the first I was so vnaccustomed to make such answers that I assured my selfe shee would take small pleasure in them yet that I might deny him nothing I assayed to acquit my selfe the best I could At this word setting himselfe on one of his knees because we were set round taking one of my hands he beganne in this sort I should neuer haue thought faire mistrisse considering so great perfections in you that it should be permitted to a mortall to loue you if I had not proued in my selfe that it is impossible to see you and not to loue you but knowing well that heauen is too iust to command you a thing impossible I haue held for certaine that it pleased you should bee beloued since it suffered you to bee seene On this beleefe I haue fortified with reason the hardinesse I had to behold you and in my heart blesse that weakenesse which as soone subiected me to you as my eye was turned on you Now if the lawes ordaine that to euery one is to be giuen that which is his thinke it not euill faire shepheardesse that I giue you my heart since it is so acquired by you that if you refuse it I will disauow it for mine At this word he held his peace to heare what I would answer but in such a fashion that had hee not beene in the habit he wore hardly might one doubt he spake in earnest And not to contradict that I promised him I made him this answer Shepheardesse were the prayses which you giue me true I might haply beleeue that which you tell mee of your affection but knowing well that they be but flatteries I cannot beleeue but that the rest are dissimulation This too much wounds your iudgement sayd he to me to doubt of the greatnesse of your merit but with such excuses you are accustomed to refuse the things which you like not of I may truely sweare by Teutates and you know well I will not beperiured that you neuer refused any thing that was giuen you from a better nor more intire good will I know well answered I that the shepheards of this countrey are accustomed to vse more words where there is lesse truth and that they keepe among them as a thing approued that the gods doe not harken to nor punish the forswearing of the amorous if it be the peculiar fault of your shepheards I referre my selfe to your knowledge but I that am a stranger should haue no part of their blemish no more then I commit their fault and yet from your owne more cruel words must I draw some satisfaction for my selfe for though the gods doe not punish the oathes of Louers if I be not as it seemeth you make doubt of the gods will not forbeare to send mee the chastisement of periury and if they doe forbeare you shal be constrained to confesse that not being punished I am then no dissembler and if I be a lyer and am not punished you must confesse that I am a Louer And therefore on which side soeuer your fayre spirit turneth it selfe it knowes not how to deny that there is no beauty on earth where Diane is fayre and that neuer beauty was beloued as yours is of that shepheard that lies at your knees and in this case implores the succours of all the Graces to draw one from you which hee thinkes he merits if a perfect Louer euer found merit If I be faire replyed I I referre it to the eyes which behold me with sound iudgement but you cannot deny that you are periured and a dissembler and I must tell you Callire that the confidence with which you spake to mee like a man makes mee resolue neuer to beleeue words since being a woman you know so well to disguise And why Diane said he then smiling interrupt you so often your seruants discourse Do you wonder that being Callire I speake to you with such affection Thinke that there is no weakenesse of condition that shall euer make me diminish but it must rather be an occasion of preseruing it both more violent more eternall since there is nothing which so much diminisheth the heat of desire as the inioying of that which is desired and this not being to be had betweene vs you shal alwaies euen to my coffin be beloued and I alwaies a Louer And yet if Tiresias after he had beene a woman became a man why may not I hope that the gods may do me as great a fauour if it pleased you Beleeue me faire Diane since the gods doe nothing in vaine there is no likelihood that hauing placed in mee so perfect affection they will suffer me to labour in vaine and if nature haue made me a woman my extreme loue will make me such as shall not bee vnprofitable Daphnis who saw that this discourse went sharpely on and that it might be dangerous that this Louer should suffer himselfe to be carried so farre as to speake the thing that might discouer him to Amidor interrupted him saying Without doubt Callire your loue shall not vnprofitably be bestowed so long as you serue this fayre shepheardesse no more then the candle which spends not it selfe in vaine so long as it giues light to them that are in the house for all the rest of the world being but to serue this fayre you shall haue well bestowed your time when you haue spent them in her seruice But let vs change our discourse said Amidor for see here comes Filidas who will take no pleasure to heare it though you be a woman And presently Filidas came who made vs all rise to salute him But Amidor that passionately loued the fained Callire when his cousin arriued made that vse of the time that stealing away with Filander from the company and taking her vnder the arme began to speake thus Is it possible faire shepheardesse that the words you vse to Diane be true or haue you onely spoken them to shew the beauty of your spirit Beleeue me Amidor answered he I am no dissembler and I neuer said any thing more truely then the assurance which I haue giuen her of my affection and if in any thing I haue failed in the truth it was because I spake lesse then I feele but heerein am I to bee excused since there bee not wordes good enough to conceaue Whereto hee answered with a great sigh Since it is so faire Callyre I can hardly beleeue but you will much better conceiue the affection is borne you since you feele the same blowes wherewith you wound others more then them that are altogether ignorant and that shall be the cause that I will not goe to seek out other words to shew you what I suffer for you nor other reasons to excuse my boldnesse then those you haue vsed in your speech to Diane onely I will adde this consideration to the end you may know the greatnesse of my affection that if the blow which cannot bee auoyded must be iudged according to
which of all the world you hold most deare which is your chastity Now mistrisse since there remayneth nothing more to my contentment but onely one poynt by the affection which you haue found in Philander I heartily pray you to grant it mee to the end that this happy soule may goe to expect you in the Elisian fieldes with this satisfaction from you He spake this in broken words and with much payne And I that sawe him in this case to giue him all the contentment he could desire answered him Friend the gods haue not raysed in you so good and honest affection to extinguish it so presently and to leaue vs nothing but sorrow I hope they will giue you yet so much life that I shall make you know that I giue not place to you in loue no more then you doe to any other in merit And for proofe of that which I doe say demaund you that onely thing which you would gladly haue of me for there is nothing that I can or will deny you At these last words he tooke me by the hand and laying it to his mouth I kisse sayth he this hand by way of thankes for the grace and fauour you haue done me and then lifting vp his eyes to heauen O God sayd he I desire of you but so much life as may serue for the accomplishment of the promise which Diane comes to make me and then addressing his speech to me with such paine that he could hardly vtter a word he sayd thus vnto me Now fayre Mistrisse heare then what it is I require of you Since I feele not the anguish of death but for you I coniure you by my affection and by your promise that I may carry this contentment out of the world that I may say I am your husband and beleeue me if I doe obtayne it my soule shall most contentedly goe into what place soeuer it must passe hauing so great a testimony of your goodwill I sweare to you fayre shepheardesses that these words strucke me so to the quicke that I knew not how I was able to sustayne my selfe and I thinke for my part it was onely the desire I had to please him that gaue me the courage This was the cause that he had no sooner ended his demaund but I griping his hand sayd Philander I graunt you that you demaund of me and I sweare to you before all the gods and particularly before the deities which are in this place that Diane giues herselfe to you and that she taketh you both in heart and soule for her husband and in speaking these words I kissed him And I sayd he take you my fayre mistris and giue my selfe to you for euer right happy and content to beare the most glorious name of Diane Alas this word of Diane was the last word he vttered for hauing his arme about my necke and drawing me to him to kisse me he dyed breathing his last vpon my lippes How I looked when I beheld him dead you may easily iudge fayre shepheardesses since I so truly loued him I fell groueling vpon him without pulse and without sence and fell into a swowning so that I came to my selfe without my owne knowledge O God! how liueth my heart since I felt this losse and found that to be too true which so oftentimes he had foretold me that I should loue him more after his death then during life for I haue so liuely preserued his remembrance in my soule that me thinketh I haue him alwayes before mine eyes and without ceasing he sayth to me vnlesse I will be vngratefull I must loue him So I doe O good soule and with the most entire affection that I can and if where thou art there be any knowledge of that which is done heere below receiue O deare friend this good will and these teares which I doe offer in testimony that Diane loueth euen to her coffin her dearest Philander The end of the sixt Booke THE SEVENTH BOOKE of Astrea and Celadon AStrea to interrupt the sad thoughts of Diane But faire shepheardesse said hee who was that miserable wretch that was cause of so great misfortune Alas said Diane why would you I should tell you He was an enemy that came not into the world but to be the cause of my euerlasting teares But yet answered Astrea was it neuer knowne what he was They said replyed she some time after that he came out of certaine barbarous countries beyond the Straits I know not whether I can name the right which they call the pillars of Hercules and the cause that brought him so farre for my mischiefe was that he became amorous of a Lady in those countries who commanded him to seeke throughout Europe to know whether there were any other as faire as she and if he met with any Louer that would maintaine the beauty of his Mistrisse hee was bound to fight with him and to send her his head with the picture and name of the Lady Alas I would it had pleased the heauens that I had not bene so ready to flie when he pursued me to kill me that by my death I might haue preuented that of poore Filander At these wordes shee set her selfe on weeping with such abundance of teares that Phillis to diuert her changed the discourse and rising vp first We haue said she fate long enough me thinks it were good to walke awhile At this word they all three rose and went toward that part of their Hamlet for it was well neere dinner time But Leonide who was as I told you harkening lost not one word of these shepheardesses and the more she heard of their newes the more she desired to heare But when shee saw them goe away without speaking a word of Celadon shee was much troubled yet in hope she might staying that day with them discouer somewhat as before she purposed When she saw them gone a little off she rose out of the bush and making a short turne shee set to follow them for she would not haue them thinke shee had ouer-heard them By chance Phillis turning backward as they were going espyed her a far off and shewed her to her companions who stayed but seeing she came towards them to doe her the duty which her condition merited they returned backe and saluted her Leonide full of courtesie after she had returned them their saluation addressing her selfe to Diane sayd Wise Diane I will this day be your ghâ—st prouided that Astrea and Phillis bee of the company for I came this morning from my vncle Adamas with a purpose to passe all this day with you to know if that which I haue heard of your vertue Diane of your beauty Astrea of your merit Phillis answere the report that is divulged of you Diane seeing her companions referred themselues to her answered Great Nymph it were better for vs haply that you had knowledge of vs onely from report since that is very fauourable on our side yet since it
