they made an insurrection wherein with ten gentlemen more of their kinred they conspired to kill the King land to diuide the kingdome amongst themselues so to be reuenged of the vnworthie disgrace receiued by him This conspitacie whether it was true or false was discouered before it could be put in practise and they apprehended and condemned to die before the citizens had intelligence thereof who without all doubt for the great loue they bare them would haue risen not consenting that iustice should haue beene done vpon them For carying them to exequution it was the strangest spectacle in the world to see the lamentations that some made the priuie murmuring of one to another and the bootlesse excuses that for compassion of these gentlemen were generally made in all the citie They ran all to the King and offered to buie his mercie with great summes of gold and siluer but such was his seueritie that it expelled all motions of pitie and clemencie Which when the people beheld they began to weepe and lament againe The Lords Knights and gentlemen did weepe and mourne with whom they were wont to keepe companie The tender Ladies and Damsels of the Court wept whom they loued and serued And all the whole citie wept for the great honour and auctority that such noble citizens gaue them The lamentations and outcries were so many and so loud as if the earth had sunke or the world beene drowned anew But the King who to all these teares lamentations and pitifull outcries did stop his eares commaunded that his definitiue sentence should be presently executed So that of all that house and linage there remained not one man aliue that was not beheaded that day except my father and mine vncle who were not found complices in that conspiracie These ils resulted to them besides this miserable chaunce that their houses were ruinated they proclaimed traitours to the King their goodes lands and possessions confiscated And that no Abenceraje should liue any longer in Granada except my father and mine vncle and they but with this condition that if they had any issue they should send the men children as soon as they were borne to be brought vp out of the citie neuer to returne into it againe and if they were women and marriageable to be married out of the Realme When the Gouernor heard the strange discourse of Abyndaraez and the termes wherewith he complayned of his misfortune he could not stop his teares but did shew by them the sensible greefe which of such a disastrous accident could not be but felt And therefore turning himselfe to the Moore saide vnto him Thou hast good cause Abyndaraes to be sorrie for the fall of thy noble house and kinred whose heads I thinke coulde neuer hatch so great treason And were it for no other proofe but that so worthie a gentleman as thy selfe came out of it this onely were sufficient to make me beleeue that they neuer pretended such wickednes This gentle opinion which thou hast of me said the Moore and of the goodnes of my auncestors I know not worthie Gouernour how to requite but onely with vnfained and humble thankes But now when I was borne into the world with the inheritance of the selfe same mishap of my kinred they sent me because they would not infringe the Kings edict to be nursed and brought vp in a certaine fort belonging sometimes to the Christians called Cartama committing the charge and care of me to the Gouernor thereof with whom my father had ancient familiaritie acquaintance A man of great account in the kingdome vpright in the maner of his life and verie rich but chiefly in a daughter that he hath which is the greatest â—…ie which I account of in this life the which I wish I may neuer enioy if in any â—…g but onely her I euer tooke content pleasure With her was I brought vp 〈◊〉 my childhood for she was borne but three yeeres after me and as we were â—…erally thought of all to be brother and sister for like such was our education so did we also thinke our selues to be The loue that I did beare Xarifa for thus is the Lady called that is mistresse of my libertie were but little if I could tell it Let it â—…fice that time hath so confirmed the same that I would giue a thousands liues if â—…ad them but to enioy one momentarie sight of her faire face Euerie day encreased our age but euerie hower augmented our loue and so much that now me thought I was made of another kind of mettall then of consanguinitie I remember that Xarifa being on a day in the orchard of the Iesemynes dressing her faire head by chaunce I espied her amazed at her singular beautie and how me thought it greeued me that she was my sister And by the extreme passion of my loue driueÌ„ out of my musing I went to her who as soone as she saw me with open armes came to receiue me And sitting vpon the fountaine by her she said vnto me Why hast thou good brother left me so long alone It is sweete Ladie said I againe a good while since I hauing sought thee in euerie place found not any that could tell me what was become of thee my