strange glittering beauties excellence Then of his ill the sillie wretch had knowledge at that hower Yet to resist or to withstand the same he had no power He felt his captiue heart attacht and roughly raught away And yet for all this would he not make of the same a stay All meanes of helpe he banisht thence and yet he felt the griefe He saw he was as one vndone yet would not seeke reliefe He was in prison yet he did refuse his libertie He found his error yet not once Peccauie would he crie He neuer sought to driue from him this ill iueuitable Though through the same he found himselfe for euer miserable Cruell effects of Loue such Louers as quite senselesse bee Cannot auoid their hurt although with eyes they doe it see So in Florettas beautious eyes Plaindor now captiuate Where he should haue resisted is proud of his lost estate He counts himselfe thrise fortunate that he thus vanquisht is By so diuine a beautie which he vowes his chiefest blisse He this his hurt doth better loue then all his former health His bondage fore his libertie he doth preferre and wealth Ah Louers more then wretched right worse hundred times then hell Is your estates and worse then death were it but death t' were well To th' enemie of your sweet liues your selues you doe deuote Your hang-man you doe honour still who seekes to cut your throte You are not able once to shunne to hate or to detest That which doth make you languish and you tortureth with vnrest You loue what workes your miseries and beautie chiefest sore To peacefull mindes of worthiest men as Goddes you adore Each one excepting Louers wrongd reuengement seekes by lawe Defends himselfe and being hurt vpon his foe doth drawe Each one except the Louer wars against his Enemie makes Hath reason to detest him and against him vantage takes He onely yeelds himselfe as slaue vnto his owne distresse He honoreth his tormentor fierce his prison he doth blesse Who remedie doth seeke for him him he accounts no friend He rather hates him mortally as if he were a fiende But were not Louers obstinate Good counsell vnto Louers did reason rule their minde Thus peruerse still gainst their owne good they would not be vnkinde And thus doth Plaindor now quite change from his first happie state That beautie worshipping which he ought rather for to hate As sensuall beast bereft of sense his heart he offereth free To her who seekes for to abridge his ioyfull libertie As sacred her he doth account and holdes her for a Saint Who is the motiue of his mone and subiect of his plaint With great deuotion dotarde like he vowes to reuerence That which vnto his life doth seeke to offer violence Thus from a man vnto a beast he is transformed right Whilst he doth seeke to gaine by losse and Loue which he should spight Yet onely in this thing his lucke was not ore passing bad Since one to beare him companie he in his sorrow had Floretta felt somewhat the darts of Loue though not so keene Which iustly seem'd diuided right these two young soules betweene A little she did feele the heate of this hot amorous fire Which in the loyall Shepheards heart was kindled through desire His personage and valour now her libertie had wonne And as she him before so now he her had ouercome Her milde behauiour showed the same her colour and her grace And her two eyes which still were sixt vpon his manly face Which rauished with selfe-like Loue like to a mirror true The one the others heauie case beheld and sad did view The stealing glaunces which they both cast forth alike did showe That in one selfesame Sea of Loue their hearts were dround with woe Their vncoth heates their scalding sighes their amorous soundings sweete Foretold that of one selfesame cup they both had drunken deepe Shame onely then withheld their tongues from silence to vntie And feare least one the others sute vnkindly should denie Both knewe they lou'de yet both did doubt least they not loued were They onely thought vpon that Loue which both did willing beare No signes betweene them yet had force although enough were showen To make the truth of both their mindes vnto their soules be knowen Floretta building on her beautie faire thought Plaindor lou'de And that to yeeld himselfe her thrall he casily might be mou'de Her greatest doubt was least he should not constant be nor true But in the ende would giue her o're and cause her so to rue Plaindor againe could not perswade himselfe so blest to be As for to be belou'd of her he thought she nere would gree He not so much as thinke so durst but rather did dispaire Ere to enioy the thing he held so deare and thought so rare He durst not oncedesire't for feare least being the same denide He therefore should the greater griefe in his successe haue tride Yet in the ende this Shepheah poore quite wearied with his paine Tooke heart at grasse though little lif within m did remaine His eyes fixt on the ground full sad his eyelidds closed tho And in his gesture many sighes forct from him too and fro His â—â—â—mbling soule full of pale dread teares trickling downe ore warme His mindâ— tâ—rmented diuersely with many a fierce alarme His blâ—â—â—ing heart prest downe with woe which throbd and sobd through feare And gainst all hope of future good in combat as it were His armes a crosse in wofull wise vnarmed he alone Thus to Floretta in few words his case he doth bemone Diuine and rarest beautie if the Gods haue heretofore Bin as I am of libertie depriude and which is more Lâ—ft their chiefe rest whilst in themselues they bare as open signe Such earthly beautie as did seeme more like themselues diuine Leauing the heauens their darts and fires their fortunes for to proue Disdaining nought as souldiers braue to march in Campe of Loue. If that their soules were scorched with this Archers fire so whot As for their wounds to finde some salue to seeke they shamed not If they as I felt thousand plagues for louing as I doe DEARE then that I endure the like let not be straunge to you Each seekes the steppes of these great Gods to follow and though he Doe somewhat erre in following them yet ought he pardoned be My heart as theirs I wounded finde with darts most mortally Which thou gainst me discharged hast from thy commanding eye The selfe same fire that was in them is seazde vpon my soule From sparkels now t is growen to flames and lord-like doth controule Burnt are my senses all my powers consumed vnto nought My reason is enchaunted sore and I to ruine brought If thee I see I die If not I then doe pine a way Thus by no meanes my sicknes strange I swage can or allay To quench this raging fire I done haue what I can alasse But t will not be although I would I cannot bring
and the first opening of a fault is difficult vnto a vertuous minde but very casie when he shall be permitted to take an habit in the same For so small a trifle and such a thing as can doe thee no good be not I beseech thee the cause that I be esteemed or taken for other then hithereto I haue bene for hare and leane should that tryumph be which thou shouldest purchase by mine honour because my blood should presently make satisfaction for the same Content thee then with what I haue said and thinke that I will not denie thee any thing which may stand with my credit but considering that this which thou requirest may some way impeach the same I cannot iustly yeeld vnto thy demand Leaue then I say once more to importune me for that which will doe thee no good yet will hurt me much and then shall I thinke that thy speeches are true and that thy loue is chaste and vertuous as thou hast hitherto protested This was my Ladies sharpe replie which draue away all my former ioy I had conceiued of hope by reason of her first kinde words so as now my complaints began afresh againe my teares renewed and my sighes came forth faster then they had done before I was so galled with sorrow and so much griped at the heart with this her vnexpected deniall as I could doe nothing but weepe holding downe mine eyes towards the ground as not daring to looke vpon her In the end surcharged and oppressed with contrarie passions I burst out into these wofull tearmes hauing before sent forth thousands of scalding sighes as precursors of the same O cruell Loue O miserable Starres iealous of my good O dismall day wherin I was borne and more then thrise accursed life of mine since I am more wretched then any whatsoeuer liuing After much labour taking and many a yeares sayling the Pilot at length arriueth vnto his Hauen but I Caitiffe that I am finde no end of my torments None giueth succour vnto me neither doth any as much as a little ease me my sicknes encreaseth with the day continueth all night long and yet neuer amendeth Alas alas why died not I at the first when hauing offended you my dearest Ladie you exild me from you louely presence Vnfortunate Shepheard that I was to perswade my selfe to liue and hope the best when I finde no cause but of dispaire and death Ah had I then taken that readie course I had bene now free from these hellish panges which euery minute oppresse my heart and I had bene partaker of those rare beatitudes which the soules of happie Louers enioy for euer Sacred and Religious Diana since you adiudge me vnworthy of any small fauour at your hands and that without yeelding to agree vnto so little a matter you are desirous of my end yet at the least doe thus much for me as to permit me to die in leiu of all my troubles before thy beautious face This I beg at your hand for default of that other curtesie which you iudge me vnworthy of for although you haue denied me the first yet I hope you will agree vnto the secod otherwise I vow after I haue a hundred thousand times tearmed you by the name of Cruell I will most desperately lay violent hands vpon my selfe crying out that you haue bene the cause of mine vntimely ouerthrow Graunt me then one of my requests the last of which you cannot well denie because it costeth you nothing What hurt can this be vnto you any way but rather good when you shall doe so charitable a deed vnto the common-wealth as to permit him to die who is vnprofitable vnto the same Without licence from you I neither may nor will take this bloodie course in hand seeing I hold my life from you and that you alone and none but you haue puissance ouer me Linger not then to yeeld vnto my desire for if you thinke that my trauailes past haue merited any reward you cannot better recompence them then to graunt me death which is the onely thing I couet seeing I must be depriued of your cheerfull presence as one not worthy to enioy it As the Hunter is amazed hauing lost the tracing of the Deare which he hunteth his dogs being at a bay knoweth not which way to goe nor well what path to take whilest his Hounds barking vpon some dich side round about him he standeth musing what to doe Euen such a one my Ladie seemed to be she seeing her selfe charged with two contrarie demaunds both which she iudged aduersaries vnto her honour which to take she knoweth not well and therefore standeth studying as one sad and pensiue what to say vnto this matter If she should giue me her hand to kisse she feareth least I should foolishly and without wit speake something that might discredit her and if she should suffer me to die she being now readie to giue ouer the world and to become as it were a Religious Nunne she doubted least the world would say she had done it for griefe of me Besides she was vnwilling that I should die vnto whom despite of her selfe she thought her selfe somewhat beholding knowing that death was but a cold recompence for so great loue as I had borne her Much was she perplexed in her minde about this busines my hard fortune did somewhat soften her stonie heart but then againe the respect of her honour did harden it as much but had Loue had but some interest or power in her she had quickly brought these two contraries vnto an agreement but alas he then had not neither is he like euer to haue What should she doe in these two extremities and how should she throughly satisfie and content her honour One while she putteth forth her hand for me to kisse and then vpon the suddaine putteth it backe againe one while she is about to casshire me with rough speeches and then againe she seemeth willing to yeeld vnto my request one while she careth not although I die and then by and by she cannot endure she should be counted so cruell Meane space she seeth me to raine whole riuers of teares and to send forth blacke clouds of scalding sighes whilest with a sobbing heart I thus once more follow mine old sute vnto her What is the reason faire Goddesse that you thus stand lingring through delaies and not suffer this forsaken and abiect wretch to die To what end doth he liue which way can he profite his countrie and what reason haue you to lament his destruction Pronounce pronounce thy faithfull sentence quickly for he attendeth for nothing else to the end he may with a more braue courage wend his way to put in practise the same Speake then and giue our this musing when the Iudge sitteth vpon the life or death of an offender he standeth not studying vpon the same but soone pronounceth his finall iudgement Deliuer then my sentence as a fatall Oracle without delaying any longer for
lodge of such Spirits as like vacabonds wandred vp and downe the world being worthily punished by the great and iust Gods Many gastly Caues were there to be found but so horrible were they as the onely sight of them brought trembling feare to the mindes and sudden amazement to the eyes of such as should behold them No running Fountaine was there that gaue forth cristall water no shadowing groue to keepe men from parching heate nor any greene coolie grasse with faire coloured flowers to delight the sences onely in this vncoth wildernesse did soiourne such sad and old angrie men as by there nightly Charmes forced the Spirites of the earth to obey their wills and to be at their command In steede of Nightingale and Lark was there found the Scritching Owle and night Rauen with such other dismall Birdes whose flight nature and crie did serue for sinister prophesies vnto the miserable Inhabitants thereof All thrise wofull and lamentable dwelling in comparison of the ioyfull woods of Arcadia the first witnesses of the chast Loues of this disastred Shepheard and yet fortunate inough for him seeing that he being depriued of all his wisht for hopes soughtby many pittilesse Accidents to ende his loathed life Those faire and goodly troupes of Shepheards and Shepheardesses which were wont heretofore to be a comfort vnto him were now most pittifully taken from his sight There the learned Iulâ—tta was not to be found neither there could his deare friend Philas be heard of who with others were wont most sweetly to record and sing of their ouerhard fortunes in their loyall Loues O poore Shepheard if solitarines may bring to the male-contented any delight at all no doubt but then thou doest participate with the same for amongst millions of sauadge beastes thou liuest alone amongst thousands of gastly rocks and amongst infinites of desarts without any cleare light or cheareful Sunne And yet the sharpe feeling of his inward griefes ouercame and drowned the sad apprehension of this solitarie seate A Similie no otherwise then great and desperate mischances slake and quench those that are little or as most violent diseases hinder the feeling of such as are lesse vnrecouerable Not smally fortunate did he thinke himselfe to haue found this vnluckie Râ—ceptakle making vnto himselfe a false ioy of that sower Subiect which was the caâ—se of heause sorrow vnto others And herein might he witnesse full well that in respect of the â—ll that happeneth in Loue all other euils are right pleasures and that that onely torment brought with it a certaine sure knowledge of misfortunes vnto men O how easie a matter is it to resist all worldly troubles and to passe through the pikes of the same But how hard or rather impossible a thing is it to vanquish and ouercome loue A Sentence Of all the fanites that wise men commit none is more excusable then such as Loue forceth then to doe Who was more learned then Plato who more inditiall then Aristotle who more godly then Daâ—ad who more wise then Salomon and who more strong then Sampson Surely none and yet neuer haue any bin more ouercome by loue then they of which Tirants slauâ—sh yoke this poore Shepheard also had felt the heauie burthen His rare constancie bare patiently the losse of his goods tooke gently his banishment from his countrie endured quietly the crueltie of time and brooked wisely the iniuries of the enuious but vnto this Loue it yeelded quickly and as it were without constraint Thrise blessed was he in that be knew how to make choise of so beautious and rare Subiects but yet quadruple vnfortunate for that he could not reape the sweete fruites of the same in this world A Sentence The remembrance of things lost is forgotten through length of time the paine of deadliest sicknesses is appeased by Phisicke and the deepest conceited sorrow weareth away with often sighing but alas his loue was alwaies liuing without ende and without truce as a substance euerlasting Too too cruell was that star that shonne at his birth but farre more remorslesse the care and griefe of his continuall vexed life And in respect of him happie are all other whatsoeuer who are tormented with the losse of their kinde friends deare countrie louing families and acquaintance all which though they be much grieuous to support and suffer yet are they not to be compared in rigor vnto the least passion of Loue for the Soule findeth in them some one comfort or other and the bodie some ease of griefe or at the least an ende of all but in the pangs of Loue neither the one nor the other are euer out of trouble Wretched then is the man that leueth therefore wretched this Shepheard and yet more happie then such contented persons who liue alwaies fearing death whereas the approach of the same was the onely hauen and heauen of his vnhappines Such and so great was the extremities of his woes as it hindred him to marke or conceiue the fearefulnes of this desart to apprehend the horror of so frightfull a dwelling He thinketh of nothing lesse then of the horriblenes of the same Such condemned Soules as are drawne vnto the place of execution dreame not of any thing else then of the bitter death they goe to suffer EueÌ„ so sought not he any other iourney in this wildernesse then such as his passion led him on to take his eyes not being employed in any office at all whilest he himselfe seemed to be both deafe blinde and dumme O sage and prudent Poets who to expresse the nature and effects of Loue most properly faine Louers to haue bin changed into insensible shapes for certainely they are but Stones Trees and Rocks in their actions and behauiour although they retaine and keepe with them a humane shape A long time did this miserable Shepheard walke thus without knowing which way he went vntill at the last for verie wearines he was forced to rest himselfe at the foote of a mightie high Rocke There being set vpon the ground his armes a crosse his eyes lifted vp his lips close shut together leaning his head vpon the stone which hung on the one side he seemed as if he had bin another very Rocke for as a Rocke so were his gestures moue-lesse his spirits gone and all the partes of his bodie without force and vigor And to say the truth indeede how could he once stirre if his Soule being the life of his bodie was as then absent and at that time retired into the bosome of his faire Mistris Thus sat he senselesse a great while with a heauie setled countenance vntill at last looking downe lowe with his eyes he espied certaine verses to be carued most curiously within the Rocke which made him resemble the Hunter A Similie who dispairing of his Prey and hauing as it were quite forgotten the same vpon the soden spieth his game which forceth him to begin a fresh the pursuite thereof and so followeth the
one that thee and thine should shame But woe is me thou wrongest me if so of me thou iudge Since for thy sake nought to attempt as yet I â—re did grudge Faire thou shalt know that since my heart a widower is through thee He can no ioy what euer take nor longer liuing bee Much lesse that I can like againe I am no Louer such If so thou thinkst thou art deceiu'd and wrongest me oremuch Thy seruant whilst I liu'd I was dying I le be thy slaue To make some mends for mine offence thou readie me shalt haue I le die as thou hast done as one of thy praise enuious Because thou purchast hast for me thy rest from sorrow thus I will not beg that I may touch that prettie cherrie lip Whilst I am dying I confesse my selfe deserue not it Yet gratious Goddesse of my thoughs if those thine eyes so bright Haue not alreadie quite forsooke their wonted clâ—eerfull light Ah then doe but once open them and Plaindor thine regard With one small glaunce who now doth leaue his life through fortune hard Bright starres your Plaindor you shall see loow quickly he will die If you so much doe grace him as to ope but halfe an eye And now in leiu of recompence for wrong that done I haue This blood accept my hainous crime to purifie and laue Sweete Ladie now at last receiue this blood this blood of mine And suffer my dead coarse repose and rest it selfe by thine Thus said with courage great his sword he thrusts into his side And being dead vpon the ground his bodie faint doth glide Which with his lukewarme struaming blood the ground did make to faâ—â—â— Of colour whilst it flowing ratine and dide it ouer all Floretta all this while was not starke dead the poyson strong Was not enough which was the cause her life it did prolong Her he auie eyes she casteth vp and rolleth here and there Whilst in her face a show of death halfe smiling doth appeare And seeing Plaindor falne by her she him doth fast imbrace And with her feeble force doth wipe the blood from off his face His head with dying hand she doth hold vp to ease his paine And hauing giuen to him a kisse rekisseth him againe Wherewith he gaspeth yet once more and thinkes himselfe the most Blessed that in his Mistris armes he yeeldeth vp his ghost Thrise happie Plaindor fortunate eternall is thy glorie For thou hast gained ouer death a pretious victorie Thou diest in the clasped armes of faire Floretta thine Whilst with her eyes thine eyes thy face with hers doe close conioyne She striuing for to die that she amaine might thee pursue Whom thou doest see though gainst her will thee to suruiue so true And now death had alreadie tane her speech nor could she speake Yet these few words she sighthed forth with hollow voice most weake O Plaindor sweet friend Shepheard mine our Loues though miserable To ages that hereafter come to liue shall aie be able Since through the vertuous paths they trod vntainted chastitie Serues vnto them to be the ground to their Eternitie And though we now die yet our selues thus let vs comfort rife Thou diest forme and I for thee am pleasde to end my life Like faithfull friends we die the one forth ' other 's well apaid And in one Tombe our bodies both shall be enterd and laid Thou goest my Loue before me and I follow thee most blithe As fast as fast I can for thee I meane not to suruiue Yet happie we in dying thus since kissing we embrace Which liuing we durst not attempt for feâ—re to haue disgrace But now I come to thee Thus said she on the face doth fall Of her blest Plaindor whilst her soule doth â—lit away withall Their coarses be within one graue where the â— doe quiet sleepe And in this Rocke vnto their fame this verse was grauen deepe ARCAS hauing heard this pittioâ—s Tragedie could not chuse but weepe dreaming a fresh vpon his auncient Loues when the old man thus awaked him Shepheard Shepheard loue is neuer satisfied nor appeased with teares which is an or dinarie vse with him being alwaies a child as he is In the teares of Louers doth he temper his Arrowes the harder to freese the hearts of their Ladies against them The more he findeth vs to waile and want courage the more he doth taunt and reuile vs Not vnlike vnto that Generall of a field A Similie who more hostly pursueth his enemies when they begin to shrinke backe and recoyle then when they â—valiantly and stoutly stand to beare out the brunt If Cupid hath not yeelded vnto the teares of his Mother much lesse will he be moued at thine True Louers sildome or neuer weepe because their heate consumeth the moysture which is within them A Sentence no more then drie wood can yeeld forth wet water Cease then to waile and in steed of these teares take courage against this fierce enemie If the Gods themselues replied the Shepheard could not resist him how then shall any man be able to encounter with him And what other thing can such miserable wretches doe as be out of all hope but bewaile and lament their vntimely misfortunes It is for hearts of steele resembling blades ouer hardly tempred which rather breake then bowe not to be moued with griefe at all Teares are signes of a pitifull Nature whereas such as are cruell neuer weepe because they are quite voyd of all compassion Though Loue hereat will not be moued yet will gentleâ— hearts relent at the same I knowe he maketh no account hereof neither doe I pretend to sacrifice vnto him with them but rather with mine owne decrest blood How wonderfully art thou deceiued quoth the old man The Alters of Loue as those of the Gods â—ere vpon the earth neuer distill nor drop with blood for can Loue be encountered and met withall amongst braules quarrels and bloodshed No no but where amitie and friendship is there doth he frequent and keepe companie An excellent discourse of the mightines and power of Loue. such onely being to be counted right Louers indeed and worthy to enioy Loue it selfe who beare no malice nor seeke one anothers death O how sweete and pleasing a thing is this kind of amitie which keepeth the Gods in perfect vnitie and vnder whose puissance is the hollow giuing vault of heauen guided Men after the example of the Gods by the aduise of Loue first assem bled themselues together vniting and incorporating themselues within Cities and walled Townes leauing the sauadge wildernesses vnto wilde beasts wherein they before did inhabit Why then doest thou offer blood vnto him O Father of these nocturnall Desarts answered the Shepheard I know thou thinkest otherwise then thou speakest Canst thou compose and frame a gentle and milde Nature An example of nothing but murther and crueltie How many massacres loue hath commenced Troy can witnesse How many cruell griefes
Iulietta who being pressed vpon to returne into his owne natiue soyle was forced much against his will to leaue her bringing away with her license these two Tables to the ende he might still contemplate and behold her as well with the eyes of his bodie as those of his soule And now I maruaile no more of that selfe-conceited Painter A Historie who fell in loue with his owne picture or of fond Narcissus who grew extreamely enamoured of his owne shadow seeing the Shepheard Arcas found the thoughts of his misfortunes to be sweetely asswaged with the continuall regard of these counterfaites gazing vpon them without mouing a long time In the meane space Philistel awaked the other Swaine not perceiuing it at all hauing now called to mind poore Arcas and how he had bin heretofore corriuall in his Loue and imagining that he was as yet touched with his first passion by reason his senses were rauished in staring so much vpon the picture of Iulietta to awake him out of his dreame he began thus to accost him Arcas the excellencie of beautie consisteth chiefly in this one poynt which is not to beare enuie vnto those that exercise the same but rather to imitate them in what we may for happie is that countrie which as a thicke and shadowing Forrest is sowed and filled with a great number of worthie and vertuous men Thy selfe and I strooken with one and the selfe-same dart haue loued her whose shadow thou here seest and because this Loue of ours was laudable yea and worthie of reward therefore hath it neuer altered our mindes nor separated our good liking one from another The Spartaines heretofore loued but yet chastly the faire and prettie children of their citie this liking of theirs neuer breeding any falling out or iealous conceit An example one against another although three or fower of them loued but one of these yongest boies alone But contrariwise they rather forced themselues and striued one with another who should best teach these youthes some rare qualitie or perfection whereby they might come to more estimation and credit And such was our loue towards the diuine Iulietta we both hauing loued her and yet not hated one the other forcing our selues to trie who could doe best in chaunting abroad her faire vertues seeking still to render that worthie honour vnto her perfections as they of right deserued And seeing this Loue did part vs at that time for a while asunder we ought as now of our owne accord to reunite our selues againe together For the Maister of a ship who hath had but hard fortune hauing made a bad voyage at sea hath neede after his losses to get tother the relicks and remainders of his Shipwracke and to make account of that which before this mischaunce he would haue disdained to haue done And so we if any small conceit ouerpartiall hath passed twixt vs about our Loues now at this houre when all is lost and that scarce we our selues are escaped from the crueltie of the waters let vs forget and sorgiue what is past and let the ioy in that we haue once more met againe before we die maister for a while this our ouermuch sadnes Friendship neuer bestoweth her diuine brightnes A Sentence where aboundance of pleasures flow for they hinder vs fro discerning the same being the occasions that it is not adored according vnto her deserts But when affliction and sorrow approacheth then doth she best appeare her wholsome effects as then being most prised and commended For at such a time necessitie forceth men to haue more neede one of another then when they are in prosperitie it being the onely cause that loue sheweth it selfe more liuely hot comfortable My minde prognosticated vnto me the comming into this place whilst I not knowing the good and happie meeting that I should haue here did murmur against the Seas for casting me vpon this shore but now I haue found by triall that humane matters being ordered by diuine prouidence happen oftentimes contrarie vnto the opinion of men to the ende they may know that in respect of God they are but vessels of earth by him ordained for shame and that vnto him onely appertaineth the disposing of all things O Philistell answered the Shepheard of great follie should he be condemned who finding himselfe all alone would imagine to be able to carrie away some great victorie amongst the midst of a huge number of enemies For it is not courage but rather mad furie for one to vndertake more then he is able to bring to passe inasmuch as it is no lesse vertue to know himselfe then to vanquish and ouercome his aduersaries These considerations are sufficient to moue me to extinquish all bad conceits which I might haue conceiued against you about the loue of sweete Iulietta For could I hope to haue any recompence of her whome hard misfortune wretched pouertie the malice of nature and a thousand other hinderances haue set me vp as it were for a marke to discharge their deadly arrowes at me Whereas you who to serue her haue left your countrie and your realme and who carrie besides the auncientnes of your birth and the greatnes of your race a braue and generous spirit endued with as vnseemely qualities may well hope for that which I not so much as dare to name or thinke of in my heart Behold then the cause why I cannot beare any malice vnto thee as touching that thing which I iudge my selfe vnworthie to possesse which for the same cause I reuerence adore For my Loues haue bin but shrill Trompets to sound the glory of this faire superexcellent virgin my labours but her Herrolds to blazen forth in right colours her rich perfections and mine amorous trauailes but loud Chaunters of her rare and diuine vertues But you my deare Philistell easilie and sweetly may you obtaine her good will by the sacred bond of Nuptiall hallowed right Nature hauing made you her equall in blood How men ought truely to loue power authoritie credit command Diuers waies may a man loue for in louing are many effects Some lay the foundation of their Loue vpon the weake and feeble ground of pleasures Others vpon that of marriage but the wisest place it vpon the inexpugnable Rocke of vertue Voluptuous loue passeth slightly and lightly away with the pleasures themselues for we loue no more that thing which we haue no more occasion to vse by reason we haue drawne from thence all the contentment we desired The affection which marriage engendreth endureth longer and yet is there oftentimes in the same many contrarieties and disagreements betweene the Husband and the Wife but that liking which is setled vpon the firme Rocke of vertue neuer dieth because the cause thereof remaineth euerlasting The foundation whereof can neuer be ouerthrown With such religious amitie haue I sought diuine Iulietta yea with such amity as shall neuer die in me no more then vertue
the onely secret messengers of his minde vnto her All which the Ladie well perceiued although shee wisely dissembled the same beginning as it were now to participate with him in the selfe-same paine and during in a manner the selfe-same that he did But the feare shee had lest this good will should force him to forget his promise and his honorable â—arriage vnto her was the cause shee very hardly entertained this kinde affection which she bare him Yet is it lawfull for an honest woman to loue for nothing is more sacred in the whole world A Sentence then Loue but yet so must they like as they must seeeke to conserue their Honours chaste and vntainted such was the loue that faire Iustina cast vpon this Noble Spanyard But as a subtill Tyrant hauing set foote into some place although at the first entrance because hee hath not as yet planted strongly enough sufficient forces to serue his purpose carryeth a shewe of mercie and mildnesse to euery one where hee commeth by which meanes at the length hee getteth to be absolute Lorde and maister ouer the same which authoritie afterwardes hee exerciseth with all kinde of cruelties iniustice and all other horrible faults that may be Euen so Loue hauing gained one of the gates of the heart of the Princesse in the ende made himselfe chiefe ruler ouer all the Fortresse of her faire bodie She now began to take liking vnto the sweet lookes of the Gentlemen to praise and make account of his seruices and to lend a listning eare vnto his pleasing speeches and as a sicke person leauing his bedde and chamber doth giue testimonie vnto euery one of his welfare and recouerie by reason he findeth his stomack againe and can disgest his meare well euen so the delight and contentment which she tooke in the companie and in the behauiour of the Knight was a sufficient and assured signe of the great good will and singular affection which she bare him yet was her fancie nothing like vnto that which Alfonso for so was the Spaniards name bare vnto her it being of such strange force as it not onely gouerned ouer his health and welfare but also it helde in subiection his very soule which most miserablie languished Not vnlike vnto such who hauing taken a determinatiue kinde of poyson consume away by little and little Hee now thought that there could be no such rare contentment in this world as to enioy the companie of his Goddesse which could not be too deerely bought although it should cost him his deerest heart blood Neither was he of the rainde he had bene before to make a doubt what she was or that she was of a more base or inferiour house then himselfe was of Loue now had drowned all such doubtes in him hee onely studyed how he might worke the meanes to be gracious in her sight and to enioy her as his lawfull Bed-fellow and wife knowing too too well that her vertues would oppose themselues against all other sinister and dishonest meanes that should be attempted against her but this could he not doe except he tooke a newe course neither euer come to be maister of his desire without opening his minde vnto her in such sort as he resolued to giue his Mistris to vnderstand of the whole matter at large Wherevpon as he was one day walking alone with her after thousands of sighes sent forth from his heart with thousands of pitious loue-lookes most sweetely glaunced on her and with millions of sweet alterations in his minde his tongue trembling and his voice fainting his countenance and his colour altering and changing and a cold Feuer running through all his bones doubting least he should be repulsed with a sharp denyall with a lowe and faint voyce he began thus to accost her Sweet Charge for so she requested him to call her the assured report of certaine things amazeth oftentimes the spirit of man very much but the experience of the same giueth sufficient testimonie that it is most true I speake this vnto this end for that I haue heard manieto discourse often of Loue who haue reported infinite strange effects which hee hath with great wonder brought to passe so that I for mine owne part haue not a little admired him in mine inward soule yet could I neuer iudge rightly thereof vntill experience had acquainted me with an infallible proofe as concerning the same Since which time I haue found afterward that he is more wonderfull then I haue bene giuen to vnderstand there being such a certaine thing in Loue that none are able to expresse hauing more diuinitie in him then one can imagine with which only such as are strooken with his dart are acquainted withall and none else And certainly hee may be well called DORDE and liberall disposer of mortall mens fortunes seeing he is able to make such as are Conquerours to yeelde and force maisters to become slaues vnto their owne seruants and vassailes Besides he ought by great reason to be termed a God especially amongst such as are most wretched and miserable who being ready as it were to fall into the pitte are by him holpen out and lifted vp giuing them commaund and power ouer their Superiours This which I speake is not by roate nor by heare-say but onely by good proofe as I my selfe can best iustifie For I finde my selfe vanquisht by you faire Gentlewoman whome enuious Fortune had sometime though most vniustly brought into a most pittifull estate Then am I your slaue and yet none of these which seeke the dishonour of their Ladies to satisfie their sensuall desires But such a one I am as beareth more affection vnto your Honor then loue vnto your beautie Needes must I confesse I loue both the one and the other endeuouring in what I may for to conserue them both wishing to die a thousand times rather then suffer the least wrong or iniurie to be offered vnto them For your vertue doe I loue you and for your beautie doe I honor you for your modestie do I seeke you and reuerence you for your chastitie If I were found to affect you but for one of these good qualities onely in you may be it were subiect and likely to fall to ruine and decay but hauing so many goodly and sacred foundations and all vnited one vnto another making it to be of an inuincible strength Me-thinks it is impossible that euer this my loue should be shaken or remoued from his first place The hope of your goods of your Noblenesse of byrth or your riches are not occasions of the good liking I haue of you in that I am not acquainted with any such matters but onely with your Noblenesse I rather hating such friendships because they are lost and ended as soone as possession is taken of such things vpon which they were founded I then loue you with a sacred and chaste kind of loue beseeching you that I may be recompenced with the like affection againe For no