buâ— when she would enter behold a man that cast 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 her feete and without saying any thing kissed her robe O God sayd the Nymph who is this Fleurial see a man Madame said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is an heart that is yours How said she an 〈◊〉 And then she would haue fled away for feare but hee that â—â—ist her to be 〈◊〉 her backe Hearing these words I drew neere and presently I knew it was â—e that Flourial said was his cousin I knew not suddenly what to thinke I saw Galathee and my selfe in the hands of these women the one of 〈◊〉 was vnknowne to vs. What could wee resolue to doe 〈◊〉 wee 〈◊〉 to flye Galathee could not to trust to ouâ— owne 〈◊〉 there was no apparence At last all that I could doe was to castâ—â—â— selfe into the hands of him that held the Nymphs 〈◊〉 not being able to doe more I beganne to scratch and to bite him That which I did was with such speeds that the first thing that he felt was the biting Ah courmous 〈◊〉 said he how do you handle your enemies when you deale so ridely with your seruants Though I were almost besides my selfe yee I almost knew the voyce and asking him who liee was I am sayd her the man that beares the heart of Lindamon to this â—aire Nymph and then not raising him selfe from the earth turning to her he went on I must confesse Madam that this rashnesse is great yet is it no way equall to my affection which hath caused it See the heart of 〈◊〉 which I bring you I hope this present shall be as well accepted from the hand of the giuer as from a stranger yet it my misfortune deny me what Loue hath promised me hauing offended the diuinity whoâ— I only adore condemne this heart which I bring you to all the cruell 〈◊〉 you please for so the paine may satisfie you it shal beare it patiently and with as much contentment as pardon it I easily knew him then to be Lindamor and so did Galathee she seeing him at her 〈◊〉 whom she bewalled for dead and in the place of a Gardiner the Knight that giues place to none in all the Countrey And knowing that Galathee was so surprized I sayd Is it so Lindamer that you surprize Ladyes This is not the act of a Knight especially such as you are I coÌ„fesse said he gracious Nymph that it is not the act of a Knight but withall you cannot deny but it is of a Louer and what am I more then a Louer Loue that hath taught others to spnine teaches me to be a Gardiner Is it possible sayd he turning to the Nymph that this extreme affection which you haue caused is so displeasing to you that you wold haue it end in my death I haue had the hardines to bring you that which you would haue of mine this heart is it not more welcome to you in life then in death Now if it be your pleasure that it die behold here a dagger which may abbridge that which your rigour in time may bring The Nymph to all these words made no answer but Ah Leonide haue you betrayed me and with these words went out into the Alley where she found a seat sit for the purpose for she was so besides her self that she knew not where she was There the Knight cast himselfe on his knees and I came on the other side and sayd How Madame say you you are betrayed Why doe you accuse 〈◊〉 so I sweare by the seruice I haue vowed you that I knew nothing of this act Fleurial hath deceiued me as well as you But God be praised that the deceit is so commodious to cuery one behold one heart of 〈◊〉 which Flourial promised you but see him in a state to do you seruice may you not be glad of this treason It would be too long to tell you all the discourse wee had So it was that at last we made a peace and so that this loue was more strongly tied then euer before yet with condition that for that present he should depart to go whither Amasis and Clidaman had sent him This departure was vnpleasing yet hee must obey and so after hee had kissed Galathâ—â—â— hands without any greater fauour he departed Well hee went in great assurance that at his returne hee might see her at that houre and in that place But to what purpose should I particularize euery thing Lindamor returned to them that being his followers expected him from thence with great â—â—â—gence went where Clidaman thought hee was and by the way hee framed a thousand wise excuses of his stay sometimes accusing the incommodities of the mountaines and sometimes the sicknes which yet appeared in his face by reason of his wounds and thinking that all the while he was absent from from his Lady his businesse was not worth the stay he came backe with the permission of Amasis and Clidaman into Forrests where being arriued and hauing giuen a good account of his charge he was honored and made much of as his vertue deserued But all this went not to his heart in respect of that aspect which he had from the Nymph who since his last departure encreased so her good will that I know not if Lindamor had cause to call himselfe more louing then beloued This suite passed so farre that one night being in the garden he pressed her oftentimes to permit him to demand her of Amasis that he was certaine he had done such seruices to her and her sonne that they would not deny him this grace She answered You may more doubt of their good will then of your deserts you may be lesse assured of your merits then of my good will but I would not that you should speake of it vntill Clidaman be married I am yonger then he I may stay so long You may well answered he but so wil not the violence of my passion at least if you will not agree to this remedy giue mee one that cannot hurt you if your will be as you tell me If I may sayd she without offending my selfe I will promise you After he had kissed her hand Madam sayd hee you haue promised me to sweare before Leonide and the gods that heare our discourse that you will be my wife as I take an oth before them neuer to haue any other Galathee was ouertaken yet fayning that it was partly for the oth she had taken and partly by my perswasion though indeed it were her owne affection she was contented and swearing betweene my hands with condition that Lindamor should neuer come into that garden vntil the marriage were declared and that to preuent the occasion that may make them passe further behold Lindamor the most content that euer was full of al sorces of hope at least of all those that a louer might haue that was beloued and wayting but for the promised conclusion of his desires when Loue or rather Fortune would mocke
must speake plainely to him O God sayd the Nymph is it possible I am assured that if hee will vndertake it it cannot but all turne to my contentment for his wisedome is so great and his iudgement also that he cannot choose but bring about whatsoeuer he beginnes Madame said Leonide I speake not without ground you shall see If you will serue your selfe by him what will bee Now behold the Nymph the most contented in the world already figuring to her selfe the accomplishment of her desires But while they discoursed thus Silâ—y and 〈◊〉 spent the time about the same businesse for the Nymph who was well inquainted with the Druyde talked of them very openly He that was very wary that he might know if his Neeâ—e had told him true prayed her to tell him what she knew Silay that desired in any case to breake off this discourse did it without dissimulation and the shortest she could in this manner The History of Leonide KNow that the better to instruct you of all that you demaund I am constrayned to touch the particulars of some other besides Galathee And I shall doe it the more willingly for that it may be behoouefull for the time to come that they should not be hidden from you It is Leonide of whom I speake whom it seemes destinies would intangle more than ordinary in the dessignes of Galathee This that I tell you is not to blame her or to make it knowne For telling it to you I beleeue it is no lesse secret than if you had not knowne it You must then vnderstand that it is long time since the beauty and merits of Leonide wanne her after long suite the affection of Polemas and because the deserts of that knight were not so slender but they could procure themselues to be beloued Your Neece was not contented to be beloued but she would also loue but she carried it with such discretion that euen Polemas was long without the knowledge of it I doubt not but you haue loued and that you know better than I how hardly Loue will be hidden so it was that at last it burst out and both knew they were louers and beloued yet was this amity so honest that it would not suffer them to dare to shew it After the sacrifice that Amasis made euery yeere on the day that she married Pimander it fell out that after dinner wee were all in the Gardens of Mâ—nt-brison the more cheerefully to passe this happy iourney she and I to defend vs from the Sunne being set vnder some trees which gaue a pleasing shaddow We were scarcely there but Polemas came to sit by vs seeming that it was by chance he met vs but I obserued that he had some good while followed vs with his eye And because we sate without any words and that he had a good voyce I sayd to him that hee should binde vs much to him if he would sing I will said he if that fayre will commaund me poynting to Leonide Such a commaundement said she would be a great indiscretion but I will make vse of my prayer especially if you haue any new thing I will willingly answered Polemas and moreouer I assure you that this which you shall heare was made but in the time of the Sacrifice while you were in your prayers And how said I is my companion then the subiect of this song Yes in deed answered he and I am witnesse And then he began to sing We sate very attentiâ—e and it may be I had knowne more had it not beene for Leonide who fearing that Polemas would shevv that which she would hide from me suddenly as he had ended took hold I dare lay a wager said she that I can diuine for whom this Song was made and then drawing neere his eare made as if she named some but indeed she bade him take heede what he sayd before me He being discreete drew backe and answered You haue not diuined right I sweare vnto you it is not for her whom you named Then I perceiued she would hide her selfe from me which was the cause that fayning to gather some floures I went from them on the other side yet not without hauing an eye to their actions Now Polemas himselfe since hath told me all but it was after his affection was passed ouer for so long as that lasted it was not in my power to make him confesse any thing Being then alone they took vp againe the discourse which they had left and she was the first that beganne And why Polemas sayd shee doe you iest thus with your friends Confesse the truth for whom are these verses Faire Nymph sayd he in your soule you know for whom they are as well as I. How sayd shee doe you beleeue me to be a diuiner Yes certainely answered Polemas and of those that obey not the gods who speak by their mouth but make themselues obeyed of him What meane you by that enigmaticall speech sayd the Nymph I meane sayd he that Loue speakes by your mouth otherwise your words would not be so full of fire and loue that they can kindle in all that behold them so burning coles and yet you obey him not though he commaund that he who loueth should be beloued for disobedient you worke that they who die of loue for you may well feele you faire but neuer louing nor so much as onely pitifull I speake for mine owne particular that may sweare with truth that in the world there was neuer beauty better beloued than yours of me In saying these last words he blushed and she smiled answering him Polemas Polemas the old souldiers shew their skarres for witnesse of their valour and complaine not at all you that complaine of yours would hardly shew them if Loue as your Generall to giue you a worthy reward should demaund to see them Cruell Nymph sayd the knight you deceiue your selfe for I may onely say to him Loue put away thy skarfe and behold the eyes of mine enemy for he can no sooner open his eies but he shall see the wounds that I beare in my heart not as you say in my complaint but in making it my glory to haue so worthy an Author of my wounds So that you may iudge that if Loue will enter into reason with me I can sooner satisfie him than you for hee can perceiue the blowes which you cannot because that the fire cannot burne it selfe no more are you being insensible of your owne beauties to be so of our teares nor offended where the armes of merit cannot resist if those of pitty at the least abate the sharpenesse of your rigours to the end that they that adore you for faire may commend you for courteous Leonide loued this knight but would not he should know it as yet But she likewise feared that putting him quite beside all hope shee might also make him lose his courage which was the cause that she answered him If your loue be such the time will
promised you continue likewise yours with the same honesty that your vertue promises me otherwise hence forth I breake all familiarity with you and protest neuer to loue you I may as the custome of them that are beloued is abuse you but I vse it not because I freely wish you should know that if you liue otherwise then you ought you are neuer to haue hope in my amity She added yet other words which so astonied Celion that he knew not what to answere Only he cast himselfe on his knees and without other discourse with this submission demanded pardon and then protested to her that his amity proceeded from her and that she might rule it as that which she had bred If you vse your selfe thus replied then Bellinde you shall bind me to loue you otherwise you shall constraine me to the contrary Faire shepheardesse replied he my affection is borne and such as it is it must liue for it cannot die but with mee so that I cannot well remedy it but by time yet to promise you that I will study to make such as you command I sweare it vnto you and in the meane time I desire neuer to be honored with your good fauour if in all my life you knew any action that for the quality of my affection may displease you At last the shepheard consented to bee beloued on condition shee might know nothing in him which might offend her honesty So these louers began an amity which lasted very long with such satisfaction to them both that they had cause to reioyce therein for their fortune Sometimes if the yong shepheard were letted hee sent his brother Diamis to her who vnder the colour of some fruite brought her letters from his brother She often returned answere with such good will that hee had cause to be contented and this affection was carried with that prudence that few perceiued it Amaranthe though she were ordinarily with them was ignorant of it had it not bene that by hap she found a letter which her companions had lost and see I beseech you what the effect was and how dangerous a thing it is for a yong soule to come neere these fires Vntill this time the shepheardesse had not not only the lesst feeling of loue but not a thought to be beloued and as soone as shee saw this letter were it for that she bare some enuy to her companion whom shee esteeâ—â—d not to be the fairer yet she saw her often wooed by this honest shepheard were it for that she was of an age which is proper to such burning that they can no sooner come neere the fire but they feele it were it for that this letter had so liuely heates that she had noyce to resist them So it was that she tooke a certaine desire not to loue for loue it may be would not attache her at the first in extremity but to be loued serued of some shepheard of worth and in this point shee read the letter oftentimes which was thus Celions letter to Bellinde FAire shepheardesse if your eyes were as full of variety as they are to cause loue the sweetnes which they promise at the first would make me adore them with as much of coÌ„tentment as they haue produced in me of vaine hope But so far are they from performance of their deceitfull promises that they will not so much as confesse them and are so wide from healing my hurt that they will not call themselues authors Yet can they hardly deny it if they consider well who she is hauing no likelihood that any other beauty then theirs could do so much And yet as if