hart at last coniectured where thou wert Buttel me now I pray thee what certaintie hast thou that we are brother and sister No other saide she then of the great loue I beare thee and to see how euerie one doth call vs so and that my father doth bring vs vp like his sonne and daughter And if we were not brother and sister saide I wouldest thou then loue me so much as thou dost Oh seest thou not saide she that we shuld not be suffered to go so coÌ„tinually together al alone if we were not But if we were depriued of this ioy that which I feele in my selfe is a great deale more At which words her faire face being tainted with a vermillion blush she said vnto me What couldest thou leese by it if we were brother and sister My selfe and thee to said I. I vnderstand thee not said she but me thinkes being brother and sister it binds vs to loue one another naturally Thy onely beauâ—… said I doth oblige me to this brotherhood which rather qualifieth my loue 〈◊〉 sometimes distempers my thoughts At which words blushing for too much bolâ—…es casting downe mine eies I saw her diuine figure in the cristalline fountaine so liuely represented as if it had beene she her selfe and in such sort that wheresoeuer she turned her head I still beheld her image and goodly counterfaite truely translated into verie hart Then said I softly to my selfe O if I were now drowned in this fountaine where with pride I behold my sweete Lady how more fortunate should I die then Narcissus And if she loued me as I do her how happie should I be And if fortune would let vs liue euer together what a happie life should I
the loue I bare him he shall not beare the blame of the ill that I shall procure by mine owne desire but my selfe Lay not before mine eies the seruices that this Shepheard hath sometimes done me nor tell me the reasons that he giues thee to mooue me for the time is now past when they once helpt him He promised to marrie me and behold he hath married another What would he nowe haue Or what pretendes this enemie of my quiet rest What now that his wife is dead would he haue me marrie him O God forbid that I should doe my selfe so great iniurie Let him go Armia let him go for if he loues me so much as he saith this loue shall serue me for a renenge of his deepe deceite The other ioyning her smiling face to Duardas srowning countenance and louingly imbracing her with milde gentle wordes replied thus How wel hath all becomen thee gracious Shepherdesse which thou hast said I would neuer desire to be a man but euen now to loue thee more then mine owne selfe But tell me Duarda why art thou so desirous to haue Danteus leade so sorrowfull a life He saith the reason that thou hast to complaine of him serues him for his excuse For before he married being with thee one day neere to the hedge of Fremoselle he saide vnto thee Duarda my father wil marrie me what is thy aduise in this matter And that thou didst answere him roughly How now Danteus Am I so olde or haue I so great power ouer thee that thou dost aske my opinion and leaue for thy marriage Thou maiest doe what thou list and what thine owne will and thy fathers shall oblige thee to for in the like case I my selfe would do no lesse And this was spoken with an estranged countenance and not with that woonted kinde of milde and gentle speech but as if it had beene quite past thy memorie that thou didst once loue him well Callest thou this an excuse said Duarda If I knew thee not Armia so well as I doe thy wisedome and discretion should hazard their credit with me What should I answere a Shepherd who published euery where that there was nothing in the world wheron he would cast an affectionate eie but on me how much more then that Danteus was not so ignorant but that he vnderstood by my countenance and manner of my wordes that with my will I would not haue answered him as I did What a mockerie was this I pray thee Armia for him to meete me one day before this came to passe neere to the fountaine and with many teares to say thus vnto me Why are thou so vngratefull Duarda to the good will which I beare thee that thou wilt not be married to me without thy fathers consent when time thou knowest will weare out the anger that they may conceiue thereof Whom I then answered thus Content thy selfe Danteus that I am thine and that I can neuer be any others whatsoeuer shall befall vnto me And thy word and promise which thou hast giuen me to be my husband contents me well ynough desire not then in respect of staying a little time longer a thing whereof such mischiefe may ensue At which wordes he tooke his leaue telling me the next day that his father would marrie him and requesting me to giue him leaue and not content with this but to be married in deede three daies after Dost thou not therefore thinke this Armia a sufficient reason for me to vse the benefite of that libertie which with such trouble of my thoughts I haue at last obtained These are things saide the other soone spoken and passed betweene the truest