and to shewe himselfe amongst the assemblie of diuers braue and valorous Knightes who all followed immortall Honor in quest And now hauing prouided euery thing fit for his iourney kissing his faire wife he taketh his leaue whilst with teares in his eyes he promised to returne as speedily as might be But alack A Sentence it is great folly for a man to giue his word or promise to perform any thing seeing he is a seruant vnto the will of the Heauens who may dispose of him as they best please Forwhat assurance can one build vpon the faith of a vassaile who wholly dependeth vpon the commandement of his Lord and can doe nothing at all of himselfe No more can men who are the slaues of Fortune the pastime of the Heauens and subiects vnto mortall miseries promise of themselues they not knowing what the Destinies will decree shall fall vpon them But now Alfonso being come vnto the Court his friendes entertained him with all Courtly compliments that might be as his vertues well deserued the same each Noble-man saluteth him most kindely thinking the Court not to be a little honored with the presence of so braue and valorous a Caualier Whilst he thus stayed attending the pleasure of his King Beholde there arriueth an Embassador from the Prince of Denmarke certifying the King of Spaine that his Lords wife was held as prisoner in a certaine part of his Realme desiring his Maiestie to command her to be rendered vnto him otherwise not to thinke ill of him if hee should doe his best endeuour for to recouer her againe by force of Armes Alfonso being present at this Embassage for it was all the Countrey ouer how hee came by his wife and therefore it was verily supposed that shee was the same woman which the Prince demaunded presently replyed saying that true it was that not long since he found a Ladie halfe dead which the waues of the Seas after shee had suffered shipwrack had driuen vpon the shore where hee inhabited and that afterward he married her with her owne consent and free will she hauing before assured him yea and which is more taking her oath vpon the holy Euangelists that she neuer betrothed nor promised herselfe vnto any other man liuing but himselfe Affirming that as the noble Gentlewoman was his true and lawfull Spouse so he was resolued to defend and keepe her against all such as should goe about to take her from him by force Vowing to be their death and vtter ouerthrow as most wicked enemies vnto the maiestie of sacred wedlocke The King hearing Alfonsoes answer and iudging his reasons to be both iust and tollerable returned back the Embassador with the foresaid speeches who deliuered them vnto his Prince assoone as he came home If the baser sort of people hardly support or beare any ruiurie and seeke not to hazard their liues to be reuenged for the same Then I referre it to your owne censures A Similie if this Prince being young in yeares of a hot mettall by nature valiant hardie of spirit and withall wonderfully amorous of the Ladie could endure patiently and pocket vp the Braua do of a simple Gentleman seeing no man whatsoeuer can receiue a greater iniurie than that which is offered him as touching his wife as well for the loue he beareth her which oftētimes engēdreth iealousie as also for the great desire he hath to encrease his stocke and familie Which was the cause that this youthfull Lord went about most rashly and vnaduisedly to set vpon the Spanish King to begin most foolishly to proclaime warre against him who quickly would haue ouerrunne all his countrie had not the Nobilitie of Denmarke crossed the same For they very wisely iudging that they were not able to incounter well so great an enemie and that their slender shoulders were too weake to support so great a burthen would by no meanes yeeld vnto his collericke and hastie motion who although he saw himselfe to be forsaken of his owne subiects yet for all that would he not giue ouer his first enterprise determining with himselfe to recouer his Mistris againe or else to loose his life Wherupon he sent another Embassador vnto the King to demaund license of him according vnto the auncient law of Armes that he might combat with him who detained his spouse so wrongfully from him to the ende the fortune of warre might determine and set downe which of them twaine should enioy her The King hearing this motiō entreated Alfonso to condiscend therevnto who knowing that with his credit he could not refuse it as willingly accepted thereof as the other earnestly did challenge him which the rather he did because he might hereafter quietly enioy his deare wife without any more quarrells The Denmarke Prince hauing intelligence that the combat was graunted determined with himselfe to trie the vtmost of his fortune although much against the mindes of all his Barrons and Noblemen But who can shut vp and inclose vertue force the waues of the Sea to stand still A Sentence or bridle the stately course of the Sunne Euen so what counsaile perswasion or wisedome are able to withhold loue who being turbulent and full of rage resembleth the furious mad man that dasheth his owne braines against the stonie wall Thus the Prince possessed with the spirit of loue taketh in hand the comb at against the aduise of all his Nobles and hauing prouided euery thing fit for that purpose arriueth at the Court of the Spanish King with a gallant troupe attending on him where he was receiued according vnto his greatnes and as his worthines well deserued Great was the desire that euery one had to see this Princely Dane who was famous for his chiualrie he being come so farre to trie the combat with his enemie to reuenge him of the iniurie which as he supposed was done vnto him Hauing a day of hearing appoynted him by the King he forthwith craued audience declaring openly vnto him the cause of his comming reaccounting the equitie of his cause pleading hardly for his right and in conclusion demaunded to haue Iustice On the other side Alphonso discoursing at large in his owne defence sheweth plainly what interest he hath in the Ladie protesting by the permission of his Soueraigne to maintaine this quarrell against all men liuing with the perill of his life At the last these two Caualiers not agreeing the combat is graunted vnto them but yet with this cōdition that the Ladie shall be the prize of the Conquerour and that the conquered shall neuer after make claime vnto her The day is appoynted the field chosen their armour prouided and Iudges substituted onely for this purpose The King hauing caused many scaffolds to be erected as well for himselfe as for his owne Nobles diuers other honourable strangers great was the concourse of people that were gathered together to see the euent and issue of this daungerous battell And now the time being come the
why speakest thou not all this while why breakest thou not this solemne silence of thine which caÌ„not be but grieuous vnto such as behold thee nay more as painfull as death it selfe vnto them that think well of thee Ah faire Nymphe replyed the Shepheard what delightfull answer canst thou imagin to draw from him who is not agreeable or pleasing vnto his own selfe and what medicine canst thou get from a sicke person that is not able through the agonie of his griefe to help himselfe any thing at all Can my discourses be pleasing vnto thee when they are most odious and hatefull vnto mine owne selfe he had need to be perfect in health that will heale such as be sick to be fully at libertie that can infranchise slaues and to be perfectly content A Sentence that taketh vpon him to comfort the unserable Stay but the time beautious Nymph I say stay but the time vntill the gratious Heauens taking compassion vpon me doe cure my recureles infirmitie that I be once freed from the heauy and burthensom bonds wherein I am now chained and then will I condescend vnto thy demaund For alas can one loyall and faithfull seruant serue at one time two maisters and they both differing in nature Euen so can the true chast Louer loue with equall affection two contrary subiects A Sentence No no for that Loue which is sacred firme and commendable can neuer endure to be diuided Loue it selfe being a simple substance which participateth with no diuision and therefore such as truely fancie anie doe loue without the separation of good will in such wise as it is as vnpossible for the constant Louer to haue two Mistresses as it is for the Element to containe two Sunnes within it all at one time If thy fancie were fixed vpon some Demi-god heere below wouldest thou take it in good part that a sillie Swaine should presume to make loue vnto thee seeking to force thee to giue ouer thy first loue and promise which neuer should be forgotten what deuise soeuer might be wrought If not then I beseech thee immortall Creature importune no more the despised Arcas too too much alreadie wronged by the Heauens but rather suffer him to take some breath in his miseries which hee must perforce endure as well as he may Heape not vpon him stone vpon stone burthen vpon burthen nor mischiefe vpon mischiefe satisfying thy selfe with this his most heauie extremitie without seeking to make his woes more terrible or cruell then they already be For Orythia this I will sweare that the Heauens shall fall vpon this ground and the cold frozen Seas shall turne into hote fire before the heart of vnfortunate Arcas shall be heated with anie other loue then with that of his Diana Her beautie will he loue alone shee onely shall be serued of him pale death it selfe not being of force to alter this constant resolution Then speake no more of this matter vnto mee and let it suffice thee that I honour thee for thy Deitie as Numa Pompilius adored the Nymph Egeria For onely Diana doe I loue and none but her alone Commaund my bodie to serue thee in what he is able call my soule to â—ttend vppon thee at thy will dispose of my poore power as thou shalt best please and bid mee doe anie thing whatsoeuer thou likest Behold me prest to obey thee but not to loue least I should forget my Diana and say I should goe about to doe so yet cannot I although I would neuer so faine Content thee that I doe what I may that I offer thee all that my soule is able and be not so vnourteous vnto me as to binde me to things vnpossible which no man is bound to performe So deare doe I hold thy quietnes answered the weeping Nymphe that for feare I shoulddisplease thee to the end thou shalt perceiue how vnfainedly I doe fancie theeâ— I will rather studie to ouerthrow and vtterlie ruinate mine owne life then seeke by any meanes to hinder or force thy desire any way at all So let it be yea let it be so and so let it still continue since I was borne to be the most miserable of all others And seeing I see so many mortall creatures preferred before my loue who am immortall I will vse to make mine eyes perforce to weepe continually to the ende that they being depriued of their lightes may no longer behold the cause of their ineuitable sorrowes Thou must then O poore Nymph and wretched Orythia resolue with thy selfe to endure this mischiefe and prepare thy selfe to make an ordinary exercise of thy more then heauie mischaunces So liued Venus in woe long time after the death of her Darling Adonis So did Phoebus lament the losse of his deare Daphne And so did Ioue waile for the losse of his Io and his Europa Euen so must I grieue at this mine vnlukie deniall Yet neuertheles A Sentence thou that art the onely motiue of this my mischiefe and the onely cause of this my sharpe and bitter Corsie take heede take heede I say lest for this egregious iniurie which thou now offerest mee the Gods reuenge not themselues vppon thee making thine anguish as great as mine is grieuous euerie way For neuer let him looke for fauour from aboue that hath not shewed mercie vnto such as sue and seeke vnto him heere below And yet accursed that I am mine owne griefe is not so cruell but that the care which I take for thine is farre more troublesome vnto mee I seeking in desire to be doublie plagued perplexed and tormented so I might see thee quite ridde and released from these thy woefull passions although notwithstanding all this thou doest badly requite my great good will towards thee But the Heauens who are farre more iust more excellent and diuine then thou will yeelde me some sufficient guerdon Meane space dispose of dolefull Orythia who is more thine then her owne and reseruing her honor doe with her what thou list shee beeing readie with her diuine power to assist thee in all thy writings which thy mournfull Muse shall sigh forth not onely alone at this time but for euer hereafter not demaunding any other reward of thee for her paines but that shee sometimes may be had in remembrance in thy works which alreadie haue found place amongst the most commendable Inuentions that haue bene accounted of by the brauest Princes and highly prised and esteemed of by manie others and which also shall be had in request heereafter more then euer they yet haue bene despite of the enuious whatsoeuer that goe about to seeke to deface the same Liue then sweet Shepheard and dreame as long as thou please with thy selfe of thy so much desired Loues as I shall do the like of thine But the day shall come in which the Heauens shall depriue thee from the pleasure of the same to the ende thou mayest know by the experience of thine owne proper
misfortune how lamentable the state of such Louers is that are barted and excluded from all good hope of obtaining their wish and desire The Nymph hauing so said sodainly departed running as swiftly into the woods adioyning as the light Hinde leauing the Shepheard all alone who was as much amazed at her speech as is the way-faring man when in his trauaile he seeth the Thunder-bolt of heauen to fall vpon some proud Rocke breaking the toppes thereof with his terrible flashie blow Long was hee not in this browne studie but that the olde man wonderfull earnest to vnderstand the discourse of his troubles came to seeke him whome hee thus beganne to accost There is nothing that is holden more reuerend eyther amongst Gods or amongst men as is the word of man which ought to be respected most religious amongst ones enemies themselues be the neuer so cruell or barbarous and which wee ought not to falsifie although it be for the least thinges in the world because it is the band which tyeth the societie and fellowship of men together which being dismembred would most foulie and confusedly perish were it not but in repect of the great regard that is had and held of the same I know thou hast not forgotten how thou hast plighted thy promise to report vnto me thy misfortunes and thy Loues Now doe I summon thee to performe the same praying thee that thou wilt not be the cause that this Desart beeing the habitation of the Nymphes be not defiled with infidelitie of speech For as the Gods will not alone be free and spotlesse from all vices but also cleane from suspition of the same so will they haue the like Ceremonies to be most orderly obserued amongst their sacred abidings where as yet neuer any fault lodged And if thou imeginest that this thy discourse will prooue iâ—kesome vnto thee then know that the breaking of thy faith ought to be farre more grieuous and that of two euils thou oughtest to chuse the least which is rather to endure the nouell apprehensions of thine olde sores then to violate thy pawned promise I will craue nothing at thy hands but what I will heereafter requite againe offering in recompence of thy kindnesse after thou hast done to discourse vnto thee the whole storie of my life to the end that if our Fortunes shall be found to be alike we may the better seeke the like remedie to helpe our selues Then courage Sonne plucke vp thy spirits so long dulled with sorrow made ouermuch sicke with sadnesse and almost massacred with extreame melancholie and beginne to recount thy Tragedie whilst I will listen vnto thee reporting of thy harde Fortunes in thy trauell The Shepheard somewhat rowsed with this earnest request replyed thus I cannot denie but what one promiseth he ought to performe and so meane I. Yet the debtor who hath giuen his faith and promise to paie his money at a certaine set day although he is willing to keepe his word yet will he not sticke to get a longer time for the tendering of the same if he can possible especialie if he want the meanes to satisfie his creditor vnto whom hee is bound A Piouerbe For it is an olde saying What is delaide is not vnpaide and such fruits as are longest attended and looked for are alwaies the better because they are of better rellish and more ripe then the others Then suffer my minde yet a little longer to be in quiet and make not my mortall wounds so soone to bleed freshly againe For as bloody cruell are the thoughts of a mans vnlucky chances as the memorie is sweet pleasing of his happy good fortunes To report the same anew is as much as to strike the wound againe because wee call them to memorie when they are in a manner halfe forgotten whilst Time it selfe that hath somewhat lessened them seemeth to complaine as it were that men are abused by his meanes Giue me therefore some longer respite kinde Father of these Nocturnall Abodes to bethinke my selfe better of this matter to the end I may haue space to take breath a little more being so lately come forth from so manie outragious Seas of extreame miseries The Sayler hauing escaped the danger of waters leaueth to giue ouer from working assoone as euer his Shippe is come into the hauen An Example without looking vnto eyther his Merchandize or his vessell for ease and rest is more sweete then any other thing in the world seeing for this rest man trauelleth all the dayes of his life hoping at the ende of his labours to finde the same Then giue me leaue I beseech thee some small while to be quiet and trouble not my minde with this vnwelcome busines otherwise in steed of consolating my paine I shall thinke thou doest aggrauate it the more and makest the same more bitter vnto mee Ah Shepheard answered the old man doest thou make account that the quietnes of a wofull wretch is troubled when one desireth to vnderstand his griefe that so hee may help and heale him the sooner Man as he is curteous and humane is afterwards more readie to doe goood then euill because he roweth in the selfe-same Boate that he doeth whom he seeketh to relieue being so much afflicted and for that a good turne doth neuer come amisse but is welcome at all times Thinkest thou that thy sorrowes shall waxe worser and worser A Sentence by reason of this discourse which I intreat thee to deliuer The sicke patient reuealeth his disease vnto the Phisition but concealeth his griefe to the end he may find remedie Why then wilt thou make aduersaries thy tongue and thy face For did thy speech faile thee as not being able to discouer thy paine yet should we plainely perceiue it by thy looks Satisfie thy tongue and thy countenance in what they seeme to desire and beginne not here in this strange Countrey to shift vs off with disloyaltie and dissembling Behold this houre most fit the time now scrues and this place is most apte and commodious for the purpose It is in vncoth Desarts where Louers vse to come to report their mishaps at large thinking themselues not a little fortunate when they can haue auditors to listen vnto them I will attend thee whilst this shade doeth inuite thee to performe what heretofore thou hast promised Then I pray thee dispatch to the end thou maist satisfie my mind which eueÌ„ as it were languisheth with meer desire to heare thee The Shepheard seeing himselfe so sharply vrged to keep his word not being able any longer to delay him or to put him off after hee had sent foorth a number of scalding sighes thus began his speech Scarse was I come out of mine infancie growen a stripling my chinne not yet bearing the mark of a man when Loue enrolled me for one of his band forcing me to loue before I knewe what liking meant wherevpon I beeing young in experience and lesse practised in
knowledge began to set my selfe to schoole to learne the hardest science in the world Neuerthelesse as of vipers by nature venemous Physitions drawe many wholsome medicins so Loue depriuing me of my libertie recompencing me with somwhat worth the giuing for hauing within my conceit a huge heap a great coÌ„fused masse of verses he dispersed diuided brake and spred abroad the same in such sort as in a small time a thousand young shiuers and pieces came thereof Know then I loued a faire and rich Shepheardesse called Magaalis she not much disdaining my modest affection for her sake did I compose many thousand Sonnets but simple ones and young God he knoweth were they as young and simple as was mine age but farre younger my knowledge and skill Yet such as they were she most curtiously accepted of them obliging my miserable fortune greatly vnto her whilst she relieued it by the meanes she had through the benefit of Nature so that my verse was recompenced by reason of the fauours which she held of Fortune Long time did this faire maide enioy my loue till mine eyes being dazeled with the renowme of the most famous Iulietta I longed exceedingly to see her to confirme for truth the sacred report which her rare perfections range of her throughout all the countrie whereupon I resolued to see her yet sore doubting the presence of so rare a thing as the tender Eagle doth the face of the Sunne There is nothing galleth the Foxe so much A Comparison as to be found to be nigh vnto the Lion because his beastlines is knowne by the excellencie of the other And the bad Painter will alwaies shun the companie of such a one as is cunning for feare least the perfection of his worke should disgrace the vnskilfulnes of the other In the end I was forcedto see this diuine Shepheardesse who as she is diuine and her effects diuine also vpon the first sight I had of her stole at one time from me both my soule and the remembrance of the foresaid Magdalis yet did she not this by force but rather with such a sweet violence as me thought I lost nothing reputing my defait to be a kind of victorie vnto me If Magdalis was rich and honourably descended yet this farre passed her in these accidences especially in wisedome and in learning with other rich qualities aswell of the bodie as of the minde For I verily beleeue fewe Poets did excell her in Poetrie fewe Orators in the Art of Oratorie fewe Painters in drawing of countorfaits fewe Pen-men in writing of sundrie and faire sort of hands fewe Musitians in Musicke fewe sage men in grauitie and fewe learned men in iuditiall knowledge and reading To discourse in all the seuen liberall Sciences was an ordinarie course with her neither had she euer the ouerthrow of the cunningest and greatest Doctors of her time This faire creature then faire both for vertue and for beautie long time staied and brideled the follie and licencious libertie of my forward youth In all which space my Muse did nothing else but chaunt forth her sacred praises the rare Thewes and exquisite parts of this louely Shepheardesse being her Subiect and the onely efficient courses of all her writings whilst she in the meane time disdained not oftentimes to answere me For she hath alwaies fauoured and respected gentle and towardly spirits not that I am one of the same number but because she made account of mine as if they had bene such indeed they still producing and bringing forth such fruits as were to her glorie her honour and contentment If the name of the BERGERIES of IVLIETTA haue by chaunce come vnto thine eares then maist thou gather the truth of my speeches by the report thereof and easilie perceiue thereby what dutious respect and solemne seruice I most religiously vowed vnto this faire and learned virgin But as the heauens themselues A Sentence cannot alwaies continue in one and the selfe-same course but euer changeth and diuideth themselues to an other forme Euen so the misfortune or rather the punishment of our sinnes opposed her selfe most cruellie against the chaste continuation of my most modest and respectiue loues secluding and separating me farre from my diuine Iulietta of whom notwithstanding all this I carried away with me the Teffigies and counterfait shadowed within my soule honouring her as one who had most power ouer me and ringing loud peales of her well deseruing praises so long till at the last Time not onely changed my nature but also my fortune and estate And the sooner to finish my ruine and ouerthrow he forced me to trie so many wofull miseries scourging me with his seuere roddes so sore and cruelly As in the end I forgot euery thing and gaue ouer all studying onely what good meanes I might finde to warrant and shield me from the furie of my too too spightfull desires and to saue me from the sharpe arrowes they darted at me knowing that one poyson expelleth an other that one nayle driueth out an other and that the greater euâ—ll that is more violent maketh the lesser to yeelde and to giue ouer Thus was I compeld to beate my witts to find the way as well to preserue and saue my sillie life laid in waite for by many enuious persons as to conserue that little which I held through the grace of Fortune But hardly could I keepe safe either the one or the other loosing both my goods and my bodie which was drawne into an vncomfortable prison where yet for all this such was my good lucke I found so much curtesie as I might rather haue tearmed it libertie then imprisonment in that it was more profitable then hurtfull vnto me by reason I purchase many friends thereby After this had hapned I wandred into euery place as the Hart that searcheth his companion gone astray without finding any one place of sufficient securitie for this my wretched life In the end when I had sometime remained within a certaine Castle with some of my friends I chaunced to arriue at a goodly rich and great Cittie which serued as a Sanctuarie vnto the miserable and as a safegard and refuge for such as were hardly destined of which number I counted my selfe as chiefe There did I finde my selfe secure and safe and therefore did I cast mine anker on that strand wishing that I might make an end of my ouer-long paines and too too wearisome peregrinations Now whilst I liued in this place my Muse was not altogether idle one while in sighing forth my hard fortune an other while in lamenting my manifold and irrecouerable losses and sometimes Heroldizing the praises of those that maintained my poore life so that I was not tongue-tide or dumbe neither lay I long in silence without doing some one thing or an other Meane space it was my chaunce one day to walke into the Forrests adioyning as well to asswage my griefes as also to put out of my minde the
condemned for the same Had Iupiter neuer loued the earth had neaer bene clensed nor purged of such monsters as much did trouble it for then the mightie Hercules had neuer bene borne Marke I beseech you how much wee all are beholding vnto Loue. Many times when men fall a discoursing and from words to quarrels so farre is Loue off from being the author thereof as quite contrarie were it not for his presence contentious Discord would animate one against another euerie one to murther his companion acquaintance for where Loue is there neuer is seene any disagreement at all And therefor is Loue the father of concord and peace and not of brawling and strife A Historiz yea and so puissant and forcible is hee as his power also extendeth to force wilde beasts to be milde as was that Lyon which was brought before Titus the Emperor which in steed of deuouring the poore slane who was flung vnto her to staunch her exceeding great hunger gently fell downe at his feete stroking him doing him all the reuerence that might be and louing him most deerely by reason that this slaue flying away from the seuere crueltie of his maister and lighting into a wood where this beast was had pulled out a great thorne out of his foote which most pitiouslie did grieue him Now if brute beasts are taught to loue out of doubt then such men shall be much condemned as will not follow the like example The graue Spartans put in practise this counsell to the intent to haue children in as much as they imagined that such as were begotten through a firme and passing kinde of good liking would prooue farre more valiant and couragious then such as were borne of the husband and wife without louing one an other And surely we see by experience that such children are more gallant and of a brauer spirit then those that are brought forth into the world lawfully whether it is either because the loue of such persons is more affectionate and passionate that are the cause of their byrths or whether it be for that they see by reason that they are Bastards they are depriued of their Parents inheritance and therefore the more willingly thrust forth themselues to seeke their owne aduancement Iefpha the Iudge of Israel and William surnamed the Conqueror that got the Crowne of England were of this number with infinite other braue personages So that by this we may gather that Loue not onely bringeth forth honor and profite vnto men but also an vnspeakable kinde of comfort withall They that haue tryed the pleasure thereof can better iudge then I For the delight that Loue affordeth is so sweete so gentle and so delightfull as it is not possible to set downe no nor scarce to conceiue the same in anie thoughts So that in comparison of that all other mortall ioyes are but A Bomparison as it were small sparkles and like vnto litle stars in respect of this which for the glorie thereof may be compared vnto the splendent Sunne Heerewithall Coribant kept silence leauing Arcas to follow this discourse and to make an end of this disputation which he did in these termes following If it be lawfull for one to say something and to argue of that which wee cannot see as of a Deitie or Godhead then must we reason by the effects of the same But these which exceede our humane capacitie and conceit giue vs a most certaine and sufficient testimonie that we ought to belieue that there is a certaine puissance and power farre greater then is our owne which we cannot attribute vnto anie other then vnto GOD. As in a wildernes the houses there built testifie that men be dwelling therein because they are the worke of mens hands So may we say of Loue and so it is with him for neuer hath any person seene him nor viewed him at any time yet notwithstanding A Similie euery one is able to talke and to discourse of him by reason of the wonderfull effects which proceed from his diuine power and might Where you say that Children borne out of marriage are valiant and couragious At that I maruell nothing at all for Loue being a Bastard as the sonne of Mars and Venus cannot doe lesse then like support and affect his brethren they hauing the same beginning that he hath Neuerthelesse for all they haue some particular gift incident vnto them yet are they as illegitimate depriued both by Nature and by the Ciuill Law from bearing any charge or office in the common-wealth as their birth is contrarie vnto the custome as well of honestie as of all ciuill order and Lawe Therefore Loue is not praise-worthie in this point for manie times hee confoundeth Right and maketh a gallimalfrie or a mingle-mangle of Iustice bringing such vnlawfull Brattes as these to inherit with those that are lawfullie begotten either for default that they are not knowne or taken to be such or else because their presupposed father will not publish them for Bastards for that he will not offend the honor of his wife But say the world were freed from such kinde of men and that there were no more such to be found yet for all that it should be neuer a whit the lesse honored nor lesse defended I confesse and yeelde that Loue is mightie and of great power in the procreation of such children But as all Countreyes and Realmes without the execution of Iustice are but plaine open theeueries and robberies liuing as licentious Outlawes So Loue without reason and Iustice is but a disordinate appetite trampling vnder his feete all respect all Iustice and all Law to satisfie and asswage his hote and burning passions And how much Sumiramis the nieces of Augustus the Emperour Poppea Agrippina Faustina and diuers others haue bene condemned for following such kinde of Loue and giuing ouer themselues most voluptuously vnto all sorts of people you knowe as well as I am able to report Where you say that Loue is not the author of vice but rather men who applie the same ill and abase it through the badnesse of their owne nature I answer that it is nothing so For as the prisoner cannot dispose of him who is his keeper and holdeth him captiue Euen so men are so farre off from ruling Loue according as they would that hee vseth them as he list holding them so fast in such sure bands as they can doe nothing but what shall please him There is difference betweene him and wine for a man may take heede if he will that he drinke not so much vntill he be drunke but he cannot so easilie resist Loue in as much as that reason being supprest which is in man vpon which presently Loue as a tyrant ceazeth he can then doe no more of himselfe he being constrained and compelled to follow the will and commaund of him that doth signorize ouer him For if Loue were in the free libertie at the deuotion and disposition of
away from them and disdaineth them The bodie cannot mooue nor liue without soule No more can vertue be without glorie If the Gods themselues holde thee for faire for vertuous and for wise and if the immortall Nymphes make account of thee for such a one and respect thee for the same Why then wilt thou refuse this small praise my mournefull Muse giueth thee If I am deceiued so are the Gods deceiued If I erre the Nymphs haue erred And if I haue done amisse so haue all the Demy-gods of the Forrest likewise But gratious Diana no man can doe amisse in imitating the Gods in as much as they are not subiect vnto vice and for that they vse not to sinne Why then doest thou blame mee in that I follow them Penelope so renowmed for chastitie hath neuer bene of that worth that thou art of nor Cassandra more learned Helene was neuer more beautious nor Enone more wise whilst in the meane time euery one of these for one only rare gift that was within them haue caused thousands of Poets to sweat in their praises why then shouldest thou who art possessed of all these goodly vertues alone refuse that honor which is so rightly due vnto thee But alas what say I Great reason hast thou to refuse such a poore praise as commeth from one so simple and weake a Poet as my selfe For the glory which the ignorant giue vnto the wise may rather be tearmed a discredit then ame honor vnto them Yet such as I am I beseech you accept of me imitating Alexander the great who cherished gratiously entertained as well bad as good writers as did blazon forth his praise For although through want of skill the ignorant man faileth very much of this marke by reason he cannot explaine and shewe forth the effects of his good will as he desireth yet cannot it let him from manifesting the good will it selfe which alwayes is accounted for the first part of the worke Permit then my poore Muse to celebrate thy renowme thou being farre more fairer then the Cassandra of great Ronsard more chaste then the Oliua of Hunny mother Bellay and more perfect then the Diana of courteous De Reports For a more diuine subiect my Muse could neuer chuse my pen could neuer write of a daintier matter my wit could neuer finde a fairer fielde to walke in nor my tongue a sweeter Theame whereon to discourse And shouldest thou denie me yet would I not giue ouer to praise thee for not onely do I hold thee worthy to be worthie thereof but also account thee the onely shee that heercafter I will celebrate and make famous as mine onely Ladie and Mistris Shepheard answered shee affection oftentimes blindeth the eyes of the wise and good will is euer partiall in the praises of his friends What soeuer a man loueth that neuer seemeth soule nor deformed because Desire is the childe of faire pleasaâ—â— and agreeable things and for that none will couet that which hee thinketh or imagineth to be loathsome or deformed And this is the reason that many haue praised vice and discommended Vertue writing most foolishly as their passions haue led them without respecting or once hauing any regard vnto the Truth it selfe Dido was reported by Virgil to be amorous and wanton yet was she chaste Vlisses by Homer to be more valiant then Alax whom he durst not look in the face And Aeneas â—o be pittifull and godly vnto his Countrey and yet it was he that most vngodlily betrayed the same vnto his enemie Poets write according vnto their owne humors when they please but not according as the Truth it selfe is indeed And so thy forward affection onely and not the night thrusteth thee forward to take pen in hand in my behalfe But what mayst thou expect to follow vpon the same hereafter but onely that men will say of thee as I haue saide of Homer and Virgil that thy fancie hath made thee to affect and commend that which was not any way praise-worthie of it selfe Thou wilt stand me in no other steed then to reuiue the memoriall of mine imperfections after my death which were farre better to be buried with me in my graue then to be bruited abroad Content thee therefore I pray thee and let it be sufficient that I am knowne to be full of defects now I am aliue without making me to be remembred for such hereafter when I shall be dead If thou louest me as thou makest a showe thou doest then loue my memorie also for wee ought not so much to respect things present which wee see whilest we liue as we should doe those that are to come hereafter The reason is for that we may finde some one remedie For the first whilst wee remaine here in this world But for the latter wee cannot because we are not heere to make meanes for the same Be not then the occasion that my name shall be called in question when for that I am then dead I cannot come to excuse my selfe as I would For happie are such worthie persons as leaue no remembrance of their Imperfections after they are gone out of this world least the people should call againe vnto minde their faults and so condemne them for the same And also thy verses testifying the great affection and good will thou bearest me will also show apparantly my defects and what was amisse in me For who doubteth but that Louers in respect of the great loue they beare vnto their Ladies hide vnder the colours of their smoothe and dainty kinde of Enditings all the faults and defects they haue be they neuer so foule There is none so vehement a passion as Loue neither is there any thing that doth so much wrong to Truth as that doeth in such wise as women should rather take these praises for a discredit then for a credit vnto them which they receiue of their Louers And this is mine opinion which all the perswasions in the world shall neuer make me chaunge Faire Nymphes replyed I then because Loue is mightie and celestiall therefore doth hee neuer intermeddle amongst the basest and meanest creatures especially with such as are deformed For neuer is there anie hard fauoured face beloued Who then will belieue otherwise but that Ladie that shall be found to be honoured by â— graue Poet is otherwise then a most perfect and accomplisht Creature euery way seeing perfection onely hath authoritie ouer our soules which hateth as much the thing that is deformed as it adoreth that which is faire How exquisite and excellent a Virgin was the faire Laura of renowned Petrarâ—â— and how much haue his workes brought liuely credit vnto her praises The Muses neuer sung of vnworthy subiects â— And although some may thinke that a Poet can make huge Elephant of a little Flie yet cannot he commend an vnhonest matter and worthy of reproach although he faine would Because the Muses who are the sounding Truâ—â— pets of Heroicall mindes would oppose themselues
they haue assisted thee in this Desart and most happily haue caused thee to meete him who hath endured so much for thy sake without any recompence as yet at all ah chaunge thy humour sweet Delia alter thy opinion and shew thy selfe to be of another minde to the end thy sweetlenitie and gratious bountie may bring the Gods to be as pleasing and willing in all thy desires as thy vnkind rigor and harsh disdaine haue heretofore made them to be austere and angrie towards thee for miserable is that wight and worthie to suffer trouble who being admonished will not amend and therefore is out of all hope to finde any succour at all Loue then froward Delia him who to obtaine thy grace hath dispended so many teares consumed so many whole daies sent abroad so many scalding sighes and left so many daintie pleasures onely to follow thee and who if he might but in some sort be assured of thy friendship would thinke himselfe the most happiest and the best contented man in the world But miserable is he who still laboureth and yet findeth himselfe frustrate of the fruits of his labour yet farre more accursed is he who consumeth his yeares and his life in the seruice of such a proud dame as yeeldeth no recompence vnto him at all for that he looseth his labour and paine and because he is forced to sigh and bewaile his foolish and vnkind choyse alone vnto himselfe neuer expecting any remedie Thus pleaded the Shepheard for himselfe when the hard-â—arted Shepheardesss made him this sower and vnwelcome answere I can neuer belcoue fond Shepheard that the Gods who are the authors of goodnes and most curtenu Earâ—hers vnto mortall men can be the cause that they should commit any fault much â—esse to eggs and incite them forward vnto the same but rather that men themselurs are the occasions thereof and therefore when any one hath done any such offence he must turne it from bad to good and seeke to couer the visage of his ill fortune with the colour and shew of good chaunce and hap If the Gods as thou affirmest had brought me hither to yeeld vnto thy wanton desires and to be an attendant vpon this Tyrant Loue then should they be the authors of my ruine and the occasions of my sinne but I will neuer thinke so vnreuerently or wickedly of their prupent prouidence and sacred bountie and if my good fortune hath made me to escape so great a daunger as I confesse I haue done I most humble thanke the Gods therefore of which sithence I now finde my selfe free I thinke it no wife dome to tumble into Caribdis because I haue auoided Silla and hauing gotten out of one mischiefe to fall into another for I hold my hap more cruell to be subiect vnder the bloodie tyrannie of Loue than if I had bene laid vpon the cruell Altar of Iuno as a Sacrifice to haue appeased her furie Thinke not that the Gods take any care of such as they suffer to fall into the hands of Loue but rather that they account them for lost creatures and such as be most miserable as the Phisition giueth ouer a patient whose disease is desperate and recurelesse when he seeth there is hope of his recouerie No man will bring his friend whom he affecteth vnder the yoke of a Tyrannicall maister who will make his life ouer miserable and whose crueltie he himselfe hath felt now the Gods haue oftentimes had experience of this bloodie Loue and felt his ouermuch rage furie and anger and therefore it is not likely that they will deliuer into such a Butchers hands that creature which they most of all desire to protect and defend in safetie The accident of Loue then doth not come by the meanes of the Gods neither are they occasions of such idlenes in our braines such Louers being but foolish so to thinke who being afflicted with his passions lay all the fault vpon the Gods Who then answered the Shepheard is the author thereof and who is it that breedeth it in cur soules if Loue is seared of the Gods theÌ„se lues how is it possiblie but meÌ„ should be troubled therewithall and what daintie spirit hath there cuer bene but hath loued what braue generous minde or what heroicall and magnanimous heart hath bene without it As the winde serueth for a guide vnto the Sailer in the Sea guiding his ship rightly Euen so Loue doth serue as a Pilot vnto the Sonnes of the Gods to effect and bring to passe braue expoites which can neuer be perfected as they should be vnlesse that Loue set foote into the fame What rare deeds of chiularie did Hercules a atchieue for faire Andromacha whom he loued How brauely did Achilles carrie himselfe for Bxiseis sake Iason for Medea Theseus for Ariadne and Orlando for his Angelica The Oxe pricked with the gode beginneth to mend his pace and draweth more lustily then at the first and so Loue is a kind of pricke and prouokement which eggeth forward valiant mindes forcing them to bring to passe farre more worthie and illustrious enterprises then they would haue done if they had liued quietly at home without knowing what Loue meant And therefore I am of opinion that not onely men but the Gods also ought to account themselues happie that Loue flourisheth in them for it is the bright tosch of their nights and the splendant Sunne of their daies Shepheard Shepheard replied the Nymphs thy owne speech hath confounded thy selfe for if Loue be so violentas thou describest him he then cannot last nor make himselfe knowne to be iust Things violent are alwaies hurtfull vnto some one or other and being so full of misfortunes and miseries they can neuer abide them because they passe with as great heate and furie as a flaming fire which consumeth all that is before it Therefore Loue being neuer in the meane but alwayes in the extremitie cannot chuse but be very vniust in as much as Iustice expelleth all force without hurting anie bodie So likewise are there verie fewe that willingly entertaine it but as the Tyrant by maine force and rigorous compulsion compelleth his subiects to do him seruice Euen so Loue through meere violence maketh men to submit themselues vnder his yoake and therefore he cannot be both iust and violent all at one time which two qualities can neuer be at one instant and in one and the selfe same subiect By thine owne confession he is violent and therefore he cannot be iust but ought as one vnworthie to be reiected and shaken off Nay I will say more there is nothing that maketh a man oftner to offend and to commit sinnes then this Loue doeth for it picketh out the eyes of Reason In such sort as the Louer respecteth neither Law Kinred Vertue Grace nor any Courtesies receiued so he may obtaine his vnrulie desire the enioying of which he respecteth more then he doth any Reason Iustice or Honor whatsoeuer For what respect I pray you
