all other affections and passions of the minde like a most excellent picture that is bordered about with Antike Boscage or Crotesko works of slight estimation This loue is not the most fruitlessest and base of all Passions as being begot by Desire and Sloath as working vppon weake hearts and frenzies as onely accompanying mutinous passions and discomfortable ielousies and in the ende aspyreth to a minutes Delight which is vsherd with much paine and followed by an eternall future repentance No no my Thirsis true loue and true louers doe mingle and confound themselues so in each other with a generall mixture that they out-weare and loose the port or gate of their first entrance Reason being taken away and a more excellent and more fatall power made Mistresse of that neuer to be vntied vnion these passions which they feigne to be his consorts are sicknesses of the minde which enuying loues exquisitenesse seeke with their poysons to confound his beauties but in the ende like cloudes betwixt the Sunne and our eiesights doe but darken loue that when loue breakes out it may be more resplendant As Siluagio was thus going on and discoursing praysing loue with disprayses Thirsis whose minde was busyed about much higher thoughts woulde suffer his eares to retayne nothing saue onelye the sounde of his speeches till in the ende lifting vppe their heades they might espie the onely Paragon of this worldes knowledge the excellent Melidora somewhat a farre off comming in the selfe same path in which them-selues walked in so much that except they retyred they must perforce meete her eye to eye and visage to visage Shee was Nymph-like cloathed in sundrie coloured silkes which being placed one vppon another were of an equall distance one shorter then another the in-most being longest as brauing of his most inwarde and familiar acquaintance yet all of them ioyning their beautyes together made round about her an arteficiall Rayne-bowe her hayre beeing wound vp in a lace of golde was intermingled with manye Flowers all which beauties as if they had beene too glorious for heauen or to rich for earth were shadowed and all ouer-cast with a large vaile of white Cypresse In this sorte shee was returning from the Temple of Diana that day beeing the great Saboath dedicated to the Goddesse whereby the auncient ordinances and edictes of that place all the Nimphes are to make their personall appearance and to offer solemne sacrifice and other priuate ceremonyes to the Queene of Chastitye beeing all vaylde from the iudyciall censure of the eye-sight least the misprision of a blush or the attaindure of a pale looke shoulde giue occasion to a wanton thought to misdeeme innocence In this Temple vppon this day if there bee found therein or after knowledge bring to light that there might haue beene found therein anye man or creature of the Male kinde it is present death without appeale or iustification In this sorte like the glorious Sunne in his noone-tyde progresse came she tracing along the vallyes her pretty foote scarce pressing downe the flower that it troade vppon But Thirsis eyes which long before had taken a full draught of her beautie being now lightning strooke with the beames of her presence wanting power to retire his soule being retired from al power to cōmand his intendments amazedly stood stil with fixte eyes swolne heart sad thoughts stiffe ioyntes and all the terrors that could accompanye Loue in his desperate estate till Siluagio whose vnrefined spirit did more wonder then retaine the remembrance of what he wondered at awakning Thirsis intranced soule with earnest perswasions desired him once more to incounter the Goddesse of his fortunes alledging that stale hope which is euer most hoplesse that she was a woman and there was no impossibilities But Thirsis who hauing once seene Disdaine carried euer after his remembrance in his bosome like an affrighted child that hides his head when the nurse talkes of a Bugge-beare would faine haue gone aside from his sorrow telling Siluagio it was but labour lost sith both her greatnesse vertue and chast thoughts were in this conflict his mortall enemies But Siluagio taking vpon him the power of Reason to ouerthrow Passiō with a friēdly vpbraiding of Thirsis timerousnesse by no meanes would be withstoode but would force perforce enforce him to meete the Princesse saying who dares not aduenture can neuer attaine neither he which will not hazard vpon peril shall haue the honour of perils ouerthrow therefore aduance thy falne thoughts my Thirsis and pleade their humble seruiceablenesse whilest I with-drawe my selfe into this groaue and pray for thy succeding fortunes At this Siluagio withdrawing himselfe apart yet not so farre but that his eares might haue part of their conference the noble Princesse keeping her direct course and being come euen almost to the place where the loue-thralld Shepheard stoode the poore Swaine most humbly falling vpon his knees gaue her this salutation For euer may the grasse be greene most sacred Nimph which thou treadest vpon with thy more daintie feet and may an eternall Spring flourish in thy walks as thine immortall Beautie flourisheth in the hearts and eyes of all thy beholders To this salute the Princesse in a prettie silent blush giuing him a sleight thanks offered to passe by him as carried away with farre greater deseignes then the note of his fauours But the forlorne Shepheard who before fearing to offend nowe hauing giuen offence imagining Iniurie and it to haue both but one merite staying the Nymph by her sacred garments binding his knees still Apprentices to the base earth thus seconded his former speech after many teares and sighes interruptions Thou onely Superlatiue of all thy sexe euen for thy vertues sake flie not from thy seruants presence but if it be possible that the desperate anguish of my loue may raise any appearance of pittie in the all-sauing Firmament of thy sweete chaste and sober countenacne euen