louers but must not be taken so much at the hart nor so narrowly interpreted as thou dost vnderstand them For those which are spoken thou hast reason Armia but for those that are done thou seest it well ynough if they touch not our soules too neere that loue well In the ende Danteus married and it greeues me not a little that so faire a Shepherdesse liued so small a time and more to see that one whole moneth after her buriall being scarce past new thoughts began to occupie his minde againe God tooke her away said Armia to the end that Danteus might be thine for indeede he could be no others but thine If this be so said Duarda that he that is ones cannot be anothers I finde my selfe now to be mine owne and therefore cannot be Danteus his But let vs leaue of a thing not worth the losse of time that is spent about it which shal be better imployed in singing a song And then both of them in their owne toong with a sweete grace began to sing that which followeth TImes change and shall as we doe see And life shall haue an ende But yet my faith shall euer bee Whereon my eies depende The daies and moments and their scope The howres with their changes wrought Are cruell enemies to hope And friendes vnto a louing thought Thoughts still remaine as we doe see And hope shall haue an end But yet my faith shall not leaue me Her honour to defend Inconstancie in trust contriued Causeth great danger in conclusion And life that is of hope depriued Standes not in feare of disillusion Times goe and come as we doe see And life shall haue an end But yet my faith shall neuer bee Distan'd for foe or friend This song being ended Felismena came out of the place where she had hid herselfe directly to that place where the Shepherdesses were who amazed at her sudden sight but more at her rare grace and beautie went to her and with louing embracings welcommed her asking her of what countrey she was and from whence she came To which demaundes faire Felismena could not answer but with manie teares asked them what countrey that was wherein they nowe where For by her owne toong she cleerely made them knowe that she was of Vandalia and that for a certaine mishap she was banished from her countrey The Portugall Shepherdesses with their pitifull teares did the best they could to cōfort her being very sorrie for her exile a common thing to that nation more proper to the inhabitants of that prouince And Felismena asking them what citie that was which she had left where the riuer with his christalline streames and speedy course came running on with great force and bicause she also desired to know what castle that Montemayor was which was scituate on the hill higher then the rest and many other demands one of them called Duarda tolde her that the citie was Coymbra one of the most famons principall cities not onely of that kingdome but of all Europe for the braue territories fieldes about it which that great riuer called Mondego watred with his cleerest waters And that all those fieldes where with great swiftnes it ranne were called the fieldes of Mondego And that the castle which she sawe before her was the ancient
enioyed there without any feare and danger their sweete contents and were well beloued and reuerenced of all the Shepherds thereabouts who endeuoured to do them all the pleasure they could sometimes with rurall sports and games other times with dances and pastorall musicke To all which Disteus so well applyed himselfe that in a short time he farre excelled them all And so for this respect as for his affabilitie and mildnes by knowing how to conuerse with all that Shepherd thought himselfe vnhappie that had not some priuate friendship with Coryneus for so he named himselfe after he had changed his habit and Dardanea that named her selfe Dinia was no lesse acceptable to all the Shepherdesses and Palna called Corynea like her sonne was reuerenced of them all When all three went from me Dardanea was gone two moneths with childe but what God sent her or what became of the childe she brought foorth I know not for they had not dwelta whole yeere in that countrey when they went away for what cause or whither I also know not The cause whereof considering the time wherein they went away I suspect was this That in this meane while King Rotyndus married with the Kings sister of that Prouince where they were whose wife 's brother a little while after being dead an vncle of hers called Synistius aspired to the kingdome as Competitor with her For the which cause Rotyndus making warre against him with little losse of his men got the victorie whereupon a peace was concluded betweene them and the gouernment of the kingdome by the intercession of Agenesta his niece for so was the Queene called giuen frankly to Synistius So that Disteus as soone as the noyse of this warre was bruted abroad went as I coniecture bicause he would not be knowen from that countrey with his pettie family From which time I could neuer heare more of them though manie daies haue