to spend as I haue beene carefull to get your friendes wil greene to see you more wastfull then I was bountifull your foes smile that my fal did begin in your excesse Let mine honour be the glasse of your actions the fame of my vertues the Load-starre to direct the course of your pilgrimage Ayme your deedes by my honorable endeuours and shew your selues fiens worthy of so florishing a tree least as the birdes Halcyones which exceede in whitenesse I hatch yong ones that exceed in blacknes Climbe not my sonnes aspiring pride is a vapour that a scendeth hie but soone turneth to a smoake they which stare at the starres stumble vpon the â—â—ies and such as gaze at the Sunne vnlesse they be Eagle eyed al blinde Soare not with the Hobbie least you fal with the â—aâ—e nor attempt not with Phaeton least you drowne with lâ—â—râ—sâ— Fortune when shee wils you to flye tempers your plumeâ— witâ—waxe and therefore eyther sit stil and make no wing or else bewaâ—e the Sunne and hold Dedalus axiome authentical Medium tunere tutissimum Low shrubs haue deepe rootes and poore Cottages great patience Fortune looks euer vpward and enuy asireth to nestle with dignitie Take heed my sonnes the meane i sweetest melodie where strings high stretch eyther soone crack or quickly grow out of time Let your Countryes care be yoâ— hearts content and thinke that you are not borne for your selue but to leuell your thoughts to beloyal to your prince careful fothe common-weale and faythful to your friendes so shal Frauce say these men are as excellent in vertues as they be exquise in features Oh my sons a friend is a pretious Iewell within hose bosome you may vnload your sorrowes and vnfold youiecrets and he eyther wil releeue with counsaile or perswade whreason but take heed in the choyce the outward them makes it the inwarde man nor are the dimples in the face the Calendâ—s of truth When the Lyquorice leafe looketh most dry then it â—most wet when the shoares of Lepanthus are most quiet themey forepoint a storme The Baaran leafe the more fayre it lookâ— the more infectious it is and in the sweetest wordes is oft hidâ—ost trechery Therefore my sonnes chuse a friend as the Hiperorei do the mettals seuer them from the ore with fire let theâ— not bide the stampe before they be currant so trie then trust â—â—time be the touchstone of friendship then frends faithâ—â—â—â—â—y them vp for iewels Be valiant my sonnes for cowardise is the enemy to honour but not too rash for that is extreme Fortitude is the meane and that is limited within bonds and prescribed with circumstance But aboue al with that he fetcht a deep sigh beware of Loue for it is farre more perillous then pleasant and yet I tel you it allureth as ill as the Syrens Oh my sonnes fancie is a fickle thing and beauties paintings are trickt vp with times colours which being set to drie in the Sunâ—e perish with the same Venus is a wanton and though her laâ—es pretend libertie yet there is nothing but losse and glistering miserie Cupids wings are plumed with the feathers of vanitiâ— and his arrowes where they pierce inforce nothing but deadly desires a womans eye as it is pretious to behold so is it preiudicial to gaze vpon for as it affoordeth delight so it snareth vntâ—â—eath Trust not theyr fawning fauours for their loues are like tâ—e breath of a man vppon steele which no sooner lighteth on but sleapeth off and their passions are as momentary as the colour of a Polipe which changeth at the sight of euery obiect My bâ—eath waxeth short and mine eyes waxeth dimme the houre is coâ—â— I must away therefore let this suffice women are wantons â—nd yet men cannot want one and
therefore if you loue choose â—r that hath eyes of Adamant that wil turne onely to one poynt â—r heart of a Diamond that wil receiue but one forme her tongâ—e of a Sethinleafe that neuer wagges but with a Southeast â—â—nde and yet my sonnes if she haue all these qualities to be chalâ— obedient and silent yet for that she is a woman shalt thou find â—â— her sufficient vanities to counteruaile her vertues Oh now â—â— sonnes euen now take these my last wordes as my latest Legae for my threed is spunne and my foot is in the graue keepe my recepts as memorials of your fathers counsailes and let them be lodged in the secrete of your hearts for wisedome is better thawealth and a golden sentence worth a world of treasure In mâ—aâ— see marke my sonnes the folly of man that being dust climbth with Biares to reatch at the Heauens and ready euery minu to dye yet hopeth for an age of pleasures Oh mans life is like lihtning that is but a flash and the longest date of his yeares buts a â—auens blaze Seeing then man is so mortal be careful that â—hy life be vertuous that thy death may bee ful of admirable honors so shalt thou chalenge fame to be thy fautor and put obliuion to exile with thine honorable accions But my Sonnes least you should forget your Fathers axiomes take this scroule wherein reade what your father dying wils you to execute liuing At this hee shrunke downe in his