for the honour of thine owne deare name vnto which all the hearts of Kinges are tributarie sende forth some sparke to lighten my darke soule O shunne me not I say alas t' is for the harmelesse Lambe to shunne the deuouring Woolfe you are too fearefull Ladie O you are farre too timerous I am your seruant your vassaile and the worke of your owne eyes making alas I come not to offer violēce but to receiue outrage Deare Goddesse emptie thy Quiuer spend thy Shafts vppon my soule O sticke them vp to the feathers in my heart for well I remember thou diddest long since giue mee that incurable wound which corsiue like eating my heart hath confounded my soule and Reason leauing nothing but thy pittie to call me from eternall bondage O thou immortall mirror where beautie findes out her best beauties thou that art the kingly seat of triumphant loue daine that thy faire eyes which make the morning blush which parch heauen scorch earth fire the woods breakes the frost flowers the earth and turnes the darke night to
rudenesse of your attendants nay I feare your executioners who with barbarous blowes made answere to a curteous demaund was it that hath dispeopled you and displeased mee for which I with a heartie humblenesse intirelye craue pardon The noble Ladie hauing in his speech taken most amplified notes of a princely magnanimitie and beholding in the hie top-gallant of his valour so low a decline to honour absolute weaknesse and withall studying vpon the error of his conceyte which had mistaken her for Hellen Queene of Corinth loath to loose an opportunitie so happily ouertaken And in feare by too suddaine a discouerie to hazard that which with an earnest longing shee desired was contented a little by no denyall to maintaine his misbeliefe and therefore in this sort replyed Worthie Sir if I faile in the homage due to so seeming a worthinesse let my weake sex and the ignorance attending me in my weaknesse be the excusefull pardon of my faultinesse And the lesse I pittie though euerie death is weepe-worthie the ouerthrow of these my followers sith their rude eyes were so bad intelligencers as would not let their hearts vnderstande that euen in your outwardest showe was tokens of more then ordinarie presence yet let mee intreate you and coniure you by all those tenders you haue made me of the treasures of your seruice first to let mee knowe your byrth fortune and your hither aduenture and then not to forsake mee till as you founde mee you leaue mee againe in the handes of other safetie To this he made answere that as concerning his birth which he couetted to conceale in the bosom of silence hee was borne in Iberia and though vnworthily yet Prince and heyre of that Dominion his name was Adunatus the bitternesse of whose fortune bore in it such tragicke matter of a life fore-worne and wasted with the most vnspeakablest miserie that euer absolute miser could intitle miserable as hee did not onely grieue but feared to discouer to the worlde the infinitenesse of his woes which as he was perswaded went far beyond either comparison or coniecture of the wofullest estate whatsoeuer and therefore most humblie besought her that hee might no further reueale the wretchednesse of his mishaps whose vntunefulnesse would but distaste the noble eare of her vnderstanding lastly for his aduenture thither hee said it was a blessed mischance and a happy shipwracke because he hoped that her excellencie of whose wrongs euen Gods Angels stood agreeued should from the hand of his danger reap the new inioyment of her absolute safetie and therefore that she should not need to command his seruice but rather study how to imploy his seruice which all be worthy matter more precious then the dearenesse of his life commanded him to other far remoued aduentures yet for her noble vertues sake he vowed not to depart from her till her owne free will should giue a resolute libertie to his other next desired indeuours This princely legacie said she is a royall inrichment to the lowest descent of Fortune But O this worlds fashion this courseship of words this father accomplimēt this honie aire this bond of breath this coppi hold right of friendship is no other then the shadowes of our bodies which then at all is not when wee most assuredly imagine it is and I feare mee this bequest will bee but as the Testament of a liuing man which is apt to change with the change of euerie opinion Thinke not so Madam replied he for you shall not finde it so and with that began to lay protestation vppon protestation vowe vppon vowe and oath vppon oath knitting them all-together with the bond of an vpright Religion so that the Noble Lady whose owne opinion like a true speaking Augure deliuered most large Prophesies of his excellent singularities vnwilling any longer to detaine him from the knowledge of that where-vnto time and her desires must perforce bring him in plaine and sweete framed wordes graced with the state of so well setled a countenance as shewed Maiestie to bee the birth-right inheritance of a royal discent told him wherin he had mistaken her and that she was not as he supposed Hellen Queene of Corinth but Euronusa Queene of Tenedos one that if loue and affection had power to make two one was in nothing diuided from that dearelye and euer to be beloued Hellen and that hauing had notice to what damnable vse this Apostate and Postridian day was reserued namely the destruction of her who till this time had beene the sauegard of many kinglie hearts and hearts Kingdomes was come either with her prayers teares or the threates of a diuine Iustice who as the apple of his eye maintaineth the oppressed estate of the innocent to take away or at least deferre the vniust rigour of her vndeserued condemnation to which shee had many hopefull and well pleasing perswasions as her estate power and kindred the lawe of Nations and the opinion of the worlde apt to rebell where so vnnaturall tyrannie is offered to an annoynted soueraigne but