passed since Ansilardus and Placindus went out to seeke them And omitting mine own trauels Gentlemen and manie troubles that I passed in the like enterprise because they make not any whit to the purpose of your demaund I will onely tell you how theese two seruants of theirs went out so soone being as I told you before imprisoned and I so late being as you haue also heard at libertie When King Rotyndus married his Queene in ioy of the feast all the prisoners were let goe amongst whom Anfilardus and Placindus came out and sixe moneths after to make Sagastes suspect it the lesse by venturing their liues for vpon paine of death it was commanded that none should goe seeke out Disteus they went to the place where I told them they were At which place when they could not find them they cōcluded by seuering themselues to seeke them out appointing to meete at that place a yeere after to know how they had sped and bicause the one might not goe that way or take in hand that the other did Whereof as of all things else though they for the space of sixe yeeres from time to time informed me yet I know not how nor by what sinister meanes it came to passe that in more then twelue yeeres after the end of the foresaid time expired I neuer heard any newes of them nor of their master Whereat being greatly greeued in minde I endeuoured to seeke out some good meanes or rather fained occasion to go about the same errant whereunto by the Kings most streight edict I could neuer directly accommodate my self in regard of which iourney if hope might haue perswaded me to finde them out I would not haue neglected both that and all paines abroad and affaires at home whatsoeuer But being in this impatient desire two braue yoong youths most highly fauoured of Agenestor Prince of Eolia with whom they were both brought vp were also determined to seeke out their parents knowing that those were not the same for whom they had till then taken them These yoong Gentlemen Delicius and Parthenius for so they were called leauing aside how much for their rare giftes and virtues they deserued the loue of all of purpose I endeuoured to make my special friends to this effect that as they were in great fauour with the King and Queene by their meanes and intercession to the Prince I might finde such fauour with them all that if Disteus and his companie were perhaps found out they might get their pardon and be restored againe to their former estates and reputation which we thought might easily be obtained since King Rotyndus by the good examples of his virtuous Queene Agenesta whom God preserue for many yeeres by her holy life conuersation had almost now forsaken his old cōditions Wherby gentlemen we may note how the good examples of a vertuous wife doe oftentimes worke to amend and correct the lewde disposition of a vitious husband And therefore it is saide that the wise is the mirrour of the husband and the woman to the man bicause the man looking into her as into a cleere glasse may frame his life and minde to her modestie and semblance And contrarie the man is the womans glasse for the selfesame cause and reason Wherefore Rotindus loued not now Sagastes so well as in times past and liked lesse his lewde conditions which sauoured nothing of vertue whereon if any humane thought or action be not grounded it is not durable any long time for as vice is nothing being the priuation of vertue so is that of no stabilitie and permanence which is grounded vpon it The fame of Delicius and Parthenius departure and the end thereof was in a few daies spred ouer all the citie whereat though most were sorie yet some who enuied their deserued fauour for noble vertue is euer accompanied with base enuie were not wanting that ioyed to see that day This fit occasion therefore for the effecting of that which you shall heare offering it selfe to my semblable desseignes comming vnto them I vsed these wordes As I cannot be sorie Gentlemen and my deere friends for your departure since it is a thing that concernes you so much So am I not a little glad that it hath so happily fallen out for my determinations if in this iourney my poore companie for onely yours heerein I desired shall not be any waies troublesome vnto you And bicause you may knowe the forcible cause that mooues me heereunto I will vpon that fidelitie and trust which with all men but especially with me you haue alwaies vsed most frankly tell it you As it is not vnknowen to you I thinke what great friendship hath been betweene Disteus and me and for my part shall euer be while my soule shall rule this earthly body So must you know againe that I concealed and kept him close vntill I found out the meanes to put him in some safetie of his life and not content with this would if he had giuen me leaue or if it had not beene preiudiciall to his secret departure haue