bed and gaue vp the ghost Iohn of Bourdeaux being thus dead was grealy lamented of his sonnes and bewayled of his friends especially of his fellow Knights of Malta who attended on his funerals which were performed with great solemnitie His obsequies done Saladyne caused next his Epitaph the contents of the scroule to bee pourtrayed out which were to this effect The contents of the Scedule which Sir Iohn of Bourdeaux gaue to his Sonnes MY Sonnes behold what portion I do giue I leaue you goods but they are quickly lost I leaue aduise to schoole you how to liue I leaue you wit but wonne with little cost But keepe it well for counsaile still is one When Father friends and worldly goods are gone In choice of thrift let honour be your gaine Winne it by vertue and by manly might In dooing good esteeme thy toyle no paine Protect the fatherlesse and widowes right Fight for thy faith thy Country and thy King For why this thrift wil proue a blessed thing In choise of wife preferre the modest chast Lillies are faire in shew but foule in smell The sweetest lookes by age are soone defast Then choose thy wife by wit and liuing well Who brings thee wealth and many faults withall Presents the hony mixt with bitter gall In choise of friends beware of light beliefe A painted tongue may shroud a subtill heart The Syrens teares doe threaten mickle griefe Foresee my sonnes for feare of sodaine smart Chuse in your wants and he that friends you then When richer growne befriend you him agen Learne with the Ant in summer to prouide Driue with the Bee the Droane from out the hiue Buyld lyke the Swallow in the summer tyde Spare not too much my sonnes but sparing thriue Be poore in folly rich in all but sinne So by your death your glory shall beginne Saladyne hauing thus set vp the Scedule and hangd about his Fathers hearse many passionate Poems that France might suppose him to be passing sorrowful hee clad himselfe and his brothers all in black and in such sable sutes discoursed his griefe but as the Hiena when she mourns is then most guileful so Saladine vnder this shewe of griefe shaddowed a heart ful of contented thoughts The Tyger though he hide his claws wil at last discouer his rapine the Lions looks are not the maps of his meaning nor a mans phisnomie is not the display of his secrets Fire cannot be hid in the straw nor the nature of man so concealed but at last it wil haue his course nurture art may do much but that Natura natuâ—ans which by propagation is ingrafted in the hart will be at last perforce predominant according to the olde verse Naturam expellas furca licet tamen vsque recurret So fares it with Saladine for after a months mourning was past he fel to consideration of his Fathers testament how hee had bequeathed more to his yoonger brothers than himselfe that Rosader was his Fathers darling but now vnder his tuition that as yet they were not come to yeares he being their gardain might if not defraud them of their due yet make such hauocke of theyr legacies lauds as they should be a great deal the lighter whervpon he began thus to meditate with himselfe Saladynes meditation with himselfe SAladyne how art thou disquieted in thy thoughts perplexed with a world of restlesse passions hauing thy minde troubled with the tenour of thy Fathers testament thy heart fiered with the hope of present preferment By the one thou art counsaild to content thee with thy fortunes by the other perswaded to aspire to higher wealth Riches Saladyne is a great royaltie and there is no sweeter phisick than store Auicen like a foole forgot in his Aphorismes to say that gold was the most pretious restoratiue and that treasure was the most excellent medecine of the minde Oh Saladyne what were thy Fathers precepts breathed into the winde hast thou so soone forgotten his principles did he not warne thee from coueting without honor and climing without vertue did he not forbid thee to ayme at any action that should not bee honourable and what wil bee more preiudiciall to thy credite than the carelesse ruine of thy brothers prosperitie and wilt thou become the subuersion of their fortunes is there any sweeter thing than concord or a more precious Iewel then amitie are you not sonnes of one father siens of one tree birds of one neast and wilt thou become so vnnaturall as to robbe them whom thou shouldest relieue No Salydine intreat them with fauours and entertaine them with loue so shalt thou haue thy conscience cleare and thy renowne excellent Tush what wordes are these base foole farre vnfit if thou be wise for thy humour What though thy father at his death talked of many friuilous matters as one that doted for age raued in his sicknes shal his words be axioms and his talke be so authenticall that thou wilt to obserue them preindice thy selfe No no Saladyne sicke mens willes that are parole and haue neither hand nor seale are like the lawes of a Cittie written in dust which are broken with the blast of euery winde What man thy father is dead and hee can neither helpe thy fortunes nor measure thy actions therfore bury his words with his carkasse and be wise for thy selfe What tis not so olde as true Non sapit qui sibi non sapit Thy brother is yoong keepe him now in awe make him not checke mate