chiefly and aboue all these an antient and long exercised acquaintance betwixt her and the noble Phalantus who as she heard being a principall actor vpon this stage of suspition was not vnlikely to rule and ouer-rule the tyde of mutinous and barbarous misconceyued credulityes and with him she intended to deale so effectually that he should not onely be free from the detection of so monstrous an imagination but if not for vertues sake yet for his Honours sake him-selfe seeke to vndergoe by the iust tryall of a well managed sworde the happie meanes of her deliuerance But said she fayre Prince since the heauens who in their all-knowing vprightnesse know what is best for their gloryes and our weaknesse haue allotted you as a sacred Vmpiere in this deuout and most holy action Be omnipotent in thy resolutions goe forward and persist euen to the death in this all-loue-gaining atchieuement so shal thine honor either exceed the glories of thy great byrth or thy death be crowned with an immortall Diadem of mens prayses and admirations Neuer did the vnspotted Moone blush with a more bashfull amazement when mistaking her desires shee kist the sleeping cheeke of Endimion then this all-worthie Prince did when hee behelde himselfe thus intrapped within the commandement of an vnexpected obedience but when he had called into the depth of his consideration the whole account of both their intentions and saw the leuell of their aymes was the aduancement of one intire glorie and that what honour and pietie stirred in him loue and acquaintance kindled in her hee absolutely without further disputations resolued that hee had well done in what he had then done and how euer the losse might redound either to his life or fortune yet neuer to start aside or infringe the least article of his honourable concluded bargaine and with that alighting and disarming one of her slaine Knights and arming himselfe with his peeces he mounted vpon his horse
the comfortable day O let those eyes which are so much the fayrer by how much my torment is made greater by them to pittie the anguish I haue got by gazing on them Melidora with a blushing countenance whose rosie colour gaue a signe of heauenly anger eyeing the Shepheard with an appauling Maiestie demaunded of him if hee were not that Thirsis who comming but lately into these walks had made those curious hookes and baites with which her-selfe and the other Nymphes had so oft taken so manie fish He made her answere it was hee shee demaunded againe if it were not he that had made the curious Nets wherewith himselfe and the Shepheards had taken so manie birdes hee made her answere it was hee why then said Melidora Shepheard farewell I will no longer stay with thee lest I bee likewise taken by thee but hee staying her againe said Excellent Ladie how can you be made captiue by your prisoner or howe can your subiect alter anye of your determinations alas most excellent creature you know my seruice hath attended you in the woods in the Medowes on the Mountains at the springs at the riuers by day by night I at euery silent time and yet hath my thoughts bin pure without the staine of villanie I saide Melidora but when yong desires begin to sting and bee inflamed you giue me cause to fear the effects of frenzie I hope said Thirsis by that to purchase my glorie when you beholding mine anguish shall admire my patience O but you may forget your selfe said Melidora I le near forget said Thirsis to doe that which shal cōtent you I le neare attempt that which in my knowledge shal offend you I take you at your worde saide Melidora henceforth I charge you that you forget to loue me for there is nothing in the world can bring my minde better contentment againe I charge you that you tarrie no longer in my presence for nothing in the worlde is more offensiue vnto me Madam saide Thirsis both your commaunds are extreame yet to the first I must needs make answere I can neuer forget to loue you because all my thoughtes doe and must euer so doe liue in you Why said Melidora will you loue mee in despight of me O no said Thirsis not in despight though I cannot retyre Well said Melidora if thy disposition be as full of curtesie as thy words are of care auoyde from mee or let me goe from thee I hope said Thirsis that Time who is the worlds conquerour will eyther conquer you or consume me I humbly take my leaue And with that rising from the ground in such an heauie perplexitie that sorrow was neuer to bee seene in a more sorrowfull taking he departed from her and went not respecting where or whither onely desirous to hide his heade in some dark Caue where none but Miserie and he might liue togither Siluagio that sawe him thus depart like a condemned man and was a witnesse of the heauie sentence that shee his cruel Iudge had pronounced wondring that infernall furie should be found in a heauenly bodie and cursing nature that had placed a flintie heart in a silken Cabinet followed his friend with infinite pensiuenesse as well to preuent the aduauntage Dispaire might take of griefe as to fortifie that wounded hope which now was euen at his last breathing But Melidora all-be the excellēcie of her owne disposition could haue affoorded a more milder repulse yet at this time her mind being caried away with such an earnest affection as may well be comprehended within the title of loue would not suffer her tongue to deliuer any other satisfaction And this was the reason There is a gallant yong Shepheard who some three yeares agone hauing seated himselfe in Tempe hath lyued there with much happinesse more admiration but most loue his beautie inticing his good disposition confirming and his vertue binding vnto him all those with whom at any time he conuersed His rurall profession was beautified with a Cittie-gouernment his homely attyre had a courtly fashion and his plainest discourses were interlyned with wittie and morrall constructions his words were queint his behauiour ciuill and his desires lofty