of their disastrous Influēce What care moued resolute Diogines any thing at all either the cruell blowes of peruerse fortune or the terrible constellations of heauen Liued he not happy without sighes in his Tunne By his knowledge he surmounted both the starres fortune For properly he may be tearmed victor that feareth not his enemie and when he can no wayes iniurie or offend him And if all men would frame their liues after the exāple of this wise man when shuld we heare any sighes proceed frō them or what dolour could entangle their repose Nothing wanteth in man to be perfectlie happie but resolution For when he is resolute to be constant in misfortunes without so much as being once moued at the darts of aduerse fortune nothing can annoy him hee remaineth braue and couragious like the Conqueror within the Lystes against whome none dare make further tryall of their force In like manner fortune feareth the noble hart he which with a braue resolution disposeth himselfe to resist inconstancie shee dares no further lay hold vpon but permitteth him a free life quiet breathing happie repose She is like the cocke who hauing bene well beatē by an other and bleeding in all parts of his body dares not returne to encoūter but auoideth the pit vāquished flieth away In like manner resist thou this vniust fortune who hath made vpon thee so huge and cruel a warre resolue as a Marius to withstand misfortunes without changing thy countenance thereat more then he did For mans wisedome is not discerned in prosperous fortune in that it is an easie matter to shew himselfe wise constant in his felicities but rather in aduerse and contrarie occurrences the which to surmount valour constancie and vertue is requisite Shepheard replyed Arcas I confesse that the losse of earthlie thinges yea and of the life it selfe should not drawe tears from the eyes of the wise nor enforce his heart to send forth sighes For they be things of small value the anciēt Sages thought alwayes that they carried their treasure about with them in bearing their knowledge but this doctrine taketh no place in Loue. Euery thing hath alwaies some exception and the very threatnings of the eternall God chaunge oftentimes and saueth some one or other So notwithstanding we may iustly maintaine that teares sighes are vnbeseeming a valiant and noble man yet must wee alwayes say except onely in amorous actions For the Gods Goddesses and the Heroes haue lamented in this case Did not Venus bewaile her deare Adonis mouing to pitty therewith euen things without life did not Apollo lament his Daphne did not Hercules mourne for his wife which the Centaure took away from him did not cruell Achilles bewaile his Brisais did not Vlisses the wise take on for his wife and that Palladine of France Orlando the Frenchmens honor did he not a thousand times bewaile his Angelica becomming furious madde in that hee had lost her hath not braue Renaldo and all those valiant Heroicall spirits made moane whose complaints wise and mellifluent driostus reporteth vnto as O Shepheard why art thou then astonished if I bewaile and grieue for my sacred Diana the fire of loue like thunder which neuer commeth without raine although of it selfe it be burning fire and hotely kindeled In like manner the flames of Loue are alwayes mingled with lamentations and teares For Loue oftentimes forgeth his firebrands of contraries that is of Loue oftentimes and of hatred both mixt together Experience giueth testimonie of the same For onely Louers lament and are sadde when they are not beloued but hated of their Mistresses And behold euen as the thunder is engendred of heate and cold so be the flames of Loue compounded of loue and hatred so that it is vnpossible for the Louer to loue except he be beloued againe but bewaile and lament he may because these contraries proceed from him and render diuers effects of their sorme Why wonder you therefore that I weepe Oh Shepheard he which soweth vpon the Sea sand spendeth not his time more vnprofitably then he which bestoweth it in searching remedie for his Loue. For what can enforce an heart of Diamond or a loftie proud and cruell dame to loue against her will Violence in this thing is forbidden and though law would permit it yet would liuely and loyall Loue hinder it For the Louer will neuer doe any thing though he may which shall be displeasing to his Mistresse all meanes of remedie ceasing we must necessarily haue remorse to lamentation and teares which be the armes of the afflicted crying out of the iniustice and crueltie of the Starres which make vs loue the thing that hateth vs and to desire the thing that flieth and shunneth vs. And if the wise as thou saist ouercame and surmounted the diuers assaults of Fortune I answere thee withall That Loue hath tamed them as well as my selfe and none can make head against him Let Plato Aristotle and that prudent King endued with the gift of wisedome beare witnes I will no more therefore thinke my selfe foolish or depriued of reason in louing seeing these great lights as well as my selfe haue by Loue bene darkned that these Sages haue troddē the path of my error But Shepheard replied Coribant if some haue offended will you conclude that by their example euery one may erre And if amongst the auncient Sages some haue bene fooles and deceiued by Loue will you affirme that others haue yeelded themselues to this inconuenience You should in this doe them great iniurie for all the Iewes for the most part were wicked and yet the Apostles being of the selfe same nation were good men The cruell daughters of Danaut killed their husbands but pittifull Hypermuestra that saued hers must not be put in the number of these bloodie sisters In like manner a thousand learned personages which haue not onely subdued Loue but euen the starres themselues ought not to be taxed of reproach because there were some amongst them suffered themselues to be transported away with this furie for the vice of one particular man obligeth not a generalitie to the blame which he onely deserueth and an othres offence cannot preiudice the innocent If Plate haue erred wise Aristetle stumbled Sage Salomon gone astray will you say for all this that diuine Socrates wise graue Cato prudent Moses haue bene sinners and plunged in the selfe same vice and if the former be not to be followed nor imitated take example by the second doing like the wise Apothecarie who extracteth the iuice and vertue of hearbes and afterwards casteth away that which is worth nothing Fuen so amongst the Ancients we must imitate those whose excellent actions may serue in stead of a guide patterne leauing this who in imitating of them may cause vs stumble into the pit of vice in which they be drowned and washed You conclude not well therefore in drawing a libertie of doing euill from
honour thee in as much as my loue is neither dishouest beastly nor viticus but rather sacred vertuous and chaste and therefore not subiect to any reprehension Why doest thou thus oppose thy selfe against that faire glorie which thy worthy carriage doth permit why doest thou reiect that praise which euery one would render vnto thy peerlesse beautie why doest thou disdaine that honour which the heauens haue ordained for thy matchlesse perfection And why doest thou refuse the seruice of the most loyallest Louer that euer breathed In times past those beautifull Ladies counted themselues happie that could vant themselues of the faithfulnes of their Louers Hero thought her selfe fortunate in that she had Leander for her faithfull friend and why then doest thou denie to be most faithfully serued of thy deuoted and true hearted Arcas Suffer him suffer him hard-harted as thou art to honour thee for the Gods themselues forbid not men although vitious to adore them because friendship is not to be scorned from whence soeuer it commeth in that it proceedeth from a willing and well-wishing minde Thus said the Shepheard when the Nymph hearing him to make this straunge kinde of Tale pursued her former complaint in this manner Ah barbarous and disdainfull man why doest thou stop thine eares against my pralers Take heed take heed least the heauens iustly punishing thee harden not the hart of her whom thou honourest against thee as thou most vnkindly hast done vnto me for oftentimes we fall into the snare which we haue laid to intrappe straungers we being scourged with the same plague wherewith we haue afflicted others Is it not enough for thee to be contented with these my sorrowes but that thou must mocke mee therewithall making a shew as if thou sawest another and not me vnto whom thou framest thy speech But the Gods be iust and therefore thanked be they seeing thy Mistris maketh thee know and that vnto thy cost if thou so much louest as thou makest vs beleeue how insupportable the torments are which thy Sauadge rigor maketh me to feele for he onely can talke rightly of griefe that hath felt the same and daily experience maketh vs perfect in the knowledge of such things as we practise If thou feelest this euill and if thou knowest how full of anguish it is then permit not me to abide the same any longer which if thou doest thou wilt then force me to call for aide vnto the heauens that they assist me to take reuengement vpon thee for he ought and that iustly to be punished who knoweth the euell that he doth is acquainted with the greatnes of the fault he committeth and yet neuertheleâ—le will not giue it ouer for onely ignorance excuseth the offence which knowledge condemneth because such as did perpetrate the same were not vnacquainted with it Open then those deafe eares of thine and shew me some pittie to the intent I may commend thee for kindnes as long as the world shall flourish The Shepheard notwithstanding these her earnest perswasions seemed not to heare one word but as he did at the first so still he continued making solemne intercession vnto his good Angell Diana in this wise Alas must the distance of place hinder thee faire Virgin so much as thou canst not aunswere me and must I be so miserable as I may say I am farre exiled from thee Can my soule breathe and not behold thee O wonderfull miracle that wretched Arcas can liue without the chaste and prudent Diana for she is his soule and the bodie without soule how is it possible that it should ioy at all Certainely I should thinke my selfe much blessed if I might but onely see thy face without speaking as much as one word vnto thee for then would I most willingly yeeld vnto death but I see it is my destinie to die and not so much as before my death to see thee Vnfortunate my Tombe to be so farre off from thee my deare and accursed mine eies to sleepe in any other resting place than where thou abidest But alas art thou the cause of my distresse no no it is the heauens who are ouer iealous of my glorie and who would faine loue thee themselues they knowing thy like is not to be found in the whole world and therefore are the more vnwilling to haue any Corriuals in their Loue. But in despite of them will I loue thee nothing being of force to quench this outragious heate of mine no not death it selfe Thus wailed the sad Shepheard thinking verily that he had bene before the presence of his diuine Diana and more would he haue lamented but that Coribant plucking him by the sleeue and wearied with hearing him and the amorous Orythia put him out of this amorous dreame in this sort Enougn man enough no teares nor sighes make a man the wiser after the fault committed but rather more miserable and wretched Cease I say cease both of you to lament and rather seeke some remedie how to redresse your sorrowes And because I would be glad to perswade you to giue ouer this dangerous Loue which maketh you thus to torment and massacre your selfe continually I will account vnto you a most lamentable Historie by which you may gather how cruell and damned a plague Loue is for we cannot come from out this Rocke as long as this tempest lasteth and which is but scarcely new begun Arcas and Orythia seeing there was no remedie considering the foulnes of the weather sat them downe when Coribant sitting betwixt them and they lending a listning eare vnto him began his dolorous discourse in this manner Yee hollow Rocks be witnesses what here by me is sed Within whose gloom it horror darke the night is shadowed Yee stately Rocks to powder burnt of times most cruelly When Ioue your tops with thunderbolts doth scortch and bruse from skie Ah be your witnesses of this my sad discourseile tell You which of late the loues of these two Shepheards ouerwell Conceiude of these two louing wights whose lucklesse hapile show Vndone by Loue by Loue who dares the Gods to ouerthrow Aâ—dye broad Beeches in your shade that often hane themseene When they reposing of themselues under the same haue beene You which a thousand letters caru'd within your tender rinde Knots and deuises in their loue and such like Toyes may finde You dark 〈◊〉 Caues where whilst the day did last in bright some wise They blushing of theor chastest Loues did mongst themselues deuise Yee pretrie Foordes and christall springs yee Riuers murmerous Whoat the sigh of them became for to be amorous Yee vncorh Desarts witnesses what they in secret did Importunde by their often plaints which from you were not hid And thou thicke priuate shadowing groue that knowest most of all To thee and all the rest to heare what I will speake I call Vnto you all beare witnesse then I to you all appeale Since t is as true as pittifull what I shall now reueale In that same time
pittifull he sobb'd and sâ—h'd â—o fast Asruâ—hlesse Rocks seemd for to moane and halfe inpieces brast So wofully he wailde as All. except his Mistris deare Who to a better world was gone did seeme his 〈◊〉 to heare Yet though hee sighed wept and grieu'd and did laâ—â—nt so fore He could not nere-thelesse his Loue to former liferestore For Floras Spirits were flowen from hence her soule it did uscend To heauens where her betrothed Spouse with ioy she did attend Which he perceiuing gets him vp and to a Mountaine goes From top of which on Mistris his himselfe he headlong throwes He falls vpon her breathlesse limmes and as he dying fell He calls on her and still he cries Flora Adieu Farewells Thâ—â—r murthered bodies massacred within a while were found Which were intomb'd together both within one graue in ground And that of this their loyall Loue the Fame should neuer die This wofull Story was engrauen in plates of Iuonis The Shepheard hauing made an ende of his Tragicall discourse forced the eyes of his Auditors to stand full of water whilst thev streamed downe so small teares as it seemed to be the dribling golden shower in which Iupiter descended downe falling into the faire lappe of louely Danae Whilst Arcas sighed remembring his deare Diana Coribant wept thinking vpon his cruell Delia and whilst the louely Nymph Orythia casting a looke pleading for pittie vpon Aroas mourned in her heart to see his more then fierce rigour towards her Meane space Delia arriued whome no sooner Coribant espied but that hee presently arose going towards her and after he had saluted her with great kindnesse thus began to accost her Beautious Shepheardesse euerie thing excepting thy selfe onely freely exercise their LOVE what is thy soule alone made of Ice or thy heart framed of Steele Which way can it hinder thee to loue mee seeing I haue giuen thee so many proofes of my more then common fidelitie and faithfull constancïe towards thee Wilt thou be the onely Shee in the world that shall liue without louing Why the sacred Muses themselues haue loued and Caliope her selfe did beare and bring forth a childe What God is there that can forbid and prohibite to Loue when they themselues first gaue presidents vnto men to follow the same Hee is not to be blamed that followeth the instructions of his Lord and to his power doeth imitate his maister in what he doeth Loue then and if not as a mortall creature yet at the lest doe it as the Gods haue done before thee For he deserueth not to be tearmed a true and loyall seruant vnto his Maister that taketh a quite contrarie course vnto that which he teacheth him as if he would oppose himselfe against him for the very nonce Is it possible thou shouldest so long hate him who loueth thee so dearely And wilt thou be longer in making me some recompence then those two bretheren of Helen were who saued that Poet which sung their praises all abroad Speake then and satisfie me seeing the Gods although they be puissant and mightie disdaine not to answere men by the mouth of their Oracles What should I answere vnto thee Shepheard replyed Delia but that it is impossible for anie creature LOVE onely excepted to make one loue against their owne mindes Hippolitus for all the prayers and intreating which Phoedra vsed vnto him could neuer be moued to fancie her Neither could Daphne for all Apollos perswasions be induced to loue him No no LOVE is a piercing dart not throughly knowne of mortall men which oftentimes without reason vrgeth vs to affect that that is not worthie of our Amitie Be not there many Louers that if one should demaund of them the cause of their Loue they knowe not what to say nor can alledge anie reasonable excuse for the same I know there be How manie Blowses be there which are preferred before such as be beautifull indeed And how many base and beastly fellows before right braue and generous Spirits What is the occasion of this disorder none can tell Onely they will say it is the pleasure of Cupid it should be so Then thinkest thou with thy often speeches to compell me to loue thee and doest thou suppose that without the power of Loue I can be moued to beare thee any affection If so thou doest thou art in the wrong and therefore trouble Lone no more but rather let him take such course as he shall thinke best without seeking any more to constraine him against his diuine pleasure For if he be able to take downe the Gods much more is he to conquere thee by forcing thee to follow his will and to condescend vnto whatsoeuer he shall commaund thee Alas answered Coribant fewe diseased persons there be that doe not complaine for griefe ingendred of sighes they being his forerunners and messengers to manifest the same abroad Doest thou imagine that I am able to support this sorrowe which I feele in liking thee and that I can conceale the same without making thee acquainted with the tediousnes thereof But I see for all I complaine yet I find small comfort for mortall men cannot obtaine all they couet of the Gods Yet neuertheles I will discharge my conscience vnto thee which hath enioyned me to manifest this my so great euill to the end I might see if I could finde any remedie to make it whole againe But sayest thou LOVE is not purchast with teares nor plaintes neither with sighing nor sobbing but must come of his owne proper minde and when he pleaseth What is this thou sayest vnkinde as thou art wilt thou denie that perseuerance in constant liking is the mother of LOVE If small drops of water by often falling doe make hollowe the Stone And if rough and rustie yron is made smoothe and bright with often handling of the same Why then wilt thou not in like manner also confesse that vnfained long prayers vowes plaints and loyall offices of Fidelitie are able to make a breach in the heart of a Ladie through which Loue may enter Such hard-harted women as neither the teares of their Louers can mollifie or appease neither their complaints moue to pittie neither their secret and faithfull seruice perswade them to affection nor their extreame miseries reduce them to any compassion at all are farre worse then Sauadge Beares denouring Lions or rauenous Wolues that liue in barbarous desarts many wilde Beastes in steed of swallowing and deuouring of men which haue falne into their pawes to asswage their greedie hunger in steed of praying vpon them haue cherished and made much of them and shall a woman by natute gentle and mild be accounted lesse pittifull then bruite Beastes Doest thou thinke that it is an offerice to loue If all such Ladies which Iupiter loued had giuen him the repulse as thou doest me the world should yet be full of Monsters spoyled with Tyrants and ouerthrowne with bad and wicked persons But these courteous women entertaining that great God with
for thankes from mee But howsoeuer it was away she went and left me And thus we see that the badde followeth vpon the necke of the good and that no good chaunce can long continue in his first pride and force Meane space I beganne to cheare my selfe and to comfort Fortunio whom I had saued from drowning and who being all the while not farre off from mee protesting he neuer saw so exquisite a beautie No although his Cleomine had bene present and therefore was not a little rauished therewithall Thus talking and deuising from one matter vnto an other at length we got home where after hee had bene shifted and laide into his warme bedde and that hee had for a while refreshed his wearie limmes I desired him to report all his Fortunes vnto mee in which he willingly yeelded vnto mee deliuering vnto mee this pitious historie following which I will now make thee partaker of And hauing so said he pawsed a while to take his breath the better beginning thus Know then my good Arcas after cruell discord meger enuie and inexorable destinie had forced vs to leaue our sweet abiding in Arcadia we flying as Melibeus did from our owne Countrey which was seazed vpon and enioyed by a companie of cruell and barbarous men at Armes I went and offered my seruice vnto a braue Spanish Knight borne in the Kingdome of Arragon hee being not inferiour vnto anie of his time for valour or for Martiall stratagems belonging to the warres Such Heroicall spirits as theirs Fortune most commonly vseth to tryumph ouer as it were to meddle with base and ignominious people because small conquest is gotten by conquering such a one as hath neither force nor power to resist and therefore yeeldeth presentlie This Caualier was called Don Iohn of Toledo being in yeares some fiue and twentie wealthie enough and maruellous faire and comely of personage By manie braue deedes at Armes hee had gotten to be in the number of the best Souldiers of his time and no doubt hee hud growne to haue bene as famous as that auncient Hector of Troy was heretofore If cruell LOVE had not opposed himselfe against his notable victories There is no man that liueth but hath his euill Angell attending vpon him which darkeneth the faire weather of his good Fortunes when he is likeliest to rise vnto great glorie and renowme Needes must he taste of some miserie for feare if hee should be glutted too much with pleasures and neuer feele of aduersitie hee would quickly forget his Creator and so disdaine to be obedient vnto him Not vnlike vnto that leaud seruant who after he hath gotten enough in the seruice of his Maister maketh no account of him but leaueth him and followeth his owne delights and pleasures I then being retained and following this young Knight followed his humour so well as he made more account of mee then he did of anie of his other seruants and the rather because I would manie times report vnto him some Accident or other of our first loues and merriments of Arcadia in which hee delighted wonderfullie But had the poore Gentleman knowne at that houre what great hurt and damage hee was like to receiue by the selfe-same Loue hee would haue stopped his eares against the discourse of his might neither would hee euer haue opened the gate of his kinde heart vnto so bloudie and periurde a Thiefe But what men that are lustie and healthfull is bodie many times feede vpon such kinde of meates as they thinke because they please their tuste to be good and yet afterwards they surfet vpon the same and often die thereof But my maister as he was a braue Soldiour so was hee a gallant Courtier following the Court much as many of our best Captaines vse Now the King of Arragon had as then no more Children then one goodly young Ladie of the age of fifteene or sixteene yeares called Maria beautifull in fauour gratious in her behauiour but aboue all passing vertuouslie well giuen Not long time after it pleased God to send the Queene a young Sonne by his wife which was the cause that great ioy was made throughout all the Court and Countrey and great Feasts and Tryumphs appointed for the same The King himselfe causing solemne Iustes and Tiltings to be proclaimed The Prize being a meruailous rich and strong tempered Armour of proofe with a daintie Courser of Naples for the Victor which should be deliuered him by the hands of his faire Daughter Maria he knowing well that a couragious Knight would receiue such a reward with a farre better minde from such a goodly Princesse then from anie other person whatsoeuer And now the time being appointed and the day come the Listes were open and the running at Tilt begun where many worthy Knights were assembled to giue liuely proofs of their wonderfull valour they not so much coueting the prizes for the richnes thereof as they did for to haue the honour of the victorie before so Royall an assemblie The King being placed with all his Nobles round about him the young Princesse his Daughter sitting in a Throne of Maiestie higher then the rest and euery thing being in ordes fit for such a meeting Behold the Trumpets sounded when the Challengers and the Defendants entred into the Listes brauely mounted and richly apparelled euerie one wearing the Fauour of his Mistris Now after manie staues were broken and diuers Runners ouerthrowne Don Iohn commeth into the fielde hauing a plaine white Armour vpon him his Coate Armour being painted with the flames of Cupids fire and in his Shield a Phoenix drawne in most liuely colours His manlie countenance his comely stature his gallant Port and his stately presence drewe euerie mans eyes to behold him marking him from the top of his head vnto the sole of his foote so as none could iustly finde anie fault in him so excellently was hee proportioned in all parts Like to Achilles seem'd hee strong and braue When hee into their Towne the Troyans draue Great hope and expectation was there of the worthines of this Champion who as then came luckilie into the Lists For all the Arragoneses who were the Challengers were ouerthrowne by the other strangers Knights But no sooner was hee entred in amongst them but that suddenlie all of his side beganne to take courage againe hoping by his valour hee would make amends for the foyle which they had taken As Hector did who beat the Orecians Back That had before the Troyans put to wrack Don Iohn placing his Speare in his wrest one ountred his Foes with such force as either he made them to giue back vpon their saddles or else turned them out from thēce vpon the bare ground And so long did hee follow them in this chase that in the ende the Arragonians got the maistrie and he was adiudged to be victorious ouer all those that ranne at Tilt which was the cause that he was highly commended of the King himselfe and of all his
lost his former libertie and the freedome of his heart for the same He resembled that Pilot who seeth his Shippe to leake and full of holes by which the water entereth and therefore dispaireth of life And such a one was our wretched Conquerour who saw no remedie for him to quench this fire which burned his inward entrailes Hee was in loue with a Princesse the onely daughter of his King and whome the greatest Monarks of the world would haue thought themselues fortunate to haue had her for wise and who was so vertuous and wise as hardly could she be induced vnto Loue. Yet his misfortunes take to them a larger scope Hee giues not ore to Loue though he is without hope But after he hath considered within himselfe wisely of the matter he findeth that it is but meere follie to set vp his rest at that game anie longer and therfore hee resolueth to giue it ouer But the more he thinketh to forget his Loue the more Affection kindeleth within Not vnlike the Byrd who being taken in the lime-twigges the more she striueth to get away the more she is intangled Wherevpon one day he being alone calleth for mee and because he knewe I had some experience in Loue he demaunded my aduise therein discouering his wound vnto mee and crauing my best counsell I â—ouing him dearely perswaded him to chase away that venomous Adder and that he play not as that husbandman of the Countrie did who kept a Snake so long in his bosome till at the last hee stung him for his kindnes Besides I discoursed vnto him of the bloody outragiousnes of Loue often sighing as I reported the same vnto him because as then I remembred mine olde loue in Arcadia Hee hearing me say so strait belieued me determining with himselfe not to follow his faire Mistris any longer in chase and with that resolution willing mee to depart he layeth him downe vpon his bedde thinking to take his rest for a while But no sooner were his eyes closed but that Loue opened them againe presenting the beauâ—â—â— of 〈◊〉 Ladie before him so that presently he was chaunged in minde minding now to lone her againe As that Traueller who being bound by reason of some busines of great importance to take Sea no sooner arriueth at the shore but that hee fearing to enter the Sâ—â—ppâ— because of drowning retireth backe againe but afterward remembring the weightineâ— of the matter and how much it importeth him for his profit to goe onwards on his iourney marcheth backe againe vnto the water hazardeth himselfe and so in the end performeth his voyage Euen so my perplexed Lord after hee hath done what he can to subdue his passion and yet cannot at the last seeing no other remedie he resolueth to loue and to submit himselfe vnder the seruile yoake of cursed Cupid Or as the bondslaue hauing escaped in the night determineth with himselfe to be followed after in the day time chaungeth his aduise and frighted with extreame feare returneth home vnto his Maister Euen so Don Iohn hee is in the ende forced to acknowledge proud LOVE for his soueraigne Lord and is glad to yeeld vnto him Wherevpon he calleth mee againe vnto him making me priuie vnto his resolution discoursing still of Loue and flattering himselfe he would needes perswade mee that Loue was courteous and gentle when hee knew right well in his owne conscience that he did finde him otherwise But I on the other side wish him not to belieue so but rather aduise him to banish Loue from him as one that is an aduersarie both vnto his life and quietnes deliuering vnto him many proofes of the crueltie of that blinde God and of his villainous nature All this he heareth although hee knoweth not what to answere vnto the same because I spake but reason and yet for all this such was his mishap as like an obstinate and selfe-wild man he standeth still in his blind error stiffely As the robber by the high way side beeing admonished by some faithfull friend of his to giue ouer that leaud kinde of life telling him of the wretched and wicked end he is like to come vnto if he continueth still in the same listneth vnto him very earnestly and yet neuerthelesse falleth vnto his old kinde of trade of robbing is the same man still and so continueth Euen so this Gaualier although he gaue good eare vnto my reasons and perswasions yet did he persist as one obdurate in former follie and selfe-wilfulnesse But yet to say truth he was somewhat to be excused herein seeing he was no more maister of his owne selfe but rather Loue vnder whose Banner he fought Long lay he vpon his bed and yet he could not sleepe by reason of such strange visions as Loue presented vnto his eyes Whose fashion it is when he hath once conquered he will seldom or neuer suffer him to be in quiet Whervpon Don Iohn ariseth from his loathed bed taking his iourney towards the Kings Pallace where by the way hee is saluted and commended of all men but yet all these honors abated his paine little or nothing because he found by experience that he had lost more then euer he was like to recouer againe Besides if he had but knowne the minde of his Mistrisse he then could the sooner haue resolued what to doe according vnto her answere which was either to die or to followe his suite begunne But not knowing her will hee knewe not what to say nor what to thinke of the matter For Each Louer that is burned with this amorous flame In word and deed dependeth on his louely Dame Not long had hee stayed in the Court but that it was his good Fortune to haue a sight of his Mistrisse whome he thought to be wonderfullie inereased in Beautie since last hee saw her so as if shee then deserued to be honored as a Ladie why now shee merited to be worshipped and adored as if shee had bene some Goddesse indeed And thus his affection increaseth more and more On the other side the young Princesse began to feele a kinde of alteration within her selfe and found her heart to fancie Don Iohn aboue all men liuing Yea and so much as she thought he deserued to haue her Loue before anie other And yet when she remembred her Royall birth whose daughter she was and the greatnes of her honour shee beganne somewhat to forget him so as her desire was no sooner lightned but that it was quenched againe Not vnlike vnto those children borne before their time who no sooner are brought into the world but they straitway die Meane time the Knight who was not so bad a scholler in Loues schoole but that he had learned some lessons therein beganne to gather by the stealing glaunces which she cast vpon him that shee did not altogether hate him and therefore beganne to perswade himselfe that he was likely to haue some good successe in his amorous busines Wherevpon hee thought to venture to
the remainder of his loathed life And that the sooner he might die with care Ioy banishing he entertaines dispaire Hauing this conceit in his head the next morning he commeth vnto the Court where he taketh his leaue in humble wise of the King and that he might haue a colour for his departure and that none might suspect his heauie countenance he maketh them beleeue his mother was at the poynt of death and therefore he being sent for must needs away vnto her Hauing bene with the King he commeth vnto the Queene and to her faire daughter vnto whom he telleth this sad newes looking very sorrowfully and so most humbly taketh his leaue of them but the young Princes gessing shroadly at the truth of the matter and that there was no such thing but onely a meere excuse grieued mightily to heare how she should lose his companie the onely cause wherof she knew her selfe to be for which although she was hartily forie yet knew she no way how to remedie as then the same Meane space Don Iohn most pittifully consumed away as well because he wanted his Mistris as also for that he was neuer likely to see her any more whilest he being retired vnto his melancolike house resolued to die and to giue ouer the world O cruell madnes O furious rage O incomparable mischiefe O miserie none so great as Loue. What worser misfortune can happen vnto a man then for want of reason to suffer himselfe to fall into the mercilesse hands of his murthering foe And what vnhappines be it neuer so great can ouerthrow a man so soone as that which depriueth him of all sense and vnderstanding for the losse of our best friends or chiefest goods are easily to be borne because seldome or neuer they make vs lose our right wits for them but the torments we suffer in Loue are insupportable and not to be endured for it confoundeth our vertue and constancie as was too well seene by Don Iohn who would not take comfort in any thing but onely in death whilest lying thus dangerously sicke of a secret disease of the minde he was so much changed as none could well haue knowne him for his goodly and comely personage was become pale weake and earthly his haire long wilde and feltred his eyes hollow and deepe setled in his head his face heauie and sad his cheekes hollow and leane his lips dead like ashes and dried vp for want of moysture his breasts lanke and without flesh his hands but skinne and boane and his armes brawne fallen and without any force at all to be briefe he resembled rather a dead Anatomie then a liuing creature And although diuers haue bene of an opinion that hardly or neuer any can die for Loue because as they say this amorous sickenes tainteth the soule onely which is not subiect vnto death and not the mortall bodie yet neuerthelesse for all this there is no doubt but that many haue so died and that the soule as a companion of the bodie in the selfesame functions cannot feele any griefe but that the bodie must feele his part thereof and except he be partaker of the same euen as one day both the one and the other shall be partners either of eternall glorie or else of euerlasting fire in that they haue bene companions in this world either of good or else of euill Such a life then was this which our poore Arragonian Gentleman endured a life ordinarie and common vnto such who depriued of all hopefull happines pine away like one that is in a recurelesse consumption for nothing maketh vs to liue but onely ioyfull hope which if it be deferred long it maketh vs languish but much more then will it plague vs if we once growe in dispaire neuer to obtaine the same And therefore there is none so wretched a life as that which weareth away for want of hope and so liued miserable Phedra who seeing her deare Hyppolitus dead for want of hope slew her selfe For as the Poet saith Sweet hope the life of euery one what ere doth cherish And were it not for wisht for hope all men would perish This then was my Maisters resolution which no man could dehort him frō All his house and chambers were painted with blacke our Liueries being tawnie and in the roome where he lay he caused diuers melancholicke and sad sentences to be drawne in great Characters all which were the Infants of dispaire One day he being somewhat better then his vsuall custome was called for pen and Inke and thereupon composed these sad verses following which he would oftentimes sing vnto his Lute My sighes when giue you ore to sigh then forth my paine Mine eyes when haue you done to waile my griefe though all in vaine Was ere seene such strange crueltie where Loyaltie is found Whilst through th' vngratefull for to die remorselesse I am bound I die but in what sort alas my woes so many be As neuer any heretofore hath suffered like to me Happie is he that to his end by one sure stroke doth hie To languish dying is far worse then quickly for to die My teares that in mine eyes doe stand with sihges my griefes doe showe And yet ther 's none that pittieth me whilst worse I still doe growe I cannot cured be and she that 's Author of my griefe To slay my selfe she weapous giues vnto me Sans reliefe Like Captiue am I led away yet can I not behold Her face to whom I prisoner am and who my hart controld He is no valiant Souldiour right nor any Conquerour braue Who to his prisoner dares not showe himselfe when he doth craue But heauens I see conspire gainst me this life I finish must Yet happie he that in his loue diest loyally and iust Sacred for euer Faile shall it neuer This my Monument Since that Loue so true Though none the same rewe Within it is spent But cruell thou too late shalt finde vntimely death of mine My Loue was pure my hart most iust and bare thereof the signe Yet I le not taxe thee for my death thy rigor hard to proue I le say it was my destinie and not thy nere gaind loue But why in vaine seeke I in life to haue a farther scope He happie dieth who in the would hath liued without hope Then le ts dispatch by sweetest end to rid vs of this paine Le ts shun this troublesome sea the port with Ancor ours to gaine His death is blessed Of life disposessed When by a sweet way Ending of his life He shuns care and strife And in rest doth stay This was the melancolicke Musicke which my lucklesse Maister sung vnto his Lute making all those heauie that were hearers of the same O male-contented sorrow thou woundest our soules through sadnes neuer suffering vs to rest quietly thou driest vp the marrow in our bones whereas ioy delighteth and comforteth the heart Through thee and through thy blacke sister dispaire died constant Portia Cato the