indued with admiâ—rable patience Why quoth Aliena needs there patience in loue Or else in nothing quoth Rosader for it is a restlesse sore thaâ— hath no ease a cankar that still frees a disease that taketh awaâ— all hope of sleepe If then so many sorrowes sodaine ioyes moâ—mentary pleasures continuall feares daily griefes and nightâ— woes be founde in loue then is not hee to bee accounted patienâ— that smothers all these passions with silenceâ— Thou speakest by experience quoth Ganimede and therfore we hold al thy words for Axiomes but is Loue such a lingring maladie It is quoth he either extreame or meane according to the minde of the partie that entertaines it for as the weedes grow longer vntoucht then the prettie floures and the flint lyes safe in the quarry when the Emerauld is suffering the Lapidaries toole so meane men are freed from Venus iniuries when kings are enuironed with a laborinth of her cares The whiter the Lawne is the deeper is the moale the more purer the Chrysolite the sooner stained and such as haue their hearts ful of honour haue their loues ful of the greatest sorowes But in whomsoeuer quoth Rosader hee fixeth his dart hee neuer leaueth to assault him till either hee hath wonne him to folly or fancy for as the Moone neuer goes without the starre Lunisequa so a Louer neuer goeth without the vnrest of his thoughts For proofe you shall heare another fancy of my making Now doo gentle Forrester quoth Ganimede and with that he read ouer this Sonetto Rosaders second Sonetto Turne I my lookes vnto the Skies Loue with his arrows wounds mine eies If so I gaze vpon the ground Loue then euery floure is found Search I the shade to flie my paine He meets me in the shade againe Wend I to walke in secret groue Euen there I meet with sacred Loue. If so I bayne me in the spring Euen on the brinke I heare him sing If so I meditate alone He will be partner of my mone If so I mourn he weeps with me And where I am there will he be When as I talke of Rosalynd The God from coynesse waxeth kind And seems in self same flames to fry Because he loues as wel as I. Sweet Rosalynd for ptity rue For why then Loue I am more true He if he speed will quickly flie But in thy loue I liue and die How like you this Sonnet quoth Rosader Marry quoth Ganimede for the pen well for the passionill for as I praise the one I pitie the other in that thou shouldest hunt after a cloude and loue either without reward or regard Tis neither frowardnesse quoth Rosader but my hard fortunes whose destenies haue crost me with her absence for did shee feele my loues she would not let me linger in these sorrowes Women as they are faire so they respect faith and estimate more if they be honourable the wit than the wealth hauing loyaltie the obiect wherat they ayme their fancies But leauing off these interparleyes you shall heare my last Sonnetto and then you haue heard all my Poetry and with that he sight out this Rosaders third Sonnet Of vertuous Loue my self may boast alone Since no suspect my seruice may attaint For perfect faire she is the only one Whom I esteem for my beloued Saint Thus for my faith I only beare the bell And for her faire she only doth excell Then let fond Petrarch shrowd his Lawraes praise And Tasso cease to publish his affect Since mine the faith confirmd at all assaies And hers the faire which all men do respect My lines hir faire hir faire my faith assures Thus I by Loue and Loue by me indures Thus quoth Rosader here is an ende of my Poems but for all this no release of my passions so that I resemble him that in the deapth of his distresse hath none but the Eccho to answere him Ganimede pitttying her Rosader thinking to driue him out of his amorous melancholy said that now the Sunne was in his Meridionall heat and that it was high noone therefore wee shepheards say tis time to go to dinner for the Sunne and our stomackes are Shepheards dials Therefore Forrester if thou wilt take such fare as comes out of our homely scrips welcome shall answere whatsoeuer thou wantst in delicates Aliena tooke the entertainment by the ende and tolde Rosader hee should bee her guest He thankt them heartily and sat with them downe to dinner where they had such cates as Countrey state did allow them sawst with such content and such sweete prattle as it seemed farre more sweet than all their Courtly iunckets Assoone as they had taken their repast Rosader giuing them thankes for his good cheare would haue been gone but Ganimede that was loath to let him passe out of her presence began thus Nay Forrester quoth he if thy busines be not the greater seeing thou saift thou art so deeply in loue let mee see how thou canst wooe I will represent Rosalynde and thou shalt bee as thou art Rosader see in some amorous Eglogue how if Rosalynd were present how thou couldst court her and while