insomuch that he was called the courtly shepheard or the noble Pastor exceeding all his fellowe-Shepheards excepting onely the most rare Thirsis whom he could exceede in nothing but in the blisse of affection This worthie Swaine had long time before Thirsis came into these parts with his noble deseignes which promised more then could be comprehended in a countrey fortune had so won the heart of the excellent Princesse Melidora that shee did not disdaine to call him her seruant and with many graces did so adorne his blisfulnesse that his loftie fortunes might well contend with any Monarchs greatnesse in-so-much that loue who had euer liued prisoner in her eyes began to dart his beames into the Shepheards heart and with a wanton recoyling to looke nowe and then downe into her bosome making his dayly seruice the witnesse of his assured loue and her Fauour an Herauld to pronounce that by possibilitie shee might loue Nowe it happened that this day beeing the great Sabboth of Diana the Princesse had promised her Shepheard Diatassan for so was he named after the Rites and Ceremonies were finished to meete him in a most pleasant Arbor seated in a delicate groaue dedicated to the Goddesse Chloris to which none but her selfe onely had priuate accesse there to discourse vnto him the order the pompe and the manner of the Ceremonies which were due to the greate Goddesse and to that ende she was walkt foorth as before I haue rehearsed and beeing nowe entred into the Arbor finding her Shepheard not come taking vp a Lute which lay ypon a bed of flowers hard by to whose sweete sound coupling her more sweeter voyce she sang this Sonnet I Doe not now complaine of my disgrace O cruell Loue O loue too cruell crost Nor of the hower season time nor place Nor of my foyle for any freedome lost Nor of my minde by my misfortune daunted Nor of my wit with ouer-weening strooke Nor of my sense by any sound inchaunted Nor for the force of fierie poynted looke Nor of the steele that stickes within my wound Nor of my thoughts by worser thoughts displac'd Nor of the life I labour to cofound But I complaine that being thus disgrac'd Fierd feard fettred shot through slaine My death is such as I dare not complaine She had scarce made an ende of her song before the courtly Shepheard Diatassan entred into the groaue blushing to see his absence condemned of all negligent errors by her presence humbly besought her Maiestie to pardon his slow-footed attendāce alledging the care of his folde the feare of suspect and many other prettie excuses but aboue all he alledged the losse of a most dainty lambe which he had most curiously brought vp and wherewith Melidora was much delighted to play saying that morning the cruel wolfe had
right The vulgar maxime as vntrue That he should be a God of might Who breedes the cares makes all soules rue That takes all reason from desire And peece-meale teares the troubled heart Being a moste consuming fire That wastes our inward heauenly part But worse accurst are they by much That on mens beauties fixe their eye And thinke no heauenly comfort such As that which in faire lookes doth lye Alas they doe too much forget That loue and men are of one minde Busie to lay that cruell net Which thralles the simple foolish blinde Returning them most losse at all That loues the best and is most thrall After they had sung this song euery one dipping her golden Flagon in the Fountaine after some little intercourse of speech wherein one gaue prayses to the Goddesse Minerua another commended the vertues of the water and others the ordinances of those Ceremonies In the selfe-same comely order as they came they nowe began to returne But Diatassan who during all the time of their abode had with a curious eye behelde the hindmost Nymph of the traine began to reade within the faire storie of her beauties many remembrances of those ancient thoughts which had long agoe in the Maydentime of his first loue infinitely surprised him Manye tymes his eyes tolde him they sawe nothing but that sight which they had most dearely loued His thoughts tolde him they were inriched with no new cogitations and his heart affirmed that but that Image there was none in it perfectly engrauen to be plaine shee so much resembled a worthy Nymph whom in his first youth he had loued most sincerely till iniurious Death had made a diuorce betwixt their affections that euen now his reuolting eyes began coward-like to yeeld to the assault of her beautie and not content to yeeld alone did so perswade his heart that hee couetous of new honour subiected all that was in him to her obedience Melidora was now in his minde but like that picture which Zuxis desired to see vnder the painted sheete which was mearly nothing as hauing no place or being all that he was was but onely a scrole of this new affection And now beholding Apheleia both with slowe pace and some sleight excuse loiter behind the rest of her felow nimphs he discouered him-selfe and with a gentle pace ouertaking her after his downe-cast lookes and some trembling wordes had like a preface tolde her his talke must be all of loue taking vp her hande and giuing it a louely kisse he demaunded of her if that hande were not the hand which did prodigally cast into his fruitfull breast the faire seed of blooming fancie whose ripe haruest shal returne her milions of gaines or tell me faire Nymph said he are not these glorious eies of yours the war-like Cytadels where all conquering loue sits as in his Empire cloathed with the rich spoyles of many kingly ouerthrowes and for a tryumph hangs out his most beautious colours O God they are therefore let neuer any Shepheard feare Ioues thunder-bolts or in their Carols aduance the vnconquered sword of the God of warre but let them all bee amazed with thy beautie and with that amazement let them record the victories thou hast obtained of the worlde of loue and of me thy seruant Wel I remember that in the April of my yeares I haue been