shall chance to be any hinderance vnto thee let me then entreate so much at thy hands that I depriuing my selfe of this loathed life may be rid of these corsiues which still torment me and thou be freed of this tedious charge which so much troubles thee Not so answered Orythia Let mee alone and I dare warrant thee all shall be well Castles besieged yeeld not at the first parley things that are brought to passe processe of time and with mature deliberation and aduise continue longer and seeme more sweet afterward for a man knoweth not the delightfulnes of pleasure aright if he haue not a tast of paine before and that which we haue most dearest bought and hardliest come by we alwaies hold most pretious and of most account Liue then in peace and suffer me to trie my fortune which I perswade my selfe shall proue most happie in thy behalfe So saying the Nymph leaueth me to take her iourney minding to helpe me although she hurt her selfe taking more care to heale my sore then to cure her owne wound I could not chuse but follow after her faire and softly yet aloofe when by chance I met Fortunnio in the way all to be blubbered with weeping who thought verily that I had bene dead he roming vp and downe the Forrest like a man distraught crying out and calling still vpon my name whom none saue an Ecco answered Much did he bewaile my losse making greater moane for me then I deserued whilest most vnwisely he blamed Loue as the Author of my death and enuied most bitterly against the stonie hart of my faire Mistris But no sooner had he a sight of me but that he came running most cheerfully vnto me and most tenderly embraced me changing his former sad and heauie countenance not vnlike to him who hauing found some pretious Iewell which he before accounted as lost beginneth to reuiue and to be merrie againe Then did he tell me how my Ladie had hard I was dead she belieuing the same for most certaine truth for Orythia had for my good spread abroad this report with as much speed as possible she could which comming vnto my Dianas eares was not a little vnpleasant vnto her as was found by the number of salt teares which she shed as a sure restimonie of her true griefe Which when I knew I began to take comfort againe and to reuiue my selfe with a fresh hope of some good successe to come and thereupon I compiled these verses following vpon the teares which my Mistris shed in my behalfe whilest I attended with great deuotion the often wished for returne of kinde Orythia Examitor and Pentamitor verses Sweet doe not thinke thy pearly teares my paines can asswage ought Not death but thy teares bring to my soule his adue For thy grieuous plaints in steed of one onely shert death Thousand deaths and more are to me paine to enerease I not deserue that thou for me shouldst wofully weepe thus T is not death but thy teares take from my selfe my delight Death alone this sillie corpse commands when it iskes him But thy griefes doeforce soule for to flie to the skie After so many paines in our loue leaue vnto me giue none Hence to depart in peace rest that I may in my graue Long enough haue I liu'd since that so gentle a liking Tide hath thy hart to mine and to thy soule ioyned miue Then this my exceeding torments Faire doe not enuie Since that I desire life then thy selfe for to leaue Farewell pleasd he dyes who dying findeth a fauour When that his Ladies hand close vp his eyes at his end What more sacred Tombe to be interd can I chuse me Then to die in thy armes where my desire euer liu'd If whilst I liu'd thou care didst take for my poore life At my happines then ah be not enuious now Leaue I beseech thee teares to shed since teares cannot helpe me For my soule once gone thou by thy teares cannot haue Cruell death to relent with sighes you neuer intreate can Blest that Louer dies who by his Loue makes an end Onely this I beg at thy hands before that I die here Those faire beautious eyes kisse that I might but a while Might I but finde this kindnes rare then blest would my soule be Nor would it are forget thanks to requite in his minde Faire too much it were for me to die in thy sweet armes He that dies content death neuer feeles or his dart Who to his Mistris doth deuote his hart as a present Leaues the same in his brest royally laide in a Tombe Gloomie night for to close mine eyes fast can neuer haue power Nor can I die as long as what I like I may see Then doe but thinke on me whose soule was onely deuoted Vnto thy selfe and which liu'd in thy brest that is chaste In the bottome of my darke graue shine shall thy bright eyes Whilst with a new fire death shall me reuiue once againe For if heretofore the same could into my soule peirce Who can hinder it now brightly to shine on my coarse Then deare Saint to leaue these wailings let me request thee I doe not sigh cause I die but thee to see to lament For since of thy grace I am not worthy but vnfit Then as much as a teare why for my sake shouldst thou shed Vnder the yoake of amorous seruice whilst that I liu'd What good once did I thee what haue I done for thee ere T is no sense to bewaile the losse of one that deserues not Who to none but himselfe whilst that he liu'd did he loue This is the cause my soule force my coarse to relinquish For that he seruice small did whilst he liu'd to my dame Yet since this my wisht for death most happily hapneth Since by my parting now I from my griefe now doe part T is my fortune for me too good ah faire doe not enuie Since that alone through death happily liue doth the soule Wipe then thy faire eyes and without shewe of a mourner This my breathlesse Trunke vnto the graue doe thou beare Thrise happie Tombe since he againe reuiues with a new life Who dead leaueth his Loue rauished him for to joy This was the mestfull Dittie I made I being then so troubled in my minde as I knew not well how to expresse my griefe although I vsed many scalding sighes and salt teares to make manifest the same I being of cōceit that it was impossible for me to blazon forth the crueltie of Loue in his right colours and yet did I seeke to comfort my selfe in that I had many cōpanions in my miserie heretofore O victorious Caesar for all thy valour thou wast conquered by louely Cleopatra who had a sonne by thee called Cesarion And thou graue Emperour and diuine Phylosopher diddest thou not doate vpon thy most vnhonest Faustina whilest thou thy selfe becamest Loues prisoner notwithstanding all thy wisedome and greatnes Hanniball found his force too
not this strange fire which filleth all my vaines My griefe consume my coarse consuming though t is great With care and cries to feede my soule is my desire No hope to heale my wounds within me bide Alas I curse my selfe yet honor I the fire See then how farre Loue drawes me on from Reason wide Thrise happie Nature of each mortall man in this For they in dying of their ils an ende doe gaine But Spirits diuine cannot Diuine their essence is Venus immortall was immortall was her paine What said I No. LOVE cannot die through deaths despire For in the soule he liues and soule can neuer die On earth below no creature is that takes in Loue delight And Ioue himselfe his awfull power hath felt on hie Woe is me in this strange sort I perish languishing I wish for death yet how to perish doe not know Wretched that wight whose burning griefes aie doth him wring Nor can them quench nor die to ridde himselfe from woe But since I to this mischiefe am predestined Nor can death to remorse or pittie nothing moue Of Gods I le craue I may be metamorphosed Into those haplesse Birds that still bewaile their Loue. Thus sung the troubled Nimph Orithia amorous of the foresaid ARCAS who passing on her way sweetly held on her dulcet tune but she being gone the old man once more began to report what he before intended reaccounting this Historie following Most vniust lawe of partiall LOVE The lamentable Tragedie of chast Floretta and kind Plaindor which with thy malice slie Thousands of faults with iustice vaile dost hide malitiously Thou that thy traiterous selfe dost faine to be asacred thing And by a coloured greement thousands vnto death dost bring Most cruell law of loathed LOVE that vnder friendships showe Dost paint thy bloodie Massakers and makst them holy goe Thou that with vaine allurements fond and with faire smiling glose So many faithfull Louers in their fatall tombes dost close Who cuttest off so soone of men on earth the vitall thred Of such as for their loyaltie and faiths are honored Who fiend-like suckst their blood and as if thou still destned were To plague the world the flesh of these poore murthred soules dost teare Hast thou then this faire worthy Brace of constant Louers slaine Whose memorie still flourishing for euer shall remaine Hast thou them stifled through mischance without remorse or ruth Their flowring yeares their daies their yeares in prime of their green youth Ah too too cruell law of thine and happie thrise our life If that it were not subiect to thy ouer-ragings rife But what is he can liue exempt from these thy amorous lawes When euery puissant God what ere this yoke as forced drawes Then who can Loue commaund when Ioue himselfe full oftentime By him hath roughly bin controld although his powers diuine And yet some comfort small it is to vs though little gaine The Gods to haue companions with vs in this our paine Then reade this more then wofull verse beleeue it as your Creede True Herolds of a message such as hearts to heare will bleede Though in this vncoth desart colde LOVES hatefull enemie Death keepeth his abode and court and sleepe doth here abie Where horror doth inhabit still and fat all sisters three Who to vntwist our threed of life most willingly agree Where hundred thousand hugie Rocks sore bruisde with thunders might And torne through long continuance of times iniurious spite Are to this place chiefe ornaments though many a hollow caue And deepelesse ditches soundlesse pitts as glories chiefe it haue Although in steed of corne with thornes brambles it be sowen And with the chillie spring of Isie waters t is ore-flowen Although it be inuironed with monsterous hedges thicke Of blood drawing brambles and although wild beasts abound in it And that the sweelling periurde sea most fearefull to our eyes The same doth compasse round about with fome which thicke doth rise So as no one delight at all though little doth appeare Or seemes that euer Venus sowed her seede immortall here That neuer here for to repose did rest the beautious sunne When he his daily course in course with Maiestie had runne In briefe although this Iland be of gastfull lands the worst Where onely damnd dispaire doth seeke for to abide accurst Yet liude there here not long agoe a louely Shepheard faire Whome cruell Loue did vex and gripe more then with monstrous care A Shepheard sweete in euery point he was and complete right But that too soone his tender yeares cut off were through despite A perfect Shepheard faire he was his mind and valour such As all the rest of Swaines that liude in woods he past by much The spoylâ—â— of 〈◊〉 Beares the rough sharpe skin of tusked Bores Oâ— Lions sell and greedie Woolues hang vp vpon his dores Strange hidious Serpents vgly heads and Griffons Tallent clawes Sharpe poysonous teeth of Dragons huge with their most vgly pawes About the little closing walls of his small house was set As honorable witnesse of his valour more then great Those were his hangings rich and these his pictures set in gold Which intermixt in sundrie sort you still might fresh behold * A Sentence No such braue furniture as is a deadly enemies spoyle ' Whose colour nere is marde with dust nor length of time can foyle ' So is the battered harnesse rich wonne from our vanquisht foe ' Which hung vpon our walls more faire then gold doth make them showe ' For with the same the honour of the owners victorie ' Is there enstald and registred nor can it euer die Thus then this gallant Shepheard faire not little to his fame Adornd his house with sauadge spoyle which he abroad had slaine His armour was his bowe his clubbe his She pheards wreathed hooke For harneis he of musket proofe a leathren brestplate tooke Yet nothing couldore-cme his more then vsuall common power Still from the chase and fighting he returned conquerour Thrise happie fortunate was his first bringing vp and birth Not any gifts more excellent Nature gaue on this earth Valiant he was and strong in limmes well made and trimme withall So faire as euery Shepheardesse in loue with him did fall Blest therefore was he in his first greene youth as he deseru'd Whome honour did accompanie whom fortune alwaies seru'd Thrise happie he in his young yeares till t was his lucklesse sate That dismall Loue his reason and his sense did captiuate For then he lost his wonted force and courage euery waies And of his more then braue exployts the memorable praise He onely studied then alone to nourish his sad griefe To sighthe his secret sorrowes forth and waile without reliefe * An Inuectiue against Loue. O more then cursed caitife Loue thou wisedoms dost annoy Debashest reason sound from minde and valour dost destroy Wise men thou makest worse then fooles and makst them onely fit To hurt themselues whilst obstinate they
plac't Who thinking they were then alone for so they made account Th' one toying with the other stood as was their vsuall wont And after many louely tricks Loue from their eyes did thrill So many Darts hitting their soules more heate increasing still That Plaindor being ouerchaft with this fierce amorous rage His lippes vpon the cheekes and mouth of his faire Saint did gage Now of himselfe not master he her in his armes doth take And thousand times did kisse her though resistance she did make As hard it is for him that dyeth through thyrst and want of drinke A Similie For to abstaine when he drawes nigh the Cristall riuers brinke So t' is as insupportable for any Louer much To be in presence of the Dame he loues and her not touch When he hath Fortune time and place the leisure and the meane He cannot hold his blood 's so hot his heate is so extreame When he is neere his health his health to haue he needs must seeke When he seeth what he longeth for he needs the same must like 〈◊〉 were he senslesse as a stone and liuelesse as a blocke Like to a lumpe of heauie earth and worse then flintie rocke So Plaindor takes his pleasure then forgetfull of his oth Whilst he her lips with kisses seales respecting nought his troth But weladay those kisses sweet to poyson sower did turne And was the cause that to his death they forc't him for to mourne Floretta chaft apace that he thus on her lips had seasde But Plaindor this her rage at last in sugred-wise appeasde The sneaking Shepheardesse the while withdrawne her selfe now had Out from her hole where she did see what made her welnigh mad And seeing that so many kisses twixt them giuen had bin These Louers lou'd but wantonlie she strait begun to win Away she goeth nor for to see the ende she durst be bold But much astonisht did depart then frosty Ice more cold She is resolu'd to be reueng'd and vexed mightily With sundry passions her hote loue doth turne to crueltie The Loue of these two soules she meanes to taxe with foule repriefe And of the kissing close to cast Floretta in the teeth Her Honor to accuse and of these vertuous Louers twaine To seeke with infamie and with reproch their liues to staine O how disdaine is in her kinde more violent of force And what great dammage hath it brought to men without remorse O how it power hath for to change the hearts of vanquishers And how to alter dearest Friends in minde shee her bestirs Meane time Floretta vnderstands that her Renoum's disgrac't And that her Honor vndeseru'd is wrongfullie defac't Her Fault if chaste loue may be term'd a Fault this woman base One morning fore the Sheapheards all reprocheth to her face Which when Floretta heard she vowes ore-charg'de with furious Ire Against her selfe against her health and life for to conspire No longer will she liue as now reuenged for to bee For Honor hers by Treason stainde as she with griefe doth see So for to purge her selfe of fault An Example not faultie nerethelesse In ancient Time vnto her Fame did die the chaste Lucresse Thus doth Floretta destined too hard with heauy looke Sweare with her selfe vpon her selfe Murther to execute Her daintie hands she aymeth now against her proper corse Her hands which too too hastie were to wrong without remorse Ah how much Honor 's deare vnto a chaste and modest spright Who seeks by vice to slaunder such accursed be that Wight The feare of Death can neuer coole Desire A Sentence that 's resolet To saue his good name by his life if he thereon be set Floretta then changing her former vse from sweetest ioy To vncoth plaint and passions sad surcharged with annoy Bewailing her disaster hard and sighing forth her paine Vnto a sauadge Mountaines toppe gets vp with speed amaine Where sprang a certaine Water strange or rather poyson fell By which strong venim she did meane her woes for to expell This water of such nature was as nothing could it hold It brake Glasse Iron Brasse Leade Steele it was so deadly cold But she that knew the propertie thereof in hoofe of Asse Close did the same conserue and then away from thence did passe And carrying it about her still vntill she Plaindor found She neuer left that done she downe sits by him on the ground Where she withouten shewe of griefe like Cignet that doth sing Before her death these words worth Note did vse thus greeting him Ah Plaindor deare deare may I say if thy Floretta poore Hath giuen thee any proofe of Loue most perfect or most sure If euer of her friendship kinde thou care hadst heretofore As not long since she in thy Loue with pitty thee did store By that same loyall loue of thine she now coniureth thee Permit her Honor to reuenge her on her iniurie Floretta now can liue no more since that she through thy selfe Hath lost her good Fame which she priz'de aboue all worldly wealth Ah Plaindor t' is for euer lost and by like lucklesse Fate Floretta thine now goeth the way her life to ruinate Alas how often told I thee when first thou didst me woe That still mine Honor to preserue thou shouldst respect haue due Mine Honor which Florettas life after the same doth draw And which I iustly forced am to follow now by Law How we do liue here in this world God knoweth is reckning small Nor flourish can our Names A Sentence or deeds immortally at all Vnlesse our Honor mongst our selues doe liue immortallie For that alone keeps vs aliue that we can neuer die But if the selfe same blood as yet remaineth in thy heart Of such so many sauadge beasts by which thou richer art If in the prime of thy best Age and pride of thy youths flower Thou hast not lost thy courage olde through Loues ore-conquering power Then Plaindor I pray heartily nay more beseechen thee To liue when I am dead and that thou wilt suruiuen me And thinke deare Friend I merit not the halfe part of the griefe Which for my death I know that thou wilt take without reliefe For I was but a shadow plaine trans-form'd in body thine Besides fairer then I thee loues whose beautie is diuine Who with affection like to thine in fancie being set The thought of me and memorie shall make thee soone forget So that no sooner Death shall me from my liues chaines dislinke As thou stalt forced be no more on me at all to thinke Meane time since hasty Death doth me of all my hopes depriue To haue for my sore wound a Salue whilst I shall be aliue And that sweet Shepheard I no more shall now of thee haue need I le thee acquaint how much how deare I loued thee indeed Most zealous yet more chast I lou'd such was mine amorous flame My heart was thine and in thy breast mine owne Soule did remaine My thoughts
and insupportable miseries are in the hearts of Louers Ariadne knoweth And how many false Treasons and blasphemous periuries Oenone feeleth Why then wilt thou iustifie him he hauing these foule faults Euerie bodie that lodgeth not reason within it selfe is blame-worthie And what reason I pray you is their found in Loue He is a traiterous Drogerar and a Physition of mens hearts for some he healeth and comforteth and other-some he vexeth killeth and tormenteth He is blind-folded which is enough and sufficient proofe to make thee know his imperfections Thinke not the worse of him for that said the old man for Iustice is vnited which brooketh no comparison in perfection and vertue Loue is blinded because he should haue no respect of persons to the ende greatest Kings may be no more exempted from his power then the poorest beggers He is blind to shew that he walketh without craft or dissimulation for that is no true and sincere amitie where falsenes of heart lodgeth and where treason and disloyaltie lurketh If Loue seeing clearely with his eyes should spare Princes and Potentates what profit then should the poorer sort receiue through this friendship For Loue compelleth the rich and haughtiest courages to affect and honour the poore basest creatures and to doe them all seruice possible they can And this is the reason that Loue is vailed and not meere folly For he shall neuer be counted vnwise who without any sudden alteration or passion whatsoeuer taketh his way and course directly and iustly without sparing great personages who are made for the support and helpe of the meanest and poorest sort of people Yet this vaile answered Arcas taketh away the light of knowledge hindring him from seeing what he ought to doe So that as a blinde man without a guide falleth into the ditch Euen so Cupid for want of sight committeth many thousands of grose enormities which being put in practise christen him with the name of a furie in steed of Loue. Is that right loue which altereth the minds of mē quite topsic turuie in all their proceedings in such wise as one shal be forced to loue her who hateth him and another shall be beloued of her whome he cannot in any wise abide Are not these effects meere enmities despights plaine rage and furie If so why then most vnworthie is Loue of this name attributed vnto him Thogh Iustice be vailed yet most loyall iust vnpartiall and sacred are her proceedings whereas those of Loue are quite contrarie Therefore you conclude ill to affirme that Loue is blinded like vnto Iustice which though it be all one thing yet is the cause different for the one carrieth her vaile to a good ende and the other to a bad purpose I report me vnto the vniust behauiour of this little blind Infant Alas poore soules replied the old man what more sheweth the admirable puissance of God then the diuersitie of effects proceeding from himselfe what giueth so much glorie vnto the Painter as the varietie of faire Pictures which he doth most cunningly portray forth and embollish Euen so why doth Loue bring forth so many and contrarie causes but onely to shew himselfe the more wonderfull to lay strong the diuine foundations of his mightie power He bringeth forth effects which althogh they are all differing yet be they alwaies such as are agreeable with the diuersitie of the natures of man gouerning euery thing with a kind of prudent policie vnknowne far aboue our reaches For else it might peraduenture so fall out that it might be more worse for him that loueth to be beloued againe then if he should be hated the wisedome of the Gods cannot be comprehended within our feeble spirits But this is the shallow conceit that mortall men haue rather then to thinke that to be firme holy iust and good which the Gods themselues goe about to enterprise For it is not to be thought otherwise but that they who are perfect as the Gods themselues and are no way spotted or polluted with vice can doe any thing that is vniust imperfect or foolish In respect of the Gods answered the Shepheard I auow what you affirme yet by your leaue I denie that loue may be admitted amongst this troope Those insolent Tyrants who vse their licentious will in steed of rightfull Loue whose constraining force maketh them to be feared although they be puissant mightie yet cannot they entitle themselues with the names of iust and prudent Princes And so I allow of the greatnes of the power of Loue but not of his Deitie God taketh no pleasure in the fal of man his creature but Loue seeketh the same God establisheth all things in good securitie by a certaine sacred order but Loue dismembreth scattereth separateth breaketh the peace and quietnes of man and therefore he is no God Most damnable persons are those who being troubled with some supernaturall and violent power attribute most wickedly vnto the Iust Sacred and diuine God the furious and raging fittes of braine-sicke Loue. Therefore let vs neuer pronounce this broad blasphemie for so farre off is Loue from being a God that mortall men are able to conquere and take him as it were prisoner If this be true replyed the olde Sire who then is it that maketh thee thus to stoope who hath yoked thee and made thee bowe thy necke vnto this God and wherefore doest not thou trample and treade vpon him he being but a man That Captaine that is conquered by a braue victorious enemy is worthie of blame but farre more is he to be condemned that suffereth himselfe to be ledde away Captiue by a weake feeble aduersarie If Loue be a thing of so small worth why then doest thou not chase him away from thee In vaine therfore be these teares which thou now sheddest in vaine thy complaints and in vaine these sorrowes which thou stil makest Fond is that sicke bodie that may helpe himselfe and who because as one selfe-wild will not suffereth himselfe to be infected with a disease too weake for him if he were willing to striue wrastle with the same Euen so art thou fond to languish as a vassaile vnto this God so long a time in this maner when if thou wilt thou canst vāquish him O foolish Slaue A Sentence that being able to free himselfe without danger from seruitude yet neuerthelesse continueth so all his life But the bragging Souldier may alwayes threaten his foe being absent against whom appearing once in sight he dareth not once so much as drawe his sword So thou seemest to contemne Loue yet in the meane time darest not for thy life to resist him and beeing valiant a farre off thou yeeldest at the first encountring together But this one thing I will tell thee that amongst all the deadly passions that doe ruinate and ouerthrow man there is none so strong nor violent as this of Loue death it selfe being farre more sweeter then that is How often doe we see
note wrought so much by his excellent cunning as the soule of the Princesse was rauished with the same so that not being able any longer to withhold her selfe from weeping shee left her sicke Patient in whose eares as she was taking her leaue she softly whispered these fewe but yet sweete speeches Courage true Seruant and liue in hope expecting from me all the helps that may be to recouer your grieuous sicknes which shall be such yea and that in such an ample manner as I will endaunger mine owne life to restore you to yours and will not sticke to loose my selfe so I may saue you Saying so she went her wayes leauing Alfonso to muse on this matter canaussing diuers conceits in his braine By reason of these last words which she vttered he knewe not well how to take them nor how to vnderstand them nor scarcely what to make of them Yet in the meane time he stayed to see what effects would follow vpon the same and looked for some good Fortune to happen Not vnlike vnto the criminall who expecteth some fauour or friendship promised him by the Iudge And now he beginneth some what to comfort himselfe for that hee perceiued some pittie in the remorsefull eyes of his relenting Ladie who being tormented with diuers passions knewe not well what to say what to doe or what to resolue vpon The death of her Friend went neere her his loyall and sincere affection pleaded for some commisseration vnto her Insomuch as the exceeding great paines trauell he had taken in her behalfe the innumerable curtesies infinite kindnesses she had receiued at his hands began to make a breach into her constant brest so as at the last doe what she could she yeelded and became wholly his On the other side the feare and doubt lest she should doe any thing which might be a scandall vnto her Honor or a blemish vnto her inuincible chastitie which she had so long and with so great admiration kept inuiolable vntainted made her giue ouer and retire from her first determination A Similin As wee see a floating vessell in the troubled Sea tossed and tumbled with two contrarie windes neither forward nor backward nor to passe one way nor another Euen so fared the mind of this delicate Virgin who being ouercharged with many conceits and opinions knew not on which to resolue Yet in the ende Loue got the vpper hand For as a flame of fire feazing vpon a drye peece of wood couered with greene Iuie glideth ouerth wart the same and at the last burueth into ashes both the wood and the greene leaues together Euen so Loue entring at the first by her eyes descendeth downe lower and in the end runneth ouer all her bodie which he boldeth and arresteth as his owne goods Iustina then hauing once more resolued what to doe detemined with her selfe to marrie her kinde Hoast but being risen from her bedde a kind of bashfull shame began to breake this enterprise which would neuer permit that a modest Damosell her owne selfe should discouer her owne Loue neither suffer that the proper tongue of the Princesse should be the trompet of her owne shame But LOVE who would in no wise take the foyle and was very readie in aduising her how shee should dispatch this busines which much troubled her gaue her counsell to deliuer her minde in writing vnto her louing Seruant when she should next goe to visite him and so the shame should remaine within the paper which is of too pale a colour to blush Whervpon as she was taking pen in hand she called to minde the place from whence she came the doubt lest the Letter comming to light might be a discredit vnto her which was the cause shee stood in a mummering as it were a long time before she began to write still as fast as she endited she strait-waies crost it out againe with her pen. Loue thinking that bashfulnes could not endite well and bashfulnes thinking that Loues penning was as ill Long stood they disputing about fit termes to serue the purpose but in the end the Princesse emboldened through LOVE set downe her minde in these termes following The Princesse Letter to her Seruant IF this manner of writing be of power to bring thee to life againe then know it is sufficient to take away mine from me For in seeking to reuiue thee I cause mine owme Honor to die But alas can I see thee still languish thus through mine occasion and not participate with thee in thy miseries in the selfe-same fashion Ah would to God wee had exchaunged our Estates for then would I presently desire to die as thou doest wish thee to liue as I do and so should I not be forced to satisfie thy request neither should mine Honor then complaine of mee in that I haue lesse respect of that then of the safegard of one man The feare lest I should haue bene counted the murtherer of thy life caused mee to write this Letter vnto thee Neither had I done any thing at all in thy behalfe but that I haue a most assured hope and confidence that thou recouering by my onely meanes thy former life wilt be a helpe and ayde vnto mee to teach mee how to make away my selfe by death What shall I say more vnto thee thy recouerie is my death and thy life mine ouerthrow and ruine Yet had I rather perish then thou shouldest miscarry any way Liue then and be well except thou wilt kill her whom thou sayest thou louest with such respect Or if thou wilt needes die yet at the least tearme not mee the destroyer of thy life seeing I haue offered health vnto thee I knowe not which I should most desire eyther that thou liue or that thou die If thou liuest I then must needes die And if thou dyest I may no longer liue What good then shall I get by letting thee haue thy life Onely this onely the glorie that I haue preserued thee from death the obligation canceld wherein I was indebted vnto thee and the break-necke fall of that strong opinion thou hast that thou dyest for mee Liue then I intreate thee and when thou shalt be well GOD I beseech him if so it please him open vnto vs some honest and iust meanes to vnite vs together in that sacred band which of two soules maketh but one And this I doe promise thee Fare you well This Letter being written there was a new Councell called to consult whether it should be deliuered or whether committed vnto the mercie of the fire For in accidences of Loue there is found strange contrarieties euery minute of an houre as we see in a little while diuers sorts of windes to arise in the skye Yet in the ende Loue still preuailed and so much perswaded that the Damosell her selfe resolued to goe and visite the poore patient and to deliuer the paper into his owne hands No sooner was she entred the Chamber but that
gaspe in her armes I will now be briefe After the Princesse found Alfonso dead she remembred her plighted vowe vnto him and therefore sought neither venim sword nor ame other extremitie to ende her dayes but hauing sweetely embalmed his carkasse and placing it in a monument of Christall because she might the better behold it she neuer departed from the same vntill that after a certaine time what with hunger sorrow griefe she finished her wearie and loathed life Her fasting and weeping had so chaunged her as her neerest seruants and acquaintance scarce knew her Now had shee no more that sweete face for the beautie of which so many Princes had so often combatted and fought nor were her eyes such as had rauished so manie soules neither was her haire that passing golden haire whose tresses had serued for nets to catch and intrap the Courtliest and greatest hearts that liued And to be briefe she was no more that faire and louely Iustina who indeed had no need of such comely fauour when her onely desire was to die Her face and cheekes were now become pale and yeallow her eyes darke and sunke deepe into her head her haire fowle vnkempt and almost all torne off her breasts drie and leane her armes shrunke and brawnfallen her handes without flesh or whitenesse and finally shee resembled the very portraiture of a Ghost or rather of Death it selfe In this miserie did shee liue some fewe moneths when at the last perceiuing the date of her life to be expired she came vnto the Tombe where taking the embalmed carkasse vp and embracing it in her armes she vsed these pittifull speeches vnto it as followeth O sole remainder of all my good Fortunes O onely chiefe treasure of all my goods O sole pawne furuiuing of my true Loue the onely comfort I haue in these my languishing griefes and the goodly bodie which sometimes reuiued the faire soule inhabiting therein which now liueth in eternall glorie for euer To thee I appeale as the onely thing which I most loue honor and praise praying thee to assist me at mine ende and to beare witnesse with me that I haue kept promise most faithfullie As thou when thou diddest die wert willing that I should not malice or annoy thee at thy death So let not mine I pray thee be any way displeasing vnto thee All whatsoeuer thou diddest craue did I yeeld and accord vnto then blame me not if hauing performed what I protested I come vnto the Heauens to finde thee In thy life time I haue liued for feare to displease but now thou liuest no longer faire and beautifull Coarse and that I haue taken order for thy buryall what thinkest thou should keepe me heere any longer It is reasonable I should die seeing I can now no longer liue and that I goe to make a search for thee most chast soule in what place soeuer thou art Die then sorrowfull Iustina and leauing of to lament change these thy reares thy miseries and cares into this eternall repose where resteth thy husband quietly I haue liued but too too long and my miserable life hath bin too irkesome vnto me It is now more then high time to make an ende thereof and making an ende of my selfe to remoue my selfe vnto him who whilst he liued had commaund ouer my soule Thrise blessed Instina to be quit and rid of these vnspeakable torments to liue in euerlasting quietnes which is the onely hope of the miserable Let vs goe then let vs goe I humbly beseech that great God who as a iust Iudge of the innocencie of our hearts knoweth the secrets of our thoughts to open that sacred gate vnto me which he hath promised vnto his faithfull children This said she kissed the dead coarse of her husband againe giuing charge vnto her Gentlewoman to enterre and burie her body hard by his side that done she layeth her selfe along by the same which she still embraceth and hauing dressed her head and apparelled her selfe for the same purpose she rendied vp her spirit A spirit right meritorious and worthie of eternall glorie Her body according vnto her last will was buried in the selfe same sepulcre which she had caused to be made for her husband before Herewith Coribant held his peace being hindred to speake any more by reason of his teares teares which berest the others of their voyces who without being able to discourse any more one with another for that time departed euery one to their senerall homes so to passe away the darke and gloomie night As they were walking faire and softly onwardsvpon their way Arcas heard one sing this song following Loue fare thouwell liue will I now Quiet amongst the green-wood bow Ill betide him that loue seekes He shall liue but with leane cheekes He that fondly falles in Ioue A slaue still to griefe shall prooue Loue fare thou well liue will I now Quiet amongst the greene-wood bow What an Asse and foole is hee That may serue and will goe free In worlds not a wench so faire But I for my life more care Loue fare thou well liue will I now Quiet amongst the c. I like not these Dames so smooth As would haue men court and lous For as constant I them finde As the Sea is or the winde Loue fare thou well liue c. Once I lou'd one that was kinde But she did what pleasde her minde Better t is nere to be borne Then liue as anothers scorne Loue fare thou well liue well c. Then Loue thee I doe defie I hate thy bad dealing I He is a foole that liues in paine A toy so small for to gaine Loue fare thou well liue will I now Quiet amongst the greene-woodbow After the Shepheard had made an ende of this merrie Sonnet another came vnto them demaunding if some of the companie could expound his Riddle which he proposed in this manner Nor life nor vertue haue I lest I die I borrow of my buried trunke chiefe strength Though I am dead ore time yet triumph I Ore time that cuerie thing consumes at length What 's dead disdained is yet all affoord Me honour and their chiefe preseruers name All men may rightly call me their best Lord Since they Sans me the world cannot maintaine Yet though so much good doth from me proceed These thanklesse worldlings doe not sticke at all To cut me off in Summer with great speed And beate me into little powder small Yet had I rather cruelly thus perish Then liue a longer space for many time The season doth but badly oft me chearish Offering great hurt and wrong to vertue mine This Riddle was interpreted to be corne which being sowne in the earth and seeming dead casteth forth a greene blade and in time groweth to be ripe in despite of all stormes and foule weather whatsoeuer It nourisheth mankind and therefore is honoured of them as a father not forbearing for all that to reape him in Haruest to thresh and grinde
plagued with death onely for that he did but send to aske aduise and counsaile of him But say that God would forgiue this sinne yet tell me I pray you what truth and certaintie can you find amongst these illuding spirits First they are for the most part ignorant of such things as shall hereafter happen as well as men be And besides there is no truth in them they being the first authors of lies and those that first taught vs to speake vntruely The poore Pamms themselues ouer whom they had so great power for that they were Infidels and abandoned of God were continually mocked deluded and most grosely deceiued by these malignant spirits As witnesse Pirrhus Alexander and thousands moe If then they would cousen their chiefest friends and dearest seruants how much more will they goe about to deceiue such as are their enemies and who as strangers giue but little credit vnto them To conclude the diuels are abiured enemies against the righteous God himselfe and therefore if we will be counted his true and faithfull soruiters indeed we must not haunt nor keepe companie with his aduersaries otherwise he will suffer them to make a prey of our soules as being vnworthie to appeare before his heauenly throne because we haue left him and followed his foes Such is the common end of such kind of people who whilst they are liuing seruing the diuels doe the like when they are dead they being rewarded with hell fire for their paines As the old man was replying againe they might perceiue two Nymphs to come towards them where they sat each of them hauing a written paper in their hands which they deliuered vnto the shepheard Arcas who vnfolding the same found these verses following Loue is a daintie force aboue all other Which doth enforce our spirits vnto good things And without it our soules were neuer able Any thing to doe rightly that deserueth Gloriefor euer Contraries it doth bring into a concòrd Bloodie warres it soone swageth Being more puissant then the Gods themselues are Sweet and the sower it ioyneth both together For to agree well Vnder him wholy gouernd is the huge world Vnder his lawes the heauens eke are subiect Rightly may he be termd a mightie Monarke Whose power extends so far as t is withouten Any set limit He doth his might vse onely exercising It in the harts of liâ—le pretie creatures greene trees Flowers plants hearbes and fruitfull springing Vnder his influence like true hartie Louers Loue one another Of a brace of soules he doth make but one soule Which death it selfe doth hardly make to sunder But man doth perish by his destny fatall Therefore is Loue more kinder to be counted Then is our fortune Simple mens fortunes he doth often raise high Making them like to those of greatest Princesse Then doth not he well merrit much rewarding That to him submits marching passing brauely Vnder his banner Hope to our fainting thoughts he bring to vs still And to our hearts he bringeth ioy and gladnes For vnto Louers nothing is so pleasant As when they see that of their louely Ladies Much they are made of He doth reuiue our glory that was extinct Through the displeasure of our peruerse Plannees Oh how the pleasure is accounted daintie After laments and bitter heauie sorrowes Which one endureth After the brunt of cruell raging Tempest We find the skies more fairer then before time Lone doth reforme vs making vs become new And to resist our mischiefes he doth backe vs Fresh to encounter T is th'happie hauen of our best assurance The sacred Lodestar Sailers vse in voyage Whilst that his sweetnesse all our fornser tranailes Which we endured in our tedious iourney Makes vs forget them Neuer hath he had taste aright of pleasure A Sentence That in the field hath neuer followed true Loue As the darke night is nothing to the faire day So to delights of Loue ther 's not vpon earth Aught to be equalde Euery ioy must yeeld vnto daintie Loues ioy Thoughts of all other what are they but bitter All chiefe contentment springeth from this kind Loue For the conceit oft is so sweetly sugred As all it passeth What we imagine of it in our minds still Cannot be bettred by our often wishing For it doth so much please vs in our owne thoughts As it reuiues vs when our soule is passing Forth of our bodies Then vnto Cupid as asacrifice fit I on his altar offer will my poore heart Nor is it disgrace for to honour rightly One that is counted as a heauenly victor Throughout the whole world These were theverses which one of the Nymphs had composed in praise of Loue but the other had writ in dispraise of the same as here followeth Vaine Loue 's a furious burning force That chastest minds burnes sanus remorse Wretched that loueth is that coarse And want shall his desire He hearts and minds makes disagree Through him great houses filled bee With slaughters treasons treacherie For he of strife is sire Millions of men he doth betray The Gods he bringeth to his bay Like subtill tyrant he doth slay Through sloth all vertue rare The smallest shrubs that grow so trim Doe vade and wither thorough him Poore beastes flie his imprisoning Who liues he doth not spare Such as in Marriage holily Are knit which none ought to vntie He seekes to lose most wickedly Faith plighted to despite Braue Kings and Princes he destroyes Mightie and feeble he annoyes Whilst that with proudest hearts he ioyes To feed his appetite The Louer oft as desperate He egges to slay himselfe through hate Better to be without Loues mate Than die and damned bee If any pleasure he doth bring For that he double doth vs sting Loue cannot yeeld forth any thing But what is sorrowes fee. To comfort vs when storme is done Then shines againe the cheerfull Sunne Where neuer ioy to Louers come For they are shipwrackt still Loue is of man the fatall Rocke A Sentence On which his ship of ease doth knocke Whilst on the sands he doth him shocke By death him for to spill He nouer felt hath any paine That hath not knowne the Louers vaine Each griefe hath but his course certaine Where Loue doth bleed for aye No ill so nigh the heart doth sit As doth this fierce tormenting fit Death is more pleasing far than it Which rids our cares away Our soules with hope it doth torment Whilst nought but Massacres are ment To die t is better far content Then ay liue languishing Loue then most cruell without grace Whom I will curse in euery place No God but diuell is in this case God tha'utor's not of sinne These verses being read before the companie the first Nymphe who wrote in praise of Loue began thus to frame her speech vnto amorous Arcas It is a matter worthy of due consideration to thinke how the Glorie of vertue flieth throughout the world eurey where and how the renowmed fame of learning filleth