two corruptly done with a confusion of verse into Prose and leauing out in many places diuers hard sentences and some leaues in the end of the third Part wherefore they are but blind guides by any to be imitated Well might I haue excused these paines if onely Edward Paston Esquier who heere and there for his owne pleasure as I vnderstand hath aptly turned out of Spanish into English some leaues that liked him best had also made an absolute and complete translation of all the Parts of Diana the which for his trauell in that Countrey and great knowledge in that language accompanied with other learned and good parts in him had of all others that euer yet I heard translate these Bookes prooued the rarest and worthiest to be embraced The faults escaped in the Printing the copie being verie darke and enterlined and I loth to write it out againe I pray you Gentlemen pardon since all the last Terme that it was in the Presse hauing matters of greater consequence in charge I could not intende the correction aduertising you by the way that the greatest faults are at the ende of the Booke set downe the lesse being of no moment purposely omitted Fare ye well and continue me in your woonted loue and fauours Yours in all friendly offices B. Y. THE EPISTLE To the Illustrous and noble Lord Don Iuan de Castella de Villa Noua Baron of Bicorb and Quesa of GEORGE of Montemayor ALthough this custome were not very auncient most noble L. for Authours to dedicate their workes to personages of honour and renowne by whome they were protected and defended notwithstanding your rare and high deserts as well for your noble and ancient house from whence you are descended as also for the resplendant valour and vertue of your person might with greater reason then I can expresse incite me to performe more then this obliged dutie And admit the base stile of the worke and the Authours small woorth in reason ought not so far extend as to dedicate it to your Lordship yet excluded from all other remedies I presumed onely on this that it was somewhat accounted of For precious stones are not so highly valued for the name they haue for they may be false and counterfeite as for his estimate in whose handes they are I humbly beseech your good Lordship to entertaine this booke vnder your Hon. ampare and correction as to the Authour heereof being but a stranger you haue done no lesse since his poore abilitie is not able to serue your Lordship in any other thing whose wished life and noble estate our Lord increase for many yeeres To the same Lord. Moecenas was to Maro of great fame A singular good Lord and louing frend And Alexander did enioy that same Rare wit of Homer death though him did end And so the Villanouas generous name The Lusitan poore Authour doth defend Making a base and wanting wit t' aspire Vnto the clouds and yet a great deale higher Don Gaspar Romani to the Authour If Lady LAVRAS memorie vnstained PETRARC in endlesse verse hath left renowned And if with Laurell HOMER hath beene crowned For writing of the wars the Greekes obtained If Kings t' aduaunce the glorie they haue gained In life time when fierce MARS in battell frowned Procure it should not be in LETHE drowned But after death by historie maintained More iustly then shouldst thou be celebrated O excellent DIANA for the fairest Of all the faire ones that the world hath brought foorth Since all those wits whose pens were estimated To write the best in glorie thou impairest And from them all the Laurell crowne hast sought foorth Don Hieronymo Sant-Perez to George of Montemayor Parnasse O sacred mount and full of glorie The Poets muse delight of their desires Me thinkes thou art too comfortlesse and sorie Compar'd with this whose famous name aspires In deede J am since that the Muses left me And with their gracious Quire from hence descended To mount this Hill whose Greatnes hath bereft me Of all my fame and glorie that is ended Thrise happie his Diana since her flower In top of this High Hill was set so lately That all the world might view it euery hower Where she doth liue most soueraigne and stately In all the world most celebrate and graced Being no lesse excelse then highly placed The Argument of the first Seuen Bookes IN the fieldes of the auncient and principall citie of Leon in Spaine lying along the bankes of the riuer Ezla liued a Shepherdesse called Diana whose beautie was most soueraigne aboue all others in her time She loued and was deerely beloued againe of a Shepherd called Syrenus in whose mutuall loue was as great chastitie and vertue as might be At the same time another Shepherd called Syluanus loued her also more then himselfe but so abhorred of the Shepherdesse that there was not any thing in the world which she hated more But it fell out that as Syrenus was constrained to be out of the kingdom about certaine affaires which could by no means be excused nor left vndone and the Shepherdesse remaining at home very sad for his absence time and Dianas hart with time were chaunged who then was married to another Shepherd called Delius burying him whom she had but of late so greatly loued in vniust obliuion Who after a whole yeere of