somtimes inticed amongst my fellow Shepheards to taste the delights of youths inuentions and in those delights haue delighted to approue the mindes of many Maidens yet neuer till now haue fixt my constant mind of any till I saw thee I saw not any that coulde content me for whose sake I haue this day desperately aduentured my life by comming disguised into Dianas temple wherefore deare Nymph let the former words which I whispered in thy daintie eares the mutuall agreement of our hither comming and the due attendance I haue performed in my seruice as the messengers of pity plead for my merit and euē as with patience I suffer the bitter anguish of my thoughts so let loue and thy selfe bee curteous to my sad destiny To this she āswered Faire Shepheard according to mine agreemēt here I make good my promise yet not in such sorte that by it thou shalt suppose I stande intangled in those foolish snares which you Thessalians call loue but for it pleased thee without eyther Desire in me or Desert in my perfections to make so franke and absolute a gift of thy hart of thy soule and of thy selfe to rest euer at my disposing so that it should be vtterly vnlawfull for any but me to giue to retaine to keep to change or to dispose any thing within the compasse of thine affection and that al thy thoughts and actions should maiden-like giue a modest and sincere attendance vpon my will which sith I see thou dost effectually performe by this newe seconds of thy former loue be thou pleased with mine acknowledgment that I haue heard thy loue O but said he shall the tender of these my seruices receyue at thy hands no recompence t' is recompence inough said she that I giue credit to thy words acceptāce to thy seruice Why then sayd he let this bondage of my loue bee like those calme blastes which kindle the fire of delight whose flame breaking forth into the world may make vs admyred of all constant beholders As she was about to replie vnto this speech she might perceiue the rest of the Nymphes looking backe and staying for her companie which occasioning her with a shamefast blushing to breake off her conference she told him their many wordes might moue many suspitions which to auoid it was fit that silence should part them yet said she Faire Shepheard take this little remembrance and weare it for my sake and with that she gaue him a very faire Iewell wherein was set a most rich Diamond cut in the fashion of a Spheare or Globe and about it was writ this word Mauens moueor and so she departed But assoone as his eyes had lost her which was their best obiect they instantly conuerted their lookings to her costlye fauor on which when hee had with many curious surueys a good space meditated had to many crosse and cōtrary senses wrested and expounded the cunning deuise at length constantly beholding the frame of the faire Gloabe and marking with what course the reflections and sparkles like little spheares wound about the foil which like the earth the worlds cēter stood in the midst of the Mund he could not forbeare to say Deare Maid be thou the Sky let me be the earth on whom gentle loue may make the morning lightes of grace to arise and giue faire glory to my darknes and although this sullen night make thee withdraw frō mine eyes the beames of thy countenance O yet let thy fauor continually runne about me and how soeuer I mooue let thy loue neuer be remooued from mee many other passionate speeches to like effect he vttered
Diadem with our feet whose glorie being ingrauen in our hearts woulde make vs swim bloody seas to attaine the possession This speake I to you the crowne and glory of all Maidens to whom Nature hath been so prodigall of beautie that I feare for your sake she will proue penurious to all after ages in-so-much that slouenly Art taking vppon him Natures prerogatiue will like a lauish tell-tale discouer the defects of womens desires and beauties O this I say againe I speake vnto you who being most beautiful are most admired and most of all creatures in the world enthroned and crowned with an immoueable and constant affection O Madam did you but feele the least of those bitter paines which the most induring and forlorn Shepheard Thirsis for your sake onely endureth or did you but know the violence of those immortall flames which darted from your eyes like lightning kill ere they be perceyued I know it were impossible for your tender heart not to relent at his passions let mee beseech you then most diuine creature if you be but as sensible of paines as you are beautifull to occasion torments if in that excellent and sacred frame of your bodie there was euer felt the touch of all sauing pity to cast one relenting looke vppon the vtter dispairing estate of thy most lamentable Shepheard whereby thy mercie shall be made most mightie thy sports and pleasures anew reuiued thy delightful Tempe which droops through his melancholy spring a fresh bring forth sweete Poesies worthy onely of the Muses Ethera had scarcely made an end of these words when Melidora starting vpon her feete as if she had beheld eyther the dreadfulnesse of some monster or felt the bitter sauour of Rue or Wormwood Disdaine and Anger spreading colours of defiance in the fayre Roses of her lilly cheekes sowring her countenance with a most louely sadnesse she tolde the Nymph Ethera that shee had attainted her eares with most blasphemous speeches the sound whereof sith she could not take from her memorie yet would she henceforth foreuer banish herselfe the companie of so vnchaste a reporter What said she hath Thirsis see'd thee to be immodest or hast thou seene in mine outward gestures that appearance of folly which might incourage thee to these monstrous perswasions Diana forbid O heauens let me not liue when my life shall presage I will fall from vertue and as for Thirsis where before I did but onely hate his loue now I hate him thy selfe and both your memories and with that offering to depart away before Ethera could either make