vnto him narrowlie and sharpely keepeth him in For nothing increaseth vice and leaudenesse so much as doeth wanton libertie The vnbrideled Colte runneth galloping heere and there committing manie foule disorders The priuiledge of Euill taketh away all Vertue be cause it stifleth the recompence of good deedes and hindreth the punishment due vnto offences The auncient Princes who would haue their Children learne how to obey well before they should commaund sent them to studie amongst the Lacedcmonians to the intent they might be restrained and depriued of this enchaunting libertie through which men draw forth vice as if it were at a full vessell LOVE therefore must be gouernour and protector ouer youthfulnesse which he will purge from badde qualities as the Physition doth the sicke man from corrupt humours replenishing him againe with manie excellent and commendable Vertues Is not then Loue very necessarie The winde carryeth the chaffe from the Corne leauing onely that that is good and fanned cleerly So doth Loue A Similie croppe off vice cutting it away as the husbandman doeth the superfluous braunches of his vine leauing the inward minde neat and quite clensed from all filthinesse of vice Loue can doe more then all knowledge yea then the Muses themselues can doe For he teacheth learned men who hauing a confused masse and heape of thousand Sciences in their braines not knowing in what good manner to deliuer their mindes ar full as concerning these matters how to set downe their meaning orderly and to discourse of euery thing with good method and iudgement imitating the cunning Gold-smith who of a great wedge of Gold forgeth and frameth a great sort of good peeces of plate right profitable for men Or resembling the Sun which breaketh and diuideth in sunder the gloomy clouds which darkē the brightnes of heauē He is the luke-warme blood of the Goate mollifying and sotfning these rocks of Diamonds turning them to the vse of all sorts of people The greatest Doctors are but Dunces vntill Loue hath refined them and that they haue felt what his power is they after that becomming wittie and Courtly enditers through the sweete vaine of Loue. For necessitie findeth out the Art and the perill sought forth by the Soldior vrgeth him to finde the means to saue himselfe And so is the Louer compelled to please his Mistris which he doeth either discoursing vnto her his true and loyall affection in smoothe and pleasing tearms or else couching them sweetly and daintily in writing curiously and with a Courtlike phrase And of this perfection is Loue also the author shall he then be called a Paine and not rather the father of all science and vertue It is reported that the Muses lighted one day vpon Cupid keeping him within a border of flowers but what could that border bring but pleasure and contentment vnto them who had enclosed him within the same The Muses then honored Loue as Conquerors are wont to be vsed placing vpon his head a Crowne of greene flowers as also the most wisest in the world haue offered scrifices vnto him and to his celestiall Godhead he being the greatest power amongst the Gods that are in Heauen Therefore as I will not dispute against him so dare I not maintaine the cause of anie that should not pleade in his behalfe Herewithall the noble Knight held his peace daunting very much the other Nymph that had written against LOVE with these his liuely and excellent reasons which she thought were of such efficacie and force that they could hardly be refelled by anie other But the olde man who found himselfe to be ouercome in the argument hee had with Philistell as concerning Inchauntment and Sorcerie willing to recouer his lost honor and to winne the spurres againe in this second disputation replied against Loue in this wise I cannot denie but must needs confesse that neither the ordinary trauailes that men vse nor the day lie labours which they vsually take ought to be called Paine for they are not alwayes of one force and nature they passing away quiet rest comming in their place as the Bowe that cannot alwaies remaine stiffe and bent wheras Loue onely and that most iustly deserueth well this name of Paine An example The Laborer being payed for his worke is contented and taketh his rest the Husbandman reaping his corne taketh his ease and liueth merilie after but in Loue what quietnes can be found The poore drudge being wearie reposeth himselfe in the night so doth the tyred Traueller and euery beast whatsoeuer but the Louer what rest receiueth he either in the night or day As the day is tedious vnto him so is the night irksome and sadde are they then freed of paine The hungrie desire neuer taketh quiet ease but is in continuall paine the greedie couetous wretch crauing still golde can neuer so much as slumber one winke but the tormented Louers leadeth a wotse life farre then both these twaine because that good which he so much wisheth for and yet cannot obtaine it seemeth more pretious vnto him then all the Treasures in the world This doctrine to KNOW HIMSELFE doeth him no good at all for it cannot bridle his passions keep in his hed strong will nor curb or constraine his ardent affections and hee that cannot so doe can neuer be quiet in his minde Now the Louer coueteth alwayes and couetousnes is the child of paine Is not then Loue the author of paine and is it any thing else then meere griefe Nay although the Louer obtaineth that which he desireth yet for all that his torments cease not because he wisheth still to cōtinue the same for that the sore doubt he hath to lose that which he hath obtained with so much trauell increaseth the paine still in him The more golde the couetous myzer possesseth the more continually he wisheth A Sentence by reason the contentmēt of man is without any limit for being glutted with one kind of meat he is greedy and hungry after an other Diogines gaue out that he was contented in his pouertie but yet he was not for he did hunt after vaine-glory What shall wee then say of Louers who not onely desire to enioy their Loues but also a continuation still to gather them And when that length of much time hath quenched this fire of loue yet is there still remaining some hote cinders which presently is set on fire with the wind of desire as a flame when it is out is reuiued againe with the breath of the Ayre the selfe-same Loue beeing of this propertie that after it hath a long space troubled and tormented ouerthrowne and ruinated a man with continuall paine and anguish of minde in the ende it taketh away his life whether he will or no. Achilles knoweth this to be true who died for louing Polixena being slaine most miserablie amongst his enemies So doth Priam An Example the foolish loue of incestuous Paris being the cause he lost his life And so
thing commaund Euen so these Shepheards mockt at Loue they scorn'd at his renowne Who chafing at them quickly puld their Peacocks plumes adowne Taking them prisoners in the snares which they for others set Whilst idlely they went to hunt the light-foote Leueret So long they gib'de at him till at the last they bought it deare As did the Muses heretofore when as they amorous were And had him taken fettered fast within a Flowrie line He thinking them to haue embrac't through his great power diuine For Cupid in meane time as one enuious of their glorie Thinking the fairer that he tooke the more his victorie Resolu'd to vanquish them and in his yoake to make them draw And force them prooue against their wills the rigor of his law He at anynch doeth follow them watching most warily As doeth the Hunts-man when his game the wilde Boore he doth spie When they were set along the bankes of some cleare running brooke Or on some little Hillock small or Oake for shade had tooke Or whilst like Fairies they sat downe about some siluer spring Some working and some doing one and some another thing Some tuning their Rebeccas rude and some their Cornets shrill Each one themselues applying to what sport they had most will Whilst in the thickest of the grasse and meadowes coloured greene Their prettie foolish Flocks to daunce to feede and bleat were seene Meane time LOVE watch't with wary heed aduantage for to take To spoyle their pleasures sweet and them his prisoners for to make But he did find that this could not vpon the hast be done To vanquish such as prudent be A Sentence is not effected soone This Fort of Vertue to assault he could not find the feate Sore doubting lest in skirmishing he should repulst be beate Not easily can Loue surprise the double fenced brest Of such a one A Sentence who for his Loue of vertue is possest Where through preuention graue he knew he no good there could finde Whilst mongst chast harts his force was like a little blast of winde In th' end when long he had attempt although it was in vaine He playeth the subtile Spie with craft his purpose to obtaine Thrusting himselfe in middest of this chast and harmles flocke As doth the Wolfe when he doth meane the silly Lamhes to mocke Dauncing within the eyes most faire of fairest Shepheardesse To make himselfe be honored there with lowly humblenesse There doth he take his lodging vp this practise for to prooue And rauisheth thousands of harts most chast with her sweet Lone Meane while vnto the Shepheards all this Shepheardesse doth seeme So faire a Creature as her face immortall they do deeme They her adore within their soules and loue her perfectly They seek to serue her honoring her with zeale religiously But she makes no account of them she thinks her selfe diuine Whilst mortall men for her to loue she scorns as t' were a crime Thus Loue with pride such minds doth fill as with such heat is firde And who with such disdainfull spirits most hauty are inspirde So oft fine coyest Dames A Sentence most proud and insolent become When men they 'le haue to account of them yet mens sights will faun Euen as that Souldier who doth back returne to natiue soyle As victor not a little vaunts and bragges of golden spoyle So with vain-glory A Comparison small is not this angell possest Whose insolencie is such as Heauens themselues the same detest Honor oft-times engendred is of the most perfects thing Each one belieues his owne conceit his passion following Accounts of what is excellent within his proper soule But yet such faults as him disgrace he neuer doth controule He seeth the goodliest gifts he hath A Sentence to be distaind with pride Yet on this vice so palpable to looke he cannot bide This Shepheardesse Sycambra proud was call'd and christned so Whose high aspiring wrought in th' end her finall ouerthrow A faire young Shepheard did her loue her did he lone alone But at her hands poore silly soule contentment found he none For though she knew affection his did towards her surmount Yet she not of his friendship waide nor of him made no count Too too diuine she thought her selfe for any for to loue Loues selfe so high she lookt her will could hardly change or moue Yet by the selfe-same Loue her pride was punisht to her cost And this presumptuous minde of hers was cause her life she lost For now behold LOVE who to 'th Gods for might yeelds not at all Brauely totame proud stubborne hearts that pride might haue a fall Beyond this loftie minded Girle doth soare the prize to haue Whilst to a heart more proud then hers he makes her stoope like slane This was a Springall young who of his youth was in the prime Sanguin as Adon faire as faire Nurcissus in his time As trim and fresh as May whose chiefe delight and exercise Was hunting of the rauenous Wolfe as was his vsuall guise The poysoned darts of restles Loue which loyall hearts doth slay His wonted rest brake not at all by night nor yet by day He neuer dream'd of nor ere knew what those sad waylings means Which gripes the Louers oft with griefs and makes them pule leane He carefull looking to his sheepe his time away did passe In hunting was his chiefest ioy his loue wet fishing was Thus doe you see how Loue reueng'd himselfe on that coye Dame Who ore-presumptuous both his grace and fauour did disdaint Thus hurlie burlie makes he being the sire of leand debate Confounds all orders good and sense and changeth our estate So braue Achilles lou'd yet could not lou'd be of his friend So did Apollo Daphne like but t w'as vnto no end So thousands loued haue who nere could right rewarded be Whilst they true tryall made of Loues most vninst crueltte A Sentence Sycambra she whom others lik'te did loue sâ—â—s being lou'd And seeking others to transforme herselfe transformde she proon'd The louely Swaine which she adorde Armanda â—â—epedso Armanda whom Sycambra sought yet nere could find him the. Of stature he was tall well made of personage and face And in discretion bare himselfe with trim and seemely grace His chestnut haire was like vnto the whitish waters wet Which dangling downe in tresses faire did waue alongst his necke His faultlesse for-head large and broad as outward witnes gane By secret instinct as it were of his stout courage brane His eyes in colour like to blacke with twinckling eye-browes hid The swift flight which from bowe doth flie resemble aptly did His Currall mouth was Rubie red like to the ruddyrose When through the heat of Sunne himselfe he daintily doth close His checks white as the Creame wherein red strawberies one flings His Gate and port like to the state Maiesticall of kings His naked chinne declar'd his youth on which no haire was yet His well-growne armes his valour
much and much to thy renowne Be thou content to see her breathe who by thy Grace doth liue And who to view thy hurts in soule more then thy selfe would grieue No Treasure like a faihfull Friend so rich you can denise Who to himselfe gets foes in minde much diseontented dies Friendship from Heauen first come and as a gift diuine is held A Sentence And mortall men from ouerthrowes it saued hath not seld Then Deare vouchsafe for to appease the torments I endure Appease my sorrowes and my wounds nigh mortall daine to cure Nor force me not lest dying I when life from me shall part Doe call vpon thee in my death as if chiefe cause thou wert Ah speake then my Delight and cleare from me this bitter storme By comforting my deadly woes which I too long haue borne To th' end thy kindnesse milde to helpe my sicknesse may be seene As hitherto the Author of my troubles thou hast beene But why doest thou so long delay to answere vnto mee Hard harted more then flintie rocks which in the mountains bee Ah cruell man I well perceiue my loue thou doest disdaine Nor wilt vouchsafe in cheerfull wise to staunch my bleeding vaine I see thou meanst with those thine eyes prides dartes still me to pierce To close me in my fatall Tombe through rigor thine so fierce Well be it so I am content For happie I them gesse Who dying A Sentence see to dye with them their griefes which then doe cease And since I finde that sauadge-like thou wilt not rue my state I am well pleasde to end my dayes because thou doest me hate Then yet but daine to speake to me say if thou wilt asswage Or still increase these plagues of mine which doe within me rage Cruell dispatch my loyaltie which nere from thee did swerue Say in thy conscience doeth it not one word of thee deserue Alas A Sentence answere but I or no what lesse thing can one finde Or baser priz'de then is a word which is but sound of winde Thus said she sighing ceast whilst teares from cheekes like showres did fall Yet nor her selfe nor teares nor speech Armanda mou'd at all Nay more so cruell was he growne as he disdaind to looke Vpon her face her beautious face which hardly he could brooke Her passionate words could not perswade they made him hate her more That he so long had giuen her eare himselfe he blamed sore In th' end forc't by the vrgings oft and importunitie Of sad Sicambra who like Ghost did haunt him with her crie With furious lookes and frowning brow these words at last he spoke Which like a dismall Oracle her heart in sunder broke Foolish Sicambra thus in vaine to vexe me what doest meane From these fond fittes of idle Loue thy minde why doest not weane T' is thou that makst Armanda die in worse then wofull wise Armanda who thy speech and loue contemnes as worthlesse prise Thy tedious tale told to no end to heare he little ioyes He dies tormented tir'de and gaul'd to heare thee make such noyse Now prie thee prie thee let alone Armanda miserable Who for to take his wonted rest is not through thee scarce able He at thy follies doeth but smile his chiefe delight and loue Is for to chase wild beasts of prey his strength gainst them to prooue He cannot like of any thing except his flocke of sheepe With which to pleasure his not small he in the fields doth keepe To force one loue against his will is what can neuer be Neuer the same hath bene as yet nor shall you find 't in me For loyall Loue that it may dure and neuer prooue to faint Doth of himselfe A Sentence seaze on the heart without force or constraint Where being forc't t' is alwayes bad vnperfect and vnsound For nothing's goodly but what 's built on Friendships firmest ground Then why fond Gyrle art thou so mad to loue me to constraine By this thy earnest vrging speech which thou too well canst faine I tell thee I in those false eyes nor face of thine delight Nor doe I pittie ought at all thy hard and heauy plight I laugh to see thee heauie weepe to heare thee sigh I smile And in thy martyring much doe ioy whilst thou complainst the while Poore wretch thou doest but loosethy time nor euer shalt thou finde Armanda will his fancie change to thee for to be kinde He 'le neuer loue thee For before his heart should so conspire To quench so worthlesse flames a death most strange he would desire For neuer greater mischiefe vile can any himselfe bring Then when he tries the lawes of Loue and feeles his poysonous sting Vnhappie they that know the same and wise I him account That with this bedlem passion mad will not at all confrount My yeares are too too young mine age not ripe enough as yet My selfe to subiect as a slaue to Loue his furious fit Nor haue I time enough to be a scholler in his schoole And I am wilde enough although I play not so the foole Then leaue me to my selfe that I may of my selfe dispose Whose pleasure hunting is whose sport is quiet soft repose And come not thus to trouble me with these thy bawling cries Which I assure thee I disdaine in most contemptuous wise Be gone nor looke here any more thou come this text to preach For for such sicknesse as these I am no pleasing leach And therewith all the Shepheard sterne departs and all alone Sicambra leanes vncomforted Sanus pittying of her mone Alacke what should she doe as now She could doe nought but waile Which rather did encrease her griefe then cause the same to quaile No teares our passions can represse which from the heart arise A signe they are of woe but want the perfect remedie It is but lost time to lament whil'st weeping we reuiue Afresh these cruell torments which doe martire vs aliue Now as she wofully thus tooke on in this her desperate plight Kinde Zerphir who had sought her much on her by chance did light And seeing her afflicted thus all desolate and sole He sighing weepes to view her weepe and with her doth condole So suffereth the Louer chast for his sweet Ladies sake If she but grieued be the same he at his soule doth take He of the paine participates which in her minde is growne And more her hurt doth trouble him then that which is his owne Zerphir then did endure as much as did the Shepheardesse Her teares were his his pensiue plight then his was nothing lesse But after much lamentings sad with many a bitter sob He sweetly thus gan comfort her whil'st fast her heart did throb Sicambra who thus miserable thy life hath made to me Who hath thy fortune brought as mine thus pittious for to be Whence comes these sighes true witnesses of thine in interuall troubles Whence slow these teares apparant showes that care within thee double I st
possible a wight to fiad so cruell in his will To worke or once in minde to thinke so faire a Virgin ill What heart so harsh degenerate can liue here on the ground That to so rare a beautious face he dare a foe be found The all doing Gods whose Essence is immortall and diuine Haue heretofore sought fauours out lesse faire a thousand time Phoebus of not so faire as thou did dearely like and deeme And Ioue inferiours thine by far did fancie and esteeme Who then hard hearted so could be to play so vile apart As for to seeke to trouble thee who more then Goddesse art Neuer was yet diuinitie to be offended seene But for their rash temeritie it hath well punisht beene Then Lady speake who could ecclips thy Sun-shine glorie thus Or ore thy feature faire who could become so tyrannous The hearts of many Shepheards proud hast not thou vanquished Thy diamond eyes their haughtie spirits haue they not rauished Then why should'st thou thus mourne and weepe Ah cease to keepe this guile And from thy heart all dismall care abandon and exile Too louely is thy countenance thy coarse too sweete to see That in the flower of youth thou should'st withouten Louers bee Mong'st which thy loyall Zerphir still most dutious thou shalt finde And who more then his proper good thy seruice aie doth minde Whil'st on the Altar of good will his heart in zealous wise Vnto thy Saint-like beautie he deuout doth sacrifice Ah if thou wert acquainted with this heate so vehement With which Loue doth incensevs so whil'st he doth vs torment If thou but knew'st this ill by which such crosses sower we haue Nere leaning vs vntill our coarse it bringeth to the graue Or if thou canst imagine by thine owne experience How much they suffer whom Loue keepes within his warlike fence Then by the selfesame bitter panges which tortor thy sad heart Doe take some pittie on my woes and rue my deadly smart If thou desir'st to haue thy wound to be recur'd with ease To heale mine inward festring sore let it not thee displease Chase hence mine ill drie vp my teares and by one selfe same way Driue thine likewise from hence which else will soone worke my decay Liue after Zerphir thy true slaue withouten teene and care Happâ—e liue thou Sicambra sweet in beautle enerrare Passe cheerfully thy time with him who merily would liue If he might see these ioylesse fits thou ouer once would'st giue Deare let me holde this life of mine as tennant vnto thee That freede from all disasters bad thy heart he mighten see Helpe thou thy selfe Physition sweet and driue away these fits These fits companions vnto griefe which in thy countinance fits And bring not him vnluckilie before his time be come Who is thy secret seruant sworne vnto his dismall Tombe Ah speake to me mine onely ioy and wipe thy watrie eyes Of late the clearest lightes of heauen they were not made forcries Giue to my frighted heart some breath and yeeld to him such scope That one day he of that his ill may be acquit through hope Put him in comfort that though now his fortunes in the waine He may once fiade it at the full and franchisde be againe But why Sicambra speak'st thou not And why art thou so sad This humour thine melancolie doth make me almost mad Ah answere me and by thy paine what I doe suffer indge Being ore loyall vnto thee at which I doe not grudge The parly portall of thy mouth at last yet open breake Vntill hold me not thus in suspence but some what to me speake For to importune thee with words I neuer meane to leaue Vntill some happie blest repile I shall from thee receaue Speake then at last that my poore heart may know if it shall cease From doubtfull dread or if thou meanst to graunt it wished peace Thus Zerphir woo'd but she that had her minde as then not there No answere to him gaue againe nor what he said did heare She not so much as thought on him nor what he had indur'd For her owne sake Loue all her thoughts so strongly had immurde Yet he so earnest was with her desiring her to show What her intention was towards him whereby he might it know That in the end with choller mou'd outragious through griefe Her passions ruling ouer her and desprate of reliefe With pale and wanny looke she forth to him these words doth send The heauie sentence of his death and of his fatall end What moues thee Zerphir vnto her so troublesome to bee Who cares not for thee nor accounts of thy griefe nor thee Who through her dismall fortune hard hath so much for to care As other mens misfortunes she to heare no time hath spare Say what I haue to doe with thee or with thy constancie When I nere meane to goe about to quit this courtesie Thou nothing feel'st compar'd to me my griefe to thine is small Thy sicknes in respect of mine no sicknes is at all To helpe thy maladie I am too much diseasde in minde To chase away thy cares mine owne troubles too great I finde A sickly Patient sore attatch't with sharpe diseases rife Vnto another soule diseasde cannot restore him life I cannot helpe thee for for want of succour I my selfe Complaine withouten remedie yet cannot I finde health With selfe same paine as thou art I am vexed through Loue Nor Fortune me to fauour more then thee as yet I proue Seeke then elsewhere to swage thy woes mongst such as so are bent And suffer me that I alone my sorrowes may lament Nor me importune any more for fore I pittie take Of thee the Sunne shall leaue the skie and firie coach forsake Enough tis I alreadie burne with more then extreame paine Withouten entertaining more a second worser gaine It neuer shall be said or seene Sycambra burnes with fire Of nouellchange as if to rage she had a swift desire For she vnkind Armanda still will loue and euer shall Nor euer any but himselfe in heart she will enstall She death will chuse before her faith she once doe falsifie Though churlish her he Sanus remorse doth vse discourteously Thy seruice nere of me shall finde reward or recompence Then get thee gone goe Shepheard goe dispatch I say from hence Thus said she angrie flings away in minde tormented sore As scarred wolfe from thickest flies or foming saundge Boore When they doe heare the Eccoing woods with noyce of Hounds toring Which of their taking at their prey vnluckie message bring So went Sycambra who did leaue poore Zerphir in a sound Whilst banning his hard fortunes all he grunting falls on ground He stood amazde Enon like and as a Bedlem mad When as how Paris false had her forsooke she tidings had He hauing lost his Mistris loathes to liue such life to rew As Piramus for Thisbies sake himselfe vnhappie slew The Nymph he followeth heauily who galde was at the hart As
know but too too well whose perfect Picture right Is too too liuely portraide forth within mine inward spright T is thou I know but too too well though changd thou art the same I for Sycambra thee will know thou still shalt be my dome T is thou t is thou that diest with sobs and sighes tormented thou Whilst blest thou thinkst thy selfe to leaue a life so deleroâ—â— T is thou that parting from this world this wold is maked left And voyd of pleasure and delight which with thee is bereft Woe is me and must these eyes yet no eyes but streames of brine Liue for to see eclipsed to be so faire a Sun-shine Whose glittring Lampes my chiefest light of yore were wont to bee Without whose glances bright nor day nor morning I could see Alas my God why was I not when that I first was borne Transformd into some stone then thus to be false Cupids scorne Why died I not before the time in loue with thee I fell Since thy plagues vndeserude doe proue my soule a Criminell Why doe I not miscarrie but against my will that liue Through force of this so vmust Laewe the more my soule to grieue Which forceth her to die that doth deserue to liue for are Whilst wretched me who merrit death it will not take away Ah too too partiall lawlesse law of miserable Loue Accursed be that day wherein thou first this life didst proue O Gods dart downe your thunder bolts vpon my hatefull head Plague me not her t is I not she that should be punished This trunke of mine vnprofitable of vitall breath bereane Since that mischieuous Loue doth me in my best loue deceiue Ding downe to hell this coarse of mine this wicked periur'd carse Consuming it to powder small by flashing lightnings force Kill Zerphir kill that by oue death he end may all his wee And with the same rid all his plagues that in him daily growe But fairest Faire must thou needs die O losse inestimable No no thou canst not die for death to kill thee is not able Thy glory mongst both Gods and men shall neuer haue an end Despite of Destny Vertue this from Tombe shall still defend Within the hearts of liuing men shall be thy lasting graue And as another Pallas thou shalt reuerence of them haue Thy soule hath heretofore too rich and royall tired beene Thy beautie eke too sacred and thy Faith too constant seene Then as base seruile Bond-slanes poore tide vnto Vassalage Subiect to be or homage yeeld to deaths ore hastie rage No louely Ladie thou shalt liue and Zerphir he shall die Because he came not as he should to helpe thee speedily Zerphir must die who by his death atrue certificate Shall shew how through the want of thee that be to liue doth hate Zerphir must die because he cannot after thee seruine Nor without thy sweet companie delight to be aliue Zerphir must die because depriude he is of thy sweet face And therefore meanes by selfe same steps the selfe same path to trace Yet my soules ioy if of my griefe if truth that nere did swarue The smallest sparke of fauour left did ere of thee deserue If my deare blood to beautie thine which willing I afford As sacrifice for to be shed merrits of thee one word Ah then looke vpon Zerphir thine these sighes and sobs restaine And fore he dieth vouchsafe to speake to him a word or twaine This is the onely boone I craue to which but condiscend And most contented then below to th' other Ghostsile wend. But I perceiue thou wilt not grant this fute cruell to me I cannot this small grace obtaine I finde it will not be Why then le ts brauely hence depart le ts die her face before And lets before her seeke to gaine the 〈◊〉 Elizian shore So saying he full oft farewell Sycumbra did rehearce Which done his sword he plact against his brest the same to pearce When as Sycambra wakt as t' were from forth her passions sad To see Zerphir arriued there by her was much aâ—rad But more she troubled was when she percou'd how in that place He as one desperate would haue slaine himselfe before her face This forced her pittiously to looke towards him and with her hand To make a signe as though she would grannt what he did demand Beckning to him to throw his blade from him which he ore bolde Had drawne to sley himselfe whilst she her meaning would vnfolde To which the Shepheard willing greede approaching to her nie Longing to heare what she would say resolude with her to die He comforts her he cheareth her he praieth her leaue her mone Whilst she with much adoe these words her last will forth doth grone Zerphir if I haue iniurde thee as needs I must confesse Yet more reuenge then what is light on me thou needs not presse If heretofore my beautie proud hath oft abused thee The heauens to punish that foule fault thou now dost iustly see I feele and that but rightfully the very selfe same griefe That thou endur'st to liue disdaind daining Sanus reliefe I die Zerphir I die in paine because as thou I loue Then with my death contented be since I this penance proue Now I coniure thee if thou feelst the tortors and the plagues Allotted vnto Louers true which neuer cease to rage If thou dost know that sdainfull power of Cupids matchlesse force Which makes vs often count of such as yeeld vs no remorse And such as much doe make of vs as barborous and vngrate To scorne their sutes and for their Loue them to repaie with hate Then Zerphir pardon I beseech since I haue made thee smart Thou seest although not by thy meanes enough reuengde thou art That eye which once did thee contemne with ouer-haughtie scorne Death to requite thy wrongs on it and vpon me hath sworne Sycambra dieth plungd in woe and none doth her deplore Her countenance and complexion both are chaunged ouer sore Her face is blooalesse and heate doth keepe within her vaines Her armes are brawne-falne in her cheekes no colour now remaines She dyeth she dieth desirous more to die then for to liue Onely that thee she could not helpe nor succour she doth grieue Ah Zerphir if to thinke on me no anguish thee t will bring If for thy ouer cruell Dame it moues thee any thing And if that Loue of late so hot be not as yet growne colde But as a valiant conquerour thy heart doth prisoner holde If yet affection thou bearst her who neuer thee affected And that all pittie thou hast not from pittying her reiected Then humblie I doe thee beseech by that rare former Loue That these thy griefes right bottomlesse compassion kinde may mone And that this thy compassion sweet for me may so preuaile As thou to graunt one sute to her vouchsafe not for to faile And this it is I beg of thee that after th'Iron sleepe Of death shall cease vpon my
because of this small grace I obtained at my Mistris hand beganne to perswade my selfe of things that neither might nor could well be brought to passe A small matter maketh Louers to hope or feare I now tooke vpon mee to make this Dittie following which as sweetely as I could I sung before my Ladie Heare it then though vnworthie it be of your patience LADIE how much doe I respect and loue Your beautie rare which doeth my heart controule When lest that you to anger I should moue I bite my tongue and silent am in soule Ore me you haue still such a hand As none but you may me command I rather chuse a thousnd times to die Without offending your most heauenly face Then like to Dedals sonne fall foolishly And so through rashnes end my youthfull race Borne was I for to be your slane My seruice you alone shall haue If I of you such reuerent regard Haue as to you I dare not tell my griefe Ah then but gesse my Crosses ouer hard By these my teares I bide without reliefe Thinke that as others I doe mourne The fire kept close more hote doeth burne Before to you my cares I will bewray I le perish as your loyall seruant true Death cannot be so grieuous any way As for to be offensiue vnto you So you be not displeasd by me The losse of life no losse shall be A double burning burthen I doe beare My selfe consuming with a two-fold woe First for because I loue and hold you deare And next because I dare not tell you so A pittious paine that to conceale Which most we couet to reueale The Law doth men sometimes compell and make All that they know not to disclose or tell But LOVE all speech away from vs doth take Which is a plague as bad as second Hell We must not for our selues once speake Whilst silence makes our hearts to breake But though my tongue most secretly this ill Doth keepe my pittious eyes yet shew the same Thus whilst I loyall do contiuue still I counted am a coward to my shame Because that I am ouer kinde I am condemn'd of abiect minde To reape for louing true a mortall wound I holde is as a sacred thing diuine And so I rather wish dead to be found Then a deniall should cause ruine mine What neede I then my griefes her show When what I would faire shee doth know I le rather flie to Heauen with swiftest wing Then that mine earnest sute my Dame should grieueâ— To speake too much A Sentence much danger oft doth bring When warie silence nere doth blame receiue Of Gods we learne secret to bee Little to say and much to see Then Dearest since thou art not ignorant Of my hard state rue on my pittious plight Which though in colours forth I do not paint Yet they in conscience merit fauour right Who serueth well A Sentence though he not crauing stand Yet doth his good deserts enough demand After I had sighed forth this amorous Dittie it pleased my Ladie to allow it for passable and currant shee doing mee the honor to sing it her selfe now and then vnto the sweete sound of her daintie Lute But O thrice happie Song to haue bene thought worthie for to liue in the sacred memorie of my Mistrisse and to be warbled forth with her sweet melodious voyce This reuerend and graue Sire was the beginning and first progresse of my chaste Loue which made me so carefull as I could take no rest in somuch as like one ouer-curious I would needs know the euent of the same and therevpon one day I addressed me vnto an Ecco of whom I demanded many things which shee resolued me of suddainly But yet her answere was so fatall and heauie vnto mee as it not a little irketh me to repeate it Neuerthelesse because I will hide nothing of my proceedings from you listen if you please For thus it was ECCO Harke Goddesse of these Woods vnto my neuer ceaslesse cries Who here most blessedly dost liue exempt from vanities Thou Goddesse which through knowledge thine of prudent fore-seeing Fate Doest know our endes and deaths and of our liues the course and state Goddesse of heauenly Nature right to whom Ioue doeth reueale Great secerets of importance and nought from thee doth conceale Thou that of vs according to thy owne will doest dispose Thou which one while doest make vs liue in ioy and then in woes To thee to thee doe I appeale To answere me then come Whose voyce seemes for to flie from out a hollow ghastly Tombe Who shall relieue my woes and breathe into me vit all breath Into my soule ore-chargde with griefe and ouerwhelmde with death ECCO Death In what estat shall Loue which cuts my wings of thoughts ore-glad Finde my poore minde which when it left it left it ouer sad ECCO Ouer-sad What with my heart once strong as steele gainst griefes shall then be done Since hardly it was made to yeeld shall it be ouercome ECCO Ouercome After so many wearie toyles where-through I needs must perish What will my Lady count of this my too too deare bought seruice ECCO Vice But shall I from this wretched state whilst I doe liue be free Or shall I still vnto her will as seruile Bond-slaue bee ECCO Bond-slaue bee Ah say what good at length shall I find in this my cold damage What new come nouell Accident shall set a fire my courage ECCO Courage Shall Rage and Furie then within my bones vnconstant burne And for to quench this flaming fire to me shall none returne ECCO None returne Who is the cause of this my griefe and of mine vsuall paine Since I haue alwaies honoured the great Palladian ECCO Palladian Why sencelesse find I sences mine from Reason thus to mone Who workes this vncoth feare in me Say is it cruell Loue ECCO Cruell Loue. And is it cruell to one that is the authour of my griefe The greatest of Gods that will mongst God be honoured first and chiefe ECCO First and chiefe Shall I then be vnfortunate starre-crossed in my will And without succour succourlesse must I continue still ECCO Continue still Ah Arcas miserable wretch behold now here the life Which thou must lead whilst thou dost liue begirt with sorrow rife Chuse rather death then thus to liue in endlesse miserie By dying all thy griefes doe end they woes and anguish die Seeke in this vncoth Desart sad some kind of gentle death Who 's plungd in paine should nere desire to draw his vitall breath A Sentence One plague's as bad as is some death one death ends torments all Then death not life I le chuse and take of euills what is most small This was the pittilesse answere of cruell Ecco which made me bedeawe my cheekes many times with brinish teares and to wish my selfe to be as lowe vnder the ground as I was high vpon the earth whilest I consumed peecemeale away in most wofull