his absence comming home againe with great affection and desire to see his beloued Shepherdesse knew before he came that she was already married And from hence the first booke begins and in the others following they shall finde diuers histories of accidents that haue truly happened though they goe muffled vnder pastorall names and style The first Booke of Diana of George of Montemayor DOwne from the hils of Leon came forgotten Syrenus whom loue fortune and time did so entreate that by the least greefe that he suffered in his sorrowfull life he looked for no lesse then to loose the same The vnfortunate Shepherd did not now bewaile the harme which her absence did threaten him and the feare of her forgetfulnes did not greatly trouble his minde bicause he sawe all the prophecies of his suspicion so greatly to his preiudice accomplished that now he thought he had no more misfortunes to menace him But the Shepherd comming to those greene and pleasant meades which the great riuer Ezla watreth with his cristalline streames the great felicitie and content came to his wandring thoughtes which sometimes he had enioyed there being then so absolute a Lord of his owne liberty as now subiect to one who had wrongfully enterred him in darke obliuion He went musing of that happie time when in those medowes and on those faire banks he fed his flocks applying then his minde in the onely care and interest he had to feede them well and spending the rest of his howers in the onely delight that he tooke in the sweete smell of those golden flowers at that time especially when cheerefull spring-tyde the merry messenger
saist but fortune shal neuer do me such despite to make me ouercommed by any but onely by whom I haue long since suffered my self to be conquered And this onely content doth remaine to me of my prison wherevnto my misfortune hath now brought 〈◊〉 The Gouernour did not then marke the Moore his words so much nor to what end he spake them but vsing the mercy that the valiant conquerour is woont to vse to the forlorne man of Fortune he helped him to rise vp and to binde vp his woundes which were not so great but that he might get vpon his horse and so all of them with their prisoner tooke the next way home to Alora The Gouernour as he rode did continually cast an eie vpon the Moore whom he thought with himselfe a goodly man of person and gracious of visage remembring therewithall howe stoutly he had defended himselfe but thought his sadnes too great for so braue a minde as he carried and because he intermixed his sorrow with sighes which were tokens of greater greefe then could be imagined in so braue a man and also desirous to knowe more of the matter he said vnto him Behold Sir knight how the prisoner that leeseth his hart magnanimitie for feare of imprisonment doth hazard the law of his libertie and that in Martiall affaires aduersitie must be entertayned with as merrie a countenance as by this greatnes of minde it may deserue to enioy prosperitie againe And these sighes are not me thinkes beseeming that valour and courage which thou hast shewed by tryall of thy person neither are thy wounds so mortall that thy life is in hazarde whereof besides thou hast shewed not to make so much account but that thou wouldest willingly haue left it for thine honours sake If there be then any other occasion of thy heauines tell it me for by the faith of a gentleman I sweare vnto thee that I will vse as much curtesie and friendship towards thee as thou shalt not haue occasion to repent thee that thou hast tolde me it The Moore hearing the Gouernours gentle speech whereby he argued in him a braue and noble minde and his curteous and friendly offer to helpe him thought it no point of wisedome to conceale the cause of his greefe from him because by his milde wordes and gracious countenance he had such great hope of helpe and fauour that lifting vp his face which with the waight of sorrow he went carying in his bosome he saide vnto him How art thou called Sir Knight that dost thus comfort me in my sadnesse whereof thou seemest to haue some feeling and the which thou dost enforce me to tell thee My name is Rodrigo of Naruaez and Gouernour I am of Alora and Antiquera of both which townes of garrison the King of Aragon my Lord and Master hath appointed me Chiefetaine When the Moore heard this with a merrier countenance then before he said I am glad that my misfortune hath beene so fortunate to make me fall into thy handes of whose force and manhoode I haue beene long since informed the triall whereof though it had cost me deerer coulde not haue greatly greeued me since it doth so greatly content me to see my selfe his prisoner whose vertues valour and dexteritie in armes doth importune euery ones eares so much And becauie the subduing of my person doth oblige me to esteeme thee the more and that thou maist not thinke it is any kinde of pusyllanimitie or feare in me without some other great occasion which lies not in my power to forsake that makes