excuse for him or Apologie for herselfe there suddenly rusht out of the woods a monstrous man or a man mor hideous then any monster his name was Demagoras a man whose stature did so farre exceede the greatest proportion of men then liuing that more then doubling their features hee was held for an inuincible Giant his strength was greater then his limbs and his minde fortified by his strength made him so infinitely bolde that he durst to aduenture any danger how desperate soeuer his pride had no bound yet would his crueltie haue boasted of more larger limits What shall I say such alone hee was as to say truth was vtterlye all euill This Damagoras hath liued about the walks and borders of Tempe more then this three yeares making his reuenues by the spoyle robberie and pillage of the poore Shepheards and lurking in sundrie vaste Caues which for that purpose he holdeth doth howerly and dayly annoy and waste not onely Tempe but al Thessalia all-be the countrey hath at diuerse times set out whole armyes to hunt him but all in vaine so great hath beene his craft and pollicie This Demagoras whose very presence was able to haue appaal'd the stoutest resolution had now stricken such deadly feare into the minde of the noble Princesse that like an innocent Doue ouer whom the covering Falcon threatneth more then an ordinarie destruction shee stoode so pittifully amazed that feare hauing taken from her minde the remembrance of all aduauntage or safetie she had no power to stirre whilest the rude slaue like a greedie Cormorant seazed vppon her lillie hande whose verie touch might well haue tolde him howe much too precious it was for so vilde and so inciuill an imbracement After hee had caught her thus within the compasse of his power shaking his grizely vncurled lockes which seemed neuer to haue beene acquainted with any manner of comelinesse hee tryumphed of his conquest as much as if he had giuen an ouerthrow to the whole worlde and indeed the world could be no more lamentably deformed then to haue thus the onely Iewel therof the admirable Melidora in so wofull an estate of suddaine destruction for after the inhumane wretch had Lion-like ceaz'd her within his pawes all-be his onely desire to doe ill was attractiue inough to draw him to the vttermost of illnesse yet beholding the excellencie of her heauenly countenance whose chast beames were to the vertuous schooles to instruct modestie and correct viciousnesse now to him were firebrands of lust and vnnaturall motiues to most bloody tyranny which only out of their own excellencies could but worke this alteration that hee whose Fury was euer his orator and Will his law was now at first content to intreate what of all things was most impossible to be granted I meane the diuine treasure of her loue and the fruition thereof which the sauage monster told her had taken such fast roote in his degenerate soule that it was not possible for him to liue and indure either delay or deniall To which the Princesse made him answer that how euer the eye is said to entertain affections in moments yet for her own part her eye was so true a tenant to her hart that it durst not giue harbour to any obiect which of her heart was not first esteemed most worthy wherefore she humblie besought him that for that time she might returne in safetie and if hereafter her eye would satisfie her heart it was likely she would not conceale her longings the villaine with this answere grew so inraged that rudely shaking her by the tender arme like a Northerne blast tearing a slender Tamoriske he said Disdainfull Maide thou that art the horror of Tempe and the wonder of so many amorous Shepheards thinkst thou that either my loue shall indure controll or my desire to be excellently impious loose me this oportunitie to bee notably infamous it cānot damzel it cannot I haue vow'd the spoile of thy good name the destruction of thine honor frō which neither Iones thunder nor Apollos darts that slue the Serpent Python is able to bring thee anie ransome and the more willing I am to be thy persecuter by how much I shall gaine that celestiall Iewell which through the world is blazed of the greatest valuation And here the Monster began to folde his armes about her Iuorie bodie from which she nimbly deliuering herselfe fell downe
brighter then day his countenance gaue a glorie to the Firmament O how my heart did dance in my bosome when I behelde his presence my soule drunke Nectar from his eyes and euen then me thought those heauenly numbers began to flowe in my braine which making mee dispise the rusticke melodie of the homely Pastors hath made me ambitious to sing of him and of his glorious actions nay thou thy selfe knowest Thirsis that all-be I am returned backe vnto my Cottage yet haue I beene desirous to raise mine Oaten harmonie higher then a Shepheards thought or a Countrey construction and Trumpet-like to sound vnto all the corners of the worlde the great power of his eternall name but as thou seest ouer strayning my selfe as being altogether vnable to match the surmounting height of his greatnesse I crackt my voyce and haue euer since become hoarse and vnrespected this I deliuer vnto thee that thou maiest vnderstand as Mopsus hath beene deceyued in his former speculations so he may erre in his present iudgements and Melidoras fauour may falsifie his Prophesie Woe is mee sayde Thirsis where shall I begin to enter this Laborinth or howe shall I vntie the Gordion that can finde no ende to loose it By gifts said Opycus for they be auayling Orators Alas said Thirsis there is no gift worthy her acceptance Gold is but Oare being compared with her haire Diamonds are but Glasse when her eyes doe sparkle upon them can any Pearle bee so otient as her teeth or any Rubie so cherrie as her lippe her necke is whiter then my flocke and softer then the downe of Turtles Honie is made sweete by her wordes Roses borrowe beautie from her cheeks and the goodliest Apples are made round by the