faire and diuine throughout the world But as mortall men deserue norecompence from the heauens vntill they haue by thousand good proofes testified the faithfull and dutifull seruice towards them So I will not presume to importune you to affect me at all much more to yeeld me any guerdon for my paines vntill that by infinites of dutious deuoyres I shew myselfe insome part worthy of your gratious seruice which hath bound me so firmely vnto your peerlesse beautie Mine onely request vnto you is that it would please you to haue me in your louely remembrance and not to entertaine any other as your loyall seruant before you shall haue iust occasion to discard and giue me ouer For as no doubt it will be little pleasing vnto you hereafter to repent you that ye haue made a worse choyse than of my selfe so will it be farre more bitter vnto me than a most desperate death to be discharged from seruing her whom I loue more then mine owne heart and cherish more then mine owne life yea then mine owne soule which is now wholy yours seeing that he that is owner of the same is the inuiolable slaue vnto your incomparable beauties DON HORATIO Izabella for so was her name not acquainted with the humour of Loue as she iested at his amorous passion so did she scoffe at his Letter making no account either of the one or the other But as Cremona and Mantua were giuen by Augustus the Emperour as a spoyle vnto his men at Arius and Souldiers because they had taken part against him holding with his enemie the inhabitants thereof being driuen from thence and hardly entreated and as such Subiects of that Prince are worse vsed and with farre more rigour and crueltie who proue Rebles vnto him then those which haue bene alwaies faithfull and true Euen so such proud audatious and disdainfull harts who at the first make no account of Loue and refuse his yoke most stubbornly are more fiercely plagued after they are once taken downe and conquered then those who betimes submit themselues vnto this seruitude accustoming themselues by little and little to support and beare this bondage patiently of which Sabella may be a sufficient witnesse as ere long you shall heare Horatio was then forgotten as the Infant that hath forgotten his lesson which was taught him and his Letter torne in peeces which afterwards the proud Virgin bought at a high rate Meane space as two Riuers which mingle themselues together A comparison enuiron a whole countrie and became a little Sea And as the fire being blowne with two paire of Bellowes kindleth more then when it hath but one So Don Horatio pricked forward by valour and Loue began to doe incredible matters against the Infidels of Affrica So that he became to be famous in euery mans mouth there being no talke but onely of his worthie and valiant exployts Izebella hearing him to be thus praised marking how the King himselfe with all his chiefe Martialists did highly commend him began by little and little to grow gentle and milde As the hard Diamond becommeth soft put into the blood of a Goat and that great Masse and lumpe of crueltie of hers beganne to waxe more kinde and to breake in sunder as the Snow falne thicke vpon the top of a hill at the shining of the Sunne melteth and droppeth away to nothing in small time But yet these light motions were not sufficient nor strong enough for Loue whereon he might build a firme foundation he knowing the presence and the speech of the braue Portingall Knight would doe more good then all these which were no other then castles built in the aire or conceits framed by an idle head they passing away as the clouds do poste from one to another in the firmament Not long after newes was brought vnto the Court for certaine that Horatio had wonne a notable victorie of the King of Fesse kild many of his enemies and gotten a notable rich bootie and spoyle amongst which was taken prisoner a maruailous faire Ladie sister vnto the Barbarian King married vnto the Lieftenant of that countrie Izabella who cared not much whether she lost Horatio or no before these newes because she made no great account of him began now to doubt that this captiue Dame would take her conquerour prisoner robbing her of that which she refused to take for her owne so as now she began to wish for to haue him playing as young childrē doe who after they haue resused some certaine thing begin to grieue mightily when they see the same giuen vnto others and this was the cause she now began to wake and looke about her Diuers strange and prodigious are the effects of Loue which maketh me thinke that Force onely not Venus was his mother and that Dispaire first begot him for he doth nothing but violently not vnlike vnto the thunder-bolt which neuer tumbleth downe vpon the ground but it breaketh one thing or another But now Horatio laden with fame with spoyles and with prisoners returneth home to Portingall vpon whome euerie one casteth his eye whom euerie man doth highly commend and vnto whome all degrees whatsoeuer doe vse much dutious respect and humble reuerence The King himselfe doth him great grace entertaining him with high commendations giuing him many kind thanks for his so valorous honourable carriage against his enemies yet notwithstanding all these fauours he rather chose to haue had one amorous glaunce from his Mistris then all these Royall curtesies He seeth himselfe honoured by the King made much of by the Nobles respected by the inferiour sort and to be accounted of and commended by euery bodie Nothing wanteth for the perfection of his glorie He cannot wish for more then he hath nor desire more then is alreadie attributed vnto him yet neuerthelesse he maketh no account of all these his good fortunes no more then that man doth who enioy a most pretious and inestimable Iewell disdaineth and refuseth other little rich stones although they be much valued and accounted of by other The onely presence of his Ladie was that which pleased his minde and the least sweet looke cast from her smiling countenance bred more contentment in him then all the honours and entertainments whatsoeuer Euerie man hath a particular affectection that gouerneth him and some one thing which he esteemeth more then all the rest to enioy which he accounteth his chiefe glorie pride and contentment in this world despising all whatsoeuer else might happen by any other meanes vnto him Some delight in greedie couetousnes some in renowmed Chiualrie some in aspiring ambition and the most part in hote and furious Loue. Nothing pleaseth these kind of men but onely what is affected through these things not esteeming ought to be good or allowable which commeth any other way although it be profitable praise-worthie and faire And this was our Portingall Knighs conceit who now was growne into such credit in the court with the
their dyet with better stomack then such as are ouer-satisfied glutted before Or else it is as I thinke for that the diuell is in these leaude liuers who more and more enticeth and prouoketh them to follow this sinne from which they can neuer without the great grace of OOD retire nor withdraw themselues vntill such time as vtter ruine and destruction falleth vpon their heads But now Horatio began to loose his wonted reputation and credit euery one speaking ill of him for his new Minion which he had gotten hee being then as infamous for his bad life as he was before renowmed for his worthy vertues yet was he so shamelesse and so impudent that he would stoppe his eares vnto such as sought to giue him good counsell and aduise making a shewe as if he knewe no such matter and that all was well whilst he was so bewitched with this raging and incestious Hellena as he could not be quiet nor rest any where except this notorious Curtezan were by him insomuch as hee carried her with him into the Warres wheresoeuer he went which shee made earnest shewe to desire faining that she loued him so dearely as she could not liue without his companie when the truth was shee sought all the wayes that might be to be with her former Husband againe and to be reuenged of Horatio who kept her sore against her will Such foolish women doing much like vnto Lice or Fleas which leaue a dead coarse presently assoone as they finde whereon no more to bite and so these kinde of common ware neuer loue but for their owne commoditie or profit No more then the common Queanes who sent packing away the prodigall Childe without as much as one crosse or pennie in his purse to blesse him withall Now whilst our Gouernour of Ansillses liued thus licentiouslie the chaste Izabella chanced to heare how badly her periurde Husband had vsed her how ill he had demeaned himselfe toward her she vnderstandeth of his follies and hath knowledge of his ouer-lustfull and raging fault O how cruell is the wound that one receiueth of his friend and how grieuouslie doe we take an iniurie of those whom we account and holde as chiefe defenders of our wellfare and our good reputing them as our best friends To receiue a wrong of a foe is an vsuall matter but to be abused by ones deare friend doth gall the very heart Too true doth this poore Ladie finde the same who hearing of these vnwelcome newes thought presently as gallant spirited Portia to giue ouer her life Diuers conceits ranne in her troubled braine whilst shee is vexed and tormented with rage and disdaine with griefe and iealousie One while she thinketh to die and then chaunging that aduice she determineth to reuenge her selfe of her vnconstant Husband but she bare him so loyall an affection and loued him so dearely that this also was quickly out of her minde Now shee resolueth and determineth to commit her selfe vnto the mercie of the Seas and windes and to saile to seeke him out at Ansillies to complaine iustlie of him there to reprehend him for his fault and to be obiect vnto him in his vicious kinde of life But disdaine quicklie altered that deuise thinking with her selfe that in so doing shee should too much abase her selfe to venture and indaunger her selfe so much for a most leaude and vile licentious Palliard hee no way deseruing so charitable an exployt at her hands Manie times did she send vnto him and often did she write one while sharply another while sweetly but all was one with him for neuer would he vouchsafe her any answere by Letter or by word of mouth Onely hee would Iest and gibe at her messengers and messages whilst being inchaunted with the vnhonest loue of his enemie he studied how he might satisfie and content her alone which his last bad vsage grieued her more then the rest enforcing her to beginne to lament afresh Ah said she how iustly am I punished for mine owne error Who will bemoane him that would not be warned by the harmes of his neighbour What reasonable excuse can that man alledge for himselfe that falleth into the selfe-same pit into which hee hath seene him fallen that hath gone before him How many wretched Ladies like vnto my selfe most vngodlie abandoned and cast off by their wicked Husbands might I haue had for examples not to beleeue these flattering men Shall I come and complaine vnto thee wofull Ariadne Alacke I dare not Shall I make my mone vnto thee haplesse Enone No no I must not seeing the least of your misfortunes had bene enough to haue made me wise O iust God reuenger of all Oathes broken that so cruelly diddest punish Laomedon for infringing his promise Canst thou suffer the most periured wretch in the world to liue and to scape scotfree Am I so cruelly destined that he must follow me with thousand torches of griefe vnto my Tombe who should haue hene in right vnto me as the comfortable Sunne-shine of my life O faithlesse Husband how quickly hast thou trod vnder thy feete thy faire promises And how little a while hath lasted the care of loyall Loue betwixt vs And now thou hast so miserablie deceiued mee What canst thou haue of mee more then my death which I know thou wouldest be wonderfull glad of to the end I might not vrge thy guiltie conscience for this so foule a fact against me And certainly were it not for this I would most willingly die but to the ende I may somwhat vexe and reuenge my selfe of thee I will although vnwillingly liue a little longer knowing nothing can be more greeuous or vnwelcome vnto thee then my companie and presence Yea I will come before thee face to face and vpbraide thee for thy fault euen vnto thy teeth I will pull out those shamelesse eyes of that impudent Strumpet who keepeth vniustlie that from me which is mine owne and whome thou preferrest before thy lawfull and chaste spouse That done I will hasten the heauens to shorten my life I will make my daily prayers that I may die quickly The foming waues therefore shall not hinder mee of my iourney the colde Seas shall not freeze the hote desire I haue to see thee neither the feare of the rising billowes shall let me from comming vnto thee I being not able any longer to liue vnlesse I may come to put thee in mind of thy fault not doubting but the raging waters will be more kinde vnto me then thou art at lest-wise I meane to trie them by reason of the small ioy I haue of my life which I neither esteeme nor make account of at all Thus lamrnted this comfortlesse Ladie whome Loue and Iealousie egged forwards to goe onwards with her iourney No perill to giue ore her purpose can her make So little care shee of her loathed life doth take Often is it seene that such desperate persons as are wearie of their liues An example scape the
you go about to keep me from him whither I will or no. Nor was she deceiued of her purpose though thrise happie in that it pleased God to call her himselfe from out this vale of miserie and so by that meanes to saue her soule For no sooner was shee hindered of her intent but what for anger thereof and what for extreame griefe for Horatios death she fell into a dangerous and hote burning Feuer which so violently seazed vpon euery part of her as her weake bodie being not able to endure the fierie raging thereof shee yeelded her tormented carkas vnto death within sixe dayes after At what time shee was freed from all her former troubles and after her death she was according vnto her desire enterred with her husband leauing behinde her many commendations for her matchlesse vertues her losse being lamented of cuerie good bodie as was fufficiently showne by the pittifull laments that were euerie where vsed for her sake because of the rare examples of chastitie of patience of modest demeanure of loue and of loy altie which she carryed towards her vngratefull and vnkind Husband And this Shepheard is the historie I meant to report vnto thee but because that Diana looking palish with her siluer hornes meaneth to runne her course entering into the place of her glistering brother the Sunne wee will for this time vntill to morrow morning withdraw our selues vnto our Cortages and then as earlie as thou wilt shalt thou begin the discourse of thy Loue againe Wherevpon the olde man and Arcas began to retire themselues homewards and by the way they encountered a faire Shepheardesse who proposed a Riddle vnto another desiring him to interpret the same rightly And this was it that followeth For others good and profit I outragious still Consume what doth my proper vigor entertaine And though my burning is not vnto anie ill Where I should prais de be they vngras of all me doe name Father of liuing Creatures all I am renoumde And Lord I am ouer the Time on earth that staies Yet doth a little thing dant mee and me confound And of a Conquerour conquered forceth mee strait-waies But in the end although that I am plagued thus Through succour of the windes when all thinke I am dead I rise againe to men of times most dangerous And through my harmefull rage I fill them full of dread My mother I deuour whilst I a straunger nonrish For ill I good doe to my spightfull enemies Iudge then since Serpents in my bosome I doe cherish If I ore wretched am not in most pittious wise The other Shepheard knew not the meaning of this Riddle which the old man interpreted in this sort Your Emgma faire Shepherdesse signifieth the fire which being for the vse of man to warme him consumeth deuoureth the wood it being his mother and nourisher It is counted the Father of all liuing Creatures who without heat cannot liue Although he is of great force yet doth a very small thing vanquish him which is water Neuerthelesse when he sheweth to be dead a little blast of winde maketh him to burne more furious then before He doth good to such as count and call him vngratefull in warming them with his heate and deuoureth his mother which is the reason he tearmeth himselfe to be most miserable and wretched This solution euery one commended when as they were walking homewards one of the Shepheards sung this Ode following To Louers what good doth the Sunne If by his beames they be vndone LOVE' 's as bitter as is Rue Blest are such as nere is knew He is accurst that comes tot'h Sea Once were and in port waist haue ease To Louers what good doth their Sunne If by his beames they are vndone A fend Louer doth not â—â—ril Name nor fame of mant inberit Since he is fee to his owne health Whilst in fire he burnes himselfe To Louers what good doth their Sâ—â—â—e If by his beames they be vndone Griefe 〈◊〉 Loue tendeth nis Pleasure is his 〈…〉 Better laugh then wade and sigh Who then Loues not his owne life To Louers what good deth If by his beames Without teares no Louer is Nor his sad laments doth â—isse Better farre to liue at ease Then to seeke a shrowe to please To Louers what good If by his beames Wretched then be such as loue I le liue free nor it will proue For who 'le count of him that still Like set his wees nourish will To Louers what good doth the Sâ—â—â—e If by his beames he be vndone This Ode being sung euerie owne departed vntill the returne of mestfull Aurera leauing the Sister of Apollo to runne out her darke and gloomie course The end of the second daies meeting of Iuliettaes Shepheards THE THIRD DAIES MEETING OF IVLIETTAES SHEPHEARDS NO distance of place can hinder kind amitie no change of aire altar firme affection neither can the separation of that which is loued diuide or keepe backe the Louer from his sweet Mistris Too true noble Phillistell doest thou know this to be thou being so farre off from thy faire and sacred Iulietta and yet neuerthelesse thou liuest in her and still dreamest of her beautie whilest louing her although she be absent thou canst not forget her for that she holdeth thy heart with her as in a close prison thou in the meane time feeling and by thine owne experience finding how cruell vnto a loyall Louer the absence of his beautious Ladie is the fish not more desiring to haue water for his nourishment then he doth couet her companie it being the chiefe foode of his soule O how tedious and irkesome vnto him who attendeth and expecteth the breake of day to come hauing some great matter of importance to dispatch is the long seeming course of the vnwelcome night In all which time he is not able to take any rest looking still with open eyes to spie the rising of the faire Sunne which he ioyfully marketh at his first appearing to warme the little hills to melt the soft snow to glister and shine vpon the earth and with a solemne pace to mount vp and to settle himselfe in his glorious chariot riding in progresse through the huge giring Vault of heauen he seeth him brauely to chase away the sparkling Starres as the Conquerour doth his enemies that he hath vanquisht and beholdeth the sad and sable night to flie from his cheerfull face as the timerous thiefe doth the seuere Iudges presence whilest he listeneth vnto the melodie of thousands of pretie Birds which solemnize and celebrate in their warbling notes the arriuall of the prudent Sire of proud Phaeton Poore Philistell how often hast thou counted short daies for long yeares after that malitious Fortune had sequestred thee from the companie of thy Ladie and how many times didst thou dreame in the night that thou sawest her deuising and talking with thee in the same manner as she was wont to doe when those happie Desarts of Arcadia were true witnesses
blame me for being an Attendant vpon so excellent a Virgin as shee was who was so respectiuely vsed of all sorts Passing well did I like of their Deuises and Sonnets but onely for one thing which was that in one place they prayed and wished her that shee should not make account of Loue and this one word was it that made mee thinke the worse of all the rest of the Song as one limbe of a man cut off from his bodie deformeth all the rest of his personage But you need not to wonder that I tooke this matter so hainously for I forsooth thought I had some interest in her when indeed there was no such thing I afterwards bethinking my selfe that if she would haue disposed of her selfe to loue she then would haue chosen some one farre more worthie then I was on whome to cast her good liking Neuerthelesse I excused the Nymphes for that which they had saide knowing that it pleased their Princesse well to make such a motion vnto her and the rather because I thought I was not likely in hast to be the man whome shee meant to affect What will you more The feast was now at an ende my Ladie tooke againe her owne former apparell returned vnto her olde place and meadow and there liued as shee was wont to doe No sooner did I see her but that I played the humble Publican looking vpon her a sarre off and not once daring to approach nigh vnto her doubting least I should find her more hautie and furlie then before-times by reason of her great aduancement and good fortunes bestowed on her And yet I hoped my verses would be an occasion that I should haue accesse vnto her although to say the truth I feared greatly that she would not much care neither for them nor for me Holding them thus in my hand and not daring to present them vnto her One while I tooke them out of my pocket thinking to offer them vnto her and so stood doubtfull betweene both what to doe Not vnlike vnto a young scholler who whilst hee is going vnto his maister to craue licence to goe play hath many conceits running in his head not daring when hee commeth before him to begge leaue for feare least he should be denyed Oftentimes I repented me that euer I had deuised them seeing I had lost so much time and leisure to write them outâ—o faire and now was readie to teare them in pieces In the ende I tooke courage knowing the worst was but a deny all hoping well of her because I was well assured that the frutes of the Muses were honoured and esteemed euen of their owne enemies yea and of the most worst and leaudest people in the world Drawing nigh then I presently perceiued the excellencie of my Mistris spirit for I found her more affable then shee was before she had bene so much aduaunced in houor I saw her to be one of those wise Sages who are neither puffed vp with aduancement of good Fortune nor taken downe through too extreame miseries of the same I perceiued that firme constancie lodged in her soule and that she caried the same countenance in prosperitie as she would haue done if she had bene in aduersitie Marius the noble Romane deseruing no more to be drawen with one and the selfe-same countenance alwayes then shee was when neither ioy nor sorrow could chaunge her After I had with a solemne Congé and lowe cursie deliuered my verses vnto her shee with a milde looke accepted them and as mee thought liked indifferently well of them For neuer did she giue ouer vntill she had throughly red them Whilst I In the meane time fearing like the criminell who doubtfully attendeth the award either of life or death beganne to consider within my selfe of her vertue mine eyes beholding her beautie my heart contemplating vpon her glorie and all my sences trembling for feare least I should haue offended her Iudge then in what an extremitie I was when being as it were in an extasie I could not so much as once moue my hands not stirre my foote from off the place where I stood resembling that senslesse Statue of the Sunne which the Rhodians made so much account of No sooner had shee red them but that shee beganne thus curteously to speake vnto mee Employ not anie more good Shepheard thy time thus who am not worthie thereof For if thou takest this small and homely beautie of mine to be the subiect of thy Muse assure thy selfe that then thou soone wilt want matter To things perfect are praises due and not vnto vnperfect and to such sillie Creatures as I am Robbe not so manie Heroicall spirits and exquisite wittes of thy verse when they deserue it so rightly Nor doe not bestowe the same on mee who knoweth not what it is to doe well whereby I may merit praise Ill doth hee imploy his Muse or rather prophane it who bestoweth it about the commendations of imperfect things because the nature thereof being diuine it ought not to discourse but of diuine and celestiall subiects Homer neuer sung of Thersistes nor of thousands more of Greekes vnworthie to be named but onely of stout Achilles of valiant Hector of prudent Vlisses and of venturous Aiax with such others Chaunge then thy Theame and make the world see by some rare worke of thine how much thou art able to doe through the power of the Muses and that thou art fit and worthie to describe the valiant and Martiall exployts of peerlesse and Princely Potentates in a proud and loftie flile Wee ought not to weare our wedding garment vpon working dayes That which iustly appertaineth vnto God ought to be rendred vnto him and after him that which is due vnto Princes and so then vnto meaner persons euery one their owne according vnto their estate and degree More delight shall I take to read thy verses when they shall be filled with a stately vaine and when they shall sound forth the Martiall praises of such great States as shall euerie way deserue the same and yet I will not refuse these thou hast bestowed on me but will keepe them because they are excellent pleasing Marie heereafter I would aduise thee to spend thy time better and to write of some grauer matter and of more importance then heretofore thou hast done that neither Time not Death may be able to destroy the same I being emboldened with this her speech stayed not long to answere her replied thus Fairest amongst the most faire and worthie to be accounted wise amongst the wisest Although I cannot chuse but confesse that vertue is of so great puissance and force as shee is able to commaund out soules to dispose of our hearts as shee shall thinke best her selfe Yet cannot shee let and hinder Honor to praâ—â— and commend what is most worthie The more wise folkes refuse glorie the more will glorie follow them and honor them And the more folkes pursue the same the more it flieth
armes hung downe Sans motion and like a picture faire Which linelesse is in colours wrought tresemblance so she bare The wofull Shepheard when this sight most dolorous he spide Afresh his plaints he doth renew and out aloud he cride Kissing this linelesse coarse and dying he seekes himselfe to ease Whilst her embracing he doth thinke her griefes somewhat t' appease His sight he wistly sixeth on her face and on her eies And like amad man he takes on in most outragious wise Yet he to Stella listueth still who still doth him require And pray to pardon her foule fault this oneli's her desire And as she giueth vp the ghost she forth these words doth grone Ah pardon me sweet pardon me the most distressed one Sweet Gloridan forget for giue poore Stella for her ill She did offend but knew it not it was against her will Oh in one Tombe let me with thee sweet friend be buried Gods lawes command to pardon such as doe offend being dead Farewell deare Spouse and graunt to me but this my last request Farewell for death to seaze on me I feele alreadie prest I le meete thee in the Lizian fields and then I will thee knowe Once more farewell my Cloridan for now from thee I goe So saying she doth breath her last as any stone she is cold Yet closely in his feeble armes the Shepheard doth her hold But when that he had bleeding left which like a spring did come From forth his brest and mongst the blood of his faire Stella runne He laieth her softly downe by him her eies he then doth close And by her side placing himselfe vnto his end he growes And hauing cried out full oft as one accursed most That he was author of her death he giueth vp his ghost Whilst by his warme blood and salt teares he seeketh to appease His Ladies spirit late gone from thence to liue with greater ease A thousand times he saith farewell sweet Stella still he cride And in the end in selfe same sort as Stella did he dide Their bodies twaine which whilst they liude had but one soule alone Were buried both together shut within one Tombe and stone And Aridon that Traitor curst who these two Louers paind By iustest punishment of Gods into a Rocke was changd Which Iupiter doth oftentimes scourge for his former sin With thunder-bolts breaking his top and all to battering him Then let no Louer once presume vnlawfull meanes to seeke But be resolued to be content as shall their Ladies leeke For forced Loue or treacherie will nere proue well at all Which if they vse worse plagues shall them then Aridon befall After the faire Nymph had made an end of her dismall historie she spake thus vnto me Now Shepheard confesse confesse I say by this example the vniust crueltie of Loue. He that will not yeeld neither vnto presidents nor vnto reasons ought to be accounted as a most obstinate and ignorant person for it is more follie not to submit vnto reason then to be altogether vnacqainted with the same It is an old said sawe that he is happie whom other mens harmes can make to beware For to growe wise at the charges of another and not at his owne cost is a greater treasure then the golden sands of the riuer Pactotus As for mine owne part this examample with diuers others which I can report and all vnto this purpose wherein Loue hath shewed thousand proofes of his bloodie rage shall make me wise and warne me to looke vnto my selfe well enough They say that a man should take heed of a mad dog of a franticke bedlem and of a notable Drunkard because by nature they are apt to doe shrowd turnes And euen so we should looke vnto our selues lest we should fall into the laps of Loue seeing we know him to be so peruerse so wicked and vniust for he shall neuer be moned who most sondly flingeth himselfe into the pit that hath bene shewed vnto him before Then Shepheard shalt thou be wise if betimes thou withdrawest thy selfe from such a Tyrant foolish will I account thee if thou imaginest that I will euer follow so bad a maister as he is his schoole resembling an intricate labyrinth into which it is easy to enter but impossible or verie hard to get out of it againe He that will doe well must neuer doe any thing whereof he may repent him afterward for a man neuer droupeth but when he languisheth through feare still looking for that mischiefe to happen which will at the last make him to repent If I know alreadie that repentance would not be faire off from me if I should loue by reason of the dammages that proceed through the same were not I then verie simple to goe about to loue Then talke no more vnto me of such vanities but rather discourse with me of such Ceremonies Fraiers vowes and Sacrifices belonging vnto Diana which are mine ordinarie exercises For euerie workeman delighteth to here talke of his owne Science or Misterie I hearing her say so replied thus O fairer creature then Venus more chaste then Polixena and more learned then Cassandra The braue Captaine that continually followeth the warres knoweth well that his function or calling is full of dangerand trouble and yet in the meane while he repenteth not to follow the same because of the hope he hath to reape renowme and credit which is encountred and wonne euen in the middest and the thickest of Cannon shot of the battaile And so although the Louer doubteth not but that he is like to endure great troubles and turmoiles in his amorous pursuit yet doth not he giue ouer the following thereof without repenting himselfe at all because the hope to please that which he so much liketh bringeth the thoughts of all his troubles and labours to be very weake and of no force or violence at all The sicke patient which taketh a potion knoweth that it is bitter and yet for all that he sticketh not to swallow it downe most willingly by reason of the firme confidence he hath to be healed of his griefe That the paines of loue are bitter and cruell I cannot but confesse yet then againe we must remember how sweet and luscious is that ioy that the Louer participateth of when he seeth himselfe beloued of his Mistris An inestimable lewell is not gotten nor giuen for nothing neither such and so rare a good thing as this is can be obtained without great labour and trauaile And for mine owne part will alwaies account those sorrowes and troubles most easie and sweet be they neuer so sower and vnsufferable to loue a thing so absolute and perfect as your sweet selfe is For that Generall of an armie shall neuer be taxed with cowardise who hath done his end uour and what he can to cause the enemie to come into the field but he shall soone be condemned for a dastard that shall flie from his foe through very seare The honour that one
〈◊〉 goodly Castle wherein for the most part 〈…〉 This Geâ—lle man 〈…〉 more challe 〈…〉 be made much 〈◊〉 by her husband she hauing two such 〈…〉 bounding miner This their maritage at the first was the 〈…〉 them both for there wanted nothing more to 〈…〉 Paris and 〈◊〉 conceiued when they were first 〈…〉 Admitus with Alcesta or that of Vltsses with Penelope or 〈…〉 was nothing in respect of the true delight that these two 〈…〉 being coupled so sacredly and surely together But what is too violent be it aduersitie or prosperitie can not be 〈…〉 more then hee who ouer swistly and too too hastily beginning his course loosert vâ— on the suddaine his breath and so in the midst of his race faileth both in force and in running whether it be eyther because their violent beginnings ingendereth their procâ—edings for that without reason no sure foundation can be layde or else that their hues passeth away with their owne ouermuch violence as a great and outragious fire consumeth in a sinall time great store of wood and sewell But not to digresse from our first matter Not farre from this gallant Lombard called Leander was there an other faire place the owner whereof was a neighbour of his a youthfull Gentleman a Batcheler and vnmarried which two what by reason of the nearenesse of their houses and the conformitie of their manners grewe to be so inward and deare friendes as they could not abide one to be from another and their loue was so great as all things as farre as honor would permit was common betweene them Pilades was neuer so great with Orestes Theseus neuer nearer to Peritheus nor Alexander neuer more beloued of Ephestion then Leanaer was of his friend and his friend of him Neuer went they on Hawking Hunting or anie other such like laudable exercise but they were together Being at home they had but one boord and being abroad but one bed and one purse betweene them as if they had benesworne brethren and both borne of one mother But now marke the difference betweene leaud Loue and loyall Amitie This friendship betwixt these two young neighbours so sacred so religious and honest was famous euerie where and commended throughout all the whole Countrey there about which neuer thelesse cruell LOVE diuided and brake in sunder Yea and in such sort as that which was the chiefe ioy and contentment of them both cost them both their liues By this then may we perceiue how contrarie LOVE is vnto Friendship for whereas the one is laudable honest praise-worthie and profitable the other is wicked and cruell sowing discord and malice amongst such as were and should bee most faithfull and firme friendes one vnto an other So did LOVE drowne and extinguish long since all respect friendship and dutie which Medea ought vnto her Father bereauing her of all naturall pittie tearing in peeces her owne proper Brother to succour and helpe her Louer Iason And so likewise this mischieuous LOVE forced the daughter of Minos to be his mortall enemie onely to follow her deceitfull seruant Theseus Neither did this wicked LOVE worke a lesse villanie against these two friendes for Leander hauing as I said before a most excellent faire and modest wife but as Hellena vnfortunate was the occasion that shee ministred meanes and matter vnto LOVE to put in practise and to exercise so manie cruell and vniust parts as hee afterwards did but if the Innocent merit to be excused then is shee not to be accused as the losse of her owne deare life afterwards shewed But what kingdomes oftentimes which of themselues are rich and necessarie set a fire most hurtfull damageable and spoyling warres of which notwithstanding they are manie times cleare of crauing no other thing then onely to submit themselues vnder the dominion and gouernement of the right and lawfull heire vnto the Crowne But the ambitious desires of men are they that make the wounds by reason of the greedinesse they haue to enioy that which in their conceits they iudge to be faire profitable and pleasant This Gentleman the friend of Leander called Antonio Picchio made account of Leunders house as his owne being seldome or neuer from thence and the longer hee stayed there the better he was welcome his marryed friend and his wife for his sake giuing him the best entertainment they could deuise It is an olde said sawe that a man alwayes liketh his neighbours house better than his owne Whether it be the chaunging of lodgings is the cause or the straunge and good companie that he findeth An old saying where there is good refort and merrie Now whilst our Batcheller passed his time most pleasantly away hee began inwardlie to cast an affection vnto his friends wife and to loue her farre better then hee did her husband And thus are many men now a dayes made account of onely for their wiues sakes as manie kisse the children onely for the Nurses sake Tuta frequensque via est per amici fallere nomen Tuta ftequensque licet sit via crimen habet The safe and surest way it is By fri udship to deceiue Though safe and surest way it be T' is knauerie by your leaue So long he beganne to like her that at last he was troubled in his minde so as a secret conceit ranne still in his braine a nouell flame was kindled in his brest and a new strange desire chaunged the nature of his first humor And in so much as within a little while after he became another kinde of man then he had bene heretofore I will now maruell no more why the Poets haue set downe so manie humane bodies to be chaunged through LOVE into diuers insensible and senslesse likenes and shipes For there is no doubt but that the very countenance the conditions and the desires of Loâ—ers alter and chaunge in so much as they turne themselues into new bodies as the Snake doth cast her skinne by reason this extreame hote and supernaturall passion comming vppon the suddaine and crossing the right nature of man breaketh and chaseth it soone away as a suddaine flood of water carryeth before him both hedges Trees and houses and whatsoeuer else withstandeth his violence And so did it happen vnto foolish Antonio Picchio The desire he had to see his shee friend and chase the Deare with her husband was the occasion he came oftner to Leanders house Louers metamorphosed and changed then otherwise he would haue done for he was passing craftie and knewe too too well how to colour his comming thither Loue being his Schoole-master and hauing taught him this cunning Louers neuer want a pretext or shadow to cloake theit affections It is the first lesson they learne in Cupids schoole and which they studie carnestly to obserue to the end that for want of concealing that The first lesson that a Louer learneth which they are most desirous should be hid from the sight of others they feare it it should be
redde with continuall weeping For though teares be forbidden braue and gallant Spirits yet are they tollerable in them when they chaunce to fall into the amorous and ardent passions of Loue. His armes are brawne-fallen and on his bodie appeareth little or no flesh at all in such sort as he resembleth an Anatomie or dead carkasse rather then a liuing man As hee that is plagued with a hote burning Feuer giueth manie testimonies of the same One while by suddaine shaking and shiuering throughout his whole bodie another while by a colde sweat and then by a hote one againe Euen so Antonio his in firmitie appeared by many signes there beeing not one ioynt or member of his coarse but what shewed him to be extreamely tormented and as it were at deaths doore Which Leander seeing began to be halfe madde for the very anguish thereof what to doe he knew not and therefore was almost at his wittes ende To set vppon him afresh to see if he could perswade him to shriue himselfe vnto him he thought were but follic by reason he found him before so vnwilling to participate vnto him or confesse any thing At the last he began to thinke that although he kept it from him perhaps vpon some secret occasion yet peraduenture another might wring it out of him Wherevpon he went vnto his wife praying her to take the paines to see if shee could learne of Antonio that which hee had spent so much labour to knowe and yet by no meanes could attaine there vnto The chaste Ladie who was wonderfull willing to obey her husband and who affected yet with modestie what her Lord liked being of her owne disposition so courteous and pittifull as she gricued for the hurt of an other especially he being the dearest friend her husband had gladly accepted of the proffer Promising him to handle the matter both by her diligent care and good aduifement so cunningly as it should goe hard but that before fewe dayes were gone and past shee would vnderstand and know all And so shee did indeed speaking then more truer then shee was aware of For after shee had vsed to come and visite him now and than he began to recouer pretilie well insomuch as one day the gentlewoman finding him alone intteated him verie kindely to walke with her into the garden hard by somewhat to recreate himselfe and to reuiue him in that feeble and weake estate telling him it would not be amisse for him now and than to take the open aire which words she deliuered with so sweet a grace and so lonely a smile as now he was ten times deeper in loue with her than he had bene before O how foolish are Louers who because they themselues are senselesse therefore they thinke that euery one else is so likewise and that because they loue therefore none should be exempted from louing especially this is one of their conceits as concerning such women as they affect that because they are men worthie to be liked therefore forfooth these women must loue them if they but giue them neuer so little entertainment And so this vaine Antonio perswaded himselfe verily that his friends wife affected him because she vouchsafed in priuate to walke abroad with him He that hath bene long sicke is so desirous of his health that the least ease or amendment that he findeth maketh him beleeue he is well recouered and whole And so fareth it with these Louers who if they receiue the least fauour that may be at their Ladies hands they straitwaies thinke they are their owne Now was Antomo where he would be for he might at leisure behold the beautious eies the louely face and the faire breasts of his sweet Mistris but the more the fond man gazed vpon them the more he was burnt with a secret inward fire these rare beauties of hers drawing him into the bottom lesse gulfe of his vtter ouerthrow as the whirle Pooles in the Seas by many windings and turnings still by little and little the ships within their circled armes and so deuour and swallow them vp meane space wretched Antonio one while by his lookes another while by his sighes one while changing countenance and another while looking red as fire discouered vnto his Mistris so liuely the secret griefe that tormented him within his soule as she needed to haue knowne no more had she bene trained vp so well as hee in the schoole of Loue. But as the right true and honourable Captaine suspecteth not any treason because he knoweth not what it meaneth and for that he neuer did couet to learne the same so this rare Gētlewoman hauing neuer learnd how to entertaine or like any one except her husband could not conceiue the amorous fashions of Antonio nor what he meant making loue vnto her which was the reason his sorrowes slaked not but rather encreased more and more His fearefull glaunces which he stole vpon her and his scalding sighes faithfull messengers of his minde forget not to set out the sorrow that he endured One while he looked pale for feare another while he blushed red for shame oftentimes beginning to speake and so made an end before he had begun His heart is willing that his tongue should discouer his sicknes vnto his Physition but his tongue who doubteth he shall make the matter worse by speaking hath not the courage to speake one word His head is intoxicated and troubled whilst thousands of imaginations run in his braine Now he is resolute to bewray his griefe vnto her and now againe he is of a quite contrarie opinion not to doe it whilst he both hopeth and feareth and all at one instant But ô wretched carkasse the while to entertaine so many and so diuers enemies within it Feare opposeth himselfe against Loue who faine would speake and yet respect doth stop and hinder his desire Faine would he haue some stranger to deliuer his minde vnto his Ladie in his behalfe by which meanes should he haue the deniall which he alreadie apprehended in his thought yet being deliuered vnto him at a second hand he thought it would not be altogether so terrible vnto him But he too well knoweth that there is not any that can doe it or that knoweth his secret meaning but himselfe and therefore as the saying is he must make a Page of his owne age or else he must continue as he did without bewraying his minde at all One while he held downe his face for shame fixing his eies vpon the ground and an other while Loue lifted them vp againe forcing him to stare and gaze vpon the faire countenance of his Mistris he had all the gestures and signes of a most miserable Louer attainted of Loue speech onely accepted and he that is a firme and zealous Louer indeed neuer walketh without respect and fear The Centlewoman perceiueth such alteration in his face and that he often began to speake was very importunate with him to know what he ment and what he ailed But