me so sad and pensiue I praie thee gentle Knight by that thou art to cōmand thy gentlemen to ride on before because thou maist know that neither the paine of my greene woundes nor the greefe of my present captiuitie is cause of my heauie thoughts The Gouernour hearing these words made greater reckoning of the Moore and because he was verie desirous to be thorowly resolued what he was he willed his gentlemen to ride on before and they two comming on faire and softly behind the Moore fetching a profound sigh from his soule began thus to saie IF time and triall of thy great virtues most valiant Gouernour and that golden fame wherewith they are spread in euery place had not penetrated my hart with desire of knowing them now put them manifestly before mine eles these words which thy will doth enforce me to relate should be now excused and the discourse which I meane to tell thee of a life continually enuironed with disquiets suspects the least whereof being as thou wilt iudge no lesse worse then a thousand deaths remaine vntold But as I am on the one side assured of that I speake and that on the other thou art a worthie kinght and noble gentleman and hast either heard or els thy selfe passed the like passion to mine Know that my name is Abyndaraez the yoonger in difference of an vncle of mine my fathers brother who is also called so Descended I am from the noble house of the Abencerrajes in Granada by whose vnluckie destinies I did learne to be vnfortunate And because thou maist know what theirs was and maist by them the better coniecture what may be expected of mine Thou shalt vnderstand that in Granada was a noble linage of Lords and Knights called Abencerrajes whose valiant deeds and graue personages as well in martiall aduentures as in peaceable and wise gouernment of our common-wealth were the mirrours of that kingdome The olde men were of the Kings counsell the yoong gentlemen exercised their minds and bodies in feates of armes in the seruice of Ladies and gentlewomen and by shewing in euery point their valour and gentilitie And as they were honoured of the popular sort and welbeloued among the principall for in all those good parts that a gentleman should haue they farre excelled others so were they very well thought of with the King They did neuer any thing in war abroad nor in counsell at home that their experience was not correspondent to their expectation whose valour bountie and humanitie was so highly commended that for a common example it was euer alleaged That there was neuer Abencerraje coward niggard or ill disposed person In the citie they were the masters of braue inuentions for apparell In the Court of maskes daunces and triumphes and in the court and citie in the seruice and courting of Dames passing gracious For neuer did Abencerraje loue and serue any Ladie of whom he was not fauoured nor any Ladie were she neuer so faire and amiable thinke her selfe worthie of the name title of an Abencerraje his mistresse They liuing therfore in as great prosperitie honor and reputation that might be came fortune an enemie to the rest and contentment of happie men to cast them downe from that ioyfull estate to the most vnfortunate and greeuous condition of disgrace that might be The beginning whereof was that the King hauing done a certaine iniury to the Abencerrajes
pitie on her but they rather gaue to the Traitour sufficient prouision who went to imbarke himselfe againe with Clenarda whom poore soule at her perill she must needes follow from which time hitherto I neuer saw nor heard any newes of them There was I left all alone bound hand and foote and pinched with intolerable hunger But that which most of all greeued me was Alcidas want and sorrow who was likewise left alone in the Iland Formentera and in lieu thereof regarded not mine owne which was presently remedied For at the noise of my loude and lamentable outcries certaine Marriners came to me who being more pitifull then those before gaue me some meate to stanche my extreme hunger And at my incessant request they armed for my sake a Fregantine and carrying with them some store of meate and wine with weapons and other necessaries embarked themselues in my companie and within a short time with swift and speedie oares it came to the Iland of Formentera where Alcida was left a sleepe But for all that I could doe by seeking vp and downe in it and hallowing in euerie place and calling aloud on Alcidas name I could neither finde her nor by any signe perceiue that she was there I then thought that she had desperately throwen her self into the sea or else that she had beene deuoured of wilde beasts But yet seeking vp and downe the plaines and shoares and all those rockes and caues and most secret corners of the Ilande in a peece of a rocke made in forme of a quarriâ—… found these verses with a sharpe point of steeled knife engrauen which said thus O Sandie desart and drie barren meade Thou that hast heard the sound of my lament O swelling seas fierce