you had a purpose to equall your cruelty to your beauty you haue ordained that the affection which you haue caused to be borne shall cruelly die in me O God was there euer a more vnpittifull mother But I who held more deare that which comes from you then my life being vnable to suffer so great an iniustice am resolued to carry this affection with me into the graue hoping that the beauens moued at last with my patience will bind you at sometimes to be as pittifull as you are deare and cruâ—ll to me for the present Amaranthe read this letter ouer diuers times and without heed taking dranke vp the sweete poyson of loue no otherwise then one weary suffers himselfe by little to fall asleepe If her thought set before her eies the face of the shepheard oh how full of beauty found she it to be if his behauiour how pleasing did it seeme if his spirit how admirable did she iudge it briefely she saw him so perfect that she thought her companion happy to be beloued of him Then taking againe the letter she read it ouer but not without much pawsing on the subiects that touched her most at the heart And when she came to the end and that shee sawe the reproach of cruell she flattered her desires which lately borne call for foeble hopes as their Nurces with opinion that Bellinde as yet loued him not and so she might more easily winne him But the poore soule heeded not that this was the first letter that he had written to her and that since many things might be changed The amity which shee bare to Bellinde sometimes drew her backe but presently Loue ouertopped that amity At last the conclusion was that she writ such a Letter to Celion Amaranthes Letter to Celion YOur perfections may excuse my errour and your courtesie receiue the amity which I offer you I wish euill to my selfe if I loue any thing more than you But for your merit I make my glory whence would proceed my shame for any other If you refuse what I present you it must be for want of spirit or courage From which of these two it is it shal be as dishonourable to you as to me to be refused Shee gaue this letter her selfe to Celion who not able to imagine what she would as soone as hee was in a priuate place he read it but with no lesse astonishment than disdaine and had he not knowne her to be infinitely beloued of his mistris hee would not haue vouchsafed her an answer yet fearing it might offend her he sent this answere by his brother Celions answer to Amaranthe I Know not what there is in me to moue you to loue me yet I account my selfe as happy that such a shepheardesse will dayne to regarde me as I am vnfortunate in not being able to receiue such a fortune I would it pleased my destiny that I could as freely giue my selfe to you as I am wanting in power Faire Amaranthe I should thinke my selfe the happiest that liueth to line in your seruice but being no longer at mine owne disposition accuse not if it please you neither my spirit nor my courage of that whereto necessity compells me It shall alwayes be much to my contentment to be in your good grace but yet more grieuous to you to note at
couered with teares Stanzaes on the death of Cleon. THe beauty which to cinders death doth turne Despoyling it of mortall state so soone Like lightning mounts and doth like fire burne So short a life hath so great beauty wonne Those eyes late authors of sweete vndertakings From more deare Loues are clos'd for euer fast Faire eyes that were of such a wondrous making That none beheld but lou'd them e're they past If this be true beauty from vs departs Loue vanquish'd weepes that conquered heretofore And she that gaue life to a thousand hearts Is dead yet liues in my heart euermore What good henceforth is worthy of our loue Since perfectest is soonest ranisht still As shaddow doth after the body mooue So euery good is seconded with ill Cleon it seemes thy destiny hath sworne Euen in thy East to finish vp thy day And that thy beauty dead as soone as borne Should meete her coffin in her cradles way No thou diest not it is much rather I Since all my life I liuing tooke from thee If louers life in thing beloued lie I hauing lou'd thee thou reuiu'st in me So if I liue Loue giues the world to know That his command he can to death impart Or being God his mighty power to shew Makes Louer liue without or soule or heart But Cleon if the will of Fate be so Of humane frailty that the smart you trie Loue wils to yours my fortune equall grow You by my plaints I by your death doe die Thus I powre forth my plaints that new life brings Death to surprise my sorrow being lame And my two eyes changed to lasting springs Bewaile mine ill but cannot lesse the same When Loue with me to shew compassion Laments this faire losse whence my paines dâ—still Drâ—e saith he teares mourne in another fashion So much all teares are lesser then our ill Licidas and Phillis were very curious to know the griefe of this shepheard if their own would haue giuen them leaue but seeing he had as much need of consolation as themselues they would not ioyne another mans euill to their owne and so leauing the other shepheards attentiue to finde it out they held on their way no man following them for the desire euery one had to know what this vnknowne company might be Licidas was not gone far before they heard another voice some good way off which seemed to come towards them and they willing to harken were hindred by the shepheardesse who held the shepheards head in her lap with these complaints Well thou cruell well shepheard without pitty how long shall this obstinate humour of thine indure against my prayers How long hast thou determined that I should be disdained and contemned for a thing that is not and for the sake of one dead I should bee depriued of that which cannot profit it Consider Tyrcis consider thou Idolater of the dead and enemy to the liuing what the perfection of my loue is and begin at last begin to loue the person that liues and not them that are dead whom you must leaue in rest to God and not disquiet their happy cinders with vnprofitable teares and take heed lest in holding on thus you draw not on you the vengeance of your cruelty and iniustice The shepheard not turning his eyes to her answered coldly Would to God faire shepheardesse I might be suffered to giue you satisfaction with my death for to free you and my selfe also of the payne wherein we are I would choose it rather then my life but since as you haue told me this were but to increase your griefe I beseech thee Laonice enter into thy selfe and consider how small reason thou hast to make my deare Cleon dye twice It is sufficient since my mis-hap will haue it so that she hath once paid the tribute of her humanity then if after her death she be reuiued in me by force of my loue why cruell will you haue her dye againe by the forgetfulnesse which a new loue will cause in my soule No no shepheardesse your reproaches shall neuer haue such power ouer me to make me to consent to so wicked a counsell because that which you call cruelty I name faithfulnesse and that which you thinke worthy punishment I iudge it to deserue high commendation I haue told you that in my Tombe the memory of my Cleon shall liue by my bones that which I haue sayd to you I haue a thousand times sworne to the immortall gods and to this faire soule which is now with them and thinke you that they will suffer Tyrcis to goe vnpunished if forgetfull of his oath he become vnfaithfull Ah! I shall sooner see the heauens cast forth their lightning on my head then euer offend either my oath or my deare Cleon. She would haue replied but that then the shepheard that went on singing interrupted them by comming vpon them with these verses The Song of Hylas IF she disdaine me then adew I leaue the cruell with her scorne Not staying till the morrow morne Before I chuse a mistrisse new It were a fault my selfe to pine By force to draw her loue to mine They for the most part are so wise They make no reckoning of our loues Wherein their heart a fire moues But that the flame must not arise So that we kindle other fires While we pursue our owne desires The ouer-faithfull vow-keeper Abused by his loyalty Loues beauty stuft with cruelty Seemes be not I doll worshipper That from an Image nothing strong Neuer findes succor for his wrong They say Who open passage leaue To be importunde euery day At last must giue himselfe away But so we little good receiue When we may easly meete some one To be importunate vpon These Louers lo that faithfull are Are alwaies full of dolorous feares Deepe sighes complaints and showring teares Are commonly their daintiest fare It seemes the Louers chiefest part Is onely to weepe out his heart A man how can you call him well That manly honour layd aside Cries like a boy cannot abide Apples losse or Wall-nuts-shell May you not rather call him foole That loues such displing in Loues schoole But I who all such follies flye That nothing bring with them but care By others harmes warn'd to beware Doe alwaies vse my liberty And am not discontent at all That they doe me inconstant call At these last verses the shepheard was come so neere to Tyrcis that he might discerne the teares of Laonice and because though they were strangers yet they knew one the other and to busie them a while by the way the shepheard knowing the sorrow of Laonice and Tyrcis rowsed himselfe to accost them in this manner O desolate shepheard for by reason of this sadde time of life such was the name that euery man gaue him if I should be like you I should thinke my selfe most vnhappy Tyrcis hearing him speake rose vp to answer him And I Hylas if I were in your place how might you call me vnhappy
better their country in stead of Gaul take the name of Frannce While I was entred into armes among the Franks the Gauls the Romans the Burgonians the Visigots and the Huns my brother was among them of loue armes so much the more offensiue for that they turne all their blowes vpon the heart his disaster was such if now I may bee suffered to cal itso that being bred vp by Clidaman he saw the faire Siluie but seeing her hee saw his death also not hauing liued since that but as drawing towards his tombe t◠tell you the cause I cannot for being with Childerick I knew nothing but that my brother was in extremity though I found al the cōtentments that might be as being regarded of my Master beloued of my companions cherished and honored generally of all for a certaine good opinion they conceiue of me for affaires that fell out which it may be got me with them more authority credit then my age and capacity might merit I could not knowing the sicknesse of my brother stay longer time with Childerick but taking leaue of him promising him to returne very shortly I came backe with the haste that my loue required As soone as I was come many ranne to tell him that Guymantes was come for so they call me His loue gaue him strength enough to lift vp himselfe in his bed he imbraced me with the most intire affection that one brother could do to another It would serue but to trouble you and wound my selfe afresh to recount vnto you the things which our amity wrought betweene vs. So it was that either 2. or 3. daies after my brother was brought to that extremity that he could hardly draw his breath and yet that cruell loue inclined him more to sighing then to the necessity hee had of breathing and in all his raging fits we could heare nothing but the name of Siluie I to whom the displeasure of his death was so violent that I could hardly dissemble wished so much euill to this vnknowne Siluie that I could not hold from cnrsing her which when my brother heard and his affection as yet greater then his disease hee enforced himselfe to speake this Brother if you will not bee my greatest enemy for beare I beseech you these imprecations which cannot but displease mee much more then my disease I had much rather not bee at all then that they should take effect and being vnprofitable what will it auaile you vnlesse it be to witnesse to me how much you hate that which I loue I know well my losse will trouble you and therein I haue more feeling of our separation then of my end But since euery man is borne to dye why with me do you not thanke the heauens which haue chosen me the fairest death and the most faire murderer that euer man had The extremity of my affection and the extremity of the vertue of Siluie are the armes by which her beauty is serued to put me into my griefe and why do you bewaile me wish euill to her to whom I wish more good then to my soule I thinke hee would haue said more but his strength failed and I more wet with teares of pitty then when against Attila I was all on a sweat vnder my armor and my armes sprinkled with bloud all ouer me Brother she that takes you from yours is the most vniust that euer was and if she be faire the gods haue done the iniustice in her for either they should haue changed her face or her heart Then Aristander hauing gotten a little more strength replied to me For Gods sake Guymantes blaspheme no more in this sort beleeue that Siluie hath an heart answerable to her face that as the one is full of beauty so the other is of vertue that if for louing her I die doe not you wonder because that if the eye cannot without dazeling abide the beames of one Sun without cloudy how may not my soule remaine dazeled at the beames of so many Suns which glister in this faire that if I haue scarce tasted such diuinities without death I may haue the contentment of him that dies to see Iupiter in his diuinity I would tell you that as her death giues witnesse that no other had euer seene so much of diuinity as shee so that no man euer loued so much of beauty nor so much of vertue as I. Now I that came from an exercise that made mee beleeue there was no loue forced but voluntary with which men go on flattering themselues in idlenesse said to him Is it possible that one sole beauty should be the cause of your death My brother answered he I am in such extremity that I thinke I cannot answere your demands but said he on taking me by the hand for brotherly loue and for our particular which binds vs yet faster I adiure you to promise me one gift I did so Then he said on Beare as from me this kisse to Siluy and then he kissed my hand and obserue that which you finde of my last will and when you see this Nympho you shall know that which you demand of me At this word with a blast his soule flew vp his body lay cold in my armes The affliction that I felt in this losse as it cannot be imagined but by him that hath beene in it so it cannot be conceiued but by the heart that suffered it and hardly can the word reach that which the thought may not attaine so that without longer abode in bewailing this disaster I wil say Madam that as soone as my dolours would suffer me I haue set my selfe on the way as well to render you the homage which I owe you and to demand iustice of you for the death of Aristander as to fulfill my promise which I made him against his homicide and to present that which by his last will he left in writing to the end that I may call my selfe as iust an obseruer of my word as his affection hath beene inuiolable But at the instant when I was presented before you and that I meant to open my mouth against this murderer I haue found my brothers words so true that not only I excuse his death but desire and require the like This shall bee then Madam with your permission which I will performe and then making a great reuerence to Amasis he chose from among vs Siluie and resting one knee on the ground he said Faire murtherer though on this faire brest there fall but one teare of pitty at the newes of the death of the person which was so much yours you cease not to haue entire honourable victory yet if you iudge that to so many flames which you haue lighted in him so small a drop shall not bee a great asswagement receiue at least the burning kisse which hee bequeaths you when presently his soule turned into this kisse which he set in this faire hand rich indeed with the