we sing of Loue Aliena shall tune her pipe and plaie vs melodie Content quoth Rosader And Aliena shee to shew her willingnesse drew forth a recorder and began to winde it Then the louyng Forrester began thus The wooing Eglogue betwixt Rosalynde and Rosader Rosader I pray thee Nymph by all the working words By all the teares and sighs that Louers know Or what our thoughts or faltring tongue affords I craue for mine in ripping vp my woe Sweet Rosalynd my loue would God my loue My life would God my life aye pitie me Thy lips are kind and humble like the doue And but with beautie pitie wil not be Looks on mine eyes made red with rufull teares From whence the raine of true remorse descendeth All palâ— in lookes and I though yoong in yeares And nought but loue or death my dayes befriendeth Oh let no stormy rigour knit thy browes Which Loue appointed for his mercy seat The tallest tree by Boreas breath it bowes The yron yeels with hammer and to keat Oh Rosalynd then be thou pitifull For Rosalynd is only beautifull Rosalynde Loues want ons arme their traitrous sutes with teares With vows with oaths with lookes with showers of gold But when the fruit of their affects appeares The simple heart by subtil sleights is sold. Thus sucks the yeelding eare the poysoned bait Thus feeds the hart vpon his endles harmes Thus glut the thoughts themselues on self deceit Thus blind the eyes their sight by subtil charmes The louely lookes the sighs that storme so sore The deaw of deep dissembled doublenesse These may attempt but are of power no more Where beauty leanes to wit and soothfastnesse Oh Rosader then be thou wittifull For Rosalynd scorns foolish pitifull Rosader I pray thee Rosalynd by those sweet eyes That stain the Sun in shine the morn in cleare By those sweet cheeks where
hath fetcht her waxe playing lyke the inhabitants of the Iland Tenerifa who when they haue gathered the sweet spices vse the trees for fuell so men when they haue glutted themselues with the faire of women faces holde them for necessary euils and wearied with that which they seemed so much to loue cast away fancy as children doo their Rattles and loathing that which so deeply before they liked especially such as take loue in a minute and haue their eyes attractiue lyke ieate ape to entertaine any obiect are as readie to let it slip againe Saladyne hearing how Aliena harpt still vpon on◠string which was the doubt of mens constancy he broke off her sharpe inuectiue thus I grant Aliena quoth hee many men haue done amisse in prouing soone ripe and soone rotten but particular instances inferre no generall conclusions and therefore I hope what others haue faulted in shall not preiudice my fauours I wil not vse sophistry to confirme my loue for that is subtiltie nor long discourses least my wordes might be thought more than my fayth but if this will suffice that by the honor of a Gentleman I loue Aliena and wooe Aliena not to crop the blossomes and reiect the tree but to consumate my faithfull desires in the honorable ende of marriage At this word marriage Aliena stood in a maze what to answere fearing that if shee were too coy to driue him away with her disdaine and if she were too curteous to discouer the heate of her desires In a dilemma thus what to doo at last this shee sayd Saladyne euer since I saw thee I fauored thee I cannot dissemble my desires because I see thou doest faithfully manifest thy thoughtes and in liking thee I loue thee so farre as mine honor holdes fancy still in suspence but if I knew thee as verteous as thy father or as well qualified as thy brother Rosader the doubt should bee quickly decided but for this time to giue thee an answere assure thy selfe this I will either marry with Saladyne or still liue a virgine and with this they strained one anothers hand Which Ganimede espying thinking hee had had his Mistresse long inough at shrift sayd what a match or no A match quoth Aliena or els it were an ill market I am glad quoth Ganimede I wold Rosader were wel here to make vp a messe Well remembred quoth Saladyne I forgot I left my brother Rosader alone and therefore least being solitary hee should encrease his sorrowes I wil hast me to him May it please you then to command mee any seruice to him I am readie to bee a dutifull messenger Onely at this time commend me to him quoth Aliena and tell him though we cannot pleasure him we pray for him And forget not quoth Ganimede my commendations but say to him that Rosalynd sheds as many teares from her heart as he drops of blood from his wounds for the sorow of his misfortunes feathering all her thoughts with disquiet till his welfare procure her content say thus good Saladyne and so farwel He hauing his message gaue a courteous adieu to them both especially to Aliena and so playing loath to depart went to his brother But Aliena shee perplexed and yet ioyfull past away the day pleasantly still praising the perfection of Saladyne not ceasing to chat of her new Loue till euening drew on and then they folding their sheep went home to