two round balles that are coucht in her bosome to conclude an eternall spring doth flourish in her lookes casting abroade into the worlde all the excellent perfumes of naturall sweetenesse insomuch that this other day I sawe a prettie Bed which toyling from bloome to bloome to gather her honie burthen light on Melidoras dimpled chinne with as great pride as if it had beene a flower worthie onely the Hesperian Orchard and beeing there suckt for honie with as busie labour as if she had beene in the Hybean Gardens or the Pestalian Rosaries whilest enuie made me crie out of my fortune that I was not so happy as that little creature And as he was thus speaking hee fell into a most extreame and bitteer weeping which to asswage the Nymph Ethera earnestly besought him that since he could not abate woe yet to indure woe with more patience and for the loue of heauen and for her loue whom as heauen said she thou regardest bee this once directed by my counsaile which if it doe not profite yet cannot bring thee to no greater perill then that wherein thou alreadie standest and this it is There is belonging vnto Fans Chappell a Priest that is holie wise discreete and sober one that hath skill in charmes and knowledge in spels that hath the spirit of truth and the gift of prophecie his abode thou knowest and of his integritie thou hast heard with him I will perswade so effectually that to morrow comming abroade he shall vouchsafe thee conference where I doubt not but eyther his counsaile shall perswade or his cunning attaine the vttermost ende of thy best hopes to what purpose sayde Thirsis shall I trouble his knowledge when my selfe knowes her chaste heart is sixt vppon a more worthie obiect She loues Diatassan alas shee loues him I knowe it answered Ethera and I know Diatassan loues Apheleia but let that rest in their bosomes bee thou onely gouerned by my rule and my life shall sooner ende then I will ende to labour thy contentment Thirsis vnwilling to offende her whose all carefulnesse was wholy to please him with submissiue obedience yeelded to all her intreaties vowing to commit no outrage vppon himselfe till he had tried the successe of her counsailes and so rising from the ground and being conducted by Opycus he returned home to his Cabbin Ethera as soone as she was departed from Thirsis all-be she had a busie mind in a wearie body yet would she not leaue searching vp and downe from hill to dale from groane to wood by the Arbors by the Springs by the Medowes by the Riuers and al to find out the amorous Sheppheard Diatassan At last in an obscure thicket shee spyde where he lay and with him another Pastor named Cosmo of whom as soone as her eye had taken a perfite knowledge with silent pace and soft steps such as could not betray her walking shee approched so neare them that shadowing her-selfe vnder the couert of a slender Poplar shee might well heare and vnderstand all their speeches which at first proceeding from Diatassan were full of passionate complaints and doubtfull longings till Cosmos who as cares comforter lay to controll his sorrowe desired him to shew what suddaine storme it was that had so soone darkened the bright day of his happinesse to which Diatassan with a heauie sigh answered that he had of late behelde in these woods a Nymph so like vnto a dead Ladie whom in his first youth he had infinitely adored that euen as her liuing Image was liuely in her perfections so euerie wound in him which was closed by her death opens as oft as he beholdes her and bleedes as freshly as if it had beene shee and no other by whome his heart had beene wounded Of what name is shee sayde Cosmo or when came she in-into these walkes that you haue but seene her so lately Hath shee not vsed our Temples hath shee not frequented our May-sports or hath she not beene present at any of our Pastorals Her name replyed Diatassan is Apheleia but for her artynall in these woods or frequent with our delights it hath beene but latelye my Cosmo yet soone inough I feare and too soone to worke my ouerthrow Haue you had any conference with her said Cosmo once answered Diatassan and then I found in her a Maiesticall loue full of chaste seueritie yet couered with the humble vaile of life-pleasing Pittie I found in her a iealous honour yet a bountifull curtesie shee displayed no signes of Hope yet beheld I nothing to make me dispaire to be briefe in the midst of this indifferencie she gaue mee this doubtfull fauour behold it my Cosmo And with that he shewed him the faire Ring which shee had formerly bestowed vppon him on whose curious deuise and workmanship as they were with labouring mindes inwardlye beholding see see sayde Diatassan this Motto this Manens moueor my Cosmo is it that onely torments and distempereth mee one while my thoughts giues my heart intelligence that it shoulde approue her to bee constant steddie and immoueable howsoeuer shee turne or winde about my wretched fortune euen like the glorious frame of heauen which with his countercourse euer returneth to the first poynte of his beginning This thought
is no sooner finished in my conceite but a new springes vp and then Imagination tels me that shee onely to my sight standes fixte and vnmooued yet like the celestiall bodyes moues with such sortecie that wee shall sooner feele the change then beholde the motion these and a thousand such cogitations are the continuall hammers which beating vpon the Anuile of my heart disquiet my sences and take all rest from my slumbers which to reconcile or remooue I would become a slaue eyther to Time or Opinion Etherae at these wordes perceiuing the Qu. was giuen her which must let loose her language starting from the place of her aboade presented herselfe euen to the sight and presence of the two Shepheards and first vnder the cloake of carefull amine and obsequious loue couering the vnexpectance of her aproach and the danger of her suddaine intrusion shee briefely tolde Diatassan with some flattering