chuse but be assured of his affection Where to she answered that she neuer had the thought to dissemble with me and she would be very angry I should haue that opinion of her and to giue me more proofe since I desired she should intertaine Licidas she would obey me when she should know that he loued her as he said That was the cause that Celadon often finding her after with me gaue her a Letter that his brother had written by my aduice A Letter of Licidas to Phillis IF I haue not alwayes loued you let me neuer be beloued of any and if my affâ—â—tion do euer change let my present misfortune neuer change It is true that some-while I haue hidden my loue within my heart so that I haue not suffered it to appeare in my eyes nor words If I haue offended in it accuse the respect I carry you who haue ordained I should doe so If you beleeue not the oath which I haue made you take what proofe you will of me and you shall know that you haue me more yours then I can assure you by my true but most feeble words In the end wise Diane after many replies on both sides we so wrought that Licidas was entertained and from that time we began all foure one life which was not vnpleasing either of vs fauouring the other with the most discretion we could possibly And that we might the better couer our dessigne we inuented many meanes were it to talke were it to write in secresie It may be you haue noted that little rocke that standeth vpon the great way to the Rocke you must needs know that it is painefull to get vp but being there the place is so fenced that a man may be there vnseene of any and because it stands on the hie way wee made choice of it to meete in that none might spy vs and if any mette vs going by wee made shew to be on our way and that neither the one nor the other might go in vaine we put in the morning some bough at the foote of it for a marke that we had somewhat to say It is true that we were so neere vnto the high way that our raysed voyce might easily be heard of them that passed by this was the onely cause that vsually we left either Phillis or Licidas to watch that at what time soeuer they sawe any come afarre off they should cough to giue vs warning And because wee were vsed to write alwayes when we were letted or hindered and could not come to that place wee chose out along that little riuer that runnes by the great way an olde Willow tree halfe eaten for age in the hollow whereof we alwayes layd our letters and that we might more easily make answer wee vsually left some paper and an inkehorne To be short wise Diane we turned on euery side that wee possibly could to keepe vs from discouery And namely wee forthwith tooke this course not to talke together Celadon and I nor Licidas and Phillis so that there were many that thought that Celadon had changed his minde because that as soone as he saw Phillis he would haste to intertaine her and she shewed him all the good countenance she could and I likewise alwayes when Licidas came in place brake company from any other to go talke with him It fell out in successe of time that Celadon himselfe was of opinion that I loued Licidas and I beleeued he loued Phillis and Phillis thought Licidas loued me and Licidas suspected that Phillis loued Celadon in such sort that vnawares we found our selues so cumbred with these opinions that iealousie made vs know that a little shewe will cause him breed in an heart that loueth well Indeed interrupted Phillis we were Louers and Schollers at that time for to what purpose serued it to conceale that we truly loued by making men beleeue a loue that was not since you may as well feare that men should thinke you beare good will to Licidas as to Celadon Sister sister replyed Astrea clapping her hand on her shoulder we feare not when men doe thinke of vs that which is not and on the contrary the least suspition of that which is true giues vs no rest Truly iealousie continued she turning toward Diane so attached vs all foure that I thinke that life had long lasted among vs if some good spirit had not wrought in vs a cleering in the presence each of other Some seuen or eight dayes passed that we sawe not each other in the rocke and that the letters which Celadon and I layd were so differing from those we formerly vsed that it seemed they were differing persons At last as I told you some good spirit hauing care of vs caused vs by chance to meete all foure in that place without other company And the loue of Celadon therein more strong then the rest in that it compelled him to speake first put these words into his mouth Faire Astrea if I thought time could giue remedy to the paine I feele I would referre my selfe to that which it might bring but since the older it growes the more it increaseth I am enforced to seeke out a better by the complaint that I am to make to you of the wrong I receiue and I am more readily brought to it for that I am to make my complaint both before my Iudges and my aduersaries And as he was going forward Licidas interrupted him saying that he was in payne that in greatnesse differed not from his In greatnesse sayd Celadon it is impossible for mine is extreme And mine replyed Licidas is without comparison While the shepheards talked together I turned to Phillis and sayd You see sister these shepheards will complaine of vs. Whereto shee answered me But we haue more cause to complaine of them But yet sayd I although I haue great cause to complayne of Celadon yet I haue more of you who vnder the colour of the friendship you seeme to beare me haue drawne him from that hee made shew of to me so that I may say you haue robbed me And for that Phillis stood so confused at my words that she knew not what to answer Celadon turning to me said Ah faire shepheardesse but fleeting as fayre Is it so that you haue lost the memory of the seruices of Celadon and of your owne othes I complayne not so much of Licidas though he haue fayled in his duty of proximity and amity betweene vs as of you to your selfe knowing well that the desire which your perfections may bring into an heart may make it forget all respect of duty But is it possible that so long a seruice as mine so absolute a power as you haue euer had ouer me and so entire an affection as mine cannot somewhat stay the inconstancy of your soule or in good time if yet all that commeth from me be of so small force how comes it that your fayth so often sworne and the gods so often called
Whereupon Alcippe meaning to make vse of it deuised this crafty tricke I tell you There was a shepheard named Squilinder dwelling on the bounds of the Forrest in an Hamlet called Argental a cunning fellow and vntrusty and who among his other industries knew so well to counterfet all kinde of Letters that the man whom he initated can hardly discerne thefalshood To him Alcippe shewes what he found at the foote of the tree as I haue told you before and causes him to write another to Celadon in my name which was thus The counterfeited Letter of Astrea to Celadon CEladon since I am compelled by my fathers commaundement you may not thinke it strange that I pray you to end this loue which heeretofore I haue coniured you to hold eternall Alce hath giuen me to Corebe and though the match be to my aduauncement yet can I not leaue to feele sensibly the separation of our amity Yet since it is folly to contrary that which must not fall out otherwise I counsell you to arme your selfe with resolution and so to forget all that is passed betweene vs that Celadon haue no more memory of Astrea as Astrea is constrayned from henceforth to lose for dueties sake all the remembrance of Celadon This LeÌ„tter was brought so sinely to Celadon by a young shepheard vnknowne O God! what was he at the encounter and how great was the displeasure that cut his heart Then sayd hee by Astrea It is true that there is nothing of duraÌ„ce in the world since that firme resolution which you haue so often sworne is so readily changed Now you will make me be a witnesse that what perfection soeuer a woman may haue she can not bereaue her selfe of her inconstancie by nature Haue then the heauens agreed that for my greater punishment my life should remaine after the losse of your amity to the end that I should onely liue more extremely to feele my disastor And then falling into a swowne he came no sooner to himselfe but the complaints were in his mouth And that which most easily perswaded him of this change was this that the Letter did but confirme the common report of the marriage betweene Corebe and me He lay all that day on a bed vnwilling to speake to any person and the night being come he depriued himselfe of his companions he tooke to the largest and desolatest wood shunning the meeting of men more like a sauge beast desiring to die farre from the society and companie of men since they were the cause of his sorrow In this resolution hee ranne thorow all the mountaines of Foreste on the side of Ceruieres where at the last he chose a place which he thought least frequented of purpose to finish the rest of his sad and mournefull dayes there The place is called Lapau where riseth one of the springs of the disastrous riuer Lignon for the other spring proceedeth from the mountaynes of Cholmesel Now on the sides of this fountaine he built a prety Lodge where he liued retired more then sixe moneths during which time his ordinary nourishment were teares and plaints It was at that time that hee made this song A SONG Of Celadon vpon Astreat change IT must be that my constancy Hath quite bereaued me of sence If I feele not the iniury Your change hath wrought to my offence And feeling it I should remaine Without recourse to your disdaine For sworne you haue disdained mee For one you scarce had in your eye Because he hath more it may be Of goods and wealthier is then I. Vnfaithfull dar'st thou be so bold To sacrifice to Calfe of gold Where are the othes which we did make Where are the teares that showring fell To gods when we our leaue did take No doubt the heauens did marke them well Though your heart do it now forget Yet your owne month did publish it Periured eyes vnfaithfull flame That louest nothing but to change Let Loue on beauty like the same Of thine for me worke vengeance strange That makes a shew of bearing loue Only the greater flame to moue So ouer-prestwith sad distresse In Loue betraid one'gan complaine When it was told him his Mistresse Did for another him disdaine And thundring heauen for meere pitty Promis'd to venge his amity The wretched downe himselfe he threw Neere Lignon floud and as he sate Vpon the sand with finger drew There ciphers as he vs'd of late This happy cipher oh said he To vs no more will proper be And then a teare chill'd of the paine Which dolour iust thrust in his face Vpon the sand dropping amaine These double ciphers did deface Deface sayd he oh showring teare Them in my heart but not these there Thou Louer that right cowardly So long bewayl'st so dolefully A soule all made of forgery Since thou her change know'st certainly Either thou shortly art to die Or else recâ—â—er presently The solitarinesse of Celadon had beene much longer but for the commandement that Alcippe gaue to Licidas to seeke out his brother hauing a purpose in himselfe since he so well saw how vnprofitable his trauaile was no more to crosse this amity Now Licidas had long sought him but for a chance that befell vs the same day I was vpon the banks of Lignon and held mine eies ouer his streame thinking at that time of the losse of Celadon and Phillis and Licidas talked together some good while when we saw some little balles that lay swimming on the water The first that tooke heed to it was Phillis who shewed it to vs but we could not ghesse what it might bee And because Licidas knew the curiosity of his mistrisse to giue her satisfaction he went as far as he could into the water and so reached with a long branch that he tooke one but seeing that it was but waxe because hee was wet and angry that he tooke such paine for a thing of so small worth hee cast it in a rage against the ground and breaking it vpon a great flint stone it fell all in pieces and there remained nothing but a paper which had beene put therein which Phillis ranne presently to take vp and hauing opened it we read these words Goe paper more happy then him that sends thee to see these shores so much beloued where my shepheardesse dwels and if accompanied with teares wherewith I make this Riuer to swell it chances thee to kisse the sands where her steps are imprinted stay thy course and abide with good fortune where my mishap denies me to be If thou happen to come to her hands which haue taken from me my heart and she demand of thee how I doe tell her O faithfull paper that day and night I turne my selfe into teares to wash away her vnfaithfulnesse and if touched with repentance she wet thee with some teares tell her that by vnbending the bow she can neuer heale the wound which she hath made in her faith my Loue and that my griefes are witnesses both