of fortune In the number of these was this miserable Shepheard who scoffed at the commodities of that blind goddesse desiring no other thing for his full satisfaction and delight then the presence of his faire Diana Diana who surely amongst the fairest was most faire sage chaste prudent and of the stock of the most famous families in Europe Diana who took pleasure in reading of his works that neuer shewed him frowning countenance in that she knew he honored her honor more then her beautie and that his chaste loue loued rather her soule and mind then her bodie Nothing could hinder sage and chaste Diana from shewing good countenance chastely louing excellent spirits She should haue bene a cruell Beare if her soule had bene void of amitie and this learned Queene of France kissed learned Chartier finding him a fleeepe vpon a bancks side though amongst all other euill fauoured and deformed hee was most crabbed of countenance giuing this excellent answere to those that wondered at the same I kisse not Chartier but that excellent mouth from whence haue issued so manie learned discourses not louing the man but his doctrine In doing thus no Ladie can be blamed For one may and that more commodiously affect chastlie that which meriteth Loue then impudentlie that which tendeth to vice and corruption The Shepheard after his dolorous complaint beganne to sing this Sonnet which followeth SONNET Come and approach and heare my cries you Hagges and Hob-goblings And doe receiue in gree my heauie plaintes and abuse Vnto your cruell fatall Sisters nought doe I profer For I no more life haue t' is with my griefes ouerdead LOVE that hath tooke my loyall Hart for a pawne euerlasting Gagd'e for my Truth is dead splitted in euery part Whilst to an auncient Elme I seeme like one that is Spoylde with Lightnings blast when but the roote doth remaine O kinde Death all mortall woes who makest an end of me In this my chiefe pangs thee doe I call mee to helpe Sweet let me die through thee that then I truely report may LOVE hath wounded my heart Death of my paine make an end Onely in the◠is my hope a hope God knowes very slender Nought hope I in my cares but for to dye out of hand Dye would I rather then in woes lie still for to languish Blest is the soule that departs when that he cannot be curd'e But you mine eyes are accurst to haue seene my Ladie so cruell Since that distoyaltie hath to me done such a wrong Well had it bene for you if with a night euerlasting Shut had you bene alwayes your proper death not to see That so sacred Light you are neuer like for to see more Which did reuiue my spirits when that they first were in thrall Sweet should I then count my miserie comparde to my bad hap If that the world I might leaue as in my minde I doe wish Sigh'd haue I more then a thousand times yet she with her hard hart Is no more mollified then in the Seas is a Rocke More doe I pray more doth she say nay for all mine intreating Whilst that her lookes are so sower as they my woes make the mor◠These Verses could not yet content him but with the same conceit employing his Muse which she furnished him withall he carued these two Sonnets vpon the hard front of the Rocke SONNET I. More hard then Rocks I feele my Martyrs hard The flinty Rocke the chisell doth endure Yet nought but death from hurt can me award So great 's mine ill which is without recure Yee heauenly Gods cast Lightnings on my face As on the Mounts of Epire or consume Mee Phoenix like reuiuing in a space For I in Loue a Phoenix am become Too much I haue abid then from these eyes Since you haue drawne forth fountains of salt teares So many sighes from heart let it suffise Nothing so strong but sorrow quickly weares Each thing except my selfe with change doth mend Yet see my cruell Destenie I am still In paine and yet my paine doth neuer end Liuing I die though dying I doe liue This is the fauour my FAIRE doth me giue SONNET II. What may it be my Mistris should me scorne So much as not on mee vouchsafe to looke Was I then vnder such hard Planet borne As that my sicknes strange no Salue can brooke That Beautie which so often doth me wound Those sacred eyes Authors of all my smart Kill mee when I to looke on them am found Nor helpe they me as I to death depart What Destenie then may change this mine ill hap What alteration may my griefes appease I ill Fortune in such sorrowes doth me wrap As though they would yet mee they cannot ease For shee that is of torments mine the sourse More sacred is then heauens and more diuine Fierce Destinie and Fortune in her course She doth commaund and with her beck combine Then to this Goddesse must I seeke alone To cure my mortall wound or else to none He had further sighed and spoken more in renuing his long complaints if Coribant sad for his griefe had not drawne neare labouring to comfort him For oh how true and assured friends be they who both in deed word asswage the griefe of their friends and worthie of cōmendation is that Amitie which the iniurie of time fortune cannot chāge nor alter It resembleth that gold which we highly esteem of whē purified in the furnace it hath passed the fire Euen so sacred is that Amitie worthy of cōmendation which the iniurie oppression of fortune cannot kill nor destroy Coribant therefore approached to this miserable Shepheard saluted him sate downe by him and saide Teares haue alwaies bene held for reproach in noble hearts magnanimous mindes neuer weepe they leauing this effeminate and base qualitie vnto women And in verie good consideration the victor Aemilius cast in miserable Perceus his teeth pusillanimitie and want of courage in addicting himselfe to lamentation why then doe you weepe Brutus with a constant and cheerfull countenance beheld his childrens death And that Phylosopher was no whit at all moued vnderstanding of the death of his onely sonne In lamentation Time slippeth away and in the meane while there is no remedie found to come out of miserie There is a double losse the one of our health quiet which reares ouer whelme the other of precious time which in steede of bestowing of it in complaints we shuld employ in searching out proper remedie for our miseries torments That thing only should be deplored the which is without recouerie and remedie But that which may be remedied should not be lamented but with diligence sought out to be recouered For what can be ouer difficult for men to performe Are not all things subiect vnto thē and doth not the wise man command ouer the starres which is to say he may by his wisedome auoid the sinister aspect of the heauens make them otherwise disagree
Areas was the occasion of a greater benefit in deliuering Athens from such a seruile bondage as forced them to offer their prettie little children vnto the greedie lawes of that deuouring Monster To conclude much honour great glorie and infinite good hath proceeded through Loue in so much as he that hath neuer loued deserueth not the name of a man As the Shepheard had made an end of his speech the faire Nymph Orythia arriued who hauing her Lute in her hand sung in a most dulcet tune these Heroicall verses following What shall my Fortune neuer mend in which I doe languish Yet O yee Gods let me die for line without heart can I not now Cruell he that my soule commaunds doth mocke at my hard haps Curst be the flame that euery thing doth burne sane our anguish Ah shall I neuer see my life nor my Loue to be ended Neuer for these skies are cruell vnto my plainings And they doe seeme to be deafe when with my cries I doe mone them More that I liue I plague my selfe and am mine owne Hangman Cruell alone is that griefe that no remedie findeth But for to suffer without hope if destinie mine were Why was I brought into this world and why was I borne then Better nere to be than alwaies so to be tortred Woe to me hope haue I none that ere my paine will be swaged Yet no griefe there is to be found but findeth his easing Excepe such as ouer desperate onely by Loue comes Then since I needes must langnish thus content will I hold me For at last my comforts this although that I perish Yet from all these cares and troubles soone shall I rid me That man neuer feares when death doth venter vpon him When to loose this wretched life he rides in a Hauen Free from the Tempests of this world to liue euerlasting After the Nymph had with many scalding sighes deliuered these verses she thus bespake the Shepheard Arcas What time wilt thou limit vnto my sorrowes and when wilt thou make an end of tormenting me as thou doest If pittie cannot induce thee to succour me at least let these mine earnest praiers moue thee Why takest thou delight thus to be importuned and why is it a pleasure vnto thee thus to be sued vnto Ah wy doest thou not restore my heart vnto his former health and why deuiest thou to helpe him who is so much affected to doe thee seruice Cruell is that Lord that maketh his faithfull seruant to serue him still and yet yeeldeth him no recompence for his paine vniust is he and hatefull both to God and man For what vice more horrible can there be than barbarous ingratitude Ah wash from thy soule that foule fault and suffer not thy selfe any more to be reproached in that thou art hard-harted and bitter against her who onely deuoteth her selfe vnto thee After the Criminall hath his fatall sentence pronounced he is put to death presently without making him languish any more in prolonging his miserie Fuen so let me intreate thee to dispatch and giue thy verdit of life or death against me without delighting thy selfe any longer in my Disasters The fire put into the mouth of a Cannon forceth the pouder to flie out suddenly which turneth into a flame Euen so I am not able longer to endure without my griefe burst forth of my soule or that I giue vp the ghost and die But what talke I of death when it is denied vnto me No no had I but had the benefit of the same thou cruell man hadst neuer heard so many praiers come from me neuer had I made so many vowes vnto thee neither had I moued thee so often vnto compassion as I haue done for with some desperate instrument or other I had finished both my life and griefe long ere this and both at one time But alas I being immortall must endure this anguish whilest being able to helpe others I cannot heale mine owne festring wounds Not vnlike the Physition who dieth after he hath conserued the liues of other not hauing the skill to preserue his owne Were some God the cause of these my plaints and that by reason of some one Deitie or other this mischaunce had hapned vnto me I were not worthie of some excuse amongst mine equals But when I call to minde how I haue suffered my selfe to be vanquisht by a simple Shepheard and yet am not able to perswade him to haue remorse vpon me I needs must confesse I am worthie to be blamed and that rightly But alas I know not wel what I say for my Ladie the Goddesse Diana loueth a Shephcard as well as I and vnder this weede oftentimes lodgeth vertue learning and beautie Neuer was any more beautifull than Adonis none more faire than Narcissus and none more liuely than Paris when he was a Shepheard neither was there euer a Nymph more amiable than Enone the Shepheardesse Angelica the peerlesse Paragon of all beautie left many great Princes and valiant Paladines all which were suters vnto her for her Loue and accepted a poore common Souldier for her sweet heart and Loue. Loue respecteth not riches onely he hath an eie vnto the perfection of the person that is loued Then sweet Shepheard fancie me and giue me some sure proofe of thy affection towards me without putting me any more to further troubles So said the pensiue Nymph when Arcas being rauished with the contemplation of his faire Mistris as if he had bene speaking vnto her and as if Orythia had bene farre from him Began to speake thus O sacred Diana haue I not as yet giuen thee sufficient testimonie of my zealous good will towards thee considering my long and many sorrowes but wilt thou still see more and yet neuer yeeld me any recompence for the same Alas the Goldsmith trieth gold but once if it will indure the fire which he vseth to make so me excellent piece of worke withall and the Eagle is contented to carrie his little ones but once against the Sunnie Beames which if they are able to abide he suffereth them to liue making account they are his owne Why then deare Mistris art not thou content with these many proofes of my faithfull Amitie without demaunding still new at my hands If it be because I am too base a creature to be beloued and that thou thinkest me not worthie of so high a fauour Ah then I beseech thee remember Iupiter who disdained not the Loue of Europe or of Semele although they were mortall women nor Thetis who although a Goddesse yet vouchsafed to espouse Penelus an earthly man and sacred Apollo who vouchsafed to affect the Troyan Cassandra yea remember the Goddesse of all beautie who was willing to accept the Loue of Anchises to beare a child by him which was called the wandring Prince Aeneas And therefore be not angrie although I dare to loue thee for I feare not that the torment of Ixion shall euer punish me because I
when mongst the woods as yet Loue was not knowne In that same happie golden world when none through Loue did grone Wren Shepheards free from Cupids darts as carelesse did remaine And for to languish were not forc't through too much amorous paine But rather not so much as once thinking of this proud Loue ' Voide from all ill themselues sought still merrie to make and proue Whilst want only amongst themselnes in ioy they spent the day And pleasantly to their contents the time did passe away Freed from those cares that Louers haunt and brings them to their graue Making them pale and wearie fore their youths they passed haue Then was no wailing there nor eies that teares doe shed apace Nor that they grieued were could you perceiue ought by their face Cleerd from all plaints releast from sighes not knowing what ment care They did despise and eke contemne the Cyprian Goddesse faire Her cruell Sonne the very Syre and father of all vice Of them Oblations neuer had nor any Sacrifice The mighty power of Cupid blinde as then they did not know Nor what did meane his fire-brands his Arrowes and his Bow Withouten troubling with this Loue their neuer troubled braine A kinde of ordinary kindnesse did mongst them remaine In merry laughter and in sport they spent the soone gone yeare Their chiefest pleasures thousand songs and Madrigals then were Which they sigh'd forth with comely grace whilst beut the flowing banke Of some cleare riuer all the Crue of them themselues encampe One while they daunced hand in hand within the Meadowes greene Another while bout foote of Rocke for cooltnesse they were seene As then plaintes were not their repasts nor tcares as drinke to vse As Louers wont who what is ill still for themselues they chuse Consuming sorrow did not gnawe nor gripe them at the hart Nor was their chiefe reliefe of Death the penetrable dart But rather without carke and care without malice or strife As happie soules in all content they wore away their life No palenes was within their cheekes no hollownesse in eye Which frighted with a suddaine feare most pittious you might spie Nor could you once perceiue as much as signe of heauie chance In their well featur de faces all and louely count enance Ah trebble blessed such For he cannot be said to liue Who for Death wisheth that his woes no more might make him grient In steed of pastimes to be blithe they sounded their shill Crowde And with a hundred Songs they fild the Groues with noyses lowde Whilst their soft instruments apace according to their vse Oftimes well tun'de and then vntun'de as they themselues did chuse A thousand Brawles and Pastorall Odes they sung in plainest sort Whereby the more they did increase their merriment and sport In coole of day to daunce about you might en them espie And when the heate was great in midst of shadowing Groues to lie There would they many an olde wiues tale and iesting Fables tell Whilst some of them to blowe a fresh thir Bagpipes fell Now vnder cooly Trees they would friendly make their repast Feeding on bread and Mornings milke for to delight their taste And dipping in the water cleare their Hattes they that did drinke Which better farre then any wine though daintiest they did thinke But weladay the nature of this sauadge inhumane LOVE Did alter this sweete course of life and worser made them proue He chang'de their pastimes into playes and spoyled so their sense As weakening courage theirs hee forc't them stand without defence As we doe see amaz'd to stand the gentle harmles Sheepe And that in running here and there no order they doe keepe When as at vnawares the Wolfe wtih reuenous mouth them takes And of them as him liketh best a bloody slaughter makes Or as we vieu the Shepheards from the fields in haste to runne One here one there least that by death they should be ouercome When Iupiter to threat the earth with which he seemeth wroth From heauen he in angrie wise his Thunder sendeth forth Making a thousand flashie Lights the children of dread Feare Vnto their frighted eyes and on their bloodlesse cheeks appeare Whiist furie of the Thunders hard with such a suddaine cracke As one would thinke it were hard by and euen at his backe Euen so did LOVE these Shepheards fray trouble to them wrought Consumde their liues and chiefest glee and to their end them brought And thus it was Nature had framde one Shepheardesse mongst rest More perfect then the other all and fairer then the best Young was she in experience and in age for but as then She passed had of yeares some fine and ioyning to them ten Yet stature hers so comely was and full of Matestie As for a second Venus her they did of right descrie Her hatre farre brighter then pure gold in knottes was tyed fine Empaling round her head most rich of Princely Crowne the signe Whilst those her tresses amorous did genttly moue with winde As we the calmy waues in Sea to role and rise doe finde Her Forhead heauens sweet mount was smoothe by Nature framed faire No Art though exquisite could mend the same it was so rare No wriâ—ckle was there to be seene no frowning in that place That truely got by Beautie was Beautie gaue it such grace Her Eyelid lids of Ebony inclosed there within Which Gods and Men amazed made and euery hart did win Her sparkling eyes two starres did shew then Lightning far more bright More cleare then glorious Sunne when he doth shew his chiefest light Eyes which who so presum'd to dare their lookes for to behold They soone were strucken blinde as t' were for being ouerbold Eyes where as LOVE in all his pride did seeme for to repose And through the sparklings of the which lies chiefest honors rose Eyes which as sacred and diuine all did adore and feare Although to euery one their full and ouerthrow they were Her Checkes that checkt greatst Potentates which Beautie beautifide Of ruddie Rose and Lillie white the equall combat tryde Her Checkes vermillion colloured by Nature not through Art The perfect Type of louelinesse to each one did impart Her witching lippe was Curr all white like to a Gillsflower Which â—atred was in pearly deaw most supple euery hower And as her Lippes so was her Mouth her mouth like Orakell From which a speech forth came that did Pallas though wise excell Her Lippes inuiting to sweet sport did grace her dimpled chinne Whose sight was such as was enough in thought to make vs sinne Her snowy Throat was seemely plac'te so was her sweatlesse Neck Which whitest Marble of the Alps and Porphery did check Her matchlisse Throat so delicate her daintie Skinne so cleare As through the same what so she dranke the coulour did appeare Her beautous Breasts LOVES lobbie right right way to Paradice Where grewe those golden Apples rare vnvalued for their prcie Two Mountaines there were plac'te from
whence on amorous sweet fire Did send forth sighes children of Care begotten through Desire Her slender Middle like a Spanne did shewe her waste so small Which who so lookt on as he lookt he languisht therewithall Next was that place Alas that of that Place I may not showe Vnworthie we such Mysteries and such rare sights to knowe Her hands were white as Whale his bone so matchelesse was her foote The first whereof were Arrowes which Dan Dupid vsde to shoote Then such this wonderous Beautie was of this faire Shepheardesse Who many a Shepheards hart did chaxm wroght them much distresse Her name was FLORA FAIRE surnam'd well worthy of that name And worthie was that name of her so glorious was her Fame Her exercise and vse as then was bout the Fields to walke And chiefest pleasure which she tooke in shadowy Groues to stalke Whilst as her harmlesse flocke did feede about them she did sing Full merilie some pleasant Round which made the woods to ring For spitefull LOVE as yet had not his malice gainst her bent Nor had he yet through his deuise spoylde this worke excellent Free was shee from a Louers life from amorous annoy With libertie most pleasantly her youth she did enioy But soone this humor for to change she gainst her will was forc't Compeld to Loue from her hearts ease poore soule she was diuorc't For by her dwelt a goodly Swaine that did increase her care A valiant Shepheard gallant and louely as she was faire Borne on the selfe-same day that she into this world was borne And subiect by the selfe-same chaunce vnto this fatall storme Hight NV MIDOR he cleaped was both affable and kinde So courteous and so debonnaire as like you could not finde In feature shape and comelinesse Adonis he did passe And if hee did not him exceed his equall sure he was Each morning when the breake of day began for to appeare He vsed to accompanie his FLORA loued deare Vnto the Meadowes with her Flocke and there with her would chat In friendly wise as they did walke of this and then of that And afterwards they both would set them downe or in some shade Of some thicke Pinetree or by Foord which trickling murmure made There would he cate of vittailes hers and she on his would feed Whilst what they had emongst themselues as common they decreed When any sport commenced was mongst Shephear as she was found The first that led the Daunce with him and he began the Round No sooner was it night but they together home did goe And in franke manner one of th' other Gifts vsde to bestowe These pretie sports were but a light as t' were more strong to tie And to begin to binde them in more perfect Amitie And yet this plaine and simple kinde of Courting though plaine stuffe To set their harmlesse harts on fire too much t' was and enough Since LOVE we see engendred is only by looks and speach And so continueth through the same beyond all humane reach This was the cause that manie woes they did endure Of Friends they loyall Louers did become most firme and sure As both their Birth-dayes were but one so was their Loues but one Equall they in affection were and loue they did alone One minde there was betweene them both two bodies but one soule One Conquerour both of their harts and fancies did controle What one did wish the other would alike was their Desire If th' one did burne through heate the other did feele as great a fire If th' one did send forth pittious plaints with many a drery teare The other for to waile with sighes and sobbes did not forbeare No loue like hers so passionate so loy all ere hath bene Anchises loue with Venus faire so constant was not seene Nor Pyramus may I compare vnto these Louers true Although so deare his Dame hee lou'd as that himselfe he slue In euery Rocke and Tree they did ingraue the houre and day In which LOVE cunningly had wrought to bring them to his bay In midst of Groues and thickie Woods cut in the tender kindâ— Of Okes and Elmes these Louers names engrauen you might finde Whilst as they romed here and there a thousand Songs they sung To make them to forget their paine fierce LOVE them so had stung The louely Shepheard Sonnets made in honor of his Dame And in her presence sung them oft presenting her the same Which she accepted gratiousty whilst with hote sighes from hart She shewde how he grieu'd not alone but that she bare a part And thus long time both comfortlesse did comfort one another Long time this secret Fare hid close in bosome they did smother Whilst in some sort the heauens did seeme their actions to allow And LOVE made show as good what so they did for to avow Bin weladay what mortall thing can euer lasting bee When they themselues must once decay and vnto ruine gree When Fortune enuicus of our good such interest hath and power That he can alter our delights and pleasures in an hower No maruell then though that sweet life of these two Louers in aine He topsie turme turned quite for pleasure bringing paine As you behold a stately Oke in growth surpassing prowde Vnder whose shade of late the Plants were glad themselues to shrowde Whose cooly leaues and braunches greene greatst Conquerors doth scorne Vpon their helmets and their Crests most brauely to haue borne Vpon the suddaine through mischance with Thunder sirucke as the Whilst blasted with the Laghtning flash his head doth lye fall low His scorchea leaues look black and swarth his verdure all is gone The Tree it selfe shewing like a Truncke a Blocke or barea stone No sappe or iuyce remaines therein but dead it seemes to bee Nor former glorie of his greene you anie more can see Euen so by malice most vniust through Fortune full of strife Of these two Louers happie-once did end the pleasant life The iealous heauens repining that they thus should liue on earth Exempt from canes Death sent to them to stop their vitall breath Death did they send as messenger to sommon them from hence And for to bring the same about they wrought a false pretence This which we LOVE call which two harts makes one in loyall wise The same vow'ae to the other oft makes deadlyest Enemies Of cold and freezing iealousie the Author first be is Whose sweetnes sowrest miserie to follow doth not misse Nor euer hath there any thing as yet in him bene found But what with griefe and wretchednes thicke swarming doth abound His preasures like are vnto spoyles or like an Aprill showre Which is no sooner come then goue nor any while doth dure That this is too too true I vouch Aenone she it prou'd And dolefidl Dido who did die because one-much she lou'd Achilles felt his furie fierce when he Polixena Did sue to haue whose witching-face was cause of his decay Then of these faithfull Louers twaine
by Hunter he did runne And then againe begins the course that he before had donne When missing of his purpose he laments in pitteous case And cruell to himselfe doth scrath and teare his manly face Euen as Hippollitus the chaste was drawne by his faire haire Through forrests woods and mount aine tops and hurried euery where And at the last his limmes were rent asunder one from one Whilst frighted with sea monsters he from Chariot fell alone So such our Shepheard seemd to be resembling such a wight Whilst streames of blood runne downe alongst his bodie view you might He sighes and sobs within the woods with voice most dolorous Whilst on the name of Ladie his he crieth and cals on thus Ah where art thou my Flora dearâ— alas where maist thou be And why shouldst thou be so vnkind to hide thy face from me What place so happie is to hold thy selfe mine onely ioy Thy beautie now where doth it shine chasing away annoy Light of mine eies say dost thou loue ah yet vnto me speake And be not so vnkind my heart with calling thee to breake Where so thou liu'st blessed is that place thrise blessed aie More willing than in paradise I there would bide and staie Alacke what haue I done to thee thou shouldst be so vnkind To part from me my better part and leaue my soule behind No doubt some God hath gotten thee enioying presence thine Some heauenly power doth honour thee which breedeth sorrow mine For thinkest thou withouten thee I can draw forth this breath Thinkst thou that in thine absence I can liue vpon this earth Then speake my sweet vouchsafe so much as tell me where art thou Where bide those rare perfections and where shine thy vertues now May I not be so happie as to know where thou dost keepe Since for thy losse I cannot chuse eternally but weepe Without thy carefull Numidor tell me where doest thou staie Who euer hath thee lou'd and who will loue thee still for aie Canst thou if him as he doth thee so much and truely loue Grieue him so much vex him so much and ouermuch him moue I knew the time I must confesse when as thou didst sermount For loyall Loue and when of me thou diddest make account I know I know thou loud'st me once that loued me thou hast And that for constant loyaltie our mutuall Loue hath past I know that Loue ore both our hearts tryumpht as Conquerour And that or'e both our soules he had the like and selfesame power I le sweare that once thou louedst me though now thou lou'st me not Though now that fire extinguisht is and thou hast me forgot I know not if as wearie of me thou beginst to range And that thy fickle minde desires else where to soare and change Or whether hauing found a man thou better likst than mee I am reiected and shooke off and quite cassheirde by thee Which if that it be so why then die must poore Numidore And with his death his fortune hard and thy bad minde deplore If it be so he must resigne his life to death and die Rather than liue thus languishing in paine continually If it be so I needs must say though so to say doth griue There is no trust in any one no faith on earth doth liue Needs must I say women are false that constant fewe remaine And that their Sex doth harbor â— ought but false dissembling shame If it be so that Flora false to Shepheard hers hath prou'd Then well I sweare that loyally neuer hath woman lou'd But why alas talke I so vaine too idle is my head Whilst with such franticke raging fits my fantasie is fed What madding humor vexeth me what bedlem iealousie What fond conceit makes me to talke Sans Sens so foolishly Am I so vilely giuen to thinke that Flora will cassbeire Her seruant Numidor whom she before hath lou'd so deare That she to any but to him will true and faithfull proue That she will falsifie her faith orethrowing her first Loue O thought most base to haue of her conceit her to mistrust O traiterous Shepheard worthlesse man O louer most accurst Haue I long heretofore her Loue with Touchstone throughly tride And shall she now with sensure hard withouten cause abide Shall I of infidelitie condemne her and suspect When I haue euer knowne her all bad motions to reiect No no sweet Flora I dare sweare and I doe know too well Thou lou'st thy Numidor nor him for new wilt euer sell No thou dost loue him though some God hath tane thee gainst thy will And keepeth thee perforce although thou neuer meanedst ill I know thou dearely louest him as dearely as thy hart And that his absence makes thee waile and in thee breedeth smart I know my presence thou dost wish and dost lament my losse I know that my not being with thee thou dost count a crosse I doe beleeue assuredly nor otherwise I le thinke Thy loue so sacred nere can die nor euer be extinct Too much thou louedst me too much thou aie of me didst make To leaue me to abandon me and me for to forsake Thou louest me and dost desire with me to be I know But that bad fortune crossed thee the faults thereof to show Then in what place thy sweetest selfe doth soiourne and doth stay And where so ere thy beautie faire her brightnes doth display Where ore thy gratious eie doth glaunce controlling with delight Embellsshing with lulstrious raies the glorie of thy sight Ah there the Gods I doe beseech all happines to raigne Downe on thee fast whilst there thou maist in pleasure safe remaine Whilst I meane while will goe to seeke some wofull vncoth place Some hollow Rocke where I may liue since I can finde no grace For being of thy seemely shape though vndeseru'd depriude I needes must breath my last of force and seeke to be distiude Then happie liue thou liue thou long and neuer maist thou tast Of sorrow such as I haue done to force thy life to wast Thus said the Shepheard and therewith seekes still some hollow Cane Wherein he soone may finde his end which he desires to haue He seekes to finde his death whilst her to finde he nere doth linne As did Apollo Daphna chase whose loue he sought to winne Nor wearied is he Louers nere are wearied when the fire Of Loue doth burne their entrailes hot with coales of strange desire Long trauaile neuer tireth them but still they labour fresh And though they be ore chargde yet take thy courage nerethelesse Then Numidor by Loue borne out both day and night doth seeke For his faire Saint for whom he longs and much desires to meete As one beholds the Lionesse at mouth with froth to fome When she to seeke her little ones stolne from her forth doth runne She neuer staieth but restlesse runnes the forrests all about Nor giues she ore although her bones and backe doe cracke throughout Running sometimes vpon the
secret ceremonies were forbidden to be solemnized by men whilst she in the meane space carried away my hart with her to stand her in steed of a sacrifice which she might offer vnto her Goddesse Long did I expect her comming back againe and grieuous was it vnto me to stay so long her returne but there was no other remedie wherefore I laid me downe vnder a broade Beech Tree where if I had heard neuer so small a noyse I presently started vp thinking I should haue beheld the sweet face and comely countenance of my glorious Sunne If but a small leafe had moued I thought straightwayes she was come Then would I count in my minde how many paces it was from that place vnto the Temple and me thought that now she was comming from thence that by my account she was so farre onward of the way and and yet I was deceiued in my conceit For I reckoned as they say without mine Hoast One while I doubted least she had altered her iourney and that she determined to walke some other way Another while I feared least she stayed the longer because she was loth to come where I was O most weetched is the condition and estate of Louers from whome doubtfull feare and fearefull doubt can neuer be abandoned Although men owe reuerence vnto the Gods and that they ought to respect that Seruice as they should their owne proper liues Yet neuerthelesse I could as then haue bene very well contented that Diaxa had bene spared from doing that Sacrifice O miserable lawe of LOVE which spoyleth all other and which so that itselfe may restaliue and goe for currant careth not although all other considerations be made voyde and disanulled how iust soeuer they be The Louer so hee may enioy what he coueteth he forgetteth all that is to come not so much as once thinking of the dutie which is due vnto the Gods nor regarding the feare of men nor respecting sacred Religion at all Great is the Furie no doubt that haunteth them else would not amorous Phoedra haue sought the death of innocent Hyppolitus neither the wife of Putiphar gone about to haue made the vertuous Ioseph endure so great miserie Now whilst I expected her whom I could not see I might heare not farre from mee a certaine voyce singing this Dittie following Lucklesse and luckie both at once am I With feare and hope I trembled as a Reed Lucklesse by Beautie thine by Destinie Luckie because I am thy slaue indeed For then thy face there nothing is more faire Then thy sweet Eyes nought more diuine or rare One while I hope another while I feare Nor can there any thing my fancie please It greeues me for to see the heauens though cleare So much I doubt thy fauour to displease Then thy faire face there nothing is more faire Then thy sweet Eyes nought more diuine or rare Then sweet sower Foe vonchsafe me for to loue Or once for all abridge my time of life Nor suffer me such torments more to prâ—â—â— Since I must die lest thou appease this strife For then thy face there nothing is more faire Than thy sweet Eyes nought more diuine or rare Although thine Eyes my paines encreaseth more Yet more I see them more I them admire Thy beautious feature I so much adore As for to die for it I still desire For then thy Face there nothing is more faire Then thy sweet Eyes nought more diuine or rare For louing thee my greefes I happie deeme Though cruell and vnsuffrable they bee Whilst at the same as enuioue I doe seeme Though for thy sake how I still die I see Then thy faire face there nothing is more faire Than thy sweet eies nought more diuine and rare Then whether death my life shall take away Or whether I shall laid be in my graue Yet will I loue and honour thee for aie Both dead and liue my seruice thou shalt haue For then thy face there nothing is more faire Than thy sweet eies nought more diuine or rare This Song was dolefull enough and yet more dolorous was the voice of him that sung it which was small remedie vnto my sorrowes but rather a fresh beginning vnto them whilst I lanquished being oppressed with a double martyr and my griefe encreased more and more the first was because I loued and the other was because I perceiued that I was seconded in my louing So violent was the affection which I bare vnto my Ladie as it began to breed in me a certaine kind of iealousie I beginning to imagine that this other my companion in Loue because he was better liked of then I was might be as an ouerthwart barre to crosse my happie successe making Diana more hard-harted vnto me then she would haue bene if she had had no more Sutors then my selfe onely This second wound gauled me more than the first I maruailing much how it was possible for me to resist so sharpe an assault This was the cause I could not take any rest quietly my minde still running that I was not so much fauoured nor affected as this new commer was Not vnlike vnto him who lying in a wood cannot sleepe all that night long as well because he feareth the rauenous teeth of the wild beastes as also the cruell spoyling of fierce and murthering theeues Neuerthelesse I began to comfort me at the last thinking that if this new come guest had bene so well entertained by my Saint he would not then haue lamented so much as he did for one cheerfull looke one louely glaunce or one pleasant word proceeding from his Mistris is enough to make a Louer reuiue againe although he were before at deaths doore This then was the reason that for a while I was pacified and contented but then by and by I began to doubt againe remembring that it was an ordinarie course of Louers to complaine without cause whether it is because still they haue one thing or another in their heads that maketh the alwaies feare the worse or whether it be for that they take a kind of pleasure in complaining and lamenting after they haue glutted themselues with delight no otherwise than such as being extreame and hot fling themselues into cold water or as vnto staruen and famisht men victuals and food are most sweet and delectable This was the perplexitie in which I was in I being so troubled in my minde as I was halfe out of my wits yet in the end I resolued to drawe neere vnto this Shepheard to behold him wistly hoping that when I had throughly marked his contenance I might quickly coniecture of his disgrace or contentment and whether he were in fauour with my Mistris or no. Whereupon I stole faire and softly vnto him as with slowe and secret pace Mirrha approached the bed of her father when being hard by him who lay along at the foote of a shadowing Rocke I might here him demaund his fortune of God Pan who vsed to aunswere