winde to changing bent Chang'd with my sighes that are in sorrow bread Hard recke wherein for euer may be read My torment heerein grauen and permanent Truly report my paines which you present For that Marcelius heere hath left me dead My sister stolne he hath forgotten mee His faith his sailes and then my hope forlorne Commend I to the windes and witnes yee That loue I will not any man that 's borne To scape those seas where calmes are neuer any Nor combat foes that are so fierce and many I cannot tell thee faire Shepherdesse how deepe a wound my soule felt when I read these letters knowing that for anothers fault and vile deceit and by the hard euent of cruell fortune I was so suddenly abhorred of Alcida wherefore resoluing with my selfe not to lead a life replenished with such woes and miseries I woulde forthwith with one of their swordes haue pierced my heauie hart had not one of those marriners who suspected such a thing by maine force hindred mee from it With comfortable words therefore they brought me backe againe halfe dead into their Fregatte and being mooued at my importunate and pitifull praiers for a peece of money caried me towards the coast of Italy and landed me in Gayeta in the kingdome of Naples Where enquiring of euery one that I knew and met after Alcida and publishing certaine tokens of her at the last by certaine Shepherds which came thither in a ship of Spaine I heard some newes of her which ship passing by Formentera found hir there al alone tooke her in and that she had taken vpon her the habite of a Shepherdesse with as strong a resolution to hide her-selfe from me as strange to liue vnknowne in those disguised weedes Which when I vnderstood I also apparelled my selfe like a Shepherd the better to finde her out and wandring vp and downe and seeking her thoroughout all that kingdome coulde neuer finde her nor heare which way she was gone vntill a long time after I vnderstoode that she knew how I had notice of her which made her flie the farther from me and to passe into Spayne in a shippe of Genua Then I embarqued my selfe presently to follow her and hither I am come into Spayne where hauing troden the greatest part of it in seeking her vp and downe haue not yet found any one that coulde tell mee any newes of this cruell one whom with so great greefe and trouble of minde and bodie I am continually seeking and can neuer finde This is faire Shepherdesse the tragedie of my life this is the cause of my death and this the processe of al mine ils In which so sad discourse if I haue been too tedious the fault is thine since my vnwilling toong by thy importunate requestes was constrained to tell it And that which now I craue of thee gentle Shepherdesse is that thou wouldest not trouble thy selfe to applie any remedies to my sorrowe nor comfort my cares nor to stop the teares which with so iust cause are due to my cordiall greefe Marcelius hauing ended his sorrowfull historie began to make a most dolefull complaint and to sigh so forciblie that it was great pittie to beholde him Faine would Diana haue told him tidings of his Alcida which was not long since in her companie but to performe her worde which she had promised not to discouer her vnto him and also for that she sawe it would but haue tormented him more by giuing him notice of her who extremely hated him helde her peace And rather wished him to comfort himselfe by entertaining an assured hope and confidence of his future gladnes since she herselfe doubted not before it was long to see him very ioyfull in the presence of his beloued Mistresse For if it was true as he beleeued that Alcida went wandring vp and downe in the companie of Shepherdesses and Nymphes of Spaine she could not then saide Diana bee long vnhidden from him and so she promised him to cause an enquirie and search to bee made in the strangest remote and solitarie places and in the fieldes most frequented by them but especially charging him to haue a regarde to his owne life and promising him to performe that which she had offered For which vnexpected curtesies Marcelius yeelding her infinite thankes would haue taken his leaue saying that after a fewe daies he thought to returne thither againe and to giue her a full account of al those accidents that in seeking out Alcida might happen vnto him But Diana staying him saide I will not be so great an enimie to mine owne content to let thee goe out of my companie but would rather bicause I see my selfe forsaken of my husband Delius as thou art of thy Alcida haue thee staie and eate if it please thee a little of my simple cheere to refresh thy selfe who hast it seemes no small need thereof And after when the shadowes of the trees and hils waxe greater we will both go home to our village wherewith that rest which continuall greefe will suffer vs to take we will passe the night away and in the morning betimes hasten vs towardes the Temple of chaste Diana where the sage Lady Felicia makes her abode whose secret wisedome will minister