arme after he had stayed some while without speech he told you at last Faire Nymph it is not for nothing that I dispute in myselfe whether I should or whether I should not declare that which I haue in my soule for to dissemble may bee allowed in that which may sometimes bee changed but that which constraines mee to speake at this time shall accompany me euen to my Tombe Here I stayed and sayd to her Will you haue me repeat Leonide the same words which you answered Without lie then said Polemas you put your selfe into great hazard of being discouered Not a whit answered Climanthe and to giue you proofe of perfection of my memory I will tell you the very words But replyed Polemas what if I had forgot to tel them you Oh adioyned Climanthe I doubt not of that but so it is that the subiect of the words was that that you told me she her selfe doth not remeÌ„ber the words theÌ„selues so that out of the opinion that it was a god that had told me she beleeued they were the very same If you had not 〈◊〉 so familâ—ar with her as your secre 〈…〉 affectioÌ„ made you I had not so easily vnder taken it but remembring that you had told mee that you had serued her long and that seruice was well accepted of till the time that you changed affection and that you are become the seruant of Galathee and namely that that was the cause that to do you a displeasure she held on Lindâ—â—â—ors part against you I boldly told her all that had passed at that time knowing Loue would not suffer that one should conceale any thing from the person whom they loue But to come againe to our purpose she answered I am willing you shuld say what you please but we will beleeue what we list This she said as beeing a little pricked with that which shee would should haue beene concealed from her companions I went on Well Leonide you may beleeue what you please for I assure my selfe that I haue said nothing which in your soule you haue not found for true You answered him as seeming not to vnderstand what he would say You haue reason Agis not to hide by dissimulation that which must accompany you so long as you liue otherwise it beeing impossible but it must be discouered you shall be taken for a double person a name which is honourable to no sort of people but much lesse to them who make the profession that you doe This counsell then answered hee and my passion constraine mee to tell you faire Nymph that neither the inequality of your merits to me nor the small good will which I haue found in you could not hinder my affection nor my boldnesse that they haue not raysed me vp to you so that if not the quality of the gift but the will is to be receiued I may say with assurance that none can offer you a greater sacrifice for that heart which I giue you I giue with all the affections and with all the powers of my soule and so all that which after this deuotion is not found to be yours I disauow and renounce it as not appertaining to me The conclusion was that you answered Agis I will beleeue these words when the time and your seruices shall haue told me them as well as your mouth See the first declaration of amity which you had of him whereof afterwards he gaue you such proofe as well by sute hee made to marry you as by the quarrells which he had against many whom hee was iealous of It was at that time that when you would haue frizeled your haire you burnt your cheeke whereupon he made this verse A SONG Of Agis on the burning of Leonides cheeke VVHile Loue did please himselfe to play Within the gold of your faire haire A sparkle of his fiers rare Vnhapp'ly on your cheeke did stay You cruell Nymph may iudge thereon How sâ—re the smart of fire stings Since that but one small sparke alone So much of dolour with it brings Meane while that your eye forth did dart When yet with it the conquest goes So many fires against my heart Your cheeke was hurt by one of those You cruell Nymph may iudge thereon How sore the smart of fire stings Since that but one small sparke alone So much of doloâ—r with it brings While that my heart that flaming was To dart as you had purposed His fire that could no further passe Burned your cheeke in your foules sted You cruell Nymph may iudge thereon How sore the smart of fire stings Since that but one small sparke alone So much of dâ—â—our with it brings And to make it appeare to you that I truely know these things by a diuinity which canot lie whose eie eare perceth euen to the depth of the heart I will tell you a thing on this subiect that no man could know but you and Agis She was afraid I would discouer some secret which would anger heâ— and it was my purpose to giue her that apprehension and that was the cause that she sayd to me much disquieted Man of God though I beleeue not but that you and others may say that on this subiect which imports me yet this discourse is so sensible that it will bee hard to handle it with so gentle an hand but the wound will bleed therefore I beseech you to make an end She vttered these words with such a change of countenance and a voyce so broken that for her better assurance I was constrained to say You are not to thinke me of so small a consideration that I know not how to conceale that which may offend you nor that I am ignorant that the least wounds are sensible enough in that part which I touch for it is to the heart that all these strokes are directed but because you will know no more I will hold my peace And it is time that I goe to the Diuinity that calls me And at that instant I arose and gaue them the good day Then after I had made some shewes of ceremonies ouer the riuer I sayd very loud O soueraigne Deity which abidest in this place behold how with this water I cleanse my selfe and vncloath me of all the prophanenesse which the conuersing among men might leaue in me since I came out of thy holy Temple At these words I dipped my hands thrice into the water and then taking vp in the hollow of the one I receiued it thrice into my mouth my eyes and hands lifted vp to heauen and so went to my Cabbin without speaking to them and because I doubted they had the curiosity to come see what I did I went before the Altar where making a shew to cast my selfe on the ground I drew out the horse haires which taking their effect let the little steele table that stood before the glasse fall which fell so to purpose on the flint that it strucke fire and instantly tooke hold on
one might haue murmured for you know how much a man that deales in matters of state is subiect to enuie and slander I gaue three moones after to the end that if you falle one day you might be there another I told her that if shee saw you first that shee should easily fall in loue with you that if it were you it should be otherwise and that only because I knew well that you should see her first so that she should find this difficulty of Loue true in her selfe for as you know she loued Lindamor I told her I must bee gone the next day that she should not thinke it strange if she came to seeke me out for some curiosity for hauing performed that which wee resolue on I had reason to make haste that I might not bee knowne of any Druide who would haue caused me to bee punished and you know well that hath alwayes bene my feare Thinke you I haue forgot any thing No certainely sayd Polemas but what might that be that hath kept her backe so long time For my part sayd Climanthe I know not except it bee for that shee hath mis-taken the daies of the moone but since no businesse presses you and you may yet stay here the time that I haue set her I would aduise you to do it and euery morning two dayes before and after you faile not to goe in good time for it is true that the first day wee were too late And what will you sayd Polemas that I should do The losse of the shepheard that drowned himselfe was the cause and you know the shore of the riuer was so full of folke that I could not stay there alone without suspicion but wee haue not foreslowed much and there is no likelihood that shee was there that day for I assure my selfe that the same occasion which hindred me hath likewise stayd her lest she shuld be seen You shal neuer perswade mee so replied Climanthe shee was too desirous to obserue that which I appointed But it seemes to be time to rise that you may be gone and then opening the windowes he saw the day breake Without doubt sayd he before you be at the place where you shuld be the houre will be past make haste for it is better to haue many houres to spare thē a momēt too short And will you sayd Polemas that wee go now being more then 15. dayes since the time is past It may be she hath reckoned wrong let vs not faile to finde her Leonide who feared to be seene either of Polemas or Climanthe durst not rise before they were gone and that shee might know the face of Climanthe when it was day she beheld him so that shee thought it impossible hee could disguise himselfe to her and as soone as she saw they were out of the house she dressed her selfe and hauing taken leaue of her hoast held on her voiage so confused in her selfe at the malicious impostures of these two persons that she thoght any other might as well bee deceiued as shee so it was that the small esteeme which Polemas made of her beauty strucke her so to the quicke that she resolued to preuent his malice with her wisedome and to worke so that Lindamor in his absence might not feele the effects of this treason which she thought she could not better do then by the meane of her vncle Adamas to whom she had a purpose to declare all that she knew In this resolution she hasted to go to Feurs where she thought to find him but she came too late for that morning hee was gone home-wards hauing the day before dispatched that which belonged to the sacrifice And the Sun began to wax hot by that time he came into the plaine of Mont-Verdun and because on the left hand he perceiued a tuft of trees which as he thoght gaue a louely shaddow hee turned his step thither to rest himselfe a little As soone as hee was there hee spied afar off a shepheard comming that seemed to seeke out that place for the same cause that brought him and because hee seemed to bee very sad when hee came lest hee might draw him from his thought hee would not salute him but without shewing himselfe to him he would harken what he went talking to himselfe and shortly after he was set down on the other side of the bush he heard him vse these words And why should I loue this fleeter In the first place her beauty cannot constraine me for it is not enough to giue her the name of faire and then her merits are not such as if they be not ayded with other considerations may hold an honest man in her seruice and lastly her loue which was all that bound me to her is so changeable that if she haue any impression of loue in her hart I think it be not only of wax but of wax newly wrought she so easily takes the figures of al nouelties and it is like her eyes that receiue the figures of all that is represented to them but lose them as soone as the obiect is no more before them that is I loue her I must avow it is because I thinke shee loues mee but if it be not so I excuse her for I know well she thinks she loues me This shepheard had gone on but a shepheardesse by fortune came to him who seemed to haue followed him afar off and though shee heard some words of her selfe yet made she no shew but now contrary sitting downe by him shee sayd Well Corilas what new care is this that makes you so sad The shepheard answered her as disdainefully as hee could without turning his head on that side It is that which makes me search with what new deceit you will beare them whom from this time you shall beginne to loue And why sayd the shepheardesse can you beleeue that I affect any other then you And you sayd the shepheard can you beleeue that I thinke you affect me What thinke you then of me sayd the shepheardesse All the worst answered Corilas that you can beleeue from a man whom you hate You haue added she strange opinions of me And you said Corilas strange effects in you O God sayd the shepheardesse what a man haue I found in you It is I answered the shepheard that with more reason may retort it on you Stelle what a woman haue I found for there is nothing more capable of loue thē you you I say who take no delite but to deceiue those that trust in you and who imitate the huntsman who pursueth the beast with such care whose heart afterwards he giues to his dogs You haue said shee so small reason in that you say as he should haue lesse that will stay to answere you I would to God said the shepheard I might alwayes haue as much in my soule as I haue now in my words I should not haue that sorrow that afflicts me And after they had both held their peace