bed Where we leaue them and return to Phoebe Phoebe fiered with the vncouth flame of loue returned to her fathers house so gauled with restlesse passions as now shee began to acknowledge that as there was no flower so fresh but might be parched with the Suune no tree so strong but might be shaken with a storme so there was no thought to chast but Time armed with Loue could make amorous for shee that held Diana for the Goddesse of her deuotion was now fain to flie to the Aulter of Venus as suppliant now with praiers as she was froward afore with disdaine As shee lay in her bed shee called to mynd the seueral bewties of yoong Ganimede first his locks which being amber hued passeth the wreathe that Phoebus puts on to make his front glorious his browe of yuorie was like the seate where Loue and Maiestie sits inthronde to enchaine Fancy his eyes as bright as the burnishing of the heauen darting forth frowns with disdaine and smiles with fauour lightning such lookes as would enflame desire were she wrapt in the Circle of the frozen Zoane in his cheekes the vernullion teinture of the Rose florished vpon naturall Alabaster the blushe of the Morne and Lunaes siluer showe were so liuely pourtrayed that the Troyan that filles out wine to Iupiter was not halfe so bewtifull his face was full of pleasance and al the rest of his liniaments proportioned with such excellence as Phoebe was fertred in the sweetnes of his feature The Idea of these perfections tumbling in her mynde made the poore Shepheardesse so perplexed as feeling a pleasure tempred with intollerable paines and yet a disquiet mixed with a content shee rather wished to die than to liue in this amorous anguish But wishing is litle worth in such extreames therfore was she forst to pine in her malady without any salue for her sorrows Reueale it she durst not as daring in such matters to make none her secretarie and to conceale it why it doubled her griefe for as fire supprest growes to the greater flame and the Curreut stopt to the more violent streame so Loue smothered wrings the hare with the deeper passions Perplexed thus with sundry agonies her food began to faile and the disquiet of her mind began to worke a distemperature of her body that to be short Phoebe fell extreme sicke and so sicke as there was almost left no recouery of health Her father seeing his fair Phoebe thus distrest sent for his friends who sought by medecine to cure and by counsaile to pacifie but all in vaine for although her body was feeble through long fasting yet did shee magis aegrotare animo quà m corpore Which her friends perceyued and sorrowed at but salue it they could not The newes of her sicknesse was bruted abroad through all the Forrest which no sooner came to Montanus eare but hee like a mad man came to visit Phoebe Where sitting by her bed side he began his Exordium with so many teares and sighes that she perceiuing the extremitie of his sorrows began now as a Louer to pittie them although Ganimede helde her from redressing them Montanus craued to know the cause of her sicknesse tempred with secret plaints but she answered him as the rest with silence hauing still the forme of Ganimede in her mind and coniecturing how she might reueale her loues To vtter it in wordes she found her selfe too bashfull to discourse by any friend shee would not trust any in her amours to remain thus perplexed still and conceale all it was a double death Whereupon
the bride in the most seemliest sort that might bee but howsoeuer shee helpt to prancke out Aliena yet her eye was still on Ganimede who was so neat in a sute of gray that he seemed Endymion when he won Luna with his lookes or Paris when he playd the swain to get the bewtie of the Nymph Oenone Ganimede like a prettie Page waited on his mistresse Aliena and ouerlookt that all was in a readines against the bridegroom shuld come Who attired in a Forresters sute came accompanied with Gerismond his brother Rosader early in y e morning where arriued they were solemnly entertained by Aliena the rest of the country swains Gerismond very highly commending the fortunate choice of Saladyne in y t he had chosen a shepheardesse whose vertues appeared in her outward bewties being no lesse fair than seeming modest Ganimede comming in and seeing her father began to blush Nature woorking affects by her secred effectes fearce could she abstain from teares to see her father in so low fortunes he that was wont to sit in his royal Pallaice attended on by twelue noble Peeres now to be contented with a simple Cottage and a troupe of reuelling woodmen for his traine The consideration of his fall made Ganimede full of sorrowes yet that she might triumph ouer Fortune with patience and not any way dash that merry day with her dumps she smothered her melancholy with a shadow of mirth and verie reuerently welcommed the king not according to his former degree but to his present estate with such diligence as Gerismond began to commend the page for his exquisit person and excellent qualities As thus the King