Louers out of the mouth of certaine enchaunted Rocks Thus then he began vnto whom an Ecco replied in this sort Hard Rocks Rocks cruell insolent by nature and â—b dure Will you no pittie take on me for torments I endure Is no compassion in you lodg'd can nothing be offorce Yet at the last though long to rew and yeeld me some remorce Ah of my plagues cannot blaine that they may cured be At lest yet daine at my sad cries with voice to answere me Ah speake and say the truth shall I be freed once of this paine Or must I still endure therein and languishing remaine ECCO Languishing re maine Ah say alas must this my paine as thou assurd'st me hast Immortall be continuing still and must it alwates last ECCO Alwaies last What comfort then may succour me who scarcely draw my breath What may my dying soule reuiue which is so nigh to death ECCO Death Shall I then liue in sorrow thus my life away that weares And sighing shall I nothing doe but powre forth watrie teares ECCO Watrie teares But sighing thus i st possible my more than mortall ill Which makes me peanemeale pine away should thus continue still ECCO Still Continuing in my passions thus opprest with torments rife What other things will they take hence will they take hence my life ECCO Life To end my woes in this sad plight an end how might I haue Shall I finde my reliefe by Loue or when I am in graue ECCO In Graue But after millions of these woes being burnt with Loues hot Fewell For to requite my paines how shall I finde my Mistris cruell ECCO Cruell Why then I see no pittie she willford me for my griefe And since t is so I le yeeld my selfe to death without reliefe With one selfe bloodie instrument and with one selfesame blade My wounded corpse shall healed be my soude be well apaide Since onely death and none but death some can comfort giue What should me hinder haplesse that I should longer liue I I will die yea I will die and will a minde imbrace To massacre that wretched state that followeth me in chase Well may you reuerend Sir imagine if this aunswere was pleasing vnto me or delightfull vnto him especially when he heard the Gods of the Forrests to be so contrarie vnto him in all his desires Which was the cause that the poore Shepheard lying groueling vpon the ground and bedeawing the greene grasse with his drerie teares began to moane thus heauily O death wilt thou be still dease vnto my cries and wilt thou neuer heare me I calling so often and so much vpon thee Hast thou not had time enough to rid me of my troubles and wilt thou still thus driue me off with delaies continually Thinkest thou he can liue who pineth away piecemeale whilest he is fettered with worse than Iton manatles in the ioy lesse dungeon of vnmercifull Loue No he cannot for he liueth not at all but rather miserably consumeth away who seeth himselfe not onely depriued of his desire but also is quite debarred of all hope euer to obtaine the same Ah deare Loue if euer thou heretofore hast loued empoysoning thine owne soule with thine owne proper venome and if thy Mother likewise hath often plaid the selfesame part why then doest not thou take pittie vpon those who haue endured the same Martyrdome and since thou knowest their disease by thine owne experience why doest thou so long defer to bring them remedies for the same Well cruell Cupid well I see thou art blind indeed nor hast thou any regard at all to helpe me The better thou art attended on the worse thou shewest thy selfe as one who by nature is borne to doe hurt but not good vnto any Woe is me I liue without hope of any helpe more disconsolate than that Pilot who though he saileth in a thicke and gloomie storme yet doth he hope the same being past to see the Sunne shine againe trusting in the end safely to arriue within the wished Hauen But in my darke tempest and in my stinging corsiues and bitter crosses I see no hope of any signe of comfort to shine or smile vpon me Eternall is my shipwracke and my trauaile is without all end O faire Diana although thou art vnkind vnto me yet doe I take no small pride to call my selfe thy slaue for nothing can come neere thee in beautie neither can I belieue that the heauens theÌ„selues can create a beautie able to paragonise thine Happie is that Bull that is chosen to be offered vp as an oblation or sacrifice vnto the Gods although his blood be there shed and so most fortunate should I account my selfe 〈◊〉 for thy sake I might be thought worthy to finish my daies seeing that for thee I should suffer death and be sactificed by Loue vpon the Altar of thine extreame rigor and fiercenes Thus wailed the Shepheard his eies sending downe whole streames of salt teares which watered his face and cheekes all ouer I seeing this came neerer vnto him and whilest he not perceiuing me I began to marke behold his countenance which I saw quite colourlesse and the very Anatomie of an inward afflicted minde whereby I gathered that he had found no more fauour then I had at his Mistris hands neither that his fortune was any way better then mine This was the reason my second doubt died but not my first which still increased more and more because I sawe she was sued and sought vnto by many although I could not find any to be more in her bookes then I was which God knoweth was little or nothing at all As I was thinking hereupon a suddaine desire came into my minde to returne vnto the place from whence I came and there attend my fairest Saint for me thought still she should be come thither alreadie and that she not finding me there was gone home againe iudging my Loue not to be ouerhot seeing I had so small patience to stay a little for her Being come to mine old place as fast as I could I began there to condemne mine owne follie in that I would not take time whilest I might but rather so foolishly loose so fitan occasion as I had offered vnto me and this new accident ingendred another trouble in me Loue is an Orchard wherein are planted thousands of Trees in which Louers walke gathering continually diuers sorts of fruits of griefe and sorrow and it is a liuely spring of miserie from whence doe flow millions of little Riuers of pensiue care and sad woe Long had I not kept my stand but that one of the Nymphs came by who was one of the play-fellowes of my Ladie of whom I enquired if Diana were comming from the Temple or no. Offentimes the ouer great curiousnes we haue to vnderstand newes bringeth vs much dollor and sadnes As then I found the same to be true for the Nymph told me that Diana would stay all that night in the Temple and
first seeketh to take away that which the Gods themselues are not able to render backe againe whereas the other bereaueth vs but of life onely which is subiect vnto death continually Wretched are those persons that doe ill and yet reape no commoditie thereby for what good commeth vnto the backbiter by speaking ill of anie but onely that in the ende hee himselfe is hated of euery bodie Play not thou this part neither stumble thou into this foule ditch especially doe not blame her whome thou makest a shewe to loue so much But thy speeches discouer sufficiently enough what thy affection is for if thou hadst supposed mee to be such a one I cannot beleue that euer thou couldest haue loued mee because commonly wee ought to hate vice and respect and preferre vertue For such as make the world beleeue that they beare affection vnto foolish women doe not loue them indeed but onely seeke to enioy part of those pleasures as they participate vnto others So as it is impossible that a vertuous and a constant Loue can haue any other foundation then Vertue it selfe Therefore it is but meere follie for thee to make me belieue hereafter through thy fained teares and dissembling speeches that thou louest mee For is it likely that one can loue an other whom hee himselfe blameth and whom hee thinketh worthie of reprehension and shame If thou hast loued mee for my Vertue which thou imaginest I haue now lost for what wilt thou loue me hereafter The cause being taken away the effect dieth and the foundation of a Building being ruinated the house whereon it standeth must needs fall because nothing can be without his cause or subiect If the cause ceaseth in mee which was the motiue of thy Loue then needes thy former affection must cease likewise And therefore I pray thee make me belieue no more that thou bearest any good liking vnto me for I neuer can nor will giue credit vnto thee nor will belieue therein Or if thou did dest loue me then I must needs thinke thou didst it to betray me and so to corrupt mine honor I say therefore that so farre off is thy loue from being Amitie as rather quite contrarie â— esteeme it to be deadly hatred and most furious rage So as these bad conditions being in thee I can haue no occasion to loue thee but rather haue more reason to loath and detest thee as the most mortall aduersary that I haue vnto that thing which is far dearer vnto me then is my dearest life that is my pretious honour Thus said the Chollorike Diana and to confesse but truth she had good reason so to say For there is no guilelesse soule that without being somewhat moued can heare herselfe ill spoken off neither can the most vertuous person that is endure to be falslie slaundered but that he must needs growe a little in Choller As that child who being already forth of the Schoole doore thinking he is alreadie in the fields and that hee is playing amongst his companions abroad looketh very sadly and is wonderfully amazed when vpon the suddaine his Tutor taketh him by the chollar of his doublet and bringeth him againe correcting him with the rodde for his ouerbold and foolish hardines Euen so found I my selfe to be confounded with silent heauines and being wonderfully afflicted with inward anguish and sorrow Great is that Corsie and sharpe which a man feeleth when through ouermuch headdie rashnes he offen deth that thing which hee esteemeth most of all in this world Euen so vnsupportable is that griefe when a man falsly accuseth his friend whose credit he would seeke to preferre before his owne dearest hart blood Ah why then did not the earth open to swallow mee vp and why at that time did not the Sunne obscure it selfe as when he was three daies without appearing abroad disdaining to behold so horrible a crueltie of an vnnaturall father committed by him against his owne young and prettie children These speeches of mine innocent Lady iustly incensed against mee was as a poysoned darte piercing quite through my poore soule A chilly cold ranne through all my bones a deepe despite against my selfe seized vpon my veines and my voyce lay as if iâ— had bene stopped within the pallate of my mouth my colour looked as dead Ashes my tongue remained dumbe and my mouelesse eies were closed bowing downe toward the earth As then no other answere could I giue vnto my Mistris then salt teares trickling downe along my cheekes whilst from my breast as from a Furnace issued forth great store of scalding sighes O how happie had I beene at that time if some one courteous God or other would haue transformed me into some rocke some stone or else into some Tree Neuerthelesse although I spake not all well might she gather that my exceeding griefe was the cause thereof It is an old saide Sawe One mischiefe neuer commeth alone but that it hath an other attending vppon it And so by misfortune it happened vnto mee For my new companion in Loue of whom long since I told you commeth in amongst vs who hauing more witte in his head then I in stead of blaming my Ladie most wrongfullie as I very foolishly had done presented her with these Verses following The heauens for honours theirs thee faire haue made The heauens for my mishap mee kinde haue framde Ioue for his praise infanted Vertue thine Gods heauen and earth reape honour through thy glorie I onely am accurst but victorie T' is to wage Combat with a Deitie I loue that sweet band which enchaines my soule Liuing I burne yet honour I thee flame Loe how rich Beautie can vsurpe ore mâ—e Medusa like my Nature thou dost channge But hee his Time spends not but gaineth honor Who branely fights vnder a Goddesse Banner O happie I when I thy face behold More rare and perfect than was Venus faire When I thine Eyes see shining like two Starres Gazing I die whilst death brings life to mee He happie dieth that his best life doth end In loyall seruice of his beautious friend More happie I my selfe iudge so to die Than Adon liu'd whilst hee the daintie Corpse Of Venus ioyde who wailde his death most sadde Hee blessed was but I celestiall Since Fortune mine with his may well compare And beare away the prize for ouer-Faire Beautious if onely for to see thy stainelesse Feature More happie t' is than Gods by many wayes What should I be wouldst thou to loue mee dame But so great good vnworthie I to haue The Gods would iealous grow that one poore wretch Ingratious fauor boue themselues should stretch Yet in despite of them my ioyfull life Liueth in contemplation of thy Thewes Whilst they like rolling Spheares the Skies adorne Happie that Lambe offered in Sacrifice To burne vpon thy Aultars Grace to gaine Whose Tombe and Ashes winnes vnto him Fame Most gratiously did shee accept of this Present and the rather because shee would anger me
death testifie the same any way I protest I would more willingly die then line I crauing nor wishing any thing so much in this world as your pleasure and contentment Thus said Don Iohn trembling for very feare so as he whom the valour of the greatest enemie he had could not so much as once daunt or terrifie he not knowing what it was to feare a bloodie aduersarie doth now quake and lookepale sitting before a sillie Virgin yea he standeth more in awe of her then of a whole oast of armed men The young Princes who was alreadie perswaded by Loue to entertaine him into her amorous seruice to the end she might the better tast how sweet a pleasure it was and what great credit to be attended on by noble Spirits who most commonly are conquerours ouer such as be haughtie proud found her hart to be more mollified and softned by reason of this Oration which my Maister had made vnto her whilest as the Bird is deceiued with the sweet pipe of the fowler so was she ouercome with the pleasing harmonie of his mellifluous tongue But yet as that Captaine who rendereth vp his Sconce to saue his honour first suffereth the Cannon to be brought thither to batter the same because he will not haue the world to thinke that timerous feare but rather default of succour brought him vnto this extremitie Euen so the Princes ment not to be wonne so soone but rather remembring her royall birth and calling and withall her vertuous disposition and honourable bringing vp thought first with some short speech to answere her Knight againe as if she had bene angry with him Great personages for the most part vse Laconicall breuitie in their discourses their words being farre more pretious and of more worth then those of the common sort of people are and therfore ought to be the more accounted of Thus then did the Princes Maria replie vnto him That man worthily is denied of his desire that demandeth a thing vniust or what is contrarie vnto the lawes being by the same lawe condemned either to make some amends or endure some kind of punishment for the same The haughtie minde who like Phacton would soare to high is not lamented when he falleth being plagued for his pride seeing none should flie that haue not wings neither ought any to intermeddle with that which belongeth vnto Kings except he be royally borne Shouldest thou be chastised with so grieuous punishment for this thy too much sawcie and rash enterprise thou wert but serued rightly for I would haue thee to know that one of mine estate of my honour and reputation is not so easie wonne or changed as euery winde changeth and moueth the waues of the Seas too and fro Neither haddest thou any such neede to make so long a preamble in thy speech in offering of thy seruice vnto me when in nature and dutie thou art bound vnto me to serue me and this thou doest promise to doe vpon hope forsooth that thou maiest bring me to yeeld vnto thy desire but vpon this condition I refuse both it and thy selfe for I will not onely hate vice but all occasions whereby I may be induced to be brought vnto the same Henceforth then learne to be more wise and thinke thy selfe happie that thou maiest this once escape scotfree for this thy presumptuous boldnes This was the choake peare which the Princes gaue vnto Don Iohn to swallow notwithstanding whatsoeuer she spake she ment far otherwise wishing vnto him as well as to her owne selfe Sage and prudent was that Phylosopher who desired that man might carrie a window in his brest the better to know what he thought and what he ment in heart which if it were so there should not then be so many horrible treasons committed neither such damned deeds perpetrated and put in practise as now they are But here belowe is little or no perfection at all the most part of men passing away their liues without doing any commendable act at all But now our knight thinking his Mistris had ment as she spake forgetting that it is the nature of women now and then to dissemble thought her to be his mortall enemie and was so daunted withall as he sat like a mouelesse Rocke not able to answere her one word so much had griefe seazed vpon his tongue dispaire assailing his heart and shame for being denied making him looke pale and bloodlesse in the face As that maister of a ship is amazed and sad when he seeth the weather on the suddaine to change quite contrarie vnto the warrant he had not long before giuen vnto his Passengers whilest they in the meane time cast in his teeth the smaller skill and knowledge he hath in his art he not well knowing what to answere them againe Euen so it fared with my maister who was quite blanke and knew not what to say vnto this matter In so much as had any at that table knowne of his loue or but heard what she had said they might easily haue gessed what the matter was by his very countenance but none knew it neither would be discouer it vnto any but onely vnto me alone But the Princes who doubted that either her lookes which she forced to shew frowning and discontent or else the sharpe speech she gaue vnto him would perhaps make him to doe somewhat which afterward might cause her to beshrow her selfe chiefely because of the secret good will she bare him in her soule which was of more efficacie and force then all other considerations whatsoeuer began now to repent her that she had taken him vp so short and therefore determined with her selfe to make him amends with another far more cur teous then the first when as she beginning the cloth was taken vp and the feast done so that she was constrained though much against her will to rise and leaue her Knight As that woman who being taken tardie in some fault by her husband standeth heauie and sad in some corner of one chamber or other whilest the rest of the houshold are merrie and pleasant together Euen so mine vnfortunate Lord whilest all the other Gallants of the Court were dauncing speaking and discoursing pleasantly one with another he stood most heauily lamenting his hard fortune vnto himselfe alone No maruaile then although euery one was astomsht and wondered to see so sudden an alteration in him looking so pittifully especially when there was nothing wanting vnto him but that he might be rather more blyth and pleasant then others he hauing receiued so many honours by reason of the prize he had gotten both of the King and all the Court. But to this he might haue answered them as that noble Romane did who hauing put his wife away could giue no other reason vnto them that although his shooe was fine and well made for his foote yet did not any knowe whereabouts it wrung him but onely himselfe Euen so Don Iohn selt himselfe grieued yet none could
vnto the other vertue where I doubt not but I shall be better entertained then I haue bene here vpon the earth Meane space I admonish thee and all such as thou shalt thinke worthie to make acquainted with this matter to detest and aborre this shamelesse Monster and to follow me in my course of life otherwise they shall be afflicted with like punishment as those proud Giants the Titanois were for their more then audatious presumption Hauing made an end of her speech I might perceiue wings to issue out of the sides of this beautious Damozell wherewith I saw her to flie vp towards the element passing through the airie Regious vntill she came vnto the heauenly Court of the Eternall King since which time she neuer descended nor neuer as I doubt will she any more This accident droue me into no small amazement not vnlike him that seeth many strange enchantments done by a Magitian whereupon with more hast then good speed I went to finde my Mistris to declare this aduenture vnto her but the feare she had of the foresaid beast had driuen her from thence so as I found nothing but the corner within which we had hidden our selues But O me vnhappie wretch that reported that which afterward was my vtter ruine and ouerthrow An Example O what euill sometimes this little tongue of ours doth vnto vs for that of Demosthenes ouerthrew the libertie of Greece And therefore thrise wise was that Phylosopher that thought nothing in this world to be worse then the tongue because it not onely bringeth calamitie vnto him that speaketh but also vnto the whole common-wealth besides And therefore well said that old Sage of Greece who affirmed that silence was commendable and without blame whereas speaking was subiect vnto reprehention and reproach The auncient wise men in times past did offer Sacrifice vnto dumb Silence as vnto a sacred Deitie adoring her with great reuerence for many a one haue bene cut short of their liues because of their ouer-rash and bold speech and this found I to be but too true by mine owne experience and vnto my no small griefe Well I not finding my Mistris there went seeking of her vp and downe not making account of any paine so I might once haue a sight of her loue making that labour to seeme but easie and sweet which Louers vndertake when they follow in pursuit their faire and beautious Ladies for the desire which they haue to see them maketh them to thinke it is no trauaile at all and that man thinketh that he rather plaieth then worketh who expecteth some worthie recompence when he hath brought his worke vnto an end This made me to run vp and downe to see if I could finde her whilest being earnest in this busines I might heare a certaine voice comming forth of a thicke quickset wherevpon I staied awhile to harken if it were hers or no but I knew quickly it was not as soone as I hard the Song which was as followeth Withouten scope To haue the hopen My Ladie any more Since cannot bee That I may see To death I le flie therefore Sweet death now come And to me runne Since I to thee doe crie Be thou my friend That I may end These dates of miserie Whilst I doe line I nought but grieue Deprined of all ioy How can that hart Of case haue part When Loue doth him annoy My sorrowes soure My cries each houre My soule doth pinch with paine My heauie moanes My sighes nor groanes Can neuer moue my dame Why then so long Death dost me wrong That yet I am not dead That man doth rest Happie and blest Whose soule from hence is sled No worldly strife No ill so rife Can hurt who is in graus Die he doth not But life hath got That such a good may haue Thus was the Shepheard amorous of my Diana of whome I told you before who reaped no more sweet fruits of his loue nor found any more curtesie at her hands then I had done which was in effect nothing so that we being borne both vnder one Plannet became to become partners and companions in our loue and miserie together He sighed and sobbed as I did he wailed and wept as I vsed to doe and yet neither his sighing nor his teares were any more profitable vnto him then they were vnto me After his Song was finished he began thus afresh to complaine O Cupid how well haue the Gods chosen thee to be the bloodie butcher of their cruelties since they could not bestowe this office vpon any that could discharge the place so well as thou by reason thou art more cruellie giuen then any one that is in heauen aboue or else in hell belowe There is no tortor or torment no Corsie or anquish of what Nature or kinde soeuer that is without hope Loue onely excepted for to miserable Captaines there is some hope of their freedome to poore and beggerly wretches a conceit to become rich againe to sicke persons some comfort to recouer their former health but loue is without all likelihood or beliefe of hope whatsoeuer Who then is more cruell then he who more to be doubted and who so hurtfull and dammageable vnto mankinde and therefore when the Gods meane to punish vs most cruellie then doe they send this cruell executioner vnto vs he being farre worse then the flashing lightning it selfe for that without languishing quickly dispatcheth vs where this after it once beginneth with vs neuer maketh an end driuing vs to linger in a worse then deadly consumption Too well finde I this and feele it to my smart louing in dispaire and yet in such sort as death which is hatefull vnto men and is of force to rid me out of this agonie and insupportable passions is forbidden me I not daring to die for feare to loose the wisht for presence of her who daily killeth me So doth the Marchant allured with profit scowre so often the swelling Seas that in the end both he and his ship with all his Marchandise is swallowed therein And so I loue and yet will not giue ouer that which in the end will drowne me and be the cause of my pittious ouerthrow but as the Gods harden the harts of such men whom they meane to chastise who when it is too late begin to thinke how they might haue aunided the same so the more rigorously to punish me the heauens haue forced me to loue depriuing me of all meanes how to helpe my selfe because they are desirous of my fall O thrise blessed Leander Piramus and Paris in respect of me who for loue left their liues and yet had this good hap that before they died they enioyed their Mistreâ—es companie and were beloued of them where I on the other side am hated and loathed of mine But diuers and of sundrie effects are the shafts of Loue some are of leade and they rather coole and freeze then heate others â—â—hedded with gold which pierce into
pensiue humour from him What man be of good courage we must he ordered by the will of the Gods and without killing ourselues with these inward passions must attend the good houre vntill it shall please them to call vs For neither weeping nor wailing can alter our Destinies neither can they be mended thereby because it lieth not in our handes but in the heauenly Powers to amend what is amisse This is my aduise in that I wish thee well for wee are giuen by nature to wish well vnto those whom we know are our friends and wel-willers whereas otherwise we should be worse then bruit beasts who acknowledge curtesies which they haue receiued Then take this counsell from mee although I was borne rather to learne counsell then to giue counsell vnto others But the Gardiner sometimes can giue good hearbes for Phisicke and a wise man now and then may be aduised by one that is simple and without learning as Moses did who tooke the opinion of his Father in law being farre lesse skilfull then hee I doubt not but thou knowest by experience that this which I haue saide will be profitable vnto thee and that thou wilt hereafter remember mee for the good aduise which I haue giuen thee Thus spake the Nymph most kindely her curteous speeches putting life into my bodie againe making me blush with a vermillion colour which she seemed to like well of Wherevpon I taking hart at grasse although still crazed with inward heauinesse beganne thus to answere her Oh sacred Goddesse is it possible that hee that is stiffened and benommed in all his limmes and ioyntes with an extreame colde should be warme without Fire Euen so can hee comfort and delight himselfe who without hauing the least subiect of ioy in the world hath all his Bodie attached with a wonderfull strange and heauie sadnesse Amongst all the wise Sages of the world past there haue bene very fewe that haue bene able to haue dissembled and concealed their inwdard griefes and sorrowes Elias that great Prophet could neuer doe it but rather flying into a Desart to auoyd the furie of wicked Achab most pittiously desired to die Neither could Iob the patterne of all patience smother the same but rather weeping and taking on most lamentablie wished to be ridde from his miserable life And thinke you I that am so poore a wretch in respect of them am able to hide mine anguish and driue away these inward afflictions which so much torment mee especially when I haue so great reason to lament my Disasters Wonder not then gracious Nymph that I seeme thus to waile and weepe but rather suffer mee to goe through with the same to the ende I may the sooner be brought vnto my graue for that is the onely comfort of such forlorne and forsaken Caitiffes as my selfe yea Death sweete Death is the Port and Hauen of all such distressed mindes as I am O that I were blinde that I might not see the mischiefe that is ready to take holde vpon mee or that I were senslesse and voyde of all passions to the ende I might be exempted from such dangerous plagues as are alreadie ready to infect me Must I be well in bodie and yet deadly sicke in minde Must I be sicke in minde and yet not consume away And must I consume away and not yet die but languish thus in horror worse then in hell yea and that continually O vniust Heauens ô too vnkinde and barbarous LOVE what haue I done vnto thee Cupid that for all my loyall loue thou thus shouldest reward me Haue I euer defied or denyed thee as Apollo did after hee had slaine that huge Serpent Python when he mocked at thee and at thine Arrowes as thou flewest in the Ayre that thou shouldest thus wound mee with so vncurable rigour and exasperate thus thy worse then sauadge Tyrannie against mee Ah Mistris deare Mistris behold here before you the most wretchedst creature that euer liued vnder the Cope of heauen the very Anatomie of miserie and the true Mirrour of all misfortunes And belieue I beseech you that the terrours which euery minute of an houre affright his inward soule is farre worse then vglie Death it selfe But iustly am I punished seeing as ouer presumptuous I durst be bolde to flie so high like vnto another Phaeton presuming to adore your more then druine and sacred Beauties Yet sweet Ladie pardon me because LOVE is the cause who was assisted by your faire eyes to make me his base prisoner and abiect bond slaue for euer against whom no force neither heauenly nor humane is able to preuaile Thus was I bolde to pleade like an earnest suter for grace vnto my Ladie I knowing well that I was neuer like to finde so fitte an occasion againe as then I had because I saw she was resolute to enter into a kinde of life farre worse and harsher then anie Monasticall liuing whatsoeuer And therefore I thought with my selfe that seeing I was fully bent and purposed to die I knewe the worst and worse then Death I could not be adiudged Thus you see how desperate persons sometimes helpe themselues although quite contrarie vnto their owne expectation So fought that sicke and diseased Souldier being full of valour vnder his Generall king Antigonus onely because he would be ridde of his disease which did so much afflict him but no sooner was hee cured thereof then that he became a notable Coward as one that was desirous to sleepe in a whose skinne and neuer after would venture in the warres againe The faire Virgin hearing mee thus earnest were it either because shee was loth to leaue behind her she being now readie to depart from vs any cause to conceiue hardly of her or whether it were that my pittifull speeches had moued her vnto remorse and to haue compassion vpon me I know not but I found her nothing so austere nor sower towards me as she was wont to be which I gathered by her indifferent milde answere she replying thus If thy disease Arcas be incurable and that as thou thy selfe thinkest it will hardly be healed why then hast thou bene so obstinate as thou wouldest not in time seeke what thou mightest to haue bene rid of the same Very simple is he who vndertaketh to transport a huge Rocke from one place to an other when it is not by nature to be remoued So if thou seest that my loue can no way be profitable vnto thee why then wilt thou be so selfe-wild as to persist therein it being such an other piece of worke as those Giants tooke in hand when they went about to scale vp to heauen for say I were willing to shew thee what fauour I might yet could I doe thee no good because of my credit assuring my selfe that if thou louest me indeed and as thou so often hast protested thou wilt not desire any thing of me that might ouerthrow me in doing of thee good True loue is of this nature that it
will neuer suffer any iniurie to be done vnto that which it loueth neither can it rightly be termed Loue but rather furious rage if it be cause of any such wrong But I pray thee tell me what is it that thou wouldest haue of me wouldest thou that in sauing thee I should vtterly vndoe my selfe or wouldest thou haue that thy contentment should be built and founded vpon the ruines of my discontentments and dishonour I cannot tell neither know I what thy meaning is and yet this good conceit haue I of thee that I am perswaded thou harborest no such bad thought within thee and therefore let me intreate thee that thou wilt be content since I grieue at thy distresse and that I would most willingly ease thee of thy paine if possible I could so it did not stand with the losse of mine honour Then if thou louest mee I doe not thinke thou wouldest suffer me to endure such an inestimable dammage Consider well of this matter and thou shalt finde that I can no way pleasure thee as thou desirest and as I my selfe couet vnlesse I would ouerthrow my estate for euer Of two euils the least is to be chosen It is farre better to cure a little hurt betimes then standing obstinate therein permit the same to grow to be incurable and so to die Therefore shew now the loyall affection which thou hast alwaies protested to haue borne me insatisfying thy selfe with these mâ—â—e honest reasons without seeking any more by sauing thâ— selfe to be the cause of my fall and vtter ruine but if this will not content thee then must I needs 〈…〉 lust and not modest Loue that is in thee and that as a â—â—orcalleneâ—ne thou â—â—â—est about to vndoe me and therefore haue great cause to feaâ—e thee vnto thy rash 〈…〉 without going about to excuse me vnto thee any way but to flie from then as from a deadly foe Hauing so said she held her peaâ—e seeming to be much troubled in her minde as I might casily gather by her colour which did often goe and come in her face and yet these speeches so much pleased me as I was confounded therewithall as I knew not what to say Neuer was that alluring song of the daughters of Acholous more charming neither the loue potion of subtill Circes more swept and pleasant then that was No heart were it neuer so hard but her tongue was able to mollifie it being of power to take downe and make gentle the proudest minde that euer man bare And now I made account I was sufficiently satisfied for all my trauailes past and that I had a full and large recompence for all my former aflictions in that it had pleased my Ladie to conâ—â—â—â— my meaning with so great fauour whereupon I presumed to replie thus vpon the suddaine Vertuous and peerlesse Diana what testimonie haue I euer giuen you and how haue I euer carried my selfe towards you but that my Loue was alwaies chaste and modest If so why then should you now mistrust me Alas if I be now chaunged my miseries being so wretched as they are and that you thinke I am worse then I haue bene why then doe you not quickly pronounce the sentence of Death against mee without permitting me to liue any longer No no my desires were neuer others then thine Neuer did I thinke to disobey thy commandements nor offer iniurie vnto thine vntainted honour rather shall this bodie of mine be swallowed vp by wilde and sauage beasts and thinke not I beseech you otherwise of me but that I would take reuenge vpon mine owne proper selfe for your honours sake if through my default it should happen to receiue the least hurt or dammage that may be Nay should I goe about but to crosse thee in thy will and not doe as thou biddest I should thinke the worse of my selfe as long as life shall last whilest liuing so I would commit it no life but rather worse then death it selfe Sufficient enough and too much am I pleased for my paines enough am I recompenced for my trauailes and am satisfied at the full for all my labours past seeing thou hast so much vouchsafed to abase thy worthy selfe in striking a Saile so lowe as to speake to me so much thine inferiour Onely this onely small boone let me intreate of thee which by thy facred Vertue by thy rate prudencie by thy excellent wit and by thine exquisite beautie I shall desire thee not to denie that is to giue meleaue to kisse thy faire and victorious hand which shall content me as much as if I were Monarch of the whole vniuersall world the remembrance whereof shall make the rest of my daies to proue most happie and fortunate Aduise you then if this my prayer be iust and ciuill which if it be so then graunt me so much grace But if not thy will be fulfilled thy pleasure be done and thy desire be accomplisht euery way It is the first that euer I begd and it shall be the last that euer I will craue Thus did I boldly put forward my selfe vrging my Mistris with great vehemencie for the same who stood still studying vpon the matter a while whilest she blushed like the damaske Rose in May I in the meane time houered betweene hope and scare halfe dead and halfe aliue to heare what she would answere who in the end replied thus Ah Shepheard how easie a matter is it to finde a small thing that may hurt much and how quickly may we obtaine and purchase that which hapneth most to our displeasures afterward This naturall appetite of ours which inuiteth vs to desire so many things which we imagine to finde sweet and pleasing passeth away as doth a flash of lightning in the aire leauing vs neuer a whit the richer nor the more contented then we were before What profit doth that pleasure bring vnto Louers which they so earnestly couet to enioy but a most heauie and sad repentance when it is once gon and past Things that are vertuous ought to be desired alone because they last and not such as are mortall weake and fraile although they seeme sweet at the first beginning This which thou demandest of me will doe thee no good and though perhaps thou supposest thou shalt feele some shadow thereof yet will it so soone vanish and be gone as thou shalt not haue leisure to haue so much as a true tast thereof Ah Arcas Arcas diddest thou but know how much this honour is recommended vnto vs what great care and heed there is giuen vnto vs to accompanie it and how much we are bound and obliged to looke most narrowly and straightly vnto the same I verily belieue thou wouldest not wish me that I should breake the least duetie belonging vnto the conseruation thereof not for all the liuing in the world But perhaps thou wilt say it is very true and yet I answere that he that offendeth in any small matter is suspected to be culpable of greater
in that you haue vouchsafed to permit me to enioy your more then Angelicall presence thus long and all alone Neuertheles I most humbly thanke you as much for the proffer thereof as if I had enioyed the same I being euery way contented and satisfied as I would my selfe Thus did I excuse my selfe as one vnworthie of so great a kindnesse making daintie of the matter when my Ladie seeming as it were to be angrie that I refused the same and somewhat blushing through Choller thus replyed Well shepheard well I now perceiue that you will not accept of this small fauour because vo◠would haue some colour to complaine of mee after my departure from you Willingly I offer it then willinglie accept it for say that anie thing otherwise then well should happen vnto me about this matter yet would not I haue thee to think I loue thee so ill as I would lay anie blame vpon thee at all More pleasing is a hurt come by chaunce from a friend then a pleasure or good turne done vnto vs proceeding from an enemie Then if I may doe any thing with thee let mee intreat thee to doe as I will haue thee which if thou wilt not then wilt thou make me to think thou neuer didst affect me The refusall of a gift presented in good will argueth a peruerse minde of him against the giuer that doeth refuse the same Euen so I cannot imagine otherwise of thee but that thou rather hatest mee then louest me truely and therefore doe as thou pleasest But I will call the heauens to witnesse of mine offer proceeding from a pure good will to the ende the blame shall be thine and not mine if hereaster without cause thou shalt exclaime against me Therefore if euer thou meanest that I shall remember thy loue and that I shall thinke thou hast euer affected mee with a chaste and an vnspotted heart then let me intreat thee to accept of this gift which as I knowe it will be pleasing vnto thee so shall it be no way hurtfull vnto me at all Seeing then said I louely Diana that such is thy pleasure I will obey the same whether I liue or die and not a little will I glorie herein that I haue liued to fulfill the will of so great and gracious a Ladie as your selfe swearing by those your Diamond eyes that what mischaunce so euer shall hereafter light vpon mee I neuer will accuse you for the same Wherevpon I gentlie tooke her Iuory soft hand which I kissed bedeawing it with many a louing teare O sweet thought thereof ô pleasing remembrance of that good Fortune and ô sacred memory of that blessed time although they cost me dearely not long after That poore vassall who findeth himselfe punished for presuming to haue hunted within the Parkes of his Lord receiueth not halfe so deepe a conceit of his displeasure as this Fauour made mee afterwards to endure So much was my delight as I seemed to be rauished therewithall nothing in the world being able to haue contented mee so much as that did That thing which a man loueth and hath a minde vnto hee thinketh can neuer be too deerly bought Euen so I found nothing so precious in my thoughts as was those kisses which I then enioyed Alas neuer doe I thinke thereof but that I am ready for to sownd That wicked Tyrant Dennis beeing driuen out of his kingdome of Sicile neuer thought himselfe so wretched when he remembred his vtter ouerthrow as I doe when I call to minde my former life and happines I stood still as a stone sighing and crying out as indeed I had reason for two causes especially The one was the absence of my Ladie the other the losse of that sweete contentment which I then enioyed and was to giue ouer presently But the day now beginneth to be late and therefore I will briefly make an ende of this my more then wofull Tragedie No sooner had I let goe my Ladies hands but that the whole troupe of Nymphes were arriued they all saluting Diana their Gouernesse who was not slowe to returne them the like kindnes againe Alas this was that dismall day which did me both good and bad and all at one time together wherin I may compare her vnto the Viper which being venomous doth sting deadly and yet neuertheles serueth for many necessary helpes and vses For then was it when my Mistris still setled in her first resolution tooke leaue of all the Nymphes her companions to goe and inclose her selfe within some solitarie Cell for none could disswade her from the same althogh with sighes teares she was perswaded to the contrary Whilst I poore wretch being not able to endure to behold so pittifull a departure weeping and crying out like an other Niobe conueyed my selfe behinde a Rocke to bewaile my losse at the more leisure O how heauy were the complaintes I made as then how dolefull the mournings how bitter the laments and how pittifull was the moestfull sound of my dying voice I must needs make you acquainted with some part of them because I haue no other delight then to call to minde these my forepassed miseries Be these then cried I out the last speeches that euer I shall make vnto my deare Mistris and thou most glorious Sunne is it possible that I should be able to behold this blacke gloomy day when thou thy selfe hast hid thy head before times for lesse matter then this If so why then doest thou not now hide thy selfe to the ende thou mayest not view the most wretched Caitiffe that euer liued Who euer knew a bodie to liue without a soule breath or blood no more shall mine do for thou holdest my soule and heart louely Diana The cruell Destinies shall not depriue thee of mee but of my life also In losing of thee I will lose my selfe neither shall mine eyes see any more since they cannot behold thy gracious presence Vnfortunate I that did not a while since go kill my selfe before I was depriued from my chiefest ioy I now liuing to be but a common receptacle for all mischaunces whatsoeuer As possible is it for a man to support vpon his shoulders the huge weight of the Heauens as for mee to beare the absence of thee my sacred Diana Since the nourishment of my life is gone what can mine Eyes behold to see seeing their Sunne is Eclipsed who shall giue light vnto mine heart and how shall my hope flourish greene since all comforts be quite blasted and gone How many Louers haue there bene that haue either dyed with griefe or else haue slaine themselues with their owne swords onely because they haue lost their faire Mistriffes What then should let or hinder mee but that in like manner I may followe their examples The Marchant that hath no marchandise shutteth vp his shoppe and liueth idlely Euen so I hauing lost my Saint must shut vp mine eyes with the sweet slumber of death O blessed Eyes in that you haue