circumstances how much shee honoured his vertue respected his quiet and desired the satisfaction of his best longings therefore saide shee fayre Shepheard although thou didst not see mee yet haue I heard thy sorrowes and long since suspected thy heauie plight which to helpe I am now content thou shalt esteeme mee rude wherefore if it please thee to accept of my counsaile I will direct thee into so fayre a path as shall without amazement or danger bring thee to the full end of thy wishes Diatassan who had hee had his counsailes in his bosome might haue prooued more daintie in discharging them now seeing they were reuealed like an infant curtezan who trembling at the first touch of sinne growes by vse impudent in sinne being altogether insuspitious kissing Ethera's fayre hand tolde her that if eyther her knowledge could discharge his doubtfulnesse or her counsaile dyrect him through the blinde pathes of his intrycate Loue that shee should not onelye make him an euer admyrer of her vertues but a man proud to bee intytuled her Seruant Ethera as proud of this insinuation as counning to preserue her aduantage thus saide to Diatassan There is quoth she fayre Shepheard not farre from this place and hard adioyning to the foote of the Mountaine Ossa an obscure and auntient groaue of Pynes of Cedars and of wilde Oliues where no Shepheard haunts no Beast feedes nor anye Satyre dare prophane Within this darke groaue there is a little Grot which making his passage through the hollownesse of the earth is all ouer-growne with bryre with thorne with twitch with many intāgling bushes It is a place vnsearcht vnknowne and vndesired as being rough thicke and like hell darke and voyde of all comfort Within this place there liues a holye Hermitte who beeing pretious and deare vnto our greate God Pan hauing sundrie wayes to issue from this his desolate Mansion sometimes to drinke the comfortable ayre sometimes to giue releife to distressed Shepheards and sometymes for other more holye recreations I haue oft obserued his howers wherefore to morrowe about the euening at what time it shall bee my happe to meete with him I will with such sweete perswasion intyce his olde yeares that he shall not deny me to stay for some little space to conferre with thee touching the doubtfulnesse of thine affection the gift of prophecie the knowledge of things past and to come and what else vnreuealed arte hath bene to mankinde hid and obscured the bountifull heauens to him onely haue disclosed therefore looke thou discharge thy counsailes into his eares with care performe all his instructions to shalt thou rayse honour vnto him ease vnto thy selfe and to me thy well wisher a iust satisfaction Diatassan after a little amazement at her discourse calling vp his better wittes and finding a stronge hope in this secret knowledge being as it were tickled with a desire to beholde the issue for loue hath no meane or patience in his desires demaunded if hee should not presently goe with her But she answered No for first she would conferre with the Hermit herselfe and then she aduis'd him at the clossing of the euening to come vnto the foote of the mountaine Ossa and if there hee found an Hermit according to such description as she gaue him then to proceede and trye the euent of his vnderstanding Diatassan as much satisfied in himselfe by this hope as Ethera was hopefull to satisfie others by this stratagem after many obseruant kisses offered vpon the fayre Altar of her hand and double so many religious vowes and protestations of seuerall seruices for this her no lesse kynde then honourable friendship taking his leaue of the polilicke Nimphe did together with the honest Shepheard Cosino for that time depart home towards their owne Cabinets But Ethera not hauing as yet brought foorth that prodegie which shee intended should amaze all the worlde and Tempe but being as it were in a painfull labour of much greater subtilties as soone as the Shepheard was gone from her presence shee went and collected together sundrie simples or strange workinges as Mandragge Rue Poppy womansmilke Roseleaues pouder of Nutmegges and such like Of these shee composed a strong liquid potion which being infused into a Christall Vyoll and so carryed it about with her in her bosome This doone she presently went to the lodge where the Princesse Melidora lay but missing her there and being so imboldned with rage of her owne desires that shee feard not to bee accounted barbarous shee went straight vnto that priuate Arbor to which none might haue accesse saue onely the princesse and as Boldnesse was readye to make her set her foote within the same Wonder held her backe for shee might heare a more then Angells voice which consorting the sound of a moste delicate toucht Lute deliuered vnto her eares this Sonnet Care keepe that absent presence in my brest Whose present absence doth torment my heart And I will make thee Mistris of my rest Not my soules good but my soules better part That absent image houldes my present life My life in it it in my life doth liue Part them and all my sences are at strife They doe my pleasures make and comforts giue Then gentle Care let no Carracter graue Other then his remembrance in my minde And eyes if you send to my hearts close cane Other then him be you for euer blind He hath my heart within his Image wrought I haue his Image grauen in my thought The verie rarenesse of the sound deliuered with such incomparable sweetnesse easily assured her whom the singer was and that it could not be any other then the Princesse Melidora wherefore retiring her selfe from her first intended entrance and being of a pregnant wit apt to compasse choyse Numbers without meditation leaning herselfe against the backe-side of the Arbor so that the Princesse might not loose one syllable of her vtterance she sung this song Extempore as it had beene in the person of Diatasson Alas why should I hope for ease Of this my soules immortall strife T were