knowledge you would come to heare her one night I promised her very freely and told her it should be shortly for Filidas told me the night before she would goe see Gerestan and fall in league with him Some dayes after Filidas according to his purpose carrying Amidor with him departed to see Gerestan resoluing not to returne of seuen or eight dayes that he might giue greater token of his loue and this remoue fell out fitly for vs for if he had beene at home hardly should we haue concealed the trouble wherein we were Now the day of his departing Filander following his custome fayled not to go downe into the garden halfe vndrest when he thought euery body asleepe On the contrary Daphnis that went first to bed as soone as shee sawe her goe out made haste to tell me and hastily casting a cloake about me I followed her speedily enough vntill we were in the garden But when she perceiued where he was she made signe to me to come softly after And when wee were come neere so that wee might heare we sate downe vpon the ground and presently after I heard him say But wherefore is all this patience to what end are all these delayes Must thou not die without succour or where mayst thou lay thy wound open to the Surgeon that can heale it And then resting a little while hee beganne agayne with a great sigh Say not thou O troublesome feare that she will banish vs from her presence and that shee will ordayne vs to a desperate death Well if we die shall it not be a great solace to vs to abridge so miserable a life as ours is and by death satisfie the offence we haue done And as for banishment if it come not from her how may we auoyde it by Gerestan whose impaciencie will not suffer vs to stay longer heere If yet we obtayne a longer stay of this importunate man and that death do not befall vs from the anger of the fayre Diane alas can we auoyd the violence of our affections What must I then doe that I tell her of it Ah! I shall offend her for euer if it were possible for me Shall I conceale it and why conceale it when my death shall giue her a speedy knowledge Why should I then offend her Ah! Wrong and Loue will neuer go together Let vs rather die But if I consent to my death doe I not make â—er lose the most faithfull seruant that euer she had I will tell it her then and at that time I will open my bosome that the yron may more easily punish my errour if she will Behold will I say where the heart of the vnfortunate Filander is who vnder the habit of Callire in stead of gayning your fauour hath met with your displeasure reuenge your selfe and punish it and be assured that if the reuenge satisfie you the punishment shall be welcome to him Faire shepheardesses when I heard Filander speake in this sort I knew not what became of mee I was taken with such an astonishment I know wel I would haue gone away that I might see no more of this deceit so full of despight that I trembled agayne But Daphnis for the full accomplishment of her treason held me by force and because as I told you we were very neere the shepheard at the first noyse wee made hee turned his head and thinking it was but Daphnis he came to her but when hee perceiued mee and that he thought I had heard him O God said he what punishment shall wipe out my fault Ah Daphnis I neuer looked for this treason from you And at this word hee ranne vp and downe the garden like a madde man although shee called him twice or thrice by the name of Callyre but fearing to be heard of others and the rather that despayre might not make Filander doe some euill to his owne person she left me alone and ranne to follow him saying to mee in choler at her going You shall see Diane that if you deale hardly with Filander it may be you will ruine your selfe so that you may feele the greatest displeasure If I were amazed at this accident fayre shepheardesses you may well iudge when I knew not which way to returne At last after I had some deale recouered my spirits I searched so on euerie side that I got into my chamber where hauing layd mee in my bed all trembling I could not close mine eyes all that night As for Daphnis shee made such search for Filander that at last sheeÌ„ found him rather dead then aliue and after she had chidden him for not knowing how to make vse of so fauourable an occasion and yet assured him that I was not so amazed at this accident as he shee brought him a little to himselfe and in some sort assured him but not so that the next morning he had the boldnesse to goe out of his chamber I on the other side infinitely offended with them both was constrayned to keepe my bed that I might not giue notice of my displeasure to them that were about vs and particularly to the neece of Gerestan but by good fortune she was not more spritefull then reason would so that we easily hid from her this euill carriage which was almost impossible for vs especially for Filander about whom she ordinarily kept Daphnis found her selfe not a little impeached by this occasion for at the first I could not receiue her excuses At last she so turned me on all sides and knew so well to disguise this affection that I promised her to forget the displeasure which she had done me swearing notwithstanding as for Filander that I would neuer see him more And I beleeue he had gone away without seeing me as not able to endure my anger had it not beene for the danger whereinto he feared Callyre might fall for she had to doe with an husband that was froward enough This was the consideration that held him backe but not rising from his bed fayning to be sicke fiue or sixe dayes passed before I would see him what reason soeuer Daphnis could alledge in his behalfe and had it not beene that I was aduertised that Filidas would returne and Callire also I had not seene him of a long time But the feare I had Filidas might not marke it and that which was so secret might not beÌ„ published thorowout the countrey made me to resolue to see him on condition that he should make no shew of that which was passed hauing not sufficient power ouer my selfe to stay me from giuing some knowledge of my displeasure He promised it and performed it for hee durst hardly turne his eyes towards me and when hee did it was a certayne submission which gaue me no small assurance of his extreme loue And by fortune presently after I was entred Filidas Amidor and the dissembled Filander came into the chamber the windowes whereof being shut gaue vs good commodity to hide our faces Filander aduertised
in loue to him And as for the recompences which you demand for the seruices and for the letters which Laonice carried from one to the other let her remember the contentment which she receiued how many happy daies she passed before this deceit which otherwise she should haue speÌ„t miferably let her ballance her seruices with that payment I assure myselfe shee shall bee found their debtor Thou saist Hylas that Tircis hath be guiled her This is no beguiling but a iust punishment of Loue that hath made her blowes fall on her owne selfe since her purpose was not to serue but to delude the wise Cleon that if she haue cause to coÌ„plaine of any thing it is that of two deceyuers she hath beene the lesse crafty See Siluander how briefly I haue thought fit to answer the false reasons of this shepheard and there remaines nothing but to make Laonâ—ce confesse that she hath done wrong to pursue this iniustice which I will easily doe if it please her to answer me Faire shepheardesse said Phillis tell me doe you loue Tircis well Shepheardesse replyed she no man that knowes me doubted euer of it If it were of constraint replyed Phillis that he were to goe farre off and that some other came in the meane time to woo you would you change this loue No sayd she for I should alwayes hope hee would come backe And reioyned Phillis If you knâ—w he would neuer returne would you cease louing him No certainely answered she O faire Laonice continued Phillis thinke it not then strange that Tyrcis who knowes that his Clâ—on for her merits is lifted vp into heauen who knoweth that from aboue shee sees all his actions and ioyes in his fidelity will not change the loue he bare her nor suffer that the distance of place should separate their affections since all the discommodities of life haue no more to do Thinke not as Hylas hath sayd that neuer any came backe ouer the floud of Acheron Many who haue beene beloued of the gods haue gone and returned and whom shall we rather thinke than faire Cleon whose birth hath beene beheld by the Destinies with so sweet and fauourable an eye that she neuer loued any thing whereof she gayned not the loue O Laonice if it were permitted your eyes to see the Diuinitie you might behold this Cleon who without doubt is at this houre in this place to defend her cause and is at mine â—are to prompt the words that I must speake Then you would iudge that Hylas hath done wrong to say that Tyrcis loues but cold cinders Me thinks I see her in the midst of vs clothed with immortality in stead of a frayle body and subiect to all accidents which reproches Hylas for the blasphemies which he hath vsed against her And what wilt thou answer Hylas if the happy Cleon say to thee Thou inconstant wouldst trayne vp my Tyrcis in thy vnfaithfulnesse if he haue heeretofore loued me thinkest thou it was my body if thou sayst Yes I answer He ought to be condemned since no louer is euer to withdraw himselfe from a loue begunne to loue the ashes which I haue left him in my coffin so long as they endure If hee confesse he loued my spirit that is my principall part then why inconstant will hee change that will at this time when it is more perfect than euer it was Heeretofore so will the misery of the liuing haue it I might be iealous I might be importunate I must serue I was marked by more then him but now freed from all imperfections I am no more capable to beare his displeasures And thou Hylas thou wouldst with thy sacrilegious inuentions turne from me him in whom onely I liue in earth and by a cruelty more barbarous than hath beene heard of assay to lay on me another death Wise Siluander the words which I deliuer sound so sensibly in mine eares that I doe not thinke but you heare them and feele them at your heart This is the cause that to leaue this diuinity speaking in your soule I will hold my peace after I haue onely told you that loue is so iust that you are to feare the punishments in your selues if the pitty of Laonice rather than the reason of Cleon moue and carry you At this word Phillis rising with a curteous reuerence made signe she would say no more for Tyrcis When Laonice would haue made an answer Siluander forbade it saying It was not now time to defend her selfe but to heare onely the sentence which the gods pronounced by his mouth and after he had some while considered with himselfe the reasons of them both hee pronounced such a sentence The iudgement of Siluander THe principall poynt of the causes debated before vs is to know if Loue may die by the death of the thing beloued Whereupon wee say that a loue that may perish is no true loue for it ought to follow the subiect that gaue it birth Therefore it is that they which loue the body onely must enclose all their loues of the body in the same tombe where it is shut vp but they that beyond this loue the spirit ought with their loues to flie after this beloued soule to the highest heauens no distances being able to separate them Therefore all these things well considered we ordayne That Tyrcis alwayes loue his Cleon and that of the two loues which may be in vs the one shall follow the body of Cleon to the tombe and the other the spirit into heauen In like sort it is ordered That suites of Laonice be forbidden that shee no longer disquiet the repose of Cleon for such is the will of the gods that speakes in me Hauing sayd thus without regarding the complaynts and reproches which he foresawe in Laonice and Hylas hee made a great reuerence to Leonide and the rest of the company and so went away without other companion than Phillis who would stay no longer to heare the sorrowes of this shepheardesse And because it was late Leonide withdrew into the Hamlet of Diane for that night and the shepheards and shepheardesses as they were accustomed except Laonice who infinitely offended with Siluander and Phillis sware not to goe out of that Countrey before she had done them some notable displeasure it seemed that Fortune brought her as shee could haue wished For hauing left that company and being placed in the thickest of the wood to mourne at liberty at the last her good spirit set before her eyes the insupportable contempt of Tyrcis how much vnworthy he was to be beloued of her and made her so ashamed of her fault that a thousand times she sware to hate him and for his cause Siluander and Phillis It fell out while these things thus passed in her memory that Licidas which some dayes before beganne to be euill satisfied with Phillis by reason of some coldnesse which he thought he found in her perceiued Siluander to come talking with her It was
about the village to see when his new mistrisse would come forth and as soone as hee spyed her hee came toward her singing these verses STANZA'S On an high raysed Desire HOpes like Ixions in boldnesse Disdaining heauens dire menacoâ— Will you aspire aboue your size With Icarus t'assaile the skie Is but to tumble from on hiâ— Forbeare not yet to enterprizâ—â— Euen so sometimes Prometheus With brest peckt by birds raâ—enous His torments did immortall make By stealing downe Celestiall fire He said to this good I aspire To doe what none dares vndertake My heart on rock of constaney Deuoured by my paciency Will say The sprights of loftiest size Haue they not dar'd to steale that coale So may this glory take my soule To doe what none dares enterprize Eccho that for Narcissus loue Bewrayes her griefe the rocks to moue Comforts her selfe in her dismay And tels them in her angry moode If I of this be not belou'd There is no other else that may Phillis that was of a pleasant disposition and would well discharge her selfe of the experiment whereto she had beene enioyned turning to Diane Mistrisse said she will you hereafter giue any credit to the words of this shepheard Yesterday he loued you not at all now hee is dead at least for loue Since he would say so much he ought to begin in a better houre to serue you or pause somewhile before he proffer such words Siluander was so neere that he might heare Phillis that made him cry out a farre off O mistrisse shut your eares against the euill words of mine enemy And then being come at them Ah naughty Phillis said he is it so that by the ruine of my contentment you seeke to build your owne You doe well answered Phillis to talke of your contentment haue not you with others this perfection of the most part of shepheards wâ—o out of a vanity say they are infinitely content and fauoured of their mistrisse though contrarily they bee hardly vsed talke you of contentment You Siluander haue you the boldnesse to vse these words in the presence euen of Diane what will you say in other places when you haue the sawcinesse to talke so before her She had gone on but that the shepheard after he had saluted the Nymph and the shepheardesses interrupted her thus You would haue my mistrisse mislike that I should speake of the contentment which I haue in her seruice and why will you not haue me say so if it be true Is it true answered Phillis see what vanity this is will you say yet that she loues you and that she cannot liue without you I may not say replyed the shepheard that it is so but I may well say I wish it were so but you seeme to thinke it so strange that I say I haue contentment in the seruice which I tender my mistris that I am coÌ„pelled to aske you if you haue not At least said she if I haue I doe not brag of it It is ingratitude replyed the shepheard to receiue good from any without thanks and how is it possible we can loue that person to whom we are vnthankfull By that interrupted Leonide I iudge that Phillis loues not Diane There are few that giue not the same iudgement answered Siluander and I beleeue she thinks so her selfe If you haue reasons good enough you may perswade me replyed Phillis If there want nothing but reason to proue it said Siluander I haue no more to doe for whether I proue a thing or deny it it cannot make it other then it is so that since I want but reasons to prooue your small loue what haue I to doe to conuince you That that is to