with his Forresters frolickt it among the shepheards Coridon came in with a faire mazer full of Sidar and presented it to Gerismond with such a clownish salute that he began to smile tooke it of the old shepheard very kindly drinking to Aliena and the rest of her faire maydes amongst whome Phoebe was the formost Aliena pledged the King drunke to Rosader so the carrowse went rounde from him to Phoebe c. As they were thus drinking and ready to goe to Church came in Montanus apparelled all in tawny to signifie that he was forsaken on his head hee wore a garland of willow his bottle hanged by his side whereon was painted dispaire and on his sheephooke hung two Sonnets as labels of his loues and fortunes Thus attired came Montanus in with his face as full of griefe as his heart was of sorowes shewing in his countenance the map of extremities Assoone as the Shepheards sawe him they did him all the honor they could as being the flower of al the swaines in Arden for a bonnier boy was there not seen since the wanton wag of Troy that kept sheep in Ida. He seeing the King gessyng it to be Gerismond did him all the reuerence his country curtesie could afford Insomuch that the king wondring at his attire began to question what he was Montanus ouerhearing him made this reply I am sir quoth he loues swaine as ful of inward discontents as I seeme fraught with outward follies Mine eyes like bees delight in sweet flowers but sucking their fill on the faire of beauty they carry home to the Hiue of my heart farre more gaul than hony and for one drop of pure deaw at tun full of deadly Aconiton I hunt with the Fly to pursue the Eagle that flying too nigh the Sun I perish with the Sun my thoughts are aboue my reach and my desires more than my fortunes yet neither greater than my loues But daring with Phaetō I fal with Irarus and seeking to passe the mean I die for being so mean my night fleeps are waking slombers as full of sorrowes as they be far from rest my dayes labors are fruitlesse amors staring at a star stombling at a straw leauing reason to follow after repentance yet euery passion is a pleasure thogh it pinch because loue hides his wormeseed in figs his poysons in sweet potions shadows preiudize with the maske of pleasure The wisest counsellers are my deep discontents and I hate that which should salue my harm like the patient which stung with the Tarantula loaths musick and yet the disease incurable but by melody Thus Sir restlesse I hold my selfe remediles as louing without either reward or regard and yet louing bicause there is none worthy to be loued but the mistresse of my thoughts And that I am as full of passions as I haue discourst in my plaintes Sir if you please see my Sonnets and by them censure of my sorrowes These wordes of Montanus brought the king into a great wonder amazed as much at his wit was as his attire insomuch that he tooke the papers off his hooke and read them to this effect Montanus first Sonnet Alas how wander I amidst these woods Whereas no day bright shine doth finde accesse But where the melancholy fleeting floods Darke as the night my night of woes expresse Disarmde of reason spoilde of natures goods Without redresse to salue my heauinesse I walke whilest thought too cruell to my harmes With endles grief my heedles iudgement charmes My silent tongue assailde by secret feare My traitrous eyes imprisoned their ioy My fatall peace deuourd in fained cheare My heart inforst to harbour in annoy My reason robde of power by yeelding eare My fond opinions slaue to euery toy Oh Loue thou guide in my vncertaine way Woe to thy bow thy fire the cause of my decay Et florida pungunt When the King had read this Sonnet he highly commended the deuice of the shepheard that could so wittily wrap his passions in a shaddow and so couertly conceale that which bred his chiefest discontent affirming that as the least shrubs haue their tops the smallest haires their shadowes so the meanest swaines had their fancies and in their kynde were as charie of Loue as a King Whelted on with this deuice he tooke the second and read it the effects were these Montanus second Sonnet When the Dog Full of rage With his irefull eyes Frownes amidst the skies The Shepheard to asswage The fury of the heat Himselfe doth safely seat By a fount Full of faire Where a gentle breath Mounting from beneath Tempreth the aire There his flocks Drinke their fill And with ease repose Whilest sweet sleep doth close Eyes from toylsome ill But I burne Without rest No defensiue power Shields from Phoebes lower Sorrow is my best Gentle Loue Lowre no more If thou wilt inuade In the secret shade Labour not so sore I my selfe And my flock◠They their loue to please I my selfe to ease Both leaue the shadie oakes Content to burne in fire Saith Loue doth so desire Et florida pungunt Gerismond seeing the pithy vaine of those Sonets began to make further enquiry what hee was Whereupon Rosader discourst vnto him the loue of Montanus to Phoebe his great loialite her deep crueltie and how in reuenge the