be done that you loue not Diane belongs to you to prooue Phillis here staid a little troubled to answer and Astrea said to her It seemes sister you approue that which the shepheard saith I doe not approue it answered she but I am much troubled to disproue it If it be added Diane you loue me not at all for since Siluander hath found the reasons which you demand and against which you cannot resist you must confesse that that which he saith is true At this word the shepheard came to Diane and said Faire and iust mistrisse is it possible that this enemy shepheardesse hath yet the hardinesse not to suffer me to say that the seruice which I yeeld to you brings me contentment when this cannot be for the answer which you make so much to mine aduantage In saying answered Astrea that Phillis loues her not she doth not say therefore you do loue her or that she loues you If I could heare these words answered he I loue you or you loue me out of my mistrisses mouth it should not be a contentment but a transport that rauisheth me from my selfe for ouer-great satisfaction and yet if hee that holds his peace seeme to consent to that he heares why may not I say my faire mistrisse confesses that I loue her since without contradiction she heares what I say If Loue replyed Phillis consist in words you would haue more then all other men together for I doe not thinke they will euer faile you as bad a cause as you haue Leonide tooke wonderfull pleasure at the discourse of these shepheardesses and had it not beene for the payne wherein she was for the disease of Celadon she would haue tarried many dayes with them for albeit she knew he was out of his feuer yet she could not but feare his relapse That was the cause she desired them to take with her the way of Laigneu to the riuer for that she might the longer enioy their company They agreed willingly for besides courtesie so commaunded them they were exceedingly pleased with her company So then taking Diane on the one side and Astrea on the other shee went toward the Buttresse But Siluander was deceiued who by chance was gone furder from Diane than was Phillis so that she tooke that place that he desired Whereat Phillis being very glorious went mocking the shepheard saying that his Mistris might easily iudge that hee was too slouthfull to serue her Shee may grant so much answered he to your importunity but not to your affection For if you loued her you would not haue left mee the place you had That should rather be a signe of the contrary sayd Phillis if I suffer another to come neerer than my selfe for if the party that loues desires almost to be transformed into the thing beloued hee approacheth neerest and so attaynes the perfection of his desires The louer answered Siluander that hath more regard to his owne contentment than of the person beloued deserues not that title at all So that you which regard more the pleasure which you take in being neere your Mistris than you do her commodity may not say you loue her but your selfe onely For if I were in the place you are I would helpe her to goe and you do but let her If my
and honour them And on the contrary vpon the least shew of mislike which one giues them they quickly thinke they are hated because loues are naturall but enmities are not so and they that goe against nature it must be on a resolute designe whereas they that follow that way seeme to do by custome Therefore Hylas I tel you that you shall more easily make Carlis beleeue you hate her vpon the least euill will you shew her then you can perswade Stilliane you loue her And because you may see she hath on her heart that you loue Carlis beleeue me that that which you haue to doe of most necessity is to giue her knowledge that you no more loue this Carlis which you must do by some action known not onely to Carlis but to Stilliane and many others To be short faire shepheardesse he knew so wel to turne me on euery side that at last I writ to the poore Carlis this letter The Letter of Hylas to Carlis I Write not at this bout Carlis to tell you that I loue you for you haue beleeued it but too well but to assure you that I loue you no more I know certainly you will be amazed at this declaration since you haue alwayes loued me almost beyond my desire But that which drawes me from you is I must confesse your misfortune that will no longer continue to you the pleasure of our amity or rather my good fortune which will haue me no longer stay at so poore a thing And to the end you may not complaine of me I bid you farewell and giue you leaue to take it as you thinke good for you are to haue no more hope in me By fortune when shee receiued this Letter she was in very good company and Stilliane her selfe was there which so much misliked this action that there was none in all that troope that blamed mee more Which Carlis vnderstanding I pray you sayd she to her binde me for euer and make him an answer For my part sayd Stilliane I shal be a good Secretary and then taking paper and inke in the presence of all the rest wrote thus to me in the name of Carlis The answer of Carlis to Hylas HYlas thy arrogancy hath beene such that thou art perswaded thou art beloued of mee and the knowledge which I haue of thy humour and my will which haue alwayes iarred are such that they haue kept mee from louing thee so that all the loue which I haue borne thee hath beene onely in thy opinion and such was my vnhappinesse and thy good fortune and heerein there is nothing of certainty but that indeed when thou thoughtst thou wert beloued of me thou were deceiued I sweare vnto thee Hylas by all the merits which thou thinkest thou hast and which are not in thee which are a greater number than those that disable me from being worthy of thee The aduantage which I pretend in all this is to be exempted heereafter from thy importunities and not to be vtterly vnthankefull for the pleasure thou hast done me in this I cannot wish better for thee nor for my selfe but that the heauens would make thee alwayes hold on this resolution to my contentment as they haue giuen thee the will to reiect me for my importunities In the meane time liue content and if thou hast asmuch as I being freed from so combersome a burden beleeue me Hylas it shall not be small I must not lie the reading of this letter touched me a little for I knew well in my conscience I had done wrong to this shepheardesse but the new affection which Stilliane had bred in me suffered me not to stay long and at last howsoeuer it was I cast the fault on her For sayd I in my selfe If she be not so fayre nor so louely as Stilliane is it I that am guiltie Let her complayne to them which haue made her of lesse perfection And for my part what can I contribute but to be sorry and bewayle with her her pouerty But this ought not to hinder me from adoring and desiring the riches of another With such reasons I endeuoured to chase froÌ„ me the compassion which Loue had made in me And thinking I had no more to do than to receiue Stilliane who by this time mee thought was wholly mine I desired Hermante to carry to her a letter in my behalfe and withall I let him see the Letter I writ to Carlis that she should no more doubt her He that truely was my friend in euery point that concerned Carlis made not dainty and taking a fit time when shee was alone in her lodging as he preâ—ented to her my Letters hee sayd smiling to her Faire Stilliano if the fire burne the foole that comes too neere it if the Sunne dazle the blinde that dares looke full on it and if the sword giue death to him that receiues it into his heart you must not thinke it strange if the miserable Hylas comming too neere you is burned if daring to behold you he be dazled and if receiuing the faral stroke of your eyes he feele the mortall wound in his heart He would haue gone on but she all impacient interrupted him Cease Hermante you labour in vaine neither Hylas hath worth enough nor you perswasioÌ„ sufficient to giue me the will to change my contentment for his Nor wish I my selfe so much euill nor so much good to Hylas that I will consent to mine owne vnhappinesse by beleeuing your words It suffices me Hermante that the humour of Hylas is knowne to mee at anothers cost without mine owne triall And it should be enough to you that Carlis is weakely deceiued though you serue not as an instrument for the ruine of some other If you loue Hylas I loue Stillaine much more and if you will giue him the counsell of a friend counsell him as I counsell her that is that shee neuer loue Hylas say to him likewise that he neuer loue Stilliane And if hee will not beleeue you assure your selfe to his confusion hee shall employ his time in vayne and for the letter which you present me I will make no difficulty to take it hauing so good defences against his weapons that I feare not a whit the blowes At this word vnfolding my letter she read it aloude it was at last but an assurance of my affection by the Conge which I had giuen to Carlis for her sake and a right humble supplication that she would be pleased to loue me She laughed after she had read it and turning to Hermante asked him if he were willing she should make an answer And he answering that he desired it passionatly she willed him to haue a little patience and she would go write It was thus The answer of Stilliane to Hylas HYlas see how weakely founded your dessignes are you would that in consideration of Carlis I should loue you and there is nothing that pronokes me more to hate you than the memory which
of beyond the bounds of his discretion was well pleased that this subiect presented it selfe so luckily to vnlock those dessines which loue had made him conceale and to giue birth vnder the vaile of that fiction to most true passions If Polemas felt the beginning of this new loue the progresse of it was troblesome to him for that the beginning was couered with the shaddow of courtesie and the example of all the other Nymphs so that though Galathee entertained him with that apparancy of delight yet in reason that might not offend him because shee was tied to it by the law which was common but when this suite continued and more then that when passing the limits of courtesie he saw that it was in good earnest then hee felt the effects which ielousie workes in the soule that truly loues Galathee for her part little thought or at least beleeued not it was so far gone but the occasions as threeds sowed together draw the one to the other carried him so far that Polemas may be in some sort excused if he would suffer himselfe to be wounded with so sharpe a blade and if ielousie could do more then the assurance which his seruices might giue him Lindamor was gentle there was nothing which you could wish in a person welborn wherewith he was not furnished courteous among the Ladies braue among the warriours full of valour and courage as any that hath beene in our court these many yeeres He was about 25. yeeres of age without feeling the effects which loue is vsed to worke in harts of that age not for that out of nature he could not serue Ladies or that hee wanted courage to hazard any one but because he was alwayes busied in exercises which driue out idlenesse he had not giuen leasure to his affections to fixe their roots in his soule for from the time he was able to beare armes thrust forward with that generous instinct that carries noble courages to the most dangerous enterprise he let passe no occasion of warre wherein he gaue not witnesse of what he was Afterward being returned to see Clidaman to perform duty to him to whoÌ„ he was obliged at the same time he gaue himselfe to two to Clidaman as to his Lord and to Galathee as to his Lady and to them both without receiuing disgrace But the courtesie of young Clidaman and the merits of Galathee had too great power ouer those Louers to be drawn froÌ„ their seruice Behold then as I tell you Lindamor become amorous but so that his affection could no longer be hidden with the vaile of courtesie Polemas as he that had interest found it out soone enough yet though they were friends would he make no shew of it but to the contrary kept it close to himselfe hee laboured nothing more then to get more assurance of this Loue to the end he might ruine him by all the tricks he could as he tried afterward And because since the returne of Lindamor he had as I told you made profession of friendship to him hee thought fit to continue it About this time Clidaman beganne to delight in Tourneys and Tiltings wherein he profited well as they sayd for a beginner But aboue all Lindamor bare away the glory of the goodliest and gentlest wherat Polemas was so vexed that he could not dissemble his ill will and he thought that if he made a match with him he might carry away the greater glory for that being older and of longer abode in Court he was alwais in al the designes of his Riuall but Lindamor that suspected not the occasions that made him do so went on freely and that made his actions more pleasing which Polemas did not who had a secret purpose where he must vse some cunning so that he serued but for a shew And especially the last day of the Bacchanals when the young Clidaman made a Tourney to maintaiâ—e the beauty of Siluie Guymantes and Lindamor did as much as men might but among all Lindamor got that grace and happinesse that if Galathee had not iudged it yet loue had giuen sentence against Polemas The Nymph that then beganne to haue eyes as well for other men as till then shee had for none but Polemas could not containe from speaking much to the good of Lindamor And see how Loue mocks and sports with the wisedome of Louers That which with such care and craft Polemas went about seeking to aduance himselfe aboue Lindamor hurts himselfe the more and makes him almost his inferiour for euery one comparing their actions together found such difference that it had bin better for him either not to haue assisted him or to haue bin declared his enemy at once It was that very euening that Lindamor thrust forward by his good Angell I thinke for my part there be good dayes and vnhappy dayes auowed himselfe in earnest seruant to the faire Galathee but the occasion was also as good as he could wish for dancing a dance which the Frankes haue lately brought out of Germany where one goes to take away her whom he likes led on by loue but rather spurred to it as I thinke by destiny he tooke away Galathee from Polemas who more attentiue to his discourse then to the dance tooke little heede and was at that time reproaching the Nymph for the new breeding loue which hee fore-saw of Lindamor Shee who till then neuer thought him to bee in earnest offended at his discourse tooke his words in so ill part that shee told him what words Lindamor had vsed which were so much the more pleasing for that she thought shee was thereby reuenged of him for his suspition That which makes me speake thus is for that there is none that may know more then I who may seeme to bee destined to heare of all these Loues for as soon as we were withdrawne and that Galathee was in bed she willed me to stand at the beds head and hold the light while she read the dispatches that came to her and specially those of importance That night she caused the Nymphs to leaue her alone and when they were all gone she commanded me to locke the doore then made me sit at the beds feete and after she had smiled a while shee said You cannot choose but laugh Leonide at the gracious accident that befell me at the daunce You know it is somewhile since Polemas had a minde to serue me for I concealed it not from you and for as much as me thought he carried himselfe towards me with that honour and respect I neede not lye his seruice was not vnpleasing to me and reÌ„ceiued it with a better liking then from any others in the Court not that hee had yet any loue of my part I will not say but that it may bee as Loue alwaies flatters his patients with hope he imagined that which he desired but the truth is that I neuer yet iudged that he had neuer any thing able to make mee loue him
giue mee more knowledge than these words too well deliuered to proceed from affection For I haue heard say affection cannot be without passion and passion wil not suffer the spirit to haue so free a discourse But when the time shall haue told me as much as you you are to beleeue that I am not of stone nor so voyd of vnderstanding but your merits are knovvne to me and your loue may moue me Till then hope not of me no more than of the rest of my company in generall The Knight would haue kissed her hand for this assurance but because Galathee looked on Knight said she be discreete euery one hath eye on vs if you do thus you vndoe me And at this word she rose and came among vs that were gathering of flowres Behold the first discouery that they had of their good wils which gaue Galathee occasion to meddle in it For perceiuing what had passed in the Garden and hauing of long time a purpose to winne Polemas she would know that night what was done betweene Leonide and him and because she alvvaies made her selfe very familiar with you Neece and had acquainted her with the particulars of her secrets the Nymph durst not altogether deny the truth of this loue-suite It is true that she concealed what concerned her ovvne will and vpon this discourse Galathee would knovv the very words that they had vsed wherein your Neece satisfied her in part and in part dissembled So it was that she said enough to encrease the purpose of Galathee so that from that day she resolued to be beloued of him and vndertooke this worke with that cunning that it was impossible it should fall out othervvise At that meeting shee forbade Leonide to go on in that affection and after told her that she should cut off all the rootes because she knevv well that Polemas had another dessigne and that this would serue but to delude her Besides that if Amasis came to knovvledge of it she would be offended Leonide who at that time had no more malice than a childe tooke the words of the Nymph as from her Mistrisse without searching into the cause which made her say so and so remained some dayes estranged from Polemas who knevv not from whence it might grovve At the first this made him more earnest in his suite For it is the ordinary custome of yong spirits to desire with more eagernesse that which is hard to come by and indeed he went on in that sort that Leonide had much enough to doe to dissemble the good will she bore him and at last knew so little how to doe it that Polemas perceiued he was beloued But see what Loue had appointed This young louer after he had three or foure moneths continued this suite with the more violence as he had the lesse assurance of the good will he desired as soone almost as hee was certaine lost his violence by little and little loued so coldly that as Fortune and Loue when they beginne to decline fall at once the Nymph perceiued not that shee alone went on in this affection It is true that Galathee who came on was in part the cause For hauing a dessigne on Polemas she vsed such craft and sped so well what by her authority and what with time that one might say shee robbed her insensibly for that when Leonide handled him roughly Galathee fauoured him and when the other fled from his company she drew him to hers And this continued so long and so openly that Polemas beganne to turne his eyes towards Galathee and shortly after the heart followed For seeing himselfe fauoured by a greater than her that neglected him hee blamed himselfe for suffering it without sence and minded to embrace the fortune which came smiling on him But O wise Adamas you may see what a gracious encounter this was and how it pleased Loue to play with their hearts It is some while since by the ordinance of Clidaman Agis was allotted seruant vnto your Neece and as you know by the election of Fortune Now though this young Knight was not giuen to Leonide out of his owne choyce yet he agreed to the gift and approoued it by the seruices which he afterward did performe and that she misliked not was shewed by her actions But when Polemas beganne to serue her Agis as a couetous man that hath his eyes alwayes on his treasure tooke notice of the growing loue of this new Louer and sometimes complayned to her of it but the coldnesse of her answers instead of extinguishing his iealousies onely by little and little deaded his loue for considering what small assurance he had in his soule he laboured to get a better resolution then formerly he had had and so that he might not see another triumph ouer him he chose rather to withdraw farre off A receit that I haue heard say is the best that a soule infected with this euill can haue to free it selfe for as loue at the beginning is brought forth by the eyes so it seemeth that the contrary should be for want of sight which can be in nothing more then absence where the forgetfull couered as with ashes the ouer-liuely representations of the thing beloued And indeed Agis happily attained his purpose for he was hardly gone but loue likewise parted from his soule lodging in the place of it the neglect of this flitter So that Leonide purposing by this new plot to winne Polemas lost him that already was intirely hers But the confusions of Loue ended not heere for he would that Polemas likewise for his part should haue sence of that which hee made the Nymph to feele Almost about the same time the affection of Lindamor tooke birth and it fell out that as Leonide had disdained Agis for Polemas and Polemas Leonide for Galathee so Galathee disdained Polemas for Lindamor To tell the follies of them all would be an hard piece of worke So it was that Polemas seeing himselfe payed in the same money in which hee payd your Neece yet could not lose not hope nor loue but contrariwise searched al sorts of plotting to enter again into her fauor but all in vaine It is true that as he could get nothing more to his owne benefit yet hee hath so wrought that he who was the cause of his euill is not come to bee possessor of his good for whether it were by his cunning practices or by the will of the gods that a certaine deuout Druyde hath imparted to him since that time Lindamor is no more beloued and it seemeth Loue hath a purpose not to suffer the heart of Galathee to be at rest the memorie of the one being no sooner defaced in her soule but another takes place And now behold vs at this houre reduced to the loue of a shepherd who for a shepheard in his quality may deserue well but not to be the seruant of Galathee and yet is she so passionate that if her euill hold on I
him O Lidias my child with what contentment and feare doe I see thee here for I thanke God that at the end of my dayes I see thee so much esteemed of by the report of them that haue taken thee but alas what is my feare to see thee in this cruell Towne since thy enemy Aronte is dead of the wounds which he had of thee and that thou hast beene condemned to death by the Lords of Iustice for my part I know no other remedie but to ransome thee presently and lye close till thou beest healed that being able to mount on horsebacke thou mayest bee gone with the Franks If Ligdamon were astonied at this discourse you may iudge and then knew well she tooke him for another But hee could not answer her because at the same instant he which had taken him entred into the Chamber with two Officers of the Towne to take the names and qualitie of the prisoners for there were many of their men taken and they would exchange them The poore Lady was surprized fearing they came to carry him to prison and hearing they asked him his Name shee was about to tell it her selfe but my Master thrust her back and called himselfe Ligdoman the Segusian She then had an opinion he meant to dissemble and to put out all suspition she withdrew her selfe with a resolution to ransome him with all speed that he might not be knowne And it was true that my Master resembled Lidias so much that all that saw him tooke him for him Now this Lidias was a young man of that Countrey that being in loue with a faire Lady had fought with Aronte his Riuall whose iealousie was such that it let him goe beyond his dutie speaking euill both of her and him Whereat Lidias offended after hee had spoken twice or thrice to make him change his discourse and thinking that he tooke it as out of feare which indeed proceeded from the wisdome of the young man he was at last enforced both out of duty and loue to come to Armes and with that happinesse that hauing left his enemie as dead on the earth he had the leysure to saue himselfe from the hands of Iustice which after that Aronte was dead pursued him so that though he were absent yet they condemned him to death Ligdamon was so wounded that he dreamt not of these things I that foresaw the euill that might befall him alwayes pressed his mother to redeeme him which she did but not so secretly but that the enemies of Lidias were aduertised of it so that at their request the same day the good Lady hauing payed the ransome and carrying him to her house those Officers of Iustice came vpon them and made him take the way to prison whatsoeuer Ligdamon could say deceiued like others by the resemblance of Lidias So behold him in as great danger as a man might be that had not offended But this was nothing to the next dayes worke when hee was questioned of points whereof he was so ignorant that he knew not what to say Notwithstanding they forbore not to ratifie the former Iudgement and gaue him no further terme then to the healing of his wounds The bruit presently ran throughout all the Towne that Lidias was prisoner and that he was condemned to dye not as a Murderer only but as a Rebell hauing beene taken with Armes in his hand for the Franks that for this cause he was to be put into the Cage of the Lyons and it was true that their custome was such but they would not pronounce this award to him that he might not make himselfe away Yet they talked of no other thing within the Towne and the voyce was so spred that it came to my eares Wherewith being feared I disguised my selfe so with the helpe of this good Lady which had redeemed him that I came to Paris to find out Meroue and Clidaman whom I gaue to vnderstand of this accident whereat they were much astonied thinking it almost impossible that two men should be so alike that there might be no difference And to remedy it they sent speedily two Heralds of Armes to let the enemies know the error wherein they were but this serued but to perswade them the more and to make them hasten the execution of their Iudgement The wounds of Ligdamon were almost healed so that to giue him no longer time they pronounced the Sentence That attainted of Murder and Rebellion Iustice had ordayned that hee should dye by the Lyons appointed to such an execution yet because hee was nobly borne and their countreyman they did him the grace to suffer him to carry his Sword and Dagger as being the Armes of a Knight wherewith if he had the courage he might defend himselfe or at least assay generously to reuenge his death And at this time in their Councell they made an answer to Mâ—roue That so they would chastife all their countreymen that were traytors to their Countrey Behold the poore Ligdamon in extreme danger yet that courage which yet neuer bended but vnder loue seeing there was no other remedy resolued to looke to his owne safetie the best he could And because Lidias was one of the better Families among the Normans almost all the people assembled to see this Spectacle And when hee saw they were ready to put him into this horrible close field all that hee requested was that hee might fight with the Lyons one by one The people hearing so iust a demaund agreed to it by their acclamations and clapping of hands what difficulties soeuer the contrary part propounded So that behold him thrust alone into the Cage and the Lyons on the other side the barres seeing this new prey roared so fearefully that there was none of the standers by that trembled not Without more Ligdamon seemed confident among so many dangers and hauing an eye on the first Gate that was to open lest hee might be surprized hee saw a furious Lyon come forth with staring looke and hauing three or foure times strucken the earth with his tayle began to thrust forth his great fore-feet and to open his pawes as if hee would shew him what death hee was to die But Ligdamon seeing well there was no safetie but in his valour as soone as hee saw him rise vp he cast his ponyard so fitly at him that he planted it in his stomacke euen to the haft wherewith the Beast being touched at the heart fell downe dead presently The cry of the people was great for euery one being mooued with his confidence with his valour and with his courage fauoured him in his soule but hee that knew well that the rigour of his Iudges would not stay there ran readily to take againe his ponyard and almost at the same time see another Lyon no lesse fearefull then the former that as soone as the Gate was opened came with open throat in such furie that Ligdamon was almost surprized yet as he passed he turned himselfe a little